In the Westland capital, Wunderdum, there exist five guilds that hold more strength and influence than any other. Their reach went well beyond the city's walls and extended to even the Northlands and Southlands. Individually, they held the strength of an entire city's soldiers, but together, they were as strong as an army.
Avalon. Twilight. Odyssey. Silva's Guild. Diamond Forge.
These guilds certainly had the strength to overthrow the kingdom, but worked better as individual parties maintaining a balance of power, ensuring political groups never got out of hand, as well as each other.
Originally, it was Arthur's Guard, the Westland's military force, who were tasked with maintaining peace through a strict code, but that was flawed since, if a succeeding king were ever to become too powerful and abuse this force, they could introduce an era of tyranny. Thus is why Lionel developed the Agents of Darkness: to do the dirty work of the kingdom, and cull those deemed a threat from both outside and within. They held a blade to the country's own neck at all times.
Of course, due to their dark nature, this organization could easily get out of hand and become corrupt, spreading its darkness through invisible means– a much more dangerous force than Arthur's Guard. As such, a third party was appointed to keep both these other forces in check if they ever ran astray. This force wouldn't be run by those in power, but by the very people who made the kingdom many decades before: the guilds. They worked and struggled for money just like everyone else, and had the power to bear the fangs of the people should their freedoms ever be threatened.
In the concurrent era, the guild system was being used to maintain Arthur's faction. While his faction originally waned in power, with the support of the top five guilds, his followers regained a tight grasp over the kingdom, despite the civil unrest and despite his leaving the kingdom.
About two weeks following Arthur's departure, a meeting was called by Lancelot to discuss the future of the Westlands and to plan a course of action. This convention was held in the royal throne room, a replica of the Pond of Beginnings, and would involve only the five guild masters.
Inside the throne room, Lancelot, master of Avalon, and three of the other masters sat, waiting for the final member.
"You know, I could never get used to a room that seeks to imitate the outdoors," Eclipse, leader of the number two guild, Twilight, said.
Eclipse was a tall woman who wore loose, dark green clothing and had slight bags under her eyes, indicating overexertion and insomnia. After running her guild for several decades from a young age, her gaze had grown sternly cold, though she still retained a fondness for sarcasm and sweets. As the front of the second strongest guild, she was an incredibly powerful mage, and though she was a bit older, she still held a youthful beauty others like her could only dream of retaining.
"I quite like it. There's no greater place than the outdoors, after all," Marco, leader of Odyssey, said. The Odyssey guild was the alleged third strongest guild in the kingdom and was one of explorers and thrill seekers, always looking for fortune and fame. He himself was a towering man, even taller than Eclipse, and had the sturdy body of someone who'd been through hellish territories and fought vicious beasts throughout his life. He was the youngest one there, and happily cracked open some shelled nuts he'd brought to the meeting as a snack. Seeing that they were from a faraway land, he was the only one who ate the peculiarly shaped pellets.
"This place could do without the bugs," Kulak said, sipping the tea that was provided for them. Kulak was the leader of Diamond Forge, the number five guild. He was an almost-elderly man who had migrated from the Southlands many decades prior and had been a key merchant during Arthur's coming to power. His group became the primary weapons and tools dealer to the kingdom and eventually established itself as an official guild. Kulak himself was a man who was only concerned with wealth, partaking in the finer things in life, and putting his own interests above all else.
"Well, I could do without these sour men tainting such delicious confections," Eclipse said, picking at the pastries laid out for them on the table.
"Speaking of old, you're getting up there in age, Eclipse," Marco said as he cracked open a nut and flicked it into his mouth. "By the way, how's your love life?"
Eclipse glared at him with a look of disdain.
"Oh, that's right, you've been single all your life," Marco laughed. "Hey, sweety, maybe you should settle down with me. You're not getting any younger, and I know you're still hoping to find that special someone."
"What gave you that impression, you arrogant brat?" Eclipse asked, scowling at him.
"You're the leader of a cold-ass guild, yet you still doll yourself up daily," Marco said. "On your days off, my men have reported seeing you perusing the romance section in the bookstores. Oh, how soft you've grown in your older years!"
"Hmph. Even if I had an interest in love, it certainly wouldn't be with a man like you," Eclipse said. Her face was a bit flushed, but she hid it well with her stern expression.
"You're one to talk about growing soft, Marco," Kulak said. "When's the last time you actually went on an expedition? Has the legendary explorer Marco Pollus fallen off his horse into the mud?"
