The last rays of sunlight flickered through the trees as Hiro and Kyren ambled down the dusty path, the air thick with the scent of pine and cooling earth. Hiro was a live wire, practically skipping as he waved his arms like he was conducting an invisible orchestra. "Kyren, listen up—there's three big steps to joining the Sacred Selection Guild, or any top-tier guild for that matter," he said, his voice crackling with excitement. His hands carved wild arcs in the air, as if he could pull the guild's glory right out of the sky.
Kyren's eyes tracked Hiro's every move, his face a mask of quiet intensity, though a spark of curiosity burned in his gaze. Hiro was always a chatterbox, but this? This was Hiro lit up like a bonfire, and Kyren couldn't help but lean in. He's not just dreaming, Kyren thought. He's got a plan.
Hiro spun on his heel, walking backward to face Kyren, his grin wide enough to light the darkening path. "Step one: we gotta snag at least one Star Badge from Arramaya's Legacy Guild."
Kyren's brow creased, his mind snagging on the name. "Hold on. Arramaya's Legacy Guild—what are they? And why are they handing out badges?" His voice was steady, probing, like he was piecing together a puzzle.
Hiro's hands mimed holding a badge, his fingers twitching like he could already feel its weight. "They're the big shots who run the show in our realm—kinda like the government, but cooler. They set the rules, keep things organized, make sure guilds don't just pop up and cause chaos." He flashed a playful wink, but his eyes were deadly serious.
Kyren nodded, processing. "So, the Sacred Selection Guild's the top dog, and Arramaya's Legacy is the one keeping the leash on everyone?"
"Exactly!" Hiro said, spinning back to walk forward, though his voice dipped, like he was bracing for bad news. "But here's the catch—we can't just waltz up and grab a Star Badge. We gotta enroll in Sky Academy first. It's the only place in the realm that teaches you the real stuff—combat, picking your role path, all the gritty details."
Hiro's shoulders sagged as he said "Sky Academy," like the name alone was a mountain he wasn't sure he could climb. "Once we graduate, they give us a Star Badge based on how good we do. Sounds simple, right?" His tone said otherwise.
Kyren's eyes narrowed, catching the shift in Hiro's mood. "You're not sounding so sure anymore. What's the problem?" His voice was firm, no room for fluff.
Hiro let out a theatrical groan, raking a hand through his messy hair. "Sky Academy's no joke, man. The entrance exam's brutal—way tougher than anything we've ever faced. There's people out there who make us look like kids swinging sticks." He shot Kyren a wide-eyed glance, like he was half-expecting him to bolt. "And the kicker? It costs five silver just to take the exam. Fail, and that money's gone. No refunds."
Kyren didn't flinch, his gaze locked on Hiro's. Doubt was creeping into his friend's voice, and it set Kyren's nerves on edge. He stepped forward, planting a hand on Hiro's shoulder, stopping him cold. "Hiro, every second we spend scraping together that silver is training. Every job we take, every muscle we build—it's all part of getting there. We're not wasting a thing. We can do this."
Hiro blinked, caught off guard by the steel in Kyren's words. A shaky grin broke across his face. "Man, you're intense sometimes, you know that?" He scratched the back of his head, his usual spark flickering back. "But… I dunno, Kyren. Even if we train like crazy, there's no guarantee. And living in Arramaya City? It's pricey. We'd need at least 15 silver—10 for the exam fees for both of us, 5 for food and a place to crash."
Kyren crossed his arms, his mind already churning. "Then we work harder. You said people in town know you're a hustler. They'll toss us extra jobs, won't they?" His voice was calm but unyielding, like he was stating a fact, not asking a question.
Hiro's grin widened, and he gave Kyren a light shove. "Yeah, alright, tough guy. They'll probably beg us to take their work." His laugh was bright, the tension between them dissolving like mist.
Kyren's lips twitched, but his focus didn't waver. "What's step two? After the badge?"
Hiro spun around again, walking backward with a flourish, like he was performing for a crowd. "Once we've got our Star Badge, we can apply to guilds. Do well, and we might get scooped up by a solid one—or, if we're real hotshots, we could start our own with three Star Badges." He mimed a grand bow, nearly tripping over a rock. "Top students at Sky Academy get three-star badges, so that's the dream."
Kyren nodded, his mind racing. "It's a grind, but it's clear-cut. What's the catch?"
Hiro's energy dipped, his shoulders slumping. "It's cutthroat, man. Last exam, 4,000 people showed up. Only 900 passed. And of those, just 35 graduated. We're talking the best of the best." He flung his arms out, letting out a long, dramatic sigh.
Kyren saw the doubt creeping back into Hiro's eyes. He stepped closer, his voice sharp. "You think we can't make it?"
Hiro stumbled, laughing as he caught himself. "I want to believe we can, but… those odds…" He glanced at Kyren, expecting a shrug or a joke.
Kyren's stare was like iron. "Hiro, I don't know who I was before—warrior, wanderer, or something else entirely. But I'm here now, alive, for a reason. Call it luck, call it fate—I don't care. If we don't try, we'll never know what we're capable of."
Hiro's grin returned, brighter than before, fueled by Kyren's fire. "Okay, okay, you win. And who knows? Maybe Sky Academy'll jog something loose about your past. Maybe someone there knew you… or maybe you were a guild member yourself." He waggled his eyebrows, half-teasing.
Kyren's expression softened, a rare chuckle escaping. "Maybe. We'll figure it out together. That's the deal."
They walked in silence for a beat, the path crunching underfoot, until Kyren spoke again. "What's the third step?"
Hiro's eyes lit up, and he threw his hands skyward. "Oh, step three's the best! Once we're in a guild, we can compete in the Triumph Tournament, run by Arramaya's Legacy. It's where guilds flex their strength—big prizes, bigger bragging rights." He bounced on his toes, barely containing himself.
Kyren's interest piqued. "They're really pushing people to fight, aren't they?"
"Big time," Hiro said, nodding like his head might fall off. "The tournament's got three parts. Newbies without badges fight in a survival game—last one standing or most knockouts wins. Mid-tier guilds battle for a shot at climbing the ranks and getting famous. Then the top guilds send their best for one-on-one duels."
Kyren's eyes gleamed. "Sounds like a proving ground."
Hiro smirked. "Guess who's been owning it?"
"Rezhura," Kyren said without hesitation.
"Bingo!" Hiro crowed. "Undefeated since the 7th Triumph Tournament. Took down every champ before him, and he's still king after the 12th."
Kyren's voice dropped, thoughtful. "I need to see him fight."
"You won't be disappointed," Hiro said, his eyes sparkling. "People say the Royal Squad could sweep the whole thing if they all showed up."
Kyren tilted his head. "What's Rezhura look like?"
Hiro shrugged, arms flopping dramatically. "Nobody knows! He's been a ghost since leaving the orphanage. If you want a peek, we'd have to hit Knight Bay City and sweet-talk the orphanage staff—and we'd need a damn good excuse."
Kyren's steps slowed, a strange feeling curling in his gut. What if… He turned to Hiro, his voice quiet but heavy. "Hiro… what if I'm Rezhura?"
Hiro froze, his jaw dropping, then burst into a nervous laugh. "Whoa, hold up—you? The Perfect Knight?" But as he met Kyren's dead-serious gaze, his laughter faded, replaced by a flicker of wonder.