The walk to Phoenix Ascendant's guild base was shorter than I expected, though the tension between our groups made every step feel like a drawn-out encounter. Kaelion led the way with his usual easy confidence, his greatsword slung casually over his shoulder as if we hadn't fought a corrupted guardian moments ago.

  "Not bad teamwork back there," he said, gncing back at us. His auburn hair caught the faint light of the forest's corrupted glow, making him look like a heroic poster boy for a guild recruitment ad. "Though I have to admit, I was half-expecting you to tell us to shove off."

  "I still might," Devon muttered, keeping his guard up even as we walked. He hadn't lowered his guard since the battle with Oberon, and his tone made it clear that trust was not on the menu.

  Kaelion chuckled, unfazed. "Fair enough. Can't bme you for being cautious. But trust me, we're on the same side here."

  Selene snorted softly, her daggers spinning idly in her hands. "We'll see."

  The gates of Phoenix Ascendant's guild base loomed ahead, fnked by massive stone walls designed to keep the outside world out—or intruders in. As we followed Kaelion and his group through the entrance, my HUD dispyed a notification:

  [New Location Discovered: Emberhold – Guild Fortress of Phoenix Ascendant]Status: Friendly TerritoryFacilities Avaible: Rest Area, Crafting Stations, Supply Vendors, Hot SpringsGuild Members Present: 27 Pyers Online

  Phoenix Ascendant's guild base was nothing like the scrappy outposts and glitchy sanctuaries we'd encountered. The moment we stepped through the towering iron gates, it was clear this pce was built for a top-tier guild. Massive stone walls surrounded a sprawling compound, with multiple buildings nestled inside: a crafting forge, a training yard, and a central guild hall that looked like something out of a fantasy pace.

  Pyers bustled around the courtyard, some repairing gear while others practiced sparring in the yard. The guild's golden phoenix emblem was dispyed proudly on banners and shields.

  "Welcome to Emberhold, our little slice of paradise," Kaelion said, spreading his arms theatrically. "Make yourselves at home."

  The moment we entered, it was impossible not to feel impressed. Emberhold was massive, a bustling hub of activity. Pyers sparred in the training yard, crafted at the forge, and gathered around tables to discuss quests and loot strategies. Their golden phoenix emblem was everywhere—banners, shields, even engraved into the stone walls.

  "This pce is insane," Fi whispered, her wide eyes darting around. "I feel like we just walked into an expansion pack."

  "It's well-maintained," Mason admitted grudgingly. "Efficient use of resources."

  Selene was quiet, her sharp gaze flicking between the banners and the pyers we passed. I noticed the subtle tension in her posture, the way her fingers twitched near her dagger hilts. Something about this pce was making her uneasy.

  "Selene…Selene…wait, a sec, I thought you looked familiar," Lyra said suddenly, her voice cutting through the noise. She stopped walking, staring at Selene with a faint surprise. "You didn't have your guild name attached to your HUD. People in the forum started talking and thought you might've AFK'd for good. You're still kicking around, huh?"

  Selene's expression didn't change, but I caught the slight narrowing of her eyes. "I could say the same about you."

  Kaelion stopped as well, turning to look at Selene with renewed interest. "Wait a second. You're that Selene, aren't you? From Raven's Refuge?"

  A murmur rippled through the group. Even Era, the mage, raised an eyebrow. "No way. The Selene? The one who pulled off the Silent Spire raid solo?"

  Selene sighed, crossing her arms. "I didn't do it solo. And if you're trying to butter me up, it won't work."

  "I'm just surprised you're slumming it with a group of misfits," Lyra said, smirking. "Thought Raven's Refuge only rolled with the best."

  "I'm here for my own reasons," Selene said coolly. "Not that it's any of your business."

  Kaelion chuckled, his grin widening. "This just got a lot more interesting. I always wondered what it'd be like to party with one of Raven's elites."

  "Don't get too comfortable," Devon snapped, stepping forward. "We're not here to party."

  Kaelion raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Let's talk inside."

  The guild hall was a marvel of architecture and functionality. Massive chandeliers cast a warm glow over polished wooden tables covered in maps, gear, and scattered papers. A glowing map of Wyrm Hollows was projected in the center of the room, the key zones marked with colored runes.

