New Guild Establishment

The sun bleeds red against the sky, barely visible through the thick clouds. Its dull glow reflects in Sam's large glasses as he strides forward, his posture steady despite the weight of the large sack slung over his back. The bag pulls him slightly to one side, but he doesn't falter.

Beside him, Roka moves with quiet unease. His new clothes, clean and well-fitted, don't quite belong to him yet. His fingers twitch near his sides, an old instinct, as if expecting to fend off a blow at any moment.

They approach a colossal stone wall, its uneven surface more like a mountain's edge than a man-made barrier. A wide, open gate looms ahead, flanked by two armored guards. Their polished spears catch the dying sunlight, sharp and unwavering.

Sam and Roka continue forward.

The spears flash up, barring their way in an instant.

"Not for you." one of the guards states.

The other guard shifts slightly, fingers tightening around his weapon. His eyes hold no kindness, only suspicion, the type that belongs to men accustomed to dealing with threats.

A silent moment stretches between them.

Sam doesn't flinch.

Roka does. His shoulders tense as his gaze flickers to the spears blocking their way.

Sam reaches into his pocket, fingers brushing against cool metal. In a swift motion, he tosses something toward the guard. The object spins midair, catching the crimson light of the morning sun, casting streaks of red across their faces. A small gold coin.

The guard snatches it with practiced ease.

"Not anymore." Sam states, his voice steady, unshakable.

A silent moment passes. Then, the spears lower.

They step forward, crossing the threshold.

The world beyond is different. Cleaner. Sharper. The filth and decay of the outer city vanish as if erased by an invisible hand. People walk with purpose, draped in fine robes adorned with gleaming jewelry. Others stride in polished armor, weapons hanging from their belts, reflecting the golden dawn.

The streets are wide and paved with smooth stone. The houses are tall, sturdy, and lavish, stand in stark contrast to the crumbling slums outside. Horse stables, larger and grander than many homes, shelter magnificent beasts with sleek coats and proud stances.

They pass a training field where archers loose arrows into distant targets, their bows singing with every shot. Wooden dummies, some shattered and splintered from relentless strikes, litter the grounds. Swords, spears, and exotic weapons line racks like instruments of artistry.

Roka glances around, his brows furrowing.

"What is this place?" he asks, voice hushed with awe.

This entire district belongs to the Guild Regulation Association," Sam explains. "The organization that oversees every guild."

Roka still doesn't understand why this part of the city is so different, why guilds hold such power. Sam notices his confusion.

"Everything here, every stone, every weapon, every opportunity costs a fortune. But today, we only need two things. First, to establish a guild."

"Just us?" Roka asks. "You can't do it alone?"

"No. A guild requires at least two members, the second one must be a trusted ally."

Sam glances at Roka through his tinted lenses, shifting his eyes without moving his head. Roka still looks uncertain.

"And the second thing?"

"An affinity analysis." Sam says.

Roka frowns, unsure.

"We need to know our affinity, though we can already rule out a few. I? Most likely, will not be warriors under the taunt branch, I don't have the physique for it. And you? Will not have something magic. Half-beasts almost never excel in magic."

***

Info: The affinity analysis from the Guild Regulation Association determines a person's strongest potential domain. Affinities are divided into physical types: Warrior, Ranger, Assassin and magical types: Elemental, Necromancer, Manipulator. Each category contains multiple branches. A full affinity analysis ranks all affinities of a person, the order is based on potential.

***

They reach the largest building Roka has ever seen. The entire structure is carved from pristine white marble, its towering walls gleaming under the sun. Above the entrance, engraved in massive, elegant letters, Guild Regulation Association, all in marble.

They begin climbing the stairs.

"But I have a feeling I already know my dominant affinity." Sam says.

At the top, they enter a vast reception hall. Behind a polished counter, a well-dressed receptionist greets them in a practiced, mechanical tone like someone who has repeated the same words a thousand times.

"Good morning, sir! Welcome to the Guild Regulation Association. We are pleased to assist you today! The Association offers the most secure way to store your..."

