[I felt it too, Luquier. Your specter's presence was definitely noticeable during those last few moments.]

I blinked, unable to form words as I struggled to process what she had just said. Celine's eyes were fixed on me, a look of concern etched into her features. She seemed to sense my confusion and disbelief, and her expression softened.

"While it was alarming, you were still able to hold back that nasty influence," Celine continued, studying my reaction. "I'm glad you were able to keep control, at least for now."

"So that's what you meant by suppressing my death aura or whatever," I mumbled, gathering my Soultaker from off the ground and putting it back in my Inventory. "But it didn't feel like something else was taking control of me."

[Well, like I said, that might be because your specter is you.]

"The best way I can attempt to explain it is to think of it in terms of impulsive thoughts versus restraint," Celine offered. "Your specter is like a wild animal that's been caged, but the cage is still open. It's constantly trying to break free and escape, but you're able to keep it in check. When you're under stress or your emotions run high, that's when the cage becomes more fragile and the animal has a better chance of getting out."

[Or that. Yeah, let's go with that.]

"Seems like you know a lot about this." I glanced at Gigi and Aurora, who were still in a heated discussion.

"Unfortunately. It's a given, considering my Title heavily deals with resurrection, after all," Celine gave a thin smile. "I've had many encounters with my own specter in the past year."

"You've died that often?" I frowned. "That must've been tough."

"Says the man who's gone through enough lives to make an army," Celine countered with a wry smile. "I haven't died that much. Just enough to grasp the forces behind it. My Title's power has given me a unique perspective on life. I've seen things and experienced things that most people will never even dream of."

"So, are you two ready to hear the results of your interview?" Gigi interrupted us, my sister sulking behind her. "I'm sure you're excited to find out, huh?"

Celine and I shared a nervous glance.

"Aurora, if you'll do the honors," Gigi stepped aside to let my sister come forth.

"I really hate you," Aurora muttered to her before she glanced at Celine and I. "Anyways, congratulations to you both. We've decided to extend an invitation for you guys to join the Enigma organization."

"What was that?" I asked, stepping closer to my sister and leaning towards her. "Couldn't hear you with all that mumbling."

"I said you're invited to join Enigma," she repeated, her tone still dripping with annoyance. "You two have the option to accept or decline. That's all."

"Cool." I flashed a grin at Celine, holding out my fist towards her. "We did it."

Celine looked mildly surprised at first, then after a moment, she hesitantly bumped her fist against mine. "So it seems."

"Sounds like you two are already on board," Gigi smiled at us as my sister walked away grumbling. "We can initiate you two tomorrow. We'll have to gather at least 3 other members to officiate the induction." She paused.

"I know Celine's reason for joining is for personal reasons unrelated to her sister, but what about you, Luquier? Don't tell me it's because of Aurora."

"No," I scowled immediately, catching my sister's head twisting back towards us. "I didn't even know she was a part of Enigma, much less a Player. No, I'm wanting to join to clear dungeon resonances."

"Oh?" Aurora scampered over to butt in. "My little brother thinks he can take on dungeon resonances?"

"It's not that I think I can do it," I muttered, shooting her a glare. "It's that I know I can."

"Yeah? Just because you thought you beat me in training?" Aurora laughed. "That doesn't mean anything. You're still just a newbie."

"Huh? You want me to beat you again?" I could feel my blood begin to boil as I stepped closer to her.

"Try it," Aurora's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, as if she welcomed the challenge. "I was holding back since I haven't seen you in so long."

"I thought you said you wouldn't go easy against me."

"Guys, guys!" Gigi sounded exasperated, stepping in between Aurora and I. "I don't know what kind of bad blood you siblings have against each other, but we have more important things to do. Like training and clearing dungeons. Now, if you both insist on settling this, do it after the induction ceremony. We don't need any more distractions."

"I don't have any bad blood with Lu," Aurora said, looking a little surprised. She glanced at me, a hint of hurt in her expression. "I don't even know why you're acting like this toward your older sister that you haven't seen in forever."

