The ceramic floor tiles of the Guild Merchant lobby creaked softly beneath their footsteps. The atmosphere inside the building was buzzing with activity. Merchants from various regions gathered, the clinking of coins echoed from transaction tables, and the scent of parchment and ink filled the air. Arvin walked in the center with a calm yet authoritative stride, flanked by Allen and Alrain.
They continued through the crowd until they finally arrived in front of a workstation located in a strategic corner. Behind the desk, a beautiful woman with neatly styled hair was busy taking notes. Sensing someone's presence in front of her, she looked up.
Her eyes widened instantly. "A-Alrain? Why are you here bringing Young Master Arvin and Master Allen?" Yonna asked, her voice laced with utter shock.
Alrain beamed, looking immensely proud to bring his loved ones to his sister's workplace. "Oh... so you already know them? In that case, I don't need to bother introducing them again. Sister, come and live with us!"
Hearing the sudden invitation, Arvin and Allen looked at each other in disbelief. Neither of them had ever expected that the older sister Alrain had described with such worry was Yonna, a Merchant Guild receptionist they had known for some time.
"Hahaha!"
Arvin suddenly burst into a loud laugh. His voice, booming through the previously busy lobby, caused all activity to stop instantly. The merchants and guild staff turned their heads, staring at the young scion of the Vedegra family with puzzled expressions.
"Y-Young Master, why are you laughing like that?" Yonna asked, her face flushing as she realized she was the center of attention.
"Hahaha. I never expected that you were his older sister. What kind of strange fate is this? Hahaha," Arvin said, wiping a slight tear from the corner of his eye from laughing so hard.
"What is it exactly, Young Master?" Yonna asked, still confused.
Before Arvin could answer, Alrain took a step forward. He puffed out his chest and spoke in an incredibly loud voice that echoed to the lobby's ceiling:
"Sister, he is my husband! MY HUSBAND!"
Instantly, the Merchant Guild lobby fell into a dead silence. Yonna stood frozen, stunned by her younger brother's words. It felt as if her heart was about to stop beating because the little brother she cherished so much had chosen a man as his partner. Yonna's colleagues and the people in the lobby were equally gasted at the blunt confession.
"A-Are you serious? Since when have you two known each other?" Yonna asked with a trembling voice.
"I'm serious! And we've known each other for many years!" Alrain answered firmly.
Arvin quickly stepped in before the situation grew more chaotic. "Yonna, we don't have much time because Allen and I must return to the dormitory. Do you agree to live with us? If you do, come to our house tomorrow afternoon with Alrain!"
Without delay, Arvin moved his hand. From his spatial storage dimension, he pulled out a roll of fabric and several pieces of jewelry. Before the eyes of the captivated onlookers, Arvin used alchemy magic to process the fabric he had cut and the jewelry into two exquisite magic bags. He then handed them to Yonna and Alrain.
"Wow! Is this a magic bag?" Alrain asked in awe.
Arvin responded with a calm nod.
"What is the capacity?" Alrain asked curiously.
"Equivalent to four mountains located on our kingdom's borders!" Arvin replied casually.
That statement sent the entire Merchant Guild lobby into an uproar. A magic bag with such a massive capacity was on par with a national treasure, and its market value would undoubtedly be astronomical.
"I-Is it alright for me to own a bag this magnificent and luxurious, Young Master?" Yonna asked hesitantly.
"Don't worry. You'll be just fine. Your brother is quite strong, you know." Arvin assured her.
"That's right! My love has trained me before, and look!" Alrain exclaimed enthusiastically.
Woosh!
A sudden gust of wind appeared out of nowhere. Everyone turned their gaze toward Alrain.
Bzzzt! Crackt!
He unleashed wind and lightning magic simultaneously. Small bolts of lightning danced through the guild lobby, making the atmosphere tense. All the papers on the desks began to fly about due to the medium-scale thunderstorm he created.
"I'm still using only a fraction of my magic! If I were to use half of my power, this building and the surrounding area would surely be leveled to the ground!" Alrain said proudly.
Yonna was in total shock seeing her brother so skilled in magic. He said Young Master Arvin taught him magic and my brother is already this strong? Since when did they meet? Her thoughts were in complete disarray from the many shocking events that had hit her today.
"I can move fast too!" Alrain continued.
In an instant, Alrain moved back and forth, showcasing his incredible speed that was invisible to the ordinary eyes of the people in the merchant guild lobby.
Realizing Alrain's behavior was becoming a bit too much, Arvin took action.
Tap!
In the blink of an eye, Arvin caught Alrain with ease in the middle of his high-speed movement. "Alrain, don't cause too much of a commotion," he scolded gently.
"I-I'm sorry! I just wanted to prove that I can protect my sister from danger!" Alrain said sincerely.
Hearing his answer, Arvin immediately stroked his hair gently. Alrain, enjoying the caress of the one he loved, beamed with a happy, toothy grin.
However, Arvin's action left everyone stunned. Some even swallowed hard in intimidation. None of them could truly believe that Arvin could so easily catch a movement that was virtually invisible.
They began to whisper among themselves, questioning the sheer strength of the Vedegra lineage.
"So Yonna, what is your decision? Are you willing to live with us?" Arvin asked once more.
Yonna took a deep breath to calm herself. "I will live with you, Young Master. But you must also explain to me what is actually going on!"
"Of course! I'll leave it to Alrain to explain everything to you!" Arvin answered firmly. Yonna could only nod in agreement.
"Alrain, we're heading back to the dormitory. Wait for your sister here. When she finishes work, go home with her." Arvin said, bidding them farewell.
Arvin stepped forward and handed a blue cloak bearing the Altavis family crest to Alrain. "If you are cornered and forced to harm or kill someone to protect your sister, just wear this cloak!" he instructed seriously.
Alrain accepted the cloak and hugged it tightly. "Can we really come there tomorrow afternoon?"
"Why are you asking that again, Alrain? Am I not your husband? Don't you want to live with me?" Arvin asked back.
"Of course I want to live with you forever!" Alrain answered without hesitation.
"Then come with your sister tomorrow afternoon." Arvin said, stroking his hair gently before walking out of the merchant guild lobby.
"See you at home, Alrain!" Allen said softly with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, wait for us! I'll come to you!" Alrain called out, waving back as Arvin and Allen left the Merchant Guild.
Alrain then sat on a waiting chair, guarding his sister from a distance while she worked. His eyes stared straight ahead, sparkling with happiness.
I can't wait to live with my beloved husband! One way or another, he must be willing to bind a life-and-death contract with me the moment I move in and live with him! Alrain thought with fierce determination.