  Kaelion motioned for us to sit at one of the long tables. Lyra, Era, and Drog joined him while the rest of their guild stayed busy with their own tasks. Ethan lingered near the back of our group, his expression unreadable.

  "So," Kaelion said, leaning forward with a grin. "Let's hear it. What brings a scrappy group like yours to a pce like Wyrm Hollows? Don't tell me you're just here for loot."

  "Why else would we be here?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral. "This pce is crawling with anomalies. That usually means good rewards."

  "You're not wrong," Lyra said, tilting her chair back zily. "But the anomalies in Wyrm Hollows? They're no joke. Half the guilds that come through here don't make it out."

  "And yet you're here," Selene said, her tone sharp. "Why?"

  Kaelion shrugged. "Same as you. Anomalies, loot, maybe a boss or two if we're lucky. We've been tracking this one for a while, but this one... feels different somehow."

  I swallowed hard, my thoughts fshing to Guardian Oberon and the corrupted zones spreading like viruses. If Phoenix Ascendant had no idea what they were walking into, we would have already been on borrowed time.

  "I don't see why we're even talking about this," Devon said, his voice hard. "We don't need their help."

  "Speak for yourself," Fi muttered. "That st fight wasn't exactly a walk in the park. We could've wiped if they hadn't shown up."

  Devon gred at her, but Mason nodded. "She's right. We're in uncharted territory. If we want to get through this, we need allies."

  "And what about trust?" Devon shot back. "We don't know anything about these people."

  Kaelion chuckled, clearly amused. "Rex, big guy. We're not here to steal your loot or stab you in the back. We've got enough to worry about with the anomalies."

  Selene's sharp gaze flicked to Kaelion. "You might want to worry more. These anomalies aren't just glitches or bad design. They're breaking the game."

  Lyra scoffed. "Breaking the game? That's dramatic."

  "It's the truth," Selene said ftly. "You've seen the corruption spreading. How long before it reaches your base? Your guild?"

  The room fell quiet, Kaelion's grin fading slightly. He looked at me, his expression serious now. "What do you know about the anomalies?"

  I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "They're not part of the game. They're... something else. Dangerous. The devs are involved, but we don't know how deep it goes."

  "Enough," Devon said sharply. "We've already said too much."

  Kaelion studied us for a moment, then leaned back with a sigh. "Well, that's... concerning. But if what you're saying is true, then it sounds like we've got a bigger problem than loot."

  He gnced at his guildmates, then back at us. "Tell you what. Let's make a deal. Phoenix Ascendant will back you up for as long as we're in Wyrm Hollows. In exchange, we share the loot, and you tell us anything useful you find."

  Devon shook his head immediately. "No. We work alone."

  "Do we, though?" Fi asked, tilting her head. "We're not exactly swimming in options."

  Mason nodded. "If we're going to survive this, we need all the help we can get."

  Selene gnced at me, her expression unreadable. "It's your call."

  I took a deep breath, weighing the risks. Kaelion's group was strong, and having their resources could make the difference between survival and failure. But trusting them? That was another story.

  "Fine," I said finally. "But this is temporary. Once we're through Wyrm Hollows, we go our separate ways."

  Kaelion grinned, his easy confidence returning. "Deal. Welcome to Emberhold, temporary allies."

  ?????°???°?????

  We followed Kaelion and his group deeper into Emberhold, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and unease. This wasn't just a guild base—it was a fortress. The training yard bustled with pyers sparring and practicing combo moves, their attacks nding precisely as damage markers floated in the air. The crafting forge glowed with the soft light of enchanted fires, and the supply vendor area felt more like a market, filled with pyers haggling over potions and gear.

  I caught Ethan lingering at the edge of the group, his expression guarded but observant. He hadn't said much since the fight with Guardian Oberon, which contrasted his usual confidence. I wanted to ask if he was okay, but with Devon's looming presence and Selene's sharp gaze, I decided against it.

  "So," Fi said, stepping beside me, "on a scale of one to 'we're definitely out of our league,' where does this pce rank?"

  I smirked despite myself. "About a nine and a half."

  "Good to know," she said, her balloon pet bouncing happily beside her. "At least they have hot springs. If we're gonna die, might as well do it rexed."

