Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Meeting With Guild Master Vera (1)
Rin stood in her room, staring at the notebook on her desk. It had been a long day—mentally exhausting, to say the least. Her gaze shifted to the balcony, where the night sky called to her like an old friend. She grabbed a light shawl from her chair, draped it over her shoulders, and stepped outside. The cold wind nipped at her skin, a sharp reminder that winter was on its way. She pulled the shawl tighter, her breath visible in the crisp air.
The city sprawled below her, a tapestry of glowing lights and distant sounds. Above, the moon hung in the sky, its silvery light pouring down like a gentle waterfall. The stars seemed dim in comparison, but they twinkled stubbornly, refusing to be outshone.
Rin leaned against the railing, letting the chill seep into her as she stared at the moon. It was comforting, in a way, this quiet moment. She let her thoughts wander, recounting the discoveries she'd made in the Archives earlier that day.
Imprints and Compatibility
She exhaled, watching the mist of her breath dissipate into the night. "So, let's see if I've got this straight," she muttered to herself. "Imprints… a bond so intense it's practically tattooed on your soul. Sounds romantic, until you realize it's more like being handcuffed to someone and losing the key."
She smirked at her own joke, but her expression sobered as she thought more about what she'd read. Imprints weren't just about connection; they were about survival. Guides and Espers couldn't just pair up with anyone. Their auras needed to align—a delicate balance of compatibility and synchronization. Without it, the whole thing could go sideways fast.
Not every Guide could guide every Esper. Aura compatibility was a must. If a Guide had a low aura level or an element that clashed with the Esper's, it could cause disastrous feedback.
"Imagine trying to charge a lightning Esper with a water Guide," Rin mused. "Not exactly a shocking success."
Decades of trial and error had led to the current synchronization rate system. It wasn't perfect, but it worked. Espers and Guides were tested for their aura elements and compatibility, ensuring they had at least a decent shot at working together. For most pairs, synchronization rates hovered around 60%. That was the average. But there were exceptions.
Rare cases where a low-level Guide—a D-rank, for instance—could achieve a high synchronization rate with a high-level Esper. Evelyn and Caius came to mind. Evelyn, a low-level Guide, had a synchronization rate with Caius, an S-rank Esper, that was off the charts. They were a perfect duo, balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses in my story.
"Figures," Rin muttered. "Evelyn gets the golden ticket, and I get stuck with… well, me."
She let out a soft laugh, the sound swallowed by the wind.
But imprinting? That was a whole different beast. Imprints only occurred between Espers and Guides with high synchronization rates. They weren't just rare; they were sacred. And as far as Rin could tell, once an imprint was made, it was permanent. She hadn't found a single documented case of an imprint being removed.
Failed imprints, on the other hand, were well-documented—gruesomely so. Most ended with the Guide dead and the Esper corrupted beyond saving. It wasn't exactly the kind of bedtime story you told kids.
"So, I'm stuck with this until further notice," Rin concluded, staring at the moon. "Fantastic."
The Gates and Their Will
She shifted her weight, the cold metal of the railing biting into her palms. Another piece of the puzzle from the Archivist's book lingered in her mind—the idea that the gates had a will of their own.
"The first Espers and Guides weren't chosen at random," she recited softly, the words etched into her memory. "They were selected by the gates themselves, their fates intertwined with the balance of the world. This bond wasn't merely a connection of aura but a reflection of the world's will, a manifestation of harmony and discord."
The idea had felt absurd at first, like something out of a myth. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Espers and Guides balanced each other out. They were yin and yang, fire and water, chaos and order. And if the gates were responsible for that balance, then their choices weren't random at all.
Rin glanced at the bracelet on her wrist, the obsidian stones gleaming faintly in the moonlight. "Harmony and discord, huh? Guess I'm living proof of that."
She shivered as the wind picked up, pulling her shawl tighter. The gates' will was an unsettling thought, but it explained so much. Her own predicament, for one. She'd been pulled into this world because of a gate anomaly. At least, that's what the system had revealed so far. Whether she liked it or not, her fate was tied to these gates.
The Rise and Fall of Guilds
The book had also touched on the history of the Guilds—a history Rin found both fascinating and chaotic. The rise and fall of Guilds weren't just about power struggles; it was about survival. Internal collapses, wars between factions, the formation of new Guilds… it was a never-ending cycle of destruction and rebirth.
"Humans really do love their drama," Rin said, shaking her head.
But there was more to it than petty squabbles. The Guilds had evolved over time, adapting to the ever-changing challenges posed by the gates and the creatures that emerged from them. They were the backbone of this world's defense, flawed as they might be.
Rin's thoughts drifted to Evelyn and the Guild she served. Evelyn had mentioned the internal politics before, the power plays and rivalries that threatened to tear them apart from within. It wasn't just about fighting monsters; it was about maintaining balance within their own ranks.
"Balance again," Rin murmured. "It's everywhere. In the gates, in the Guilds, in us."
The cold was starting to seep into her bones, but Rin stayed on the balcony a little longer, her thoughts a tangle of curiosity and frustration. There were still so many unanswered questions, so many pieces of the puzzle that didn't fit. But she wasn't giving up. She couldn't.
"One step at a time," she told herself. "I'll figure this out. I have to."
