Chapter 13: Essence
14, Piscaris - 3118 – Guild of Action (Antiarena City)
After a week of completing missions for the Guild—earning only slightly above-average scores—Ravi finally succeeded in becoming an official member of the Guild of Action.
In his disguise as Reydon Leyn, Ravi deliberately avoided standing out. He kept a low profile, subtly shaping Reydon into a clumsy, naive persona. This strategy paid off—he blended into the guild seamlessly, even managing to earn the camaraderie of many fellow members.
The Guild Master, Bayer—a barrel-chested man with a thick grey beard and arms like tree trunks—often sighed in exasperation at Ravi's antics.
"I swear, you're going to be as hard to manage as Waker," Bayer muttered one day, shaking his head.
Waker Crane was a boy about the same age as Ravi—genuinely naive, clumsy, and often at the center of accidental chaos. But when it came to missions, he was focused and remarkably diligent.
Waker was a warm presence in the guild—always offering a helping hand, usually followed by a sheepish apology when things didn't go quite as planned. His light-hearted nature made him beloved, and eventually, he became Ravi's closest friend.
Privately, Ravi had researched Waker's background. He discovered that Waker's family had migrated from the Empire of Armain, specifically the city of Rashonbound, and had settled in Antiarena. Waker's younger brother, about the same age as Zaara, had recently awakened his Essence Aspect and was now attending the Red Arena Academy.
Though inexperienced, Waker's tough journey across empires had made him resourceful—and a qualified candidate for the Guild.
During his time in Antiarena City, Ravi saw that the town was relatively underdeveloped. There was little to no sign of modern technology. The only form of transportation seemed to be horse-drawn carriages in varying sizes.
Weapons were freely carried by citizens and only restricted in areas controlled by the royal family or high-level authorities. The city's law and order were maintained by the Imperial Enforcement Force—recognizable by their black armor layered over crimson robes, each bearing the red owl insignia on the right sleeve. They operated in tandem with the local academies, ensuring safety within and outside the town walls.
One incident stood out to Ravi: a thief who had stolen a few items from a local armory was caught the other day. After confirming his overall crimes, his left hand was slashed in public.
Bayer slammed a thick book in front of Ravi and scowled dramatically.
"As a member of the Guild of Action, you need to have at least basic knowledge about the world," he grunted in a mock-serious tone. "Read this thoroughly. Don't ruin our guild's reputation. I don't want illiterates in here."
Ravi blinked innocently and looked down at the brown leather cover. Embossed on it were the words:
Beginner's Guide for the Privileged Essence Wielders
Waker took a long sip of his tea while watching Ravi flip the pages. For a moment, his cheerful mask cracked—just a flicker of something deeper, a shiver of unease.
Ravi already knew far more than the book contained. But he maintained the expression of someone genuinely struggling, squinting at the diagrams and nodding slowly as if it was all new to him.
Ravi had long mastered the principles outlined in the book. He knew that the ability to control Essence was largely genetic, though not guaranteed. Children born to Essence Wielders didn't always develop the talent to manipulate it.
Essence Talent was defined as the individual's innate capacity to absorb, store, and channel Essence to eventually awaken their Aspect—a unique manifestation of their power.
According to recent censuses, roughly 30 out of every 100 children displayed sufficient Essence potential. However, the extent of that potential only became measurable once their Essence Core developed—typically during the period between adolescence and late teenage years.
When a person's core awakened, the surrounding Essence would instinctively repel, signaling the formation of the Aspect. This often manifested as a translucent barrier around the wielder, lasting only a few minutes.
Ravi knew all of this and much more. But as Reydon Leyn, he kept reading the book as it was something new and unknown to him.
Waker leaned back in his chair, watching him with a mix of amusement and suspicion, but said nothing.
The storm outside Antiarena continued to build, but inside the guild, things remained quiet.