Chapter 53: Seperation

Chapter 53: SeperationThe celebration had slowed by the time the Guildmaster returned once more to the center of the hall. This time, his presence carried the finality of a closing Chapter. His voice wasn’t booming now, just firm and clear enough to rise above the fading laughter and the clinking of mugs. "For your service, your rift-grade retrievals, and the swift elimination of the target," Thorne said, holding up a velvet pouch, "you are awarded a reward of ten thousand gold coins, to be claimed at the Royal Bank of Elandra." He held up a parchment next, bearing the seal of the guild and the royal finance ministry. "This is your claim cheque. Present it at the bank by noon tomorrow, and the funds will be released. For security purposes, we do not carry such coinage here in bulk." Kael stepped forward to receive the document on behalf of the party. He gave a short nod, then turned to the group. "That’s it, then," he said. "You’ve all earned a rest. Collect your payment tomorrow and don’t get yourselves killed in the meantime." With a few final claps on shoulders, and quick exchanges of thanks, the group began to disband. Reina stood up first, stretching her arms with a yawn. "Alright, I’m heading back to my place. I’m three cups away from embarrassing myself." Marianne chuckled and followed after her. "Same. I have temple duties in the morning, and I’d rather not explain to the head priestess why I smell like boar grease and mead." Darius slung his shield over his back and gave Inigo and Lyra a nod. "Good job out there. Don’t spend it all in one place." Shade, who had been silent for most of the celebration, simply offered a slight bow and left without a word, slipping through the crowd and out the main door like a shadow. Kael stayed a moment longer, sipping the last of his drink before setting the empty mug down and adjusting his cloak. "You two handled yourselves well," he said. "Tomorrow, you’ll be in a different league. Don’t forget what got you there." With that, he turned and followed the others out into the cool night. The guild hall was much quieter now. Only a few stragglers remained—some asleep at their tables, others too deep in conversation to leave just yet. A barmaid extinguished one of the side lamps while humming a tune. Inigo pushed away from the bench, stretching his arms. "That was... a lot." Lyra nodded. "Feels strange, doesn’t it? All of this—just a day after we were preparing for possible death." seaʀᴄh thё ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He offered a tired smile. "Yeah. But I’m glad we made it through." They walked out of the hall together. The night air was cool and crisp, a refreshing contrast to the heat inside. Stars dotted the sky, and a few lanterns along the cobblestone streets cast pools of warm light as they walked. "You know," Lyra said, folding her arms behind her head as she strolled beside him, "ten thousand gold coins really could get you a decent house. Especially if you’re not picky about being close to the plaza." "I’ve been thinking about that," Inigo said. "I don’t want to live in an inn forever. As cozy as Amber’s Hearth is, it’s still... temporary." "I agree," Lyra replied. "Settling down a little—having a real home base—it changes things." He turned his head slightly to glance at her. "So. You going to help me pick one tomorrow?" "Of course." She smirked. "You’d probably buy the first place with a decent roof if I wasn’t there to stop you." Inigo chuckled. "You’re probably right." They reached a small intersection where the lanterns dimmed slightly. Lyra slowed down in front of a modest two-story inn with a carved wooden sign: The Dancing Acorn. "This is me," she said, gesturing toward the door. "It’s not much, but the rooms are clean, and they don’t water down the tea." "Sounds like a solid deal." She hesitated for a moment, then turned back to him. "Thanks for walking me." "No problem." She stepped toward the door but paused again. "Hey... I’m glad we were in that party together." "Me too," he said honestly. "I’ll come by Amber’s Hearth at midmorning. We’ll go house hunting together. Don’t be late." "Wouldn’t dream of it." With a final wave, she stepped inside, and the door closed softly behind her. Inigo lingered there a moment, looking up at the inn’s dark windows, then turned and started back toward his own place. The streets were empty now. The kind of quiet that only arrived in the middle of the night when even the cats had curled up somewhere warm. The faint scent of the guild’s roast still clung to his jacket, and every step echoed slightly on the cobblestone. He passed by closed stalls and shuttered windows. Elandra was a peaceful city at night, and it reminded him that not every corner of the world was war or wilderness. Eventually, he arrived at Amber’s Hearth. . He entered quietly, giving a small nod to the innkeeper, who was dozing behind the counter with a blanket draped over her shoulders. "Long day?" she mumbled, eyes still half-closed. "Something like that," he said. "Welcome back." He made his way upstairs to his room. It was simple—a bed, a desk, a window with iron latches—but clean and quiet. WLSN-7 rolled in behind him and parked itself near the corner. Inigo undressed, set the golden brooch on the nightstand, and sank into bed with a long exhale. The blanket was heavy and warm, the pillow just soft enough to sink into without swallowing his head. Tomorrow would be a busy day. House hunting, a bank visit, and maybe—just maybe—making a long-term plan. Not just for gold, not just for comfort, but for something permanent. He glanced at the ceiling, eyes already growing heavy. From a wandering isekaied person to a gold-ranked adventurer. It had all happened so quickly. He thought of Lyra’s words, of Kael’s nod, of Reina’s teasing voice, and even of Shade’s quiet respect. Things were changing. And for the first time in a while, Inigo didn’t mind the idea of settling down. Tomorrow, he’d start building something of his own. But for now—he closed his eyes, let out a soft sigh, and dematerialized Wheelson into his system.