CHAPTER 53: PREMONITION

"Don’t worry, she has no plans to join," Katarine said casually. "She claimed last time was too easy. No challenge at all."

The other guildmasters glanced at her with mixed expressions, except Morn.

Then, the doors opened, and servers from Dawnbloom guild began entering the room, carrying trays of food. The rich aroma of seasoned meats, warm bread, and herbal dishes wafted through the air, wrapping the room in comfort.

A small feast began.

"Hmm... your food’s actually pretty delicious. I’ll give you that," Gabriel said between bites. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Maybe your guild should compete in a cooking event instead, you probably win that one."

No one bothered responding this time. They were too busy devouring the food.

Suddenly, Salim put down his fork.

"I forgot to mention something important," he said, wiping his mouth. "This year, there will be a new guild joining the tournament. From outside the kingdom."

That got their attention.

"Interesting," Katarine said, lowering her fan. "Who are they?"

"Are they strong?" Chloe asked, eyes sparkling like she just discovered a new teddy bear to collect.

"They’ve requested anonymity for now," Salim replied. "Their identity will be revealed at the start of the tournament. Since we agreed to keep the group battle format, they’ll be entering that event."

’A new guild?’ Mirinda thought, her fingers tightening around her cup. How did Salim, who was always rigid with rules, allow an outsider to join? This is the first time anyone outside the Six has been invited...

"And lastly, Guildmaster Mirinda," Salim said firmly, "I’m sorry if this sounds harsh but please train your guild members more seriously. This year, the tournament is being held here. Use this as an advantage. Don’t let the others continue to look down on Dawnbloom."

The words struck deep. Even though it hurt, Mirinda couldn’t deny the truth in them. She felt the weight on her shoulders grow heavier. The responsibility of lifting her guild’s reputation had never felt more real.

---

Meanwhile, in the bustling streets of the capital, one corner was particularly crowded. A small building had drawn a thick crowd of customers. At the top of the shop’s wooden frame, a large board read:

"Cid’s Workshop"

At the heart of the crowd stood a middle-aged man, short and stocky, about 155cm in height. His hair and beard were both snow white, yet his body was still built like iron. A pair of goggles on his eyes as he moved with practiced ease among hundreds of scattered tools and mechanical parts.

He was currently working on a device that resembled a hairdryer. Sparks flew in bright flashes as his tool met the inner mechanism, accompanied by the subtle hum of charged mana.

"Done, miss. That’ll be 30 silver," he said, handing over the repaired item and accepting the coins without even glancing up.

"Next!" he barked.

A hand extended forward, holding a long staff. Its surface was scratched, but the intricate carvings glowed faintly with dormant power.

Cid paused.

He knew this staff.

His eyes slowly traveled up the arm holding it until they met a familiar face.

"Linus?" he muttered. The old engineer’s voice lowered, filled with caution and recognition.

"Linus, you brat!" Cid shouted joyfully. He pushed his goggles up to his forehead and pulled Linus into a bone-crushing hug, grinning ear to ear.

He then turned toward the crowd. "Alright, alright! Workshop’s closing early today! Come back tomorrow!"

"Ehh?! I’ve been waiting for over an hour!" one man protested.

Without caring, Cid shoved Linus inside and grabbed the rolling hangar door above. "Then wait another hour tomorrow!" he barked, slamming the door shut.

Grumbling, the disappointed customers began to disperse.

"Long time no see, Cid." Linus smiled and returned the hug.

"Haha! What’s it been, two years? I’ve lost track," Cid laughed heartily. "Come on, I’ll make us something to drink."

Cid moved swiftly, setting out drinks and a small tray of snacks. The two sat together, sharing stories, tales from the road, memories of the past, hearty laughter filling the space between.

Then, Linus grew quiet. His expression turned serious.

"Cid... I came here for something important."

Cid looked up, curious. "Spit it out."

Linus reached into his bag and pulled out a large, deep red jewel. Its glow was faint, dimmer than it should have been. The energy inside was clearly fading.

Cid’s eyes widened. "A Power Stone?!"

He stood abruptly and snatched the gem, walking closer to the wall lamp. He turned it in his hands, examining every inch under the light, his expression tense.

"Where did you get this?" Cid asked, his voice now low and serious.

"Lily Town," Linus replied.

"Don’t tell me this is related to that tall thing that rose up from the town?" Cid asked, his voice low as he stared at Linus.

"Yes. That tower... it’s actually one of the ancient weapons," Linus said, his eyes sharp with focus. "And I used this Power Stone to activate it."

"What!?" Cid’s eyes widened in shock.

He looked down at the dimly glowing jewel in his hand, silent for a moment as thoughts raced through his mind.

"So it’s true... To think one of the weapons was hidden in this region all along. Does anyone else know about this?"

"They know it is an ancient weapon, but that’s about it. Nothing more." Linus reached into his bag and pulled out an old, leather-bound book. "This is the diary of the man who first discovered that tower...Cain."

"Cain?" Cid repeated, frowning. He scratched his chin, trying to recall the name. "That name sounds familiar..."

But the memory remained foggy, too far gone to grasp.

"Regardless," Cid said, his tone turning grave, "this means something big, Linus. You know that, don’t you?"

Linus nodded, his gaze drifting to the worn cover of the book in his hands. "Yes. Once one of the weapons is activated, the others will begin to resonate. They’ll start awakening soon."

Cid’s expression hardened. He stared at the now-quiet jewel, then suddenly sprang into action, grabbing tools and tossing parts into his satchel.

"Then there’s no time. We need to return to the Island, warn the others before it’s too late."

He rushed around, gathering supplies off the floor.

"You go ahead, Cid," Linus said firmly. "I’ve got something I still need to do first."

Cid paused mid-pack and looked into Linus’s eyes. Determination burned there, steady and unwavering.

"You’re going back to your hometown?" Cid asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes. And I think..." Linus smiled faintly, "I’ve found people who can help me."

Cid let out a deep breath, a small smile tugging at his lips. "So, you’ve finally found someone you can rely on."

He walked over and placed both hands firmly on Linus’s shoulders.

"Then I pray for your success, Linus. Just promise me, after you’re done, you’ll return to the Island."

"I promise."

Cid nodded once, firmly. Then he slung the large bag onto his back, the weight of urgency returning to his steps. As he walked to the garage door, he stopped, then turned back.

"You can stay here if you want. There’s food in the fridge."

"Thanks, Cid."

With a nod, Cid lifted the garage door. The fading sun cast a golden hue across the street. Without another word, he stepped into the orange dusk and disappeared into the crowd.

’We’ll see each other again, Cid,’ Linus thought quietly.