Chapter 13: A Long Day
"Hey! You with the kid!"
Samy turned around, Shinra following his gaze.
The taxi driver who had dropped them off in the morning was waving from across the street.
"Look, it's that driver from earlier!"
Shinra said, tugging Samy's sleeve.
The driver jogged over, his face filled with concern.
"You two done shopping?
You look pale, man. Did someone scam you or did you lose something?"
Samy forced a smile.
"No, nothing like that.
Just exhausted."
The driver tilted his head. "If you're finished, I can take you home."
Samy sighed in relief.
"That would be great."
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Ding-dong!
The apartment's doorbell echoed through the room. Shinra, sitting on the balcony with the tiny dragon nestled in his lap, jumped up to answer.
Ryken stood at the door, casually stepping in and removing his shoes.
The scent of dinner filled the air—Samy had cooked chicken curry with rice and a simple salad.
As they gathered at the table, Ryken took his first bite and leaned back with a grin.
"Damn, this is good. Where'd you learn to cook like this?"
Samy chuckled.
"When you don't have anyone to cook for you, you figure it out yourself.
Though… my first attempts were so bad even beasts wouldn't eat my food.
Took years to fix that."
Ryken raised an eyebrow. "So, your mother or father never teach you how to cook!
Samy's eyes dimmed for a moment.
"They both died when I was small. Can't remember much."
Samy smirked, deflecting the conversation.
Ryken glanced at the shopping bags in the corner.
"At least you bought clothes. Did you get everything for the house?"
Shinra, busy stuffing his face with rice, spoke up through a mouthful.
"He got sick in the market.
We couldn't finish shopping."
Samy groaned.
"Oi, no one asked you to butt in."
Ryken's eyes narrowed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing,"
Samy replied casually.
"Some guy bumped into me.
Felt off for a bit, but I'm fine now."
"You sure you weren't robbed?"
Ryken pressed.
"Nope.
Still got the money.
No injuries either."
The night air was cool as Samy and Ryken stood on the balcony, overlooking the vast cityscape.
The sea breeze brushed past them.
"You ever heard of the Revolutionaries?" Samy asked suddenly.
Ryken's expression shifted.
"Of course. Who hasn't?
The group that opposed both the Guilds and the Governors.
Tried to take over the world… but it's all legend now.
That was fifty years ago—the Revolt War.
The stories say their leader, 'The Fool,' had twisted ideals.
That's when the current Guild Masters—Mark of Celestial Aegis, Andreas of Phoenix, and Luke of the Lion Guild—rose to power after defeating them."
Samy's voice was calm, but sharp.
"Do you know what the Revolutionary leader looked like?
Or his comrades?"
Ryken hesitated.
"No… no one does.
Not even the Masters who fought them.
Records never got released. People only remember the heroic tales, not their faces."
"How convenient," Samy muttered.
Ryken shot him a glance. "Why so interested?"
Ryken shrugged. "My brother used to tell me stories about them.
I bet they're still alive."
Ryken leaned against the rail, watching the city lights.
"Look, as a Guild member, I don't support terrorism. But I know what oppression feels like. The Governors push us every day. They want to control us like we're their slaves. But we have to fight for our freedom, not fall for empty ideals.
That's what matters."
Their conversation paused as they noticed Shinra fast asleep, sprawled across the couch with the tiny dragon curled beside him.
Ryken sighed.
"Anyway, don't forget—you have to take Shinra to the Guild Academy tomorrow.
And you're reporting to the main Guild too."
"Yeah, yeah. I got it," Samy replied, his gaze lingering on the stars.
---
The Next Morning
Ryken had already left for his duties. Samy stood over Shinra, shaking him gently.
"Oi, wake up
. We're going to the Academy today. And don't forget that dragon. We have to take him to the main Guild too."
Shinra sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Umm… okay."
"Breakfast first!" Samy said, tossing him a piece of bread.
"Are you really sure you want to attend the Academy?
You'll have to pass exams and battle tests."
With bread still in his mouth,
Shinra nodded confidently.
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They arrived at the Guild Academy Center—a massive structure shaped like a sprawling fortress, its courtyard bustling with trainees. The central plaza was lined with lev-trams and practice grounds.
At the main gate, a guard halted them.
"State your purpose."
Samy handed over the recommendation paper Alex had provided.
The guard examined it, gave a quick glance at Shinra, and waved them through toward the administration office.
Inside, a woman greeted them with a polite smile. "Good morning. I'm Rea, head of administration. Please, have a seat."
Samy greeted her and handed over the document. Rea's eyes scanned it carefully, noting Ryken's name as the recommending officer.
"So, you're refugees?" she asked, her tone professional.
"Yes. Any problem with that?" Samy replied bluntly.
"Not at all. But let me explain how it works." Rea leaned forward. "The ideal admission age is nine. In special cases, we accept younger applicants. However, we currently don't have any seats available in this city. You'll need to join a Guild first. After a small test, you can apply for Academy admission through them."
Samy frowned. "So, it's not direct admission?"
"No. And to be honest, admissions for major Guilds are already closed. The only options left are a few smaller Guilds. If you want to join the big names,
you'll need to wait a year."
Shinra looked up.
"What Guilds are available now?"
Rea checked her list.
"Spiral Guild, Valkyrie Guild, and Legion of the Silver Flames."
Samy scoffed. "Never heard of them."
Rea smiled. "They're newly established, but their names carry weight. These are the original names of the current Big Three—Celestial Aegis, Phoenix, and Lion Guild—before they rose to power. Their legacies began as humble factions like these."
Shinra thought for a moment.
"I'll go with Spiral Guild."
Samy raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"If that's his choice, it's fine," Rea said.
"Their master, Marcus the Fallen Knight, is well-respected. For Shinra's age, he'll need two years of theoretical classes, followed by a year of combat training. After that, he can choose his path."
Samy asked, "How far is the Guild?"
"About 200 kilometers away," Rea replied. "In a village called Pine."
Samy groaned. "Pine Village…? That's far. Another relocation."
"I'll complete the paperwork, but please confirm your decision within three days," Rea said kindly.
"Understood. Thank you, Mam"
As they left the academy center, Samy and Shinra both realized this was only the beginning.
Elyasia's system wasn't as simple as it seemed.
The path ahead required patience—and decisions that couldn't be undone.
The sun was still high, the heat relentless, and their long day was far from over.