the beginning after the end perfect duo

A night by the fire

The group entered the briefing room. The guild's briefing room was a compact and efficient space, designed solely for the distribution of missions. At one end stood a sturdy wooden counter, manned by a guild representative, with shelves and cubbies behind them neatly organizing mission scrolls by type and difficulty. A locked chest nearby held sensitive or high-priority missions, while a large notice board near the entrance displayed active quests, each pinned with handwritten details about rewards, requirements, and deadlines. An urgent missions section was highlighted on the board for time-sensitive or critical tasks. The rest of the room was a standing area, leaving space for adventurers to queue or briefly discuss their options with the staff, as there were no benches or chairs to encourage lingering. Basic lighting came from oil lamps hanging on the walls, casting a warm but practical glow across the plain wooden floors and walls. Above the counter, a small banner bearing the guild's insignia added a touch of identity to the otherwise no-frills setting, emphasizing functionality over comfort.

Jasmine led the group to the counter to receive their mission. Behind the counter stood a middle-aged woman, her posture straight and her eyes sharp, as if she had seen many adventurers come and go. She wore long black smooth pants designed for functionality rather than style and a white shirt with a gray jacket on top. Her hair was black, and her eyes were brown. She stood a few millimeters taller than Jasmine.

A black cat sat quietly at the end of the counter. Its dark fur blended with the shadows, and its eyes reflected the dim light of the room as it watched the newcomers with a calm stillness. Jasmine couldn't help but glance at it, feeling a subtle unease that she couldn't quite place.

Tom could have sworn he'd seen the cat before, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. It was a strange feeling, like déjà vu, but the moment he tried to focus on it, the thought slipped away. The cat, with its glossy dark fur and steady gaze, seemed oddly out of place in the dim light of the room. Tom shook his head, dismissing the feeling. He must have been imagining things—nothing more than a trick of the eyes.

"I am Jasmine Flamesworth on behalf of my party. I would like to take on a simple raid clearance mission," Jasmine spoke, her voice almost noble-like. She maintained prolonged eye contact, her smile unwavering, though a slight tension lingered in her expression.

Tom couldn't help but observe how different she sounded. He guessed it had to do with this being an official matter. She wasn't the same Jasmine he was used to—more formal, perhaps in a way that she thought the situation demanded.

Arthur's face flickered with surprise, the corners of his mouth twitching as he processed the unfamiliar tone from Jasmine. For everyone, seeing her speak like this was a bit of a shock.

Mira and Lilia exchanged mischievous glances, barely stifling their giggles. They couldn't help but find the sudden shift in Jasmine's demeanor amusing.

"Flamesworth, you say?" the woman asked, her voice softening with intrigue as though testing the name on her tongue. She barely concealed her excitement.

Tom sighed inwardly. When the woman focused on Jasmine's last name, it was clear she held an interest in her family. Unfortunately, Jasmine didn't share the same enthusiasm.

"As in Trodius Flamesworth?" the woman added with a grin, her eyes sparkling with recognition.

A grin that caused Jasmine to flinch. She couldn't help staring at her feet for a moment, as if trying to hide the unease now blooming in her chest.

Tom exhaled, a thought crossing his mind. This was bound to happen sooner or later.

"Yes, and now, the mission, please?" Jasmine responded, redirecting the woman to the reason they were here, her tone more clipped this time. Despite her lack of enthusiasm, she kept her composure.