DIVINE BANE-Chapter 81: welcome to remora

Alex and Rina stood side by side at the guild counter, waiting as the receptionist counted out their reward. Rina's eyes sparkled with excitement, practically bouncing in place as the coin pouch was handed over.

Alex, however, barely glanced at the reward. He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the counter.

"Hey, when does my rank go up from Bronze to Silver?"

The receptionist gave him a polite smile, clearly used to the question.

"To reach Silver, you'll need to complete either a hundred C-tier missions, ten B-tier missions, or one A-tier."

Alex sighed, clearly irritated.

"Seriously? That's gonna take forever..."

Rina nudged him with her elbow, playful but curious.

"Why are you in such a rush to rank up anyway?"

Alex crossed his arms, eyes set with determination.

"I just want to get to Mithril as fast as possible. That's all."

The receptionist's smile turned worry.

"Kid, I admire the drive but let me tell you something. Reaching Mithril isn't just difficult, it's deadly. Plenty die just trying to make it to Platinum. And as for Mithril?" She leaned forward slightly.

"In all of history, you can count the number of Mithril-ranked adventurers on one hand."

Rina blinked. "Wait, how many Mithril adventurers are there right now?"

The receptionist gave a knowing grin.

"Two. That's it. One's the captain of the number one guild, the other leads the third strongest."

Alex leaned in a little closer, eyes narrowing.

"What about the other top guilds? The second strongest, don't they have any Mithril-ranked adventurers?"

The receptionist shook her head. "No. Not a single one." She paused, letting the surprise settle. "But they do have something just as dangerous."

Rina tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

The receptionist folded her arms, her voice dropping just enough to add weight. "The second-strongest guild The Black Moon, doesn't have a Mithril, true. But nearly half of the continent's Platinum-ranked adventurers are part of it. They move as a unit. Efficient, ruthless, and loyal to their leader."

She gave Alex a pointed look. "You don't need a Mithril when your guild is a war machine."

The receptionist leaned forward, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Let me give you both a word of warning." Her gaze flicked between Alex and Rina.

"Once you reach Gold rank or higher... things change. It's not just about monsters or missions anymore."

Her voice lowered slightly.

"At that level, adventurers and guilds start operating more like organized syndicates—power, politics, influence. It's not always about who's the strongest... it's about who controls the board."

Rina blinked, caught off guard by the sudden weight in her words.

"I... hadn't thought about it that way. Thank you, miss."

The receptionist gave her a soft smile, then turned her eyes to Alex.

"By the way, lady," Alex began, crossing his arms with a casual smirk,

"what's your name?"

She raised an eyebrow, a faint grin tugging at the corner of her lips. "Haa... my name's Anna."

Alex gave her a nod. "Thanks, Anna. I'll remember that."

She chuckled, handing over their stamped quest slips.

"I hope you do, rookie. You'll be hearing my name a lot assuming you live long enough to climb the ranks."

Alex took the stamped slip, eyes gleaming with quiet determination.

"Then remember this too, Anna," he said, slipping the paper into his pouch.

"You'll witness it firsthand the rise of the next Mithril adventurer."

Anna raised an eyebrow, amused. "Confident, aren't you?"

"No," Alex replied with a smirk. "Certain."

Rina sighed beside him, half exasperated, half impressed. "Here we go again..."

Anna chuckled, shaking her head.

"Just don't die before you give me something to brag about."

Alex waved a hand dismissively, smirking. "Yeah, yeah. Just wait and see."

Rina rolled her eyes, tugging at his sleeve.

"Come on, future legend. Let's go before your ego bursts the guild walls."

With a laugh, the two turned and walked away, their footsteps echoing down the marble corridor. Behind them, Anna just shook her head with a small, knowing smile.

As the door clicked shut behind them, Anna's smile faded. She stared at the empty space for a long moment before whispering under her breath, a shadow crossing her face.

"They don't know how dark this world really is..."Her fingers clenched slightly around the counter's edge."ohh , Devs , they still look so innocent. Please... let them quit this job before it swallows them whole."

***

From above, the harbor glistened like a cut gem against the morning tide its water a calm blue, pierced by the silhouette of a towering lighthouse run by rune. Around it, elegant buildings of dark wood and slate clustered like proud sentinels, their sharp roofs kissed by the rising sun.

A wooden ship creaked into dock, sails snapping as it slowed. The ropes were tossed. Anchors dropped.

And from the gangplank descended Zed—eyes rimmed with fatigue, his steps slow but steady. He looked like he hadn't slept in days, yet the moment his boots hit solid ground, a flicker of life returned to his face.

He stared at the stone beneath him as if it were a long-lost lover.

