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"Master! We are so sorry for returning in this state!" One female voice called out loudly, sounding extremely apologetic. Another followed suit.

"Please forgive us, master Armagus. We have failed you and our sisters!"

"There were just too many of them; we couldn't handle all of those spiders." Another feminine voice cried out. "We tried to hold out as best as we could, but..." Her words trailed off, and her face contorted as she struggled with her feelings of remorse and guilt.

Reinhold's head snapped towards the ruckus, and he laid eyes on three imposing figures surrounding Armagus. Their features mirrored those of the young waitress who had served them food earlier, their towering stature emphasized by long, flowing hair that cascaded down their backs. However, instead of the plain shirts and skirts she wore, these women were clad in full-plate armor with chainmail peeking out from underneath.

Their faces were completely hidden behind solid steel helmets fashioned into snarling dragons, each unique in its fierce design, as their breastplates bore a symbol of a sword crossed with a shield, encircled by flames. Above it is a crest featuring two wings extended upwards. Their gauntlets boasted sharp claws attached to them, and they carried swords at their sides, each one emblazoned with the same emblem as their armor.

'An adventurer guild has this kind of equipment?' Reinhold wondered in amazement as his gaze wandered around them curiously, admiring their appearance. He felt drawn towards these strong women despite himself. 'There was no way Armagus wouldn't have gotten involved,' he concluded silently, shaking his head lightly at the notion. 'This must be why the old man was acting suspicious. But why? What benefit does the old man get from helping them so much?'

"It's alright; I'm just glad you girls came back unhurt. Now is not the time for us to blame ourselves." Armagus gently assured them before turning towards Reinhold, motioning to introduce him to the trio. "Come. This guy here is my apprentice."

One of the women stepped forward confidently, her posture erect as she held her head high. Her shoulders were squared proudly, and her movements were graceful, with a fluidity that spoke of years of training. Slowly, she raised her hand to lift her helmet, revealing a mane of golden hair that cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall.

Her hair was not a pale blonde like Reinhold's but a rich and vibrant shade of gold, like a fountain spilling forth precious coins. Her face was sharp and cold, with angular features that gave her an otherworldly beauty. Even her eyebrows were a luxurious golden color, matching the hue of her hair. Her lips were painted a deep red, resembling droplets of blood against her milky-white skin.

But what caught Reinhold's attention the most were her piercing sapphire eyes. They seemed to eat away at his soul as he gazed into their deep ocean depths. They seemed to pierce through him, searching his soul with an intensity that made him feel exposed and vulnerable. There was a determination and resolve in those eyes, but also a hint of sadness that left him feeling uneasy.

'Those eyes held the weight of unshed tears, each blinking a brushstroke of sorrow on the canvas of her soul.' he pondered.

Only then did he notice the woman's slightly pointed ears—a telltale sign of an elf. 'An elf? Right in the heart of my city?' he mused in astonishment, unable to comprehend why an elf would be here.

The woman's gaze remained fixed on Reinhold as she studied him carefully. She seemed to be evaluating him in some way, judging whether he could be trusted. Eventually, she nodded slowly, her expression softening somewhat, before addressing him directly.

"I am the captain of The Fallen Brigade, code name Valkyrie, leader, and the strongest member of the Sisterhood of Fallen Maiden." She declared with a firm, authoritative voice. She paused momentarily to allow the information to sink in before continuing. "It is nice to finally meet the one whom master Armagus has spoken about, sir...?" She cocked her head sideways inquisitively, waiting for his answer.

As if he had just woken up from a deep sleep, Reinhold answered in a confused manner. "Ah yes, my name is Rei-" Before he could finish his sentence, Armagus immediately hit him on the head with his stick.

"There's a fly on your head. By the way, just call him Nier." The old mage smiled broadly and playfully slapped Reinhold on the back.

She didn't say anything but just smiled gently, then bowed politely to Reinhold and quickly turned to Armagus. "Master, we need to discuss something important." She spoke in a serious and urgent tone.

The old man's face hardened into a stern expression as he nodded, gesturing for his companions to follow him. "Let's head below; there is much to talk about."

With a swift turn of their boots, they descended the creaky stairs, their heavy boots thudding against the wooden steps. Reinhold's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer before following quietly behind them, curiosity gnawing at him.

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As they descended into the dimly lit basement, Armagus led them to a hidden room in the far corner. Once inside, the group gathered around a circular table made of polished oak and decorated with intricate carvings, its surface covered in runes that glowed brightly in the darkness around them.

A single candle stood in the center of the table, flickering softly as it cast dancing shadows upon the walls, illuminating several bookshelves and chairs arranged in front of a fireplace that blazed fiercely against the chill air. A large map hung above the hearth, showing the surrounding areas of the kingdom, including the capital itself, with its streets marked with dotted lines and buildings labeled accordingly. On one side of the chamber stood a large desk piled high with documents, and a few paintings adorned the walls. The atmosphere was cozy and warm.

