CHAPTER 170: THE MISSION DETAILS

The early afternoon sun bathed Elandra in golden light as Inigo and Lyra approached the Adventurer’s Guild. The stone and wood building stood tall and sturdy, its arched entrance flanked by banners bearing the Eldrath crest—a silver stag against a forest green background. Adventurers came and went, some battered from recent missions, others loitering with mugs of ale and loud laughter. But Inigo and Lyra bypassed the bustle, heading straight inside.

The guild hall was its usual organized chaos—requests posted on boards, clerks scribbling in ledgers, adventurers haggling over bounties. At the center, the reception desk was manned by Elise, who looked up as they approached.

"Inigo. Lyra," she said with a faint smile. "Right on time. The Guildmaster’s waiting for you upstairs."

"Hopefully with coffee," Inigo muttered, brushing imaginary flour off his apron. He was still technically on break.

Lyra gave Elise a nod before following Inigo up the stairs. The second floor was quieter, lined with rooms for guild officials and private consultations. At the end of the hallway stood a heavy oak door with brass trim—Guildmaster Thorne’s office.

Inigo knocked once.

"Enter," came Thorne’s voice from inside.

They stepped in.

The room was large but uncluttered. A wide desk dominated the center, piled with scrolls, documents, and a few maps pinned with colored markers. A low-burning hearth kept the chill at bay, while tall windows offered a sweeping view of Elandra’s western quarter. Thorne stood beside the desk, arms crossed, while Elise leaned against a nearby cabinet, arms folded.

"Take a seat," Thorne said, gesturing to the chairs across from him. "Let’s not waste time."

Inigo dropped into a seat. Lyra took the other, remaining upright and alert.

"So," Inigo began, "what’s so urgent that you had to pull us from our glorious career in burger-flipping?"

Elise passed a scroll to Thorne, who unfurled it and laid it flat on the desk. It revealed a detailed map of the Eldrath region. Thorne tapped a section northeast of Elandra, near the mountain ranges bordering the mining province.

"This," he said, "is the mining district of Eldrath. You know it as the country’s primary source of iron and rare ore. It’s what fuels our forges, ships, and armories."

"I’m familiar," Inigo said, leaning forward. "That’s where the Guild sends C-rank teams to escort caravans."

"Correct," Thorne replied. "But about three weeks ago, one of our mining outposts went silent. No messengers. No reports. Nothing."

Elise chimed in. "At first, we thought it was a delay. Bad weather, a collapsed tunnel. Happens sometimes. But then two more outposts stopped responding."

Lyra frowned. "So what happened?"

Thorne’s tone hardened. "Scouts were sent. Only one came back. Half-dead, covered in webs. He said the caves are infested. A nest of spiders—large ones. Too many for a regular squad to handle."

"Spiders," Inigo said dryly. "Of course it’s spiders."

"Not just normal ones," Elise said, pulling another scroll. She unfurled it, revealing a sketch made by the survivor. The creatures drawn had bloated bodies, segmented legs the length of pikes, and venomous fangs that dripped in the crude ink depiction.

"According to the scout," she continued, "these things have overrun the caves. They come out at night, drag workers back inside, and hang them like livestock. Some are the size of carts. We suspect a Broodmother may be present—something intelligent enough to organize the swarm."

Inigo scratched his chin. "So why not send an army?"

Thorne’s expression darkened. "We can’t. Eldrath’s military is spread thin. A group of nobles has been pressuring the court for more troops along the southern coast due to pirate raids. The Guild has been asked to handle the mine issue discreetly."

"And by discreet," Inigo said, "you mean two people."

"You’re not just any two people," Thorne replied. "You’ve faced things most can’t. You survived the Rift, quelled the arcane anomaly at Black Hollow, and dealt with a wyvern outbreak. You know how to adapt."

"And fry potatoes," Lyra added.

Elise gave a brief chuckle. "Think of this as a temporary leave of absence. Clear the caves. Confirm if there’s a Broodmother. Burn the nest if possible."

Inigo sighed, folding his arms. "So it’s spelunking, extermination, and maybe a giant mutant spider queen?"

"That’s the mission," Thorne said.

"Any other team up for the task?"

"None with your blend of firepower, strategy, and experience."

Lyra spoke up. "Do we have any supplies waiting? Equipment caches?"

Elise nodded. "A supply caravan is already en route. They’ve left basic provisions—rations, torches, oil barrels—outside the cave mouth, hidden in a camouflaged storage shack. They didn’t dare go further."

"Can’t say I blame them," Inigo muttered.

Thorne stepped around the desk and stood in front of them. "We don’t know how deep the infestation goes. If they’ve burrowed new tunnels, this could become a larger threat to Eldrath’s mining economy."

"And by extension, the kingdom’s war machine," Inigo finished.

"Exactly."

There was a heavy pause. Then Inigo leaned back in his chair.

"Well, we said yes already. Might as well see it through."

"Departure at dawn?" Lyra asked.

Thorne nodded. "A horse-drawn cart will take you as far as the ridge. After that, it’s a two-hour trek through the hills."

"Lovely," Inigo said. "Remind me to pack bug spray."

Thorne handed him a sealed envelope. "This is the official contract. Payment upon completion. Hazard bonus if the Broodmother is confirmed and eliminated."

Inigo took it and tucked it into his coat.

Elise added, "I’d also suggest prepping something from your... other inventory." Her eyes flicked to him knowingly.

He nodded. "Yeah. Might be time to bring out the heavy gear."

They stood to leave. As they reached the door, Thorne called out one last thing.

"Inigo. Don’t underestimate this."

"I never do," Inigo replied. "But if it helps, I also never go in without a plan."

They exited the room and made their way back down the stairs. The guild hall was still lively, but they were quiet as they stepped into the street again.