A few minutes later, Auron and Scribblez found themselves in a quieter neighborhood of Starlight Sanctuary, where the buzz of the central plaza gave way to a more gentle atmosphere. Cobblestone streets curved beneath hanging lanterns that bobbed in the evening breeze, their soft light casting intricate patterns on the walls. The buildings were smaller here, painted in rich, inviting tones, making the area feel almost storybook-like. The only sounds were friendly conversation and running water from a nearby fountain.

  Scribblez stopped outside a bookstore, peering through the window at its eclectic display of titles. Auron caught sight of bestiaries, planetary histories, and manuals on mechanical crafting, mingled with more niche genres like Advanced Asteroid Weaving and The Complete Guide to Invasive Space Flora. His curiosity flickered as he wondered how books worked in the InfiNet—did people actually read them, or could they just absorb the knowledge?

  Before he could ask, Scribblez shook her head with a slight scoff. "Not exactly bestseller material. Let's keep moving."

  They passed a travel agency with brightly animated posters advertising adventures to exotic locales. One display showed a crystalline forest, its trees shimmering like giant prisms beneath a rainbow sky. Another offered a lunar safari where avatars could ride glowing, antlered beasts that bounded across cratered landscapes. A third touted an all-inclusive starship cruise with "infinite buffets" and "galaxy-class entertainment."

  Auron couldn't help but smirk. "These trips seem… extra."

  "Extra cheesy," Scribblez agreed, eyeing the holographic mascot—a grinning robot in a captain's hat. "I'll give it two hours before they hit you with microtransactions for oxygen or something."

  As they continued down the street, the quaint atmosphere began to shift. Auron noticed glowing screens mounted on walls and rooftops, each displaying news feeds from different regions of Planet Cadenza. One screen showed a trade dispute in a distant city, while another featured updates on the local guild tournaments.

  They stopped in front of a modest building tucked between a bakery and a hardware shop. The door had a crude engraving of a compass rose entwined with an anchor. It was far from the grand guild hall Auron had imagined, but its simplicity had a quiet charm. Yet, second thoughts began to surface.

  Was it a mistake to reach out to them? His instincts said no, but Auron felt a weight of doubt while standing before their guild hall. What if they weren't up for this? What if he wasn't?

  "This is it," Scribblez said, her tone somewhere between announcing their arrival and questioning it.

  Before Auron could reply, a voice called from behind. "Looking for the Navigators?"

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  They turned to see Clio, the guild's second-in-command, emerging from the shadows of a side alley. Her knightly armor gleamed faintly in the streetlight despite its splattered coating of dried blood. A massive grocery bag dangled from one arm while the other carried an enormous greatsword casually slung over her shoulder.

  "What gave it away?" Scribblez deadpanned, gesturing toward the door.

  Clio smirked. "The clueless stares. Dead giveaway." She adjusted her grip on the sword, a smear of blood transferring to the bag's crinkling surface. "Oh, and don't mind me. Carnivorous squirrels have no sense of personal space."

  Auron blinked. "You're covered in—"

  "Achievement?" Clio interrupted with a grin. "Can we focus on the important stuff? Like snacks?"

  She pushed past them, nudging the door open with her armored shoulder. "Come on in. Just ignore the, uh… unique décor."

  The guild hall was a patchwork of personalities. Mismatched furniture filled the space, from well-loved beanbags to wobbly chairs that had seen better days. A wall-mounted display rotated through various feeds between guild rankings, news streams, and action animes. A pair of task boards stood nearby, one neatly organized with posted contracts and the other blank save for a doodle of a dragon.

  Auron noticed an equipment rack in one corner. It was hard to miss its dual personality. One side gleamed with polished weapons and armor, while the other was a chaotic pile of gear that looked questionably functional.

  Scribblez tilted her head. "So this is the famed guild hall of the Navigators?"

  "It's not the size of the hall," Clio replied, setting the grocery bag on the nearest table with a triumphant thud, "it's the people it holds."

  At the back of the room, Auron caught sight of Vox sprawled theatrically across a cluttered desk, one arm draped dramatically over his forehead. Empty snack wrappers and scattered papers littered the surface around him, forming a makeshift nest.

  "Clio," he groaned, his voice dripping with misery. "If this keeps up, I'll need hazard pay for reorganizing this place. Do you even know what's growing in the fridge?"

  Clio, already unloading the groceries, barely spared him a glance. "Hazard pay? Pretty bold for someone who's been playing dead for the past hour." Without warning, she lobbed a massive bag of jerky in his direction.

  Vox snatched it mid-air and tore it open like an animal. He tossed a strip into his mouth, chewing with the satisfaction of someone who had just solved a world-ending crisis. "Fuel for leadership," he said, muffled by jerky. "The backbone of any successful guild."

  Only then did he notice Auron and Scribblez standing awkwardly near the entrance, watching the scene unfold. His chewing slowed as his gaze flicked to them, his expression blank for a beat.

  Then, as if nothing was amiss, he sprang to his feet with a grin that could disarm a battle-hardened warrior. Waving with the bag still in hand, he offered a sweeping bow while swallowing the mass of jerky. "Ah! Guests! Welcome to the Navigators' guild hall. Please excuse the—" he gestured grandly at the clutter—"creative ambiance. We're, uh, in the middle of some critical strategizing."

  Clio snorted, shaking her head. "Yeah, strategizing how to make room for more snack wrappers."

  "Every visionary has their process," Vox retorted before turning to Auron and Scribblez. His grin softened, becoming more earnest. "Anyway, you're here. So, what's the story? Big plans, I'm guessing?"

  Auron and Scribblez exchanged a glance, silently absorbing the chaotic energy of the room. "It's… definitely not what I expected," Auron admitted, unsure whether to be amused or concerned.

  "Better get used to it," Clio muttered, smirking as she lined a few cans with almost military precision.