Chapter 13: The Guild
As Nathan and Emily stepped into the Guild, their eyes widened. The massive structure was buzzing with activity. People of all ages, some dressed in battle gear and others in scholarly robes, moved around with purpose. There were towering bulletin boards covered with glowing symbols, rows of tables where groups sat discussing strategies, and doors leading to mysterious chambers.
"Welcome to the Guild!" Zara said with a flourish. "This is where travelers come to find quests, form parties, and prepare for their journeys."
Nathan's gaze was drawn to the largest bulletin board at the center of the room. It pulsed faintly, and the symbols shifted as if alive. "What's that?" he asked.
"The quest board," Mia explained. "It updates constantly with challenges from all over the realm. Some quests are simple, like delivering messages, and others are... well, let's just say they're not for the faint-hearted."
Emily's attention turned to a section of the Guild where groups of people were cheering. "What's happening over there?" she asked.
"That's the beast arena," Lily replied. "It's where people challenge the beasts of the realm."
"Challenge? Like fight them?" Nathan asked.
"Sort of," Lily said. "Beasts here are intelligent. They'll only engage if they think you're worthy. If you win, they might reward you with a beast crystal."
"What are beast crystals?" Emily asked.
"Oh, they're amazing!" Lily said, her eyes lighting up. "You can infuse them into your armor or weapons to enhance their stats or even unlock special skills."
Mia added, "But there's one important rule: when the beast says the fight is over, you stop. No exceptions. The beasts know their limits, and this prevents accidents."
"Sounds fair," Nathan said, nodding. "But how do you fight them?"
"You need the combat battle module installed in your system," Zara explained. "To get it, you'll need system points, which you can earn by completing quests. System points can also unlock other modules, like tutorial or crafting modules."
Emily's eyes sparkled with excitement. "This place is incredible!"
"It is," Lily agreed. "But first, let's go see Old Man Reggie."
Meeting Old Man Reggie
In a cozy corner of the Guild, they found a weathered man with a scruffy beard sitting on a pile of mismatched cushions. His cloak was patched and tattered, but his eyes twinkled with wisdom. A carved wooden staff rested against his chair.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Reggie said, his voice warm and gravelly. "Fresh faces and curious minds. Come closer, let me get a good look at you."
Nathan and Emily stepped forward hesitantly. Reggie squinted at them, then chuckled. "Hmm, you're not like the others, are you? What brings you here?"
"We're new," Emily said. "And we've got something called a shared system."
Reggie's eyebrows shot up. "Shared system? Never heard of that before. Must be something special. You two might be destined for something big."
Nathan and Emily exchanged a glance, unsure how to respond.
"Now, tell me," Reggie continued, "what argument did you present to the Order of Skeptics? They're a tough bunch."
"The Kalam Cosmological Argument," Nathan replied.
"Ah, the classic," Reggie said with a grin. "And how would you defend the second premise—that the universe began to exist?"
Nathan took a deep breath. "There are two scientific proofs that add weight to it. The first is the law of thermodynamics, about entropy."
Reggie's eyes twinkled. "Entropy, eh? Explain it to me like I'm eight."
Nathan grinned. "Okay, imagine you're holding an ice cream cone on a hot day. If you just stand there, what happens?"
"It melts," Reggie said.
"Exactly! That's entropy. It's the idea that everything in the universe is running out of usable energy and becoming more spread out, like your ice cream turning into a puddle. If the universe had been around forever, it would've already melted into one giant puddle of nothingness. But it hasn't, which means it must've had a beginning."
Reggie nodded, impressed. "Clever. What's the second proof?"
"The universe is expanding," Nathan said. "A scientist named Fred Hoyle discovered something called redshift. It's like when you blow up a balloon—the surface stretches, and all the dots on it move farther apart. That's what's happening to the universe. If you play the expansion backward, everything comes back to one point. That's the Big Bang—the moment the universe began."
Emily added, "It's like rewinding a video of the balloon being blown up."
Reggie slapped his knee and laughed. "Well, I'll be! Ice cream and balloons—you kids have a way with words. You've got sharp minds. Keep them sharp, and they'll take you far."