Lira approached a three-story building at 47 Soldierâs Rest Avenue, Southern District. This was the location of the Mercenary Guild. She had just dropped from a carriage and walked over to the other side of the road.
She removed a bronze coin, kissed it, and lowered it into the cap of a lean man that rested beside the concrete base holding the lamppost. Afterwards, she walked through the two large open oak doors.
A young lady with deep blue hair and radiant blue eyesâboth charming and welcomingâgreeted her at the entrance. She wore a white blouse with the first three buttons undone, revealing her cleavage.
She stood to greet before realizing who was walking in.
"Welcome, Lira!" Her smile widened, voice lifting.
Lira smiled and gently patted her hair upon nearing the desk.
"Howâs the new job treating you?"
Victoriaâs gaze dropped for a moment before she brightened.
"Fine, actually. The pay is enough for Emma and me to get by. But I try to squeeze our expensesâmaybe if I save up enough, I can afford to send her to the Imperium Academy. She has a passion for metal scraps and fixing things. I think sheâll make a fine engineer."
Liraâs smile warmed but carried weight.
"I hope youâre able to. I canât promise you muchâwe all know what a devastating state the economy of this nation is inâbut I trust Tris. Heâs not going to cheat you. Work hard and you might even get a raise."
The receptionistâs smile spread wide.
"He told me never to stop smiling because I have a very beautiful smile."
Lira stared at her for a beat, then scoffed and shook her head.
"Please donât let him into your skirt. Youâll be disappointed."
Victoriaâs face flushed immediately, and she turned away. Lira studied her face, eyes narrowing.
"Oh no. Too late."
The pink deepened across her cheeks. She shook her hand quickly.
"I-it was only his hand!" Her gaze fell. "Clara came in and chased him..." The words tumbled out, dripping with embarrassment.
Lira watched her for a moment, suppressing the urge to laugh at how flustered the young lady already was. She shook her head.
"Keep your distance from Tris as much as you can. He has three kids from three different women. Unless you want to become the fourth, make sure you know what youâre doing, Victoria."
Victoria, with her straight bangs lining the top of her brows, looked surprised but quickly responded.
"Yes, maâam! Thank you so much for that information, Lira! I never knew!"
Lira shrugged and glanced at the door beside the reception desk.
"Is Clara around?"
"Oh yes, she is. And thereâs not much of a crowd todayâjust the regulars."
Lira chuckled.
"I wasnât really worried. I just hate the men around here."
Victoria tilted her head, smiling sweetly.
"I know."
Lira scoffed and touched her shoulder. "Take care, anyways. Iâll see you later."
She walked through the door and stepped into the main hall. The usual smell of ale, roasted meat, and woodsmoke hit her, mingling with the low hum of conversation and laughter that eased something in her chest.
In the main hall, twelve wooden tables filled the center, each flanked by benches that could seat between eight and ten people. The flooring was wide wooden planks, scarred and worn. Exposed wooden beams held the ceiling, iron chandeliers holding flickering candles that dangled from them.
Lira didnât walk toward the center. Instead, she headed west, reaching the bar where a gruff man with a rusted metallic prosthetic hand stood mixing ale for an old man leaning on the counter. Behind him, sparse shelves held different brands of ale in glass bottles.
When he spotted Lira, he flashed a welcoming smile.
"Lira Velan herself. Been a while since I saw you around."
Lira tucked her hands into her coat.
"Workâs been busy these days, surprisingly. Is Clara in?"
The man glanced at the door in the west corner, pausing to think.
"Oh, Iâm not sure. I think I saw her, but she should be around." He scoffed. "I mean, itâs not like we get jobs."
Lira nodded with a small smile and walked through the door. Reaching the kitchen, she passed through, returning greetings from people before reaching another small roomâmore like storage, with a bunk bed and, next to it, a table and chair. A young lady with chestnut hair was asleep, slumped over the table.
She gently took a seat on the bed. But as soon as she did, the lady snapped her head up, alert. Seeing who it was, she sighed and stretched, her voice rough and honeyed when she spoke.
"Hey, itâs been a while..." She yawned. "Donât tell me youâre here because you want to check your stats again."
Lira smiled. Clara recognized that smile and sighed, pulling open her drawer.
"Iâll do this for you as many times as you want me to, but Lira, as a friend, Iâve got to be straight with you. This thing is impossibleâitâs ancient history, one that you canât trust. Itâs impossible to increase your essence pool with Havana or whatever you call it."
Lira didnât respond. A small, confident smile played on her lips as Clara settled a dull rainbow-colored orb on the table.
She loosened her brown leather corset top, letting her breasts slightly lift the fabric of her rumpled grey shirt. After she set the orb on a soft pillow, she turned to Lira.
"There. Place your hand over it."
Lira already knew the drillâher hand was moving before Clara finished speaking.
Her hand rested gently over the sphere. A subtle white glow emanated from within, spilling out a holographic panel just above it.
[LIRA VELAN]
[Essence Pool: 400/400]
[Rank: D]
[Bloodline Ability: Low - Tier Healing]
Both their eyes widened as they looked at each other. Lira was D rank, which meant her essence pool limit ought to be three hundred. The last time they checked, which was three months ago, it was clearly three hundred. But now, it was four hundred?
Claraâs eyes trembled. She couldnât believe what she saw. Liraâs sparkled, a wide, beaming smile spreading across her lips as she stared at the increased number. This was a symbol of hope!
Claraâs voice cracked.
"HâHow... come? WâWhat dâdid you do? Who dâdid you do it with this time?" Her eyes widened. "Wait, donât tell me." She covered her mouth with her hand. "You had sex with a giantkin?!"
Liraâs frown came swift.
"What? No. Would I still be alive if I did?"
A graceful smile curved her lipsâlike that of a starved milf whoâd just gotten the best sex of her life.
"Itâs a secret."