The Titan Guild representative recovered first, her professional composure snapping back into place even though her eyes still showed confusion. "You're making a mistake. Independent hunters have limited access to resources, no backup in dangerous situations, no support infrastructure for—"
"I don't need backup," Aiden said flatly, cutting her off mid-sentence.
Another representative tried, this one a middle-aged man wearing the emblem of a guild Aiden didn't recognise. His tone was more diplomatic, trying to sound reasonable rather than pushy. "Think about your future. The war is coming in less than three days. Having a guild behind you means protection, resources, experienced hunters watching your back when things go wrong. Being independent during an invasion is—"
"I said no."
The man's mouth snapped shut.