"Are you fucking with me?" I snapped back, bewildered by her nonchalance. "It's because I haven't seen you in forever that I resent you. Do you not remember why you left me and our parents all those years ago?"

My sister stiffened, giving me a silent stare. I had a feeling that I brought up something she wanted to forget.

"I did what I had to do, Lu," Aurora replied coldly. "And I'm sorry that it hurt you. But I had to focus on my own life. I couldn't keep taking care of everyone else."

[...]

Gigi and Celine seemed uncomfortable as they watched us argue. I glared at my sister for a long time before I sighed and shook my head.

"Whatever. I don't care anymore." I turned away from Aurora, shoulders slumping. The truth was, I did care. I cared a lot more than I let on. But I didn't want to show it.

"Well, uh, we'll contact you two with more information about the induction ceremony later today. You're free to go," Gigi said awkwardly, glancing between Aurora and I.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Come on, Celine," I muttered, not quite meeting her eyes. "Let's go."

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Celine had denied my offer to fly her back to her place, partly because she wasn't too fond of it and mostly because she could sense the terrible mood I was in. I decided to call Tommy up to see if he was free to hang. Unfortunately, he stated that he was spending time with Sarah for the rest of today. That soured my mood even more.

With no one else to turn to, I returned to the PC cafe, where I mindlessly scrolled through a catalog of games, looking for something to play. It was hard to get rid of the thoughts that were racing through my mind. The fact that my sister was a Player and a member of Enigma was something I never expected, nor the fact that she was definitely much stronger than I was. At least, for now.

It didn’t help that Aurora acted as if nothing happened in the past, being her usual, annoying self. As if she expected me to just forget that her abandonment didn’t cause rifts in our family.

[Player?]

I kept scrolling through the PC's library, not really paying attention to what was on the screen.

[I won't pry into your private life, but I just wanted to ask if you were okay :c Do you need anything from me?]

I paused, glancing at Sephera's message silently. I leaned back in the chair and let out a long sigh. "I'm fine, I just... didn't expect to see my sister again."

Sephera didn't send another message, as if wanting me to get everything off my chest first. Honestly, I didn't want to talk about it.

"Anyway, I'll be okay once I start to dive into these dungeon resonances," I continued, opening up my Status Window. "Maybe I'll go grind in the tower, see if I can hit the 28th floor. Or check out the guilds on the 20th floor Safe Zone. Haven't done that yet."

[Oh yeah, your quest said something about that. Are you deciding to join one?]

"I'm not sure yet," I admitted. "I don't know anything about the guilds, so this would be the perfect time to go check them out."

[Maybe you could find one where they need a masochistic tank.]

I rolled my eyes at Sephera's message, feeling a stab of guilt for the way I snapped at her earlier. My Admin seemed to be quick at forgiveness, and it only made me feel worse. I couldn't muster up the courage to apologize.

"One way to find out," I said, standing up. My phone began to ring, causing me to glance at the caller. I raised an eyebrow, picking up, "Hello?"

"Luquier? Do you have a moment?" Tessa's voice came from the other side.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"The gold from the monster cores just came in. I wanted to let you know I've made an account for you already and deposited it there. I'll send your access information later. When I get the estimate back for the value of the Grudge core, I’ll also send that to you."

"Oh, okay," I said, feeling a bit surprised. "Thanks, Tessa. That's really thoughtful of you."

"Don't mention it. The GPA does this for all Players who return from the towers."

I hesitated for a moment as a thought came to me. "Er, do you have time to meet up with me?"

"Huh?" Tessa sounded surprised. "I guess, why? You wanna take me out on a date?"

"What- no!" I stammered, caught off-guard by her joke. "I was just seeking advice on guilds."

"Oh, of course!" Tessa seemed excited. "Come by my office in 20. I'll tell you all about my guild!"

"Wait, I wanted to learn more about all the other ones too–" I heard the line disconnect before I could even finish my sentence. Oh well. I'd just have to get Tessa's opinion on everything and piece the rest together from there.

