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CHAPTER 4

“They’re just rotten fruits, and it’s rude for us to display all of that for our mighty, hard-working guild,” Kyren said with a calm demeanor, despite the clear tension in the air.

Hiro, standing behind him, was utterly baffled. "What’s he talking about?" Hiro thought, his heart pounding in his chest. "The crate had fresh fruits… he saw me hide them." He exchanged a glance with Cora, both of them knowing that the knights wouldn’t fall for such an obvious lie.

The lead knight sneered, clearly unimpressed by Kyren’s explanation. “You think I’m stupid?” he growled, shoving Kyren hard to the ground. Kyren hit the dirt with a thud as the knight unsheathed his sword in one swift motion and slashed open the crate. The wooden splinters flew, revealing the contents inside.

Hiro’s heart stopped. He was sure the crate would reveal the fresh fruits they had just hidden. But instead, as the crate broke open, the smell of decay wafted into the air. The once-hidden pile of rotten fruits spilled out onto the cobblestones.

“What…?” Hiro muttered under his breath, completely bewildered. "How is that possible?" His mind raced—he was certain those were the fresh fruits. But now, staring at the mess of overripe and spoiled produce, his confusion deepened. Kyren must have switched them somehow. But when? How?

Cora gasped, clutching her apron as she stepped back in shock. She hadn’t expected this turn of events either.

The knight, who had been ready to accuse them of hiding goods, faltered as he stared at the rotten fruits, his face twisting in disgust. “You think this is funny?” he barked, glancing back at his fellow knights. But one of the other knights stepped forward, eyeing Kyren with suspicion.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you here,” the knight said, his voice rough. “Are you a recruit?”

Kyren, still on the ground, met the knight’s gaze with a calm nod. “Yeah,” he replied, standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants, acting as if the situation hadn’t rattled him. “Just trying to help out.”

The knight who had slashed the crate grumbled something under his breath, then reached into his pouch. With a flick of his hand, he tossed a small handful of silver coins at Kyren’s feet. “Here,” he said, his voice begrudging, “for the crate I destroyed.”

Kyren bent down to collect the coins, nodding in thanks, though his mind was still racing. The knights turned, mounting their horses without another word. The rest of the group began to march out of the town, the air of tension finally dissipating as they left.

“Kid, are you alright?” Cora asked, rushing over to Kyren as soon as the knights were out of sight. Her voice wavered with concern.

Hiro was at a loss for words, his eyes still fixed on the rotten fruits spilled on the ground. “What just happened?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “Those were fresh fruits. I know they were. How…?”

Kyren wiped his forehead, still catching his breath from the intense encounter. “I switched them,” he said quietly, but with a satisfied look. “When I saw the knights coming, I swapped the fresh fruits with the rotten ones in the back.”

Hiro’s confusion only deepened. “But when? I was right there! I didn’t see you do it.”

Kyren gave a small shrug. “I guess I got lucky. I knew they’d never believe us if we tried to pass off all rotten fruit, so I left some fresh ones out and hid the rest. They just happened to slash the crate with the rotten ones.”

Hiro stared at him, still processing the quick thinking and sly execution. “You’re something else, Kyren,” he finally said, shaking his head, half in awe, half in disbelief.

Cora, who had been watching the whole scene, let out a sigh of relief but still looked worried. “But you didn’t need to take that risk,” she said softly. “Next time, they might hurt you for standing up to them.”

Kyren nodded. “Yeah.”

After the market calmed down, Cora insisted that Kyren and Hiro take a break. The stalls were quieter now, and the weight of the morning’s events had left everyone in need of rest.

Kyren and Hiro found a quiet spot at the park to eat their lunch, a small children’s swing with patch of grass overlooking the bustling market square. As they sat down, Kyren wasted no time, diving straight into the question that had been on his mind.

“Why do the townspeople just let those knights take their goods?” Kyren asked bluntly, his eyes fixed on Hiro.

Hiro paused, taking a bite of his sandwich, clearly trying to think of how to explain the complicated situation. “Well, it’s not exactly what it looks like,” Hiro began, trying to find the optimistic angle, though even he couldn’t deny the harsh reality of what was happening. “There’s a long history here.”

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Kyren remained quiet, waiting for more of an explanation, his direct gaze urging Hiro to continue.

“Years ago, this town was in real danger,” Hiro said, wiping his hands on his pants. “We were under constant threat—raiders, invaders… you name it. Then, one day, a group of knights from a guild arrived. They defended us when no one else would. They fought for this town, saved it from total destruction.”

Hiro smiled a little, remembering what he had heard from the older townspeople. “After that, the townspeople felt they owed everything to that guild. So, the agreement became that whenever the knights from the guild visited, they could take what they wanted—food, supplies, anything. No one complained back then because, well, they saved us.”

Kyren’s brow furrowed. “So they’re just allowed to take whatever they want, whenever they want?”

