The frantic thoughts of what she was once drowned in had all been swallowed up when she opened her eyes, Lyra had zoned out while she sat out leaning on the wooden railing of a balcony overlooking the rest of the Aurora Guild.

She turned back to see the floating apparition, the sleeves still slowly moving as they grasped onto a scrolled-up paper. The bottom edges of his body blossomed into a lightish pink. This was Lyra's Left Praetor Hand, Icarus the Mismagius.

"Ah," She looked up to him, a dash of angst laced her words, "What is it, Icarus?"

He stared at her for a second before he spoke, "Glad to see you're back."

Her expression shifted down, her eyes now looking at the wooden floor before she breathed in and looked back up slowly, "How bad was it?"

"Certainly better than it's been. Only took me saying your name once to snap you out of it." He looked at her with not that much concern as if this had happened before, "Nothing much to distract you from thinking about it out here?"

She sighed, "I tried to clear my mind of the Guild matters but it seems it only invites bad memories." She looked out to the clearing, the Aurora Guild sat in a vast grassy wilderness, water stemmed through the wilderness and into the town that surrounded the Aurora Guild.

The architecture of the town was fairly stout for the time it had been around, these were new things in this time and most did not expect them to last for long. But cooperation and community thrived as those in them adapted.

The Guild Headquarters itself was architecturally robust, it was carved with the best in mind for the creatures in the community and the guild. The entrance was engraved with scenes of nature and embellishments of the Guild's history.

It split off into all directions, some rooms were dedicated to teaching and training the next class of explorers and guild members. Among the rooms was the Mission Board, which displayed all available excursions that members could attend to, some though required more expertise than others. Instructors, recruits, and veteran members of the Guild alike all traversed these halls often to hone themselves.

Adjacent to these were dormitories, where those same creatures could rest up. A bit further down this area were smaller stable-like areas for those who were traveling and wished to have a place to rest as well.

Further down the hall in the opposite direction was the administrative section, many creatures worked here to coordinate the Guild's operations and communication. Logistical challenges, messages, and the necessary paperwork were completed to keep everything in order.

Also within the main entrance lay a staircase that accended up to another floor, it held the offices of the keys of the guild.

Guildmaster Lyra's office had an aura of authority and purpose. It was furnished with elegant wood shelves lined with scrolls, tomes, artifacts, and glass. A large refined wooden desk was in the middle of the room, where Lyra made the decisions that led the guild to where it is. Of course, there were the two doors that opened outwards the balcony that she currently resided at.

Adjacent to her office was the apparition himself, Icarus' office. It was a workspace for study and order. Neat stacks of information were laid out carefully and Icarus worked tirelessly to ensure it stayed that way. He kept the smooth operation of the Guild's logistics and communication in check, and his efficiency was unrivaled.

Finally, further down was the Ageis Right Hand Tempest's office. Within held maps of the region and trophies from expeditions displayed proudly on shelves. His office was a planning center for important field operations for the Guild.

Across the space on the second floor were other areas that contributed to the Guild's administration, training, and other places of need.

"So, what's the matter, Icarus?" She turned her attention back to him.

"Team Sparks, they are requesting their first real solo excursion."

"Oh?" Came her reply, "Give me the details on this excursion, will you?" She waited with a small bit of anticipation, it was always exciting for guild recruits to take on their first real mission out on the field. Though of course what they always meant by real was something with more action and risk involved.

"They wish to take on a 'Put Down' mission up north in the Verdant Glen. There are some wilds, most particularly a Haunter that has been making a big ruckus and disrupting travel and trade to and from the border of ours and the Concord Guild's territory."

Lyra put a paw to her chin for a second, "Give me the rundown on Team Sparks; history, and the works."

"Well, it seems they started off four months back. They've done a good amount of tasks pertaining to the upkeep of the Guild and its facilities; stocking up on food, cleaning, menial tasks that the rest don't want to do."

His words seemed to flow positively about the group, "They've recently been on a couple of similar missions to this, although they weren't working solo like what they want to do now. Most recently has been the apprehension of that Krokorok thief, they were partnered up with the CWC Team."

