Guild

Kali Luna sat at her desk in the small but high-tech office she and Jin had managed to secure for their work. The glow of multiple screens illuminated her face as she flipped through digital documents and analyzed spreadsheets. There were charts, potential recruits, blueprints, and logistical plans, all pulled up on her holographic displays. Despite her reluctance, Arthur's orders needed to be executed, and they couldn't afford any missteps.

Jin Ashbluff stood by the window, gazing at the bustling cityscape below, the neon lights of Avalon's central business district flickering in the distance. He sighed, crossing his arms as he looked back at the table covered in tablets and schematics. "I still can't believe we're actually doing this," he muttered, his voice a mixture of frustration and resignation. "Running a guild—Noctalis—from scratch. Why couldn't Arthur just pick something less... ambitious?"

Kali looked up from her displays, her expression flat. "He wants influence—enough to change the trajectory of the Slatemark Empire. That kind of power requires ambition." She tapped on a screen, causing a map of potential guild locations to pop up, marking the possible areas for establishing their first headquarters. "Besides, we're bound by the mana oath. We don't have a choice."

Jin rolled his eyes, walking over to the digital board where Kali had pinned some notes. He scanned the names of potential recruits they had compiled. "We've got quite the collection of rejects and underdogs here. Integration-rankers with a history of being shunned by the bigger guilds. People who've been screwed over by the existing power structures." He scrolled through the list with a flick of his fingers.

Kali gave a small nod. "That's why they're perfect. They've been overlooked, betrayed, or left behind by the system. People like that have something to prove, and they're willing to take risks to do it. We need individuals who aren't afraid to challenge the established order." She paused, then added, "And we need them to be loyal."

Jin let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging a bit as he picked up one of the tablets. "Rael Ashvine... Integration-ranker, exiled from his original guild for challenging a high-ranking noble. This guy might actually be desperate enough to join us."

Kali leaned back in her chair, her gaze thoughtful. "We need someone like him—someone strong enough to serve as a foundation for Noctalis. The sooner we get a core group of capable fighters, the sooner we can start making a name for ourselves."

Jin frowned, shaking his head. "You know, if my father gets wind of this... it won't end well. The Ashbluff family isn't exactly the type to support something that could threaten the balance of power. Especially if it involves me."

Kali raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Then we'll just have to make sure he doesn't find out until it's too late. We need discretion, Jin. No flashy announcements, no attracting attention. We'll build this guild from the shadows, brick by brick."

Jin grumbled something under his breath, but he nodded in agreement. "Fine. I know of a place—a warehouse in the industrial zone. It's not much, but it's out of the way. We can start there, set up a temporary headquarters until we have enough resources to establish something more permanent."

Kali's gaze flickered to the digital map, and she nodded. "That could work. We need to be careful—any sign of activity in the early stages could bring unwanted eyes. Once we gather enough recruits, we'll move on to building our real base."

Jin tapped at the tablet, making a note of the location. "And supplies? We're going to need a lot if we want to establish something that can stand against the twelve great guilds of the empire."

Kali sighed, "Arthur said he would deal with that, and we have quite a lot of personal funds no?"

Jin ran a hand through his hair, letting out a resigned sigh. "I hate this, you know. Running around setting up a guild instead of training and focusing on my own power and even having to use my personal funds... but I guess there's no avoiding it."

Kali shrugged, her gaze never leaving the screens. "It's not like either of us have a choice. Besides, if we succeed, we'll have more influence and power than we could ever hope for on our own. The question is—are you willing to take that risk?"

Jin was silent for a moment, then a grin slowly spread across his face. "If Arthur's willing to gamble everything, then so am I. Let's make Noctalis into something that will shake the very foundation of the Slatemark Empire."

Kali gave him a rare smile in return. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get to work."

"It's going to be hard to get someone above the Wall on our side, though," Jin commented, his expression turning serious. "Finding Integration-rankers isn't too tough for us, but getting someone who's reached Ascendant-rank? That's nearly impossible. Those are the real elites."

"I doubt Arthur expects us to make Noctalis powerful enough to rival the twelve great guilds right away," Kali said, shrugging. "But there's another complication—this guild has to be based in the Slatemark Empire. Won't that make things a bit tricky for you?"

"Not really," Jin scoffed. "Even if I have to avoid my family's eyes, I'm still the prince of the West. Setting up a guild within the Slatemark Empire is simple enough. As long as we play it smart, we can stay under the radar until we're ready to reveal ourselves."

Kali nodded thoughtfully, her fingers drumming against the table. "We'll have to make sure everything looks legitimate. We don't want anyone suspecting what we're up to until it's too late. Starting as a small group of mercenaries or freelancers would give us some cover, at least until we're ready to grow."

"Agreed. If we establish ourselves quietly, we can start taking on smaller contracts, building our name. Eventually, when we've got the resources and recruits, we'll expand," Jin said, his grin returning. "We'll become an undeniable force."

Kali looked back at her screens, her gaze narrowing in focus. "First things first, then—recruitment and resources. We need to start reaching out to the ones we've identified. I'll draft the messages and start making contact."

Jin nodded. "I'll handle the location. The warehouse will do for now, but we'll need to start thinking about a more permanent base soon. Somewhere that we can secure without drawing attention."

They shared a look, both knowing the path ahead was riddled with obstacles. Neither of them truly wanted to be doing this—playing the role of founders for a guild that Arthur envisioned—but they were bound, and they had a purpose. Even if it wasn't by choice, they'd make it work.