The swordsman casts a spell, and multiple fireballs appear around him, rotating. He charges the gunslinger.
Bang!
The swordsman drops.
The other two bandits scramble backward, then turn and run. The gunslinger spins his revolver once and slides it back into his coat. He's dressed in a black shirt and shoes, brown trousers, a long trenchcoat, and a wide-brimmed hat pulled low.
"You alright, kid?"
"I'm fine." Aki catches his breath. "How did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"I didn't see you fire. How? And most importantly—how do you even have a gun?" Aki's eyes are wide.
"You ask too many questions, kid. Plus, I just saved your life."
"Thanks for that." Aki pauses. "Oh—I have to find my friends."
He takes off running before the gunslinger can respond. Aki finds Custos and Viola near the edge of the market. They're both out of breath, leaning against a wall. He tells them about the gunslinger as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky orange and red.
By the time Aki returns to the compound, it's evening. Knights escort him through the gates.
His mother is waiting in the parlor.
"Aki Àlvaro! How could you? How could you sneak off again?"
"I had to. There's nothing to do here except read and train, train and read. I was bored. I needed to see my friends."
"You know what? I think I'm just going to register you for a Knight Guild. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two there." She turns to leave.
"Mum, wait." Aki's voice stops her. "I can't join them. I'd be a joke there. Most kids develop an affinity type by ten and can control mana by their early teens, but I can't. Something is wrong with me."
His mother turns back. Her expression softens. "I'm sorry, Aki."
She sits down across from him. "I'm sorry you grew up feeling this way. But I have tried everything— everyone and everywhere I could— to figure out why this is happening. And I'm so sorry I couldn't fix it."
"I know you did, Mum. I know." Aki sits and clenches his fist. "But today I had a strange encounter, and it made me realize something. I shouldn't be stuck here doing what I don't want. There's so much out there I don't know. So much I haven't seen."
He looks up. "I want to start my own guild."
"A guild?" His mother stares at him. "You don't know what you're talking about. Because I know you're not talking about a Knight Guild. The risk of being an adventurer is too great. I can't let you do that."
"Why not? Dad did it."
"Where is he now?" Her voice cracks. She lowers her head. "I don't want to hear you're missing. Or dead. Or have your body sent back to me."
"I understand, Mum." Aki stands. "You've seen me training with the knights. I may not have magic, but hey, I'm very much capable of taking care of myself. Plus, I won't be out there alone."
She lets out a long sigh and walks in a circle before sitting again. "Just like your father. When you set your mind to something, you don't stop."
She stands and walks over to him, rubbing his head. "I love you, my son. If you want this, I won't stop you."
She holds his face between her palms. "Now go wash up. We'll continue this in the morning."
The next morning, Aki walks to The Guild Registry with Custos at his side.
"I don't like this idea," Custos says. "Don't forget about our fathers."
"I won't. I understand the dangers of this line of work. That's why I plan to look for the best of the best."
"If you say so."
"How about you, Custos? What are your plans for the great big future?" Aki punches his friend's shoulder lightly.
"I think I'll join a Knight Guild."
Aki stops walking. "What?"
"There's no freedom there, Cus. Why?"
Custos meets his eyes. "Our fathers were adventurers, Aki. They went on an expedition and never came back. Even if we haven't verified it, it's been nine years. Nine years. They're dead. Something killed them. Something powerful." He pauses. "So I've vowed to protect people from such horrors. So children can see their parents. People can see their families and loved ones without fear of being attacked or destroyed. That's my sacrifice."
Aki nods slowly. "I guess the two of us have made up our minds, huh?"
They arrive at The Guild Registry—a large three-story building buzzing with activity. Secretaries move between desks stacked high with documents. Knights stand guard at every entrance. Aki approaches a secretary at the front desk.
"Your name?"
"Aki Álvaro."
"Age?"
"Nineteen."
"Guild name of choice?"
"Uh... El Diablo."
"Want an insignia?"
"Yeah."
"Go to the designer."
That's it. Aki blinks. He leaves the building with Custos.
"I guess I'll see you around, huh?" Aki says.
"It's not like you're leaving today, man." Custos grins. They both laugh.
When Aki returns home, his mother gives him small bags of gold and gemstones, along with food and supplies for his horse. She hugs him tight, and wishes him a safe journey. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
"I promise, Mom."
On his way out of the capital, he stops by Custos's farm to say goodbye to him and his grandparents.
He asks around for the gunslinger. No one knows much—just a name— Lee.
Aki leaves through the capital gate, heavily guarded by knights, and heads down the road. The journey stretches on.
One day. Two. Three— he's still on the road. The horse is exhausted, so he sets up camp in the windy deserts of the central region, just outside the capital's sphere of influence. He puts up a tent for himself and his horse, building a small fire as night falls.
Travelers pass by—some nod in greeting, others eye his fine clothes and consider robbing him. None do at the moment…until now.
"Hey, kid! We need some help with this."
A voice calls from the darkness. A gnome approaches, flanked by two humans. One of them is limping, pretending to be injured.
The "injured" one suddenly draws his sword and infuses it with crackling lightning. He rushes toward Aki.
"Whoa! We can talk this out like gentlemen, right?" Aki raises his hands. The other two are already ransacking his bags. The gnome screams with excitement as he discovers the gold inside.
"Jackpot!" They tie Aki up and huddle together, whispering about what to do with him.
Bang! Aki smiles. He knows that sound.
The three robbers freeze, staring into the darkness. The gunslinger steps into the firelight, cigarette between his lips. He exhales a slow stream of smoke.
"Heard you've been looking for me, kid."
"That's right!" Aki snaps the ropes binding him. The three bandits stare in shock, then scatter into the desert.
Aki stands, brushing dust off his coat. He looks at him. "I just created a guild, and I want you to be my very first member, Mr. Lee."