The heavy silence in the guild hall stretched for a few more seconds after Rhuvia's words. Lys could feel the fear spreading through the room like smoke. People were shifting on their feet, gripping weapons, and exchanging nervous glances at each other, unsure of what to do.
Seeing panic was about to begin at this rate, Vessa stepped forward. She didn't raise her voice, but it carried clearly across the entire hall. There was something steady and final in her tone, the kind that made people stop and listen.
"Everyone, listen up," Vessa said loudly to get everyone's attention.
"Dungeon activity has been confirmed in the Gaiya Forest. A great dungeon is forming; there is no doubt in that. Lower floor monsters have already reached the surface, as you can all see from the injured who just returned barely."
Hearing her confirm it, the reaction was immediate and mixed. Some adventurers sucked in sharp breaths. A few of them just cursed under their breath. One older woman near the quest board slammed her hand on the wooden surface, while a younger adventurer near the door took an unconscious step backward.
The news of a dungeon in these outskirts was almost a death sentence to the economy here, and it showed through people's dissatisfaction about it.
Seeing the mixed reaction among the people present in front of her, Vessa continued without pause, her face calm. "But fear not. The guild is taking action right now. As the first step, all adventuring quests are suspended until further notice. No one leaves the village for the forest. We will stay inside the walls and prepare."
The room shifted at once. Several people started talking over each other.
"What do you mean suspended?" someone called out.
"We still have to eat! You can't just put a halt to everything now. We all bet our careers when we came here," another voice shouted.
Two adventurers near the exit looked ready to bolt outside anyway. A man close to the quest board opened his mouth as if to argue, but stopped halfway, the words dying in his throat.
The temperature in the hall seemed to rise with each second Vessa delayed the explanation. Tension thickened the air.
Lys could see the early signs of panic building: clenched jaws, restless hands, eyes darting toward the doors. If even one person leaves this room now, they might cause even more panic among the villagers, with exaggerated rumors and such.
Just as the noise started to grow louder, seeing Vessa unable to handle the building panic among adventurers, Rhuvia moved, coming forward.
She didn't rush. She walked slowly to the center of the hall with relaxed confidence, her skimpy, shiny mage robe swaying slightly with each step. She stopped there, hands clasped behind her back, and simply waited.
Two or three seconds passed. The room gradually fell quiet again as more and more heads turned toward her. She was that much of a presence, standing out among all of the people when standing in that pose in this room.
When almost everyone was looking at her, Rhuvia spoke. Her voice was clear, firm, and surprisingly warm.
"Every great dungeon in history has had at least one major dungeon break, especially during its first awakening," she said a little loudly, a hard contrast to her small build. "We all know that happened because people weren't ready. They didn't know what was coming."
"But here we are different. We already know what's coming, what to expect. Help has already been requested from the capital. Reinforcements are on the way. And what's more, I have personally managed dungeon breaks before. I have cleared floors in the capital's great dungeon from a young age. I know exactly how to handle it from the inside-out."
She paused for a second and looked around the room, meeting the eyes of several adventurers. They were clearly interested in what she had to say now. She definitely got their full attention with this speech.
She continued with a more confident voice than before, "So I'm telling you this clearly, this village, it will not face this alone, and it will not fall. Not while I'm here."
Her words landed well with some people. A few adventurers let out relieved breaths. One woman even cheered loudly, "Yeah… That's what I wanted to hear!" Some shoulders relaxed. A couple of younger adventurers nodded, looking less terrified than before.
But not everyone was comforted by Rhuvia's big speech. The adventurers who had just returned, still injured, looked pale and shaken. They knew better than most how dangerous those monsters truly were.
Still, the hall held. The edge of panic had been pushed back, at least for now.
Rhuvia didn't waste any time. She knew she had to show people she wasn't just empty words, that she was actively doing things. So, she turned immediately to Vessa, her tone all business now.
"Vessa, gather a small team of experienced scouts only. I want them to map how far the dungeon's influence has reached on the eastern edge of the forest. Assess the trade routes and main roads next, and flag any danger zones. And I need the outer settlement fully evacuated before the end of the day. No exceptions."
Vessa nodded once. "Understood."
Rhuvia continued giving orders with smooth authority. "Also, send someone to bring a message to the village council members that we are going to need a meeting with them right now. We need to coordinate with them as soon as we can about this matter."
Then her eyes scanned the crowd and stopped directly on Lys, who was standing near the side.
"And you," Rhuvia said, pointing at him clearly. "You're coming with us."
Lys blinked, shocked. He hadn't expected to be called out in front of everyone. A few heads turned toward him, surprised that the Guild Master needed his service. He felt the weight of many eyes on him at once.
Rhuvia, on the other side of the room, gave him a small, confident smile, as if she already had plans for him that she wasn't explaining yet.
Lys swallowed and stepped forward slowly, his mind racing with questions. 'Why me?' But he kept his face steady as he walked toward her and Vessa.
The guild hall remained tense, but under Rhuvia's calm control, it hadn't broken into chaos. For now, at least, the village still had a chance to prepare for the upcoming dungeon break.