"Hey, running a guild's tough," Marco said, crossing his arms and putting his feet on the table. "Unlike you rich pricks, I gotta handle the paperwork myself. I don't have people to do that for me."
"Maybe if you weren't so terrible with money and were more organized, your guild wouldn't be stuck in number three," Eclipse said.
Marco stuck his tongue at her. "Says the guild stuck in number two. Number two is just as much of a loser as number three."
"That's enough, you louts," Lancelot shouted, walking over from the pink-petaled tree where he'd been standing, contemplating something as they waited. "We'll be starting this meeting as soon as Silva shows up."
"Why do we gotta wait for that bum?" Marco asked. "I get that he's a tough fella, but his little group's just a buncha odd-jobbers who'll do anything for a buck. Just as long as it's not too much work."
"As much as it leaves a horrid taste in my mouth, I've got to agree with him," Eclipse said. "Silva doesn't belong here in the first place. Sure, he places fourth in the games each year, but that's only because he and his lackeys participate in every event. They're strong as individuals, but are nothing when it comes to true strength. If any one of our guilds wished it, they would be wiped out in an instant."
"He's a brat-and-half, lazy, and has two good-for-nothin' mates he doesn't pay half the time," Lancelot said. "But when you really need him, there's no one more reliable."
"He's a liability," Kulak said. "How could you call him reliable when he's late to this imperative meeting? And on top of that, he doesn't provide much in the first place. I don't care what he's done for you in the past; that doesn't change the fact that he's just a coinless man with a paper sword."
"Can't argue with that!" Lancelot laughed. "Nonetheless, Arthur asked for his inclusion, and so we shall obey."
The other three guild masters exchanged perspicacious glances, then nodded jointly, staring down Lancelot with grave faces.
"You say we should still obey Arthur, but didn't he relinquish the throne already?" Kulak asked.
"Only as a formality. Our real goal is to reform and come back stronger than before," Lancelot said. "Hm? What's with those distrustful gazes? You gotta problem or something?"
"As a matter of fact, we do," Marco said, slamming his feet atop the table and leaning back in his chair. "Arthur's an old dog with old ideals. Sure, he's the Chosen One and allat crap, but he's already served his purpose. He saved the world, and now it's time for him to step aside in his old age. He's clearly gone senile, talking about some make-believe device that'll transport everyone from the continent to some crazy place across the sea. Look, I'm all for explorin' unknown territories, but I'm not crazy enough to go along with that nonsensical plan."
"You've lost faith in your elders, eh?" Lancelot asked, spitting his thick saliva on the ground and cracking his knuckles. "Perhaps I ought to teach you when it's time to keep your mouth shut. After that, we can discuss-"
"You wanna fight old man?" Marco said with a bodacious smile.
"Lancelot, we haven't come here to plan the return of the king," Eclipse interrupted. "We've come to renounce our loyalty to Arthur and seize the Westlands."
"Oho? So it's treason," Lancelot said. "That's fine by me. I guess I'll just have to beat you all down like the old days."
"Not so fast, you rambunctious old man," Eclipse said, rising to her feet and drawing her weapon. "By now, our guilds have already taken Tintagel Castle. There's nowhere left to run in this world. Not anymore. We're running out of time."
"So, you really are a buncha traitors, eh?" Lancelot asked angrily. "Did Lionel sweet-talk you into his master plan as well?"
"We don't trust that man, but he's in a much better position to lead this country than Arthur," Kulak said. "And now that a god has been slain, the possibilities of what his endgame can accomplish have become endless."
"His endgame requires the sacrifice of millions," Lancelot said.
"The means are cruel, but necessary," Eclipse said. "Think about it. By sacrificing a fraction of humanity now, we can attain the power to safely explore the Moonless Terra, fell gods, or whatever else we need to do to preserve humanity as a whole. His plan is as nonsensical as Arthur's, but unlike Arthur, Lionel has given us undeniable proof of what he can accomplish. He has shown us what we must do and how we can save humanity."
"And how would you choose who lives and who dies for this cause?" Lancelot asked.
"That burden will be upon us," Kulak said. "Though it will make us villains in history, we're willing to sacrifice everything to save this world. At least by becoming villains, there's a history for us to villainize."
"You've really lost all faith in Arthur? After all we've been through together?" Lancelot asked.
