The Albweiss Guild was not merely strange people. It was not a home for powerful misfits or mountain-bound recluses with weird rituals and too many secrets. It was infested. Infested with monsters. Some hid their nature and pretended to be people. Some did not even bother to —
It hit him.
A thought, full-force. No lead-up. Just impact, like a stone falling straight into the pit of his gut, so hard it made his stomach heave.
This place is a trap.
Not just dangerous.
A lie.
Because — where was the proof?
How did he know they were the real deal? How did he know any of these people were actually real guild guards?
A liar omira outcast leading the welcome? A borman who volunteered to protect others? A self-proclaimed shaman who ate essence??? Two avian eldritch horrors with names like Deltington and Estingar????? And an arsehole like Bubs, of all things, in charge of taking care of everyone??????
None of this made sense???????????
None of it held together?????????????
What if they were not guards at all??????????????????
What if they were — raiders!
Slaughterers who had overrun the guild, got rid of the real guild members, and cobbled together this grotesque performance to trick whoever wandered in next?
There would be plenty worth stealing; weapons, crystals, artefacts, surely all manner of rare spoils.
And then — oh god. Oh fuck. Oh fuck no. There was more.
The Watch-Captain.
He was “out on patrol”, they had said.
Of course. Of course he was.
That should have been the first clue.
Yes, guards come and go. They come and go all the time, right? But not the captain. A guild captain is a constant, surely, just like a habitat director. Everyone would know his name. Travellers would expect him, especially those who visit regularly. Even others. Even Yu, since Tria had written to him personally about his placement. He needed to be there for contracts, reports, inspections, assignments and whatever else.
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