God's Tree-Chapter 93: The Adventures Guild

Emberfall was alive in ways that the wilderness never could be.

The streets were filled with merchants, warriors, and scholars, each moving with purpose, each a part of the intricate machine that made up the city.

Yet, beneath the surface, there was something else.

Something hidden.

And Argolaith, Kaelred, and Malakar were determined to find it.

The Adventurers' Guild stood in the heart of the city—a massive structure of dark stone, banners of various factions fluttering in the wind.

It was a place where warriors, mages, and mercenaries gathered. A place where contracts were made, and legends were forged.

As they stepped inside, the noise was overwhelming.

Men and women of all races and backgrounds were scattered throughout the grand hall—some drinking, some exchanging stories, and others examining mission boards lined with parchment.

A massive plaque hung above the counter, listing the ranks of adventurers.

•Copper – The lowest rank, for beginners and newcomers.

•Iron – Slightly more experienced, but still considered a novice.

•Bronze – Those who have proven themselves in combat and survival.

•Silver – The first true step into professionalism.

•Gold – Elite adventurers, respected and feared.

•Diamond – A rank given only to the extraordinary.

•Adamantine – A rarity, only given to those with great power and renown.

•Mithril – The strongest adventurers, capable of slaying dragons and ruling battlefields.

•Orichalcum – The absolute peak—a rank reserved for legends.

Argolaith read over the list, absorbing the information.

Kaelred crossed his arms. "I take it we're starting at Copper?"

Argolaith nodded. "Looks like it."

Malakar smirked. "How quaint."

The receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman with dark auburn hair and an air of authority, glanced at them. "Here to register?"

Argolaith nodded. "Yeah. What do we need to do?"

The woman pulled out two sheets of parchment. "Name, age, and any combat experience."

Kaelred leaned forward. "Is there a test?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You'll need to complete an introductory mission to officially earn your rank. Failure means rejection."

Argolaith grinned. "Fair enough."

They filled out the forms, the ink drying quickly under the receptionist's careful gaze.

Once they were finished, she nodded. "Alright. Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. Your official rank is Copper."

Kaelred sighed. "That feels insulting."

Argolaith smirked. "It won't stay that way for long."

The receptionist tilted her head. "And your friend?"

She gestured toward Malakar.

Kaelred smirked. "Yeah, Malakar, you signing up too?"

Malakar chuckled, reaching into his cloak.

Then—he pulled out a small metallic card.

The moment the adamantine-gilded adventurer's card hit the counter, the entire room went silent.

Conversations stopped.

Weapons were lowered.

Every single person in the guild hall turned to stare.

The receptionist's eyes widened slightly. "You're… an Adamantine-ranked adventurer?"

Malakar smiled pleasantly. "Oh, did I forget to mention that?"

Kaelred rubbed his temples. "Of course you did."

The receptionist studied Malakar carefully, her previous professional demeanor shifting into something more cautious.

Adamantine-ranked adventurers weren't just strong. They were famous. Feared. Respected.

It was a rank that only a handful of individuals held across the world.

And Malakar had just casually revealed that he was one of them.

Argolaith smirked. "I guess this means we have an easy way of getting information."

The receptionist cleared her throat, regaining her composure. "With your rank, Lord Malakar, you don't require any tests or verification."

Malakar grinned. "How convenient."

The murmurs in the room grew louder as adventurers whispered among themselves.

"Who is he?"

"An Adamantine? What the hell is he doing here?"

"Did we just register alongside a monster?"

Kaelred sighed. "Well, there goes our attempt to stay unnoticed."

Malakar chuckled. "Oh, come now. This is entertaining."

After the commotion settled, they focused on their next objective—preparing for the journey ahead.

The Black Plains weren't just another stretch of wilderness.

It was a place where laws of magic twisted, where lost creatures roamed, and where the Veiled Order had last been spotted.

They needed supplies. Potions, rations, and weapons.

They spent the rest of the day:

Purchasing maps of the region, stocking up on medicinal elixirs.

By nightfall, they had everything they needed.

Kaelred stretched, examining their supplies. "This should be enough."

Argolaith nodded. "Then we leave at dawn."

Malakar smirked. "Let's hope your excitement doesn't get us killed."

Argolaith grinned. "No promises."

The Black Plains awaited.

And whatever secrets lay hidden there—Argolaith intended to uncover them all.

The sun had barely begun to rise when Argolaith, Kaelred, and Malakar left Emberfall behind.

The city's massive gates closed behind them with a dull thud, cutting them off from the safety of civilization.

Before them stretched the Black Plains.

A land of twisting magic, forgotten ruins, and creatures that defied nature itself.

It was a cursed place.

And the last known location of the Veiled Order.

Argolaith adjusted his cloak, stepping forward. "No turning back now."

Kaelred sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Malakar smirked. "Good. That means you're finally learning caution."

The three of them pressed on.

The first few hours were deceptively normal.

The dirt road was well-trodden, and the surrounding landscape still carried the remnants of Emberfall's reach.

But the further they walked, the more the land began to change.

The grass became sparse, replaced by ashen soil.

The trees twisted unnaturally, their branches curving inward like skeletal fingers.

A low humming filled the air, like a thousand whispers just beyond hearing.

Kaelred frowned. "Do you hear that?"

Argolaith nodded. "It's magic. The air here is filled with it."

Malakar smirked. "The Black Plains have been steeped in magic for centuries. The land itself has become… unstable."

Kaelred grimaced. "Unstable how?"

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Malakar gestured ahead. "You'll see soon enough."

As they walked, the road began to change.

One moment, it was solid beneath their feet.

The next, it flickered.

Kaelred stumbled back. "What the—?!"

Argolaith narrowed his eyes. "Illusions."

Malakar chuckled. "Not quite. The land here doesn't follow normal laws. Paths change. Distances stretch and shrink. If you don't stay focused, you'll find yourself walking in circles."

Kaelred exhaled sharply. "That's just fantastic."

Argolaith pulled out the map they had purchased in Emberfall.

But when he looked at it—the ink was shifting.

The roads redrew themselves.

Landmarks vanished and reappeared in different places.

Kaelred stared in disbelief. "Even the damn map doesn't know what's real."

Malakar smirked. "Welcome to the Black Plains."

They pressed on, keeping their senses sharp.

Hours passed. The land grew stranger.

Ruins of ancient stone structures lay scattered across the plains—half-buried buildings, shattered statues, and towering monoliths covered in unreadable runes.

Argolaith ran a hand across one of the stone surfaces.

Cold and unnatural.

Old magic was woven into the very foundation.

Kaelred glanced around. "You think the Veiled Order is nearby?"

Malakar tilted his head. "Not far. I can feel… something watching us."

Argolaith's hand instinctively went to his sword. "Be ready."

The wind shifted.

A shadow moved in the distance.

And for the first time since entering the Black Plains, they weren't alone.

A group of figures stood atop a distant ridge, cloaked in dark robes.

Their faces were hidden beneath hoods, their forms still as statues.

Kaelred's breath hitched. "Are they…?"

Malakar nodded. "The Veiled Order."

Argolaith narrowed his eyes. "They aren't moving."

Kaelred gritted his teeth. "They're just… watching."

The tension thickened.

For several long, unbearable minutes, neither side moved.

Then—the figures simply vanished.

Kaelred exhaled sharply. "What the hell was that?"

Malakar smirked. "A warning."

Argolaith's grip tightened on his sword. "Then let's make sure we're ready for whatever comes next."

The Veiled Order was here.

And the Black Plains had only just begun to reveal its secrets.