"Yes, we've been through a lot," Eclipse said. "And since the beginning, we've always abided by an oath that we would keep the kingdom safe, no matter how great the sacrifice. Even if it means felling the government of the man we respect, it is our sworn duty to protect the Westlands no matter the sacrifice."
"If you'd just waited a little longer, we could have proved our plan held merit as well," Lancelot started.
"There is no more time to wait, and you've nothing to show, not even a schematic," Marco said. "We're outta time. Surely you can see that. One way or another, the Northlands are gonna take us over, then they're gonna move to the South. If we seize power here, we avoid an unwinnable war with them and retain individuality from the North. We can work together."
"You wish to kill a billion people, so a few of us may survive," Lancelot said, his voice calmly angry. "That includes the people you swore to protect. How can you stomach that? When did you become such cold-hearted brats?"
"And when did you become a fool unwilling to do what's necessary?" Kulak asked. "Unwilling to sacrifice to protect."
"When you're sacrificing the thing you're protecting, it's meaningless," Lancelot said.
"You're not in right here, Lancelot," Eclipse said. "If you'd told us this before the truth was revealed, we would have been behind you all the way. But knowing what we know, what you know, there's just no way."
"Yep. So, now you have two choices," Marco said. "Join us and attempt to preserve what we can, or watch as your guild crumbles under our weight. Avalon is strong, but you'll be just ants under our feet with our combined strength. And even if you could fend us all off, can you do it before the Northland's forces arrive to reinforce us?"
Lancelot stood there in silence, unable to speak or fathom what he was hearing. The guilds he'd thought were loyal to Arthur had betrayed them in the worst way possible. Not only were they so cowardly to wait until Arthur was gone, but they were also willing to hand over the nation to someone such as Lionel, who had a skewed idea of justice. One that contradicted itself through its efficiency. With most of Arthur's loyal guard gone, it would be the Agents of Darkness and the treacherous guilds that ruled. The kingdom was theirs, and while they spoke of valor and saving the world, Lancelot knew that they only had their self-interests in mind.
Lancelot wasn't sure if he should kill them all where they stood or restrain himself for the time being. They were right about one thing. Avalon wasn't nearly potent enough to take on the rest of the Westland's guilds, even if he were to fight alongside them.
Before the tension could escalate any further, the doors of the throne room swung open, slamming into the sides with a loud, abrasive crash. They all looked back.
"Hey, weren't you all supposed to wait for me to start this meeting?" an apathetic voice said from the hall.
The man who walked in had messy moonstone hair and eyes that were clearly elsewhere. Hugging his lean chest was a sleeveless black shirt, and below was a pair of baggy tan trousers. At his side, he donned a large piece of paper which was folded up neatly to resemble the length and width of a sword, though it was most certainly just a long piece of folded paper.
The others remained silent as the careless man adjusted the sack he carried on his back and walked to the center of the grassy room.
"What are you doing here, Silva?" Eclipse asked. "You already turned down the offer to join us."
"Yeah, honestly, I don't have any interest in rebellion or anything noble like that," Silva said, sighing. "Besides, I gotta find a way to make some money. The landlord's really on me this month."
"What do you mean? We told you you'd have as much coin as you wanted," Marco said. "Hell, that's the whole reason I'm here. But you… Wait, why are you here?"
Silva scratched his head. "Dunno. I was just taking a walk to clear my mind, and seemed to have gotten lost."
"You got so lost that you've climbed the stairs to this heavily guarded castle in the sky and waltzed straight into the throne room?" Eclipse asked, pointing her steel towards him. "You'd best explain yourself, without the smug commentary."
"Ah, you've got me," Silva said, loosely putting his hands up and dropping his sack on the ground. "The truth is… I think I've found a job that'll set me up for life. That's why I'm here. Lancelot, Arthur's left you with the key to the treasury, yeah?"
"But of course," Lancelot mused, toying with his scraggly beard. "Name any price you wish."
"Oh, I intend to," Silva chuckled. "I'm gonna run you and the rest of this kingdom dry, then I'm gonna eat pastries covered in gold every single day while betting on horse races."
"If it's about money, we can accommodate you three times as much," Kulak said.
"Sorry, bud, it's first-come, first-served with my guild. Lance got to me first, you see," Silva said, pointing his flaccid paper sword at him. "Besides, I don't take dirty money."
"You'd rather be crushed alongside the relics of this nation than swallow your pride and do what's right?" Eclipse asked.
