The guild was alive with noise when Eis returned later in the day — mostly from adventurers coming in from afternoon quests. She didn’t expect anyone to notice her, let alone react.

  She was wrong.

  The moment she stepped through the door:

  Heads turned.

  Not all.

  But enough.

  Eis walked calmly to the notice board, ignoring the scattered whispers.

  But she heard them anyway.

  “Is that her?”

  “The Copper who cleared the wolf job?”

  “No— not just wolves. She killed twelve goblins by herself.”

  “A whole outpost.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “She’s got the badge. And the report.”

  “Didn’t Team Argent vouch for her?”

  “They must’ve seen something.”

  Eis kept her posture steady.

  Not tense.

  Not flattered.

  Just quietly focused.

  She never liked attention.

  The heavy wooden guild doors opened, and familiar footsteps entered.

  Ronan was first — tall, composed, scanning the room instinctively.

  Kael followed with his bow over his shoulder, already smirking like he sensed gossip in the air.

  Lira, last, walked briskly toward the quest counter, scroll in hand.

  But then—

  A clerk whispered loudly to another:

  “That’s her. The one Argent picked up.”

  Ronan’s head turned subtly.

  Kael’s smirk sharpened.

  Lira paused mid-step.

  And then all three saw Eis standing by the board.

  Kael was the first to speak.

  “Well, well,” he drawled, strolling toward her with a lazy grin. “You certainly shook the place up, didn’t you?”

  Eis blinked. “…I only completed the mission I accepted.”

  “That’s the problem,” Kael chuckled. “You completed it too well.”

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  Ronan approached next, eyes steady, assessing her quietly.

  “You’re unharmed,” he said. Not a question. A statement of relief.

  Eis nodded.

  “Yes. The wolves were—”

  “—wolves,” Kael finished. “Sure, sure. But the goblin camp?”

  Lira reached them then, eyes narrowing slightly.

  “You cleared it alone.”

  Eis nodded again. “I estimated the size and determined it was manageable.”

  Kael let out a low whistle.

  Ronan gave a single approving nod.

  Lira exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose.

  “Eis… Bronze missions are often first attempted in pairs. You handled it alone.”

  Eis bowed her head.

  “I apologize if it caused trouble.”

  Kael barked a laugh.

  “Trouble? You boosted our team’s reputation just by existing.”

  Lira glared at him, but didn’t fully deny it.

  Another adventurer, a Bronze-ranked woman with a spear, approached hesitantly.

  “Um— excuse me? Are you… Eis? The Copper who—”

  Kael stepped forward like a bodyguard.

  “No interviews,” he said flatly.

  The woman nearly tripped running away.

  Eis looked at him.

  “…Kael.”

  “What? You want a crowd?”

  He pointed around.

  “Half the guild wants to know who the quiet new Copper is who butchered goblins like it was laundry day.”

  Lira sighed.

  “He’s right. Word travels fast.”

  Nearby, clerks were whispering excitedly.

  “Did you see her report?”

  “It was cleaner than most Silver submissions.”

  “She drew a map!”

  “With measurements!”

  “That woman is dangerous.”

  Kael threw an arm around Eis's shoulder (which she stiffened at).

  “Eis is officially the most interesting Copper this guild has seen in years.”

  Eis gently removed his arm.

  “Please don’t exaggerate.”

  “Who’s exaggerating?” Kael grinned. “You embarrassed half the Bronze rank.”

  Ronan finally spoke again, voice calm.

  “You did well.”

  Eis blinked.

  He didn’t praise easily.

  And when he did, it meant something.

  Lira crossed her arms, studying Eis with a mixture of professional thoroughness and… quiet pride.

  “This confirms it,” Lira said.

  “You’ll fit into our escort job next week without issue.”

  Kael nodded.

  “Honestly? We’d take you today.”

  Ronan added softly:

  “You’re ready.”

  Eis lowered her head politely.

  “Thank you.”

  As Team Argent gathered around her, the whispers shifted.

  “They already treat her like one of their own.”

  “She must be something special.”

  “Argent wouldn’t recruit a Copper unless she was exceptional.”

  “Think she’s aiming for Silver rank?”

  “At this rate, she’ll skip that entirely.”

  Eis pretended she didn’t hear any of it.

  But inwardly…

  A small, warm pulse formed in her chest.

  Something she hadn’t felt for a long time.