The walk to Phoenix Ascendant’s guild base
“Not bad teamwork back there,” he said, glancing back at us. His auburn hair caught the faint light of the forest’s corrupted glow, making him look like a heroic poster boy for a guild recruitment ad. “Though I must admit, I was half-expecting you to tell us to shove off.”
“We technically, and I still might,” Devon muttered, keeping his shield up as we walked. He hadn’t lowered his guard since the battle with Oberon, and his tone made it clear that trust was not on the menu.
Kaelion chuckled, unfazed. “Fair enough. I can’t blame you for being cautious. But trust me, we’re on the same side here.”
Selene snorted softly. “We’ll see.”
The gates of Phoenix Ascendant’s guild base
[New Location Discovered: Emberhold – Guild Fortress of Phoenix Ascendant]
Status:Facilities Available:Guild Members Present:
Phoenix Ascendant’s guild base was nothing like the scrappy outposts and glitchy sanctuaries we’d encountered. The moment we stepped through the towering iron gates, it was clear this place was built for a top-tier guild. Massive stone walls surrounded a sprawling compound with multiple buildings: a crafting forgetraining yardcentral guild hall
Players bustled around the courtyard, some repairing gear while others practiced sparring in the yard. The guild’s golden phoenix emblem was displayed proudly on banners and shields.
“Welcome to Emberhold
The moment we entered, it was impossible not to feel impressed. Emberhold
“This place is insane,” Fi whispered, her wide eyes darting around. “I feel like we just walked into an expansion pack.”
“It’s well-maintained,” Mason admitted grudgingly. “Efficient use of resources.”
Selene was quiet, her sharp gaze flicking between the banners and the players we passed. I noticed the subtle tension in her posture, the way her fingers twitched near her dagger hilt. Something about this place was making her uneasy.
“Selene…Selene…wait, a sec, I thought you looked familiar,” Rya said suddenly, her voice cutting through the noise. She stopped walking, staring at Selene with a faint surprise. “You didn’t have your guild name attached to your HUD. People in the forum started talking and thought you might’ve AFK’d for good. You’re still kicking around, huh?”
Selene’s expression didn’t change, but I caught the slight narrowing of her eyes. “I could say the same about you.”
Kaelion stopped as well, turning to look at Selene with renewed interest. “Wait a second. You’re Selene, aren’t you? From Raven’s Refuge
A murmur rippled through the group. Even Elara raised an eyebrow. “No way. Selene? The one who pulled off the Silent Spire raid solo?”
Selene sighed, crossing her arms. “I didn’t do it solo. And if you’re trying to butter me up, it won’t work.”
“I’m just surprised you’re slumming it with a group of misfits,” Rya said, smirking. “Thought Raven’s Refuge only rolled with the best.”
“I’m here for my own reasons,” Selene said coolly. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
Kaelion chuckled, his grin widening. “This just got a lot more interesting. I always wondered what it’d be like to party with one of Raven’s elites.”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Devon snapped, stepping forward. “We’re not here to party.”
Kaelion raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. Let’s talk inside.”
The guild hall was a marvel of architecture and functionality. Massive chandeliers cast a warm glow over polished wooden tables covered in maps, gear, and scattered papers. A glowing map of Wyrm Hollows
Kaelion motioned for us to sit at one of the long tables. Rya, Elara, and Drog joined him while the rest of their guild stayed busy with their own tasks. Ethan lingered near the back of our group, his expression unreadable.
“So,” Kaelion said, leaning forward with a grin. “Let’s hear it. What brings a scrappy group like yours to a place like Wyrm Hollows? Don’t tell me you’re just here for loot.”
“Why else would we be here?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral. “This place is crawling with anomalies. That usually means good rewards.”
“You’re not wrong,” Rya said, tilting her chair back lazily. “But the anomalies in Wyrm Hollows? They’re no joke. Half the guilds that come through here don’t make it out.”
“And yet you’re here,” Selene said, her tone sharp. “Why?”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Kaelion shrugged. “Same as you. Anomalies, loot, maybe a boss or two if we’re lucky. We’ve been tracking this one for a while. Feels different, though. Bigger.”
I swallowed hard, my thoughts flashing to Guardian Oberon
“I don’t see why we’re even talking about this,” Devon said, his voice hard. “We don’t need their help.”
“Speak for yourself,” Fi muttered. “That last fight wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. We could’ve wiped if they hadn’t shown up.”
Devon glared at her, but Mason nodded. “She’s right. If we want to get through this, we need allies.”
“And what about ?” Devon shot back. “We don’t know anything about these people.”
Kaelion chuckled, clearly amused. “Relax, big guy. We’re not here to steal your loot or stab you in the back. We’ve got enough to worry about with the anomalies.”
Selene’s sharp gaze flicked to Kaelion. “You might want to worry more. These anomalies aren’t just glitches or bad design. They’re breaking the game.”
Rya scoffed. “Breaking the game? That’s dramatic.”
“It’s the truth,” Selene said flatly. “You’ve seen the corruption spreading. How long before it reaches your base? Your guild?”
The room fell quiet, Kaelion’s grin fading slightly. He looked at me, his expression serious now. “What do you know about the anomalies?”
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “They’re not part of the game. They’re... something else. Dangerous. The devs are involved, but we don’t know how deep it goes.”
“Enough,” Devon said sharply. “We’ve already said too much.”
