The walk back was quieter than usual. There was no explicit tension, no arguments, but what happened at the guild was still present among us, like an echo that refused to completely fade. The sound of footsteps on the stone street, the light wind passing between the buildings, and the distant movement of the city created a constant background, almost comfortable, but no one seemed truly distracted.
I walked ahead, keeping my usual pace. I wasn't thinking about what had happened in the way they might expect. For me, it had already been resolved the moment I finished speaking. There was no reason to carry something that no longer had weight.
Even so, the group didn't operate based only on what I thought.
When we reached the mansion, the silence continued for a few seconds after we crossed the gate. The familiar environment, the well-kept garden, and the solid structure of the place usually brought a sense of stability, but at that moment it felt more like a space waiting for a conclusion.
Lyannis was the first to break the silence, as expected.
"I still think you could have pushed more," she said, walking slowly through the garden. "They were clearly talking too much."
"It wasn't necessary," I replied, directly.
She gave a slight smile, tilting her head.
"You always choose the minimum necessary," she commented. "Interesting."
"It avoids useless problems."
"Or avoids fun," she replied, almost provocatively.
I didn't respond. There was nothing to add there.
We entered the mansion, and the sound of the door closing marked a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Liriel went to one of the windows, crossing her arms, still visibly irritated.
"They shouldn't have even opened their mouths," she said, not hiding her irritation. "People like that only understand when they feel real fear."
"They felt enough," I said.
"Do you think so?" she turned her face toward me. "That was too little."
"It was enough to silence them."
She didn't answer immediately. Her gaze still carried a trace of dissatisfaction, but it gradually faded. Not because she fully agreed, but because she knew I wouldn't change my position.
Elara sat in one of the nearby chairs, resting her arm on the backrest.
"What matters is the result," she said calmly. "They backed off. And, it seems, without resistance."
"Because they're weak," Liriel muttered.
"Or because they didn't want a bigger problem," Elara added.
Vespera, leaning against the wall, simply observed.
"The whole hall saw it," she commented. "This will spread quickly."
"It probably already is," Lyannis said.
Scarlett remained silent longer than the others. When she finally spoke, her voice was more controlled, but there was something behind it.
"That's not the only thing that worries me."
I looked at her.
"What then?"
She hesitated for a moment before answering.
"The way you're being seen," she said. "This started as comments… but it can become something bigger. Reputation matters, especially here."
"The reputation of people who talk behind backs doesn't interest me."
"But it influences others," she replied firmly. "Not everyone will come up to you like they did. Some will just hear and believe."
I stayed silent for a moment, analyzing what she said. Not because I didn't understand, but because I was evaluating how much it actually mattered.
"Those who believe without seeing don't matter," I replied.
Scarlett frowned slightly.
"It matters when it affects bigger decisions," she insisted. "Missions, alliances, trust… this doesn't stay just as guild talk."
Rai'kanna, who had been farther away until then, took a few steps forward.
"She has a point," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Image is also power. Completely ignoring it can cost later."
Lyannis crossed her arms, leaning slightly.
"Or it filters who's worth something and who isn't," she countered. "I prefer it that way."
"It's not always that simple," Rai'kanna replied.
The room fell silent for a few seconds. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but one filled with reflection.
I observed each of them for a moment. There was no doubt that all of them were involved in this in some way. It wasn't just about me. It was about the group.
"If someone is going to judge without understanding," I said, breaking the silence, "that already says enough about that person."
Scarlett still didn't seem completely convinced, but she didn't insist right away.
"I just don't want this to become a bigger problem for you," she said finally.
"It won't."
"You can't be sure."
"I can deal with it if it happens."
She looked at me for a moment, as if trying to measure how much of that answer was confidence and how much was simply indifference.
"You always treat everything like this," she said, more quietly. "As if nothing can really affect you."
"Because most things can't."
This time, she didn't respond. She just looked away for a moment, thoughtful.
Liriel sighed, uncrossing her arms.
"Either way, it's done," she said. "If they talk again, we'll deal with it."
"It doesn't need to get to that," I said.
"I know," she replied, but her tone made it clear she wouldn't hesitate.
Elara stood up from the chair, stretching her shoulders slightly.
"This ended up strengthening more than weakening," she commented. "Now they know they can't speak freely."
"For now," Vespera added.
"Long enough," Lyannis said.
Rai'kanna looked at me once more.
"And you?" she asked. "You really don't care about any of this?"
I thought for a moment before answering. Not because of the question itself, but because of the way it was asked.
"Empty opinions don't change anything," I said. "What matters is what we build. And that doesn't depend on them."
She nodded slowly, as if accepting the answer.
The atmosphere began to settle little by little. The tension from the guild was no longer there in the same way. The matter had been discussed, analyzed, and was now being left behind.
Scarlett remained a bit quieter than usual, but she no longer seemed as worried as before. Liriel had relaxed, although she still carried a trace of irritation. Lyannis seemed almost satisfied with the situation. Elara and Vespera returned to their usual observant state. Rai'kanna maintained a balanced posture, as if she had found a neutral point.
I looked around for a moment.
The mansion was silent again, but now it was a different kind of silence. More stable. More solid.
That… was what truly mattered.
Without saying anything else, I started to walk deeper into the house. The matter had already served its purpose. There was no reason to prolong something that had already been resolved.
And, deep down, everyone knew it.
Whatever came from outside could try to interfere… but it wasn't strong enough to break what had already been built.