Nolan walked alongside the carriage while Celia held the reins, guiding it steadily through Sindra’s busy streets.
The village was alive with motion. Merchants called out prices over the noise of the crowd, food vendors flipped skewers over smoking grills, and the scent of fresh bread, grilled meat, and spices mingled in the warm air. A demi-human vendor with the head of a wolf stood behind a table of vegetables.
After weaving through the market streets, Celia pulled the carriage to a stop before a massive stone building.
When he first heard "village," he had pictured something small, maybe even primitive. But this was closer to a city, organized, bustling, and impressive.
Celia climbed down from the carriage, . She moved closer to Nolan .
"It looks like you don’t know your way around... let me guide you," she said
He agreed then looked back at the carriage. Some of the Demi human were peeking out from behind the curtains of the carriage, their curious eyes following him. Nolan smiled at them before walking toward the towering double doors of the Adventurer’s Guild.
The moment he stepped inside, Conversations dimmed, and every head seemed to turn in his direction.
"Who’s that?" someone murmured.
"Never seen him before."
"What’s with that strange armor?"
From one corner, a towering demi-human with the head of a bull rumbled, "Who’s the girl with him?"
Nolan ignored the stares and walked to the reception counter, where a beautiful human woman stood with a smile.
"Welcome," she greeted warmly. "My name is Ella, and I’ll be your receptionist today. What can I do for you?"
"I just arrived in this city... I don’t know my way around," he began. "And... I might have brought in a bandit I defeated."
The receptionist, Ella, tilted her head slightly, her expression still polite.
"Well, tell me, where are these bandits you say you defeated? And... do you have a card? Some kind of ID I can see?"
Nolan blinked. "No," he said flatly.
Her brows arched. "Sorry, maybe you didn’t hear me."
"I heard you," Nolan cut in. "I don’t have one. I just came into the city. This young lady with me was saved by me from the bandits, and those same bandits are tied up in the carriage outside."
Ella studied him for a moment, then smiled.
"Wait here. I’ll be right back."
She turned, walking toward a stocky man leaning against the wall. Leaning close, she whispered something into his ear. The man’s eyes narrowed, and without a word, he strode toward the guild doors.
Minutes later, he returned, breathing a little harder, "Ella," he said loudly enough for those nearby to hear, "you won’t believe this. The seven reigning bandits, led by Kane... that’s who he brought back."
Ella froze mid-step. "You can’t be serious."
The man simply nodded, his eyes flicking toward Nolan.
Murmurs swept through the guild hall like wildfire. Chairs scraped as adventurers twisted in their seats to get a better look at the stranger in strange armor.
Celia stepped closer to Nolan, lowering her voice. "It’s because they’re powerful bandits, and they’re wanted."
"Wait... are you sure?" Nolan asked, raising a brow.
"Yes. I’m sure," Celia replied without hesitation.
Nolan glanced toward the carriage outside. "But they don’t look powerful to me. Could it be they weren’t using their full strength? Or maybe..."
Before he could speak further, Ella came running toward him, breathing hard. "Wait here," she said. Without another word, she ran into a side room.
A moment later, the door slammed open.
A massive man with broad shoulders and grey hair stormed out, a deep scar slashing across his face. Ella followed right behind him as he strode toward the guild’s front doors, running outside.
The noise in the hall increased, adventurers whispering, chairs scraping, boots shifting across the floor. Nolan caught fragments of conversation: "That’s the one?" ... "Seven Ringed Bandits? No way..."
The man returned moments later with Ella at his side. His eyes locked onto Nolan.
"So... you’re the young man who defeated the Seven Ringed Bandits," he said, his voice low but heavy with weight.
Nolan looked up at him.
"Yes, I am. Is there a problem?" Nolan replied evenly, his tone firm.
The two men stood there for a moment, staring each other down before the scarred giant broke into a grin and extended his hand.
"My name is Lucan. I’m the guild master."
Nolan took the hand firmly. "Nolan Thorn."
"Welcome to Sindra Adventurers’ Guild," Lucan said as their hands finally parted.
His attention shifted to Celia, standing quietly beside Nolan. "And who is this young lady with you? And the others, the fourteen in the carriage outside... it seems you rescued them, didn’t you?"