The Guild Ranking Ceremony, Magic Chess.

Far from Drasil was a middle-aged man, black of hair partnered with steely blue eyes, he was dressed in a bright tailcoat and wore a necklace which pendant was tucked beneath his collar.

"You know, I've tried so many times now. But I still do not like seafood." He said as he devoured a plate of fish sticks while comfortably sitting upon a monstrous creature with a draconic and giant maw filled with razor sharp teeth, an agile and quick hindquarter belonging to some kinda gargantuan feline best, and a large serpentine tail which once boasted an independent consciousness from the rest of the mismatched beast. 

Yet even though the monstrosity was no doubt terrifying, a young boy with crimson eyes and hair, scaled it with no fear to meet the man who sat upon it.

"You must clink when you walk those balls of steel kid." The man said crudely as he ate another fish stick only to shake his head in disgust.

 "I don't have a reason to be afraid anymore. You killed every chimera in Kocu." The boy said in shock. "For so long I thought this island was cursed, that we'd never be free of those monsters. Each one of them had such power, even The Golden Chariot wouldn't dare come here." 

The man offered a fish stick to the kid as he admired the vast fields of chimera corpses.

"I suppose you're right. And with this done I've completed all ten requests from my guild." The man said as he took off his necklace and hung it from his hand for the boy to see, it's tall red dragon pendant glistening in the sunlight.

 "You are really strong. But one day I'll be even stronger, I'll protect everyone." The kid spoke matter of factly as he clenched his hand into a tight fist.

 "That so?" The man said in response as a sly smirk get on his face. "Well, once you do, join up with us." 

 The man then offered his pendant to the boy.

 "If you're serious, you'll fit right in at Draconum Familia."

The boy took the pendant and wore it around his neck with pride. 

********

Meanwhile back to the ceremony.

"Welcome one and all, to trial two of the Guild Ranking Ceremony." Cion announced as we all awaited his instructions from the arena. "Yesterday we had a gnarly capture the flag where Draconum Familia surprised us all with their battle strategy and strength as they climbed to second place with Azure Ursine, a battle that led to the incapacitation of The Golden Chariot's only Beta, (he's recovering well, the doctors say). But that was only the beginning! Let's see how well everyone can handle something a bit more complicated, a game of magic chess! Basically, it's normal chess but the pieces are life sized, and the kings are replaced with members from the guilds! If two kings get within range of one another they are more than aloud to duke, it out in a classic game of fisticuffs and of course the victor will win the game. But they best be careful not to get checked by the other pieces the opposing king controls as doing so will disable your abilities and put you at risk for a checkmate. One member from each guild will be randomly selected and pit up against another random member of a different guild."

"Great, if Robius gets picked we're screwed." Aceil complained quite rudely. "I hope they pit me against some Lunastray bastards, I'm getting tired of holding back."

"We don't even know who we'll be fighting against." Kenki stated. "It's best we don't make plans."

"That's just my style." I replied with enthusiasm as lightning crackled between my fingers.

Upon giving everyone time to let the rules sink in the announcer continued his chat.

"Exorcist Hanz, please take over for me!"

"If you insist. All matches will take place simultaneously within the arena however any intrusions into another guild's game will result in immediately expulsion. Points will be rewarding depending on how many of your pieces remain, and how many of your opponent's pieces you took. And now we begin!" Hanz announced.

Out of nowhere everyone was teleported throughout the arena.

At least, that's what I thought, however as chess pieces began to surround me, I understood what really happened.

Master Pops always kicked my ass in chess, but I knew the rules well enough.

Bishops are diagonal, rooks are horizontal and vertical, etc.

Unlike normal chess pieces the ones surrounding me looked alive almost, the bishops were flagmen carrying the Draconum Familia flag, the knights were equipped with shields crested with our insignia.

"This. Is. So cool!!!" I exclaimed in a roaring voice.

