1 Pathways

Inside the depths of repeating silver wrinkled woods. Where light can't pierce through overgrowing leaves of tower like trunks. The azure celestial glow, radiating from the eyes of a man known as Bleiz, reflected the enclosing large shadows.

If not for this source of clearance. Bleiz's face and eyebrows, under the hood of his dark jacket like outfit and the longest strands of his dry black hair, could barely be seen. But it's brightness ignited far. Irradiating most of his physique including the red horizontal stripe on his outfit's chest area as well as the pale ground under his jeans surrounding his leather boots.

Before Bleiz an abstract darkness moving like it had a life of it's own reduced it's color before fading to nothingness. Leaving Bleiz to be the sole form of life in such a place. However, the same kind of darkness engulfed his half right closed palm. When he hovered this darkness in front of his illuminating eyes, the brightness of the light turned subtle and only a normal pair of blue could be seen after. As if they also faded away to nothingness.

Bleiz then left the coverage of the tree, moving his legs. Hiding his hands in his front pockets.

For a while the pathway remained dead silent but not the same could be said for the thoughts inside his head. A piled up section full of ageless images and never ending questions.

"Why do I exist?" "Why does it have to be like this?" "Will there ever be an answer?"

Bleiz's thoughts had a volume that even the whistling of wind and aroma of rotting flesh caused by withering plants couldn't grasp his attention. For years and years it has been like that and has yet to stop.

Far beyond the path Bleiz ventured on. The Guild base stood firm on a grassy plain reaching the limits of vision. Under natural light from the slashes in the sky.

A place where aspiring Guild members from different Clans of the Alliance gathered in numbers. This day was no ordinary day after all.

The Guild assembly neared and one part of Naim's vast world trembled by the thousands of stomping footsteps.

"Foul monster!"

"No amount of blood was shed by such hands. You're too dangerous."

"The council of the Alliance Clans has decided for death. As the leader, I forfeit all biases and proceed with the final decision."

"This is who you are. This is what you're meant to do. Burn them all."

"The Guild is the next stage. Let it begin."

Yet again Bleiz's thoughts grew in a tremendous amount. Roaring into his ears as if they were just there. As he got closer to the Guild, his shoulders rose up for few seconds. Breathing in heavy amounts of air before exhaling them out.

Later on. The on going clarification of identities spawned several lines and Bleiz stood inside one of the Guild's crowded tents.

While relaxing his other senses in wait, Bleiz's sight kept moving and scanning. From the fiery hair of the Cloud country man in front of him. Bleiz's eyes shifted to the sharp scarlet needle hanging from the bag of a female making her way to the area they were instructed to meet a Guild Officer. Gazing over the area's purple curtains when she swayed them sideways.

Like most tents. This one also had razor thin openings on the edges and since golden slashes in the sky shined it's strongest at this time. Shadows could seep through from the outside.

Bleiz focused on all of these openings particularly the two contradicting ones.

"Next." Said a light weight voice behind the curtain covers.

Bleiz closed the gap between him and where the voice came from, never leaving the sight of the openings as he strode. The left showed nothing while a moving silhouette passed on the right, so subtle only a fraction could be seen even with light outside. It went in the direction opposite from his frontal, leading to the gates of the Guild where the entrance and exit placed next to each other.

Bleiz closed his eyes before reaching his hand out to feel the soft fabric of the curtain. Pausing for a few seconds before revealing the seated Guild Officer.

Bleiz remembered a small picture of the Officer's face pasted on top of the given instructions he read with the label, Officer Lersa Elus, written below it.

Lersa's eyes glued on to Bleiz ever since he got inside the area. The type of stare that could slit another one. The light green strips on the left side of her bob hair stood out in this dim room.

The other Officer who closed the cover didn't look over Bleiz. He unambiguously stared at whatever it was in front of him with his crew cut hair above the a certain steadiness in his facial expression like a royal guard on duty.

Bleiz didn't take too long to scout this male Officer's appearance and sat down on a wooden chair.

"Steady yourself." A clear voice resonated from the far right corner.

Overlapping the noise of curtains slashing the wind. An individual with a body width doubling the size of Bleiz or anyone in the room, barged in.

