Cassian was seated around a large wooden table with Hiro, Lena, and Lucia.

  Steaming plates were set in front of them—meat stew, fresh bread, roasted vegetables, cheese. A real feast compared to the solitary meals she’d eaten at the manor.

  The room was spacious, well-lit by lamps mounted on the walls. Thick carpets covered the floor. Tapestries decorated the walls. Everything breathed comfort.

  “I didn’t know the guild had lodgings,” Cassian said, looking around.

  Lena took a bite of bread before answering.

  “In small towns where there’s a guild building, there aren’t necessarily lodgings.”

  She chewed, swallowed.

  “In Leefside, for example, even though there was a guild, there were no adventurer lodgings. Just the reception desk and a few meeting rooms.”

  Lucia nodded, delicately cutting a piece of meat.

  “But here in Veritas, the building is large enough. Several floors. Plenty of space.”

  “And it’s only available to C-rank adventurers and above,” Lena added. “Rank privilege.”

  “How long have you been back?” Cassian asked.

  Hiro helped himself to more bread.

  “Not long. A few hours.”

  He spread butter generously.

  “We went straight to the manor to find you.”

  Lena grimaced.

  “We found the manor in shambles. Windows completely shattered.”

  “We were worried,” Lucia said softly, her golden eyes fixed on Cassian with concern. “Really worried.”

  Hiro nodded.

  “So we searched the nearest city. That’s how I found you. On that staircase.”

  He took a sip of water.

  “Cassian,” Lucia said gently. “Why are you so pale?”

  Cassian sighed, setting her spoon down.

  “It’s… complicated.”

  “Try anyway,” Lena encouraged.

  “A mosquito.”

  Silence.

  “…What?” Lena blinked.

  “A weird mosquito almost drained me of blood.”

  She vaguely remembered the bites.

  “Every night, it came back. And each time, it got bigger. Stronger. Smarter.”

  She shook her head.

  “At first it was just a normal mosquito. Annoying but manageable.”

  “Then it grew to the size of a hand. Then a cat. Then a dog.”

  “By the end, it was as big as a human. Maybe bigger.”

  Lena visibly paled.

  “The… the monster we saw outside? On the staircase? That was…?”

  “Yes.”

  Hiro said nothing.

  But Cassian could see his hands tightening around his glass.

  He’s angry.

  Really angry.

  Something twisted hard in Hiro’s chest.

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  I could have lost her.

  While I was off playing adventurer somewhere else, she was fighting for her life.

  Alone.

  The urge to crush the mosquito surged through him violently.

  But the monster was already dead.

  Killed by her.

  He took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

  He grabbed the black bottle on the table.

  Took a long swig.

  The liquid slid pleasantly down his throat.

  At least the quest is done. That was my last full bottle.

  Worth keeping it.

  Lucia gave him a discreet, puzzled glance.

  Lena frowned, thinking hard.

  “That’s not normal for a mosquito. Not at all.”

  She tapped the table with her finger.

  “This mosquito… it reminds me a lot of a certain species that caused devastation among the elves in the past.”

  Cassian lifted her head.

  “What?”

  “Sanguivora Evolutis. Their official name. Evolving mosquitoes.”

  Lena crossed her arms.

  “They feed on blood and evolve rapidly by absorbing traits from their elven victims.”

  “A huge effort was made to exterminate that species centuries ago. Everyone thought they were extinct.”

  She looked at Cassian gravely.

  “If one has been spotted here… there are probably others. They reproduce fast. Very fast.”

  Cassian’s stomach clenched.

  Others.

  OTHER mosquitoes like that one.

  No.

  Fuck NO.

  Her face changed visibly—from neutral to horrified in a single second.

  Hiro noticed immediately.

  She’s scared.

  Cassian. Is scared.

  This must be really serious.

  A blue screen suddenly appeared in front of Hiro.

  Visible only to him.

  “We noticed a dungeon near the manor when we were there,” Lena said, slightly changing the subject to lighten the mood.

  Cassian nodded.

  “It appeared right after you left.”

  “Did you go inside?”

  “Yes. I cleared it. Completely.”

  Lena grinned widely.

  “That’s awesome! We can sell the mana stones and the dungeon core for a fortune!”

  She rubbed her hands in anticipation.

  “Dungeon cores are worth a ton.”

  Cassian hesitated.

  “Uh…”

  “What?”

  “I absorbed everything.”

  Absolute silence.

  The group stared at her, stunned.

  Completely stunned.

  “You… absorbed everything?” Lucia repeated slowly.

  “Yes.”

  “You mean…” Lena searched for words. “The mana stones AND the dungeon core?”

  “Yes.”

  “EVERYTHING?”

  “YES.”

  Lena clutched her head in her hands.

  “Our fortune…”

  “Gone…” Hiro muttered, staring into space.

  Lucia opened her mouth, closed it again, clearly wrestling internally.

  “It let me increase my mana reserve,” Cassian explained. “Significantly.”

  Lucia had wanted to ask if Cassian was okay—absorbing that much mana at once was dangerous for humans.

  But she remembered just in time.

  Cassian is an elf. Not human.

  Humans had a mana pool that grew gradually, the more it was used. You couldn’t expand it suddenly. It had to be done slowly, increasing capacity over months, years.

  Otherwise the body rejected the mana. Or worse—exploded from the inside.

  But elves and other magical creatures didn’t have that problem.

