The journey to Kubu Fort had been long and exhausting, but Evan found solace in the quiet rhythm of the carriage wheels on the dirt road. For the most part, Runa remained a silent companion, speaking only when asked. It was something Evan appreciated—he wasn't much for idle chatter. Yet, he couldn't ignore the occasional curious glances she cast his way.
On the final day of their journey, as the fort's towering stone walls came into view, Runa leaned forward eagerly, her blue eyes wide with wonder.
"It's bigger than I imagined," she murmured.
Evan glanced at her, then back at the fort. "Kubu Fort's seen its share of battles. It's built to last."
As they approached the gates, the atmosphere shifted. The usual hum of activity at the fort was replaced by tension. Even the guards at the entrance seemed distracted, their eyes darting toward the courtyard.
Evan's sharp gaze caught movement ahead—Ourri, the towering figure of the Golden Sun Guild's main team, was pacing nervously by the gates, his massive frame somehow looking small under the weight of the situation.
"Something's wrong," Evan muttered. He signaled the coachman to halt the carriage and stepped out, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his greatsword.
The raised voices became clearer as they approached the main courtyard.
"You're a coward!" Ourra shouted, his brown eyes blazing with anger. His dagger glinted in the sunlight, his grip tight as though ready to use it.
"And you're out of line, Ourra!" Yvette snarled back, her sword & shield already drawn. Her towering figure in full plated armor made her look like a knight preparing for battle.
Evan sighed. "Of course it's them."
"Who are they?" Runa asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
"Yvette and Ourra," Evan replied. "Main team members. And professional headaches."
Before he could elaborate, Yvette's voice rose again. "We're not risking lives on your reckless ideas, Ourra! I don't care how capable you think you are!"
"I'm not the one afraid of a challenge, Yvette!"
The tension reached its breaking point as Ourra lunged forward, his dagger aimed at Yvette. She deflected the blow with her shield, the impact ringing out like a thunderclap.
Ourra darted around Yvette with surprising agility, striking at her exposed sides. Yvette countered each attack with precise movements and stability, her sword swinging in controlled arcs and her shield covering the attacks.
"You've got to be faster than that, little man!" she taunted, her frustration morphing into a dangerous grin.
Ourra growled, his movements becoming more erratic. "Let's see how confident you are without that armor weighing you down!"
The crowd that had gathered began to murmur, some cheering, others looking on with concern.
Gerrard's appearing beside Runas, He leaned casually against a wall, his rune pen twirling between his fingers.
"Well, this just got interesting," Gerrard replied with a smirk. His dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
"What's going on?" Runa asked, glancing nervously at the unfolding drama.
"Just a typical day at Kubu Fort," Gerrard said with a grin. "Ourra's got some bright idea about taking trainees into a dungeon, and Yvette's... well, being Yvette."
Runa blinked. "That sounds... dangerous."
Evan, however, had no such hesitation and groaned. "That's it. I'm ending this." He stepped forward to stop the battle
"That's enough!" he bellowed, stepping between the two.
Yvette's sword came down in a powerful arc, but Evan intercepted it with his greatsword, the clash of metal reverberating through the courtyard.
"Get out of the way, Evan!" Yvette snarled, her dark eyes blazing with a glimpse of red.
"I don't think so," Evan growled back, shoving her sword aside.
Ourra, not to be outdone, lunged at Evan from behind. Without missing a beat, Evan spun and caught the smaller man's dagger with his steel-plated glove, twisting it out of his hand.
"You're both acting like children!" Evan shouted, his voice ringing with authority.
but before he could say another word, the ground trembled beneath their feet.
A low rumble filled the air, growing louder by the second. Evan's eyes shot upward as a massive steel sword descended from the sky, its size dwarfing the fort itself.
"Move!" Evan barked
Chaos erupted as everyone scrambled for cover. The sword slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, sending a shockwave that knocked them all off balance.
"Enough!"
Dyeva's voice cut through the chaos like a whip. She stood at the edge of the courtyard, her steel magic holding the massive weapon in place. With a flick of her wrist, the sword shrank to a manageable size and floated back to her hand.
"Explain yourselves," she demanded, her fiery gaze sweeping over the group.
