novelraw Chapter 286: Late Night Talk
Chapter 286: Late Night Talk
FLASHBACK — A DAY AGO
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Greyvale City at night was typically a cacophony of sounds: shop owners wrapping up their business, raucous laughter spilling from taverns, carriage wheels clattering over cobblestones, and guards barking routine commands as they shifted duties.
But that night felt different. Above the rooftops and beyond the distant city walls, a golden beam of light shot into the sky, slicing through the darkness and casting a soft glow on the clouds, visible even from the furthest corners of the district.
In a quieter part of the city, far removed from noble estates and the bustling central market, stood an old grey stone fountain. Water flowed gently from a lion’s head into a shallow basin beside which sat a lone man. Gregor leaned forward on a simple stone bench, his elbows resting on his knees, head tilted slightly upward as he gazed at the distant light with an expression full of contemplation.
He wasn’t dressed like a warrior that night; there was no heavy armor or Guild insignia, no sword slung across his back, just dark trousers and a loose shirt.
His long green hair was tied back casually, making him appear like any other citizen enjoying the night air. Yet the intensity in his eyes revealed he was anything but ordinary. As the golden light flickered in his pupils, he murmured under his breath, "What is that..."
But he had an idea what that golden pillar of light is.
This wasn’t an illusion or trick of light; it was real, steady, powerful, and it stirred something deep within him. a mix of curiosity and unease that tightened his jaw as he leaned back against the bench and exhaled slowly.
Weeks ago, he had slipped away from the Guild without fanfare or explanation, partly for space to think and partly because he didn’t trust himself to face Sage after everything that had transpired.
Even here in Greyvale, far from Guild Hall’s bustle, peace seemed elusive. That golden beam felt like an ominous signal heralding change.
He closed his eyes briefly to focus on the sound of water trickling down the fountain while sorting through his thoughts. Just as clarity began to settle in, a voice sliced through the silence behind him, cold yet steady.
"So what do you think?" The voice asked calmly. "Do you believe there will be treasures within?"
Gregor’s body reacted instinctively before his mind caught up; shoulders tensing as he turned sharply on the bench with narrowed eyes ready for defense. But when he saw who stood just a few paces away, the tension morphed into something else entirely.
Valeria stood beneath the soft glow of a lantern mounted on the nearby wall, arms crossed and posture straight. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, her gaze fixed on him with that familiar cold clarity that made most people instinctively straighten their backs.
She wore a fitted coat over light travel gear. Yet, the aura around her was unmistakable, restrained but powerful, embodying the presence of a Grandmaster who didn’t need to announce her strength.
Gregor blinked in surprise before forcing himself to calm down. The initial shock faded as he rose from the bench to face her fully.
"How did you find me?" he asked, his voice steady but betraying a hint of disbelief.
Valeria tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes at his question. "I’m a Grandmaster," she replied flatly. "Remember? Finding you is easy for me. If I wanted to, I could track anyone across the entire Kingdom. Greyvale is hardly difficult."
Gregor let out a short breath that almost turned into laughter but stopped midway, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced briefly at the golden pillar before returning his gaze to her.
"I should have expected that," he said quietly. "Still, you could have given me some warning instead of just appearing behind me like that."
"You were distracted," she answered simply. "If I had been an enemy, you would already be dead."
He shot her a sideways look. "So you came all this way just to test my awareness?"
Valeria stepped forward slightly, boots clicking softly against the stone pavement as she closed the distance between them. The sound of the fountain filled the silence for a moment while the golden light flickered faintly in the distance.
"You’re watching the Vault," she said, glancing toward the beam before locking eyes with him again. "So is half the city. The rumors are spreading already."
Gregor nodded slowly. "Hard not to notice something like that. It looks close enough, but I know it isn’t, there’s too much mana around it even from here."
"So you can feel it," she noted.
"I’ve been around long enough," he replied casually as he leaned back against the edge of the fountain with arms folded loosely across his chest.
"Vaults don’t appear for nothing; when they do, every faction that matters will move, nobles, mercenaries, the Church... hidden families... everyone will want a piece of it."
"And what about you?" Valeria asked quietly. "What do you want?"
Gregor paused at the question, his eyes narrowing slightly as he weighed his response. For a few seconds, he remained silent, watching the golden beam of light as if trying to decipher something hidden within it.
"Treasure?" he finally ventured with a faint shrug. "Power? Maybe. Or perhaps just answers. Vaults aren’t solely about gold and relics; sometimes they hold knowledge,lost spells, things buried for a reason."
Valeria studied his face intently. "You sound tempted."
"Wouldn’t you be?" he shot back, raising an eyebrow.
She didn’t deny it but also didn’t confirm it. "Temptation isn’t the same as purpose," she replied calmly. "You left the Guild without a word, and now a Vault appears. Is that just coincidence?"
At her words, Gregor stiffened slightly; the easy tone from earlier faded as he straightened and faced her more seriously. "You didn’t come here to talk about the Vault, did you?"
"No," she answered, her voice colder and sharper now. "I came for you."
The air between them grew heavier not because she raised her voice but due to the weight in her tone. Gregor held her gaze, searching for anger or disappointment, but Valeria’s expression remained composed, almost too composed, which made it harder for him to respond.
"How long were you planning to stay away?" she continued, arms still folded and posture firm. "You disappeared after the attack without explanation or message. Do you think that’s how a senior member of the Guild should behave?"
Gregor glanced down at the stone ground before meeting her eyes again. "I needed time," he said quietly. "Everything happened so fast, the attack, the chaos, the losses, I wasn’t sure where I stood anymore."
"And running to Greyvale helped?" she asked.
"I didn’t run," he replied quickly, frustration creeping into his voice. "I stepped back; there’s a difference."
Valeria took another small step closer, unwavering in her gaze. "From where I stand, it looks like running."
He opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself instead, exhaling slowly as he ran a hand through his hair. "You wouldn’t understand."
"Try me," she urged.
The fountain water flowed steadily behind them, indifferent to their tension. After hesitating for a moment, Gregor spoke in a lower voice: "When the Guild was attacked, I wasn’t there. While everyone fought and people got hurt, when Mina almost..."
He stopped abruptly; his jaw tightened at the memory. "All of it was my fault, if i wasn’t being greedy...."
Valeria’s eyes softened briefly before returning to their usual calm sharpness. "Then do you think leaving fixes that?"
"No," he admitted softly. "But staying and pretending nothing changed would have been worse."
"And what has changed?" she pressed.
He looked directly at her. "Sage has changed."
Valeria didn’t respond right away.
Gregor continued, his voice steady but weighed down with concern. "He’s carrying more than he used to. I can see it in the way he looks at things now, in how he makes decisions. It’s not just about missions anymore; something bigger is shifting. And I..." He paused, shaking his head slightly. "I wasn’t sure if I could keep up."
Silence settled between them, broken only by the distant sounds of the city and the faint hum of the golden beam beyond the walls.
Finally, Valeria spoke, her tone firm and cold again. "The Guild isn’t a place where you stay only when it’s comfortable. If you think Sage is burdened too heavily, then don’t just leave him to carry that weight alone. Stand beside him."
Gregor pressed his lips into a thin line.
She stepped closer, close enough for him to see the golden light reflected in her eyes. "You asked what I’m doing here," she said quietly yet firmly. "I need you to come back."
The words hung heavily in the air between them, final and undeniable.