Astra and Faye continued their rigorous training in the tranquil fields, delving into various spells and magical techniques. However, the two remaining aspects of magic still eluded them.
Amidst their practice, Faye, displaying signs of satisfaction, stood up and said, "Alright, I believe you're prepared."
Astra, clearly puzzled, asked, "Prepared for what?"
Faye, wearing a knowing grin, replied, "To become a member of a guild, of course."
Astra, appearing somewhat reserved, said, "Oh, okay."
Surprised by Astra's lack of enthusiasm, Faye teased, "Come on, I expected you to be more excited."
Astra, after a brief pause, revealed her true ambition, "Actually, I want to create my own guild."
Faye was taken aback but playfully nudged Astra's shoulder and said, "Well, that's intriguing. I never imagined you'd aspire to be a leader."
Astra managed a faint smile and replied, "Alright, let's go for it."
[10:30 AM, Thursday, Guildroom]
The guild's expansive room was bustling with adventurers of all sizes and capabilities. Walking through the crowd, Faye offered a word of caution, "Be on your guard here. Looking vulnerable could invite trouble."
Astra's anxiety became evident, "Wait, really?"
Faye, ever the prankster, reassured her with a chuckle, "Nah, I'm just messing with you."
Astra playfully hit Faye's arm with her elbow.
Faye chuckled at Astra's reaction and remarked, "You're learning."
Their playful exchange was interrupted when a voice called from behind, "Hey, you big uggo, get out of the way!"
Faye turned around, visibly irked, to find a boy and a girl, apparently teenagers around the ages of 16 and 14.
Taking offense at the insult, Faye questioned, "Who are you calling an 'uggo'?"
The boy, seemingly the girl's older brother, stepped forward and apologized, "Sorry about her behavior. Please forgive us."
Faye, now more composed, responded, "Alright, I suppose I can forgive you."
Astra, silently observing Faye's reaction, couldn't help but think that her mentor possessed quite the ego.
The girl, seemingly embarrassed by the confrontation, attempted to change the subject, "Are you both here to join a guild as well?"
Faye inquired, "What's your ranking?"
The boy confidently replied, "We're part of a guild already. Our partners are waiting over there," pointing to a nearby table where a 16-year-old boy and a girl with a numbered book sat.
Faye asked curiously, "And what's your ranking?"
The boy responded promptly, "We're in the 1000th Ultra Class."
Faye was visibly shocked by their high rank, which led Astra to whisper in her ear, "Is that good?"
Faye reassured her, "No, it's not bad at all."
The boy politely requested to pass through, and Faye obligingly stepped aside to let them continue on their way. As they departed, Faye humorously remarked, "Kids these days."
Noticing Astra's curiosity, Faye took the initiative to explain the guild rankings. She revealed that guilds were categorized into five rankings based on mission performance, namely Bronze Class, Gold Class, Great Class, Ultra Class, and Elite Class. Faye also mentioned how to discover one's ranking.
Astra absorbed this information and expressed her understanding, "Alright, I think I've got it."
As they approached the registration counter, Faye and Astra shared a moment of determination. Faye encouraged Astra to approach the lady behind the counter.
Astra, a bit nervously, turned to the lady and said, "Hello, I'd like to join the guild."
The lady instructed her to place her hand over a magical book. Astra followed the instructions, and the book displayed her name, age, height, and her destined class, which was revealed to be "Mage."
Astra chose to embrace her destined class, and the lady deftly transformed the page into a small card for her. She also explained the card's functionalities.
Faye, always full of curiosity, asked Astra about the name she'd choose for her team.
Astra promptly answered, "Team Delta."
However, Faye playfully teased, "That's kind of cringe."
Astra wasn't about to let that slide, replying firmly, "Who asked you!"
For a brief moment, Astra stared at Faye, her determination and intensity clear.
Faye, with a mix of surprise and amusement, attempted to calm her down.
Astra's disappointment at not having Faye join her guild was palpable as she abruptly dashed outside.
Faye, taken aback, chased after her, asking, "What are you doing?"
Determined and with a hint of cuteness, Astra declared, "I'm on a quest to recruit members for my guild."
As she expressed her determination, something unusual happened. Astra felt a soft rubbing against her leg, and when she looked down, she found a friendly fox.
Astra, still brimming with enthusiasm, lifted the fox and asked if it wanted to join her guild. She expressed her excitement by rubbing her nose against the fox's, eliciting licks and laughter.
Astra eventually said her goodbyes to those she knew, including Faye, and returned home to pack her belongings and savings.
Before leaving, she made sure to retrieve her phone, which held a treasured picture of her family and friends.
With a heartfelt message for them, she shut off her phone and prepared to embark on her journey, her determination unwavering.
As she raced towards her destiny, she declared, "I'm ready! Team Delta is officially in action!" Her trusty fox companion, Lumi, accompanied her on this thrilling new adventure.
With a diary in hand, Astra felt a sense of duty to document her experiences. She was setting out on a journey with the ambitious goal of reaching the prestigious Master Class. While the path ahead was uncertain, she believed she was fully prepared to face whatever challenges lay in her way.
She turned to Lumi, who had become her steadfast companion, and shouted, "Let's go, Lumi!" Their adventure had officially begun.