Bleiz's eyebrow, although moderately, twitched at this sudden entry. He also saw a group of uniforms standing in unison for a brief moment before the curtains closed them off. However, Bleiz caught the direction of their sights focusing on the back of the newly entered individual.

Only the gray silk fabric of this individual's hood less coat looked similar to the other Officers. Other than that, all greatly differentiated. From the green crumpling vertical lines on his shoulder area, the gold plated bars on his left chest all the way to the silver zip line on his left arm. They glowed blindingly. Even his footsteps overwhelmed the beating inside Bleiz's chest.

"As you may know. I'm the current General of the Guild and my job is to make sure everything is checked accordingly." Said the General, staring at Bleiz. "Before you pass over your final identification. You must first state your reasons as to why the Guild shouldn't label you an undercover infiltrator or assassin. Current circumstances has called for strict regulations and your future in the Guild will be based on your words. Rest assured, this is necessary."

Bleiz steadied his lower spine on the short back wood of the chair. Concealing the gripping of his hands inside the front pockets of his jacket. The sight of the General who held the highest position in the Guild reached farther than his expectations.

The Guild Officer then stood beside Bleiz. While Officer Lersa rose from her seat, continuing the focus of her vision on Bleiz and exchanged places with the General.

Towering over Bleiz, the shadows of the General and Officers nearly shaded his entire body. The same shade that hid the single droplet of liquid that streamed from his head.

When the drop of liquid passed Bleiz's jaw, his eyes rolled forward and all the subtle tottering in his body ended rather quickly.

"Well?" Asked the General.

Bleiz replied, breaking his silence. "Is that so?"

Bleiz's voice reached the middle portion of high and low pitch, creating a well balanced tone. However, His question turns the General's head like an aim locking onto a target.

"State your words again. Clearly this time." Said the General.

Bleiz smirked. "So is this the reason why someone before me went back instead of moving forward? Did that individual said underwhelming things? if so, it must have been disappointing. Certain dreams of becoming an official Guild member were crushed just like that."

"Hey. Stop with the nonsense and state the ordered reason." Said Officer Lersa.

"In a rush are we?" Asked Bleiz. "But if I remember correctly. The terms of the Guild which I signed before the entrance examinations didn't say anything about this kind of interrogation. The right to return questions are mine."

"Pass over your Identification card." The General halted the sliding of Bleiz's card on the table.

"Bleiz of the Red clan. Twenty four years in prime ages. Six feat four in height. Two one eighty three in weight. Power form, Base form. Power ability, Combat Arts. What is this Combat Arts of yours? Never before have I came across details of this kind of Power ability." Asked the General. "I've seen a lot in all my years in battle, but what is this?"

"Answering that would be boring but since I don't want to leave this place. It's my own style in battle and of course most of you haven't noticed it. Combat Arts doesn't have the same mechanics as other Power abilities."

"Mechanics? Are you saying it doesn't require any power? clarify yourself." Said the General, leaning forward to get a closer look.

"General." Said officer Lersa. "He's one of those that scored high during the examinations and it is true. Not a singular known Power ability was shown. But his Base form is"

Officer Lersa's words were cut off.

"So you do know? Wanna see it for yourself again?" Said Bleiz, Standing up.

The nearest Officer then stretched the skin and muscle tissues on Bleiz's right shoulder inwards.

"Steady Zeprilon." Said the General, looking at Officer Zeprilon beside Bleiz.

In this moment, the sternness of Zeprilon's face changed drastically. A vein ran upwards from the left side of his forehead and Bleiz became the focal point of his glaring look.

A clear abstract aura took form around Bleiz's entire body. Forcing Zeprilon's hold to grasp something foamy and imperceptible instead of Bleiz's shoulder.

Zeprilon's eyes widened at the appearance of Bleiz's Power form aura.

"Don't move!" Said Zeprilon, summoning his own aura with spiked edges.

The sharpness of his aura signaled that it was different from the one flowing around Bleiz. Called as the Offensive form, most life in Naim birthed with it.

"What if I do?" Bleiz shifted his weight to side, turning his body, facing Zeprilon.

The unsteady Zeprilon wasted no time and plunged towards Bleiz, launching forward using his outspread hands and fingers.

