10 Chapter 10: Guilds

On a commerce road often used by peddlers in Grox's forest.

"Two hours, and we're here" said Akiko as she was walking on the road. {okay then before we reach the Guild city, you should probably explain me how it's work} stated Aki in space gloves as she nod. Aki didn't want to be stole by people who'll see a little demon with a beautiful grey stone katana.

One week ago, when Aki finally start to think that her master was ready, they immediately stated what they have to do infirst, because they obviously creating an empire take time, power and money. And they immediately that while improvements in strength can be made by travelling, they have to found a steady income for the money.

But problem was, although technically they can found a town and start to work in an Inn, they'll have to move constantly to improve themselves in term of power and to found allies. Akiko then propose to go to the Guild where they could earn money while travelling. Aki immediately agreed with here and they went out. In the way, Aki decided that because Akiko was still weak, she had to learn knew skills like <Sleath> or <Presence Detection> so she could fight toe toe with other.

"Basically, the guild is like a big corporation, with many branches in it and every body can only choose one branch. I heard that there was a short test for those who want to enter any of them. When inside the Guild, we're categories in level goes to F at C in the island but believe in the continent it have to be until A. Every Branch possess a Guild master and a second. Guild members are forbidden of killing each other, and if they do caught, the other members have to hunt them.

The main category branch in the Guild is called Protector's Guild. Their main functions is to subjugate monsters to protect civilians. Anyone can be a part of the Protector's Guild, but if one want to be a part of another branch, it impossible, exept if they were first a part of another branch and goes to rank C. Those are the requirements if one want to be a part of the Protector's Guild while already being in another. But it's only possible with the Protector's Guild.

For the other branch, they are : Assassin's Guild, Priest's Guild, Thief's Guild, marchant's Guild, Gourmet's Guild and Guardian's Guild.

Members of the Assassin's Guild must never kill other people than there target, even if they are specialise in the art of assassination. Furthermore with the Thief's Guild, they can't accept any contract with a level above their rank, if they do and failed they're are killed by the other members of their guild.

Priest's Guild is a guild of priests people. They are mostly hierd by those who have money because their talents in cure are above ordinary they are expansive. But the most fearsome thing here is that Priest are all intouchables. If someone attacked him other than a monster, the attacker will have a seal place on him and will be tracking down by all the Guild. Marchant's Guild and Gourmet's Guild are a bit special so it's not necessary to talk about them, so it leave, the Guardian's Guild. They are essentially gate keeper of residences. They are recrut to be Bodyguard and other things like that. And that's it I think. If you didn't understand all the things, I can repeat fore you Aki-sama"

Aki listen to the informations given quietly and did like she didn't hear her. She had to choose what was the most suitable branch for her master growth. Normally, people will choose Protector, but even if she didn't want say it loud, Aki still view Akiko as weak.

Maybe it was bacause she already have seen true powerful being before even if doesn't remember, but she really doubt her master would be able to do something in Protector's Guild at least for now. But still, she couldn't say to her why think so.

{Akiko, we won't go to the Protector's Guild} she suddenly said {it's not suitable for you and your skills. You're more like a huntress so so Thief's Guild or Assassin's Guild is more suitable for you. And if we want to be stronger, Assassin's Guild is the best from the two}

Even if Aki didn't said the truth, Akiko didn't doubt any second what her familiar said so she nod without thinking. But when the information proceed in her head, it suddenly stroke, she would have to kill people!

"Hum...Aki-sama, Assassins kill peoples not monsters" She said nervously, but Aki just replied plainly {Yeah, and? Who cares?} but that just makes Akiko more panicked afraid that she didn't understand she insisted.

"Bu.. But.. Aki-sama I will have to kill!" { Well that's the point of being an assassin}

"But I will be to scared to kill people. It took me more than a week to not get scared every time I killed animals, I don't think I can do it!"

Starting to getting annoyed, Aki shout {Listen up kid! One, you already killed someone Into dust! Second, if you want to be strong, you have to be ruthless, no mercy. A warrior forge his path in rivers of blood. Don't ever think that you won't have to kill! On contrary, you will kill more people in your life than monsters, that's the destiny awaiting for those who seek the path of strength!}

Knowing that she was wrong, Akiko lowered her head and continued to walk silently on the road while she pondered on what Aki said to her. This past month, she continuously said that she will change, but honestly in her heart she knew that she didn't. She just maintained her old way of thinking. Even though she obviously know how the world work. She wasn't born in the streets, but she used to lived in one of the poorer districts in the capital and one month wasn't enough to forget how tough it was and ruthless peoples were. The only reason she stay so innocent, was because her mother kept her in the illusion where all things was beautiful.

"When we will reach the city, I can't keep on with my attitude, even if I can't change right away, I will pretend to be what I'm not" she thought with resolution in her face.

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Two hours later, they finally reached Guild City. Before them, stood an enormous bulwark in a red metal. And with the sun starting to coming down, it make the walls more shiny than they were already. It was like seeing a city of sun. The only thing that wasn't made of that red metal, was the gate, who was dark blue in colour with a lot of embellishments.

