A few more pyers stepped forward, one by one, pledging themselves to my pany. It still felt surreal, like I was now the founder of a royal pany. A guild, but reized. So, you know… better.

  At some point, I stopped keeping track of who was joining, lost in the endless cycle of names and gifts, eaew member making my stash of rewards shrink further and further. They were the ones I had been saving the fantastic gifts for, the oill on the fehe ones who needed a little persuasion.

  When I reached the st name on the list, I straightened, sing the room. “Now, is there anyone else who wants to join?” Silence hung in the air for a moment.

  Then a soft chuckle came from the baear one of the massive stone pilrs. There, casually leaning against it, was NightSwallow.

  Her posture was utterly rexed, one boot crossed over the other, arms folded loosely, the sign of effortless disi, except for the bde of grass in her mouth, which she chewed absentmindedly, like some bored traveler who had just stumbled into a situation far beh her energy levels.

  “What the hell. Why not?” she said zily, voice carrying just enough amusement to sound half-serious, half-mog. Then, with a sharp push off the pilr, she sauntered forward—not walked, not strode, but moved with the deliberate ease of someone who never rushed for anyone or anything. “t me in, girl.”

  She carried herself like she belonged everywhere and nowhere at ohe kind of presehat drew attention without ever demanding it and reached the base of the throne. She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a knowing grin, her eyes full of amusement.

  “I accept the pany nonsense, and I’ll fight like an honorable person shouldn’t.” The moment she finished speaking, a system notification popped up. Her request to join fshing right in front of me. I blihat… ted?

  I g Lo, who was already rubbiemples, as if dealing with airely different kind of headache. Right. Of course. I cleared my throat. “Uh… wele, NightSwallow.”

  She arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “And the giftie?”

  Giftie.

  I blinked again, trying to process the sheer audacity of calling what was supposed to be a valuable artifaething that sounded like a party favor. She gestured vaguely toward the air, her movements slow, almost zy, but her meaning very clear. “A random small artifact, you said, but the st one cost? What, five thousand?” She grinned, full of mischief. “I assume mine is of equal generosity?”

  My stare so Lo, but all she did was nod with resignation.

  Oopsie.

  I, uh, might have gone overboard with the gifts. But hey! For me, it was teically free. For everyone else? It was very, very expensive. And if anyone asked? That’s exactly what I’d tell them.

  I grinned, reag into my dwindling stash of gifts and pulling out a one I was saving for her. A small golden pin, delicate but unmistakably valuable. “I’ve got something special for you,” I said, twirling it between my fingers before handing it to her.

  She took it gingerly, eyes narrowing slightly in suspi, rolling the small or between her fiips. It was light, simple, shaped like a coiliher, its metallic surface catg the magic torchlight with a soft, golden gleam. “A pin?” she said, clearly expeg something more dramatic.

  “I think this will aid you the best and for the lo,” I assured her.

  Still frowning slightly, she tucked the pin into her long, unruly hair, the accessory fitting effortlessly, as if it had always belohere. She paused. I saw it, the moment of hesitation, the tiny crease in her brow as something… shifted. “I… I’m not sure what this is…”

  Then she shared the item’s details; only about half of recruits did so far.

  [Explorer’s pin]Quality: 6-marvelRestri: Eeleim Royal panyInfo: The bearer of this pihe whispers of the unseen, guiding its bearer toward dungeons lost to time and shadow.NightSwallow tilted her head, chewing absently on the bde of grass in her mouth as she examihe details. “It does exactly what it says it does,” I smirked. “You’ll have an easier time finding dungeons with this pin. Isn’t that exactly what you want?”

  Her brows furrowed, and for the first time since she waltzed into this ceremony, her easy fidence faltered. “But…” she hesitated, clearly thrown off, “the item description is super ambiguous?”

  Oh. She didn’t know.

  I let a gentle smile slip through, shaking my head. “All legendary items are like that,” I expined, watg as a few nods of agreement spread through pyers in the room. “So, if this is new information for anyone, don’t freak out when you get a vague item description. I think I once even saw it on an epic item.”

  Her expression flickered, like she filed that knowledge away for ter. Then, without another word, she just exhaled, popped another fresh bde of grass into her mouth, and sauntered back to her spot, pletely unbothered.

