"Who’s there?" a voice called from inside the room.
"Beltimore and Alice," Beltimore replied.
Beltimore placed his hand on the doorknob. But before he twisted it open, he glanced at Alice.
"Don’t tell her about the masked man. I don’t want her to get more depressed."
"I’ll keep my mouth shut," Alice said, smiling.
The door creaked open, revealing Mirinda already walking from her desk to the sofa like she had been waiting for their arrival.
Ida was nearby, preparing tea at a trolley. The soft aroma of fresh tea filled the room.
The entire space was brightened by magical flames on the ceiling, casting light as bright as daylight.
"Hello, Min-Min," Alice greeted with a cheerful smile.
"I told you to stop calling me that," Mirinda said through clenched teeth, a vein bulging on her forehead.
This wasn’t new. Alice had always used cutesy nicknames for all her old friends. And unfortunately for Mirinda, hers was one of the worst. Despite countless complaints, Alice simply ignored them and kept using the nickname. Even in public.
"Anyway, all of you returned very late. Did something happen?" Mirinda asked as she sat on the sofa, signaling Beltimore and Alice to sit as well.
Beltimore took a seat on the long sofa, while Alice plopped down on the single one.
"Well, some things did happen," Beltimore said while sipping his tea.
Mirinda could sense something off about her two old friends, but before she could probe deeper, she asked, "How was the trial? Was it successful? And what do you think of that Bob?"
"They’re beyond what we expected, Min-Min," Alice replied, munching on some cookies.
"They? What do you mean by that?" Mirinda asked, confused.
"That Bob guy is definitely S-material. No issue there. But his friend Alan... he’s at the same level as Bob," Beltimore said calmly.
Mirinda and Ida’s eyes widened, shocked to hear such praise from Beltimore. He was known to be strict in his assessments, often offering minimal feedback. Yet here he was, rating the two boys, whom Mirinda had previously driven away, very highly.
They both turned to Alice, who nodded and smiled, silently confirming Beltimore’s words.
"Why do you think that, Beltimore?" Ida asked. She was eager to know, especially since these two had been recommended by William.
"Their fighting style can be described as raw, no distinct form or technique. But their potential? Only the sky is the limit. Both of them single-handedly obliterated a group of twenty or more cave beasts, including an Elite among them," Beltimore explained.
Mirinda immediately sat up from her leaning position. Ida gripped her paper a little tighter.
"And don’t forget," Alice chimed in, "they used an explosive bomb more potent than anything we’ve ever seen."
"Explosive... bomb?" Mirinda echoed in surprise. She stood and began pacing the room, biting her nail. "Where did they get something like that?"
Alice and Beltimore both shrugged.
"Don’t know. Maybe it’s custom-made," Alice replied casually.
Mirinda continued pacing.
Beltimore and Alice exchanged a glance. A subtle smile crept onto both their faces.
If Mirinda entered pacing mode, it meant one of two things: either she was seriously stressed... or seriously interested.
And in this moment, it was clearly the latter.
Mirinda was a hard woman to sway. Once she made a decision, she rarely changed her stance. That’s why Beltimore and Alice were doing everything they could to tilt her opinion toward accepting those two rookies as guild members.
It was also why Beltimore had suggested this trial in the first place.
Alice then kept the pressure on Mirinda.
"If those two teamed up and fought against me, I think they might actually be able to defeat me," she said with a confident smile.
"Are they really that good? Or are you just exaggerating to get me to accept them into the guild?" Mirinda replied, sounding slightly irritated, like she was being toyed with by the two.
Alice smiled again, calm as ever, while Beltimore adjusted his glasses.
"What we’re saying is nothing but the truth. And one more thing..." Beltimore paused, ready to deliver the ultimate card.
"That Alan guy... he can use Time Magic," he said, his glasses glinting under the warm flame-light.
Ida gasped at the words.
Mirinda, who had been facing the window with her arms folded, suddenly widened her eyes.
One of the most ancient and forbidden magics in this world. She had never seen it with her own eyes, only heard of it in whispers. It was said that a few elder mages wielded such power, but they lived far away, secluded, holding prestigious roles in empires or serving as guardians to kings.
And now, to think that a classless newbie possessed it?
She bit her lip, hard.
’Are they really that strong?
If so... then where have they been until now? And why did they suddenly appear, just when this guild is at its lowest point?’
She fell into a long silence, deep in thought.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Only the soft crackling of the magical flame on the ceiling and the faint crunch of Alice eating her biscuit could be heard.
Alice finished her biscuit, dusted her hands, and spoke casually, "If you don’t want them, Min-Min, I’ll just take them with me to the border. They’re more than enough to help out the vanguard unit. We’re seriously lacking quality nowadays, despite the numbers."
Beltimore glanced at her sharply. Ida’s eyes also shifted toward her.
’This woman wants those two for her own good... I won’t let her have them. Who knows what she’ll drag them into.’ Both Beltimore and Ida shared the same thought.
"Think about it, Guildmaster," Ida added, her voice laced with emotion. "Those two are incredibly powerful, based on what Sis Alice and Beltimore said. Isn’t this what you’ve prayed for every day? For someone to come and help our guild?"
Mirinda’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
’Is this... the answer to my prayers?
A prayer I’ve whispered for years...
Could this really be it?’
Her eyes began to glisten.
Then, after a long, tense pause...
She suddenly laughed.
Everyone turned to look at her, surprised plus confused.
She then wiped her eyes and turned to the group.
"To think that arrogant fat boy and the so-called useless one are actually powerful individuals. What a ridiculous twist."
"Looks like I need to swallow my pride today. Ida!"
Ida immediately stood straight, ready to receive orders.
"Bring them tomorrow. We’ll be appointing new members."
A smile formed on Ida’s face. She glanced at Beltimore and Alice, who also smiled in relief.
"Looks like I missed out on some excellent specimens," Alice said with a teasing grin.
Mirinda then turned toward Alice and Beltimore, her expression suddenly serious.
"You still have something else to report, don’t you?"
"Yes," Beltimore replied.
He and Alice then began recounting everything that had happened during the trial...except for one detail.
They left out the masked man.