The debrief room on the guild’s second floor was small but insulated—stone walls that held sound, a single lantern casting warm light across a circular table scattered with mission reports.

  Ronan shut the door behind them.

  A soft click.

  Then quiet.

  Kael dropped into a chair with a tired grunt.

  Lira folded her arms, posture tight.

  Ronan leaned forward over the table, weight braced in both hands.

  Eis took the last seat, hands folded neatly in her lap.

  For a moment, no one spoke.

  Then Ronan broke the silence.

  “Slaver activity is increasing.”

  Lira’s expression hardened.

  “We’ve had more disappearances this month alone than the last half-year combined.”

  Kael scratched his jaw.

  “And today’s rumors line up too cleanly to ignore.”

  Eis listened without interrupting.

  Ronan glanced at the reports spread across the table—lists of names, dates, last known locations.

  “We haven’t confirmed anything yet,” he continued. “But there are enough overlapping details to warrant attention.”

  Lira tapped a page with two fingers.

  “Same districts. Same gaps in patrol coverage. And always at night.”

  Kael leaned back slightly.

  “Under the bridges. Canal access. The Shallows.”

  Eis’s gaze lifted.

  “The Shallows?”

  Ronan nodded.

  “Lowest part of Lumaire. Old stone, narrow alleys, poor lighting. Easy to lose people there—intentionally or otherwise.”

  Kael added, “It’s where rumors go to rot. Plenty of whispers. No proof.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Lira exhaled slowly.

  “And anyone who’s tried to dig too deeply hasn’t come back with anything useful.”

  The lantern crackled softly.

  Eis looked down at the reports again. Names. Ages. Notes written in careful, impersonal script.

  Missing.

  Unrecovered.

  Last seen near the canals.

  Ronan straightened.

  “We need to prepare and report to the guild first, we’re not acting tonight.”

  Kael nodded immediately.

  “Agreed.”

  “We’ll start investigating tomorrow,” Ronan continued. “Quietly. Carefully. See what’s real and what’s noise.”

  His gaze moved around the table, settling on each of them in turn.

  “This isn’t something we rush,” he said. “If there’s truth buried there, it’ll be dangerous—and it’ll stay dangerous whether we charge in or not.”

  Lira’s jaw set, but she nodded.

  “Together, then.”

  Kael folded his arms.

  “Agreed.”

  Ronan’s eyes lingered on Eis last—not accusatory, not doubtful. Simply firm.

  “Be careful,” he said. “All of you. Whatever’s happening down there has survived this long because it punishes mistakes.”

  Eis inclined her head once.

  “I understand.”

  Ronan nodded.

  “Good. We regroup in the morning.”

  The lantern burned steady.

  And for now, that was enough.

  Ronan slowed as they reached the steps leading down from the briefing rooml.

  “I can walk you back,” he said. Not insistent. Just offered, the way he did most things.

  Eis turned slightly, already shaking her head. “I’ll be fine.”

  He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.” A pause. “Still—be careful.”

  “I will,” she said. And she meant it.

  They parted there.

  The guild hall behind her was dim now, lanterns burning low as conversations softened into tired murmurs. Outside, Lumaire’s streetlamps cast warm halos across the cobblestones, the city settling into its nighttime rhythm.

  Eis followed the familiar route toward her inn.

  Halfway down the street, she passed beneath a stone overhang where two figures stood close together, cloaks drawn tight. They didn’t notice her at first—voices low, words clipped.

  “…shipment tonight.”

  Eis didn’t slow.

  “…meet in the Shallows—”

  Her steps stayed even.

  “…by the broken archway.”

  She passed them without turning her head.

  Three phrases. One location. One window of time.

  Eis adjusted her path at the next corner—subtle, unhurried.

  And let them walk ahead of her.