The hours flew by as the group continued helping out in The Chalice, motivated not just by their desire to aid Raphael but also their new, immediate goal: to make Lilithra a Guild leader. But even if they knew what their next step was, there were still some hurdles to overcome—something Ascalon was unaware of.
“So what does one need to create a Guild? I assume it is not as simple as it was in my world, where you simply agreed with your fellows to band together.” Ascalon asked as he cleaned one of the outdoor tables, taking advantage of the quieter time as customers dwindled past noon.
Lilithra let out a thoughtful ‘hmm’ as she approached him with a silver tray, carrying with her three different drinks. “Well, it’s a bit more complicated here…” She replied with a pensive expression, setting one of the beverages in front of Ascalon. At the same time, a sneaky hand emerged from behind, snatching one of the remaining glasses from the tray.
“Yeah, wish it was as simple as in your world.” Selorien chimed in, now standing at Lilithra’s side, sipping from his drink. Lilithra placed the tray down and mimicked him, gulping her own refreshment, while Ascalon nodded in acknowledgment and joined them. As they all sat around the table, Lilithra cleared her throat and proceeded to explain further.
“First of all, we need to go to headquarters.” She began, setting the now empty glass on the table. “Can you open your profile for a second?” Lilithra asked, her yellow eyes set on Ascalon. He nodded once more and did as told, materializing a blue screen in front of him.
“See the ‘locked’ symbol next to ‘network’? That’s where the ‘Guild’ interface should be… but it’s locked out for Guild-less like us.” Lilithra explained with a sad tone, frowning slightly. “Hmm… I see…” Ascalon muttered as he examined his profile. A curious notion flashed across his mind, so he decided to ask about it.
“But if it is part of the network system, why do we need to visit headquarters?” He questioned as he tilted his head, trying to understand why they would need someone from headquarters to deal with matters pertaining to the network. Lilithra shifted in her seat, crossing her arms.
“Well… for things like inviting someone to the network, you don’t need any special privileges… but it’s different for Guild creation, and some other things.” Lilithra replied, with Ascalon listening intently.
“Every city has their own ‘headquarters’, so to say, and specific people there have the ability to enable the Guild interface for you! I don’t know what qualifies someone for that but… yeah… they do it somehow.” She explained, though her choice of words made it clear that she wasn’t completely sure about the matter. Ascalon raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering just how that worked, when Selorien interjected.
“I wouldn’t think too much about it… the network is hella strange, and powerful.” The elf started, scratching the back of his head. “I didn’t tell you then, but back in the dungeon—when I received the advanced class notification—time seemed to stop around me.” He explained with a doubtful expression, while Lilithra gasped in awe and Ascalon leaned in with curiosity.
That was a surprising reveal! The network had that much hold over the world? Over reality? Ascalon had no experience regarding ‘time stops’—not even the most powerful wizards back in Excadia had ever wielded such an insane amount of power.
“I don’t know if it was just me, or if time actually slowed down for everyone… but I can assure you that we’d be here all day if we tried to figure out how it damn works.” Selorien declared with a bit of exasperation in his voice, gulping down the rest of his drink. Ascalon pondered for a moment, admiring the mysteriousness and efficiency of the network.
“So it just… knows what people to confer the Guild creation to? That is indeed strange… but yet again, the network has proved to be quite complex so far.” Ascalon mused, and Selorien shrugged. “Anyway!” Lilithra chimed in, snapping back from her awestruck moment, and prepared to continue her explanation.
“Ehem! As I was saying, we need to go to headquarters to get the process started! But… we need to meet some requisites, too.” She started, placing her elbows on the table to prop her chin on her hands. “They don’t just allow anyone to open a Guild! After all, being in one comes with certain benefits.” Lilithra said with a spark of excitement in her voice.
“Oh?” Ascalon perked up with clear interest, wondering about these ‘benefits’. Lilithra giggled, expecting that kind of response, and continued. “For example, Guilds can request entry to unaffiliated cities—like… Starugnia!” Her voice cracked a bit, likely remembering how they were rejected from entering at first. It had been truly fortunate for them to have met Ryan.
“Also, they receive compensation for being affiliated with a city—in our case, with New Lumingard.” Lilithra’s eyes sparkled, a smile spreading across her face. So they received some kind of monetary compensation just for being in a Guild? That was convenient!
“There are other nice perks like trading items with them and such, but that’s not important right now!” Lilithra suddenly complained, realizing she had been drifting off the original topic. “The thing is, they’ll test us to see if we’re worthy of these benefits!” She finally broached the topic she was trying to get at, and let out an exhausted sigh at the prospect.
“What kind of test? Like a trial?” Ascalon questioned with intrigue, while Selorien stretched in his chair. “I heard the test changes depending on the group taking them, so we’re going blind~!” The elf spoke with a mischievous tone, and Lilithra groaned slightly.