Lyra pondered to herself, the team seemed to be capable but she wanted to seek out the thoughts of the team they were previously with, "Tell me where the CWC Team is and afterward I'll get back to you about my decision about Team Sparks."

With a respectful nod, he acknowledged the task he had been provided, "Of course, Lyra." After his head returned to where it hung slightly out he exited from the balcony into Lyra's office. Before his ghostly sleeves contorted themselves around the door handles and opened it, he placed a paper onto her desk and promptly exited.

After his exit, I meandered towards the door. The sun had only risen a mere few hours ago and I had yet to fully get ready to go out. Looking at the door to the left there was a rack that held my shawl and my badge to display my status as Guildmaster.

I used my ribbons to grasp the shawl and draped it over my shoulders, adorning myself carefully. As I couldn't reach my back with my paws, I used ribbons to securely fasten it. With a satisfying click, the shawl settled around me. Next, I pinned my badge to my shawl and ensured it was displayed properly.

The shawl itself was specifically designed to resemble my appearance, I was gifted it during my Guildmaster ceremony. The muted yellow metal circles that were fitted on the edges complemented my soft white fur. The shawl's green color matched my eyes and inner ear fluff. While the outer fluff of my ears and the colors of my extremities were all shades of pale salmon.

My ribbons which assisted me in everyday life began as a soft pink, seamlessly transitioning into a white which was divided by a silk material that wrapped around and was fitted with the same metals that adorned my shawl, a jewelry that was also bestowed upon me during the ceremony. The end of each ribbon matched the green hue of my shawl, completing my appearance.

And after all was done I adjusted the shawl on my shoulders so it sat comfortably.

Only a few moments later, Icarus returned with the information about the CWC team's current whereabouts. I thanked him as I sent him off and reviewed the information he had given me.

The CWC team was comprised of three members: A Sneasel, a Dugtrio, and a Trapinch. From the information provided, they were currently off engaged in a Civic Aid Expedition in Mikra's Reach, giving basic assistance to the newly established town and its locals.

I paced back and forth for a quick moment, Mikra's Reach was half a day's trip by foot. To get there and back in a timely manner I'd have to use the Pelipper flight service stationed in town.

I got my plan settled and I made my final preparations for my journey. Within my desk was a satchel that I took out, filling it with the necessary equipment: two days' worth of rations, a field kit with medical supplies, and fifty Urie to pay my fare.

And then I was off, ribbons guiding themselves to the door's knob and twisting and pulling it towards me and opening it. The ribbon holding on retreated to let the door settle back into its original position as I walked through.

Down the stairs led me to the lobby and entrance of the Guild Headquarters. There was a central desk with the Guild Attendant, there was a Sandslash named Vinnie. She checked in with everybody and made sure they were going to certain areas where they had the proper permission.

That of course was a precaution in case of an outlaw or enlist trying to snoop into areas they weren't meant to go into. This mostly pertains to the hall of records in the administration section of the Guild Headquarters, it housed important documents of excursions, creatures, and research. If there was somebody that wanted to file a request to add to the Mission Board they would start with Vinnie before it would be passed down the chain.

"Morning, Guildmaster!" Vinnie spoke with an enthusiastic voice, giving me a sharp salute before reverting to what she was doing.

"Good morning," I gently replied, "I'll be heading out, any requests heading my way should be diverted towards Icarus and Tempest. I plan to return by the end of the day if possible."

"Gotcha, stay safe out there!" She gave me a wave and a smile as I walked through the archway that was masked by a grass curtain.

I gazed out the lush grass that danced in the breeze, I admired the landscape that surrounded our Guild Headquarters. The Headquarters stood proudly at the top of a hill, it gave a good view of the wilderness around. It also did a good job of setting the Headquarters as a cornerstone of the settlement.

Around the hill was a wide clearing, where Guild members often gathered for training sessions. The open expanse of land bore the scars of countless training sessions, flattened grass, and divots in the soil. Despite the wounds, the clearing was an important place for practicing our skills and cultivating camaraderie among teams.

Following the single stone path connected our Headquarters to the nearby town my footsteps echoed on the stone. The terrain descended and soon I made it over a sturdy bridge that crossed over a stream that flowed through the town. The buildings in the distance that were mixed with the lush greenery created a sort of rustic charm.

