The quiet of the room was interrupted by the door swinging open with a creak, startling Valeria out of her thoughts. She jumped slightly, her heart racing. But Valeria quickly realized it was the old man from earlier, the one who had intervened during the commotion outside. He stepped into the room, his broad frame filling the doorway, and immediately addressed Lily with a gruff yet caring tone. "You good, kid?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her.

Lily, who had been resting on the couch with her eyes closed, slowly opened them and nodded."Thank you," she replied, her usual calmness returning.

The old man sat down heavily on a chair opposite them, crossing his arms with a thoughtful look on his weathered face. "You’re too nice, you know that?" he remarked, shaking his head. "You could’ve just shoved that brat off from the start."

Lily smiled faintly, a glimmer of amusement in her tired eyes. "I didn’t want to cause you more trouble, sir," she said, the respect in her tone clear. "Especially when it comes to dealing with her family."

The old man chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "Ah, don’t call me ‘sir,’ makes me feel old. It’s Arthur, or Uncle Arthur if you prefer, like usual." He glanced at Valeria, giving her a wink. "What about you, kid? You calling me Uncle Arthur too?"

Valeria blinked, processing his words. But before she could answer, Lily spoke again, her voice warmer now. "Thank you, Uncle Arthur."

Arthur shrugged it off, leaning back in his chair. "No need to thank me. That girl’s personality is known to everyone around here, especially when it comes to Dante." He sighed, rubbing his temple as if the memory of the noblewoman brought him a headache. "She’s always causing trouble where Dante’s involved. So, honestly, it wouldn’t hurt to be a little rough with her next time," he added with a grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Lily chuckled softly, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I’ll keep that in mind," she said, her tone playful despite the exhaustion still clinging to her.

Arthur then shifted his attention to Valeria, his expression softening as he leaned forward a bit. "And who’s this little one?" he asked, his voice curious but kind.

Lily glanced at Valeria with a small smile. "This is Valeria," she introduced, her voice filled with a certain warmth that Valeria hadn’t heard before. "She’s been traveling with me for a little while now."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, nodding thoughtfully. "Valeria, huh? Nice to meet you, kid," he said with a smile, his rough exterior softening even more as he studied her.

Lily, after a brief pause, turned to Valeria, her expression growing more serious. "Valeria, would you mind exploring the guild building for a bit?" she asked gently, her tone careful. "I think you’d enjoy looking around, and I need to talk to Uncle Arthur for a little while."

Valeria hesitated, glancing between Lily and Arthur. She didn’t want to leave Lily alone, especially after what had just happened, but she trusted Lily. "Okay," she said softly, though a part of her still wanted to stay close.

Arthur, noticing Valeria’s slight reluctance, nodded toward the open door. "No worries, kid. I’ll have someone show you around. This place can be pretty exciting if you know where to look." He raised his voice slightly, calling out, "Hey, we need someone to give this little one a tour!"

A young woman appeared in the doorway almost immediately, her cheerful expression brightening the room. "I’d be happy to show her around!" she said with enthusiasm.

Arthur grinned and gestured to Valeria. "There you go. You’re in good hands. Go explore a bit, and when you’re done, come on back."

Valeria stood up and glanced at Lily one last time. Lily gave her a reassuring nod. "Go ahead, Valeria. I’ll be fine. We’ll meet back here soon."

With that, Valeria followed the young woman out of the room, her mind racing with thoughts of everything that had just happened. But as she stepped into the bustling hall of the guild, the noise and excitement of the adventurers going about their day began to distract her. She wasn’t sure what to expect from this place, but she was eager to see more.

The young lady guiding Valeria through the guild building introduced herself as Alice, her energy contagious as she led Valeria from room to room. Valeria quickly learned that the guild was much more than just a place for adventurers to gather; it was a community in itself. Alice’s enthusiasm made every little detail sound exciting, and Valeria couldn’t help but smile as she absorbed everything around her.

As they walked through the center of the guild, Valeria noticed the training area where adventurers of all sizes and abilities practiced with swords, bows, and magic. The clang of steel and the hum of spells filled the air, the adventurers exchanging advice or occasionally calling out playful insults. Off to the side, Alice pointed out a dining hall where adventurers gathered after long missions to eat and share their stories. The smell of roasted meats and fresh bread wafted from the open doors, making Valeria’s stomach rumble slightly.

"There’s even a lounge," Alice said, pointing toward a cozy-looking space filled with cushioned chairs and a crackling fireplace. "Adventurers can relax there between missions. It’s not all fighting and running around, after all."

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Valeria’s eyes sparkled as Alice continued, "And over here, we have something like a school, though it’s nothing fancy. It’s for people who want to sign up and learn new skills—mostly basic fighting techniques, some weapon handling, that kind of thing. It's open to anyone."

Valeria was fascinated. A school for adventurers? It sounded like something straight out of one of the stories she loved to read.

As they neared the front of the guild, Alice gestured toward the main hub—a large, open area bustling with activity. Adventurers of all kinds were huddled together, studying mission boards or chatting with guild staff. "This is the heart of the building," Alice explained. "It’s where adventurers accept missions, report back after completing them, or sign up to become guild members."