"Ah, land... I missed you so much I could kiss you," he thought with a faint, crooked grin.

Behind him, the ship's captain descended, boots thudding against the dock.

"Welcome to Remora, young master Zed," the man said proudly, sweeping a hand toward the harbor's edge.

"And this beauty before you is Tamluk, one of the finest ports in all of Remora."

They stepped off the dock and into the winding heart of Tamluk. Zed walked beside the captain, his eyes scanning the city with a quiet wonder.

The streets were cobbled, clean, and alive with color, flowering vines crawled across balconies, and arching colonnades lined the main avenue. The buildings rose in proud, intricate designs, with round arches, thick walls, and grand towers that reminded Zed eerily of the Romanesque architecture back on Earth.

"Feels almost like walking through a medieval museum," he mused, lips quirking in faint amusement.

Then, just ahead, the crowd shifted and Zed's gaze caught on something unexpected.

Elves.

Dozens of them. Tall, graceful, and timelessly beautiful. Most looked like they were in their twenties or thirties at least by human standards. Their silver or emerald eyes held a certain age to them, ancient and unreadable, but their appearances were youthful and captivating.

Zed slowed his pace instinctively, taking in the sight.

That's when the captain leaned in and muttered under his breath, eyes darting warily toward the group.

"My lord... don't even think about it. I see that look. They all look our age, sure but believe me, they've seen centuries. That's ancient territory you're looking at."

Zed blinked, then let out a soft chuckle.

"Relax. I was just admiring the architecture..."

Over the course of their journey, Zed and the captain had grown surprisingly close. So close, in fact, that the captain had started confiding in him about his love life, pouring out feelings and tales of heartbreak to a boy barely ten years old.

Well, they say men don't see age when making friends... and the captain, clearly, had taken that to heart.

The captain groaned. "you sound just like my younger self. That's exactly what I used to say."

Zed shot him a mildly irritated look. "Captain, I'm not a pervert like you."

The captain grinned shamelessly. "Ah, yes. I used to say that too, back in the day. Don't worry, young master this can be our little secret."

Zed sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Gods, why did I come with you again?"

Just like that, they arrived at a grand estate, an architectural marvel of stone and stained glass, owned by the prestigious House Iyenger.

Standing at the entrance was a striking man, poised and refined, his dark uniform sharp enough to cut glass. With a graceful bow, he introduced himself.

"I am Simon, the head butler of House Iyenger. I've been sent to escort you, young master Zed."

Zed gave a polite nod, a hint of curiosity in his tired eyes.

Behind him, the captain stretched and sighed dramatically. "Well, my job here is done. Take care, young master. Don't forget this old sailor when you're bathing in nobility."

Zed smirked. "Only if you promise to stop giving me advice about women."

The captain laughed and waved as he turned away.

With that, Zed followed Simon into the chariot, leaving the harbor behind.

The vehicle lifted off, heading toward the Iyengar family estate.

Zed, already sleep-deprived, had barely held himself together. Days aboard the ship had drained him its constant motion keeping him awake, and his relentless seasickness only made it worse.

So the moment he sank into the cushioned seat of the chariot, a deep, almost sacred warmth spread through his body. His eyes fluttered shut.

"Haa... is this heaven?" he murmured in his mind.

And just like that, he slipped into a deep slumber.

Outside, a ruckus erupted, there were shouts, movement, something chaotic was taking place, But Zed? He slept like a baby, untouched by the world.

***

In the quiet stillness of his office, Seraph sat behind an ornate desk, quill gliding across parchment with elegant precision. The only sound was the soft scratch of ink on paper until the doors burst open.

An Aryan messenger stormed in, breathless.

Seraph didn't even glance up. He continued writing, undisturbed.

"What is it, messenger 76? You seem to be in quite the hurry."

The Aryan bowed quickly, voice strained.

"My lord... Uriel as been found dead. Or rather... someone brutally slaughtered him."

The quill stopped mid-stroke.

Seraph placed it down with slow care. His eyes, though still calm, held a flicker of tension. He laced his fingers together, brought them to his chin, and finally looked at the messenger.

"How many know?"

"Very few, my lord. It hasn't spread."

"Good. Let's keep it that way." His voice was quiet, but carried a weight that silenced the room. "Send in the Lower Arch Ember. Tell him to come to my office immediately."

"Yes, my lord." The messenger bowed again and departed in haste.

Alone, Seraph leaned back slightly. The mask of serenity slipped just enough to reveal the anxiety beneath.

"So... the higher realms are beginning to sense it. The return of the Divine Bane..."

He turned slowly toward the window, eyes narrowing at the distant light beyond the horizon.