  As we passed the central fountain, Lyra slowed until she was walking beside Selene. I could practically feel the tension crackling between them.

  "You've been quiet, Selene," Lyra said, her voice ced with amusement. "Not like you."

  Selene didn't look at her. "I don't waste my words."

  "Oh, I remember," Lyra said, twirling a dagger between her fingers. "You always were the quiet one. The calcuted one."

  Kaelion, walking ahead, gnced back with a curious smile. "Care to share with the css? Sounds like there's history here."

  Selene's steps didn't falter, but her voice was sharp. "Lyra and I ran in the same circles once. That's all."

  "Same circles?" Lyra scoffed, stopping to face her. "You mean back when Raven's Refuge thought they were untouchable? Oh wait—you guys actually were untouchable until—"

  "Enough." Selene's tone cut through the air like a bde. "You don't know the first thing about Raven's Refuge. Don't pretend you do."

  Lyra smirked, but there was a glint of something darker in her eyes. "I know enough. Like how you left your precious guild hanging when things went south. Or was that just a tactical retreat?"

  Selene's hand twitched toward her dagger, but she didn't draw it. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice low and dangerous. "Say that again, and you'll see how untouchable I am."

  "Whoa, whoa!" Kaelion stepped between them, his hands raised. "Easy, dies. We're all on the same side, remember?"

  Selene backed off, her expression icy. Lyra's smirk didn't waver as she stepped back with her group.

  "What was that about?" I whispered as we moved on.

  "Old grudges," Selene muttered. "Lyra used to run with another guild—Ebon Talon. They... let's just say they weren't above cutting corners. She always had a problem with Raven's Refuge."

  "Why?" I pressed.

  "Because we did things the right way," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument.

  The tension simmered as Kaelion led us through the rest of the fortress. The hot spring area caught Fi's attention immediately. She practically bounced with excitement, her balloon pet bobbing along beside her.

  "Is this seriously real?" Fi asked, staring at the steaming pools nestled among lush greenery. "I mean, are we allowed to use this?"

  Kaelion chuckled. "Consider it a perk of the alliance. You've earned it."

  Fi turned to me, her eyes wide. "Kiera, we have to check this out. Just us. No offense, guys, but you're not invited."

  Before I could respond, Devon cut in. "We didn't come here for a vacation."

  Fi waved him off. "Oh, rex, Dad. We've earned a little downtime."

  Devon muttered something under his breath, but Mason was the one who spoke up. "It might be a good idea to rest while we can. This alliance is temporary, but we should use it if they offer resources."

  ?????°???°?????

  That evening, we were given a small room in one of the side buildings to rest in. The space was cozy but functional, with simple cots and a small table.

  As the others settled in, I stared at the glitched fragments in my inventory. They pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of the secret I was carrying. Ethan sat across from me, his gaze thoughtful.

  I hesitated, then nodded. "Just... thinking."

  "About what?"

  My heart raced, and my palms felt cmmy, but I had to know.

  "You haven't told anyone, have you?" I asked quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

  Ethan turned to me, his expression calm but serious. "Of course not. It's just between us."

  "Are you sure?" I pressed, my nerves bubbling to the surface. "Because if Devon or Selene found out—"

  "They won't," he said firmly, cutting me off. "I meant what I said. No one needs to know."

  I nodded, though the knot in my chest didn't loosen. His reassurance should've made me feel better, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this secret would catch up with me eventually.

  Later, as the group prepared to settle in for the evening, Fi cornered me near one of the supply vendors.

  "Alright, Kiera," she said, hands on her hips. "It's decided. You and I are going to the hot springs. Just us. No Devon, no Selene, no brooding boys with swords."

  I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, now?"

  "Absolutely now," she said, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the springs. "Come on. It's not like we get to do this every day. Besides, you look like you could use a break."

  I gnced back at the others, but none seemed to notice. Devon was deeply conversing with Mason about strategy, Selene was sharpening her daggers with mechanical precision, and Ethan had disappeared into the guild hall.

  "Fine," I said with a small smile. "But only for a little while."

  Fi grinned triumphantly. "That's the spirit. Let's go rex and pretend we're not constantly on the brink of death."