  Their bodies were naturally built to absorb and store massive amounts.

  So… she’s probably fine.

  Probably.

  Cassian looked around again, deliberately changing the subject.

  “The lodging is really nice. Even better than the inn we were at before.”

  Lena nodded, regaining some enthusiasm despite the financial loss.

  “That’s normal. The guild is the oldest and most powerful organization in the world.”

  She served herself more stew.

  “Adventurers are treated well. After all, we deal with monsters, exploration, dungeons…”

  “We do what no one else can or wants to do,” Lucia added.

  Cassian found that interesting.

  She stood up from the table, her plate now empty.

  “I’m going to look around a bit.”

  The lodging was spacious.

  Three separate bedrooms—each with a double bed, wardrobe, small table, and lamp.

  A main living area where they’d eaten—large, comfortable, with several sofas and armchairs around a fireplace.

  A fully equipped kitchen—oven, sink with hot and cold running water, shelves stocked with basic provisions.

  And a bathroom.

  Cassian stopped in front of it, admiring.

  A porcelain bathtub big enough to lie down in completely. A sink. A mirror. Clean towels.

  This is paradise compared to the manor.

  Clearly better than the Leefside inn.

  There’s space in every room.

  We’re not packed like sardines.

  She returned to the main room where the others were still talking.

  “I’m going to sleep,” she announced.

  Fatigue was catching up now that she was safe. Her stomach was full. The mosquito was dead.

  Everything hitting her at once.

  Lucia stood up immediately.

  “I’ll heal you first. And help you settle in.”

  “It’s not—”

  “You’re pale as a corpse, Cassian.” Lucia’s tone left no room for argument. “You need care. Now.”

  Cassian sighed but didn’t protest further.

  She’s right.

  I feel like I’m going to collapse any second.

  Lucia had her lie down on the bed in one of the rooms.

  She closed the door for privacy.

  Placed her hands over Cassian’s torso and chanted in an incomprehensible language.

  A soft light emanated from her palms.

  Cassian felt a pleasant warmth spread through her body.

  Through her veins. Her muscles. Her bones.

  The aching spots—she hadn’t even realized they were aching—gradually relaxed.

  “You lost a lot of blood,” Lucia murmured, focused. “Your body is in mild shock.”

  The light intensified.

  “Stay still. This will take time.”

  Cassian closed her eyes, letting it happen.

  She needed it badly.

  ---

  Meanwhile, in the guild’s main hall, Hiro descended the stairs leading to the lodgings.

  He headed toward the large reception desk on the ground floor.

  A few adventurers were still hanging around despite the late hour. Some drinking. Others laughing loudly. A few checking the quest board.

  Hiro approached the counter.

  A woman—thirties, brown hair tied back, guild uniform—looked up from a ledger.

  “Yes? How can I help you?”

  “I’d like information on someone.”

  “An adventurer?”

  “Yes. Constantine.”

  The receptionist’s eyes lit up immediately.

  “Oh! Constantine!”

  She smiled broadly, leaning slightly forward with enthusiasm.

  “He’s the strongest adventurer in Veritas. B-rank!”

  She continued without pausing.

  “A very influential local figure. Everyone knows him here.”

  “He’s incredibly talented. Handsome. Charismatic.”

  “A lot of people line up hoping to join his party.”

  She laughed.

  “Literally. There’s a waiting list.”

  “He chooses very carefully who to recruit.”

  “He’s also very generous. Often donates to orphanages.”

  “His sword techniques are legendary in the region.”

  “And Charlotte—his partner—is just as impressive!”

  “They form the most powerful duo in—”

  “Okay,” Hiro interrupted. “Thank you.”

  That’s enough.

  “Oh! Want to hear more? I can tell you how he—”

  “No. I’m good. Thanks.”

  Hiro walked away quickly before she could launch into another monologue.

  ---

  Across town, Nolan stood in front of what remained of his house.

  Or rather, the ruins.

  Walls cracked. Roof partially collapsed. Windows completely destroyed.

  Debris everywhere.

  Everything is ruined.

  Almost everything.

  He didn’t know where Cassian had gone.

  Is she okay?

  Did she win?

  Is she… dead?

  He was worried. Really worried.

  I should have stayed closer.

  I should have been close enough to see the fight.

  To know what happened.

  Instead I ran away like a coward.

  He regretted moving so far.

  But she told me to leave.

  Called me weak.

  He shook his head.

  I am weak. She was right.

  He didn’t know what to do now.

  I’ve never been in this situation before.

  It’s chaos.

  He rummaged through the wreckage, looking for anything salvageable.

  Most of his belongings were destroyed. Broken. Useless.

  But one thing had miraculously survived.

  The maid outfit.

  Perfect. Intact. As if protected by some divine force.

  The headpiece spotless. The white gloves immaculate. The apron with Yes, Master ? perfectly embroidered.

  Nolan picked it up carefully.

  How is this possible?

  Everything destroyed except… this?

  What the hell is this cursed outfit?

  He thought about giving it back to Cassian.

  She might need it.

  Or not.

  Probably not.

  But I should still try to find her.

  He considered.

  She might be an adventurer.

  She used magic. She fought a monster.

  That sounds like an adventurer.

  The guild would probably be the best place to look.

  He folded the outfit neatly and put it in a bag.

  Took one last look at his ruined house.

  Nolan set off.

  Completely unaware of the chaos he was about to cause.