Chapter 52: Promotion Again

Chapter 52: Promotion AgainThe warm scent of roast boar and honeyed ale wafted through the halls of the Adventurer’s Guild in Elandra. The sun had already begun its descent, casting golden light through the stained-glass windows of the great hall. Within, the atmosphere was electric—cheers, claps on backs, tankards raised in tribute. Word of the party’s swift and overwhelming success had already spread like wildfire as the adventurer’s guild opened after the rift’s completion. The usual hush that followed most rift expeditions was absent. Instead, the guild was alight with celebration. Adventurers—some lounging at long wooden tables, others standing with goblets in hand—turned their heads every time Inigo or Lyra passed, nodding with quiet respect or open curiosity. At the center table reserved for returning rift squads, Kael sat flanked by Shade and Darius, both enjoying the luxury of hot food and actual chairs. Reina had her feet kicked up on the bench, swirling a mug as she retold the story of WLSN-7’s "adorable rampage" for the third time to a group of curious bronze-ranked adventurers. "And then boom!" she said, mimicking a missile explosion with her hands. "The staff snapped clean off! Like a twig! I swear, I think it was the turret’s third or fourth shot that did it." "Fifth," Inigo corrected mildly, sliding into the bench beside Lyra. "You counted?" Reina blinked. "Telemetry in the HUD," he said without thinking. Reina blinked again. "The... huh?" "Don’t ask," Lyra said with a knowing smile. "Just roll with it." Before any of them could reply, the doors at the far end of the hall opened once again, and the chatter died down instantly. Guildmaster Thorne entered, trailed by three record-keepers and a pair of armored guards. He moved with his usual brisk pace, though his eyes held a flicker of something rare—satisfaction. The crowd parted as he approached the party’s table, and his voice echoed through the chamber, clear and commanding. "Everyone present—bear witness." The hall quieted further. Even the tavern staff paused in their duties. Thorne stood tall, his long coat sweeping the floor as he addressed the room. "The rift east of Elandra has officially collapsed. We received no advance warning, no scout report. It was handled by a seven-person team." He paused, letting that sink in. "And not only handled, but completed in record time—under two hours." There were gasps. Someone near the back whispered, "That’s impossible." S~eaʀᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thorne raised a hand, silencing them. "Not only that... no civilian casualties. No structural damage. Full-body retrievals. Rift-grade cores. Confirmed kill of the monsters. If I hadn’t seen the report myself, I’d have thought it fabricated." He looked over to Kael. "Captain Kael, would you confirm your report for the record?" Kael rose to his feet. "Everything is accurate. The kills were clean. The tactics were effective. And two of our members far exceeded the expectations of their current rank." Thorne turned back to the gathered adventurers. "You all know what that means." Murmurs rose. A few jaws dropped. Lyra leaned over slightly to Inigo and whispered, "Is this about to be...?" He raised a brow. "Looks like it." The Guildmaster’s voice boomed again. "Inigo, Lyra. Approach." They stood. Lyra brushed a curl of hair behind her ear. Inigo adjusted the strap of his gear, nodding once. As they stepped forward, the crowd shifted, making way for them like the tide parting around stones. It was rare to see a double promotion. Rarer still for silver-rank adventurers to skip the waiting period, the usual quota of missions, the grueling evaluations. But the battlefield had been the test. The battlefield never lied. Thorne gestured to the record-keeper at his side, who opened a leather-bound tome and withdrew two golden brooches shaped like phoenix feathers. "From this day forward, you are recognized as Gold-ranked Adventurers of the Elandra Guild. You are granted access to higher-tier commissions, diplomatic assignments, and royal contracts. Your word carries weight. Your actions, consequence." He handed the first brooch to Inigo. Inigo accepted it without a word, fingers curling around the smooth metal. It was warm, not just from the firelight, but perhaps from the meaning behind it. He gave Thorne a quiet nod, and the Guildmaster returned it. Then Lyra stepped forward. "Congratulations," Thorne said, handing her the second. "Thank you, it’s an honor." "Thank you for your service. And to the rest of your party, as promised, you will receive ten thousand gold coins for completing the rift." Then the hall erupted into applause. Not just polite clapping, but full-on cheering. Tankards slammed on tables, boots stamped the floor. Their party members rose to toast them, and even the barmaids began pouring rounds faster than ever. Kael sat back down with a faint smile, watching the two as they returned to their table. "You earned it," he said. Reina immediately flung herself across the table and snatched the brooch from Inigo’s hand, inspecting it with a wide grin. "It’s making me want to become an adventurer! If only the salary is consistent and goes out to perilous journeys." "There’s no doubt about your accomplishment, Inigo, Lyra," Shade said with respect. Marianne leaned toward Lyra. "You are so skillful in using your bow." "Please don’t." Reina held up the badge like a trophy. "Be proud of your achievements. I hope to see each other again soon in the city." "If we see one another," Lyra said, smiling. The celebration carried on into the evening. The guild’s main fireplace roared with fresh logs, and trays of roasted meat, honey cakes, and spiced cider flowed endlessly. Even the usually grim Kael accepted a refill from a passing staffer. Inigo sat at the corner of the table, brooch now pinned to his jacket just beneath the shoulder. Wheeler was parked quietly beside him, optics blinking slowly, a near-sentry in the chaos of festivities. "You okay?" Lyra asked, nudging his arm. "Yeah. Just thinking." "About what?" "About what I am going to do with the reward," Inigo replied. "Ten thousand gold coins for sure could get me a house in the capital right? Also, I’m thinking of business since as Reina mentioned, adventuring is a dangerous occupation. And I’m starting to like it here." Lyra smiled. "There’s no problem with that, but you are still going to fight right?" "Of course." They clinked their mugs together. "We are gold adventurers now," she said. "Yes, it’s so fast," he replied.