The Capital. The Palace. Morning.
The first meeting was with the merchants.
They came in a flood—traders in fine clothes, guild masters with gold rings on every finger, men and women who had built fortunes on the roads that connected the kingdom. Their faces were pale, their hands were shaking, their voices were tight with fear.
Edward sat at the King's right hand, his back straight, his face calm. He had been in meetings like this before—as a child, watching his father negotiate with nobles and advisors. Now he was the one they looked to. Now he was the one they expected to have answers.
"The roads aren't safe," one of the merchants said. A woman, gray-haired, her voice steady despite her fear. "We've lost three caravans in the last month. Not to bandits. Not to Vargr. To monsters."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.
"The army is stretched thin," another merchant added. "They're fighting the Vargr in the north, patrolling the borders in the east, trying to keep order in the south. They don't have the men to protect our caravans from the creatures."
Edward leaned forward. "What do you propose?"
The merchants exchanged glances.
"We need protection," the gray-haired woman said. "Not soldiers—they have other duties. We need people who can fight. People who can be hired. People who can protect caravans, clear roads, hunt the monsters that are spreading across the kingdom."
Edward nodded slowly. "You're asking for mercenaries."
"I'm asking for a solution."
---
The second meeting was with the mages.
They came in robes of blue and gray, their faces lined with study, their eyes bright with excitement. Mirena was among them—she had thrown herself into their research, had become one of them.
Aldus, the head mage, spoke first.
"The mana concentration is still growing," he said. "The creatures—the monsters—are breeding. Their mana cores are seeping into the soil, the water, the air. Magic is becoming easier. Stronger. More accessible."
Edward frowned. "Is that bad?"
Aldus shook his head. "Not inherently. But it is... unpredictable. People who never knew they had magical talent are manifesting abilities. Children are being born with powers no one understands." He paused. "We need to study this. We need to train these people. We need to expand."
"Expand how?"
"The Mages' Guild needs more resources. More space. More teachers." Aldus met Edward's eyes. "We need to build."
Edward was quiet for a moment. "The King has other priorities."
Aldus nodded. "I know. But if we don't prepare for what's coming—if we don't train the next generation of mages to understand the monsters and the magic they're spreading—"
"I understand." Edward held up a hand. "I'll speak with the King."
---
The third meeting was with the nobles.
They came in silk and velvet, their faces painted with concern, their voices smooth with practiced diplomacy. They wanted answers. They wanted reassurance. They wanted to know that the kingdom was still stable, still safe, still worth investing in.
Edward sat at the head of the table, his back straight, his face calm. He had learned to read nobles—to see past their smiles, to hear the fear beneath their words.
"The monsters are a problem," one of them said. A young man, his title new, his lands rich. "But they're not our only problem. The Vargr are massing in the north. The border is unstable. The army is stretched thin."
Edward nodded. "I'm aware."
"We need solutions. Not promises."
Edward met his eyes. "What do you propose?"
The nobles exchanged glances.
"We need a new kind of force," an older woman said. "Not soldiers—they have other duties. People who can fight. People who can be hired to protect our investments. People who can protect caravans, clear roads, hunt the monsters and creatures that are appearing everywhere."
Edward leaned back. "You're the third group to suggest this."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "The merchants?"
"And the mages." Edward nodded. "They want protection. They want resources. They want solutions."
The woman leaned forward. "Then give them one."
---
The King called Edward to his chambers that evening.
The room was small, private, the fire low. The King sat in a chair by the window, his back straight, his eyes on the city below. Edward stood beside him.
"The merchants want protection," the King said. "The mages want resources. The nobles want solutions."
Edward nodded. "They do."
The King was quiet for a moment. "What do you want?"
Edward considered the question.
"I want a guild," he said. "A guild of strong warriors. Not soldiers—they have other duties. People who can fight. People who can be hired. People who can protect caravans, clear roads, hunt the monsters and creatures."
The King turned. "A guild?"
"Subsidized by the kingdom. But mostly paid by completing quests and missions from citizens, merchants, and nobles. They could sell items, materials, and the like from the monsters they kill. They could fund themselves."
The King was silent for a long moment.
"You're describing an adventurer's guild," he said.
Edward nodded. "I am."
The King leaned back. "It's risky. Unproven. The nobles will resist—they'll see it as competition. The mages will want control. The merchants will want guarantees."
Edward met his eyes. "Then we give them what they need. And we make sure the guild answers to the crown."
The King studied him. "You've thought about this."
Edward nodded. "I have."
The King was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded slowly. "Draft a proposal. I'll present it to the council."