Demonic Forces Arc

Chapter 2: Sky City

The day after Gwilln's test, the team decided to show him around the Sky City. Reyla lead the tour while rest of the team followed behind. She took them a large building with numerous banners around it. Gwilln studies the banners and then realized,

"This is the Magic Guild!" he exclaimed.

"Indeed it is. We're going to head inside." she replied.

"I'll wait out here." said Aaravit.

"You won't be joining us? How come?" Gwilln asked.

"Ask the Guild Master yourself." Aaravit said as he sat down.

"Suit yourself." Gwilln said.

They went inside.

"I need to tell you something about the Guild Master Gwilln." Reyla said as she turned to him.

"Ok. What?"

"He's – "and was interrupted by the Guild Master.

"Reyla honey!" exclaimed the Guild Master.

"He's my father." she said and blushed.

Gwilln's jaw dropped.

"What?! The famous Guild Master Rezo "The Slayer" Faala is your father?!"

"Yeah." Reyla replied.

Gwilln looked at the man. He was a tall Sky Elven man with red hair that stuck up as well as a few strands falling in front of his face. He was well built and wore a white coat around his shoulders and a brown sleeveless shirt underneath and black pants. He wore earrings with a small purple ball on the end of each one. He had an incredibly intimidating look to him.

"So Reyla who's this?" he asked looking at Gwilln.

"He's our new member. Father, meet Gwilln."

"Nice to meet you, sir." Gwilln said nervously.

"You know that Charger that escaped yesterday? He killed it." Reyla said.

"Neat," said Rezo "but those are nothing compared to what else remains inside Jilok's realm."

"So I have one question. Why is Aaravit waiting outside? Is he not allowed in or something?" Gwilln asked.

"You mean that little twerp?"

"I heard that!" Aaravit shouted from outside.

"Yeah he's not allowed in."

"Why?" asked Gwilln.

"He blew up my Guild Hall."

"How?"

"Play the flashback!"

A flashback begins playing. Rezo looks down at Aaravit.

"Welcome to the Guild short stuff."

The Guild Hall explodes into pieces but everyone is ok. Rezo looks at Aaravit.

"Leave."

The Flashback ends.

"He blew up the Guild Hall all because you called him short stuff?"

"Yup. By the way, Reyla, I need you take a delivery to your mother."

"Why can't you do it?" Reyla said.

"Cause I'm afraid of her. Gwilln, my title may be "The Slayer" but nothing can compare to the Demon that is her mother."

"Whatever. What needs to be delivered?" said Reyla.

"Deliver her this magic lacrima that will ensure a weapon never breaks."

"Alright. I'll have it delivered."

"Who's your mother Reyla?" Gwilln asked.

"Shinjo Kirri. Guild Master of the Warriors Guild." she replied.

"Both your parents are Guild Masters?"

"Yeah," Reyla said.

"Oh…" Gwilln said not knowing what else to say.

"Well, we we're going to go visit the Warriors Guild now father. I'll tell mother you said hi." said Reyla.

"See ya around hon." Rezo said and waved them off.

The team followed Reyla.

"So you're not allowed in the Guild Hall because you blew up the last one all because he called you short?" Gwilln asked Aaravit.

"Yup." he replied.

They made their way to the Warriors Guild. Reyla opened the door to the Guild and the rest of the team followed behind. There were numerous people inside. On the other side, Gwilln saw a red haired Sky Elven woman sitting on a table a sort of meditation position but carried a huge katana on her back. She wore white robes and her hair was pinned up and seemed very calm. Standing next to her was a man who wore full samurai armor with a mask covering his face. Reyla approached the woman.

"Mother, I'm here with a gift from my father." she said as she pulled out the item.

"Why are you so formal Reyla darling?" said the Guild Master.

"Well you're a Guild Master."

"And your mother so you don't have to be formal with me and same goes for your teammates don't have to be formal for me either. Only to Lone Ronin here should you be formal. He has much more combat experience then I could ever have."

"Anyways, here's the gift from father."

Reyla gave the item to her mother.

