Chapter Seven: Guildmates
Bergen twitched. Someone had been shouting outside for several minutes, depriving him of the peace needed to sleep. He decided that rather than getting annoyed he should go do something about it.
He got up and put on his clothes and brought his axe. He walked to the door and opened it. Looking outside, he saw two men. One was a thief in the thief guild's standard uniform. The other one, who was noticeably older had black hair and was wearing a golden mask. A longsword was slung across his back.
"What do you want?" He asked them.
"Bring out that swordsman who attacked us!" The thief shouted back.
"Who's that?" Bergen asked.
"That red-haired kid with the merchant!" He shouted back.
"Oh, um he's sleeping come back some other time." Bergen said, and then slammed the door closed.
The loud enraged shouting continued as soon as the door completely blocked its frame. They were shouting demands again.
Rothion entered the main room.
"What's going on?" He asked Bergen.
"Thieves outside…YAWN…picking a fight"
"Well I'll settle this" Rothion said.
He got a hammer lying on a nearby table and grasped it firmly in his right hand.
He opened the door and began shouting immediately.
"Why don't you thugs let us get some peace and quiet! Damn you all thrice and-" He suddenly cut off. "Just leave…" He said, suddenly calmed.
"You think we'll just leave like that? Your age must be getting to you!" the younger thief shouted.
"You just shut up, LC!" the other one said, "We'll be going. That's that…"
They walked away with the older one in the lead. The younger one was grumbling complaints and insults.
-
Stare and Fiora woke up an hour or so later. They ate breakfast and prepared to leave. They gathered the equipment, said their goodbyes and then took to the road.
They reached the gates of Prontera by mid-afternoon. They entered the city and Fiora continued confidently navigating her way towards the guildhouse. Stare followed unsurely in the rear.
"What's wrong, Stare?" she asked.
"It's that…um…well, our deal was bodyguard service there and back here and, well, I think it's over."
"That's all? I thought you wanted a job? Come with me and you'll be able to haul your arse around this city as a guild member guard and get paid for it. Regular pay."
"Are you sure? Normally guilds have certain requirements and-"
"Don't worry. It'll be fine. It's a simple test." She then continued walking. "Better hurry. The test starts in an hour."
"What! I'm too tired for that." Stare complained.
"Oops. The interview starts in an hour. Five of you. The test will be tomorrow morning. And as of the payment, you'll get it tomorrow. That's when I'll get my money from Erk."
They continued through the maze of roads, promenades and alleys between the buildings of Prontera. Soon enough they came to the very heart of the gigantic city, the castle of the king. To its right was the Chivalry, once home to the glorious Knights of Prontera and the noble Crusaders. To its left was the guildhouse of the Swords of Prontera guild. Around the castle and the two other buildings, a park highlighted the center of the city. Behind the castle and past the park, there were a few houses for nobles and past those, the slums.
"Hurry up! The interview will start in half an hour and you still need to sign up!" Fiora said. She ran up to the guildhouse door and knocked.
A nearly invisible slot opened and a man peered out from behind the door. He studied them carefully. After around five seconds he opened the door. He let them walk in but kept staring at them as if he was expecting them to do something wrong.
They went past the main lobby and went down many passages. Soon they came to a room. It looked like any other room but its label was different. All the rooms were labelled but Stare couldn't understand the language they were written in.
They proceeded inside. There were seven others there. One was a brown haired knight. He looked stressed. To his right was a female crusader who looked a bit younger. To his left was an effeminate crusader. In front of them were four people, probably the other candidates for guild membership. There was a thief, a mage, a merchant and an acolyte.
Fiora approached the three who seemed to be in charge. Stare figured they were because of their status.
They talked for a while. Then, the knight said " Go on, take a seat. The interviews will start soon. We'll call you at random and you'll answer the questions we ask you."
"Um, won't I have to sign up first?" Stare asked, to no one in particular.
"Forget that. We've wasted enough time as it is. Besides, you got a recommendation from a guild member that will have to do." The effeminate crusader replied.
Stare did as he was told. He found a seat beside the mage. He seemed to be a typical mage. Cold, aloof, apathetic and distant. Stare wasn't used to them that much so he kept quiet.
The first called was the acolyte. He seemed quite confident. After around ten minutes, he returned to where he was originally seated. Next called was the thief. He got a bit nervous after the first minute or so of questions. He took around ten minutes as well. The mage went afterwards. He was quite confident, if that's what it could be called. The interviewers seemed a bit confused at his answers but he didn't seem to care. He returned to his seat around five minutes later. Stare was next.
He walked over to the three. And stood before them trying to look casual.
"There's no need to be stiff about it. We just ask you a few questions about yourself." The female crusader said. "Now let's begin. First what is your name?"
"Uh, Stare's the name I go by."
"Okay. Do you have any training in first aid, combat, magic or reconnaissance?"
"Well, I know basic melee combat, basic martial ranged combat and I know some first aid techniques."
"Okay. Are you experienced in body guarding or fighting in areas where the innocent are in potential danger?"
"Uh, not really…I took a job once and that's all."
