Astral The Beginning

The Guild, one of the three pillars of the Azel Empire, served as a vital backbone to its society. While the military protected its borders and the bureaucracy maintained order, the Guild operated in the spaces in between, addressing the needs of the empire's citizens. From hunting dangerous monsters to exploring uncharted territories and delivering critical supplies, the Guild accepted all manner of contracts—no task too small, no request too great.

Unlike the rigid structures of the military or the bureaucracy, the Guild offered unparalleled freedom. Its contracts had flexible timelines, and many extended beyond the empire's borders, providing young magic users the chance to explore the wider world. For those yearning for adventure, the Guild was the perfect choice.

The trio approached the Guild headquarters, an imposing, castle-like structure at the far edge of Anor. Its towering stone walls and high-arched windows exuded both strength and a welcoming warmth. The crest of the Guild—a sword crossed with a quill—was etched into the heavy wooden gates, a symbol of both action and diplomacy.

At the entrance, they were stopped by a pair of City Guards in polished silver armor. "IDs, please," one of them said curtly, holding out a hand.

Amira and Leon handed over their student IDs without hesitation. After a quick inspection, the guard handed them back and nodded. "You may enter."

Asuma was the last to be checked. The guard eyed him for a moment longer than necessary before returning his ID with a faint smirk. "Welcome to the Guild. Good luck in there."

Passing through the gates, the trio stepped into the inner courtyard of the Guild headquarters. They were immediately struck by the serenity of the place. Unlike the bustling streets of Anor, the Guild grounds were calm and orderly. A few adventurers lingered near the entrance, their gear battered from recent missions. Inside, the main hall was surprisingly quiet, with only a handful of people milling about.

The bulletin board, a central feature of every Guildhall, displayed a sparse collection of contracts. The occasional note fluttered as a breeze slipped through an open window, but the board itself was far less crowded than they had expected.

"I guess not many from our graduating class wanted to join the Guild," Leon commented, his voice low in the quiet hall.

Asuma nodded thoughtfully. "A lot of Guild contracts require long-term travel. Not everyone is willing to commit to that, especially fresh out of the academy."

"That explains why this place feels so empty," Amira added, glancing around. "Most members are probably out on missions."

"Or recovering from them," Leon quipped, pointing to a pair of adventurers in the corner, their armor caked with dirt and scratches.

The trio made their way to the reception desk, where a brass bell sat atop a polished wooden counter. Asuma reached out and gave it a firm ring. Moments later, a figure emerged from the back—a towering man whose sheer size made the three of them instinctively straighten.

"Welcome," the man said in a deep, booming voice. "I'm Jon, the Guild registrar."

Leon leaned toward Asuma and whispered, "Is this guy related to the giants in the north?"

Jon chuckled, apparently having overheard. "Not quite, but my ancestors did come from there." He glanced at their gold-and-white academy uniforms and raised an eyebrow. "Students from the Imperial Academy? It's been a while since we've had graduates join us. Not many are willing to take the Guild's path these days."

Asuma stepped forward, meeting Jon's gaze. "We're interested in joining. The freedom the Guild offers suits us."

Jon nodded approvingly. "Good to hear. Adventurers like you are the lifeblood of the Guild." He turned to retrieve a stack of papers from the desk behind him, placing them neatly in front of the trio. "These are your registration forms. Fill them out, and let me know when you're done."

The trio took seats at a nearby table, spreading out the forms between them. Each sheet was filled with detailed questions: their magical specialties, previous experience with combat or exploration, and areas of interest.

Leon groaned as he scribbled on his paper. "They want to know my favorite meal. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Maybe they need to know what to serve at your funeral," Amira teased, smirking.

Asuma shook his head, hiding a grin as he focused on his form. The process took a few minutes, but they eventually completed the documents and brought them back to Jon.

"I'm sure you're familiar with the World Council and the ranking system for magic users," Jon began, his deep voice resonating through the quiet hall. "But since it's part of my job to explain it to recruits, let me give you a quick rundown."

The trio listened attentively as Jon leaned forward slightly, his massive frame looming over the counter.

