Chapter 74: Crossroads

The interior of Eclipse’s headquarters was no less impressive than its exterior. Jennifer and Jason stepped into a spacious hall with polished floors, towering pillars, and several elevated walkways overlooking the lower level.

A large display occupied the centre of the hall, its surface filled with assignments, notices, and the names of groups that had recently returned from successful expeditions.

Evolvers moved between the counters in expensive equipment, while attendants hurried around with information plates in their hands.

A few people greeted them as they passed, and Jason returned the greetings with an easy smile. He had already made quite a few acquaintances within the guild, especially among those who considered themselves its rising talents. Jennifer supposed that was hardly surprising. As unpleasant as he could be, Jason knew how to get along with people when he felt they were worth the effort.

They found Lois near one of the side counters, standing with an information plate in her hands. Her dark hair was tied behind her head, though several loose strands had fallen around her face, and the tired look in her eyes made Jennifer’s heart sink before she even spoke.

"Another one?" Jennifer asked, approaching her.

Lois looked up, then nodded with a sigh. "We’re supposed to leave tomorrow morning. I asked whether there had been a mistake, but apparently, the assignment has already been confirmed."

Jennifer took the plate from her and began reading. Their last expedition had ended only yesterday, and two members of the group were still receiving treatment for their injuries. Neither was in immediate danger, but that hardly meant they were ready to return to the hunting grounds.

The new assignment involved collecting materials from a stretch of the mid-ranking grounds they hadn’t visited before. According to the information provided, the area had recently experienced increased beast activity following the appearance of several small rifts. The guild wanted specific materials from the creatures that had emerged, and the rewards listed beneath the request were considerably higher than those of their previous missions.

Under different circumstances, Jennifer might have been pleased.

Now, however, she could only stare at the departure time.

"Did they say anything about the injured members?"

Lois nodded. "They said anyone who couldn’t participate could remain behind. We would be expected to complete the assignment with those who were available."

Jason leaned closer to read over Jennifer’s shoulder, his eyes moving towards the reward.

"That’s quite a lot," he commented. "We could make more from this than we did on the last two expeditions."

Jennifer turned towards him. "And how exactly are we supposed to complete it with fewer people, when the ones who can still walk haven’t even recovered properly?"

"We don’t need everyone for everything," he replied, shrugging. "Besides, isn’t this what you’ve been asking for? A chance to prove that we can manage as a group?"

Jennifer’s brow twitched. Honestly, there were times when speaking with him felt like a deliberate test of her patience.

"Giving exhausted people a more dangerous assignment doesn’t prove anything."

"It proves whether they can keep up."

Lois glanced between them, though she didn’t interrupt. This wasn’t the first time they had argued about the matter, and there was little reason to believe that either of them would suddenly change their mind.

Jennifer handed the plate back to her.

"Where was this issued?"

"The assignment office upstairs."

"Come with me."

Jason sighed, but followed them towards the stairs. Jennifer could already imagine what he was thinking. Another unnecessary argument, another opportunity delayed because she insisted on worrying about people who weren’t progressing as quickly as they were. Perhaps, from his perspective, it really was that simple.

Unfortunately, she had spent enough time fighting beside the others to know that abandoning them wasn’t a decision she could make so easily.

The assignment office was considerably quieter than the hall below. Several desks stood behind a long counter, and a middle-aged man in a neatly fitted uniform was reviewing documents when they approached. He looked up at the sound of their footsteps, his gaze lingering on Jennifer before moving towards the information plate in Lois’s hands.

"Is there a problem?"

"We returned yesterday," Jennifer said. "Two of our members are injured, and the rest need more time to recover. We’re requesting a later departure."

The man held out his hand, and Lois passed him the plate. He read through the assignment without appearing particularly concerned, then set it down on the counter.

"The request is time-sensitive. If we delay too long, another group will collect the materials."

"Then assign it to another group."

Jason shifted beside her, though Jennifer ignored him.

The man regarded her for a moment. "Your cohort was selected because of its recent performance. The guild has invested considerable resources in your development, and your results suggest that this assignment should be within your capabilities."

"Our capabilities don’t stay the same when people are injured."

"Which is why those members are permitted to remain behind."

