They walked through the bustling streets of Aldoria, passing through other adventurers heading in the same direction. The guild wasn't that far from Mave's noble house so there wasn't a need for their horses.
Michael still couldn't figure out how large Aldoria really was and he hasn't even explored half of it yet. It was like the city had its own direction of wind and the highest would be where the king resided.
It's been about two months since he started his new life in Aldoria with his new magical sword. Everything had drastically changed since then.
He no longer felt like a slave, working his life away for spare leftovers of a meal, instead he had adjusted to this new lifestyle of an adventurer. There were new challenges and new priorities he opened up. But Michael could definitely tell his life had gotten better. The little room in the attic, the fresh meals he's been eating, along with how warm these nights were. It was all thanks to the sword resting on his back and that was enough reason for him to keep moving forward.
When they entered the guild, there was already good activity outside. Some adventurers recognized Stefan and greeted him as such, paying little attention to Mave and her disapproving gaze. The majority of the adventurers took the celebration as a good enough drink in the morning.
Ellis shot a quick glance to Stefan if he was going to follow that principle.
The lobby was in an uproar of chatter. Michael never thought he would see this many adventurers in one place. There must have been thirty, at most, and some familiar faces that he'd seen back at Almore. They were being served with food, drinks, and company with other members of the guild.
Ellis stopped them, moving himself in front as he looked around.
Stefan tried to match his eyes. "What?"
"Rowe and his party. Do you see any of them?"
"Oh, come on," Stefan pushed him aside. "When's the last time you saw everyone get together? Don't be so on edge and live a little."
They watched him disappear through the crowd as if he wasn't just squirming to the bar for drinks.
Michael followed Mave and Ellis, bumping shoulders and squeezing by the broad adventurers. Maybe he should just sneak back home or spend the day with Evelyn. His pay from the Almore quest was enough to treat the both of them with something nice.
"Mave!" a voice said loudly. "I've been looking for you!"
Mave stopped. "Was it necessary to call every adventurer here?"
"Indeed it was! Where's your little leader?"
She faced down.
"Oh, I didn't see you there!"
Ellis looked displeased. "Very funny."
"Come with me," the man said. "Let's talk away from all this noise, shall we? Right this way!"
They followed the man upstairs into a small room that looked to be his office. He had his own desk and shelves with books, papers and envelopes stacked neatly with spare chairs sat in front. He nodded to one of the adventurers to guard the door as it closed behind them. The sounds downstairs became a low murmur, it was almost dead silent in the man's room.
The man had medium-length chestnut hair with a long fringe that covered his eyes. It looked messy but Michael thought that was intended. He wore a rich navy coat and shiny buttons along with the black fur at the trims. Michael would have never guessed this was a captain of the Adventuring guild.
The man sounded more ecstatic than a usual adventurer, too ecstatic to be in charge of people in this type of profession. He had a cracked grin whenever he tilted his head to talk.
Mave leaned against the shelves as Ellis sat in one of the chairs, spinning around to face the captain. Michael was just standing idly in the middle of the room.
The man perched on the edge of his desk. "I see that you've found a new party member? You guys didn't think it was relevant to tell me?"
"Do we have to check with you about everything?" Mave asked. "That sounds too excessive, don't you think?"
"You're one of my top performing parties. It breaks my heart that we don't share the same feelings."
"Don't talk to me like that."
He frowned like a sad puppy. "Like what?"
"Like you know me."
"Ouch!" he held his chest. "Hard burn!"
Michael couldn't tell if this man was the one in charge. He sounded too childish to have such a responsibility.
He turned his attention to Michael. "Anyways, who could you be? Or, dare I say, what could you be?"
"Michael." Michael said. "Michael Velo."
"Velo?" he tilted his head. "That's new, I never heard of a Velo. Where are you from?"
"Alanor."
"Alanor? How'd you wind up here—"
"Vince, cut this out," Mave interrupted their conversation. "Surely, you didn't call us here just to chat."
"Yes, that's right." Vince kept his eyes on Michael. "But, where'd you find this child? He looks too young for an adventurer."
"Stefan picked him up."
"Oh, speaking of Stefan!" he clapped his hands. "Where is he?"
"Drinking."
"I see, then, could you bring him up here?"
"Ellis, go."
Ellis snorted. "You automatically assume I know where he is?"
"Michael," she demanded. "Go look for Stefan."
"No, wait—" Vince waved his finger. "Let the boy stay."
"Are you serious?" Mave groaned. "Why are we making this complicated? We're looking for Stefan for Xander's sake, how hard is it to find him?"
"You two quarrel like a lovely couple, it never gets old!"
Mave groaned even louder, walking to the door as she gave them a very intense glare. She opened the door so fast it even startled the adventurer standing behind it and slammed it shut.
Michael gulped. "I could go with her—"
"No, no," Vince stopped him. "Stay here, Michael Velo, I want to learn more about you."
Michael felt the sword on his back hum. It was the type of hum that was her showing obvious discomfort.
"Can you tell me your story?" he walked behind his desk and pulled an expensive bottle of liquor. "I don't mean to sound intrusive but I'm just curious on how you came to the guild. Were you forced to join, perhaps?"
"Nope, he wanted this." Ellis answered. "He joins our party and in return, we tell him to do whatever we want."
Vince poured himself a small glass. "What a strange deal. And seeing the record of your quests, he hasn't been much of an issue?"
"Actually, no." Ellis glanced at Michael. "He's doing better than we all thought."
"What about you, little Velo, what do you think of that?"
Michael shrugged. "I like my party."
"And are your parents okay with you spending time as an adventurer?"
"My parents are dead."
Vince raised his glass. "Cheers to that!"
Michael watched him try to share a drink with Ellis. It looked like a grown man trying to indulge a child.
"Where's Yosef?" Ellis asked. "I thought the two of you would at least show up."
"He's at a brothel." Vince said blatantly. "He'll be here soon."
"This early in the day? And to think the guild's future rests both in your hands."
They turned to heavy footsteps storming upstairs. Familiar voices shouting back and forth as the door couldn't look more ominous. Mave bursted through, shoving Stefan inside and yelling at the adventurer that got in her way. She slammed the door shut behind them, leaning on it with a very grumpy face.
Stefan burped. "Nice place."
"You've been here before." Ellis turned back to Vince. "I don't even think he's even awake to hold a conversation. Could you just tell us why we're here?"
"He can hear me." Vince poured another glass. "And this matter involves you all, so I believe Stefan is just as obliged to be here."
Stefan lowered to the side of Michael's face. "That's Vince Cartier, he's one of the captains of the guild."