'Haha, it looks like the secret command room of a rebel faction. I wonder what the old man is thinking.' Reinhold thought as he looked around, trying to get familiar with the surroundings. His thoughts drifted back to Armagus's earlier words about gathering information regarding Threhbor and its connection to Osanor, and he wondered if the elf captain would share any useful information with him.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed throughout the room, startling Reinhold as Armagus slammed his palm onto the sturdy wooden table with such force that he thought it might splinter into pieces. His expression was grim, and his jaw was clenched tightly.

Without wasting any more time, he looked at everyone gathered and addressed them solemnly. "Now then, what happened in the forest?"

The woman's voice trembled as she struggled to find the strength to speak. "We were greeted with a massacre upon our arrival in Osanor. The monstrous spiders, with their venomous fangs and relentless attacks, tore through our ranks, leaving chaos behind. They emerged from the ground and aimed at the horses first. Those who fell off their horses were no different from delicious prey for them."

Her eyes welled up with tears as she recalled the gruesome fate of her sisters, torn apart by the savage creatures. "It took a while for us to regroup and counterattack. We fought back with all our might, but even our bravest captains fell early on, unable to hold off the overwhelming force."

"The spiders were different than the ones we usually see," Valkyrie interjected. "They were bigger, faster, stronger, and more organized." She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "We managed to kill most of them, but it cost many of my sisters' lives. It's as if they were fighting to the death."

Armagus rubbed his chin in silence before responding, "And you're saying they weren't normal spiders?"

Valkyrie nodded affirmatively and said, "Yes. They were larger in size, with thicker legs, longer bodies, wider jaws, and sharper fangs. Their poison appeared to be even more potent." Her voice dropped to a whisper, "Their bite was so painful I couldn't move; it was as if I'd been paralyzed by lightning."

Armagus frowned deeply and closed his eyes as he contemplated the situation. But before he could say anything, Valkyrie interrupted him: "One strange thing is that the scouts were completely unable to detect even the slightest hint of this ambush. It was as if the spiders had arrived weeks before, then buried themselves underground and waited."

"Hmm... That is odd indeed." Armagus mused quietly, stroking his beard thoughtfully. After a few moments of deliberation, he opened his eyes and fixed them on Valkyrie. "And the mages in the tower had no warning about the spiders?"

"None whatsoever. They only met us once, during the payment process. They appear to have vanished immediately after sending their payment to us." She replied curtly, her face scrunching up in frustration. Her fingers gripped her sword hilt so tightly that the blade began to shake slightly.

"There was no way the spiders could set traps and ambushes right outside the tower like that without the mages knowing anything." Armagus exclaimed incredulously before sighing tiredly. "This means that the mages are either working with the spiders or someone else is pulling their strings to lure our guild in."

"But why? What would they possibly gain from this?" Armagus asked, confused by his statement, clearly unable to understand the motives behind those mage's actions. His eyes narrowed as he considered the implications of this discovery, his expression growing more serious with each passing moment.

"Those mages also have quite strange behavior, master. They seemed like they were in a daze, like they couldn't think properly." Valkyries explained. "Their faces had almost no expression at all, and their eyes looked as lifeless as those of the dead." As she recalled the events, she paused momentarily, her gaze wandering around the room. "The whole thing felt eerie and unnatural."

A heavy silence hung over the room as everyone processed Valkyrie's words. Armagus stood still, staring blankly at his feet for a moment, before lifting his head slowly and locking gazes with Reinhold, his expression hardening as determination flared in his eyes.

"It seems like what happened at Threhbor has happened again," he announced gravely. "The enemy seems closer to us than ever." He glanced over at Valkyrie before turning back to Reinhold with a grim expression. "I fear war is coming soon if we do not act fast."

Reinhold was now standing against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression was more serious than ever, and his eyes glared at Valkyrie. There seemed to be a bit of violence and murderous intent in his eyes. Suddenly, he announced, "The enemy is already in this room."

"What?!" Valkyrie shouted angrily, and her eyes widened in rage. "Are you accusing me?"

"No," he replied coldly without hesitation. "But her." Reinhold pointed a finger at one of the members who had been waiting behind her. She was tall and slender, with long black hair flowing down her back. "She was the only one who never took off her helmet or said a word. Her gaze under that helmet had never left the guild master since entering this room."

Everyone turned to look at the person Reinhold mentioned. Valkyrie's gaze was sharp and piercing as she studied every detail of the woman. "Nonsense; she was the captain of the scout squad and was always by my side from the beginning to the end of the campaign; there was no reason to doubt her. Besides, I have known her for years."

"Then you don't know her at all," he stated calmly.

Valkyrie's brows arched up in surprise and confusion. "You can't be serious." The moment Reinhold stepped closer, Valkyrie smoothly pulled out the sword and pointed it straight at Reinhold's neck, who was still in disguise. "You know that slander is a deadly crime, right?"

Reinhold smirked and shook his head. "Of course I know. My ancestors made that law." He then looked down and stared intently at Valkyrie, who had the blade pointing at his Adam's apple. He didn't budge an inch as he said, "Your sword is pointing the wrong way, my dear."