The walk back to Haldin was still uneventful as we passed through the North Gate. The late afternoon bustle of the city greeted us while we traveled down the main avenue and returned to the Guild.

The Guildhall was filled with returning adventurers waiting in line to report and offer up their results. Erwyn and his group decided to rest for a bit at the lounge area while Tessa and I went over to Vella's counter to report to the Guildmaster.

She acknowledged us as we approached, "Oh! Welcome back you two! How was yo-" she jumped in surprise, "Arlan! You... look different than before. You're head looks a bit less, uh... square? And your arms and hands are much more human-like now!"

I nodded, "I found what I was looking for down in those ruins. If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to the Guildmaster. Could you tell him I'm back?" I asked.

"Oh yes, certainly!" she replies as she walks back over to the brass horn.

Some movement caught my eye where I noticed Tessa staring at my arms. I'm wearing a short sleeved tunic so my forearms were exposed for everyone to see.

"It's a bit different than what it was before, right?" I asked Tessa.

She put a finger on her chin, "Well, if you wore something with a long sleeve, I would have guessed you were wearing gloves. It's a big step up from what it was before!"

The deftness of my movements have dramatically increased now. Before it was just a metal skeletal-like hand. Now holding or using objects is a breeze now that my hands have a proper grip. Training my weapon skills should be much easier now.

The sound of a door swiftly opening upstairs brought back my attention. Guildmaster Kurtz proceeded to do his lazy walk down the staircase as he greeted us from afar. He looked behind him for a moment before he joined us with a sigh.

"Ah, you're back, Arlan..." he stopped rubbing his back to give me a considering look, "Hmm... you've definitely changed. You've filled out your clothes now. Before you just looked like some malnourished runt from the slums."

"My body's been improved, Guildmaster. I can't believe how much stronger I am now than I was before." I stated.

Kurtz gave me a sneer, "You can have all the strength in the world, boy. But it don't mean shit if you don't know how to use it! And you don't need to tell me. I can see it with [Mind's Eye]."

He's right. Even in this new body, I still doubt I could hold my own against the Guildmaster. I can't compare to a man who has decades of combat experience.

"But enough about that!" The Guildmaster said, "So... did you get some dungeoneering experience?"

"Well, here's the thing..." I began to explain the events of yesterday. The [Event], the golems that attacked us, the Centaurion. I... left out the part with the voice. That's not something I'm ready to share yet. Once I get a handle on the ability, I don't mind explaining it to Kurtz, at least.

The Guildmaster couldn't believe it, "That's suppose to be a beginner's dungeon but from what you described, you were fighting monsters that would be considered higher B-Rank. Maybe even A-Rank! I might have to reconsider keeping that place as a training ground now."

I shook my head, "It should be back to normal now. The [Event] only happened because I was there."

Guildmaster Kurtz rubbed his chin, "Maybe. For now I'm going to officially place it on quarantine while I try to get our high rankers to go do some runs. Those [Events] have a nasty habit of lingering even when it's been completed. I don't want newbies fighting something that even you struggled with."

I wasn't sure if I should try to convince him otherwise. It's obvious that the facility went to fully operational because I was there but I'm not sure how [Events] normally happen when it doesn't involve me. There could be other examples that I'm not aware of to make him err on the side of caution.

An audible stomach growl emanated from Tessa. The conversation came to a halt as we all stared at the beet faced girl.

"I-I guess I'm still a bit hungry after all that travel..." she giggled.

"We should get something to eat over at the lounge." I suggested. I could go for some food too. "We're all done here. Right, Guildmaster?"

"What do you mean 'we're done'?" the old man gave me a frighteningly familiar smile, "You just came back from a day of fighting for your life. Now it's time to hammer in all that experience with intense training!" He grabs me by the shoulder, "No excuses today, boy!"

Tessa began to slink away, "M-Maybe I should leave you two to your training..."

"You just gonna leave me with this old man!?" I shouted at her.

"Better with me than her, boy." Kurtz stated, looking over to my side. But he wasn't referring to Tessa.

