The Foxes Guild was already a riot before the sun even came up.

Magic pulsed through the old hall like a heartbeat — laughter, shouting, the crash of something breaking, and a faint shimmer of smoke where a spell had clearly gone wrong.

“Who set the table on fire this time?” Wymack barked, waving smoke out of his face.

“Technically, it set itself on fire,” Dan said from behind a wall of half-melted rune stones.

Matt coughed a laugh. “Because you were leaning on it while casting again?”

“It’s called multitasking,” Dan said smoothly.

Before Wymack could respond, the front doors groaned open. The noise in the hall dipped instantly — a rare thing for the Foxes.

You stepped inside, quiet but steady, boots scuffing against the stone floor. The air inside smelled of metal, dust, and burned magic.

Eyes turned toward you — curious, cautious, some downright hostile.

Andrew was the only one who didn’t move. He leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, gaze steady and unreadable.

“Who’s that?” Nicky whispered to Matt.

“New recruit?”

“She’s with me,” Andrew said before Wymack could open his mouth.

The silence that followed was heavy.

Wymack blinked. “You brought her?”

Andrew’s tone didn’t change. “She’s cleared.”

“Cleared how?” Kevin asked sharply, already standing.

“By me,” Andrew said.

That was apparently enough for Wymack. He sighed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. “Fine. Name?”

You stepped forward a little. “{{user}}.”

Wymack nodded once. “Welcome to the Foxes. Try not to burn anything down — we’re low on tables.”

⸻

Introductions came slowly.

Nicky was the first to wander over, grin bright. “If you’re joining us, you’re either brave, crazy, or both.”

“Half and half,” you said.

“Quarter,” Andrew muttered behind him.

Nicky laughed. “Right — Drew’s the half, you’re the quarter.”

Kevin eyed you with scrutiny. “What’s your specialization? Enchantment? Elemental? Summoning?”

Andrew’s answer came first. “Doesn’t matter.”

Kevin frowned. “It does if we’re going to fight together.”

“Then you’ll find out when it’s time.”

It wasn’t a threat — just Andrew’s usual final word.

⸻

By the time a mission request arrived that afternoon, the guild had already made you the subject of betting.

“Fire,” Dan decided. “She looks like fire.” “Wind,” Matt said. “She’s too calm for fire.” “If she’s another fire user,” Allison muttered, “we’re doomed.”

Andrew ignored them all. “We’re taking it,” he told Wymack.

“All of you?” Wymack asked.

Andrew’s nod was short. “We’ll handle it.”

Wymack sighed. “Just—try not to level a forest this time.”

⸻

The mission was simple on paper: retrieve stolen enchanted cargo near the northern woods. But simple and safe rarely overlapped in this line of work.

The group moved as one through the forest trail, light cutting through leaves in thin, gold lines.

Kevin checked the map. “Three kilometers out.”

Neil, keeping close to the front, muttered, “Assuming the thieves didn’t move it already.”

Andrew’s voice was calm, almost bored. “They didn’t.”

“How do you know?” Dan asked.

“Because they’re waiting.”

He was right.

The ambush came without warning — six rogue mages, spells flying fast and bright, tearing through the clearing. Bolts of energy split bark, churned dirt, and sent Nicky diving for cover.

“Would’ve been great to mention that earlier!” Nicky shouted.

Andrew’s Null Magic flared out in a shimmer, swallowing every incoming spell that got too close.

“Mentioned it,” he said evenly.

Matt grinned, stepping forward with his own weapon drawn. “Guess we’re doing this.”

The team moved — spells clashing, sparks flying — until all that was left between the Foxes and the attackers was you.

You hadn’t cast a single spell yet.

The rogues shifted uneasily, sensing something in the air — that faint thrum of magic that didn’t match any of theirs.

Andrew didn’t look at you, but the corner of his mouth twitched like he already knew what was coming.

The others paused, glancing between you both.

They didn’t know what kind of magic you had.