Chapter 278: Celebration

By noon, the Guild Hall was buzzing with more energy than it had seen in weeks. It wasn’t due to an influx of missions or the appearance of a rare beast in the outer forest; rather, word had spread through the Adventurer District like wildfire.

The Guildmaster was awake. He had walked down the stairs on his own two feet. He stood in the main hall, smiling as if nothing in this world could bring him down.

Adventurers who had already set out on morning missions returned early upon hearing the news. Those resting in nearby taverns rushed in with wide eyes and hurried steps.

Even merchants and travelers, who typically had no reason to enter the Guild Hall, lingered at the entrance, eager to confirm that the rumors were true.

Inside, the rebuilt structure stood strong and polished, its scars from previous attacks now hidden beneath reinforced beams and fresh stone. Banners hung high, brighter than ever before, and the Mission Board was once again filled with neatly pinned dockets.

The main hall buzzed with restless energy as anticipation coursed through the crowd. Receptionists paused their usual steady rhythm for once, stepping aside to allow people to gather.

The lounge behind the desk emptied too; Lyana, Valeria, and Vanthrice stood among their peers instead of apart from them. No one wanted to observe from a distance today—they wanted to witness this moment firsthand.

Mina stood near the front, practically vibrating with excitement as she glanced back at the staircase as if she might pull him down herself if he took too long.

Sunlight streamed through high windows, bathing the hall in a warm glow; for the first time since the attack, there was no shadow of uncertainty hanging over them, only expectation.

Stood infront of the receptionists desk, looking at the Adventurers with a small smile on his lips. All the Adventurers had that fervent and eager looks in their eyes when they look at Sage.

The sunlight framed him from behind in soft gold not dramatically powerful but simply natural, making this moment feel almost surreal. He didn’t raise his arms or shout for silence; he just stood there looking at them until gradually, without prompting, silence fell over the hall.

He let his gaze sweep across those gathered: veterans who had faced danger during previous attacks; new Adventurers who joined even after witnessing destruction; staff members who worked tirelessly while he lay unconscious. Fear that once lingered had been replaced by something stronger within each face he saw.

“You all look restless,” he began, his voice carrying effortlessly throughout the hall without strain, it wasn’t loud but didn’t need to be either. “Did I miss something?”

A ripple of laughter passed through those assembled, easing some tension further. Once it settled down again, Sage shifted his tone from lightheartedness to steadiness:

“When I went down, I wasn’t sure if I would wake up,” he said simply. “I won’t pretend otherwise. There are things in this world that even I can’t fully control. That attack was significant. It wasn’t random; it was designed to break us, to send a message.”

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in without embellishment. “And for a moment, it seemed like it might succeed.”

The hall fell silent, but the quiet was thick with shared memories.

“But I woke up,” he continued, a faint grin returning to his lips. “And when I did, I didn’t find ruins or a Guild that had collapsed. Instead, I found this.”

He gestured toward the hall, the restored beams and banners, the Mission Board once again full of opportunities. “You survived. You rebuilt. You didn’t scatter or turn against one another. You stood your ground.”

A low murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, filled with pride.

“You stood united,” Sage said, his voice gaining strength while remaining calm. “Not because I was here or because someone forced you to be. You stood together because this Guild means something to you, because this place is more than just stone and wood and mission dockets pinned to a board; it’s something we built together.”

He leaned slightly forward on the railing, his eyes sharper now. “Let me make something very clear: we are not weak not because we wield the strongest blades or cast the loudest spells but because when we’re struck, we don’t shatter; we rise again.”

His gaze swept across the crowd once more. “They wanted to test us, to see if we would crumble under pressure and remind us of our supposed place.”

He straightened.

“This Guild does not have a place beneath anyone.”

The words landed heavily in the air.

“We will not bow to nobles who think gold can buy loyalty,” he continued steadily and directly. “We will not bow to foreign forces who view us as easy prey nor to hidden figures lurking in the shadows who strike and run.”

