Lira approached a three-story building at 47 Soldier's 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 eyes—both charming and welcoming—greeted 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.
"How's the new job treating you?"
Victoria's 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 expenses—maybe 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 she'll make a fine engineer."
Lira's smile warmed but carried weight.
"I hope you're able to. I can't promise you much—we all know what a devastating state the economy of this nation is in—but I trust Tris. He's not going to cheat you. Work hard and you might even get a raise."
The receptionist's 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 don't let him into your skirt. You'll be disappointed."
Victoria's 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 you're doing, Victoria."
Victoria, with her straight bangs lining the top of her brows, looked surprised but quickly responded.
"Yes, ma'am! 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 there's not much of a crowd today—just the regulars."
Lira chuckled.
"I wasn't 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. I'll 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 didn't 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.
"Work's been busy these days, surprisingly. Is Clara in?"
The man glanced at the door in the west corner, pausing to think.
"Oh, I'm not sure. I think I saw her, but she should be around." He scoffed. "I mean, it's 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 room—more 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, it's been a while..." She yawned. "Don't tell me you're here because you want to check your stats again."
Lira smiled. Clara recognized that smile and sighed, pulling open her drawer.
"I'll do this for you as many times as you want me to, but Lira, as a friend, I've got to be straight with you. This thing is impossible—it's ancient history, one that you can't trust. It's impossible to increase your essence pool with Havana or whatever you call it."
Lira didn't 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 drill—her 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?
Clara's eyes trembled. She couldn't believe what she saw. Lira's sparkled, a wide, beaming smile spreading across her lips as she stared at the increased number. This was a symbol of hope!
Clara's voice cracked.
"H—How... come? W—What d—did you do? Who d—did you do it with this time?" Her eyes widened. "Wait, don't tell me." She covered her mouth with her hand. "You had sex with a giantkin?!"
Lira's frown came swift.
"What? No. Would I still be alive if I did?"
A graceful smile curved her lips—like that of a starved milf who'd just gotten the best sex of her life.
"It's a secret."