House Korvis was located in the western region, near the sea. Its influence extended throughout the entire western region.
The nearest settlement under House Korvis's domain was the small city of Myrravane. It wasn't very large, more like a modest town than a bustling city.
Because of its size, few official guilds had been established there. The lack of nearby dungeons and labyrinths also made it an unappealing location for most guilds. Moreover, the process of founding an official guild was complicated and tedious. As a result, only two official guilds operated within Myrravane, while the rest were considered unofficial.
Still, the unofficial guilds were not poor in quality. Their services were often reliable though they simply lacked the recognition and formal structure of an official guild.
Arius had just stepped into the city, the noise of merchants and travelers washing over him as he walked alone through the streets. Without wasting time, he decided to head toward the nearest guild, intent on hiring a few mercenaries.
Not far away, Sarah stood with her two companions outside The Irontail Expedition Guild. The three of them waited beneath the wooden signboard of the guild, scanning the flow of people for potential recruits. They hadn't yet decided which mission to take, but first they needed to form a proper party.
Each of them held a small wooden board, the faintly carved letters describing their conditions and rules for joining. Their eyes lingered on every passerby, searching for at least two more members willing to stand beside them.
"I don't think anyone's going to join our party today," the green-haired boy in his twenties said, his tone heavy with doubt as he glanced at Sarah.
"Just wait a couple more minutes," Sarah replied with a gentle smile, her voice carrying a hint of encouragement to lift his spirits.
Arius was walking near the guild when he stopped in front of The Irontail Expedition Guild.
There, he noticed three people standing together. One was a green-haired young man, somewhere in his mid-twenties, while the other two were girls who appeared to be younger than him. All three carried small wooden boards with their party description written on them, trying to convince passing mercenaries to join their group.
Arius slowed his steps, glancing at one of the boards. Neatly written in ink, it read:
[Recruiting Members]
Forming a Level C Party
Looking for more adventurers and mercenary
Current roles: Swordsman, Mage, Healer
Preferred additions: Frontline fighter, Scout
Rules: Equal share of rewards, no abandonment of party members
He studied it silently, his dark eyes shifting to the group as he observed their manner.
Arius concluded they were forming a Level C party—neither too weak nor too strong. Deciding it was worth a try, he took a step forward.
Sarah, the Red-haired girl, noticed him immediately. Her eyes widened when she saw the handsome black-haired boy approaching, his calm yet striking presence standing out among the crowd. Without hesitation, she quickly stepped forward, intercepting Arius before he could reach her .
"Hey, would you like to join our party, sir?" Sarah asked, her voice carrying a sudden sweetness.
Arius blinked in mild confusion at her forwardness, while the other two members of her group stared in shock at her quick move and unusually warm tone.
Before Arius could answer, Sarah hurriedly spoke again.
"Our party is very friendly! We're… we're actually pretty strong, and, um, we'll make sure everyone gets an equal share of the rewards!" she blurted out in one breath before finally stopping, her cheeks warming as she realized how quickly she had spoken.
Arius remained silent for a moment, simply watching her. His calm, unreadable expression only made Sarah more restless.
Arius remained silent for a moment, simply watching her. His calm, unreadable expression only made Sarah more restless.
The green-haired young man finally stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Sarah, slow down a little," he muttered, then turned toward Arius with a polite nod. "Sorry about that. My name's Daren. We're trying to form a Level C party and are looking for two more members. Would you be interested?"
The younger girl beside him clutched her board tightly, her eyes flicking between Arius and Sarah as if waiting for his response with just as much anticipation.
Arius's gaze shifted from Sarah to the others. The green-haired man, Daren, stood straight and tried to look composed, though there was a hint of unease in his eyes. Beside him, the younger girl clutched her board nervously, her posture timid but expectant.
"I see," Arius said at last, his tone calm. "And what kind of mission are you planning to take?"
The question caught them off guard. Sarah opened her mouth but hesitated, glancing at Daren.
"We… haven't decided yet," Daren admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "First, we thought it would be better to complete the party. After that, we'd choose a mission that suits everyone's skills."
