"Come in," Jezabel says when she senses three people at her office door. Count Richter steps inside behind his head knight who opened the door for him. A small girl wearing a ridiculous yellow dress follows shortly after.
"What an unexpected surprise." Jezabel says flatly.
"Spare your flattery, I came here to discuss something with you."
"I can't think of any other reason you'd be here."
"You will show respect when speaking to the Count!" His knight says as he makes to draw his weapon.
"Stow you blade, brave Bernard; I'm sure she's simply incapable of decorum, as are many stationed above their pedigree." Richter says as he magnanimously stands to block his bloodthirsty retinue.
"You wanted to talk about something?" Jezabel says through clenched teeth.
"Right," Count Richter composes himself and puffs up his chest as he turns away from the Guild Master. "As you may know, Duke Ishawaak has his eyes set on the Argon Forest and he's planning an attack for the coming spring."
"I'm aware."
"Right, good, good. He wants to exterminate the fairies and establish a city core above the Mythril vein that sits under the Mammoth Tree grove."
"That's quite bold of him. How does he plan on pulling that off?"
"I'm glad you're able to keep up. I'm not entirely sure how he's going to use it but he's had a spell carved into a dragon core and-"
"What?!" Jezabel shouts as she leaps up from her chair.
"I said he's had a spell carved into a dragon core."
"No, I heard that."
"Then why in the world would you have me repeat myself if you heard what I said? I don't have all day to explain this to you."
The edges of her desk buckle under her hot grip as Jezabel struggles to maintain her composure.
"Why does he have a dragon core?" She hisses.
"Why? I just told you. He carved a spell into it."
"What spell?"
"I told you that too, I don't know. Don't you listen to anything people say? My word, the dregs running this branch. I'm going to file a complaint when I return to the manor. Bernard, remind me to write a letter to the Guild Headquarters when we get back."
"Yes, sir!" The knight salutes.
"How in the world did he even get a hold of a dragon core." Jezabel says mostly to herself as she sits back down.
"I don't know why you're getting so worked up? Why, the royal family of Argenttirrir has ten on display in their throne room." Count Richter brags as if the cores belong to him.
"Thank you for the information, although I don't know what I can really do about it."
"I thought you would tell the fairies." Richter says coldly as if it were obvious.
"You want me to warn the fairies about Duke Ishawaak's attack?" Jezabel says, aghast. While it's well known that the Duke is acting without the help of the Count, what he's suggesting could be considered high treason. The fairies have been considered enemies of the Murusade Confederacy for centuries.
"Is there an echo in here or are you just deaf? Yes, that's what I said. He plans to usurp my position by establishing a new, more prosperous town within spitting distance. Pretty soon people will leave and I'll be the Count of only some abandoned hovels. He's brought this upon himself as far as I'm concerned; just wait until the brass back in Argenttirrir get word of this."
It was now clear to Jezabel that she was at the center of a storm more terrible than the one that battered the town not two months prior. Three huge powers were colliding on this small town and were threatening to wipe it off the face of the map.
Her head drops into her hands.
"And why would I do something like that? You know the guild has a non-interference policy toward international disputes.
"Yes, the same non-interference policy that seems to get broken anytime the guild finds it convenient. I know you're going to play both sides of this conflict; it's what the guild has always done. You tell the fairies about the attack while also helping the Duke with accommodations, that way you stay in the good graces of whoever survives. And don't lie to me. I already know about all the Mammoth wood you're storing to build temporary structures for the Duke's troops."
"As I said the guild has a non-interference-"
"Save it." The Duke spits. Her eyes burn at him while he coolly waits for her to continue.
"Anyway, how would I even go about contacting the fairies?" She asks. "They aren't exactly easy to get a hold of."
"Ha, you think me so dull? I know you have a young lad who recently negotiated the release of Fontaine's boy, who was being held hostage by them. All the Nobles are gossiping about it. What a backward town that such drivel lives on their lips."
"That's an interesting interpretation of what happened. Is there anything else I can do for you?" She asks, desperately hoping for them to leave.
"Yes, actually. My step daughter here would like to join the guild. She's less than a novice so she'll need plenty of assistance."
"I don't have any spare hands at the moment, but she can still join if she wants. Just know the guild isn't culpable for the untimely deaths of it's members."