"And the people who aren’t injured are still tired," Jennifer replied, struggling to keep the irritation out of her voice. "We need time to recover our essence, maintain our equipment, and prepare for an area we haven’t hunted in before."

The man’s expression cooled slightly. He glanced towards Jason, who remained silent, then back at her.

"If the current composition of your cohort is making ordinary assignments difficult, perhaps you should reconsider the alternative placement offered to you."

Jennifer stared at him, feeling the last of her uncertainty disappear. Until now, she had at least been able to tell herself that perhaps she was reading too much into the schedule.

The guild was busy, requests needed to be completed, and not every unpleasant decision had to be aimed specifically at her group.

But apparently, they weren’t particularly interested in maintaining that possibility anymore.

"So, if we accept the transfer, this stops being a problem?"

"If you accept the transfer, you will be placed with companions capable of meeting the same expectations as you," the man replied. "The remaining members will be assessed and assigned duties more appropriate to their abilities. That arrangement would benefit everyone."

Jennifer glanced at the plate resting on the counter. The offer sounded quite reasonable when he put it that way, though she had yet to receive a clear answer about what those supposedly appropriate duties would involve. Every time she asked, someone assured her that the guild would make the necessary arrangements.

She was beginning to grow tired of assurances.

"And until then, we’re expected to continue like this?"

"You’re expected to fulfil your obligations as members of Eclipse."

Jason finally stepped forward. "We’ll discuss it with the others," he said, reaching for the plate before Jennifer could respond. "There’s no need to make a decision right here."

Jennifer looked at him sharply, but he gave her a pointed glance towards the open doorway. Several people had slowed outside, noticing that the conversation had become less pleasant.

She clenched her jaw, then turned away.

They left the office in silence, though Jason waited only until they reached the end of the corridor before speaking.

"What exactly did you expect to accomplish by arguing with him?"

Jennifer stopped walking. "I was asking for enough time to make sure everyone comes back alive."

"And he gave you a solution."

"He reminded me that he wants us to leave them."

"Because they’re holding us back!" Jason lowered his voice after the words came out louder than he intended, then shook his head. "Look, you can be angry all you want, but you know it’s true. We’re taking longer to finish assignments because we keep having to account for people who can’t manage the same things we can."

Jennifer’s eyes narrowed, but Jason continued before she could interrupt.

"You think keeping them with us is helping them? Maybe they’d be better off doing easier work."

She didn’t answer for some time.

That was the most frustrating part. There was enough truth in what he said that she couldn’t simply dismiss it, especially when some of the others had already begun struggling to keep up. However, there was a considerable difference between finding a better arrangement for them and wearing them down until she felt she had no choice but to agree.

Lois rubbed her forehead and finally stepped between them.

"Can we at least speak to everyone before we start deciding what’s best for them? They’re the ones who will have to deal with whatever happens."

Jennifer looked at her, then let out a slow breath.

"Fine."

Jason shrugged, seemingly satisfied that the argument had finally ended. He began walking again, leaving Jennifer and Lois to follow him towards the residential section.

After a moment, Lois glanced at her.

"How did the visit go?"

Jennifer knew what she meant. Lois had asked her to check on the people still living in the slums if she had the chance, though neither of them had expected the visit to produce much good news.

"Samuel said Frost died."

Lois stopped for half a step before catching up.

"What?"

"He went into the hunting grounds with a party. They came back without him."

Lois’s expression changed, and for a while, she said nothing. Jennifer watched her from the corner of her eye, wondering whether she had looked quite so surprised herself. Probably not, though that didn’t mean hearing the words had been particularly pleasant.

"Did they find him?" Lois asked eventually.

"They couldn’t recover his body."

Jason made a quiet sound ahead of them, but this time, he seemed to think better of saying anything. Perhaps even he understood that repeating his jokes would only start another argument.

Lois lowered her gaze.

"I see."

When they reached the door to their common room, she stepped past Jason and opened it herself. Several of the others looked up from where they were resting, their attention immediately settling on the plate he carried.

"We need to talk about tomorrow’s assignment," Jennifer said, walking inside. "And this time, I want everyone to tell me honestly whether they’re ready to go."