I turned left when the path forked. The way I was heading pointed me toward the shopping district of the settlement, on the way were some quaint houses that dotted the side of the road. Crossing over the stream once more, I arrived at the outskirts of the town.

Further ahead is where the life of the town bustled during the day. There were numerous shops that lined the streets, they offered many goods from far and wide. Merchants displayed their items and enticed passersby with their unique array of items.

There were also other types of establishments around, for instance, there was the Tropius Storage. It was a popular choice for many of the townsfolk as Tropius was a friendly giant and despite his size had remarkable skill, it would be interesting to see him and Icarus go against each other in logistics.

Near my left was a bit of undisturbed nature, a few trees surrounded by tall grass. I watched as I saw some of the town's younger inhabitants playing around in the foliage. I could see the wonder in their eyes as they chased each other and tackled the other down, their laughter echoed through the air.

I couldn't help but smile at what they had. One of my ribbons rubbed against my eye to wipe away a tear that started to form.

I was walking away when one of the kids unexpectedly shouted my way. "Look, it's the Guildmaster!" one of them exclaimed, the others turning their eyes to me and waving enthusiastically. My ribbons fluttered a wave in response as I turned my head with a gentle smile.

I passed by other residents and exchanged friendly greetings of 'Hello' and 'Good morning'. I did good work to upkeep the relations between our Guild and the creatures of the town, fostering the sense of community we had.

With just a few more strides, I reached my destination. Pelipper Station was housed just by the settlement's exit with a path that led into the vast wilderness of the Aurora Guild's territory.

I neared the wooden shack, its design was simple but it functioned as it was intended. A counter greeted visitors and sturdy walls promised shelter from poorer weather. There were two maps on the wall, one that in great detail the immediate area and one that offered a broader view of the territory under the Guild's purview.

"Well, if it isn't the Guildmaster herself!" The Pelipper greeted me enthusiastically at my approach. "What may I do you for?"

I reached into my satchel and grabbed out six Urie and placed them carefully on the counter. "I need a flight to Mikra's Reach," I firmly stated.

The Pelipper gulped down for a second, his face was stricken with worry, "Don't tell me Curtis and his boys did something wrong now did they?" His voice was ripe with anxiousness.

"No," I said swiftly. "I need to reach them so I can talk to them about another team."

The Pelipper gave me a sigh of relief, "Ah, had to make sure those boys didn't get into any trouble." He let out a small chuckle, "It's not every day that a Guildmaster comes after a bunch of recruits, now is it?"

I smiled. "It is not. Lucky for me that I've never had a young team do anything relatively stupid enough for me to come after them in a bad way."

After that, the Pelipper had grabbed the Urie placed it in a cabinet on the counter, and locked it tight. He then hopped over the counter to join me on the other side.

The Pelipper had unhinged its mouth open, leaving me with enough room to sit in. I'll be frank, it was a bit gross to hop into the mouth of another creature but if I didn't trust the Pelipper enough to fly me there I wouldn't be here right now.

I hopped on in and adjusted myself to get as comfortable as I could get in my position. The wings of the Pelipper started to beat hard as it lifted off the ground and into the air. Soon I had a bird's-eye view of the wilderness below and it would only be a few short hours before I arrived at Mikra's Reach, and hopefully, only another few hours for me to reach back.

The Guilds

The start of the formation of Guilds started a few years after the first major settlements blossomed to life with creatures of various kinds; roughly a century ago.

Guilds play a crucial role in governmental structure and order in the regions they oversee. Ensuring that communities can thrive peacefully without the threat of chaos or lawlessness. Guilds establish and enforce laws through their governance, maintaining security and resolving conflicts.

Guilds help to protect against threats posed by outlaws and ferals. Most of the time this protection extends to settlements as well as the wilderness where the wilds reside, provided they are willing to cooperate with the Guild.

Guilds offer a variety of missions for their members, spanning from conn low-risk tasks to rarer high-risk missions where serious injury or even death is a possibility.

Each Guild operates uniquely, whether in terms of structure, religious beliefs, or political orientation.