Sam slams a heavy bag onto the counter, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"I want to establish a guild." he states, his tone sharp, his words quick and precise.

A few large gold coins roll out of the bag, gleaming under the hall's bright lights.

"And an affinity analysis for both of us." he adds.

The woman freezes for a moment, caught off guard, not by the money, but by the speed and authority in Sam's voice.

"It costs 160 big gold coins." she says, regaining her composure.

"It's all there. Nothing more." Sam replies firmly.

She gives a slight nod.

"Take a seat. A superior will be with you shortly."

Sam and Roka move to a well-crafted waiting area, its furniture polished and elegant.

Roka frowns.

"I still don't get why being in a guild is so important."

Sam leans back slightly.

"The level of its members determines the guild's level. That level gives access to missions, without it, we can't take any. And more than that, we'll have access to the guild market. That's where we'll buy and sell goods. We need that in order to become stronger. It's mandatory."

Heavy footsteps approach, each step making the floor subtly tremble. A solid man in a sharp suit stops before them, his presence alone radiating strength.

"The name of the new guild?"

Sam doesn't hesitate. "Is Whispering Wing taken?"

"No."

"Then that's it."

They step into another room. An old man stands waiting, dressed in a flowing blue mage's robe. In his hands, he holds a large crystal, its core pulsating with a brilliant blue light.

Without warning, cracks spread across the crystal's surface. A sharp sound fills the air as it shatters into countless shards. The brightest fragment shoots forward, piercing Sam's chest before vanishing into his body. Another piece follows, embedding itself in Roka's chest.

A strange sensation washes over Roka, something he has never felt before. A sense of belonging. Not to a family, not to a village, but to something far greater than himself. His gaze shifts to Sam, and suddenly, he sees it, a large, glowing green sphere hovering over Sam's head. His breath catches in his throat.

"It's normal, Roka. I can see it too floating above you," Sam reassures him.

But Sam sees more. Before his eyes, a list materializes displaying the names of the guild's members. So far, there are only two.

Roka feels a sensation that he never felt before, a sensation of belonging, of belonging in something bigger then himself, he did not felt that with his family, or even his village.

He focuses on Samuntil he sees a big green sphere over his head. He is shocked.

"It's normal Roka, I can see it too over your head"

But Sam can see more, he can visualize the list in front of his eyes, a list with all the members witch are only two.

The solid man steps forward, his voice firm and authoritative.

"You are the guild master. You should be able to see the levels of all members. What are your levels?"

Sam focuses on the list before him. The names are there, clear as day, each accompanied by a number.

"My level is 7," he says. "Roka's is 4."

***

Info: The Unity Crystal of a guild can measure the power of all its members. The higher the number, the harder it is to increase. The scale ranges from 1 to 99. Level 99 marks the limit for human-like beings, anything beyond that is no longer considered human.

***

"We cannot conduct an affinity analysis on him yet. His level must be at least 5."

"We'll return later."

The solid man gestures toward a massive white sphere, nearly four meters wide. His voice is firm.

"Touch that," he orders Sam.

Sam is taken aback, his face betraying a flicker of fear for a moment. He hadn't noticed the sphere when he entered the room. It was either camouflaged or hidden by some kind of spell. He pushes aside his thoughts and reaches out to touch the sphere.

After a few moments, a woman steps forward from behind the sphere.

"You are a manipulator. Dominant branch: sensory."

Sam is surprised again.

"I believed my dominant branch was puppeteer."

"Well, it's not!" says the heavy man. "We'll figure it out once he's ready, but for now, we've done what we were paid for. I must ask you to leave."

They exit the building, and as they step out of the rich district, Sam catches a movement with the corner of his eye. He notices, in the reflection of his large glasses, that two people are following them.

"Roka, do not turn around. We are being followed. They are probably robbers. It is common for newly established guild members to be targeted."

"What do we do now? Fight?"

Roka's eyes sharpen, and his hair bristles like a beast preparing for battle.

"No. We will lead them to a Guild library, and I will take care of it."