Yvette, Ourra and Evan exchanged sheepish glances, their earlier bravado evaporating.
"Uh... well..." Yvette began, but Dyeva silenced her with a glare.
"And you, Gerrard?" Dyeva's tone was icy.
Gerrard raised his hands defensively. "Hey, I was just observing. No harm in that, right?"
Dyeva pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're all impossible."
In the background, Ourri stood silently, his hulking frame almost comical in its attempt to avoid Dyeva's scrutiny.
Runa, watching from the sidelines, felt a mixture of awe and unease. This wasn't the polished, disciplined guild she had imagined. But beneath the chaos, she saw something else—a bond forged in trust and shared purpose.
"Welcome to Kubu Fort, Runa," Dyeva said, her voice softening slightly. "This is the Golden Sun Guild."
Runa nodded, her resolve hardening. If she wanted to stand among them, she would need to prove herself—not just in strength, but in understanding the chaos that made them who they were.
Dyeva immediately summoned all the main team members, excluding Evan, who was busy escorting Runa to the trainee dormitories.
In the guild's main hall, the air was thick with anticipation as Dyeva addressed the assembled team, detailing the outcome of the council meeting held in Janma. Her tone was measured but resolute, as she explained the escalating tensions between the human factions and the criticisms levied against the Golden Sun Guild.
According to the council, Golden Sun was derided by representatives from the Golden Sanctuary and Silver guard, who referred to them as "unnecessary" accusing them of idleness within the region.
Ourra, ever the fiery member of the team, was quick to voice his indignation. "They have the audacity to call us slackers? While we're out here risking our lives, they're lounging in their marble halls, sipping wine!" His words echoed through the hall, igniting murmurs among the team.
Yvette, however, remained calm, her demeanor unshaken. Once a member of the Silver Guard herself, she had grown accustomed to such baseless accusations.
"Let them speak," she said coolly. "Words are all they have. Our actions will prove them wrong." Her composure tempered the rising tension, reminding the team of their purpose.
After the heated discussion subsided, Dyeva turned her attention to Gerrad, the guild's veteran strategist, inquiring about the upcoming trials for the trainees. She then revealed her decision to grant Runa a golden token—a rare honor bestowed only by the guild's representative.
Unlike regular trainees who underwent rigorous physical training and survival trials near Kubu Fort, those with a golden token faced a unique challenge: completing a guild-assigned quest within a specified time frame. Dyeva's faith in Runa's potential was clear, though the decision sparked curiosity among the team.
Meanwhile, Evan introduced Runa to the sprawling structure of Kubu Fort, guiding her through its labyrinthine halls and pointing out key locations. When they reached the guild hall's quest board, Runa hesitated.
Two missions were available: the first involved searching for a missing person outside Kubu Fort, a task that could take months. The second was to investigate reports of a Corrupted monster sighting northeast of the Kubu Forest. Evan, ever pragmatic, advised her to choose the latter.
"If you want to join the main team faster, take the second mission. It's dangerous, but straightforward."
After a moment of contemplation, Runa nodded. "I'll take the second mission," she said, her voice steady but tinged with determination.
At the administration desk, the guild hall receptionist asked Runa to present her golden token, a symbol of her special admission.
Once her credentials were verified, she received the trainee's Golden Sun Guild robe—a mark of her status and a sign of her upcoming trial. Evan escorted her to her dormitory, a modest but comfortable room, and left her to rest.
Later that evening, Evan sought an audience with Dyeva in her office. Sitting across from her, he wasted no time. "Why did you appoint me as Runa's guardian?" he asked bluntly. His gray eyes searched hers for answers.
Dyeva's expression softened. "Because she reminds me of you," she admitted. "She's talented but carries a burden she won't share. I believe you're the right person to guide her, guide her enough until she is ready to join our missions and keep our main purpose as Golden sun Guild"
Her honesty left no room for doubt, and Evan nodded, satisfied with her explanation.
The next morning, Runa waited in the guild hall, drawing curious stares from passersby. Her striking white hair and pristine trainee robe set her apart, and she could feel the weight of their gazes.
Evan arrived shortly after, clad in nondescript armor that concealed his affiliation with the Golden Sun Guild. He had no intention of interfering unless absolutely necessary.