The day's first light filtered through the high windows of the former luxury inn converted into a guild hall, dust motes lazily dancing in the beams. As the main door opened, the sound of boots echoed through the almost empty hall. Iris walked in confidently, her posture straight and aura commanding. Kaira, Akane, and Mocha followed closely behind.

The front counter was manned by Neri, with Audrielle flipping through a ledger by her side. Their heads turned up as they heard the cadence of Iris's stride. The vastness of the guild hall was eerily silent, amplifying their exchange.

Much of the damage had been cleaned up over the last couple of days. Even the holes in the roof from Iris’s [Call Lightning] were hastily repaired just yesterday after a message sent by Thalia to the city’s Constructionist Guild spurred them into action.

That's something I'll have more control over as head of the council.

Fucking politics.

Neri looked up, her eyes brightening a touch. “Ah, Iris, you're just in time. There's someone waiting for you in your office.”

Iris tilted her head, a brief flash of curiosity lighting up her face. “Oh? Alright, We'll head up and—” she began, her voice trailing off as Neri raised a hand.

“Actually,” Neri interrupted, a smirk playing on her lips, “We have a quest that was submitted this morning. The very first one, and it specifically requested Kaira, Akane, and Mocha’s party.”

It was funny how Kaira and her sisters got a quest just after discussing the three forming a party.

Still, Iris had got to help them come up with their party name. It was almost too easy to trick them into using it.

Now, the first party of the Adventurer’s Guild?

The Magical Girl Squad.

She’d take the true background of that phrase to the grave and just laugh every time she heard it. It served that little vulpine trickster and her equine enabler right.

Last night, after a long, ‘come to Alos’, discussion with Kaira, Iris had made a decision. It wouldn’t be right to have a team rely on her when she couldn’t leave all of the time. She couldn’t afford to be a permanent member of any party because of the responsibilities that her position as grandmaster required of her.

It sucked.

But as grandmaster, though she was going to be quite busy, she could rely heavily on her staff enough to reserve the right to join any quest based on need or even for ‘evaluation’ purposes.

Akane's eyes widened, and she emitted an elated squee that seemed to bounce around the hall. Mocha, her sun elf form radiant with an inner glow, looked positively stunned. “Wait, our very first quest? Even before Iris gets one?!”

Iris chuckled, her tone light and teasing. “Apparently so.” She glanced over at Kaira, her smile turning into an exaggerated pout. “You're leaving me behind for your first big quest as party leader?”

Kaira met her gaze, eyes dancing with amusement. “Don't sound so surprised. Maybe it's about time you took a little break from the spotlight.” She winked, causing a flush to spread across Iris's cheeks.

“Well then,” Iris responded with a playful roll of her eyes. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a soft murmur meant only for Kaira's ears. “I'll catch up with you in a bit?”

Kaira's smile grew more tender. “Always.”

Iris reached forward and gave her girlfriend’s hand a squeeze before stepping away. Kaira, in her fluid elegance, gently brushed past Akane, who was fervently discussing what adventuring equipment they should get with an increasingly intrigued Mocha. Their animated chatter created a vibrant backdrop as Kaira approached the counter.

Neri looked up with a subtle smile. With practiced ease, her fingers slipped beneath the counter and drew out the parchment with the quest’s details.

Taking a deep breath, Iris adjusted her cloak and made her way past the counter. Audrielle, who had been engrossed in her ledger, gave a polite nod without lifting her eyes, engrossed in organizing what seemed like invoices and delivery notes—likely for the supplies they desperately needed.

The stairwell to the administrative wing had a more refined touch, with smoothly polished steps and sturdier banisters.

Entering her office, Iris noticed a graceful figure—a high elf woman swathed in luxurious winter fabrics, her eyes scanning the sparsely decorated room. She seemed to be taking mental notes, her face a mask of gentle critique.

Thalia broke the silence first, her voice dripping with feigned criticism. “This place is crying out for some personality, dear. It's roomy though.” She shot Iris a knowing glance, “I presume Sera made you take it?”

Laughing lightly, Iris nodded, her voice carrying an undertone of mock indignation. “She insisted. I told her I didn't need the space.”

“As expected. You’re the grandmaster. You need gravitas,” Thalia remarked with a fond smirk.

She turned, her eyes locking onto Iris’s, a warmth shimmering within. “It’s been a while. How have you been holding up? Meredith told me about the attack. It’s been handled. I’m… sorry about those you lost.”

Iris leaned against the doorframe. “Thanks. I think I was most surprised that no one left after that. Things have been busy since the attack. It’s been non-stop since we got the damn place, and now we already have to fix it. Thanks for the help with that, by the way.” She tilted her head. “Although, Meredith, where is she?”

Stolen story; please report.

Thalia's smirk transformed into a full-blown grin. “I gave her the second quest of your new guild… fetching us some tea from your bar. Then,” she added with a sly wink, “we can dive deep into conversation.”

As Thalia gracefully settled into one of the chairs that adorned Iris's office, she delicately tapped a finger on Iris’s desk with one hand while brushing a strand of her auburn hair out of her face with the other. “I'm hosting a spring ball,” she announced with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

Iris sighed as she moved to sit next to the city lady. “Ah shit, that means I have to make an appearance, doesn't it?”

Thalia tilted her head, perplexed. “I was under the impression you rather enjoyed yourself at my last soiree?”

A grin pulled at Iris's lips. “Enjoyed is a strong word. It was fun, don't get me wrong, but man—politics just isn't my thing, Thalia.”