Hiro nodded, though his smile faded slightly. “Yeah, that’s how it’s been for years. It’s kind of a way for the town to show their gratitude. But…” Hiro hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with what came next. “The problem started when the guild expanded.”

Kyren’s face remained serious, waiting for Hiro to continue.

“You see, some of the new recruits… they aren’t like the original knights,” Hiro said with a sigh. “The ones who saved the town don’t even come anymore. It’s just these new guys—recruits who’ve started taking advantage of the old agreement. They come by regularly and take way more than they need. And no one really stops them.”

Kyren’s expression darkened as he listened. “The new recruits…. using the guild’s name to get free food….”

“Yeah,” Hiro admitted, though he tried to put a positive spin on it. “But the guild did help us, and maybe the recruits are just… you know, trying to follow the tradition.”

Kyren, shook his head. “That’s not tradition, Hiro. That’s abuse.”

Hiro frowned, realizing he couldn’t sugarcoat this. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” he said, his voice softening. “But what can we do? The townspeople don’t fight back because they still remember the good that guild did. I mean, it’s complicated, right? They feel like they owe them.”

Kyren gazed into the distance, his thoughts churning over the situation. “So now the town's trapped in a cycle from something that happened years ago, and these new recruits are exploiting that loyalty... It's like something out of a twisted tale.”

Hiro nodded, feeling the weight of Kyren’s words. “Yeah… it’s sad, honestly. But I guess that’s the reality. Not all guilds are like that, though! Some are good, and they help without expecting anything in return.”

Kyren didn’t respond immediately, but it was clear he wasn’t satisfied with the explanation. The injustice of it all gnawed at him. After a moment of silence, he stood up and stretched.

Kyren didn’t respond immediately, but the dissatisfaction with Hiro’s explanation was written on his face. The unfairness of the situation gnawed at him, but after a moment, he let out a sigh and stood up, stretching.

“Anyway, Hiro,” Kyren said, shifting the conversation, “mind if I ask what your purpose is? Or I mean your dream? Do you really see yourself staying here, letting this be your fate until the end?”

Hiro’s eyes lit up instantly, his energy returning as if Kyren had struck a chord. He sat up straighter, excitement evident in his voice. “Ah, my dream! Well, that’s easy. I want to join the Sacred Selection Guild.”

Kyren’s eyebrow arched with interest. “Sacred Selection Guild? What’s that?”

Hiro’s face brightened even more as he leaned forward. “The Sacred Selection Guild is legendary, Kyren! It’s the top guild in the entire land—maybe even beyond. They’re made up of the best warriors and magicians, with skills that most people can’t even imagine.”

“Magicians?” Kyren thought, the idea sparking a flurry of questions in his mind. So there’s a magic system here too? He nodded, urging Hiro to continue.

Hiro gestured with enthusiasm, his hands moving as if trying to capture the vastness of his dream. “Yeah! It’s more than just a guild; it’s like the pinnacle of honor and skill. They defend against the most dangerous threats in our world, things that most ordinary people wouldn’t even know about. To be part of them… well, that’s the ultimate dream. You have to be the best of the best. You have to train, prove yourself through exceptional deeds, and show that you understand the deep mysteries of the world.”

Kyren listened carefully, admiring Hiro’s determination. There was something infectious about his passion. “And the members of this guild,” Kyren asked, “why are they so strong? What makes them different from the rest?”

Hiro scratched his head, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “Well… from what I’ve heard, a lot of it has to do with the artifacts they use. You know, weapons and tools passed down through generations. But I’m not totally sure about all the details.” He shrugged, still smiling. “I’ve seen them in action at the Triumph Tournament a few times. They’re amazing. I think they’re just born stronger, or maybe they train harder than anyone else.”

Kyren raised an eyebrow, catching the slight uncertainty in Hiro’s tone. “Artifacts, huh? Sounds like you’re not completely sure about all this.”

“Well,” Hiro laughed, a bit sheepishly, “most of what I know comes from watching the tournaments and hearing stories around town. There’s a lot of speculation, you know? People love to talk about the guild, but not everything is clear. What I do know for sure is that they’re respected everywhere. They protect the balance of the world.”

Kyren leaned back, processing everything. Hiro’s dream was big—bigger than anything Kyren had expected. “And you think you can join them?”

Hiro’s smile didn’t falter. “I have to try, right? It’s what I want more than anything. And I believe that if I work hard enough, I can make it happen.”

Kyren couldn’t help but admire his friend’s optimism and drive. Despite everything Hiro had just told him about the corruption of the local guilds, his dream remained untouched by doubt. “That’s quite the goal, Hiro. I hope you make it.”

Hiro stood up, stretching his arms above his head. “Thanks, Kyren! But it’s getting darker. We should head home before we lose the light. If you’re really interested, I can tell you more about the Sacred Selection Guild on the way.”

Kyren nodded, standing up as well. “Of course, I’m in.”