"There are nine ranking classes in Anorak, ranging from 1-Star to 9-Star. A 1-Star magic user is the lowest rank—complete beginners, with no achievements to their name. Most magic users fall within the 1 to 3-Star range, making it the most common rank."

He paused, his expression growing more serious. "But beyond 3-Stars and into the realm of 4-Stars, you're looking at warriors who have proven themselves. These individuals have achieved something notable, often earning respect and recognition in their regions. Now, 5-Star rankers are rare. Most of them are Black Knight captains or army generals. Their strength is formidable, and their influence extends far and wide."

Jon crossed his arms as the room seemed to grow quieter. "There are only three 6-Star rankers in the Azel Empire: the Head of the Royal Council, the former leader of the Seven Black Knight Divisions, and the General of the Azel Army. These individuals are the pinnacle of human capability. There was another in the royal family, but… speaking her name has been forbidden for reasons best left unsaid."

The trio exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued, but Jon didn't linger on the point.

"Then there's the 7-Star rank. These individuals are called World Breakers, and for good reason. They possess enough magic to rival high-ranking demons, and restrictions are often placed on them to prevent… incidents. Most 7-Star rankers serve the Holy Church, part of an agreement brokered by the World Council to maintain balance across the empires.

"As for 8-Stars," Jon's voice dropped to a near-whisper, "there are only seven. They are the Primordial Demons, lords of darkness who rule Noir, the Black Continent where all demons are born."

He paused, his expression grim. "And finally, the 9-Star rank is held by one individual—the Witch Queen. She's the pioneer of dark magic, an ageless monster sealed in Bay Witch Tower. Just her name strikes fear into even the bravest hearts."

The trio remained silent, the weight of Jon's explanation settling over them. Even Leon, usually full of quips, was uncharacteristically quiet.

"That," Jon concluded, "is the Star rank system in a nutshell."

Asuma broke the silence. "How does the Guild determine our rank?"

Jon grinned as if he'd been waiting for the question. "Ah, good question. We use a spell called Envision Magic. It's banned in the academy, but out here in the real world, it's indispensable. The spell lets you see the rank of whoever you're looking at—it works on any species, human or otherwise."

"Can we learn this spell?" Leon asked, his curiosity returning.

"You can," Jon said, leaning back. "But first, you need to change out of your academy robes. Those fancy uniforms have spells on them that restrict certain types of magic, including Envision."

Leon raised an eyebrow. "Our robes do that? Seriously?"

Amira frowned. "Where are we supposed to find clothes to change into?"

Jon chuckled, reaching behind the counter. "This happens every time we get academy graduates. For now, wear these." He pulled out a stack of garments and handed them over.

The trio stared at the clothes in disbelief. The fabric was patterned with the Guild's logo—bright and oversized—resembling something between a uniform and pajamas.

"Are these… pajamas?" Leon asked, holding the garment at arm's length, his face filled with disdain.

"It's all we've got right now," Jon said, entirely unfazed. "Take it or leave it."

Asuma sighed. "Where can we change?"

"There's a bathroom down the hall," Jon replied, gesturing with a massive hand.

With visible reluctance, the trio trudged down the hall to change. When they returned a few minutes later, their appearances drew immediate attention from the few adventurers scattered around the Guildhall. Suppressed chuckles and muffled laughter rippled through the room as the three stood awkwardly in their pajama-like outfits.

Leon glared at the onlookers. "They're laughing. I knew this would happen."

Amira, her calm demeanor cracking, clenched her fists. "I'm going to burn this place down."

Jon, utterly unbothered, beamed at them. "Nice. They fit well!"

Asuma pinched the bridge of his nose, a faint irritation creeping into his voice. "Did you lie to us just to use us as models for these ridiculous pajamas?"

Jon chuckled heartily. "Of course not! But I must say, you all look fantastic. If I had a catalog, you'd be on the cover."

Leon groaned. "I'm never going to live this down."

Amira shot Jon a glare. "Just teach us the spell so we can burn these memories from existence."

Jon, still grinning, motioned for them to gather around. "All right, all right. Let's get started. You're going to want to pay attention—Envision Magic is simple to learn but hard to master."

