Chase stood impatiently at the grand gate of the Blue Eagle Academy, his impatience brewed like a simmering cauldron, eager to be set free, awaiting Ava. His mind was still preoccupied with the enigmatic behavior of Freya, causing him to shift his weight from one foot to another, growing increasingly irritated.
"Chase!" Ava's voice broke through his distracted thoughts about Freya, bringing him back to the present.
He looked at her, adorned in a breathtaking brown skirt and top gown, while he remained in plain black pants and top.
"Oh, hi, Ava," Chase replied, crossing his arms with little interest. "Are you ready to go?"
Ava noticed that Chase's demeanor remained the same as yesterday.
"Are you not going to compliment me on my dress?" Ava asked, hoping for a genuine reaction from him.
Chase glanced at her again but remained silent.
"Seriously, are you not going to say anything about my dress?" Ava inquired once more, seeking Chase's attention.
Chase looked back at Ava and finally responded, "You look breathtaking as always, Ava," but his words lacked enthusiasm.
Ava couldn't help but feel that his compliment was hollow.
She knew she had to divert Chase's attention away from Freya, so she decided to take drastic measures and playfully punched him.
"Ow!" Chase exclaimed, feeling the impact on his arm. "What's the matter with you, Ava?"
"No, I'm not the problem. You are!" Ava said, her tone filled with hurt, tears welling up in her eyes. "Since yesterday, after your conversation with Freya, you've been distant."
Chase quickly realized the impact of his behavior on Ava and immediately grabbed her hand. "Ava, I'm sorry. I'm fine now, and I promise to be more present today."
He gently wiped away the tear that was about to fall from Ava's eye.
"Don't cry. Smile," Chase said softly. "You don't look good when you cry."
"What do you mean? I always look good," Ava said, her anger subsiding. "But thank you," she added, a smile lighting up her face.
Chase held Ava's hand, and they walked side by side.
"Now let's spend the rest of the day without being sad or angry," Chase suggested, appreciating the fact that Ava wasn't too angry and would always be by his side.
In the next couple of hours, Chase and Ava enjoyed their time strolling around the Talia Kingdom, reveling in the carnival's delights, savoring delicious treats, and sharing laughter as they discussed their future plans together.
Eventually, they stood before a magnificent crimson building, emanating an aura of power and majesty.
"The Crimson Guild," Chase read the sign aloud. "Do you know what a guild is and what it does?" he asked Ava, curious as he had never encountered guilds before.
Ava looked at Chase in shock. "You've never heard or been to a guild?"
"No, have you?" Chase shook his head, indicating that he hadn't.
"Well, I've never been in one, but I've heard and read about them," Ava said, observing men and women dressed in various gears emerging from the wooden and metal doors of the guild.
"Okay, tell me about it," Chase urged Ava, his excitement building as he saw people equipped with swords, spears, bows, and even wands.
"A guild is more than just a simple group or organization. It's a family of warriors, mages, rogues, and others, all united to form a powerful collective. These guilds exist all around the world, engaging in magical adventures where heroes rise, legends are born, and quests unfold," Ava explained.
"Wow, guilds already sound exciting!" Chase interrupted Ava, unable to contain his enthusiasm.
"Shh," Ava hushed him.
"Guilds have a hierarchical structure with leaders known as guild masters who oversee operations and make important decisions. They are respected and trusted individuals who have proven their skills and dedication. Under their guidance, the guild strives for greatness and protects the world from evil,"
"And that's all I know about guilds," Ava concluded her explanation.
"Thanks, now let's go in," Chase said, eagerly pulling Ava along before she could react.
As Chase and Ava entered, they were surrounded by multiple powerful energies, though luckily, they were harmless.
Chase's eyes lit up as he looked around in awe and excitement at the men and women wielding swords, spears, bows, and other weapons.
Walking forward without looking, Chase accidentally bumped into the front desk.
"Hi, welcome to The Crimson Guild," Chase heard a melodious voice say. "How may I assist you?"
When he looked up, he saw a tall woman standing at 5'7", with long blond hair, yellow eyes, and pointed ears.
"What... Ava, she's an elf!" Chase exclaimed, shocked to see an elf for the first time, pointing at the elf.
"Chase," Ava said softly, nudging him with her elbow.
Realizing that everyone had stopped talking and was looking at him, Chase scratched his head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he apologized.
"It's okay," the elf replied kindly. "I'm Ema, the clerk for the Crimson Guild. How can I help you?"
"We..." Ava was about to speak, but Chase cut her off.
"We want to know about The Crimson Guild," Chase said, excitedly seeking more information.
"Well, the Crimson Guild has been in operation for thousands of years, even before the Talia Kingdom," Ema said proudly, emphasizing the significance of the Crimson Guild. "All guilds work under one guild called the 'Specter of the Classified.' We have multiple locations in different kingdoms."
"Thousand years? How long have you been with the Crimson Guild?" Chase asked, astounded.
"Well, for 780 years," Ema replied, her voice filled with pride as she recalled her early days with the guild.
"700 years!" Chase exclaimed in shock. "And you still look so youthful."
Ava couldn't help but hit him for his comment.
"Haha, us elves live for a very long time, and as you become more powerful, your age increases, so that helps a bit," Ema explained.
Chase was taken aback by this revelation but was more curious about another detail that caught his attention.
"What do you mean by all the guilds working under one guild? And shouldn't another kingdom attack your guild for being in their territory?" Chase asked, seeking more information.
"Yes, all guilds work under one guild known as the 'Specter of the Classified,'" Ema explained mysteriously. "No kingdom would dare attack a guild because they would be swiftly destroyed. Only guilds can engage in battles with each other."
'The Specter of the Classified... I'll have to remember that name,' Chase thought to himself.
"Do you know more about the Specter of the Classified?" Ava finally entered the conversation, eager to collect as much information as possible.
"No, no one knows more about it except the guild masters," Ema replied, shaking her head.
"Oh," Ava said, disappointed, her body slumping dejectedly at not having access to that information.
"Well, that's the basic information I can provide about guilds," Ema said, offering them a warm smile.
"We want to join the guild," Chase declared, eagerly taking out the goblin and orc ears they had collected
.
Ema carefully opened the bag and glanced at over sixty ears, including an orc ear, but didn't seem particularly excited about the orc ears.
"To join the guild, you'll need to complete a task," Ema explained, reaching under her desk and retrieving something.
"Isn't the goblin ears enough?" Ava asked, unsure why the ears weren't being counted.
"It's quite a collection, but we need to know where they came from," Ema clarified as she placed a wooden plank with the letter "E" on it.
Chase and Ava felt disappointed, thinking that gaining entry would be easier.
"To join the guild, You'll have to slay twenty wolves and bring back their nails or fangs as proof of your accomplishment, for this task" Ema stated.
"Okay, no problem. That's easy," Ava replied confidently, knowing they had faced more challenging opponents than wolves before.
Ema pushed the wooden plank and an enchanted-looking pen toward Chase and Ava.
"Sign your names on this plank and bring it back along with the wolf nails or fangs," Ema instructed.
Chase and Ava quickly signed their names on the plank, feeling a peculiar sense of magic as their names imprinted into the wood.
"Okay, thank you, Chase Haemas and Ava Alopex. I wish you good luck on your hunt," Ema encouraged them.
Chase and Ava rushed out of the guild, heading toward the foreboding forest in search of the wolves they needed to defeat.
On the top floor of the guild, there was a wise-looking old man with a short beard, watching Chase and Ava leave.