The Guild of Celestis

Riven and Korin walked along a dirt road as they talked quietly about Zaren. "Can you believe this kid cleared an SS Rank Dungeon and a double Dungeon all by himself?" Riven said, shaking his head.

Korin frowned. "I don't believe it. This is something only a top hunter can do. We might even get in trouble with the Guild Master."

They walked until they reached the huge main gate of the guild. The building was grand and full of life. A large wooden board above the gate proudly read, "Celestis Guild." The building's walls were decorated with banners and carved stone figures that told stories of old battles.

At the gate, Zaren could not help but ask, "Riven, how many guilds are there in this kingdom?"

Riven smiled and replied, "There are three major guilds here. The King, King Alaric, created them long ago. Each guild must have a master who is at least SS Rank before they can form their own guild."

Zaren's eyes widened. "I have another question," he said softly. "If the Dungeon gates are normally closed, why do you break them and kill the monsters if they never come into our world?"

Riven answered, "We clear them because if the monsters grow strong, they might break the gate and come out. Then they can hurt us."

Zaren nodded slowly. "So, who is the current king here? And what is our kingdom called?"

Korin replied, "Our kingdom is called Elyria. King Alaric rules here. There have been other kings before him, but King Alaric is the one who made the rules for the guilds."

Zaren's mind raced as he listened. "How do hunters earn money here?" he asked.

Riven explained, "Hunters earn money by joining a raid team. A team usually has ten members. If the Dungeon's rank is too high for your own rank, the Guild will not let you clear it. But if you clear a higher-rank Dungeon, you must bring proof—like the heads of monsters—to get paid extra."

Zaren's eyes shone with curiosity. "Then, who is the Guild Master of this guild?" he asked eagerly.

Korin smiled. "Our Guild Master is Master Varric. He is very powerful. He has beaten many dangerous monsters and is known to be a top SS Rank hunter. In our guild, each major guild has one master. Besides Master Varric, there is also Captain Eldrin, the Vice Guild Master, who is equally skilled and known for his quick reflexes. There is one more master in the other guild, but today we only meet ours."

Zaren's heart pounded as he listened. "So if I want to create my own Guild ID someday, I must first join one of the guilds here?"

Riven nodded. "Yes, but since you cleared an SS Rank Dungeon by yourself, you are at a level similar to our Guild Master and the other masters. In fact, you have the strength of a top hunter. You can even form your own guild if you wish."

Zaren forced a small smile. "I… I cleared the Dungeon," he said quietly. He did not want to boast, but his heart filled with a mix of pride and fear.

Soon, the three of them reached the grand main building of the Celestis Guild. Inside, Zaren was shocked by the number of hunters. Some were busy at desks, others talked in small groups at the reception, and many new hunters were being recruited. Zaren could hardly believe how many people worked here.

Riven leaned close and said, "Come with me. We need to show you to the Guild Master."

Zaren nodded, and the three walked up a long stone staircase. As they climbed, Zaren's mind churned. "Do you think they will believe me?" he asked in a low voice.

Riven gave him a quick, reassuring smile. Though Riven knew Zaren had cleared a very high-rank Dungeon, he did not let it show. He merely said, "They will see your strength soon enough."

At the top of the stairs, they arrived at a heavy, carved wooden door. Riven knocked and then called, "May I come in, sir?"

Inside, the room was grand yet simple. Sitting at a long table was Master Varric, a tall man with sharp eyes and a calm presence. At his right sat Captain Eldrin, the Vice Guild Master. Both wore simple but strong armor, and their faces showed many years of battle and wisdom.

Master Varric looked up as Riven entered with Korin and Zaren. "Welcome," he said in a steady voice. "I have heard whispers of a new hunter who cleared a Dungeon of SS Rank—and a double Dungeon, no less, with three boss monsters."

Captain Eldrin's face grew stern. "Who else could do this?" he asked, his voice low and suspicious. "This is not something one can do without a team."

Riven spoke up quickly, "Sir, Zaren claims he cleared the Dungeon on his own. He has proof in the form of the monster heads."

The room fell silent. Master Varric leaned forward, studying Zaren carefully. "Show us," he commanded, "place your hand on the Valor Gauge."

The Valor Gauge was a small, magical device set on the table. It was made of dark metal with blue runes that glowed softly. "This device will measure a hunter's power," Eldrin explained. "It tells us your rank"

Zaren hesitated for a moment. His heart pounded in his ears, and he slowly placed his hand on the device. The runes pulsed and then glowed bright. After a few seconds, the gauge read "SS Rank."

There was a stunned silence in the room. Master Varric and Captain Eldrin exchanged glances. Then, as Zaren withdrew his hand, Master Varric noticed a deep blue aura surrounding him. "What is this?" he asked, surprised.

Before he could speak further, Captain Eldrin snapped, "This device might be broken. Do you have any other way to show your power?"

Riven quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, sir. We only have this device; the others are in repair."

Eldrin's eyes narrowed. "Then we shall settle it on the training ground. Zaren, I challenge you to a duel. Prove your strength in front of us all."

Zaren's voice was small at first. "I accept," he said quietly.

Captain Eldrin gave a sharp nod. "Before we begin, we need a healer on standby. Someone might get hurt badly. My rank is S, so I will be careful."

The duel was set. In the training ground outside the guild building, a crowd of hunters gathered. The ground was flat and marked for a fight. Zaren stood face-to-face with Captain Eldrin. The tension was high.

Eldrin spoke first, "Let us see if you truly are who you claim to be."

Zaren took a deep breath. "I will show you my strength," he replied.

The duel began. In a blur of quick moves, Eldrin swung his sword, but Zaren dodged with surprising speed. Their blows clashed as each tested the other. The crowd watched in awe. At one moment, Zaren's blue aura flared around him as he landed a solid punch. Eldrin staggered but did not fall.

Then, in a flash, Zaren activated his unique skill—Yellow Eye. His blue eyes shifted to a bright yellow, and his strength surged. With a mighty strike, he punched Eldrin on the head. The sound of the impact made the ground shake. For a moment, everything slowed as Eldrin fell to the ground, stunned.

The crowd gasped. Master Varric and the others exchanged shocked looks. Zaren, breathing hard, then spoke, "I am not here to harm you. I want to learn and become strong."

Captain Eldrin slowly recovered. He looked at Zaren with a mix of respect and lingering jealousy. "Very well," he said in a calmer voice. "You have proven your strength."

Master Varric finally spoke. "Zaren, you have cleared a Dungeon that few have even dared to face. Your power is great, However, the Guild must be sure that you are ready for the challenges ahead. Our hunters earn their living by fighting monsters in teams. To be a true hunter, you must learn teamwork, strategy, and control."

(Chapter 4 Fin)