3

“Woah there, sorry young man, are you alright?”

Ace looks up at the man he just bumped into. He’s a large, muscular old man, with short white hair and a short, neat white beard. Deep wrinkles cover his face, though his skin does not sag, and there’s a massive pool of wisdom in his deep blue eyes. The man wears a light brown vest over a white shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, as well as beige pants. In his hand is a finely made cane. If not for the scars running across his arms and his impressive build, he would look like an ordinary elderly gentleman. Ace begins to apologize, struggling to look him in the eyes due to the suddenness of the interaction.

“No, I’m the one… I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going so… You don’t need to…” The old man laughs loudly in the middle of the street. He draws the attention of other pedestrians, though when they see who it is, their expressions quickly turn to admiration.

“What a polite kid you are! So you really were distracted, then. It didn’t seem like you were looking at anything, so tell me, are you lost?” Ace almost gets offended at the notion.

“Lost? I’m practically an adult.” However, Ace is aware that he doesn’t know where he is or where he’s going. “I’m… just wandering.” The old man laughs again.

“If you have nowhere else to go, then why don’t you come with me! I’ve been looking for a young one like you!”

“Sorry, but I make it a point not to wander off with strange old men.” As Ace tries to slip away, the old man laughs and puts a hand on Ace’s shoulder. Ace can’t move under it.

“Then allow me to introduce myself. I am Arthur Rivers, leader of the Achernar Guild. I want you to work for me.” Ace can’t find it in himself to deny such a clear opportunity, even if he’s still not sure it’s entirely safe.

“Fine then, I’ll go with you. I’m Shimizu Ace, or rather, Ace Shimizu.”

“Alright then, Ace, let’s go.” As Arthur starts to take Ace to their still unknown destination, Ace starts thinking about this job.

“A guild… Like an adventurer’s guild, I guess? He said he’s the leader, so that would make him an adventurer… What does he want from me, in that case? He wants me to be an adventurer? Is he stupid? I’m obviously weak, so why would he choose me? I can’t do anything but play games, and now he wants me to get out there and risk my life? Should I just slip away before we get… wherever it is we’re going? Well, I’m sure he’d realize, and he would just stop me again, so I guess I should just prepare to refuse his offer.”

The two of them walk through the city until they reach a large wooden building crammed tightly into a street filled with buildings of similar size and shape. Above the door is a curved sign, with writing Ace has never seen before. Despite that, Ace still understands, the strange script morphing into one he recognizes. The sign simply reads “Achenar Guild.”

Arthur opens the doors and welcomes Ace inside. On the first floor are several tables and an unstocked, unmanned bar. Along the wall is a large board, dozens of papers being hung from it. There’s not a soul in sight. More and more Ace begins to believe he’s walked into a trap and Arthur is about to rob him or kill him or both. He again considers just running, before he has to find out, but he cannot find it within himself to believe in a malice he has not seen in Arthur yet.

Arthur leads Ace up a flight of stairs. The second floor is very different from the first, though no less empty. In any direction from the stairway, there’s nothing but empty halls and rows of doors. Right above the staircase is another set, leading up to the next floor. Arthur leads Ace around and up to the third floor.

The staircase leads to a small landing, with a turn right ahead. Arthur and Ace turn into a larger opening, windows on either side of them. On the opposite side of the room is a single wall, with a single set of doors inside of it. Arthur walks across the empty hall and opens the door. Ace follows him inside.

Behind the wall is a single large room. Inside of it is a plethora of things. Across the room from them is an ornate wooden desk with only a small glass dome resting on top of it. The wall behind the desk is nearly all a large window. From it, you can see the rooftops of the city, the strong walls surrounding it, the tiniest glimpse of the plains beyond, and the blue sky above. Opened up to reveal the view are two large light blue curtains. On either side of the window is a suit of armor. To the right of the window is a dark, slim set, large curved horns protruding from the temples of the helm. To the left is a bulky silver and gold set, each piece clear and large, as if meant only to make the wearer appear giant. Against the left wall is a single couch, with enough room to fit three or so people. The rest of the room is filled with all sorts of memorabilia and treasures. There are all kinds of weapons, each thrumming with power, scattered around the room in secure displays. There are jewels and jewelry, all catching the light from the window and glittering with splendor. Paintings hang from the walls. One large canvas depicts the ruins of a village near a surging river as a storm approaches. Another, right beside it, is much smaller, and shows a young man with light hair and a large smile on his face. Another painting sitting at an angle between a drawer and the wall shows three young men, all their weapons displayed elsewhere in the room. The final painting in the room is the smallest, but with the grandest frame and the clearest position from the desk. It depicts something very simple, a beautiful young woman with an elegant bearing. Arthur goes behind the desk and sits down, then beckons Ace over. Ace walks over to the front of the desk.

“Should I… just stand here?”

“I suppose I should get some chairs up here. Been calling people up a lot more these days. But yes, you should just stand for now.”

“Alright…” Ace shifts around uneasily. “You… You’re some kind of adventurer, right? Then I’m sorry, but I’m not the right—” Arthur chuckles.

“Do you think you’re too weak? Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning to put you on the frontlines in the first place. I made this guild so strong people wouldn’t be alone. That’s why I wanted somebody like you. You had good eyes. Determined, passionate, joyful eyes. I know you would be able to see it through.” Ace can’t accept his praise.

“I’m not what you think I am. I don’t have any skills. I’m bad with people. I’m sure there’s nothing I can do for the guild. I won’t meet your expectations. I’m…” Arthur looks Ace right in the eyes, Ace quickly averts his.

“You think you can’t. I think you can. This isn’t the sort of conflict you can resolve just by talking.” Arthur taps the glass dome on his desk five times, a small light pulsing inside at his touch. “I’ll give you a test. The results will speak for themself.”