A Cold-Blooded POV

Wilfred stood stiffly at the window of his office. He quietly stared at the enormous tree. It was located in the guild's garden, standing out above all the other plants, trees, and flowers due to its size.

The tree was similar to him in many regards, austere, solid, and not to mention old. Years ago when he had first begun the building process for the guild, he had personally told the workers to build around the tree. This tree was a memory of how far he had come.

Wilfred reached into his guild coat's pocket, withdrawing a platinum silver pocket watch. It had become a habit of his that he developed over the years.

The time the clock displayed held no importance to him, instead, he glanced at the ingrained insignia that was custom pressed, located directly behind the face and hour hands. It depicted a leafy vine that stretched and veered all around the clock.

His forehead scrunched up and his eyes softened, a rare expression for the guild leader. His throat tightened, not giving way for him to swallow. There was a longing in his expression that purged his heart.

*Tak*

*Tak*

The repeated sound of weight and friction against the marble floor penetrated his ears, footsteps. Wilfred's facial expression dropped, like an apple from a tree, becoming stoic.

He placed the pocket watch back into his guild coat's left pocket and moved to his desk, preparing to greet his visitor.

He slid his ungraceful fingers across the wooden desk, grabbing the first document in sight. It was a report showing details regarding the guild's fundings.

Apparently, Ambassador Earl had been investing in the new recruits. A slight chuckle escaped his lips as he thought about the impatient man lecturing the rookies.

*Screech*

Hearing the screeching sound of the door being opened Wilfred whispered under his voice "Took you long enough".

A young man entered the office, he was clothed in an all-black side-buttoned suit, a white belt with a gold buckle wrapped around his waist, the standard Tremblebane Guild attire.

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Attached to the belt was a sheathed sword. Immediately after locking eyes with Wilfred, he struck a salute, his fist pressed against his chest where the insignia of the Tremblebane Guild resided.

"At ease, what brought you to my office?". Asked the guild leader.

The young man dropped his salute and replied "Sir, one of the Council's Wiseman, Arthur, has sent a request for you to meet him".

"What? Tell him I'm busy, Melinda will go in my stead" Wilfred replied stubbornly. He didn't want to see the face of that familiar old bastard.

"The Vice-Guild leader is busy at the moment, so she won't be able to attend. He personally requested a meeting with you. He said it's to meet an old friend" the young man shot back.

Wilfred sighed, squeezing at his middle upper nose area with his fingers. "Haa… damn geezer. Tell him I'll meet him and bring him here to my office".

The young man saluted once more than exited the office. Wilfred sighed again. "What does that goddamn bastard want now?"

Shortly after, an older man entered the office. He had a medium build, his white-grayish beard and hair were well groomed and slicked back.

On his left eye was a scar that slid vertically down his face, which caused his eye to squint subconsciously. He walked closer reaching out his rough hand.

"Wilfred, how have you been you old monster?" He said cheekily

The guild leader stared at the man for a couple of seconds before sighing heavily and reaching his hand out for a handshake. "Shut the hell up. Why did you leave the capital to come all the way here?"

"If you must know, I quite enjoy the atmosphere in Veenvale. The smoke from the blacksmiths iron in the morning is always a sign of a good day." Arthur replied sarcastically.

"You and me both know that's bullshit, quit your yapping and tell me why you're really here?"

The council Wiseman chuckled, then his face grew serious. "I came here to let you know that the Enforcers will be heading this way for a dungeon sweep. It should take them at most a month to get here so make sure to let your guild members know, we don't want any misunderstandings and you know how the enforcers operate…"

Wilfred grunted. "It's that time already? Seems like it was just last month they were here ordering around the members of my guild"

"C'mon Wilfred, don't make a big deal out of this, you of all people should understand why they move the way they do. Besides, as you know the labyrinths and dungeons have to routinely be swept to keep monsters from getting over-evolved and mutated. We don't want another case like what happened in the Zivodor Dynasty"

Wilfred sighed. "Don't worry, I understand, I'm just annoyed is all."

"Thanks for understanding," Arthur replied.

The guild leader began to tap his large index finger on the desk. "But you know, that still doesn't exactly explain why you are here. You'd usually just send a letter informing me of the Enforcer's arrival" he said in a deep voice, looking the council Wiseman directly in his eyes.

Arthur laughed nervously. "Oh you know, I just came to see an old face from the past… hehe"

Wilfred glared daggers at him, causing Arthur to sweat a bit. The guild leader was one of the pillars of the kingdom of Asrich, his glare would make anyone shiver and have an accident on themselves.

Giving into the pressure Arthur sighed "Haa… seems nothing gets past you. I realized that a couple of days ago that the anniversary of Ariel's passing had occurred, I wanted to-"

"Stop" Wilfred interrupted. He now understood Arthur's real reason for coming all this way to meet him. "I think you should go now," he said.

Arthur glanced at the stone-cold expression of the guild leader, then responded. "She was our comrade to in the past, it's only right that I-"

*Bang*

The guild leader slammed his fist into the desk destroying it and sending paperwork everywhere. The ground underneath him began to crack and his aura started to seep out. Then he spoke once more.

"I said I think you should leave. We're finished talking here, get out" he demanded.

Arthur stood up, the pain visible in his eyes. He nodded then turned around and walked out, leaving only Wilfred in the office. He looked at the broken work desk and the cracked marble floor and sighed.

"I got to get this fixed again."