Eryx stood under a medical light in the simply furnished office, shirtless, while Hansel leaned in close, studying his shoulder. His tousled light brown hair kissed the edges of his hazel-gold eyes which glinted behind thin gold-rimmed glasses.

The bruise on his left shoulder wasn’t a typical one. Ominous black tendrils spidered out from a central point, looking like mold creeping across his skin.

Hansel sighed, straightening up. “Black Frog?”

“Yeah.” Eryx’s tone was clipped.

“From that raid a few weeks back?” Hansel adjusted his glasses, frowning deeper.

Eryx nodded, jaw tight.

“Well, you’ve got two options,” Hansel said, brushing a hand through his hair. “Rest—and I mean real rest—or you go see a Healer.”

Eryx’s eyes darkened. “I’ve been resting.”

Hansel’s scowled. “Black Frog poison spreads if the area gets aggravated. And you’ve been to at least six raids since you’ve gotten this injury. Just go to the Healer HQ. I heard there’s a new A-Class–”

Eryx’s glare stopped him mid-sentence.

Hansel opened his mouth to continue, but Eryx’s phone buzzed on the desk. Gio’s name flashed on the screen.

“This better not be about the Healer HQ,” Eryx snapped as he answered, simultaneously shooting a warning look at Hansel.

Hansel crossed his arms stubbornly, his disapproval written all over his face.

“Relax,” Gio’s voice drawled on the other end, smooth and irritatingly smug. “As much as I’d love to pull rank and force you into a session, I’ll hold off. On one condition.”

Eryx rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. “What condition?”

“I’ve recruited a contract Raider for the multi-guild raid coming up. You’re going to brief them.”

Eryx scowled. “Babysitting’s not in my job description.”

“Neither is letting that poison turn your arm into a decorative limb,” Gio countered.

There was a beat of silence before Eryx begrudgingly relented. “Fine. But if I hear the word Healer again, I’m coming for you first.”

Gio chuckled, unfazed. “Duly noted.”

Eryx hung up, tossing the phone into his pocket.

Hansel softened his stance, speaking quieter this time. “Eryx, I’m serious. As a friend, I’m worried about you.”

Eryx waved him off, grabbing his shirt and tugging it on. “I’m the last person you need to worry about.”

Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the office.

At the Guild’s front desk, a sealed packet waited for Eryx with a sticky note slapped on top.

Koffe. 4:30 PM.

Eryx recognized the name—it was a café near Raider Park, popular for its enchanted dueling rings. A glance at his watch told him he had twenty minutes to get there.

Tucking the packet under his arm, he made his way to the café.

The café was bustling when Eryx arrived, but he found a small table by the window. It gave him a clear view of the entrance, so he settled in, scanning the crowd.

The park across the street seemed oddly quiet. Around this time, it was typically a popular location for local Raiders to duel each other without worrying about their surroundings due to the protective enchantments.

While technically illegal, some lower-level class Raiders would bet on duels.

The bell above the door jingled and the murmurs started almost simultaneously.

Heads turned, conversations hushed. The girl who walked in was impossible to miss. Her hair was as white as snow, catching the light like spun silk. She swept it back casually, revealing the black eye patch covering her right eye.

Eryx tensed, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm on the table. He’d heard of her countless of times. But they’d never crossed paths. From the horror stories people shared about her, he imagined she’d be… sturdier.

He pulled out his phone and typed a quick message to Gio.

I hope you know where you want your coffin buried.

The girl scanned the room before her gaze landed on him. Her lips curved into a faint smirk, and she started toward his table.

Eryx leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. Whatever this was, he already hated it.