Kaelion studied us for a moment, then leaned back with a sigh. “Well, that’s... concerning. But if what you’re saying is true, then it sounds like we’ve got a bigger problem than loot.”
He glanced at his guildmates, then back at us. “Tell you what. Let’s make a deal. Phoenix Ascendant will back you up for as long as we’re in Wyrm Hollows. In exchange, we share the loot, and you tell us anything useful you find.”
Devon shook his head immediately. “No. We work alone.”
“Do we, though?” Fi asked, tilting her head. “We’re not exactly swimming in options.”
Selene glanced at me, her expression unreadable. “It’s your call.”
I took a deep breath, weighing the risks. Kaelion’s group was strong, and having their resources could make the difference between survival and failure. But trusting them? That was another story.
“Fine,” I said finally. “But this is temporary. Once we’re through, we go our separate ways.”
Kaelion grinned, his easy confidence returning. “Deal. Welcome to Emberhold, temporary allies.”
We followed Kaelion and his group deeper into Emberholdtraining yardcrafting forgesupply vendor area
I caught Ethan lingering at the edge of the group, his expression guarded but observant. He hadn’t said much since the fight with Guardian Oberon, which starkly contrasted his usual confidence. I wanted to ask if he was okay, but with Devon’s looming presence and Selene’s sharp gaze, I decided against it.
“So,” Fi said, stepping beside me, “on a scale of one to ‘we’re definitely out of our league,’ where does this place rank?”
I smirked despite myself. “About a nine and a half.”
“Good to know,” she said, her balloon pet bouncing happily beside her. “At least they have hot springs. If we’re gonna die, might as well do it relaxed.”
As we passed the central fountain
“You’ve been quiet, Selene,” She said, her voice laced with amusement. “Not like you.”
Selene didn’t look at her. “I don’t waste my words.”
“Oh, I remember,” Rya said. “You always were the quiet one. The one.”
Kaelion, walking ahead, glanced back with a curious smile. “Care to share with the class? Sounds like there’s history here.”
Selene’s steps didn’t falter, but her voice was sharp. “Rya and I ran in the same circles once. That’s all.”
“Same circles?” Rya scoffed, stopping to face her. “You mean back when Raven’s Refuge thought they were untouchable? Oh wait—you guys actually untouchable until—”
“Enough.” Selene’s tone cut through the air like a blade. “You don’t know the first thing about Raven’s Refuge. Don’t pretend you do.”
Rya smirked, but there was a glint of something darker in her eyes. “I know enough. Like how you left your precious guild hanging when things went south. Or was that just a tactical retreat?”
Selene’s hand twitched toward her dagger, but she didn’t draw it. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice low and dangerous. “Say that again, and you’ll see how untouchable I am.”
“Whoa, whoa!” Kaelion stepped between them, his hands raised. “Easy, ladies. We’re all on the same side, remember?”
Selene backed off, her expression icy. Rya’s smirk didn’t waver as she stepped back with her group.
“What was that about?” I asked quietly as we moved on.
“Old grudges,” Selene muttered. “Rya used to run with another guild—Ebon Talon. They... let’s just say they weren’t above cutting corners. She always had a problem with Raven’s Refuge.”
“Why?” I pressed.
“Because we did things the right way,” she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
The tension simmered down as Kaelion led us through the rest of the fortress. The hot spring
“Is this seriously real?” Fi asked, staring at the steaming pools nestled among lush greenery. “I mean, are we to use this?”
Kaelion chuckled. “Consider it a perk of the alliance. You’ve earned it.”
Fi turned to me, her eyes wide. “Kiera, we to check this out. Just us. No offense, guys, but you’re not invited.”
Before I could respond, Devon cut in. “We didn’t come here for a vacation.”
Fi waved him off. “Oh, relax, . We’ve earned a little downtime.”
Devon muttered something under his breath, but Mason was the one who spoke up. “It might be a good idea to rest while we can. This alliance is temporary, but we should use it if they’re offering resources.”
?????°???°?????
That evening, we were given a small room in one of the side buildings to rest. The space was cozy but functional, with simple cots and a small table.
As the others settled in, I stared at my inventory. Ethan sat across from me, his gaze thoughtful.
I hesitated, then nodded. “Just... thinking.”
“About what?”
My heart raced, and my palms felt clammy, but I had to know.
“You haven’t told anyone, have you?” I asked quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan turned to me, his expression calm but serious. “Of course not. It’s just between us.”
“Are you sure?” I pressed, my nerves bubbling to the surface. “Because if Devon or Selene found out—”
“They won’t,” he said firmly, cutting me off. “I meant what I said. No one needs to know.”
I nodded, though the knot in my chest didn’t loosen. His reassurance should’ve made me feel better, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this secret was going to catch up with me eventually.
Later, as the group prepared to settle in for the evening, Fi cornered me near one of the supply vendors.
“Alright, Kiera,” she said, hands on her hips. “It’s decided. You and I are going to the hot springs. Just us. No Devon, no Selene, no brooding boys.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, now?”
“Absolutely now,” she said, grabbing my arm and practically dragging me toward the springs. “Come on. It’s not like we get to do this every day. Besides, you look like you could use a break.”
“Fine,” I said with a small smile. “But only for a little while.”
Fi grinned triumphantly. “That’s the spirit. Let’s go relax and pretend we’re not constantly on the brink of death.”