  I inhaled, ready to ask if anyone else was willing to join, but I never got the ce.

  Because suddenly… “I WANNA!” A blur of white and silver shot forward, so quid eic that for a split sed, my brain failed to catch up.

  Lunaris.

  She had jumped forward with the force of ahusiastic bar visitor, her silver hair boung as she dashed toward the throne, eyes wide with excitement. I barely had time to process her energy before she practically skidded to a stop, practically buzzing with anticipation.

  “I solemnly swear that I’m a good person!” she decred, pg a hand over her chest with absolute siy.

  Oh no.

  Oh no, she had rehearsed this.

  “I swear I’ll fight in the name of Eeleim, with honor and flory!”

  Oh gods, she was so serious.

  As if remembering something crucial, her eyes widened, and in a sudden dramatic flourish, she dropped to one knee, l her head in what was, holy, a beautifully executed bow.

  Then, with a voice dripping in seriousness, she recited, word-for-word. “I pledge my bdes, my strength, and my spirit to the cause! May my victories bring honor, and my fall be met with pride!”

  The room fell into a stunned silence, and I saw Lo inhale sharply o me, no doubt on the verge of emotional tears.

  Someone in the back whispered a quiet, ‘wow.’

  I just… Stared.

  What. The. Hell.

  I was so caught off guard I almost fot to respond.

  “Lunaris…” At the sound of her name, she lifted her head eagerly, her bright, expet eyes locked onto mine, practically buzzing with anticipation. I couldn’t fail her. I scrambled together every ounce of role-pying knowledge I had—half-fotten imperial court formalities, graions from old quests, even bits and pieces of historical dramas I hought I’d actually use.

  Then, inhaling deeply, I straightened, and when I spoke, my voice carried the weight of something far more official than I’d ever meant it to. “I accept your oath, young Lunaris. May your honor not waver, ylory not blind you, and may both your swords find a purpose beyond mere battle.”

  A spark of joy ignited in her eyes, her whole expression lighting up like I’d just handed her the entire world ed in silk. I couldn’t help it. I beamed back at her. “To support you in this vital task, I’ve chosen a gift meant just for you,” I tinued, reag into my iory and pulling out an item. “Use it well,” I said, handing her a cape.

  I hadn’t realized that the moment I ha to her, a snowfke crest would be inscribed into the fabric itself, etched in bold silver glory. So, somehow, I’d ruined a marvel-tier item with my own branding.

  Great.

  Because who else but me would want to wear something so btantly personalized? “Sorry, it… Somehow has my snowfke…” I whispered apologetically. But Lunaris’s rea was instant.

  Her eyes widened so much that for a moment, I thought she might actually vibrate out of sheer excitement.

  She wasted no time, sweeping the cloak over her shoulders, fastening it with practiced ease. The silver-lined fabric flowed behind her like liquid moonlight, draping over her small frame with an elegahat made it look tailor-made for her.

  Then, without hesitation, she shared the item’s details with the room.

  [Eeleim’s Oathsworn Mantle]Quality: 7-legendaryRestri: Eeleim Royal panyInfo: Bound by oath, this mantle flows like fate itself. Emp duelists with unwavering bance, guiding twin bdes in harmony, and shielding the sworn from urikes.“What?” The word blurted out of me before I could stop it. Because when I had ha to her, it had been [6-Marvel] tier.

  [Phantomwove Cloak].

  Not. Legendary.

  A wave of silence crashed over the room. Lunaris, bless her, just ran her fingers over the fabric, visibly basking in the moment. I, meanwhile, was having a mild existential crisis. Yes, I’d heard rumors about this happening in the game. There were stories on the forums about items mysteriously upgrading in respoo pyer as.

  But this?

  I wasn’t sure if this was luck, a glitch, or some terrifying, hidden system meic that no one fully uood or… exploited yet. Still, there was only ohing I could think to say. I exhaled, staring at the shimmering cloak before turning my gaze back to the stunned crowd. “Apparently, the system upgrades items… if you’re sincere.”

  Katheri out a low whistle.

  And just like that, the room erupted into frantic whispers and hushed theories. The sound of a hundred pyers suddenly reevaluating every quest reward and iion they’d ever had.