“Yeah… that’s the scary part!” Lilithra whimpered, before resting her head onto the table. “Ugh~ It’s already sad enough that you have to pay a fee just to try…” She groaned once more, and Selorien giggled. “I told you many times already, but I’ll pay the fee. No biggie.” He said with a cheerful tone, and Ascalon smiled gently. Selorien truly was a good friend.
“No need! I’ve been slowly saving up for this…!” Lilithra blurted out, suddenly straightening her posture and clenching her fists with determination. “I already owe you so much, too, and you even splurged in Starugnia…” She continued, her enthusiasm dwindling. Ascalon chuckled at the sight, but could relate to her feelings.
“Yes, I owe you a lot, too.” Ascalon added, while Selorien clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Don’t go thinking you have to pay me back!” He exclaimed with clear irritation, causing Ascalon to reel back in surprise, though Lilithra seemed more bashful rather than shocked. Noticing Ascalon’s expression, she smiled and chimed in.
“Get used to it… Selly doesn’t like it when you try to pay your debts to him… even when he tells you ‘you can pay me back later’, hah!” She sighed in resignation, a small smile on her lips.
Ascalon raised an eyebrow in slight confusion, while Selorien crossed his arms. “I use my money however I want, and I don’t do it expecting anything in return!” The elf stated, puffing out his chest with pride. “It’s not like I’m strapped for cash, anyway.” He scoffed, a conflicted grin spreading across his face.
So he was just a charitable soul, then? Ascalon wondered, his smile returning. Selorien did seem to enjoy helping out his friends, and it was true that he had never asked to be repaid after the fact—perhaps he really didn’t need to, due to his wealthy heritage. Still, Ascalon wasn’t one to forget about his debts, so he was going to find a way to repay him—whether it involved money or not.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Enough about that…” Selorien said with a bit of exasperation in his voice. “When are we going?” He asked with a bold grin, his gaze set on Lilithra. She tilted her head and pondered for a moment, while Ascalon waited, anticipation slowly building within him.
“Sooner rather than later… I guess? I’m still worried!” She admitted while shifting on her seat, clearly reluctant. It was to be expected, since they didn’t know what kind of trials awaited ahead. Ascalon crossed his arms, his sole eye wandering around the now-empty outdoor café. With no customers in sight, there weren’t any pressing matters at hand, at least.
A light breeze blew by, ruffling Lilithra’s hair slightly, and a relaxed silence settled over their table. They all basked in the serenity, quietly mulling about different things, though they were all related to the creation of their Guild, without a doubt. It was then that a sudden notion struck Ascalon, who excitedly brought it up.
“Oh! By what name shall the Guild be known?” He asked with palpable interest, an amused smile forming on his face. He was really eager to know that! But Lilithra’s face caused his excitement to dwindle, as she looked pale and horrified.
“I… I didn’t think about that…!” She exclaimed as she grabbed her head with both hands, groaning to herself. Ah, so she was that unprepared, huh? Ascalon sighed in resignation, but couldn’t help laughing softly afterward. Selorien, on the other hand, shook his head with a slight grin on his face.
“Oh Lil, you never cease to amaze me.” He declared with a hint of pride—though that wasn’t exactly the best thing to be proud of! “Shut up, Selly!” She retorted, her eyes tearing up slightly. It was an adorable sight, somehow, to see her all flustered.
“Calm down, Lilithra.” Ascalon stated, and she looked up at him. “Think. What do you want your Guild to stand for?” He asked in a serious tone, his eye locked onto her. She felt her panic ceasing, a soothing feeling spreading across her whole being. Under his steady gaze, she felt reassured. Selorien leaned in, placing his elbows on the table, intrigued by what Lilithra would say in response.
Lilithra looked down, frowning with determination, as she took her time to dwell on the matter. Minutes passed with her deep in thought, her friends patiently waiting for her decision—a quiet support that utterly comforted her. She knew they could chime in and propose names, but they were letting her decide for herself, a sign of their trust in her.
Lilithra thought long and hard about what she wanted her Guild to be known for. She reminisced about the time she shared her aspirations with Ascalon, feeling as though it were such a distant memory, even when it hadn’t been that long ago. What did she want to do? To help people, to offer her a place to belong, and to protect them with a watchful eye.
“Knights of the Braveheart Vigil…” She pondered aloud, her quiet words carrying a solemn weight. Ascalon and Selorien exchanged glances. It was a peculiar name—especially the ‘knights’ part—but it felt fitting. It conveyed a sense of courage, and encompassed traits that suited Lilithra perfectly—from the ‘brave’ in her skill to the purity of her heart, with the addition of a protective connotation under ‘vigil’.
Somehow, all of them quietly shared a sense of agreement, though Ascalon wanted to make it more official, so to say. “I quite like the name; it has a nice ring to it… but, why ‘knights’?” He asked with curiosity, causing Lilithra to blush under his gaze.
“I just think it sounds cooler…” She admitted, and Selorien giggled. Ascalon let out a thoughtful ‘hmm’, wondering if ‘sounding cool’ was enough of a reason. After all, it was going to be the name of her Guild—something that would echo across the land as her feats piled up. Still, it was her decision, so he wasn’t about to complain; it did sound nice, too.
