Chapter Five: A Reluctant Encounter
Q
The Guild of Awakened stood tall at the center of the city, its towering structure far more imposing than the Academy itself. Its walls were reinforced with enchanted stone, and faint currents of magic pulsed through the air around it, a constant reminder of the power gathered within.
As Kael approached, he could already see the crowd, dozens of applicants gathered at the entrance, each one carrying an air of confidence, ambition, or nervous anticipation.
He paused for a moment, staring at the scene before him. This was where real awakened individuals came to prove themselves. Where missions were assigned. Where strength determined worth.
And where the weak were discarded.
Kael exhaled slowly before stepping forward.
The moment he entered, the noise hit him, voices overlapping, laughter, confident boasts about ranks and abilities. Some applicants displayed their powers casually, small bursts of flame, flickers of wind, or controlled sparks of lightning dancing at their fingertips. It was a place filled with energy, with ambition… with competition.
Kael kept his head down, moving quietly through the crowd. He didn't belong here. Not yet. But he needed to be here. The system task lingered in his mind, pushing him forward.
Then as if spotted by a microscope...
"Well, you look like someone who's completely lost." Kael stopped.
He turned slightly, his eyes landing on a girl standing a few steps away. She had a confident stance, her expression lively, with a faint smirk playing on her lips. Her green hair shimmered faintly under the light, and there was a subtle heat in the air around her, as though her presence alone carried warmth.
"Cherry Dels," she said casually, folding her arms. "I am a Flame Cracker. And you are?"
Kael didn't respond.
Cherry raised an eyebrow, amused rather than offended. "Silent type, huh? That's fine. I can work with that." She stepped a little closer, studying him.
"First time here, right? You've got that 'I don't belong' look." Still, Kael said nothing.
Inside, however, something tightened. He didn't want this. Not again. Not another connection. Not another person who would stand beside him one moment and walk away the next.
"I can help you, you know," Cherry continued, tilting her head slightly. "Guild applications can be a bit tricky if you don't know how things work. And hey having someone around isn't so bad."
Kael's expression hardened slightly.
"No," he said flatly.
Cherry blinked once, surprised but then her smirk returned. "No?"
"I don't need help," Kael replied, his voice calm but cold.
"Everyone needs help," she shot back lightly. "You're not special." That made him pause for a fraction of a second.
Cherry leaned in slightly, her tone softer but still persistent. "Look, I'm just offering. We can team up, get through the process easier. Maybe even become friends."
That word 'friends' hit harder than she expected. Kael's eyes narrowed faintly.
"I don't want friends," he said.
Cherry's smile didn't fade, but her gaze sharpened slightly, "That so?"
"Especially not females," Kael added bluntly. "So just leave me alone."
For a moment, there was silence between them but instead of backing off, Cherry smirked.
"Well," she said casually, straightening up, "that just makes me want to stick around even more."
Before Kael could respond, a voice echoed from the front of the hall.
"All applicants, step forward!"
The crowd shifted instantly, attention snapping toward the reception desk where a uniformed attendant stood, her expression firm.
"The Guild has limited space," she continued, her voice clear and authoritative.
"Only a select number of applicants will be accepted. Your ranks will determine your eligibility."
A faint tension spread through the crowd.
One by one, applicants stepped forward, presenting their awakened status. The receptionist examined each, her expression barely changing as she sorted them mentally.
Cherry stepped forward confidently when her turn came.
"A rank," the receptionist stated after a brief glance. Cherry simply smiled, unfazed, as she stepped aside.
Then Kael moved forward.
The moment his status was displayed, the reaction was immediate.
"D rank?" someone whispered.
"That low?" another muttered.
"Why bother coming with such a rank?"
Kael felt the weight of their judgment instantly, but he didn't react. His face remained calm, unreadable, even as the whispers spread.
"D rank," the receptionist confirmed, her tone neutral before motioning him aside.
Kael stepped back, the murmurs still echoing faintly behind him. He was used to it. It didn't matter to him anymore.
"Hey." Cherry's voice cut through the noise as she stepped beside him.
Kael didn't look at her.
"You're colder than I expected," she said lightly, glancing at him. "Most people would be crushed after that."
"I'm fine," Kael replied shortly.
Cherry studied him for a moment, her expression shifting slightly not mocking, not pitying… but something closer to interest.
"You didn't flinch," she said. "Even when they reacted like that."
Kael remained silent. Her smirk returned, but this time, it carried a hint of admiration.
"You've got some resolve. I like that."
He frowned slightly. "Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?!"
"Yeah," she said casually. "You did."
"And?"
"And I decided not to listen."
Kael exhaled quietly, already feeling the faint edge of irritation returning. But Cherry only smiled wider
"D rank or not," she continued, her tone lighter now, "I think you're interesting. So I'll stick around."
Kael didn't respond. He tried his best to keep cool.