The Crescentia Merchant Guild.
Even though officially they are just a merchant guild, they're practically a pseudo-government running within the empire. Throughout the history of Drostern from it starting off as an alliance until the three kingdoms part of it united and became an influential empire in the region, the guild played a significant part ever since its foundation.
"And here I am standing in front of it." Rafael stared at the building in front of him. It's the Crescentia Merchant Guild's base, he was still awed by the building even though he saw more impressive ones like the Statue of St. Minerva and The Temple of Wisdom.
Rafael learned that this was not even the headquarters but a mere command post—the main one was located in Crescentia itself. He didn't mind, as a kid who grew up in a village far from the capital, getting to enter something like this was like a dream to him.
"Uhh, what am I waiting for…" he was supposed to deliver goods that came from his village to this building, yet he couldn't take another step.
Was he too nervous, too excited, or both? Rafael remembered when he was a child, it was the guild that came to his village when the corrupted tried to plunder.
Rafael remembered it clearly, there was a young man who saved him and his mother. Now, he's the same age as that man who saved him years ago yet he still hasn't achieved anything great.
"Hey, why's that guy not moving at all?" There was someone behind him, it sounded like a girl, was she there all this time?
"I don't know, maybe poke him or something." There seems to be another person accompanying the girl, he doesn't know if the guy was being sarcastic or not.
He turned behind and saw the two people speaking. One was a girl who's pretty tall, almost as tall as the guy beside him; he surmised that they were the same age as him.
The girl was an outfit fitting for someone who'd hit people, her body isn't that particularly muscular—compared to the other fighters that he has seen, at least. Although he couldn't prove it, he knows that the girl would've beat him up if they ever fought each other.
The man on the other hand was wearing a robe. 'He doesn't want to stand out, I guess…' he thought. Perhaps he was someone important, he wasn't really interested in what was his reason to come here.
"…hello, are you from here?" They seemed to be from somewhere far away like him, but he wants to try and ask them just to be sure.
"No." Both said in sync, they took a look at the thing he was carrying and seemed to understand the situation.
"We're going inside, want to accompany us?" The guy asked him what he wanted to be asked.
"Yes." Rafael immediately answered, this made the guy smile.
"I'm Evanthia, nice to meet you!" The girl introduced herself and offered to shake hands.
The moment they shook hands, his hand seemed to become stiff, he barely managed to keep the same indifferent expression. Rafael didn't noticed but the man besides Evanthia smirked as if he knew that would happen.
"I'm Simon Hannes." The robed man also introduced himself.
They continued chatting with each other as they entered the building. Despite their different statuses, they didn't judge each other. In fact, they bonded and shared different experiences from their origins.
"So, Sir Silvan isn't here…" Rafael was slightly disappointed that he wouldn't get to meet his saviour. Earlier, he hesitated to enter because he didn't know what to say if they met here. Turns out, Silvan Hannes is a busier man than he thought.
"You said you want to join the guild, right? You'll have many opportunities later on!" Evanthia tried to cheer him up.
Simon was too busy admiring the hall they're walking into. Evanthia told Rafael that even earlier he was doing nothing but admire the architecture of the capital before meeting him.
"Don't worry, his brother is here in the flesh!" Evanthia chuckled at her own comment. This also caught the attention of Simon who was too focused on the interior design of the building.
They just laughed at themselves until they arrived at the room Rafael was supposed to deliver the materials.
"Thanks, you're just in time!" The man smiled at Rafael. He opened the box he was carrying, the three also took a peek.
It was an odd looking mushroom, a lot of them. Simon had a rough idea on what it is.
"What's that?" Evanthia asked, she hadn't seen the mushroom before.
"It's a mushroom used to make the purification powder." The man noticed their curiosity about the mushroom.
The purification powder is basically a weapon used against the corrupted. Though you can't kill them with the powder alone, it's a good item to have for immobilizing them for a very short time.
"It was heavily used during the East Valley Campaign, but it's still prepared for huge events like this." He said.
Rafael noticed that Simon wasn't really listening but was too busy thinking about something. He chose to not bother asking him about it, why would he?
After some talking about the material, the three got out and discussed what to do next.
"Now that you're finished doing your task, mind joining us for a while?" Evanthia asked Rafael as they walked to the hall.
"Don't worry, man, we won't force you to." Simon added.
Rafael thought about it, he doesn't really have anything to do. Besides, he was curious and wanted to explore more.
"Unfortunately, Silvan won't be there but the people that we'll meet are very strong people!" Evanthia starts to hype Rafael up.
"Yeah right, she wants you to come so she's not alone to get beaten up by her sister." Simon smirks.
"Hey!" The two continued babbling nonsense while Rafael thought about it. Now, he has already made his decision.
The people who are walking near ignore them, it's as if the three had their own world and didn't really notice the people.
"I'll join." Rafael has agreed to join them. Evanthia jumped in joy while Simon was visibly happy with his decision.
"We'll be heading there." Simon pointed out the circular building at the center of the command base.
The outpost of the guild in the capital has two main buildings. One is the building they're currently in, its design is pretty unique having a shape resembling an almost crescent base. Around that building was a circular one—the training grounds for regulars and irregulars alike—that the three are currently headed to.
"Young master and Lady Evanthia, you've arrived." A man in formal attire greeted the two. Rafael stood behind them, his face neither show excitement nor nervousness.
"Just call me Evanthia, Sir Dominic! I'm not worthy of that title yet…" Evanthia wasn't really someone who cares about formalities. The war maidens weren't really known for their etiquette, they obviously learned it but they rather not perform formal practices as much as possible.
"If that's so, please also refrain from calling me Sir." Dominic replied.
He noticed a person who was standing behind the two. Rafael slightly bowed when he noticed his gaze on him.
"May I know your name, sir?" Dominic asked Rafael.
"R-Rafael, I'm from Norden Friede Village." He bowed again.
Rafael took a while to recognize Dominic, he was one of the people that fought the corrupted back in his hometown years ago. He wondered if Dominic could even remember that, his village was just another one of the hundreds that he saved throughout his life.
Dominic's eyes widened. He smiled once he processed Rafael's introduction, he then replied…
"Norden Friede huh… years ago, there was a kid that shouted to Sir Silvan Hannes "When I grow up, I'll save people like you do!"." After Rafael heard those words from Dominic, his face couldn't hide the embarrassment. He didn't even expect someone to remember an insignificant village, it somehow made him happy.
Meanwhile, Simon who was seeing the two talk so enthusiastically was smirking. He wants to make fun of the two who were usually indifferent in many things.
"Shall we enter now?"
The trio nodded and smiled at each other's faces, eager to meet the people inside, they all stepped forward as the butler opened the door.
Looking inside, Rafael felt the strong presence immediately. The people here… are no normal warriors.