In the North of Ashton
In the early hours of the morning, the streets of Ashton's northern district were still shrouded in mist. Fishermen prepared their boats, and the scent of freshly baked bread drifted out from the bakeries. Arthur, his face calm yet determined, cut through the crowd as he made his way toward the Galxicus Guild.
When he arrived, he saw the weathered stone walls of the building. The once-proud banners now hung faded; a few guild members stood at the entrance, exchanging uneasy glances. As Arthur stepped inside, the grand hall lit by dim lamps fell silent.
Inside, there were about twenty members. Some polished their old armor, others discussed missions over a map. When they saw Arthur, whispers spread among them.
At one of the tables, a burly, bearded man stood up. His name was Garrick, one of Ronald's oldest companions.
"Look, young master Arthur has returned!" he boomed. "Still unmasked, still standing tall! Ronald should be grateful to have a son like you!"
Beside him, a slender woman, the archer Liana, narrowed her eyes.
"Son or not, it'll take a miracle to keep this guild alive. What can Arthur do on his own?"
Arthur walked toward them, a faint gleam in his eyes.
"This guild is my family's legacy. If its chains need to be broken, then I'll be the one to break them."
His words echoed through the hall. The members fell silent. At that moment, Ronald Dover descended the stairs with heavy steps.
(:::::::::::)
Ronald's face bore the weary lines of age, but his eyes still held a steely glint. He slammed the ledger in his hands down on the table.
"Arthur," he said, voice sharp and hard. "This guild's debt is my burden, not yours. I will not cleanse my shame with my son's money."
Arthur silently pulled a small pouch from his pocket. The crystals inside gleamed faintly in the dim light. When he placed it on the table, the atmosphere of the hall shifted.
"Father," Arthur said. "This debt must be paid. If not, Galxicus will be sealed. Then there will be no guild, no family."
Ronald's fist slammed the table.
"No! This is my disgrace. My responsibility! I will not lighten my burden with my son's wealth!"
From the back, Garrick muttered under his breath.
"Ronald… stop being stubborn. Your boy's right. If the debt isn't paid, we'll all be out on the streets."
Liana folded her arms.
"Or maybe Arthur just fancies himself a hero. Where did this money come from? How many lives did it cost?"
Arthur turned his gaze to her, his eyes cold and unwavering.
"This money comes from my own labor, my own battles. If blood was shed, it was for my family. That's reason enough."
The whispers in the hall grew louder. Ronald rose again, his voice ringing.
"Do not interfere in my path, Arthur!"
Arthur leaned toward his father, his face emerging from the shadows, his eyes flashing like lightning.
"No, father. No matter how stubborn you are, this debt will be paid. Because I've made my decision. This guild is my legacy too."
Silence… only the sound of breathing filled the room. Ronald stared into his son's eyes and no longer saw a boy but a warrior who had shattered his chains. His shoulders sank, his eyes glistened.
"...Arthur, you've changed."
Arthur pushed the pouch into his father's hands.
"No. I've simply grown. And you will no longer carry this burden alone."
After a long pause, Ronald accepted the money. Murmurs filled the hall—some doubtful, others admiring. The members of Galxicus knew they had just witnessed a turning point.
The debt was settled, yet Arthur's mind was far from calm. That night, in the quiet of his room, he pulled out his communication stone. The surface glowed blue as the system activated. A trading interface from the inter-guild market appeared before him.
A list of available skills scrolled across the screen:
Volt Guard (28M U) – An electric barrier for defense.Thunder Fang (32M U) – A piercing lightning strike.Tempest Step (30M U) – Movement as swift as a storm.Mind Resonance (29M U) – The ability to sense mana flow, detecting ambushes.
Arthur considered them in silence. Thunder Fang was powerful but consumed too much mana. Volt Guard was useful but didn't suit his style.
His eyes fixed on two choices:
Tempest Step and Mind Resonance.
"These two… fit my path best," he whispered.
With his confirmation, the stone flared. Two skill scrolls manifested as holographic seals. When Arthur reached out, the energy surged into his veins. The room filled with crackles of lightning and vibrations.
Arthur closed his eyes, holding his breath.
"This power… will awaken when the time is right. And no one will know this secret."
In the solitude of Galxicus, a new thread of destiny quietly took shape.
Author Note:
I'm writing new chapters. If there's anything you'd like me to add, please let me know so I can add it to the novel. Or you can ask your questions.