"I see." The female crusader said. "You may return to your seat."
Stare got up and went back to where he was originally seated. The merchant got up as he sat down and went over to the three interviewers.
After ten minutes or so the merchant returned to his seat. When he sat down the three interviewers got up.
"All of you are to return here by seven in the morning tomorrow." The knight said. "Bring your weapons. The combat trials will start then."
The three then left the room.
Stare exited as well. The others were all leaving.
"Well," Fiora said. "When you come back here tomorrow I'll give you your pay."
"Well then where am I supposed to spend the night? I can't get a room at the inn."
"This does pose a problem… But it's not MY problem. You go solve it. I think the monastery has some rooms for travellers."
Fiora left going off to somewhere else on the guild house. Stare turned and left, heading towards the exit.
Stare checked his belongings before entering the guildhouse. He yawned as he searched through his bag for anything that might have gone missing. It had taken him three hours to actually find the monastery but at least he was able to get some sleep. He picked up his bag, sword and shield and entered the guildhouse. His mother's sword and shield were strapped to his back.
By the time he got to the testing site he saw the mage blasting something with at least three-dozen bolts of lightning. The area where the mage was standing seemed to be some sort of arena. There were marks of battle everywhere. Some slash marks, scorched areas and breaks in the ground were scattered around the circular soil arena.
The mage was called back and handed a slip of paper. He cursed and ran out of the testing area.
"Hey, you there! You're late. Get over here!" The knight from the previous day shouted to Stare.
Stare ran over to him.
"Okay. I thought you weren't coming. Anyway the test is simple. We'll set you up against three monsters. You have to defeat them, simple right? Anyway there's one condition. Inside the arena with you will be a golem. He is enchanted to revive when slain but you have to defend him anyway. Our purpose in this guild is to protect the innocent." The knight said to Stare.
Stare nodded. He put his bag down and unstrapped the sword and shield tied to his back. He then proceeded to the arena.
"Alright then. First monster coming in five seconds. Prepare yourself!" Shouted the knight.
Stare readied himself. He noted the golem's position out of the corner of his eye.
The monster appeared. It was a poring.
Stare drew his sword. He rushed at the poring. It looked up at him curiously. He gathered his strength into his sword arm. He felt the rush of power in that arm and then swung down hard. The sword sliced the poring half.
"Alright. The next one will come in five." The knight shouted.
Stare moved closer to the golem. It was made of iron, he noticed.
Then the next one came. It was a chonchon.
Stare ran at it, his sword raised above his head. He slashed and the chonchon flew to the side. Then it made its riposte. It flew backwards then rushed forward, its strength aided by the momentum. It managed to push Stare back a few steps. Stare parallelled his sword with the ground and delivered a horizontal slash. The chonchon, which was rushing in for another hit, wasn't able to evade and took the hit. This made it temporarily open to attacks. Stare took this opportunity and delivered a vertical attack. The chonchon was slashed in half.
"Impressive. Monster number three will be there shortly." The knight said.
The third monster appeared. It was a rocker.
The rocker went hopping about strumming on its guitar. It completely ignored Stare.
Stare positioned himself with his sword behind him, its tip touching the ground. He approached the rocker slowly. Then, he concentrated his power into his sword arm, preparing for another all out bash attack. He swung his arm over his head in a vertical slice and slammed his sword down on the passive rocker. It hit. The rocker took some damage but was protected by its exoskeleton. It was stunned however. Stare slashed at it again. Once again, it was dazed. Slash three. Miss. The rocker jumped back and then forward, swinging its guitar madly. The crude weapon hit Stare on the head and knocked him down. The rocker readied itself again. It lifted its guitar above its head and slammed down. The guitar hit Stare in the stomach, blasting the air out of him. The rocker lifted the guitar again. As it began to fall, Stare brought up his shield. The guitar hit the shield. Stare pushed his shield to his left at the same time driving the guitar away. This left the rocker with an opening. Stare jumped up and slammed his body into the rocker. This forced it back so Stare was able to slash at it. Now the rocker was in pain. Stare lifted his sword, gathered his strength and delivered one final vertical attack to end the creature's life.
"Very nice." The knight said. "Proceed here."
Stare did so and found the other applicants there with the knight.
"Alright. We have come to a decision." The female crusader said. "The two chosen to be accepted as the newest members of the Allied Swords of Prontera are Stare and Matthew. You both did exceedingly well protecting the golem, though your combat skills need some practice. You will be instructed on your duties tomorrow."
Stare smiled. He watched as the others walked off. Eager to know which one of them was Matthew. Soon, it became apparent that the acolyte was the one.
The acolyte approached Stare. "I see you're my um…uh…classmate or something. My name's Matthew, as you already know. I'm an acolyte of the order of the Dawn Treaders. And you're Stare?"
"Yeah. I'm a swordsman…sort of…I'm from one of the small border towns of Volsung."
"I see." The acolyte said. "Well then, glad to meet you, guildmate." He extended his hand.
Stare grasped it firmly and shook it.
This was a long one. Again. I thank those who reviewed. Four of you… To all others who read this pls. review.