Chapter 11

“You ready for showtime kid?” Clint grabs the door handles to the large double doors in front of them. Silas comments, “Feels like a dream really. Being here in the Guild HQ and meeting the counsel, some of the strongest adventurers in the world.”

Clint chuckles then throws the doors open with as much theatrics as he could muster. “The prisoner… I mean the recruit has awoken!”

As they walk in Silas can feel the presence and massive power imbalance that these people exude when compared to himself. All of the eyes in the room are glued to him. Some of the counsel had smiles on their faces and others looks of disdain, and even some with the look of indifference.

Clint nudges his side and motions forward, indicating for him to introduce himself. Silas nervously steps forward. He can’t shake this feeling that he has accidentally stepped into the lion's den and he is about to be a delicious meal.

“My name is Silas. Born, raised, and currently living in the main city of Tricot. Rank D adventurer. Class sword fighter.”

One of the smiling faces, a young man with half long and green hair and the other half short and silver, speaks up. “Welcome to the Guild young Silas. My name is Alban Galwell. I am the head of the counsel.”

Going down the line Alban points out each member of the counsel. Going clockwise around the table:

Rank 2 - Jasmine Ilya - An average height woman dressed in a dark purple short dress. She had short light pink hair with dark purple accents. She looks at him with a curious smile and glare. Almost like she is contemplating whether to fight him or devour him.

Rank 3 - Malik Rolland - A very bookish tall man in white mage robes that had ornate red accents. His hair was dark red, short, and he wore horn rimmed glasses. His glare was cold and calculating.

Rank 4 - Vincent Strong - A mountain of a man wearing a simple black tank top and dark gray combat style pants and boots. He had slicked back dark gray hair. He was leaning back with a curious grin.

Rank 5 - Moriya Mirai - A teenage boy with short light blue hair. He had a sharp look, well actually, more like a death glare.

Rank 7 - Rebecca Wong - A fairly tall slender woman with an extremely long black ponytale and thin glasses. She was glaring but not at Silas. Her death glare was set upon Clint.

Alban points to Clint who was still standing next to Silas, “And last is Clint Ekhart, He is Rank 6 and will be your mentor going forward.”

*****

Now that Clint had taken his seat at the massive table Alban continued to explain the situation.

“With the introductions completed let me explain what we have learned, what your mission will be, and the conditions placed upon you.” Alban glances down at the bracelet on Silas’s wrist.

“Let me start with your mission with the Guild. We have been working with the Magical Institute of Oksana on Creation Event theory and a brilliant young scentist from the north has discovered a means for us to detect where creation events will occur next. She is currently working on computing that as we speak. Your mission, Silas, is to go to Creation Events before they occur to not only explore them but to seize any and all Spectral Weapons that appear within them.”

“You will not be alone on this mission. Your mentor, Clint Ekhart, and your fellow juniors, will also be tasked with this mission. Though we do expect great things from someone who now weilds a Cataclysm Class Spectral Weapon.”

Clint raises his fist up to show the matching bracelet that they both have. Alban continues, “Of course use of that Spectral Weapon will be limited. The bracelet on your arm serves two functions, one it limits your ability to draw from the weapons pool of power.”

“Any of us counsel members are able to grant you access to the power however we will control how much you have access to at any given moment. Clint will be your primary handler.”

“The other function of the bracelet is to control you. If you lose control Clint has the ability to activate it and it will inject a fast acting poision into your blood stream, killing you. If you attempt to run away it will activate as well. If Clint dies then your bracelet will also activate.”

Clint speaks up, “Don’t worry kid, I volunteered to wear one as well. Mine is special though. If you were to die then it will inject poision into my own vains.”

Alban looks at Silas with a look of shame. “I’m sorry to thrust these conditions on you; however it’s for everyones safety, including your own.”

“Finally as you are a true junior to a counsel member you are granted a family name. Your family name shall be Graves. From this point on you shall be known as Silas Graves.

*****

As Alban finishes up the explanations and entrance of the meeting room bursts open and Yulinka comes running into the meeting. Alban responds, “Silas this is the brilliant scientist from Oksana I mentioned earlier, her name is Yulinka.”

Yulinka cuts him off in her hurry, “Sorry for the interruption but this is extremely important. We finished the analysis and found that the next creation event will occur in the capital of Tricot.”

Jasmine, with a look of surprise on her face, takes no time to question this information, “Do you mean that it will happen on the surface!?”

Yulinka confirms the shocking truth, “Yes ma’am. We don’t know what will happen as no such event has occurred on the surface in recorded history.”

Silas begins to panic. “My families there! How long until it happens?!”

Yulinka looks at Silas and then to Alban as if she was asking for permission to speak. When Alban shakes his head in agreement she answers, “Three days from now.”

Clint answers Silas’s next question before he can even ask it. “There’s no way we can make it before the event occurs, however it is in our and your best interest that we leave right away.”

Yulinka, with a look of excitement in her eyes, asks if it would be alright for her to accompany them. Alban answers her request, “This could provide valuable data, however you're asking to walk into a possible war zone. Clint, do you feel upto baby sitting our young, naive scientist as well as watching our new recruit?”

“You think I can say no to such a cute girl? Alban, do you really need to ask?”

*****

Tsubomi and Kaylin are the lone figures following down the well worn road in front of them. They have been travelling quietly for quite some time at this point. Finally breaking the silence Tsubomi speaks, “I suggest we stop at the village coming up ahead for the night. Clint and I stayed at the only inn last time we came this way.”

Kaylin shakes her head in agreement. “Tsubomi?”

Tsubomi sighs, “That’s Lady Sada or at least Lady Tsubomi. I am your senior in the guild after all, Miss Roses.”

Kaylin is still surprised to hear her brother's last name become her own. “Sorry I’m just not used to any of this yet. I have a question. Did you ever meet my brother Alex Roses? He used to be a junior to Lord Plibius.”

“I think we met once a long time ago.”

Kaylin ponders her next words. “Do you know about his reputation?”

Tsubomi glances back at her for a brief moment with contemplating eyes. “I’ve heard things. Things like him being a deserter. Leaving to go into the cavern on a search and rescue mission. Another rumor was that he killed his party including Lord Plibius. Though I imagine you have other thoughts on the matter, am I correct?”

“Tch, my brother would never do such a thing! He loved Lord Plibius and looked up to him. He was kind and caring. He always helped others in need.”

Tsubomi sighs again, “Calm down. I’m only speaking of rumors, nothing more. I’m sure you have your reasons for asking Lord Ekhart to join us and I’m sure it has to do with your brother.”

She stops and turns to face her. Tsubomi looks at her with a calculating coldness. “I expect you to put the Lord Ekhart, the mission, and the guild before any such personal whims.”

Kaylin's face shifts to that of defiance. “Am I also expected to prioritize them in that order?”