Thalia rolled her eyes with a dramatic flourish, crossing one leg over the other. “You don't have to be a political savant, Iris. All you need to do is show up, cast a spell or two to razzle-dazzle the crowd, and maybe instill a healthy dose of fear into anyone who underestimates you. Besides, you have a secret weapon—me.”

Oh, the high and mighty nobility vouching for the scrappy adventurer, how original. Iris raised an eyebrow, skepticism mingling with genuine curiosity. “So we're friends now? Is that what you're saying?”

Thalia chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. “Would I invest so much time and effort into you and your fledgling guild if I didn't actually like you? Although—” she paused, her expression momentarily clouding, “—please don't answer that.”

Iris couldn't help but laugh, the tension in the room diffusing like mist before the sun. Yet, her next words were chosen carefully, her face a serene mask of earnestness. “So this is for real? You're genuinely offering your friendship?”

“Absolutely,” Thalia confirmed, her eyes meeting Iris's with uncharacteristic vulnerability. “You're like a breath of fresh air in a stifling room, Iris. After inheriting my father's responsibilities at such a young age, my life has been a parade of people who always want something from me. With you, I finally feel like I can give—and receive—without ulterior motives.”

Damn, it's like she just bared her soul or something. “Well, to be fair, I did want something from you at first.”

Thalia waved her hand dismissively. “Starting a guild hardly counts as personal exploitation. If anything, I exploited you to gain more influence over the guilds.”

“I wouldn’t say that. You gave a lot for quite frankly me to simply be reasonable.”

The woman shrugged. “Taking advantage of people is so exhausting. It’s simply better to treat with people who are open to mutually beneficial agreements.”

Smiling, Iris nodded. “Alright then. Friendship it is, Thalia.”

The high elf's blue eyes softened, and her posture relaxed. “Thank the gods. Now, I hope you're prepared to listen to me complain about the innumerable annoyances that are the city's nobles. It's like holding in a sneeze, and I'm about to burst.”

Iris laughed heartily, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “How about we make a pact? Whoever needs to bitch brings a bottle of wine to the other's place. I'll start by coming over to your house since, you know, I'm currently homeless.”

Thalia burst into laughter, the sound rich and infectious, echoing in the empty corners of the room.

“Deal,” she agreed, sealing their new friendship with the promise of many wine-fueled rants to come.

Thalia's face lit up with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Once we secure you a manor, I expect to be invited over. By evening's end, I suspect Meredith will have to carry me back to the manor. It will be delightfully unladylike.”

Iris raised an eyebrow, pushing away the thought of living in some grand estate. “Look, Thalia, I don't want some opulent mansion. It's just me, Akane, and Mocha. We don't need a palace.”

“No one said anything about a palace. If that’s in the cards, I’m getting it first. No, we’re just talking about somewhere befitting your status.” Thalia smirked. “And what about Lady Harken? Aren’t you planning to play house together anytime soon?”

Iris's cheeks tinted a light shade of pink. “Not just yet. We're still in the early stages, courting and all. I want to take things slow and ensure everything's right for both of us.”

Thalia arched an eyebrow. “My, my, that's rather mature of you, Iris. What happened to the Mistress of Mayhem?”

Feigning shock, Iris clutched her heart dramatically. “Thalia, I am wounded by your insinuation! My mayhem has always been mature.”

Thalia chuckled, rolling her eyes, “Ah, and there it goes—your fleeting moment of maturity. Evaporated into the ether.”

Both women dissolved into laughter, the sound echoing harmoniously throughout the office.

Their mirth was gently interrupted when Ser Meredith entered. Balancing a tray of steaming tea, she moved with grace and precision, pouring the aromatic liquid into mugs before setting them on the desk.

After, she handed a document to Thalia before taking up a silent, protective position outside of the door. Thalia, however, looked momentarily deflated as she accepted the paper.

“So, this is why I’m here, a missive from the queen. Well, in addition to the quest I just posted,” Thalia began, waving the parchment slightly.

“What was the quest about by the way?”

“Oh, just the meeting with Lady Nysera, your… ‘harpy queen’ as we discussed before.”

Iris nodded. That made sense, and the Magical Girls Squad would be perfect for it.

“So, what does the queen want from us?”

“So presumptive to think it’s ‘us’.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “You’re here to bring it up. It’s definitely us.”

Thalia smiled as she skimmed through the document before speaking. “She's expressing her gratitude for quelling the threat posed by the Marauder Prince and appreciating the hefty bounty I financed. Furthermore, she's affirming my decision to grant you citizenship. She sounds pleased with our initiative in supporting the guild's formation and…” Thalia's voice trailed off slightly.

Iris tensed. “And?”

The elf sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “She's dispatching personnel to be trained. She wants a branch of the guild in the capital.”

Oh, shit.

The thought of all they’d need to do made her sigh. “We're nowhere near equipped to handle that right now.”

Thalia leaned back as her face took on a contemplative expression. “Well, there's fuck-all we can do to prevent it. We'll just have to improvise.” She gave the paper a pointed tap. “The good news? There's no mention of how long it should take to train them. So, you can take your sweet ass time. With that, I have a handful of volunteers that will be joining you. Expect them to arrive to be evaluated within the week. They’re setting up appointments with the Church for the ceremony.”

Iris let out a relieved chuckle, grateful for Thalia's pragmatism.

“Well, it seems we have a lot to do in the future."