----------------------------------------

Using Grim Mantle, I flew over to the GPA in a couple of minutes. Damn, this skill was pretty nice, and I could use it pretty often since my Speed stat was so high at this point.

I entered, heading directly to Tessa's office and knocking on her door.

"Come in," she called out. Entering, I saw that Tessa was sitting behind her desk, her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. She smiled at me as I walked in.

"So, you wanted to learn about guilds," she said, motioning for me to take a seat. I sat down in front of her desk, feeling a bit nervous. "There's really not much else to talk about, but I can give you a quick rundown. Would you like to drink?" Tessa gestured toward the bottle on her desk.

"It's... not even lunchtime yet," I said with a smile, shaking my head. "Thanks for the offer, though."

"Suit yourself," Tessa shrugged, pouring a glass for herself. This woman was the chairman of this branch's GPA.

"Anyway," Tessa began, sipping her drink. "I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of guilds from video games, correct?"

I nodded. "Are you gonna say they work pretty much the same in real life?"

"Indeed," she smiled, her eyes glowing with excitement. "However, they've become a bit tailored to the modern world. With all these towers and dungeon breaks, guilds have become a necessary staple for Players. They provide them with housing, income, health insurance... basically everything you'd find in a corporation. High risk of death aside, guilds are also a great place to meet people and make friends."

"So, what guild are you a part of?"

"I'm in a fairly large guild called Moonshine. It's mostly a social guild, but we have a pretty good group of Players who are skilled in various classes, so we're able to clear most floors in the towers. As for housing, we have a pretty nice keep with multiple wings and a well-stocked armory. We also have a training ground and a bar."

"A bar?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. That explained a lot about Tessa.

"Yes, well, Moonshine, while not one of the top guilds in the world, is still a very good place for those with nowhere to go. I take pride in being part of a family that's so closely knit and inviting. We have our own unique culture and traditions, and it's something I wouldn't trade for anything." Tessa paused, taking another sip of her drink before continuing. "Now, I understand that you're still adjusting, so I don't expect you to make a decision right this moment. But if you ever find yourself in need of a guild, or if you just want to chat or get to know us better, feel free to stop by. We're always looking for good people to join our family."

"I'll think about it," I smiled awkwardly. "What I want to know is, how would one go about joining a guild?"

Tessa sighed, placing her drink down. "I was hoping you'd be more enthusiastic about joining my guild, but I suppose a Player of your caliber would want a higher ranking guild. Well, to begin, many of the top guilds have different requirements and qualifications before you can even think of applying."

"I managed to get into Enigma," I interrupted. "Would that count for something?"

Tessa looked taken aback. "Actually, yeah. Enigma is an organization made of the top Players after all, so that would definitely help in bolstering your resume. Congrats, by the way."

"Thanks. So, do I just go to one of the guilds and start with that? Where can I find them, anyway? I heard there were a bunch of good ones recruiting on the 20th floor Safe Zone."

"Well, it's true that most of the good guilds recruit on the 20th floor, at least, until the world manages to break into the 30th floor. But nearly all of the top 10 guilds don't have a recruitment booth on the Safe Zones. Instead, they scout talent on the floors themselves."

"Is that right?" I murmured. "So, I'd have to at least make it to the 28th floor for them to take note of me?"

"Are you... planning to solo your way there?" Tessa asked nervously. "Players who get recruited in those top guilds are usually in a strong party, and almost all of those party members get selected. Oftentimes, they get accepted into different guilds, but that's just how it is."

"That sounds like it would cause some problems between people who are close with each other. Partying up with strangers also doesn't seem like a better choice," I made a face. "I didn't realize joining a guild would be this complicated."

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Tessa reassured me. "You just have to work hard."

"That's fine by me," I grinned, standing up. "Thanks, Tessa. I appreciate the info."

"What, that's it?"

I paused. "Er, yeah...?"

Tessa frowned. "So, you're not going to grab lunch with me?"

"I didn't- I wasn't aware that you wanted–"

"I told you, I'm invested in your growth and am personally keeping an eye on you." Tessa winked at me. "That being said, come grab lunch with me. My treat."