"Good. I'll need this for the Guild members."

"Anyways mother, meet Gwilln. He's- "

"The one that killed the Charger yesterday yes I'm aware. I just have one question. Do you truly believe you have what it takes to be a Ranger?" she asked Gwilln.

"Yes ma'am I believe I do." he replied.

"I have faith that you will make it. Just don't get cocky."

"Thanks for the advice. I will consider it." Gwilln said and gave a respectful bow.

Reyla and the team waved the Guild Master and left the Guild Hall.

"Both of my parents were Rangers and they were on the same team as Aaravit's mother and three other Rangers. They were the original Demon's Bane."

"Wow. I didn't know that. So, where are we headed next?"

"There's one place left we need to show you. The Great Library. Home of the Librarians Guild. Nunda can give you a history lesson." said Reyla.

"The Warriors Guild and Magic Guild popped up around 2,000 years ago in the aftermath of Jilok's invasion. The Librarians Guild is said to be much older and their origins are highly unknown. It is said they were founded by the One Elf race, the Elfith. The Guild continued its existence even after the transformation of the Elves and extinction of the Elfith. 2,000 years ago when the Deep-Earth Elves were driven out of their homes under the earth by Jilok's armies, they had planned to build a city in the sky instead of returning to the earth for fear of another invasion. Despite being great architects, it was the Librarians Guild who assisted them in building the modern Sky City as well as gaining permission from the sky god Xinik and the Dragons. In return, the Deep-Earth Elves built them The Great Library as thanks for their assistance. But the Deep-Earth Elves are nearly extinct due to Jilok's invasion and the transformation of their race into the modern Sky Elves." Said Nunda.

"Ok well, what about the tram system?" asked Gwilln, "Who built that?"

"My ancestor." Aaravit said out of the blue.

"What?"

"Yeah. My ancestor Aaravit the 1st yes. I'm Aaravit the 16th and my father is the 15th. There have been other attempts to rival my family's tram system but they have been unable to. My family was so successful that we managed to stay rich for 2,000 years."

"So what about that tattoo?"

"My family's curse. Originating from the same ancestor who built the tram system. He was cursed after losing a magic duel to the god of magic, Dathomar."

"Wait. He challenged a god?"

"Yeah. The curse is incredibly unstable magic. My family has had to place tattoos on our bodies almost immediately after we're born for the curse of our unstable magic can kill us and others around us. My sisters and mother all have a tattoo. But if we remove our tattoo, which we also call a mark, it will give us a significant magic boost at the chance of destroying us. We never remove our mark unless it is absolutely necessary. If we do remove it however, we can place it back."

Nunda opened the door to the Librarians Guild.

"Shhh." Nunda hushed. "Be quiet. This guild takes their research very seriously."

The team quieted and were approached by member of the guild. He wore a dark blue robe with a hood up. As he approached he walked past us into a room where they could speak at normal level. The Librarian took down his hood.

"Mokele! Mokele Mbembe!" Nunda said.

"It's been a while Nunda." Mokele responded.

"Gwilln, meet Mokele Mbembe. We come from the same village."

Gwilln shook his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you." Gwilln said.

"And I you. I am the spokesman for the Librarians and I deal with public relations so if they need anyone from our guild as a representative, they send me." Mokele replied.

"So what kind of stuff do you research here?"

"We research anything you could think of. Most of the guild studies magic and history but others study architecture, culture, and so forth. In fact, so much history is recorded here that it can rival the historical records of Nunda and I's home village of Cryptgala."

"Cryptgala? Where's that?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow Gwilln." Nunda said.

"Alright."

"We're just showing him around and giving him a little history lesson. Anyways were gonna head out. We're to return to Ranger City tomorrow."

As the team left, Nunda stayed behind to talk to Mokele. Nunda looked at Gwilln as he left.

"You sense it too right? That soul presence Gwilln has." Nunda asked.

"Yes of course I have. I sense brightness in his soul." Mokele replied.

"If look closer you can sense dark within as well."

"Keep an eye on him Nunda. It's something our spirits haven't felt in a long time."