Valeria wandered around the main hub, feeling a bit out of place but also excited by the energy of the place. Some of the adventurers greeted her with friendly smiles, asking in jest if she was planning to sign up. Their light-hearted comments made Valeria smile back, though she didn’t know what to say. Others, however, gave her sad looks, though she didn’t quite understand why.

Before long, a familiar voice broke through the crowd. Dante’s group had entered the guild, and Valeria’s heart lifted at the sight of them. But as soon as they walked in, something seemed off. A fellow adventurer approached Dante with a lighthearted comment. But Dante’s expression shifted quickly from his usual cheer to something more serious. He talked to the person quietly, his brow furrowed, while the rest of his group entered behind him.

Miguel was the first to spot Valeria. The big man’s face lit up as he waved her over, his gruff voice calling out, "There’s our little adventurer!" Valeria smiled and ran over to them, her excitement bubbling up again.

The group greeted her warmly. Edith smiled brightly, crouching down to Valeria’s level. "How’s it going, Valeria? Did Alice show you all the best spots?" she asked.

"Yeah, it’s amazing here," Valeria replied, her voice full of wonder.

Aldus, standing behind Edith, nodded. "The guild can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s a good place to learn the ropes. You’ll get used to it."

Lydia, looking as tired as ever but still managing to muster a smile for Valeria, glanced around. "Where’s Lily?" she asked, her voice straightforward as always. "She’s not usually far from you."

Valeria hesitated for a moment, almost blurting out that Lily was resting, but she remembered her promise. Instead, she quickly changed her answer, trying to sound casual. "Oh, she’s chatting with Uncle Arthur," she said, hoping it sounded convincing.

Dante, who had been quieter than usual, murmured something under his breath. "I… I owe her an apology," he said, his voice filled with guilt. Valeria glanced up at him, surprised. Dante was usually so full of energy, but now he looked downcast, his usual spark missing.

Before Valeria could ask why, Miguel spoke up again, his big hand resting gently on her shoulder. "You weren’t scared of that noblewoman earlier, were you? Christina’s her name," he said, his voice soft despite his size. "She’s… well, let’s just say she’s not very pleasant."

Valeria shook her head, but she still felt a bit uneasy thinking about it.

"Christina?" Lydia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Birdbrain, more like. And that’s an insult to birds."

Edith and Aldus both chuckled at Lydia’s bluntness. "She’s bothered all of us at one point or another," Edith admitted with a shrug. "You’re not alone in dealing with her nonsense, Valeria."

Lydia nodded, clearly annoyed at the memory. "She’s always hovering around Dante, causing trouble whenever she can. We just try to ignore her."

Dante sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… she’s been troublesome. But don’t worry, Valeria, we won’t let her bother you again."

Valeria felt a bit better hearing that. Even though Christina had been mean, knowing that Dante’s group had dealt with her before made her feel less alone. Still, she couldn’t shake the thought of Lily’s pale face and how much she had suffered in silence.

As the conversation with Dante's group continued, Alice excused herself as someone else needed her. And Valeria soon heard a familiar voice call out her name not long after. She turned to see Lily approaching, her hood back up, looking much more composed than before. Relief washed over Valeria as she saw that Lily seemed better, though she still couldn’t shake the worry entirely.

"Finished already?" Dante asked with a half-hearted grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood. His usual energy hadn’t fully returned, and Valeria noticed that hint of guilt still lingering in his eyes.

"Yes," Lily replied calmly, her voice as steady as ever. "I hope Valeria’s been enjoying herself." She gave Valeria a soft smile, and Valeria couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a little more at ease seeing Lily in better shape.

Dante hesitated for a moment, then brought up what had clearly been weighing on him. "About Christina... what she said... I’m sorry, Lily. I should’ve done something sooner."

Lily, as usual, brushed it off, her tone light. "It’s not your fault, Dante. I don’t care what she says." There was a firmness in her voice that made it clear Lily wasn’t interested in dwelling on the matter. And that she certainly didn’t want anyone, especially Dante, to feel responsible for it.

Valeria, however, couldn’t help but feel a flicker of worry rise up inside her again. She knew Lily said she didn’t care, but after seeing how pale and weak Lily had looked earlier, Valeria wasn’t convinced. Still, she remained quiet, trusting Lily’s strength.

Lily then turned to Valeria, her expression softening as she knelt down a little to be closer to her. "How about we go to that dining place I told you about? It’s one of my favorites in the city."

Valeria’s eyes lit up at the idea of exploring more of the city with Lily. She nodded eagerly, excited about the prospect of spending more time together. "Yes, let’s go!" she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

As Lily stood back up, ready to leave, Valeria noticed that Dante didn’t try to stop them this time. His usual boisterous nature was subdued, as if he didn’t want to create more trouble for Lily or Valeria after everything that had happened. Instead, he offered a simple, warm goodbye. "Take care, you two. We’ll be in the city for a while if you need anything."

The rest of the group chimed in with their goodbyes, Miguel giving Valeria a gentle pat on the head, Edith smiling brightly at her, and even Lydia offering a small nod. "See you around," Aldus added.

Valeria waved goodbye to them all, feeling a little sad to leave, but also excited for the next part of her day with Lily. As they walked away from the bustling guild and out into the lively streets of Aurenport, Valeria felt a mixture of emotions—relief that Lily seemed better, but still a lingering sense of worry she couldn’t quite shake.