Alister frowned, furrowing his brow. The system hadn’t offered any alternative quests that rewarded clawed gauntlets. Did he have to find one to buy somewhere? Just as his mind was filled with unanswered questions, a cheery voice broke through his thoughts.
“Ah, there you must be, Alister! I’m Beatrice, but everyone calls me Bea! I’m here to guide you to the main hall where you’ll meet the others.”
Bea, a bundle of enthusiasm, practically bounced towards him. Her uniform, though neat, seemed a moment away from disarray, a loose strand of her pink hair escaping her braid or a button close to popping free. Her smile, however, was genuine and somewhat heartwarming. Before Alister could fully respond, Bea continued, her voice bubbling with excitement.
“So, is it really true? You’re the one who summoned the mythical drake? right?”
Alister raised an eyebrow, a touch of nonchalance creeping into his voice.
“Well, if the rumors weren’t true, would I be here?”
Bea’s smile faded for a brief moment, a look of something similar to nervousness crossing her face. She recovered quickly, though, having a slightly awkward smile. “Right, of course! Silly me. Let’s get you over to the others.”
She gestured towards him, indicating he should walk beside her. As they began their walk, Bea continued to ask him questions, her voice barely containing her excitement.
Bea was brimming with barely contained enthusiasm as she began leading Alister through the halls of the building.
“This way!” she said, taking a sharp turn down a brightly lit corridor. She pointed out various sections as they passed:
“Here’s the training grounds! Top notch equipment, and plenty of space to practice your skills.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Word has it there’s a hidden chamber somewhere around here where they train the elite squads, or was it an arena… Don’t really remember now.”
They continued their walk, passing by what appeared to be a library and a large communal kitchen that smelled faintly of baking bread.
Finally, they reached a set of massive double doors, their surface gleaming with a metallic sheen.
Bea stopped, her smile widening. “Alright, Alister,” she announced in a hushed tone, “This is it. The main hall. Prepare yourself!”
Alister, calm and collected, simply nodded. As he did, a voice echoed in his head – Cinder’s booming tones.
‘This smells like a den for warriors,’ she said.
Terra’s voice, softer but no less firm, followed, ‘Indeed. Individuals worthy of our lord’s presence.’
The metal doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a sight that took Alister’s breath away for a moment.
The massive white hall stretched before him, its walls covered with murals displaying scenes from the cosmos. Rows of comfortable looking seats, arranged in a semi-circular pattern, filled the central area.
At the far end, on an elevated platform, sat Yuuto. He looked every bit the part of a king, giving off an aura of power and authority. Beside him sat Aiko, her expression neutral as always.
The moment the doors opened, the entire hall fell silent. All eyes turned towards the entrance, fixated on the figure of Alister stepping into the room.
Alister, momentarily stunned by the sheer scale of the hall, couldn’t help but think to himself, ‘This place looks like some sort of massive classroom.’
The silence was shattered by Bea’s enthusiastic voice, a touch too loud for the hushed atmosphere.
“I did it, Master Yuuto! I brought Alister, just like you ordered!”
Yuuto, his gaze fixed on Alister, gave a small nod. “Good work, Beatrice. You may take a seat.”
As Bea scurried back to a seat in the crowd, a wave of murmurs rippled through the hall.
“Who is that guy?”
“Wait, isn’t that him.”
“Is that really him? The one who summoned the drake?”
“I heard the guild master went himself to scout him.”
“Wait really?”
“How did you not see it, it was all over the news!”
“I heard he’s just a rookie, what’s he doing here?”
Yuuto let the whispers simmer for a moment, then raised a hand for silence. Everyone fell quiet, their attention focused on him. He spoke with a clear, commanding voice that echoed throughout the hall.
“I’m sure most of you are already familiar with our newest member,” Yuuto began. He pointed towards Alister, who managed to stay calm under the weight of a hundred stares.
“This is Alister. The summoner who, as many of you know, successfully summoned and tamed a drake.”
Yuuto’s gaze remained Alister’s for a moment, then he inclined his head towards the elevated platform.
“Alister, please make your way up here.”
“Understood,” Alister replied, his voice steady despite the sudden weight of attention. As he strode forward, his steps were measured and purposeful. He carried himself with an air of quiet authority that surprised even himself.
Reaching the platform, Alister stopped a couple of steps from Yuuto. Aiko, who had been observing him with a neutral expression, suddenly flashed him a sharp, intense glare.
‘Guess that’s her way of telling me to not get too close.’
He halted in his tracks, raising an eyebrow with a touch of amusement.
Yuuto, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued.
“Since Alister is already an official member of the Guild, I’m sure no one here requires a demonstration of his abilities. You’re all vaguely aware of what he’s capable of, thanks to the rumors that have been circulating. Therefore, I’d like to cut straight to the point. Which one of our esteemed squad leaders here would like to welcome Alister onto their team?”
His question hung in the air, causing a flurry of murmured conversations amongst the assembled Guild members. Several figures, all radiating an aura of power and experience, shifted in their seats, their eyes gleaming with a touch of curiosity and perhaps a hint of competition. It seemed Alister’s arrival had stirred the crowd considerably.
A brown skin man with a single, gleaming eyepatch slammed his fist on the armrest of his seat, the sound echoing through the hall. The murmurs died down instantly, replaced by tense freewebnvel.coɱ
silence.
“Hold on a minute, Master Yuuto,” the man boomed, his voice gruff and laced with disbelief. “Are you seriously suggesting we all gathered here, a collection of the Guild’s most experienced squad leaders, just to fight over some rookie?”