The guards' eyes lingered on my blade longer than I liked.

Their expressions shifted between suspicion and something akin to disdain.

I kept my posture steady, masking the sharp pain in my abdomen and right side.

The last thing I needed was to appear weak or nervous.

One of the guards, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, finally spoke up. "If you're looking to do any bloody work here in Hallowford, you better register with the Adventurer's Association first," he said gruffly.

I nodded, noting the veiled threat in his tone. "Understood," I replied, keeping my voice even.

The guard's gaze hardened. "And if you want to survive in this town, you might want to think about joining the Ironbrand Guild. We don't see many with rags like yours carrying a sword unless they're looking for trouble or trying to avoid it."

The mention of the guild sent a chill down my spine.

The name was already heavy with meaning from my brief encounter with Lorian and the cloaked attacker.

Here, it seemed, their influence was even more oppressive.

I hesitated as the guard's warning hung in the air

The guard took a step closer, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as if to emphasize his point. "You don't want to be on the wrong side of things here, traveler."

I nodded, hoping to avoid more scrutiny.

"Noted," I replied, stepping past them, keeping my movements steady despite the pain gnawing at my side.

As I passed through the gates, I could feel their eyes on my back while reminded of the power they held and the danger that lay ahead.

----------------------------------------

The town of Hallowford was unlike anything I'd seen before, yet it carried a familiarity that gnawed at me, a reminder of how power can corrupt and twist even the most mundane of places.

The streets were narrow, winding between buildings that leaned in close, as if trying to keep secrets from the sky above.

The air was thick with the stench of sweat and grime, laced with a palpable undercurrent of fear.

As I walked deeper into the town, I kept my gaze sharp, taking in every detail.

The people moved about with hurried steps, their heads down, avoiding eye contact with anyone who looked like they belonged to the Ironbrand Guild.

The guild's insignia was everywhere—on banners, on the armor of patrolling guards, even on the buildings that lined the main street.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

It was clear who held the reins here.

I watched as a merchant, standing at the entrance of his shop, flinched when a group of armored men passed by.

They didn't even glance at him, yet the fear in his eyes told me enough.

This wasn't a place where you spoke out of turn, where you questioned the authority that loomed over you.

The guild's influence was a suffocating blanket, draped over the town and its people, stifling any resistance before it could even begin.

I clenched my fists with the instinct to act, to do something, bubbling up within me.

But I forced it down.

This wasn't my fight—at least, not yet.

I had to be smart, had to gather more information before making any moves.

The wound in my side was a constant reminder of how vulnerable I was. I couldn't afford to make any rash decisions—not when the stakes were this high.

I continued walking, careful to keep my steps even, my expression neutral. The last thing I could afford was to draw any more attention.

My mind raced as I observed the interactions around me, piecing together the dynamics of the town.

The Ironbrand Guild wasn't just a group of thugs; they were the law here, the enforcers of a twisted order that kept everyone in line.

The more I saw, the more it became clear that Hallowford was a place where survival meant playing by the guild's rules.

For now, I would have to do the same... for now.

As I turned a corner, I found myself in a quieter part of town, where the streets narrowed even further, and the buildings seemed older, more worn down by time and neglect.

The oppressive atmosphere of the main road lingered, but here, it was tinged with something darker—a sense of resignation that hung in the air like a bad smell.

Ahead, I noticed a small group of adventurers. Their demeanor was rough and careless.

They were huddled around a merchant's stall, and it didn't take long to see what was happening.

The merchant, a wiry man with tired eyes, was pleading with them. His voice was barely above a whisper.

The adventurers laughed. Their voice was loud and they kept mocking him, as they rifled through his goods, taking whatever they pleased.

I slowed my pace, watching from a distance. This was no ordinary robbery; it was something more insidious.

The adventurers wore the insignia of the Ironbrand Guild on their cloaks, marking them as members of the guild—or at least, as affiliates who had the protection of those in power.

The merchant's hands shook as he tried to reason with them, but it was clear he knew there was no real hope.

His shoulders slumped in defeat even as he continued to speak, and his words were ignored or met with derision.

I felt a familiar anger stir within me, a need to step in, to stop this injustice.

But I knew better than to act on impulse, especially now.

These were not the kind of men who would hesitate to draw their blades if challenged, and I was in no condition for another fight, not with the wound still fresh and my strength depleted.

Just because I carried a sword didn't make me a warrior, yet.

Instead, I made a mental note of the situation, imprinting the faces of the adventurers into my memory.

There would be a time for this, but it wasn't now.

I had to stay focused on the task at hand—finding a place to rest, gathering information, and staying out of trouble until I knew more about the game I was playing.

The adventurers finally moved on, laughing as they strolled down the street with their ill-gotten gains tucked away in their packs.

The merchant watched them go with a look of hollow despair in his eyes.

I felt a pang of guilt as I walked past him, but I knew it was necessary.

I couldn't afford to get involved—not yet.

As I continued toward the town square, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking a tightrope, with danger lurking on either side.

The Ironbrand Guild's reach was everywhere, and every step I took felt like it was being watched, scrutinized by unseen eyes.

But I would find my way.

I had to.