As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the town seemed to glow with a quiet beauty. Golden light spilled across the rooftops, painting the streets in soft amber hues. Suren slowed, taken aback—he'd never seen anything like it. The forest and town back home was always shrouded in mist, cold and hushed, never this warm or alive.
He paused, letting the moment sink in. Gosh… I hope Zefrin's having as peaceful a dream as I am, he thought, a small smile flickering across his face. Hmm… I wonder if his immortality carries in the dreams?
Shaking the thought aside, Suren pressed on. With most of the vendors packing up and the streets growing quieter, weaving through the town became easier. He broke into a light run, the fading sunlight trailing behind him as his search continued.
After a few minutes of wandering, Suren stopped in front of a large building with a weathered sign that read Guild Hall.
"Oh… a guild? What's that?" he muttered, tilting his head. His town had never had anything like it, and the word itself felt foreign on his tongue.
Just then, a man stepped out through the front doors. Seizing the chance, Suren raised his voice. "Hey! Can I talk to you for a second?"
The man walked over and came to a stop in front of Suren. He wasn't much taller, but his build was solid and broad, adorned with a silver chest plate and shoulder plates along with it, with a dark grey tunic and sturdy brown boots as dark as a young oak tree. "Yeah? What is it, kid? Need some help with something?" he asked, his tone polite but steady, his expression calm with a hint of warmth.
Suren glanced down, rubbing the back of his neck. He felt a little embarrassed for even asking—worried the man might laugh—but he needed answers. "Yeah… actually, could you tell me what a guild is? And, um, what it's for?"
The man's brows shot up for a moment, then his surprise melted into a teasing grin. "Ohhh, I see how it is! You must be a new adventurer trying to land your first job, huh?" He nudged Suren lightly in the shoulder with his elbow, chuckling. "Come on, why don't I introduce you to some of the folks inside? They'll give you the full rundown better than I could."
Suren was caught off guard by the man's kindness. It felt good—being treated like a normal boy for once, even in this strange dream world. "Uh… yes, sir. Thank you for the opportunity," he said with a small nod.
The man paused mid-step, giving Suren a curious look, as if studying him. "What is it? You nervous?" he asked, a teasing grin spreading across his face.
Suren let out a soft chuckle. "No, sir. It's not that, it's just… ah, never mind." He shook his head and gestured forward. "Lead the way."
The man smiled and took a few steps toward the door, then paused and glanced back at Suren with a half-grin, half-warning look.
"But hey—be prepared. Some of the folks in there can be a bit intense. They might wanna test you right off the bat."
Suren closed his eyes for a brief moment and drew in a deep breath, steadying himself. When he opened them again, his voice was calm. "Okay… I think I'm ready."
The man grinned, letting out a light chuckle. "That's the spirit. Alright, here we go."
Together, they pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside. A cool wave of air greeted Suren—refreshing, but not biting. The room beyond was softly lit, warm lamps casting a gentle glow across polished wood and bustling tables. It felt like a mix between a guild and a tavern, humming with quiet life.
To the left, a bartender worked behind a modest counter lined with bottles of amber and gold. A stubby man with a fiery orange beard sat nearby, clad in a dark green tunic and worn leather boots much like the man who'd led Suren in. He laughed heartily with his companion and beside him, a tall, silver-haired man in a silver priest's robe nursed a glass of rum, his eyes distant and tired.
Across the room, near the right wall, stood a reception desk manned by a black-haired clerk with thin rectangular glasses and a red tunic, tied at the waist with a piece of black cloth. But what truly drew Suren's gaze was the large board fixed to the wall just beside him—covered in posters and notices.
It looked exactly like the one he'd seen in the card back at the fortune-teller's tent. His chest tightened. There it is.
The man who'd brought Suren in stepped forward and raised his voice so everyone could hear. "Alright, everyone! I know I just left, but I'm back—and I've brought someone new who's looking for a job!"
Suren stood beside him, his posture straight, face set in a serious expression. The chatter in the room quieted as all the men in the room turned their way.
Noticing Suren's hesitation, the man spoke again, flashing an easy grin. "Oh, right! Name's Brown. We go by the colors of our clothes around here—makes things simple. If you end up joining, you'll get your own color based on what you're wearing. Pretty easy to remember, huh?"
Suren straightened up, his voice a little shaky as he spoke—nerves creeping in now that all eyes were on him. "Uh… yes, sir. I'm Suren—Suren Yorim. It's nice to meet you all, and… thank you for having me."
Suren wasn't usually shy, but the silence of a room full of eyes fixed on him was enough to make his nerves spike. That's when the stutter crept in—the unease of being judged. He'd felt it too many times before—whether it was the villagers whispering behind his back or the kids who'd venture into the forest just to mock him.
The orange-bearded man spun his stool in the direction of Suren and rose to his feet. His boots thudded softly against the floor as he stepped closer, stopping just a few paces from Suren. With a deep, steady voice that carried across the room, he asked, "So… what brings you here, boy?"
Suren met the man's gaze and slowly exhaled, the tension in his body melting away like mist before dawn.
"I want to join this guild," he said quietly. Then his eyes sharpened, the hunter surfacing beneath the boy. "There's a man I have to find. And I won't reach him the way I am now."
Green hesitated, his breath catching as his eyes met Suren's. There was something unsettling in that stare—not arrogance, not fear, but resolve sharpened by survival.
"Hm…" he said quietly, a slow smile forming beneath his beard. "Should we have him take the test?" His gaze shifted to Red, the decision no longer far off.
Red adjusted his glasses, the frame sliding slightly up his nose. His sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in every face before he let out a soft sigh. "Yes… I suppose we shall," he said, voice calm but edged with authority. "And someone—please—go fetch Black and White."
"Those idiots," Red muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as if the very thought irritated him.
Red stepped forward and ascended a short staircase, the wood creaking softly under his weight. He paused at the top, clearing his throat with a crisp, deliberate sound that drew the room's attention.
"Now, Suren," he said, eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded the boy, "we'll be teaching you a few things before the test begins."
Suren shot upright, chest puffed out a little too dramatically. "OK!" he shouted, voice cracking as he tried to sound confident.
From the side, Silver chuckled hard… a stomach hurting hard. "Gosh, you're gonna bring life to this place like no other," he muttered, smirking, clearly entertained.
Suren's smile brightened, almost splitting his face in half. He'd never heard anyone say they enjoyed his energy before—it felt strange, but in a good way, like discovering a path in his heart that he didn't know he had.
"Alright, come along now, Suren," Red said, his tone sharp with a hint of impatience.
"Y-yes, sir!" Suren stammered, scrambling up the stairs in an awkward jog, trying not to trip over his own feet. At last, they reached the second floor, where a long, dimly lit hall stretched before them, silent and waiting.
Red glanced back at Suren, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Looks like you've already left an impression on Silver. I don't think you'll have trouble with anyone here…
…except those two."
Suren paused, then tilted his head. "You mean Black and White?" He blinked. "Who are they, anyway? And where would they be?"
Red's expression stiffened. The color drained from his face, as if Suren had just spoken the name of a ghost. "…Either helping the town's army," he said slowly, "or beating the life out of each other in the training grounds."
Just who are these guys?