As the two approached, they noticed that they were the only two alone. All the people at the entrance were merchants, peddlers with a few adventurers but not a single person was alone. That make Akiko more nervous, but she hid it with a plain face and walked with sureness she didn't possess at the moment.

{By the way, it's obvious, but starting from now, when you talk to me, don't speak, just think} suddenly said Aki, distracting Akiko from the sight of the crowd. "Yes, but why?"

{from the beginning, I was speaking directly into your head, so you're the only one who can hear me. And if you start to talk to me with people around they will think that you are crazy. So just do as I said if you don't want troubles} explain Aki with patience making Akiko nod.

Because, there was many people in front of the gate, it took a hour for the two girls to get in front of the gatekeepers.

"ID card or Guild card, marchandises and purposes please" said one of the guards in charge of the check-in. Akiko took her ID card and gave it to him while saying "w...I'm not a marchant, I came here to become a member of the Assassin's Guild" the gard hold ball in crystal and insert the ID card inside while the other gard look at her with a surprise face when he heard why she came here. "Then why did you came by the south Gate? The east Gate was the closest to the headquarter of that sinister guild" the gard who was finished with Akiko's ID added "Furthermore you have no criminal records, so why choosing the job of Assassin? There is more better job than it"

Not knowing what to say without blowing her character, she just replied "it's personal" in hope that they will left her, and surprisingly it worked. They just raised their shoulders and let her go in while wishing her to not die to soon. And that just served to scare Akiko more than before of what sort of place the Assassin's Guild was. But she still wear her plain face as she walked deciding to not blew off her cover no matter what.

But unfortunately it crumble right away the moment she walk inside the city, replacing her dead eyes by sparkling one. And it wasn't without reasons. The district of Marchand and Gourmet's Guild had the reputation of being the most beautiful and dazzling of all. It was crowded of people in streets 24h/24 and there wasn't a moment where you'll never heard a sound. Colour and fragrances, where all different with the colours being more beautiful one another and the parfums being more than the precedent.

The cheerfulness of the place was a thing so knew and enjoyable to Akiko that she almost lost herself. Because where she lived in the capital was one of the poorer district, the only thing she could see there was the grey sad color of the pavement and building and in some alleys, the red color of bloods. Here, the pavement was blue like the sky and the building painted with to many colors to be counted. Here, people wasn't afraid from coming out, on the contrary. But there, coming out of his house signify high risk of being murdered for their money or food.

Akiko start to enjoy as much as she could as she proceed to the east of the city, but soon she start to feel that there was suddenly less and less people on the streets. That, was not scary, but when she noticed that the further she went deeper to east the less light there was and the more cold it was, she started to freaking out. And when the pavement turn to black, a deep fog suddenly start to appear out of nowhere. It was so dense, that it was difficult to see at more than twenty meter from her. {Don't worry, just keep going straight, it's just in front of us}

And true, after five minutes walking like a blind person, Akiko finally see a deep red building dressed in front of her. The construction was an old modern castle with a big grate in what's seems to be steal in front and above that was written : Assassin's Guild.

With some wariness, she pushed the grate, traversed the little garden and stood in front of the a double door. In on of them, you could read [Braves are not seeking, honor is. Cowardice is not seeking, courage is. Safety is not seeking, determination is. When the mission is taken, we never turn back. We are assassins, and vouch on our honour to accomplish our mission or die trying.]

{they are pretty heavy words, that we can see} commented Aki without flinching. {But that exactly what we need to temper your mentality} Akiko stood absent-mindedly for a moment before gritting her teeth and pulling the doors with determination in her eyes.

But the moment she took a step inside, she felt a huge pressure on her, like the Reaper was looking at her, defying her to take another step to die. Akiko, not knowing what was happening and asking herself how she landed in this situation start to quiver from fear not seeing anything. Her determination being vaporized like a drop of water falling into a volcano. Her consciousness was being driven away replaced by madness and fear, when {WAKE UP DUMMY!!} That sentence instantly bring Akiko's consciousness back. It was like she wake up from her most fearful nightmare. And began to see more clearly.

"Hahaha, your aura can't even make a newbie lose consciousness Andrew! Furthermore, it's a demon, more than that, a lower demon! Hahaha I can't stop laughing, your more rubbish than I thought!!" suddenly said a voice.

When her eyesight was back, Akiko saw in front of her, a big hall full of tables chairs and peoples. There was an alley create frome the entrance to a big stairs leading to the other level and at the right side of the hall was counter. But the thing most noticeable was all people were staring at her. "What's happening?" Akiko thought as she once again wore her plain face.

"I didn't lose the bet yet. She didn't enter yet. As I see it, the most she can do is enduring the pressure, but can't even step inside" said an old bewhiskered man as his eyes were fixed on Akiko like beast hunting his prey. He then silently said to her "Try moving" with a defying stare.

{Akiko, this it. This is the test. They all staring at you, to see, to if you are a coward, or a true demon. Former demons where fearless! True warriors! Show them, that spirit, show them that demons aren't just some cabbage things. Show them the true meaning of determination and courage! Show it to you what's the meaning of never turning back! Because If you don't, it will be finish, so show them!} cheered Aki while she thought {Show me please, that I didn't choose you wrong to accomplish my goal}