Just another member of the Adventurers Guild

Shortly after the group's lively conversation, Merlin and Master Rohan left, leaving the four of them alone again. The four continued sitting and talking among themselves until 9:00 a.m., when Cristel recommended they go to rest so they could train early the next day.

Darwin didn't think twice and went home, while Cristel took an elevator in the reception area to her room on the upper floors, which surprised Finn, since he didn't know there were rooms in the guild.

"Of course there are, and they're completely free too" Amelia confirmed.

"So why don't many adventurers stay here? Wouldn't it be easier than having to pay for a room or house and then having to come here every day?" Finn asked, genuinely curious.

"Yes, but many people prefer the views of the center of the city, plus it's easier to get to the stores… But, why don't you move here? It would be easier for you, like you just said, right?" Amelia asked, and Finn thought for a moment.

Finn thought it was a great idea. This way, he wouldn't have to constantly pay for a room he barely sleeps in, and he wouldn't have to travel all the way here.

"Well, maybe I will. How big is a room here?" Finn asked, looking directly at Amelia and then asking again "Wait, do you live here or have you even seen a room?"

"Of course I've seen the rooms here. I've been in Crystal's room several times, and I also live here, and I have to say they're quite large" Amelia stated, checking the time on the wall clock and opening the screen on her wristband, then clicking a button that said 'Clock out'. "You know what? my work just ended at 8:30. How about I show you my room so you can get an idea?"

Finn agreed without hesitation, as it seemed easier for him to decide whether to move here or not. But what Finn couldn't see was Amelia's mischievous smile when she saw him accept without the slightest hesitation.

'What a great friend Amelia is' Finn thought happily.

'Fool, you'll be mine today' Amelia thought mischievously.

Amelia led Finn to the elevator, going up to the 7th floor, where the two walked to room number 4. At first glance, Finn could tell the rooms weren't very big, as there wasn't much space between the doors, which indicated they weren't very spacious. Seeing Finn's appraising and disappointed look, Amelia knew exactly what he was thinking and simply smiled, opening the door, knowing Finn was about to get a big surprise.

Amelia entered without hesitation, allowing Finn to see the room she lived in. Finn entered the room, impressed, as it was much larger than he thought it should be. There was a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, a laundry room, a large bathroom, and Amelia's room, which also had a bathroom ensuite.

"Wow, thi is really big. I'll definitely get a room…" Finn said, then looked at the photos on a shelf, noticing the photo from Amelia's most recent birthday. "Are you a year older than me?"

Finn waited for Amelia's response, but only silence reigned in the room for a few seconds.

Click!

The sound of the door lock slamming worried Finn, who began to sweat nervously.

"Amelia?" Finn asked without looking back, but listening to Amelia's footsteps approaching him.

"You know, these last two months haven't been hard just for you, Finn. You and Darwin have given me a lot of work with hardly any rest…" Amelia said, standing right behind Finn and placing her hand on his back. "You've gotten taller these past few months…"

"Amelia?" Finn asked again, more nervous.

"Time to pay, Finn" Amelia said, lowering her hand to squeeze Finn's buttocks.

"Amelia, I... I'm sweaty because of the training" Finn said, trying to escape the situation, but Amelia hugged him tightly.

"Don't worry. We'll sweat anyway" Amelia said with a mischievous smile.

—

Hours later, Finn woke up to light streaming through the balcony doors that served as windows and were just to the right of Amelia's room. It was a huge zeppelin that had just arrived in the capital and crossed right in front of the guild, but Finn couldn't see it clearly because of the heavy rain. Finn tried to get up, thinking it would be best if he left now, but Amelia pulled him towards her again.

"What do you think you're doing, idiot? It's 1 a.m. Turn around, hug me, and go to sleep. The cold season is almost here, and it's already getting cold at night" Amelia demanded, frowning, letting him know she was cold as she snuggled closer to Finn. But when Finn didn't respond, Amelia continued "Unless you want to pick up where we left off..."

Finn didn't think twice and pressed himself against Amelia, hugging her the way she wanted. He was cold too, anyway.

"You're just being difficult," Amelia said, smiling as she fell back asleep.

Finn wanted to go back to sleep, just like Amelia, but for some reason, he felt a strange sensation running through his body that intensified over time. Just a few seconds later, a loud explosion was heard in the distance, shaking the entire guild and alerting Finn and Amelia.