"I was afraid that might be the case, but no matter. Bernard here will just have to join as her bodyguard." Count Richter smirks.
While it was obvious he was just having the two join so he could keep an eye on her movements, Jezabel didn't have cause to refuse. After all, the guild has a non-interference policy towards international disputes.
"Fine." Jezabel sighs after several tense moments.
"Good girl." The Count says in a low voice as he turns to leave. The smell of smoke soon fills the room, emanating from the spots where Jezabel's hands are still touching her desk. The fires of war loom heavy over the horizon.
The sound of a commotion makes it's way up through the floor boards as Jezabel sits at her desk. Shouts and curses begin to build but suddenly still. Next, the rushed pattering of feet charge up the stairwell and three employees run in.
Tucker stands to the right. He drops three blue translucent orbs on the ground that are webbed with intricate black symbols. From them, three spirits arise; a fire spirit shaped like a salamander runs up his body and settles on his shoulder, a water spirit that forms a pool at his feet, and a wind spirit that wraps itself around his body like a set of armor. While he isn't particularly strong on his own, his spirit companions grant him the utility to handle almost any type of situation.
Catherine takes up a simple fighting stance in the middle and activates her main skill, Root Gate. The first of the seven chakra gates. This grants her increased physical stats while steadily eating away at her stamina and health. Then, she opens the Sacral Gate; her muscles bulge and her tendons threaten to snap under the strain. She takes a deep breath and braces herself for the approaching clash.
Mary moves to the left and pulls several strands of barbed wire from the small pouch at her side. The strong but thin metal strands stretch and twist around like dancing opposable thumbs. She holds onto the ends of the wire while standing to block the desk from the approaching enemies.
The room is filled with only the steady breaths of the four people inside. The rooms below remain silent. Several tense moments pass while everyone stares ahead on full alert.
Blam!
The door to Jezabel's office explode off their hinges as five men barge into the room.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
"…"
"I'll take that as a no." He scoffs at the silent Guild Master while ignoring her employees armed to the teeth before him.
Cough, cough, "You're violating the autonomy of the Adventurer's Guild by attacking guild staff." Tucker says with bared teeth.
"The guild wouldn't bother to declare war over the loss of a few worthless demi-humans like yourselves. If you're going to threaten me at least make it convincing." The Duke says as he approaches the desk at the center of the room and the three guild staff brace themselves for battle.
"Leave." Jezabel says before the situation escalates further.
"But-"
"Leave!" She shouts back at Tucker who tries to argue. The three demi-humans look at each other before stowing away their weapons and walking out the door. The four knights that followed the Duke in, heckle them as they leave.
"Mutt!"
"I hear rat bitches will do anything for a scrap of food. How much bread for you to slobber on my cock?"
"Lift that little bunny tail when you walk away; I want to see what you're working with."
Duke Ishawaak ignores his men and just stares at Jezabel with a conceited smile.
"I'm sure you've informed the fairies of the Dragon Core I've brought with me by now. Thanks to that we'll be able to clear out the more pestilent monsters before we enter the woods. I knew it was a good idea to leak that information to Count Richter."
"..."
"Why are we here so soon? Why, a good siege begins long before the troops arrive. I'm sure you'll have the temporary housing structures ready by the time they do, but I thought I'd show up a little early just to see your progress. Running a guild branch in the boondocks is sure to dull your wit, hopefully you can at least handle something so simple."
"…"
"Still nothing to say? Well, that's alright. I prefer hearing myself speak anyway. Oh, and just so we're clear, if you do anything to jepordize this mission I'll hang the cat bitch you're so fond of-"
BOOM!
A fist coated in flames lands only inches away from the Duke's head, blocked only by the shield of one of his knights. Jezabel's eyes are wide, threatening to burn down the Duke as well as everyone else in the building, including herself.
"Now, now. Temper, temper. It won't do you any good to be detained by your own guild for striking a high Noble. But, now I know what your willing to die for. I'll make sure to write that down."
"…"
"Thanks for having this little meeting with me, it has been ever so elucidating. I'll be going for now but know I'll be stopping by periodically to watch your progress. I don't want you getting any funny ideas either. Tata!" Duke Ishawaak waves behind him as he walks out, leaving behind two broken doors and a raging inferno.