I started to feel another presence when I followed the Guildmaster's gaze to find an old woman standing right next to me. She looked just as old as the Guildmaster but her posture and attire didn't show it. Dressed in fine clothing underneath her high quality leather armor, she looked like she was ready for a fight to start at any moment.

"Halette," The Guildmaster acknowledged her, "I was wondering where you went off to when I got the call from Vella in my office. My disciple isn't used to you skulking about yet so don't mind him if he seems a bit shocked." Hell, I didn't even notice her just popping up there!

"It's 'Lady' Halette, Guildmaster Kurtz." Her face was the epitome of no-nonsense, "And I didn't know you were the type of man who took on disciples."

The Guildmaster growled, "I can train my subordinates whenever I goddamn please, 'Lady' Halette."

"And you've every right to do so. But it seems that our talks will have to conclude for now." she turned her attention towards me, "Arlan the Golem... The Red Eyed Golem if the other adventure's around here are to be believed."

Now there's an odd nickname I've been hearing whispered about. I got the Sty to thank for that. Everyone here just freaking loves to gossip and now I've earned some crazy new name for myself.

"You're Lady Halette, yes? I heard about you from Knight-Captain Erzald. You work under Lord Selvin if I remember correctly." I said politely. She seems like the kind of person who wouldn't put up with the kind of shenanigans I play with the Guildmaster so I should try to watch my manners. Erzald said she's just as strong as the Kurtz too. "It's nice to meet you."

She smiled, "Hmm. To think that someone training under Guildmaster Kurtz would have some manners. You could teach him a thing or two about professionalism."

The Guildmaster spat, "That's rich coming from Haldin's Spymaster. Now if you don't mind, I've told you everything I know. Now we're off to train. Let's go, boy!" He begins to pull me towards the training field before Lady Halette's hand darts out to grab onto my shoulder.

"Just one moment, if you don't mind." she began, "Since you're here to train, Arlan, I'd like to extend my hand to offer myself as your training partner for today."

The Guildmaster grumbed at her, "So, you weren't satisfied with my answers and decided to go to the source."

Halette ignored his remark and started for the back door, "I'll be waiting outside, Arlan. Make sure the old fool comes too. I want him to take notes on how to give proper instruction."

Erzald was right. These two have some shared history if they can talk so candidly like that to each other.

"Watch yourself around her, Arlan." the Guildmaster warns me,  "I daresay even I don't think I can beat her in a fair fight now."

I nodded in confirmation. However, there was something that the Guildmaster said before that bothered me, "What did you mean by 'going to the source'?"

Kurtz scratches his head in frustration, "Ack! I was talking with her in my office before you arrived. Wanted to ask questions about you."

That line gave me pause, "Why is she so interested?"

"It's her job to be. She's the city's unofficial spymaster. Which also means she's proper paranoid about things unknown to her." he replied.

"Should I be worried?" I asked.

"Don't be. If you were a threat, she would have killed you already. But even she knows not to get on the Pantheon's bad side. Being a [Hallowed Spirit] with a divine blessing from a fickle goddess does have it's benefit. It's a relief that she has [Mind's Eye], too." Kurtz responded.

Celecia's blessing actually proved useful for once. Unfortunately, it won't do me any favors in real combat against her but at least it gave me the benefit of the doubt for now.

The both of us walked towards the backdoor and entered the training field. Once again, a forming crowd of onlookers couldn't resist to gather to watch the spectacle about to happen. Since I've been training with the Guildmaster, I've gotten used to people watching me fight as they gathered all the same to watch me get my ass beaten back and forth by Kurtz. I got into position as I could overhear Tessa along with Erwyn and his party cheer for me on from the sidelines.

Lady Halette faced towards me on the opposite end of the field, "For now, let me see what you're capable of. If you don't mind, I'd like to fight with real weapons for this match. Afterwards, we'll do proper training from there."

I pulled out the spear slung on my back and ready myself, "Well, I hope I live up to your standards, Lady Halette." She must still be wanting to learn more about me in regards to combat if she wants to do a live weapons test. But I doubt this is dangerous for her.

