A name for the guild

As the night stretched on and the food dwindled, the debate over their guild name continued.

"The Phantom Strikers?" Kajala suggested.

"No," Rei and Eryan said at the same time.

"The Shadow Fangs," Rika tried.

"Too edgy," Kajala replied.

Regulus crossed his arms. "Hmph. I still think The Golden Kings had a certain royal flair."

Rika rolled her eyes. "We're not calling ourselves The Golden Anything."

Rei sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Maybe we're overthinking it. A guild name should feel natural, not forced."

Kajala snapped his fingers. "That's it! Something natural!"

The others turned to him.

He grinned. "We all come from different places, but we ended up here, forming a guild together. Like… like threads weaving into a single rope."

Eryan blinked. "You're saying we should be called… The Rope?"

Kajala flushed. "No! I meant—uh—something like… The Bound Fate?"

Rei frowned. "That sounds like a tragic novel."

Regulus gasped. "Bound Fate… A name that suggests destiny itself has united us! A tale of heroes, written in the stars!" He slammed a fist on the table. "I approve!"

Rika tapped her fingers against the wooden table, considering it. "…It does sound kinda cool."

Eryan gave a small nod. "It's acceptable."

Rei sighed. "I guess we're going with Bound Fate, then."

Kajala beamed. "Then it's settled!" He held out a hand. "From this day forward, we are officially a guild."

The others hesitated for only a second before stacking their hands on top of his. Even Rei, despite himself, joined in.

As their hands rested together, there was a quiet moment of realization. This wasn't just a random gathering of knights-in-training anymore.

They were a team.

A guild

Bound Fate.

Rika grinned. "Well then, Bound Fate, when are we checking out that dungeon?"

Rei groaned. He really should have seen that coming.

The others just laughed as the night carried on.

After their hands broke apart, the group sat in silence for a moment, letting the weight of it sink in. They were officially a guild now. 

"Well," Rika finally said, stretching her arms behind her head, "this has been fun, but I'm heading out. Gotta find a place to crash."

Regulus placed a hand on his chest. "Ah, yes! A good night's rest is crucial for a warrior of my stature."

Eryan simply nodded and stood up, adjusting her cloak. "Tomorrow, then."

One by one, they went their separate ways, disappearing into the lively streets of the village. That left Rei and Kajala, both still sitting at the table, staring at the last remnants of their food.

Kajala stretched with a yawn. "Guess we should go tell the academy we formed a guild, huh?"

Rei sighed. "Yeah… no use putting it off."

The two of them stood up and made their way through the bustling streets, the lantern-lit roads guiding them back toward the academy. The stone building loomed in the distance, its towers and training halls glowing faintly under the night sky.

As they entered, the halls were quieter than usual, most students having retired for the night. Only a few knights-in-training lingered, sharpening weapons or reading through old scrolls.

They stopped in front of a wooden door labeled Guild Registry Office. Kajala grinned and knocked before pushing it open.

Inside, an older knight sat at a desk cluttered with papers, a single candle lighting his face. He looked up, raising an eyebrow. "You two need something?"

Kajala nodded. "Yeah! We just formed a guild."

The knight set his quill down. "Name?"

Kajala puffed out his chest. "Bound Fate."

The knight blinked. "Dramatic." He grabbed a form and started writing. "Alright. Members?"

Kajala listed them off one by one, while Rei stood quietly beside him, shifting uncomfortably. Something about making this official felt… strange.

The knight finished writing and stamped the form. "Alright, you're registered. You'll get missions through the guild board now. Try not to die."

Rei frowned. "That's it?"

The knight shrugged. "What, you expecting a ceremony? Streamers? A fancy speech?"

Kajala laughed. "I would have liked streamers."

The knight rolled his eyes and waved them off. "Go on, get out of here."

Kajala grinned and clapped Rei on the back. "See? That wasn't so bad."

Rei sighed, but he had to admit—things were finally moving forward.

Tomorrow, their guild's real journey would begin.