“The Structure and Reach of the Lumaire Adventurer’s Guild.”
She read silently, absorbing details:
- guild branches across Eldoria
- emergency monster surge protocols
- the ranking hierarchy
- mission standards
- inter-city guild cooperation
- rights of adventurers during crises
The system was clear. Organized.
A strong foundation for how this world functioned.
Eis turned another page and took a sip of tea.
Two Bronze-ranked adventurers plopped into the seats across from her.
“Well well,” the first said with a grin, “you must be Eis.”
The second leaned in.
“Hard not to know you. Heard you killed a whole pack of wolves AND a goblin camp alone.”
Eis kept reading.
“I completed the mission assigned to me.”
“Oh, modest,” one chuckled. “Cute. Say— want us to show you around later? Grab a drink? We could—”
“No,” Eis said gently.
Then turned another page.
Both men blinked, not used to being rejected so cleanly.
“Aw, come on,” the first one tried, leaning closer.
“No need to be cold. We’re being friendly.”
“I’m reading,” Eis replied evenly. “Please excuse me.”
The second man reached toward her book to slide it aside—
“Hey, don’t ignore—”
A hand seized his wrist mid-motion.
Strong.
Unyielding.
Effortlessly in control.
The man froze.
Eis recognized the presence without even looking up.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Ronan.
Ronan stood beside the table, grip firm around the adventurer’s wrist.
No raised voice.
No anger.
Just quiet, immovable authority.
“Remove your hand,” Ronan said.
The tavern-level flirt dissolved instantly.
The adventurer tried to pull back—
He couldn’t.
“R—Ronan… hey, we were just—”
“You reached toward her without permission.”
Ronan’s voice remained calm, but each word was ice.
“Leave. Now.”
The man’s friend scrambled to his feet.
“We didn’t mean any harm—”
“Leave,” Ronan repeated.
This time, the tone allowed no argument.
Both men stumbled away so fast they nearly collided with a clerk.
Ronan waited until they disappeared into the crowd before releasing a slow breath and turning toward Eis.
“You okay?” he asked.
Eis closed her book softly.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Ronan nodded once, satisfied, and sat in the chair beside her — close enough to make it clear the conversation was over.
A moment later Kael and Lira approached, having clearly witnessed everything from across the hall.
Kael let out a low appreciative whistle.
“Well, that was quick,” he said. “And here I was about to sharpen my tongue.”
Lira smirked.
“I thought Kael would get there first, but no. Ronan practically teleported.”
Kael grinned.
“That’s because Eis is Eis.”
Eis blinked. “…What does that mean?”
Kael threw an arm behind his head, looking completely at ease.
“It means you’re beautiful. Obviously. Men are stupid. Also obviously.”
Eis stiffened slightly.
Lira added without missing a beat,
“He’s right. You draw attention naturally.”
Ronan didn’t comment.
But he did shoot Kael a look that meant stop talking.
Lira and Kael exchanged a smirk behind his back.
Ronan is definitely protective.
Eis reopened her book.
Ronan sat beside her, quietly reading a mission report.
Lira sat across, flipping through a spell journal.
Kael cleaned and inspected his arrows.
No pressure.
No noise.
Just steady presence.
And scattered whispers drifting from nearby tables:
“Did you see how quickly Ronan stepped in.”
“She must be close to Team Argent.”
“Beautiful and took down a goblin camp? Unfair.”
“Argent doesn’t pull in random people. She must be something.”
Eis heard them.
She ignored them.
But warmth settled behind her ribs.
Peace.