She rummages through her magic bag on her side until she pulls out a single piece of paper, "Let me tell you something, Arlan." She tosses the single sheet into the air. It begins to shimmer with the familiar glow of magic. I could see runes lining every inch of it as she pulls out her daggers and slices the parchment into pieces in a single motion, "No one really does. But that never stops me from instructing them all the same." Her daggers being to crackle as lightning begins to arc all over her blades."

As soon as she finishes her sentence, she darts forward as I rush over to do the same. Our weapons clash together as we meet each other midway.

"Hmm... your eyes do glow such a bright crimson when you're serious about a fight." she remarks.

I begin to back away and shower her with a flurry of spear thrusts; each one she nimbly dodges. In fact, she looks like she's barely moving an inch, undaunted by my relentless stabs.

With a loud grunt, she ducks underneath one of my strikes and takes a thrust towards my abdomen. I jump backwards, narrowly avoiding her attack but she doesn't relent now that she's in a favorable position.

Halette begins to swing her daggers at me in deft elegance, befitting of someone who had years of fighting experience under her belt. Blow after blow rained down on me as I channeled my <Mana Shield> out to block her attacks. Now with her in such a close position, I stow my spear away and unsheathe my sword. I begin to match her swings as I block her daggers with my mana shield. Each time I manage to dodge what I couldn't block, the electricity coming from her weapons arcs towards my body and singes my clothes. Did that piece of paper enchant her weapons?

Whatever questions I had didn't matter as she brought herself low to the ground and sent my body flying back with a decisive kick to my abdomen. I hit the ground hard as I floundered across the field.

"Hmph. Is that all, Arlan? I was expecting more from someone that fool of a man Kurtz has acknowledged." her words stung a bit, "For now, I'd say your skill with a weapon is... passable. But you need more than that if you want to get farther in this life. Especially if you want to live up to being the owner of that spear."

She's the type of person Erzald and Lord Selvin described. Quite scathing. But if she wants spectacle, then I might as well deliver.

"Fine!" I shout, "No holding back then!"

My right hand disintegrates as a large barrel begins to form in it's stead. Electricity starts to arc all over my body as I jump into the air gaining considerable height. My frame shakes as if it could barely contain what was building up within the cannon as I point the end at the ground in front of Halette.

"[Arc Beam]!"

A tremendous amount of energy is suddenly released. The sound of electricity crackles loudly around me as I fire out an enormous shaft of concentrated mana. The ground shakes and explodes, sending dirt flying into the air covering the arena in a cloud of dust. This was much greater than even what that golem in the ruins could bring out. Way too much! The force itself was able to keep me up in the air. The adventurers watching us were in an absolute state of panic.

I cut off the power to the cannon and began accelerating towards the ground. Lady Halette was now yards away from where she once stood, dodging away from the blast in front of her. Her face was in a state of utter bewilderment.

"W-What sort of magic was that!?" she yelled. <Golem Arts> were unknown to everyone around here. No golem they could fight had access to these skills. Anything as advanced as me is laying dormant, thank god. I hope it stays that way, for all our sakes.

"Well you wanted to know about me, Lady Halette. Is that enough?" I asked candidly. I didn't want to sound haughty, but she was egging me for a moment there. I only gave the Spymaster the information she wanted.

She straightened herself out and regained her composure, "Hmph, it's adequate. I've seen more than enough. Well then, why don't we start the instruction?"

"I concur! Let's start by having you fix our field, Arlan?" The Guildmaster suddenly comes up behind me with a shovel as he said those words.

I looked at the mess I've made. Where the beam connected to the ground was now a giant ditch, "W-Wait a moment! Can I get some food first!? That attack took way too much juice to power!"

"Hah! This too is training, boy! And no Earth Magic either!" he shouts. I was dangerously low on energy right now. From behind him I could see the other adventurers doing whatever they can to escape lest they get dragged into this too.

"Well, the faster this gets done, the faster you can eat." Lady Halette suddenly appeared behind me again, "I trained the Knights Order the same way, Arlan. At least you won't tire from all this work. My, a pupil who doesn't fatigue... this should be quite interesting!"

Their presence loomed over me like an overpowering pall. I guess this is my reward for trying to show off. They could have at least given me a bigger shovel...