  Lunaris, however, was too busy twirling in her new cloak, grinning like she had just unlocked the secret to happiness itself. I pressed a hand to my temple, feeling the beginnings of a headache f.

  “So, ‘key, I’m !” Katheriepped forward, hands braced on her hips, a grin tugging at her lips. “Yar det.” That robably a pliment. “So I’ll like pledge to ya. Ya now mine liege or somethin’, right?”

  Of course, the system immediately accepted that.

  I shook my head, letting out an amused breath. “Thank you, Kit… Katherine, for, uh, your pledge,” I said, trying to keep my voice respectful but failing to suppress my smile. Her brows raised slightly at the near-slip of her niame, but she didn’t call me out on it. Instead, she just grinned wider, waiting.

  Right. Gift time.

  I reached into my iory, fingers brushing against the sturdy leather belt I had set aside just for her. The entment enhahe raw strength behind sword strikes. With a fluid motion, I ha over. “Let me give you this.”

  Katheriook the belt, running her fingers over the reinforced leather, giving it an approving nod. “Oh, yea, hanks!” Then, without hesitation, she turned on her heel and trudged back toward her spot, already fastening the belt around her waist.

  The crowd stirred, some whispering, others clearly expeg a shared item window.

  Nothing.

  She didn’t bother dispying the stats, didn’t gloat, didn’t even ent on its effects. Just a simple thanks, an aowledgment, and done. Some people looked disappointed, but I respected that. Katherine wasn’t the type to funt what she had. She just used it. Before the silence could stretch, another voice cut through the air.

  “I’ll go .” Techi Lma. He wasn’t loud, but the moment he spoke, heads turhere was a certain preseo him, not the kind that dematention, but ohat naturally drew it. His footsteps were measured, the heavy k of his pte armor deliberate. Every movement was effit, trolled.

  Even now, as he walked toward me, there was an ease to him—like this was just aep in a well-thought-out pn. Strapped to his broad back was a rge shield, and a spear rested fortably in his grip, the shaft sturdy. “I wasn’t sure, but peeps like you, and I itch to do something,” he said, voice calm, level, the same even ce I had heard in his videos.

  No unnecessary words. No theatrics. Just straight to the point. “I swear to honor your words.”

  The system chimed.

  There it was—that same efficy that defined his eyle.

  “Don’t fet about me!” A voice rang out fidently. Stha. She strolled up toward the throne, her steps light, deliberate. “I’d like some freebies too,” she added with zero shame, tossing her blonde braid over her shoulder like she had just decred something noble and selfless.

  I narrowed my eyes, watg her with thinly veiled suspi. Oh, I kly who she was. One of the best when it came to finding rare resources, unc obscure meics, sniffing out hidden exploits.

  But also…

  Famously infamous. She had once sold information for a legendary quest—an exclusive, oime-only quest—to ten different people. That had ended in a forum-wide disaster, plete with public e, digital pitchforks, and at least two people swearing to hunt her down IRL.

  Or, my personal favorite, the time she sold coordinates for an incredibly rare ore deposit, vely fetting to mention that it was half a mile underground in an active va cavern.

  So, yeah.

  She was useful, sure.

  But trustworthy?

  Ehh…

  Stha fshed me an affable grin, clearly unbothered by my obvious hesitation. “So, I’d like to also join!” she annouhrowing her arms wide as if she were grag me with her presence.

  Lo, standing dutifully behind me, let out the softest sigh, just enough that I knew she was already preparing for the iable headache. I crossed my arms, tilting my head. “Stha,” I said, my tone casual, “are you here to actually help?”

  Her grin widened.

  “Define help.”

  I barely had time to open my mouth before the ground lurched beh us. Brilliant, blinding light erupted from windows, swallowing the chamber in an explosion of white. Before I could react, my neointed personal guard snapped into a.

  Armor ked, boots pounded against the marble floor as they formed a protective ring around me, shields raised, ons drawn.

  “What’s going on?!” I shouted over the noise. Mi was already on the move, his expression stone-cold, calg, eyes locked onto the guard rushing toward him.

  The soldier skidded to a halt, breathless, gripping his spear tightly enough to turn his knuckles white. He whispered something hurriedly, too low for me to catch, but whatever it was, it sent Mi moving immediately.

  He turoward me, barely slowing his stride as he barked out:

  “We’re utack!”