Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Nerissa prepared breakfast for everyone, and they gathered around the table, discussing the day's events over their meal.

"It's not really something we like to talk about. There was this quest we took that led us to a cave where they were farming chimeras," Devin explained.

Rena pushed her food around her plate, her appetite vanishing as she thought about the horrifying scene. Her fork hovered above her plate, then fell back down.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to eat a few bites, but her face paled with every mention of the grotesque creatures.

"Chimeras? I thought experiments on chimeras were banned in all nations, not just Verena. How could this happen?" Cormac asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The topic was unsettling. Experiments involving chimeras were considered some of the most abominable acts of cruelty.

These experiments, which involved forcibly merging parts of different beings, were so inhumane that every nation: whether human, elf, or beastman, unanimously agreed to outlaw them.

Anyone caught conducting such experiments faced a grim fate: death. The sheer barbarity of these acts left no room for debate.

"We don't know, but there were enough chimeras to form a large army. An elf showed up and destroyed all the evidence without a second thought," Lay said, shaking her head.

"Because they probably have more places like that," Cormac guessed, his mind racing.

"Bingo. The old elf geezer mentioned something similar too," Leroy said, munching on some pancakes with a casual air.

"We tried reporting it to the guild, but the matter was overlooked," Nerissa added, her voice tinged with frustration.

"And that's why you don't want me taking the artifact to them? Because the guild might already have traitors, right?" Cormac asked, piecing it all together.

"Yes, that's right," Nerissa confirmed, nodding.

Cormac gently ruffled Nerissa's hair with a warm smile. "It's alright," he chuckled, finding amusement in her mature demeanor. 'It's weird to see her acting all grown up,' he thought.

Nerissa shot him a curious glance. "What's so funny?" she asked, a hint of irritation in her voice. Cormac merely shrugged, brushing it off as nothing significant.

Rena, still concerned, asked, "So what do you plan on doing now?"

"I'm still going to the guild," Cormac replied, his nervous smile betraying his apprehension about their reactions.

The room fell silent as everyone exchanged confused glances.

"Didn't hear a word of what she said?" Leroy snapped. "If you give that thing to the wrong person, who knows what's going to happen?"

"For once, I agree with him. That shouldn't even be an option," Lay added, her annoyance evident.

"I won't give it to the wrong person. I have a contact in the guild that I can trust," Cormac assured them, trying to maintain his confidence.

"Yeah… didn't look like you could when your spear was kissing my neck a moment ago," Leroy said, still skeptical about Cormac's plan.

Cormac sighed, his expression turning apologetic. "I'm sorry for how I acted before," he said. Leroy merely nodded, not pressing the issue further.

"If you're really worried, you can come with me to see the person I'm talking about," Cormac suggested, hoping to ease their concerns.

"Follow you?" Rena repeated, sounding uncertain.

Devin nodded in agreement. "We really don't have much to lose, and it would be a good idea to meet someone we can also try to trust."

"When you say it like that, then…" Leroy hesitated, but was quickly interrupted.

"Let's go!" Rena exclaimed, her impatience evident.

*****

At the guild, the group was greeted by an imposing figure. The guild master was a well-built woman with braided green hair that cascaded down her back.

She looked around thirty, but it was well known she was much older. Her presence commanded respect without the need for grandiose words.

"Umm, Cormac?" Rena asked nervously. "When you said 'contact,' you didn't mean…"

"The freaking guild master!?" Leroy finished, him eyes wide.

The guild master's gaze was sharp but fair. "Do well to behave yourselves in the guild master's presence. Don't think I won't kick you out because you came here with Cormac," she warned, her tone firm.

"Go easy on them, Alex. They're still my guests," Cormac added, trying to ease the tension.

The group stood there, speechless and nervous, unsure of how to respond to the guild master's authoritative presence.

*****

As they entered the guild, they expected to hand over the artifact to a receptionist or a specific worker. Instead, Cormac handed a black card to one of the receptionists.

"A black card? What kind of circumstance would make them give you a black card?" one of them wondered aloud.

A black card was a rare and prestigious item, issued to a select group of adventurers who had earned the trust of the guild. It granted privileges that extended beyond even S rank, allowing access to sensitive missions and high-level resources.

For most adventurers, the black card was a myth, and this was the first time Nerissa and her party had ever seen one in person. The sight of it left them in awe and filled with curiosity about its significance.

After showing the receptionists the black card, the group was quickly directed to the guild master's office.

*****

"It's been a while, Cormac," Alex greeted them warmly. "What brings you to the guild?"

"I see you brought some comrades with you. Lay, Devin, Rena, Leroy, and Nerissa," the guild master continued, glancing at each of them. "How's Jerry these days? He never even tries to stop by."

The group was taken aback by her familiarity. They exchanged surprised glances, clearly impressed that she knew their names.

"You know who we are?" Rena asked, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"Of course I do. I'm the guild master after all," the guild master said with a cheerful smile.

"You really won't change, guild master," Cormac sighed, shaking his head. "Don't be fooled by her; she just used appraisal on all five of you."

"It never gets old," the guild master, Helen, laughed. "Alright, boy scout, what brings you here?"

"You really won't call me Helen? I did say there was no need to be formal with me," Helen pouted playfully.

Cormac then proceeded to explain the situation, detailing their encounter with the chimeras and their concerns about the guild's possible infiltration.

"Hmm…" Helen said, her expression thoughtful. "I thought as much."

"You're not surprised?" Nerissa asked, her confusion evident.

"No, I expected this much after that big incident. I just couldn't be sure who I could or couldn't trust," Helen replied. She turned back to Cormac. "I need you to send a message to Jerry. Something big is coming, big enough to threaten the entire continent and not just Verena."

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Huff

This gets a bit hard sometimes