"Well, when you word it like that, it kinda makes me sound like the villain," Silva said. "But lemme ask you this: do you and your little posse of rats have what it takes to go against us?"
"Boy, you don't know what you speak of," Kulak said. "You're not just going up against our three guilds and the Agents of Darkness, though that's more than enough to crush your shady business. We command every guild, big and small, in the kingdom, not to mention much of Arthur's Guard. This nation has already transferred the power from the old king's Round Table to us. You just haven't realized yet."
"You see, this is why I hate politics," Silva said, scratching the back of his head. "They're a bit too confusing to me. I'm just gonna help my friends, and that's that. If they end up being wrong, then we can all go to hell together. I really don't give a shit what the rest of you idiots want."
"Fine, you insufferable stray," Eclipse said. "You're just a nuisance anyway. We'll be glad to get your so-called 'guild' out of our way."
"My guild is more a guild than yours will ever be," Silva said.
"A guild that does anything for scraps and only has three members isn't anything other than a bunch of beggars doing dirty work for a living," Marco laughed.
"Hey, at least I keep my guild hall clean," Silva said.
"The place you claim is a guild hall is just a shabby little room you rent in the slums of the city," Marco said. "I dunno about these other losers, but I keep my guildhall pristine and clean."
"Hm, really?" Silva asked. "You know, while I was on my walk, I happened to pass by each of your guild halls for a visit. I have something from them you might be interested in."
Silva picked up his sack and pulled out three flags, throwing them on the ground before the other three masters. Each flag was from their respective guild halls, with torn sides indicating that they'd been ripped from where they'd been perched. He started walking towards them, leaving a footprint on one of the flags.
"You see, your main guild halls were in tatters," Silva said, his voice as deadpan as his dead fish eyes as he smiled. "It looked as if they were attacked. Maybe I was mistaken? Surely, the main guild halls of the top five guilds wouldn't have been destroyed so easily."
The other three guild masters disappeared from view, then reappeared, surrounding Silva before he could say another word. They pointed their respective weapons at his neck with eyes ready to kill. Eclipse stood in front of him with a sharp violet shortsword, Marco to his left with a heavy wooden crossbow, and Kulak on the right, wielding his Southern-style, resizable spear.
"There's no way you could have taken down all of our guild halls by yourself," Eclipse said. Marco's crossbow clicked as he prepped an arrow with a steel tip aimed straight at Silva's moony hair.
Silva swiftly raised his paper stack to Eclipse's neck, paralleling her own sword. The white folds of flimsy material sprang to life as Silva's azure energy stiffened it and imbued it with intense magic power, making it harder than diamond. It had risen up from a droopy piece of paper to a sturdy white sword. In response, the other two inched their weapons closer.
"Who said I tore them down myself?" Silva asked with a grin. "Teep! Fleche! If you wanna get paid next week, show 'em what our so-called good-for-nothing guild can really do."
"Paid next week? You still haven't paid us for last," a muffled voice from beneath the soil said.
From the ground emerged a teen boy with a thin sword behind Marco, who spun around to face him. Marco reflexively shot his crossbow, which was parried away by the thin sword of Fleche.
Teep, a girl with a blindfold around her eyes, appeared in an odd stance where her knee met her chest behind Kulak. Though he wasn't in a position to fight back should she strike, the old Southland man remained composed.
Lancelet drew his own sword as well and walked forward, pointing it at the other guild masters as they surrounded them.
"Did you really think you could control someone like him? Lancelot asked.
"No, but we didn't think he'd take action," Eclipse said, dropping her weapon. The other two followed as well, as they were well aware they were outmatched. "Still, even if you destroyed our main guild halls, they were nothing more than public fronts. All you've done is start a war from which you will not walk away."
"Victory is never assured. That's the first rule of war," Lancelot said.
"Speak for yourself," Marco said as numerous mounds began to grow in the ground. The dirt broke, and dozens of cloaked agents jumped out, surrounding Lancelot and Silva's group. They were the assassins of Wunderdum, the Agents of Darkness, appearing in troves to reinforce the guildmasters.
"As we said before, it's one guild versus an entire kingdom; there's no way you'll come out victorious," Marco said, picking up his crossbow from the dirt and rolling away from Fleche.
"You're not wrong," Lancelot laughed, readying his sword. "There's no way we could ever attain victory, but we can make damn sure you don't either. We're gonna do this, or are you just gonna stare at my beautiful face?"
"Your face hasn't been beautiful in quite some time, old man," Silva scoffed.