He glanced at the three again. They seemed inexperienced, still figuring out their place. Their eagerness was obvious. Joining them wasn't what he needed.
A faint smile at the corner of his lips as he finally spoke.
"I'm not here to join a party," Arius said calmly. "But I do have a job that might interest you."
Arius had already made up his mind. He wasn't here to join them—he intended to hire them. A small party like this, could at least become a reliable source if handled properly.
"I want to hire your party," Arius said plainly, his tone steady and without hesitation.
Sarah's eyes lit up the moment the words left Arius's mouth.
"You want to hire us? That's perfect! We were just about to—" she blurted out, stepping closer with a wide smile.
Sarah didn't think twice about Arius's words, but before she could speak again, Daren cut her off, his tone firm. He tightened his grip on the board and fixed his eyes on Arius.
"Hold on. Before we agree to anything, we need to know what kind of job this is. We can't just accept blindly."
Beside him, the younger girl—her red hair resembling Sarah's—quietly glanced at Arius, her gaze lingering on his calm expression.
Arius saw no reason to hesitate. He spoke evenly, his tone steady.
"It's nothing complicated. I just need a small group to accompany me into the labyrinth."
The moment the words "come with me" left his lips, Sarah instantly stepped forward, her amber eyes bright.
"We agree to the deal!" she said without a second thought, her focus locked entirely on Arius.
Daren exhaled sharply, meeting Sarah's eyes, then turning his gaze to Arius. Finally, he spoke, his voice edged with restraint.
"At the very least, you could give us more details."
Deep down, he knew what was happening—both Sarah and the younger girl, Cora, were clearly drawn to Arius, their judgment swayed by more than just the offer.
Arius raised a hand slightly, stopping the back-and-forth before it grew any further.
"Why don't we start with introductions first," he said calmly, his voice carrying a quiet authority. "It's only proper before discussing details."
Sarah straightened, her earlier eagerness shifting into curiosity. Daren gave a small nod, appreciating the sense of order in Arius's words, while Cora peeked from behind her board, still studying him with wide eyes.
"I'll go first," Arius said evenly. "My name is Karias. I am an adventurer and a mercenary."
He chose not to use his real name. Karias… the name of a king he admired in stories, seemed fitting for the role he wanted to present.
Sarah was quick to follow, her eyes bright with interest. "I'm Sarah Bren, swordswoman. I'm… well, the leader of this party." She offered a small smile, her confidence showing despite her earlier fluster.
Daren adjusted his stance and spoke next, his voice calm but firm. "Daren Jarny. Green-haired, as you can see. I'm the mage of this party." His eyes flicked toward Arius, silently measuring him once more.
Finally, the younger girl hesitated, lowering her board slightly. "...Cora Bren," she said softly, her voice quiet but steady.
"Nice to meet you all," Arius said gently, his tone calm and calculated.
Sarah's eyes sparkled, and a small smile curved her lips. She had never seen a man as striking as Arius before, and his calm, confident presence made her heart skip a beat.
Daren noticed her reaction but said nothing, keeping his focus on Arius with measured caution. Cora, slightly more reserved, watched quietly, unsure how to react.
Arius shifted his gaze to Sarah, his expression calm but firm.
"Why don't we go somewhere and talk about this in detail?" he suggested.
Sarah's amber eyes sparkled with eagerness. She nodded quickly, hardly able to hide her excitement. "Yes! That sounds perfect."
Daren and Cora exchanged a glance, then followed silently, trusting Sarah's judgment for the moment while still keeping a careful eye on Arius.
Arius led the way through the bustling streets, the noise of merchants and travelers gradually fading as they turned into a narrower alley that seemed less frequented.
Sarah walked beside him, practically bouncing with excitement, while Daren and Cora followed close behind, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The alley opened into a small courtyard shaded by a few overhanging trees, offering a quiet spot away from the city's chatter.
Arius stopped and turned to face them. "This will do," he said simply. "Now we can discuss the details of the labyrinth without distractions."
Sarah's eyes glimmered as she leaned forward slightly. "We're ready. Just tell us what you need."
Daren straightened, crossing his arms. "Yes. Be clear—what exactly is expected of us, and what's the reward?"