The moon seemed to nod in agreement, its light wrapping around her like a silent promise. With a final glance at the night sky, Rin turned and stepped back into her room, ready to face whatever came next.
Next Morning
The sun crept over the horizon, casting golden light through the windows of the apartment. Rin stood by the door, adjusting her scarf against the chill of the morning air. Evelyn, standing a few steps away, looked at her with a mixture of concern and exasperation.
"Are you sure about this, Aria?" Evelyn asked, her voice tinged with hesitation. "You've barely recovered. There's no need to rush into things."
Rin smiled faintly, her tone both serious and teasing. "Evelyn, if I don't start moving now, I'll rust. And besides, I'm not exactly made of glass."
Evelyn crossed her arms, her expression firm. "It's not about fragility. It's about being cautious. You don't even know what the Guild Master might ask of you."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "That's precisely why I need to go. The more I delay, the less prepared I'll be for whatever's coming."
Evelyn sighed, rubbing her temples. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"And you're predictable," Rin countered, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "But I appreciate the concern. Really."
After a moment of silence, Evelyn relented with a resigned shrug. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Together, they stepped out into the brisk morning air, the cold biting but invigorating.
Arrival at the Guild
The grand doors of the Guild loomed ahead, their intricate carvings glinting in the morning light. Rin took a deep breath, steadying herself as they entered. The main hall was alive with activity—adventurers preparing for missions, clerks shuffling papers, and the hum of countless conversations blending into a vibrant symphony.
Evelyn led the way, her presence commanding enough to part the crowd as they approached Guild Master Vera's office.
As they reached the door, a clerk approached Evelyn with a stack of documents. "Miss Evelyn, we need your signature on these reports immediately. There's also a situation in the eastern district that requires your attention."
Evelyn frowned, glancing between Rin and the clerk. "Now? Can't this wait?"
The clerk shook his head apologetically. "I'm afraid not. It's urgent."
Evelyn turned to Rin, her expression apologetic. "Aria, wait here. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Rin smiled reassuringly. "Go. I'll be fine."
With a reluctant nod, Evelyn followed the clerk, leaving Rin alone. Taking a deep breath, Rin opened the door to Vera's office.
The Meeting
Guild Master Vera sat behind a massive desk, her sharp eyes scanning a document. She looked up as Rin entered, her expression shifting to one of mild curiosity.
"Aria," Vera greeted, gesturing for her to sit. "I wasn't expecting a private meeting request from you. Evelyn didn't mention anything."
Rin smiled politely as she took a seat. "That's because I didn't tell her."
Vera arched an eyebrow. "Interesting. You specifically asked to exclude Evelyn from this conversation. I assume there's a reason?"
Rin nodded, her gaze steady. "There is. But before we get into that, thank you for agreeing to meet me on such short notice."
Vera leaned back in her chair; her curiosity evident. "It wasn't a problem, though I admit I'm surprised. What's so important that you didn't want Evelyn to know?"
Rin hesitated for a moment, then spoke with deliberate calm. "We both know that if Evelyn were here, this conversation wouldn't happen at all."
Vera's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by Rin's bluntness. After a moment, she chuckled softly. "You're not wrong. Go on."
Flashback
The memory of the previous night flickered in Rin's mind. After returning from the balcony, she had sent a message to Vera:
"Guild Master Vera, I'd like to request a private meeting with you tomorrow. Please don't mention this to Evelyn. It's important."
The reply had come quickly:
"Understood. I'll see you in the morning."
Back to the Present
Vera studied Rin; her expression thoughtful. "Alright, Aria. You've got my attention. What's on your mind?"
Rin straightened in her seat, her tone calm but deliberate. "I'm not sure how much you know about my situation, but I've only known Evelyn for a month. She told me we were old friends, but I have no memory of that—or anything before the orphanage incident."
Vera's expression shifted subtly, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
Rin continued, her voice steady. "After dealing with the landlord, everything is a blur. My memories are hazy about what happened afterward. I woke up in the hospital, and since then, I've only had about a month's time of memories. Judging from your reaction, it seems you already know this."
Vera sighed, her gaze softening. "I do. Evelyn mentioned it to me."
"I thought as much," Rin said, her lips curving into a faint smile. "In that month, I've come to understand what kind of person Evelyn is. She cares little about the world at large, but she's fiercely protective of those she loves. Since she told me I'm her old friend, I can only assume I fall into that category. She'd go to any length to keep me safe. But the world isn't kind, and safety is an illusion."
Vera's expression softened slightly, but she remained silent, letting Rin speak.
"That's why I needed to speak to you alone," Rin said. "Evelyn would try to shield me from whatever truths you might share, and I can't afford that. I need to understand what's going on, no matter how difficult it might be."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Rin's words settling between them.
Vera studied Rin, her expression a mixture of surprise and admiration. "You're not the naive girl I assumed you to be," she said finally, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Looks like I'm getting old."
Rin chuckled softly. "I wouldn't say that. You're just meeting a different side of me."
"You're more perceptive than I expected," Vera admitted. "I'll be honest, Aria. I underestimated you. But you're right—Evelyn would never let me tell you what you need to hear."
Rin's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then it's a good thing she's not here."
Vera chuckled, shaking her head. "Alright, Aria. Let's talk. But understand this—what I'm about to tell you could change everything."