I wanted to bask in the moment but my opponent from Azure Ursine wasn't so keen on the idea.

"What a wonderful coincidence." The bespectacled man said as his sky-blue locks drifted in the wind. "I was wondering how strong the guild that took in our precious Kenki is."

I started the game by moving the pawn in front of my king up two squares.

"What do you care? You're the bastards that kicked her out!" I shouted with fury.

"More than you'll ever be capable of possibly understanding." The bespeckled man replied as the game truly began.

********

Whist the most unsuited member of Draconum Familia battled a tactician from my former guild, I could do nothing but watch from the audience.

I remembered Arach from Azure Ursine, he was a skilled strategist who taught most of what I knew, and Robius was no strategist so I knew exactly how the battled would end, as did my guildmates.

Which was why we were all shocked to see him actually doing surprisingly well.

"Holy shit. They've actually exchanged an equal number of pieces. As a matter of fact, Robius' pieces are actually higher quality." Aceil proclaimed in disbelief.

"Don't tell me. Is Robius actually smart?" Kukiri asked in perplexed voice as she perched on Aceil's shoulder to observe the match.

"No, he is actually stupid. Or he's an outstanding actor." Shade replied, nonchalantly insulting the tan haired fool.

'Something isn't right. Is he testing him? But why? Is it possible that Master Tuma is the third Master? The one that Master Frost mentioned. No, it must just be me coming to an early conclusion because the thought is so fresh on my mind.'

"Uh, Kenki? You good? You're looking a little constipated." Okami asked with a voice full of concern.

"I'm good, just a little nervous is all." I replied with a grin.

"Need a massage? The ladies tell me I've got magic hands." Jex offered in a pervy voice which was pretty much expected from him.

********

Once again, the masters all sat in the box discussing their plans for the Smilers.

"We should wait for Toan, he's the strongest member of Draconum Familia, potentially stronger than even me." Nikolos offered his advice to the Masters.

"You say that now, but nobody from your guild has been attacked yet. What will you do if your procrastination gets someone killed?" Kiris replied still bitter over Sieg's wounds. "Maybe we should ask Cena, after all her guild is currently going up against Lunastray. What do you think?"

Cena blushed as the expecting eyes of every Master in the room fell upon her.

"Well...I'm sorry Master Master Frost, but we have to be quick. I don't want anyone else getting hurt." Cena said as she bowed her head in shame.

"We still don't have a plan though, we can't' infiltrate their guildhall, Azure Ursine is too busy between the ceremony and protecting Mr. Jiroki from the Smiler's constant assassination attempts. and you guys don't have enough member capable of doing such a dangerous job." Master Tuma admitted. 

Before anyone could even see the source of it, an evil aura filled the room's every corner.

It's source was a man gowned in a black hooded cloak with the crescent crest of Lunastray on it. 

However, his cloak concealed all facial features and most of his body not allowing anyone a glance at what may be a defining feature.

"What kinda dangerous jobs we talking about here? Don't worry you can trust me." Even though nobody could see his face everyone could feel the sinister smile beneath his hood.

Perhaps Nikolos could take him down right there and then, however, he knew that if he did it would forever tarnish his guild's reputation, not to mention it wouldn't stop the assassination, so instead, along with everyone else, he simply waited.

"Not gonna tell me, are you? How unfortunate, I feel like I'm being left out of something important. You guys should lighten up a little, this is a ceremony. Put on some smiles."  The Lunastray master said as his hood lifted slightly revealing a ceramic mask decorated with a wide, crescent smile. A mask belonging solely to the Smilers.

The man left and his aura followed leaving the masters with an uneasy feeling.

"This changes everything, they know we know. I don't know how much longer we can keep this hidden from the council." Nikolos said.

********

Meanwhile on a train in between the southern islands a man was returning to Kume from Kocu after a job well done.

"I wonder how that fox is doing. I guess I'll see once I get home. Draconum Familia, get ready, because Toan Berate is coming back!"