Amelia woke up startled, turning to see Finn, who was already looking out the window while holding Amelia tightly against him. After a few seconds, the capital's alarm sounded, followed by several flying ships of different sizes. Amelia threw the sheets aside and, with Finn, leaned out of the small balcony in her room, not caring that she was still completely naked.

"An attack?!" Amelia asked incredulously, seeing a large amount of smoke and fire in the center of the city.

'I live around there...' Finn thought, astonished.

Amelia rubbed her arms, feeling the cold and the rain, which not only hadn't stopped since yesterday, but seemed to have intensified. Finn, seeing the rain falling on them, moved his hand slightly, calling the slime in his backpack and creating a small roof over them that protected them from the rain. Amelia, seeing this, thanked him and then took Finn's arms, wrapping them around her body to protect herself from the cold, then she continued looking toward the smoke.

'Merlin said the novel should have started by now, but I don't remember that Cristel's novel showed an attack or anything like that at the beginning' Finn thought, worried. It was very likely that his presence caused some kind of butterfly effect that led to this.

"A bomb... from the Snowvein Kingdom?" Amelia said, confused, still paying attention to the source of the smoke.

"Can you hear them up here?" Finn asked, surprised, and Amelia nodded.

"I used to be a C-class adventurer, Finn. I may not have the same strength or speed as before, but my senses are still very sharp" Amelia revealed, before widening her eyes in surprise. "Finn!"

"What? What's going on?!" Finn asked, alarmed, feeling Amelia hold his arms tighter.

"The whole area you lived in… was destroyed," Amelia revealed, surprising Finn. "It was a good thing you stayed here… there was almost nothing left standing… by the gods. Many people died in the attack," Amelia said, tightening her grip on Finn arms.

"I think I'll stay at the guild from now on" Finn nodded, looking at the smoke that kept rising. "Darwin doesn't live in that area, does he?" Finn asked.

"No, Darwin lives a few blocks away from here, in a small inn run by the guild" Amelia said. "I can't believe it. Why would Snowvein attack us? We're supposed to be making a treaty between us…"

Finn contemplated Amelia's words, knowing full well that dwarves wouldn't be capable of attacking a kingdom they were making a treaty with, especially if they had several friends in that kingdom, like several of the Masters here. In the novels, dwarves were known for being very loyal and fair to their comrades, they would never stoop to doing something like that.

"Maybe they didn't do it. Maybe it was done by someone who doesn't want us to sign that treaty" Finn stated, surprising Amelia.

"Like a plot or a deception?" Amelia asked, and Finn nodded.

Amelia sighed sadly, knowing that there were several kingdoms that didn't want the treaty between the two kingdoms, including the Wayport Kingdom, which had a strong history with the Snowvein Kingdom and a few conflicts with the Firorn Kingdom.

"The Masters are already there; they'll take care of everything" Amelia said, listening to the Masters in the distance.

Finn nodded, seeing that the fire wasn't stopping despite the heavy rains, and he even thought it seemed to be growing more as time passed. Before he could say anything, the two saw a shadow fall from the top of the guild and land right in front of one of the main streets of the capital suspended in the air. This person was Cristel, who had jumped from her room, not caring that she was barefoot or wearing only shorts, a bra, and a huge sword on her back.

The two watched as Cristel disappeared from sight in an instant, followed by a small ripple that stopped the rain around her for a few seconds.

'Did she break the sound barrier instantly?' Finn wondered, seeing where Cristel had been a few seconds ago.

"The idiot forgot that her clothes couldn't withstand such speeds," Amelia commented, pointing at the shredded bra lying on the floor. "She's lucky she reacted quickly and covered her shorts with her magic."

"All that happened in an instant?" Finn asked.

"Didn't you see how the friction and air pressure tore Cristel's bra?" Amelia asked.

"I couldn't even see which direction she went" Finn said.

"Right, you're still a D-class" Amelia said, then turned to look at the clouds in the sky and couldn't see anything but darkness and a few flying ships still heading in the direction of the explosion. "This rain won't stop anytime soon. I hope this helps put out the fire… We need to go back to the room. I'm cold and sleepy. Besides, it's not like we can do anything that the Masters there can't do, and there are probably several adventurers like Cristel present."

Finn nodded, following Amelia back to her room and closing the windows with his telekinesis.