“It sounds damn cool.” Selorien declared as he crossed his arms and nodded, clearly confident in his opinion. Lilithra smiled with joy, seeing that her friends weren’t against it, and the realization finally dawned on her: her Guild was going to be the Knights of the Braveheart Vigil! It was a bit long and maybe slightly embarrassing, but it filled her with hope and happiness.
“Alright! I’m all hyped up again!” Lilithra proclaimed as she jumped to her feet, causing her chair to fall backward. “Oops!” She muttered with a bashful expression, quickly propping the seat back to its place. Ascalon and Selorien shared a chuckle, and stood up to join her.
“So how about… we go today!” Lilithra suggested, smiling with boldness. “Before my excitement fades and I get scared again!” She added in a joking manner, though her friends knew it was likely to happen.
“I’ll let Uncle know first!” She exclaimed as she darted out, leaving both Ascalon and Selorien behind. It was a perfect moment for the elf to ask something he had been curious about.
“Ascalon, are you going to…?” He began to ask, a soft smile on his face. Ascalon knew what he meant without needing further explanation, so he nodded with determination, his stare unwavering. “Yes. It has been my intention from the very beginning.” He proclaimed with utmost certainty, causing Selorien’s eyes to open wide in both amazement and admiration.
“You really are the coolest.” The elf responded, smiling mischievously. Ascalon simply sighed at his words, wondering if he was truly worthy of such praise. With these thoughts in mind, both friends went after Lilithra.
When they arrived, they found the uncle and niece conversing happily. “Yes! Would you… would you like to join, even as an honorary member?” Lilithra asked with shyness, though her anticipation was clear. Raphael smiled awkwardly, a hint of sadness in his eyes.
“I have my own matters to attend to, and I don’t want people to think you’re just filling numbers with this old man!” He replied, causing Lilithra to shrink slightly. Still, she seemed to half-expect that answer since she recovered quite quickly!
“It’s alright, Uncle. Thank you!” Lilithra exclaimed, beaming at her doting Uncle. Then, she looked back at her friends. “Ready to go?” She asked with excitement, her yellow eyes sparkling with her usual enthusiasm.
Both Ascalon and Selorien nodded, and so they set out for headquarters! On the way, Lilithra tried to distract herself with idle chatter, as if trying to not think much about the matter.
As they walked, Ascalon noticed a quite suspicious individual wearing a long, hooded cloak that covered the entirety of their body. While they weren’t sending off an aura of bloodlust or hostility, the knight could see through their actions, as they were walking toward him deliberately. Trying to pay no mind to them, just in case he were to be wrong, Ascalon kept talking to his friends animatedly.
But suddenly, the person bumped into him, even though Ascalon was prepared to dodge out of the way. Frowning as the warning signals rang in his mind, Ascalon prepared for a confrontation, under the confused stares of his friends.
“Oh, sorry about that!” The hooded figure spoke in a womanly voice, a sly grin shining beneath her hood. Without further words, she kept walking past him, leaving Ascalon confused and slightly embarrassed.
For a moment, he thought that person was looking for a fight, having shoved him on purpose. Sighing at his silly thoughts, he reassured his friends, and then continued their journey.
In the distance, the grinning, hooded stranger muttered. “I see, so that’s him.” Her tone was dripping with disdain. “You just wait, asshole...” She continued, her voice trailing off as she scurried into an alleyway, disappearing into the darkness.
After that random occurrence, the group found themselves at the huge doors leading into the headquarters’ interior.
“Well… we’re here…!” Lilithra remarked as she looked at the humongous building, an audible ‘gulp’ escaping her throat. Both her friends placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and she felt fueled by their support. Without further ado, they all entered the bustling headquarters, and Lilithra shyly approached a receptionist.
“H-hello…” Lilithra muttered as a staff lady smiled at her. “Welcome! What can we help you with today?” The girl replied, watching over Lilithra with a gentle gaze. “I-uhm-we, no, I would like to create a Guild, please!” The horned girl voiced her request, and a few murmurs could be heard around them.
“A new Guild? Been a while” Said someone. “Interesting…” Chimed in another stranger. The receptionist looked intently at the three of them, before turning around and calling out.
“Mr. Kain, if you would!” She exclaimed before turning toward them again. “Just a moment, please.” The girl added, causing Lilithra to feel a bit impatient and hesitant. After a couple of seconds—which felt like an eternity to her—a tall, suited man appeared behind the receptionist.
He had the face of a black wolf, his right eye covered by a red eye patch. His sharp fangs glistened under the interior lights, and his orange eyes felt both dangerous and wary. He inspected them with evident scorn, before opening his jaw and speaking up.
“So you want to create a new Guild, huh?” His hoarse voice resounded over the bustling room—rather, it was more of a growl—causing Lilithra to shrink in surprise. “Hmph! Let’s see what you’re made of, then.” He added with a frown, his nose wrinkling with apparent irritation.
It seemed that he wasn’t going to be easily convinced.