After an hour of using the flames to carry the ashes, Aiden succeeded in letting it hover before burning it to nothing. However, he couldn't use the flames for a long time.
[Starflame of Void is on cooldown.]
Aiden staggered backward as the flames disappeared from the desk. His face was covered in sweat, and he felt like every breath was a sharp knife cutting through his lungs. For some reason, he was exhausted.
"I guess that's your limit for now," Maverick said as he rose, using his cane to amble toward Aiden. "Not bad, kid. You have what it takes to be… better."
"Better?" Aiden asked between gasping breaths. "I want to be the best."
"That will depend on your dedication to this profession," Maverick said as he tapped the desk with his cane, making it sink into the ground. "One craftsman is born from a thousand who try. It doesn't matter if you begin, but it matters if you keep going."
"What do I do now?"
"You keep practicing, but you don't have the time," Maverick said before he pointed toward the door, where Genevieve was waiting. "At the moment, your job is to survive the upcoming trial."
"How much time do we have?" Aiden turned and asked her.
"None," Genevieve said. "The seekers are already waiting for us. We should gear up and leave now."
"I haven't even mastered crafting stealth items," Aiden said. "I'll die at this rate."
"You won't die," she said. "I made sure to place you in a trustworthy team."
"We won't be together?" Aiden asked.
"You want all eyes on you?" she asked with a grin.
"Good call," Aiden said before he rose. "I'll be off for a while, master. Don't die before I'm back."
"You are the one more likely to die," Maverick sneered. "Keep my disciple alive, Guild Master. I don't care if he comes back in one piece."
Maverick then led them to the storage room, where Aiden and Genevieve geared up on stealth and damage-negating items. Most of them had requirements that Aiden didn't meet, so he had to rely on what worked — which weren't a lot, but they were powerful.
After they were done, Aiden was wearing the Faceless Mask, the Shadow Cape, and a set of consumables and protective items. His clothes were a mix of black and blue, which made him look like a ghost.
"Let's hope this keeps you alive," Maverick said. "Otherwise, this will be a complete waste of money."
Genevieve walked into the room at that moment. She was dressed in black from head to toe with a silver armor underneath. Her hair was tied behind in a ponytail, showing her blue eyes and unblemished face.
"Are you ready?" she asked. Aiden nodded. "Then let's embark on this mission. We don't want to lose the bet, after all."
[---]
Aiden looked at their group. They were assigned a wagon, big enough for the six of them. Genevieve placed him in one of its promising newbie groups, one she deemed to be the safest place for Aiden.
"We have some new members," a dashing man with a buzz cut said. He was wearing light armor, with what looked like a rapier strapped to his belt. "Us four have always been together, but the guild dictates that each party needs to include six. How about some quick introductions?"
No one said a thing.
Aiden looked at the rest, and saw that they were as weary and socially awkward as he was. He turned back to the man, who had a forced smile on his face. Aiden's gaze seemed like a lifeboat, and the man addressed him.
"How about you go ahead and introduce yourself?"
"There is not much to know," Aiden said from behind his mask, which looked like a biker helmet. "I'm quick on my feet, and I use a long sword. I'm weaker than most of you here, but I will make sure that I support everyone during a fight."
"That's a good introduction," the leader said with a nod. "My name is Elijah. These are my teammates: Catherine, Claw, and Silas."
Catherine was a woman in her early twenties. She wore robes that seemed to shimmer with runes and carried a small wand that, as Aiden had learned, was best fit for magical combat. She was a battle mage.
Claw, on the other hand, was a Lycanthos like the one that almost killed Aiden. He was younger, smaller, and more reserved to himself. His sharp features resembled humans, but his wild hair betrayed his race.
Silas was the most unique among them. He was a humanoid race that could shapeshift as much as they liked. He switched faces like breathing, and almost blended with the wagon's wood.
"Good to meet you," Catherine said with a nod.
"Hmph," Claw snorted and turned away.
Silas remained silent.
Elijah gave another awkward chuckle and turned toward Aiden and the sixth member of their group. This time, the one remaining turned out to be someone that Aiden had already met: Raymond Cross.
"A pleasure to meet you all," Raymond said with a dashing smile. "My name is Raymond Cross. I will be in your care today. If there is anything I can help with, then please let me know."
Raymond's noble aura and polite attitude earned the trust of the team, and they welcomed him back. Aiden was the only one wearing a mask, except for Silas who lacked a definitive face.
"I don't think I caught your name," Raymond said, turning toward Aiden.
"That's because I didn't say it," Aiden said. "There is a reason that I'm wearing a mask that hides my face and my voice."
"You don't want to be known," Raymond said as the wagon pulled them away. "Are you a seeker?"
"Are you?" Aiden asked back. "From what I know about the Cross Family, their youngest child is still training — why would the Guild assign him to our team?"
"This could be a learning experience for me," Raymond answered under the inquisitive eyes of the crowd. "But let me assure you — I am stronger than most seekers you will meet, even if I don't have the badge."