Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1673: River Moon Guild (Part 2)

Even Song, the Guild Leader of the River Moon Guild, turned to look at Raze in surprise. The words he had just spoken were not what anyone there had expected.

"Hey, Raze, what are you saying?" Liam asked quickly, unable to hide the confusion in his voice. "We only just got here. We haven’t even talked to them properly yet, and you’re already saying you want to leave?"

Raze didn’t respond right away. His eyes moved across the streets, the buildings, and the people going about their lives within the River Moon Guild’s territory. Unlike much of the north side, this place was stable. There were no collapsed roads here, no burning buildings, no frantic mages clashing in the streets. The people weren’t hiding in fear. They were living.

"I told you before," Raze finally said, his voice calm but firm. "I’m looking for those who are willing to fight against the Noble Guild. The people here are doing their best to live their current lives."

He turned slightly, glancing back toward the wall they had passed through only moments ago.

"They’re defending themselves from attacks by other mages and guilds that aren’t so kind to civilians. If we take them away, if we convince their strongest fighters to leave, even if they agree, what happens to everyone else here?"

No one answered him.

"There’s a good chance they would all perish," Raze continued. "And I’m not willing to cause that."

Liam fell silent. He didn’t argue further, but the shift in Raze was impossible to ignore. In the past, Raze would have weighed the outcome differently. If sacrificing one area meant saving the world in the long run, he would have made that choice without hesitation.

But now, he didn’t think that way. Not anymore.

Still, one thing was clear to everyone standing there: Raze had not given up on going after the Noble Guild or the remaining Grand Magus. That fire hadn’t faded. It had simply become more controlled.

Song studied Raze carefully. After a brief pause, he let out a quiet breath and nodded.

"I understand your concern," Song said. "However, since you have already come all this way, perhaps we can still talk. At the very least, allow us to offer some refreshments."

He gestured gently toward the inner district.

"It’s important that we understand what you’re doing, and that our goals are aligned, even if we don’t fight alongside you directly. If there is another way we can help, we would like to know. The world is a tricky place right now."

It was a reasonable offer, and refusing outright would serve no purpose. The group had nowhere else they urgently needed to be, aside from the Noble Land itself, an objective they weren’t ready to face yet.

After a moment, Raze nodded.

"Alright," he said. "We’ll talk."

Song led them through the district, and as they walked, the attention from the surrounding residents became more noticeable. Some whispered quietly to one another. Some shut their doors, clearly fearful. Others simply stared in silence.

And then there were those who smiled.

Not proud smiles, not triumphant ones, but hopeful ones. The kind worn by people who had lost much already and were clinging to the idea that something might finally change.

Those faces lingered with Raze.

They eventually arrived at a large tea house built near the base of the pagoda. The structure was old, traditional, and sturdy, with reinforced beams and subtle enchantments woven into its foundation. It had once been a tourist attraction, but now it served as a meeting place for the guild’s leadership.

Inside, a long table had been prepared. Raze and his companions took their seats across from Song, while several River Moon mages remained standing along the walls, watching quietly.

"If you don’t mind," Song said politely, "could you tell me why you originally came here?"

"We’re going to take care of Trubin and the Noble Guild," Raze replied without hesitation. "As you can probably see, we’re low in number. Meanwhile, they command an army of mages equipped with enchanted gear."

His gaze remained steady.

"You’re the largest guild in the north. We came to ask whether you would consider helping us."

"If we do nothing," Alen added, leaning forward slightly, "the Noble Guild will expand. Idore has already gone further than anyone imagined, and none of us believe he’ll remain passive forever."

Alen’s tone was measured, deliberate. Unlike Raze, he understood the need to convince.

"You may be living peaceful lives now," he continued, "but that peace is temporary. Idore won’t ignore you forever."

Song listened without interrupting. When Alen finished, the guild leader folded his hands together thoughtfully.

"I assumed you would be visiting other guilds as well," Song said. "Seeing who might join your struggle."

"That’s right," Raze answered.

"What you said earlier is true," Song continued, looking directly at him. "There is always the worry that someone else will attack us. It’s not that we don’t wish to help."

He paused.

"We share the same view as Alen. Idore, and the other Grand Magus, were not the people we believed them to be. They must be stopped."

Several of the standing mages nodded.

"And many believe," Song added, "that you might be the only person capable of doing so."

Raze remained silent.

"I do have a suggestion," Song said carefully. "You should reunite the north under one banner. Under the banner of the Dark Magus."

The room went quiet.

"Just as the Grand Magus once did," Song continued, "you could do the same. I’m not asking you to rule us, or to create another guild like the Noble Guild."

He shook his head.

"What the north needs is leadership. Someone to stop the fighting between guilds, to prevent chaos, and to direct our strength outward instead of inward. If you can do that, we can help."

Raze felt the weight of the words settle heavily on his shoulders.

A leader again. A figurehead. A symbol.

After everything that had happened with the Dark Guild, it was the last thing he wanted.

But was there another option?

He wouldn’t be controlling them, he reminded himself. He would be stopping them.

"I, "

Before Raze could finish, the door burst open.

One of the River Moon mages rushed inside, breathing heavily.

"Guild Master," he said urgently, "we have an emergency. Someone from the Noble Guild is here to see us."

****

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