Jon clapped his hands together, his deep voice drawing the trio's attention. "Let's begin. Stand facing each other, and close your eyes. Breathe deeply and slowly, letting your body relax. You need to feel the aura of the person in front of you—let it flow into your senses like a soft wind."

The trio followed his instructions, their breathing slowing as they concentrated.

"When you see a light," Jon continued, "reach out to it with your mind. Hold onto it tightly, and don't let go. Now, open your eyes."

Asuma opened his eyes slowly, blinking as his vision adjusted. A faint, shimmering white aura surrounded Amira. Numbers flickered rapidly in front of her, cycling through a confusing blur until a bold, bright 5 appeared.

His breath caught. A 5-Star rank? Amira's that strong? But before he could process it fully, the number changed abruptly, shrinking down to a 2.

Confused, Asuma rubbed his eyes and looked again. The number remained a solid 2. What just happened? Was that an error?

Across from him, Amira's lips quirked into a smirk. "Leon, you're a 1-Star. Weak," she said, her tone teasing.

Leon frowned, crossing his arms. "Tch. What about you?"

Asuma chimed in, "Amira's showing as a 2-Star."

"Two stars?!" Leon exclaimed, glaring at her. "No wonder you got picked for Black Knight candidacy."

Amira shrugged, clearly unbothered. "What about you, Asuma?" she asked.

"Same as you—2-Star," Asuma replied.

Leon groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. So I'm officially the weakest one here."

Jon's voice interrupted their banter. "If you want to confirm your rank, look at your hand."

Asuma glanced down at his palm, and sure enough, a bold 2 glowed faintly against his skin. He stared at it for a moment, his thoughts racing. Only a 2-Star. I need to get stronger—much stronger.

Jon nodded approvingly as they took in their ranks. "Your aura determines your rank," he explained. "The stronger your aura, the stronger your rank. There's an old saying: 'The body adapts to any scenario it finds itself in.' The same goes for your aura. As you grow in power, your aura will naturally adjust, and your rank will rise."

Amira raised her hand, interrupting. "That's all fine and good, but… when can we change out of these ridiculous pajamas? It's embarrassing."

Jon chuckled, clearly enjoying their discomfort. "Oh, right. You've already learned the Envision spell, so you don't need to wear those anymore. I'd recommend getting some proper armor or gear—your academy robes restrict magic."

Without another word, the trio rushed back to the bathroom to change. A few minutes later, they returned to the Guildhall in their academy uniforms, still red-faced from the humiliation of wearing the branded pajamas.

Jon greeted them with a grin. "Much better. Now, your registration will be complete by tomorrow. Once it's finalized, you can take any contract from the bulletin board over there." He gestured to the sparse board across the room.

"Thanks, Jon," Asuma said with a small bow.

"You're welcome, kid," Jon replied, his tone softening slightly.

As they exited the Guild, Amira suddenly fell to her knees in a dramatic pout. "How am I supposed to recover from that humiliation?" she groaned.

Leon rolled his eyes. "Come on, it wasn't that bad."

Amira glared at him. "Not that bad? We paraded through the Guildhall in pajamas!"

Asuma chuckled, reaching down to help her to her feet. "Don't worry. It's not like Jon's planning to plaster our faces on Guild posters. Let's just head home and forget about it."

Amira allowed herself to be pulled up, muttering under her breath as they made their way back into the bustling streets of Anor. The city's lively atmosphere helped dispel some of their lingering embarrassment, though Amira still occasionally shot glares at passing strangers who so much as glanced their way.

Back in the Guildhall, Jon sat at the counter, flipping through their registration documents. His brow furrowed slightly as he scanned the information.

Three students from nobility, he thought, tapping the papers lightly. It's rare for nobles to join the Guild. Usually, it's lowborn kids looking to make a name for themselves, risking their lives to take on contracts in a world filled with monstrosities and demons.

He set the documents aside, his gaze drifting toward the door where the trio had exited. These three might be different. Nobles or not, they've got potential. A small smile tugged at his lips. Let's see what they can do.