His eyes hardened slightly while maintaining composure. “If they want to challenge us, they’ll face us openly. And if they believe fear will make us kneel, then they’ve misunderstood who we are.”

The hall buzzed now; murmurs grew louder as several Adventurers clenched their fists unconsciously. Valeria stood still but her eyes flickered with approval while Lyana watched him with calm relief barely concealed on her face. Vanthrice wore a faint satisfied smile.

Sage lifted one hand slightly to calm the rising energy before it could spill into recklessness. “Listen carefully,” he said softly again.

“Strength isn’t just about how hard you can hit; it’s about how well you can stand together, that’s our advantage and our foundation.”

He paused for effect before continuing, “And from this day forward, we won’t just react to the world around us. We’ll move with it. We’ll grow alongside it. We’ll prepare for whatever comes next.” He paused, allowing the weight of that promise to settle in.

“And as for what comes next…” He scanned the hall, his grin gradually returning. “First, we breathe.”

A ripple of confusion passed through the crowd before he continued.

“You’ve worked tirelessly under pressure for a month. You’ve taken on missions while carrying the burden of uncertainty. You’ve rebuilt walls and reputations all at once.”

He spread his hands slightly. “Tonight, we stop thinking about enemies. Tonight, we put politics aside. Tonight, we celebrate.”

The crowd leaned in closer.

“Tonight,” Sage declared clearly, “everything is on me.”

For a brief moment, silence enveloped the room. Then, like a wave crashing against stone, cheers erupted throughout the hall. Laughter mingled with enthusiastic approval as Adventurers pumped their fists and clapped each other on the back.

Mina bounced excitedly near the front, shouting, “You heard him! He said everything!”

Someone from the back called out that they were ordering the strongest ale available, and that shout was met with immediate agreement. The tension that had gripped the Guild for weeks finally melted away into something bright and vibrant.

Sage stepped back slightly from the railing to take in the scene below him. Staff members were already moving to set up barrels and tables while Adventurers pushed chairs aside to create space. The sound of mugs being stacked echoed from nearby rooms as laughter filled the hall, genuine and unforced.

He leaned against the balcony railing once more, observing how the crowd transformed from disciplined formation into joyful chaos. This was what he had fought for not just strength or dominance, but this: a place where people could stand without fear and laugh freely even after facing destruction.

His smile widened slowly as he watched them celebrate beneath him, sunlight warming his back while their joy rose higher and higher around him.

“What a wild ride.”

——

The Guild Hall was bursting at the seams, every corner alive with Adventurers laughing, shouting, and clinking their mugs together as if they were afraid this moment might slip away if they didn’t fully embrace it.

Barrels of wine were rolled out from storage and popped open without a second thought, the rich scent of alcohol quickly mingling with the warm air and rising around him.

Near the entrance, someone had already started singing off-key, and others joined in, not caring whether they knew the lyrics. Boots thudded against the wooden floor in a lively but uneven rhythm as groups gathered around tables pulled into the center, with more than one chair toppling over under the weight of carefree excitement.

Mina proudly weaved through the crowd, pointing up toward the balcony every few seconds as if to remind everyone who had made this night possible.

Meanwhile, Lyana stood by one of the tables shaking her head but unable to hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.

Even Valeria, who usually kept to herself, accepted a mug handed to her and mingled among the others instead of retreating to the sidelines.

Vanthrice was laughing heartily at something one of the recruits shouted, her short hair slightly tousled from the growing chaos around her.

Sage observed all of this quietly, feeling the noise rise like a tide beneath him. For once, he didn’t calculate or plan; he simply stood there and let the sound of his Guild celebrating fill his chest.

——-

A/N: Everyone sorry for the slow update. I know I said that there will be a mass release but I haven’t kept that promise.

Don’t worry I will make for it, for the slow update. I’m currently having some problems.

Thanks for the support.

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