plains that slowly turned into dense green stretches of forest. The air felt different here—less guarded than the Fairy Kingdom, yet not careless either. Merchants' paths crossed these lands, and old ruins hid just beyond sight.
As they walked, Reeve broke the silence.
"So… if we're really making a guild," he said,
"we should probably decide on a name."
Lunareth glanced at him.
"You already have one in mind?"
Reeve hesitated, then nodded.
"Maybe."
He cleared his throat.
"First one—Iron Vow."
Kaelith frowned immediately.
"…Too rigid."
Elaryn tilted her head.
"And too common."
Reeve sighed.
"Alright. Second one—Silent Pact."
Lunareth smiled politely.
"It sounds like we're planning a betrayal."
Reeve groaned.
"You're all very picky."
He walked a few steps ahead, then spoke again, more casually this time.
"What about… Eclipse Collectors?"
The words hung in the air.
Kaelith stopped walking.
Elaryn slowly turned toward Reeve.
Lunareth's teasing expression vanished—replaced by something sharper, more focused.
"…That," Lunareth said softly,
"sounds dangerous."
Kaelith nodded.
"And fitting."
Elaryn crossed her arms.
"We collect what others fear," she said.
"Power. Truth. People."
Reeve blinked.
"I just thought it sounded cool."
They all looked at him.
Then—almost at the same time—
"We'll use it."
The decision was made.
That night, they camped deep in the jungle.
A small fire burned between them, shadows dancing against the trees. The forest felt alive—but not hostile.
While Lunareth and Elaryn prepared food, Kaelith sat beside Reeve, sharpening his blade slowly.
After a moment, Kaelith spoke.
"Your old life," he said.
"What was it like?"
Reeve didn't answer immediately.
The fire crackled.
"Normal," he said finally.
"Too normal."
He stared into the flames.
"Politics everywhere. Corruption hidden behind smiles.
People pretending not to see what was right in front of them."
His voice lowered.
"I wasn't strong. I wasn't special."
"I just… understood people."
Kaelith listened without interruption.
"And that made things lonely," Reeve added quietly.
For a moment, his face softened—sad, distant.
Before the silence could deepen—
"That's enough," Lunareth said firmly, shoving a plate toward him.
"Eat."
Reeve looked up.
"Huh?"
"No more heavy thoughts," she said.
"Dinner. Then sleep."
Elaryn nodded.
"You're not allowed to drown in the past tonight."
Reeve chuckled faintly.
"Bossy."
"Very," Lunareth replied.
Later, Lunareth and Elaryn slept on one side of the camp.
Reeve and Kaelith sat on the other.
The fire burned low.
They talked quietly—about nothing important. About weapons. About roads. About places they'd never been.
When morning came—
Neither of them had slept.
The sunlight filtered through the trees, warm and unforgiving.
Lunareth opened one eye.
Then the other.
She looked at Reeve.
Then at Kaelith.
"…You didn't sleep," she said.
Elaryn sat up, instantly annoyed.
"Not even a little?"
Reeve smiled weakly.
"We were… talking."
Lunareth stood.
"You're idiots."
Elaryn sighed.
"Both of you."
An hour later, as they walked again, the conversation shifted.
"Guild type," Kaelith said.
"We need flexibility."
"Adventure guild," Elaryn suggested.
"It allows movement."
"And merchant affiliations," Kaelith added.
"Information flows faster with trade."
Lunareth nodded.
"A hybrid structure."
They paused.
Then Elaryn spoke.
"Leader should be Kaelith."
Reeve nodded immediately.
"Agreed."
Kaelith stopped walking.
"No."
They all looked at him.
"Lunareth should lead," Kaelith said.
"She balances force and restraint."
Lunareth crossed her arms.
"No. You command respect naturally."
Elaryn shook her head.
Then, slowly—
All three turned toward Reeve.
"You'll lead," Elaryn said.
Reeve froze.
"…What?"
"You see people," Lunareth said.
"Not just power."
"And you don't seek control," Kaelith added.
"Which makes you dangerous in the right way."
Reeve looked between them.
"Why does no one want this position?" he asked honestly.
They didn't answer.
Because the answer was obvious.
Leadership was not power.
It was weight.
Eldmere appeared on the horizon—stone walls, rising towers, a city that never truly slept.
As they stepped toward its gates—
Reeve didn't know it yet.
But the world had already decided something for him.