"And you must be?" Thoren asked, his gaze steady and unreadable, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.
The tall young man standing opposite him smiled faintly, a calm and inviting expression resting on his sharp features. "Arin Valeheart," he replied smoothly. "Guildmaster of the Crimson Arc Guild—this floor's branch, to be precise."
Thoren paused for a fraction of a second, his eyes flickering with mild surprise before settling once more.
Just yesterday, one of their party captains had approached him with an invitation.
Today, the man standing before him was the one who commanded the entire guild presence on this floor.
As he studied Arin more closely, he noticed something unusual. The man possessed the typical bearing of a guildmaster.
Straight-backed posture, composed demeanor, and an air of authority that came naturally rather than forcefully.
Yet there was no arrogance in his smile, no concealed hostility lurking beneath polite words.
It felt… genuine.
