The party reaches the eastern road before dusk, rain thinning behind them. The horned marsh predator’s trail and fallen body are recorded on the guild captain’s waxed map, while its severed horn serves as proof.
The Young Spearman
We returned with time to spare. I admit it, healer: your judgment at the fork and in the hollow saved us from wasting the day.
The wandering swordsman walks beside Sonoda beneath the fading Kerachole dome. The young spearman follows with the marked route, and neither companion lags or complains.
The Wandering Swordsman
You led decisively, struck without hesitation, and kept the beast from reaching deeper water. I would take your counsel again, though I may still ask questions first.
At the guild doors, the guild captain waits beneath the seal with two clerks. He examines the map, the horn, and the aether-burned marks on the party’s gear before opening the contract ledger.
The Guild Captain
The report is confirmed. The eastern road party fulfilled the contract before nightfall, and the full payment belongs to all three signers.
The guild captain records Sonoda as the expedition’s decisive leader, while the wandering swordsman and young spearman add their marks beneath hers. The rain fades, and the successful hunt closes without further demand.