Bleiz bent back slightly, enough to free space between him and Zeprilon. He formed fists near both sides of his chin, with his arms blocking his chest area and elbows tucked in to protect his ribs.

Zeprilon grabbed the outer exposed parts of Bleiz's arms. Clutching the part just below Bleiz's wrists.

As expected, his Offensive form aura made Bleiz's Base form aura tremble while being crushed. Zeprilon's attempt forcefully slid Bleiz's footing backwards.

From both Officer Zeprilon's shoulder blades, golden scaled feathers tore out of his clothes arranging into two parts the stretched wider than his own body. His Power ability revealed itself.

The force from the flap of Zeprilon's wings wounded and opened the curtains behind them. Blowing dust around the area. Bouncing the chair off the ground.

Zeprilon leaned forward, forcing Bleiz to bend his back even more in their stale mate situation.

Bleiz took a step back with his right leg and threw the sharpest part of his knee upwards, aiming Zeprilon's chest.

Zeprilon then released Bleiz's arms and formed a cross with his own hiding his center. However, Bleiz's knee didn't come but Zeprilon's cross defense wobbled as if it was pierced by something invisible. Causing him to lose balance.

For a moment he saw the range of Bleiz's Base form making his mouth and eyes expand.

Bleiz's Base form aura stretched so far out from his knee It shaped a sharp peak, projecting a visual appearance of elongating itself.

Zeprilon grit his teeth as he shrugged off the imbalance in his legs. He got up soon after and clawed on to Bleiz's yet again. This time his grip almost made Bleiz's arms snap.

Bleiz's Base form aura flowed towards different directions around his body, increasing speed with each turn like a cyclone, halting the full force of Zeprilon bit by bit.

Denying any attempts Zeprilon has to fly him off the ground. The aura on Bleiz's boots stuck on the floor like a sticky substance.

The springy texture of Bleiz's Base form aura also absorbed and pushed out the spikes of Zeprilon's Offensive aura.

For Zeprilon they were like the turbulence in the sky whenever he flew. Decreasing his momentum. Getting in his way.

For the General and Officer Lersa. The sight of Bleiz controlling his Base form stunned their bodies. They continued to observe with both of their faces glowing the reflection of two clashing Power form auras.

Bleiz took a step back with his right leg again, leaving it's initial position. Zeprilon anticipated another attack. He then pulled Bleiz towards him and threw his own right knee towards Bleiz's mid section.

Bleiz instantly followed after Zeprilon's attack using his own like he already foresaw it. But instead of putting force into it and thrusting it forward like Zeprilon's. Bleiz steadied his stretched out knee in a slightly lowered location.

Zeprilon concentrated most of his strength and Offensive form aura in this attack to finish Bleiz in one blow.

However, due to the positioning. The part where Zeprilon focused most of his might took a course higher than Bleiz's defensive knee, exposing his own shinbone.

The clashing of his right shinbone into Bleiz's right knee sparked electricity from his legs that ran through his nervous system. Though it wasn't enough to break his bones crucially, it prompted his grip on Bleiz's right arm to loosen for almost a second and that's all that Bleiz needed.

The gradual spinning of Bleiz's Base form aura on his right arm broke and slip away from Zeprilon's eased clutches.

Bleiz's elbow then flicked with more quickness than power striking Zeprilon's jaw, echoing the sound of cracking bone.

Zeprilon's eyes rolled behind the cover of his eyelids as the forceful winds halted. He then fell flat on his front with no other movement except for the expanding of his lungs.

"Now General" Said Bleiz. "Was that impressive enough?"

"Steady yourself!" The General shouted.

The General's left arm didn't look the same as before. A mixture of metallic fittings served as mirrors for the white particles floating from their gathering point and central hole. The target of this cannon like arm pointed at Bleiz.

Water vapors from Officer Lersa boiled pass her Subtle form aura, filling the room with steam clouds.

The sharpness of Officer Lersa's gaze that never left Bleiz ever since he entered the room and the brightness of the General's main weapon caused Bleiz to turn off his Base form. Only the crooked lips of his remained.

"An excellent display." Said the General. "But officer Zeprilon over there gave you several chances to end him."

