Robert blinked, taking in the sight of the guildmaster's office. If the guildhall was organized chaos, this was just...chaos. Stacks of parchment threatened to form their own ecosystem on the desk. Lysandra followed his gaze and sighed, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Don't judge me," she said, only half-joking. "I'm starting to think 'Guildmaster' is just a fancy title for 'Chief Paper-Shuffler.'" Robert chuckled. "I've held a few titles like that myself. Now, about those concerns you have..." Lysandra hesitated, her gaze drifting towards the overflowing desk as if the answer lay buried somewhere within the mess. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, laced with a hint of weariness. "It's not just you, not specifically," she clarified, "It's the powerful in general, they have a tendency to view the rest of us as... pawns. Tools to be used and discarded. This town, this guild... we're small, we're vulnerable. I need to know you see us as more than that."

Robert sat in silence, the weight of Lysandra's words settling heavily upon him. After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice low and thick with emotion. "I won't lie to you," he began, "I am powerful. I could probably raze this town to the ground if I had the mind to. But I don't." He rose to his feet, a restless energy driving him to pace the confines of the cluttered office. "I've seen what those in power are capable of. I've witnessed the cruelty, the indifference... and I'll have no part of it." He stopped pacing, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "I had three children," he continued, his voice cracking slightly, "and a wife... a family I'll never see again. They're lost to me, forever. All I have left are their memories," he whispered, his gaze distant, lost in the pain of the past. "And I will not dishonor those memories."

Lysandra watched him, her initial apprehension softening into something akin to empathy as she witnessed the raw grief etched on his face. "What happened to them?" she asked gently, the question a hushed breath in the tense silence. Robert's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with a sudden, fierce intensity that quickly faded, leaving behind an echoing emptiness. "Nothing," he said, his voice flat, devoid of inflection. "What happened, happened to me. The System... it tore me away. I'm exiled, forbidden to return until long after they've faded to dust." A look of stunned horror washed over Lysandra's face. "You were given a mandatory quest?" she breathed, the words laced with disbelief. "One that forced you to abandon your family?" Robert's lips thinned into a grim line. He nodded slowly, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "In a manner of speaking, yes," he admitted, his gaze hardening. "Do you know what a Forerunner is?"

Lysandra considered his question, her brow furrowed in thought. "No," she admitted, "I've never heard that term before. Can you enlighten me?" A faint, humorless smile touched Robert's lips. "The System," he explained, "it's not a universal constant. It expands, reaching out, one universe at a time. When it arrives at a new one, a select individual from among the native life is chosen to receive it first. They are, in essence, a test subject. This allows the system to analyze the species, to ensure its... compatibility, to make sure that life can survive, adapt and progress. I was the one chosen." Lysandra listened intently, her initial apprehension giving way to a growing sense of unease as the implications of his words sank in. "But what does that mean?" she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper. "What did it do to you?"

Robert was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the cluttered office walls. Then, he began to speak, his voice a low monotone, as if reciting a well-rehearsed but deeply painful litany. He told her of the System's arrival, of the sudden, jarring changes it wrought upon him. He spoke of the dungeons, the monsters, the trials... He spoke of his family. He spared her no detail, recounting it all. When he finished, a heavy silence descended upon the room, broken only by the faint sounds of the bustling guildhall below. Minutes stretched on, each one an eternity. Finally, Lysandra stirred, her eyes filled with a profound sadness. "What happened to you," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "is perhaps the most tragic story I've ever heard. Robert, I am so deeply sorry."

Robert sat in silence a while longer, his gaze still distant, lost in the echoes of his past. Then, he took a deep breath, a subtle shift in his posture signaling a return to the present. "It's alright," he said, his voice regaining its earlier firmness. "I've made my peace with it. My family is safe, well cared for, and they have full lives ahead of them. Though I can't be there to witness their journey, I ensured they would have a good one." He paused, then met Lysandra's gaze directly. "So, about the guild," he said, a hint of eagerness in his tone. "How might I be of service, and how might the guild assist me in return?"

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Lysandra, still visibly moved by his story, took a moment to collect herself before responding. "Well," she began, her voice gaining strength, "we would be honored to have you among our ranks. But first, you should know what you're joining. This is the Oakhaven branch, but the guild is far greater. It spans the known world, with hundreds of branches and countless members." She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with conviction. "You may not know our history, but a few hundred years ago, the world teetered on the brink of annihilation. The Scourge, as it was called, nearly consumed everything. I won't burden you with the grim details now, but it was a darkness that touched every corner of the world, and we came perilously close to being extinguished."

She paused, drawing herself up straighter in her chair. "The guild was forged in the fires of that near-apocalypse. Its purpose: to ensure such a catastrophe never happens again. We are the shield that guards the realms of men, standing apart from kingdoms and empires. By ancient treaty, we are granted passage through any land, beholden to no king. But that freedom," she emphasized, her voice dropping to a near whisper, "comes with a heavy price. When the call comes, when the shadows gather, we stand against the encroaching darkness. We stand without question, and without fear, as the bulwark against the night."

Robert listened carefully before asking, "And who holds the reins of this guild?" Lysandra's smile held a hint of intrigue. "A perceptive question," she acknowledged. "The answer isn't straightforward. Here in Oakhaven, the guild is under my authority. But I answer to a senior guild master who resides in the capital. Above that master is the Council of Elders, who formally govern our order. However, the ultimate authority rests with the High Master. Little is truly known about him, but it's whispered that he possesses power unmatched in the world."

"Predictable," Robert commented. "The true power residing in the shadows. Very well, what's the process for joining, and what obligations would I be undertaking?" Lysandra's smile was efficient. "The process is simple: paperwork, a membership fee, and the awarding of your pin. Determining your appropriate Tier is the more complex issue." Robert gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I have no objections to beginning at the lowest level." A flicker of something unreadable crossed Lysandra's face. "I gather that's a reference to your previous life. If you're certain, that does streamline matters. As for your obligations, they would involve fulfilling assigned missions and responding to summons for aid. You would be stationed in Oakhaven and could be called upon to defend the city in times of crisis. However," she warned, her voice hardening slightly, "be aware that the treaty governing our order expressly forbids involvement in conflicts between kingdoms. Your duties would be restricted to repelling monster incursions and similar events. Now then, the application form..." She searched briefly, located the document, and offered it to him.

Robert finished the form and handed it over, along with the single silver coin for the fee. Lysandra accepted them with a nod and left the room, returning moments later with a simple copper pin, the numeral "1" etched into its surface. "This signifies your status as a Tier 1 member of the guild," she explained. "Officially, it limits the missions you can take, but I'm confident we can find ways to work within those guidelines. Now, about your student... at level 15, she's not eligible to join, and you'd need to be Tier 3 to sponsor her. However," she continued, a helpful glint in her eye, "there are two level 20 dungeons in the area. With a bit of support, I'm sure she can reach level 20 in no time. I'll have Elsie get you some maps and a guild guidebook. They should prove quite useful. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask either of us. And Robert," she added, her smile turning genuine, "thank you for joining. I have a feeling you'll be a valuable asset to the guild."

"Oh, and Robert," Lysandra added, her voice softening with a hint of sorrow, "I don't think it would be wise to share the details of your... situation with just anyone. But it's important to have someone to confide in. So, if you ever need an ear, come find me. We'll share a drink, and you can talk through whatever's on your mind." A genuine smile touched Robert's lips as he thanked her and took his leave.