Bane exchanged the few energy crystals he'd obtained and later exited the Guild Hall toward Old Grey's. Liora, who had made sure she was out of sight, quickly moved from where she'd hidden and entered the Guild Hall.
Liora was used to the scenery of the Guild Hall but noticed that her usual clerk was not there. So she made her way to the closest clerk, a young woman with clear white skin and even whiter hair. She wore a warm smile, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Could she have been the one who helped Bane? she thought. That might have been the reason for her happy expression.
"Hello!" Winter greeted, maintaining her warm and calming demeanor. "How can I help you today?"
"Hi, I was wondering if you could give me some information about the Eir Faction," Liora asked, returning to her upbeat attitude. At the mention of the Eir Faction, however, Winter's mood seemed to dullen as she continued.
"What would you like to know about them?"
"I would like to know if they're accepting new recruits, and if so, where I could find them," Liora explained, eager to learn the answer. Winter reluctantly nodded and retreated to search for the folder that held information about the Eir Faction.
Liora wasn't new to adventuring or being a supporter in the dungeon; she was due to leave the church soon as a professional healer. This gave her a few career options, but she didn't particularly like adventuring.
Until she met Bane. He was "normal"—or at least that's how Liora thought of him. Many of the past parties she'd joined were full of unsavory men and women who were borderline insane. She felt safe and comfortable around Bane. Adventuring with him could be fun, she thought.
Winter returned with a manila folder in hand. She opened it and retrieved a few sheets of paper. "The Eir Faction, run by the goddess Eir, is currently accepting new recruits," Winter explained, looking at the handwritten notice from when Eir first arrived and established the faction.
"How many people are in the faction already?" Liora asked.
"I'm sorry, but I can't answer that. If the Guild were to share information like headcount or abilities, it could risk fighting between factions, which we would like to minimize," Winter responded automatically, her voice almost robotic in its monotony. Liora pursed her lips at being denied the information she sought. Seeing this, Winter continued, "If you wish to obtain such information, you must meet with the faction leader herself."
Liora nodded. Winter had unintentionally segued perfectly into Liora's next question. "Where would I go to meet with her?" she asked.
Winter smiled nervously. Why is she so adamant about the Eir Faction? she thought. Hoping it was for another reason, Winter asked her own question before answering. "For what reason are you asking about the Eir Faction?" she inquired, tilting her head slightly.
"I would like to join, of course," Liora said, as if it were obvious.
Oh no... Winter thought, standing frozen at the counter. She slowly looked Liora up and down. She's beautiful. What if she joins and takes Bane away... Similar thoughts echoed in her mind until she suddenly thrashed her head back and forth.
What am I thinking?! It's not like Bane is mine... She lowered her gaze and frowned. According to her job description, Winter was obligated to give information to individuals wanting to join factions. Though reluctant, she shared the location of the Eir Faction Headquarters with Liora and sent her on her way.
"Thank you!" Liora said with a deep bow that revealed her endowed chest. That woman! Hopefully Eir kicks her out! Winter thought as she watched Liora exit the Guild Hall. But as the thought settled, some relief washed over her.
Eir was an incredibly territorial and timid goddess; allowing someone like Liora to join seemed unlikely. Winter let out a deep breath and returned to her duties.
Just as Liora left the Guild Hall, Bane was arriving at Old Grey's. He entered the weapon shop and chatted with Mr. Grey for a moment before the two of them exited and headed toward the forest just outside the slums.
Having made substantial progress with the katana, Bane felt slightly more confident as they stood across from each other in the brisk forest air. They maintained a distance of a few feet, preparing for their daily one-on-one session. Yesterday, Bane had been completely outmatched.
Thud. Even now, it looked like Mr. Grey wasn't even trying as his strike—which Bane barely managed to block—sent him tumbling to the ground. Like déjà vu, Bane forced himself up and wiped the dust off his armor. It felt like nothing had changed...
"Well, I can tell you've improved," Mr. Grey said aloud, carefully observing Bane's movements. Bane shook his head.
"I don't know what you mean. It feels like nothing's changed," Bane said, eliciting a laugh from Mr. Grey.
"Haha... I hope you didn't expect to best me with a katana after just one day. I know it doesn't look like you've improved, but your stance, your grip, and the way you carry yourself are all better," Mr. Grey explained as he moved into position beside Bane, ready to begin their actual training session.
The rest of the session passed without anything particularly noteworthy. Mr. Grey talked through techniques, demonstrating every strike, block, and parry as he explained them. Bane watched and replicated each movement to a novice's level, but he was learning nonetheless.
While Bane was learning the way of the sword, back at the faction building, Eir heard a knock at the door. She looked up from her book with a confused expression. It's too late to be the remodeler, and Bane wouldn't knock. Who could it be? she wondered.
She considered ignoring it, but when a second flurry of knocks echoed through the building, Eir stood quickly and tiptoed to the door. It had a peephole, which Eir used to see a well-endowed woman who seemed very much out of place in these surroundings.
Her clean white clothes contrasted sharply with the drab slum background. She was about to knock again when Eir quickly opened the door. "Can I help you?" Eir muttered, assuming she was a religious missionary.
"Yes, are you Eir?" the beautiful blonde woman asked. Eir was caught off guard by the direct use of her name and opened the door wider so they could see each other properly. Now that she had a full view, Eir couldn't help but admire the woman's beauty while wondering what someone like her was doing here.
"Yes, I am," Eir replied.
"Oh good! I'd like to speak with you about joining your faction," Liora said, maintaining a gentle smile as she spoke. Eir was taken aback by the request. Since arriving on Earth, she hadn't had such a formal conversation—Bane had simply walked in without ceremony and joined her faction. This was a new experience for her.
"Oh... Okay, well, come in," Eir said reluctantly. She allowed the young woman inside, noting that while she appeared to have no combat skills, the godly sigil on her chest marked her as a healer.
Eir led her guest to the back room and gestured for her to sit. "Sorry about the lack of furniture. We're still a small faction," Eir explained, her apology sincere but without embarrassment.
"Oh, that's okay," Liora said, settling into the chair Eir usually occupied while Eir took a seat at the foot of the bed.
Uncomfortable with the formality of the situation, Eir tried to ease the tension with some questions. "First, what's your name?" she asked with an inviting smile.
"I'm Liora, a healer with the God's Church," she replied.
"Alright, well, it's nice to meet you, Liora. How did you hear about my faction?" Eir asked, realizing this was becoming more like an interview than a conversation. The structured question-and-answer format made her squirm, so accustomed was she to the chaos that came with Bane.
"Well, I was in the dungeon today when one of your members saved me. I'm not usually fond of adventurers, but I've never met anyone like him before. His name is Bane," she explained, prompting a slow nod from Eir.
"I see..." Eir trailed off. First that Winter girl, now Liora! Bane needs to stop! she thought, clenching a handful of blankets in her fists. This girl must have taken a liking to Bane after he saved her, she assumed.
"So you want to join because of my recruit, Bane?" Eir clarified.
Liora nodded slowly. "I know it might seem like a silly reason, but I know I can be useful. Plus, I've tried joining other factions, and all their adventurers are horrible to be around," she pleaded.
"I'll need to consult with the other members. Could you come back tomorrow morning for an answer?" Eir asked, aware it might be inconvenient but prioritizing Bane's and her own safety. Adding another person to their group would mean more people knowing Bane's secrets.
"I don't mind at all," Liora answered with a smile. She left excited, already looking forward to returning the next day.
Eir fell back into her chair with a sigh and waited for Bane's return.