"I know very well that most Officers try to subdue an enemy first. It's not my fault Guild Officer Zeprilon is diligent in his role." Said Bleiz.

"You studied us intensively." Replied the General.

"I would like to think so. Now. We're just about done here."

"You still haven't stated your reason." Said the General. Sitting down.

"Even after all that. You think I haven't seen through your words yet? The Guild didn't say anything about an interrogation like this. Therefore the questions don't really matter. Your hidden motive is to find something about us. Whatever that may be, I already demonstrated mine."

"Very well then. I see that you can properly handle unannounced situations like this. But the words you use tend to be more puzzling than calming. If you were a real infiltrator, you just raised suspicion to your name, causing confusion like that and quite possibly, lying in our faces. Luckily for you, that's not the only thing I saw here, in this moment. I realized that you know how to prepare yourself competently and is well trained in your respective fighting abilities. All of you're feats so far are quite useful to the Guild during times like this. Whether it's part of an underlying plan or not. I could care less for assassinations and futile objectives apart from the coming war against the Old Gods and you'll realize soon enough why that is when you're out there on the battlefield. My only focus is to prepare and reinforce the Guild in anyway I can." Implied the General.

"Is that so? If I was truly an accomplice of infiltration, we wouldn't be standing here spouting words anymore. But nevertheless, It is in my best interest to be of use to the Guild and help out in the imminent war against the Old Gods." Replied Bleiz. "Although this method of examination brings more danger and risk to someone of position like you. Kindly refrain from this. Those hunting for your head can be anywhere and It's just not worth it."

"Nothing is false in you what you just stated. Dangers and risks are everywhere and are part of almost everything. In order for anyone to move on, in order for the Guild to move forward, and in order for me to do my job. We have to face all of our fears of them in any way we can. Now proceed on the path behind me, it will lead you to your temporary quarters, Bleiz of the Red Clan. The tests shall continue. Serve the Guild with integrity!"

"Understood." Said Bleiz, bowing before moving ahead.

"Wait." Said Officer Lersa. Stopping Bleiz.

Her eyes as sharp as ever.

"Any more questions, Officer?"

"A few but that's for later. More importantly, due to violating a Guild Officer you're commanded to report to me on a daily basis after the Assembly. Twice during every day and once during every night with the exception of times when you have on going Guild missions. No other excuses other than that. If you can't follow this specification, then you can relinquish your identification card or if you resist, we'll be the ones to do it for you. With that said, you're part of the Guild now. Serve well."

Bleiz nodded and made his way to the door behind the General. With a glance back, Zeprilon had already stood up while Officer Lersa picked up the fallen chair in an attempt that would ultimately lead to the whole room being fixed.

After that, Bleiz felt the chill of the steel knob of the door before closing it.

As he turned, a blood filled blaze ignited against him. Forcing his left arm over his right arm to act as a barrier to his shut eyes.

The sharpness of Bleiz's stance went away, gone and replaced by trembling fingers all the way down to wavering legs.

He prepared his throat for a shout but the trembling might have stopped it and the screams of low, middle and high pitch voices like those of a young ones pained his hearing. So loud yet it continued to grew louder.

Creating a window with his eyelids. His sight gradually returned and on the small strip of vision he saw groups of aspiring Guild members chatting while some seated in observation.

They made it pass the tent just like he did.

With a blink directing upwards. Natural light from the slashes in the sky nearly blinded his sight, just like most normal days could.

The tempo of his breathing slowly came back as he continued to wander on the path.

Bleiz refused to return any eye contact until there was none left given to him under the shadow of a concrete tower.

From this darkness, a cold voice reached Bleiz. Not through his sense of hearing but through his head. Issuing words in telepathy.

"Splendid infiltration. We shall commence the retrieval of knowledge books hidden inside the Guild's library next. If you finally find what we're looking for, this will reach a quick end. But if it fails, we still proceed with the main plan and the Guild will beautifully annihilate itself after I fulfill my part and you do yours. I know this is our grandest task yet but don't fret. Remember, we've done this several times before. Focus your pondering, keep your act up and carry on."

"Hopefully, this is the last time." Replied Bleiz.

Bleiz's eyes looked empty and shallow, down casting on the path. He dragged his steps that were heavier than usual. Quivering each effort to carry them.