I staggered to the ground as the tension finally slipped away from my limbs. My chest rose and fell in heavy, ragged breaths, every inhale scraping like sand against my ribs. The world swayed, my vision swimming from the sheer amount of energy I forced out of my body.
"You pass. Welcome to the Hikolima Guild."
Garrenya's voice came from above me, steady and calm. I blinked up to see her standing over me, hand extended, her expression holding both pride and amusement. Her white cloak fluttered slightly with the breeze, almost glowing against the dusty training field.
I lifted my arm, fingers trembling, and grabbed hers. She pulled me up with a surprising gentleness, letting me take a moment to find my balance before releasing my hand. I straightened my posture, though a sharp sting ran across my back and arm as I did.
"Lessons will be sent to your room, so clean up first. The Hikolima barracks has a bath you can use," she said with a smile so soft it almost made the pain fade.
"Thank you…" I managed, a weak attempt at a smile tugging at my lips. My voice cracked from exhaustion.
"The nurse will attend to your injuries, no need to worry. We can heal it with magic. Neat, right?"
"Yes, indeed." A small chuckle escaped me, more like a breath than a laugh, but it felt warm. Human.
Even through the soreness clouding my senses, a quiet realization settled in.
I'm officially part of the Hikolima Guild now.
I entered the official barracks.
The moment I stepped through the doors, the exhaustion in my legs paused just long enough for awe to settle in. The place was… grander than I ever imagined. My eyes stretched wide as the air inside shifted, cooler and calmer, carrying the faint scent of incense and polished wood.
Tall red pillars lined the entrance hall, each carved with swirling patterns of dragons and cloud motifs that reminded me of the old stories Aunt Jeya used to tell me. The ceiling arched high above, layered with wooden beams painted black and gold. It felt like stepping into a fusion of Japan's ancient shrines and China's imperial palaces, a hybrid of two histories breathing as one structure.
Lanterns hung on either side of the hall, glowing softly with a warm amber light that danced across lacquered floors. The marble tiles beneath my feet shimmered faintly like still water. I caught my own reflection, tired and smeared with dirt, but somehow dwarfed by the elegance surrounding me.
This wasn't just a barracks. It felt like a sanctuary for warriors. A place where every detail carried pride and memory.
My footsteps echoed faintly as I continued forward, almost hesitant to disturb the tranquility wrapped around the walls.
For the first time since training began, the reality of it all sank in.
I wasn't just a student anymore. I was standing in the heart of a guild that had shaped legends.
A small servant child approached and handed me a towel, as if she already knew I needed to bathe.
"Here, miss. The bath is in the left wing of the barracks. Don't worry privacy is guaranteed," she said in a delicate voice.
"Ahaha… thank you. I should clean up now…" I replied, momentarily caught off guard by her gentleness.
"I'm glad I could meet new people and be friends with them!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
I followed the route she pointed out, admiring the structure and design of the barracks as I walked.
And this isn't even the main building…
I arrived at the bath, its walls and floors carved from polished marble that held a soft glow beneath the lantern light. The entire place carried a faint scent of minerals, warm stone, and something clean and floral that lingered in the air. Every footstep echoed gently, as if the hall respected silence.
I slid open one of the wooden doors. Inside, a pool waited for me with steam drifting upward in slow curls. The surface rippled with gentle heat, almost inviting me in. It reminded me of a natural hot spring, yet shaped with care and intention, a balance of refinement and comfort.
For a moment, I simply breathed it in. The warmth. The quiet. The promise of relief.
Slowly, I began removing my suit. I did my best not to disturb the injuries, but the sting came anyway, bright and sharp against my skin the moment the fabric peeled away. My pants were heavy with dirt and dried sweat, so I carried everything to a marble basin at the corner of the room. The stone was cool under my hands and the water I poured into it turned warm once it settled. The warmth spread through my fingers as I scrubbed the clothes clean, watching dust cloud through the water before rising and disappearing.
Once that was done, I washed myself with care. The water that ran over my skin felt almost silky, heated to perfection. My fingertips traced the marks left from the battle and I was relieved to find that none of them cut too deep. Only the skin had taken the damage, though it throbbed with the memory of strain and impact.
Finally, I slipped into the pool. The warmth wrapped around me instantly. The water moved with me in a slow embrace, flowing up my arms and across my chest until my body felt weightless. The faint sound of the bubbling beneath the surface lulled my breathing into a calm rhythm. My muscles softened, surrendering to the heat that seeped deeper with every passing moment.
I lay there quietly, letting the natural warmth flow over me, letting it soothe everything.
After about thirty minutes, I slipped out of the pool and dried myself, the warmth lingering on my skin. A neatly prepared set of garments was placed outside the room I had used.
It was a suit similar to the one I had worn before, but this time designed to fit more like a military uniform. I stepped into the pants first. The inner layer clung tightly to my skin, like a second skin, while the outer layer offered a looser look of leather and rubber, giving both protection and flexibility.
I pulled on a black shirt, then a black leather jacket over it. The insignia of golden wings adorned the chest, each feather etched to resemble blades, sharp yet elegant. The material seemed to mold itself to my body, not strangling or restricting, but fitting just right so every movement felt natural, almost effortless.
On the right sleeve, a short screen-like bracelet was attached. It displayed settings I could adjust, including temperature control and other functions I didn't fully understand yet. The smooth surface felt cool against my wrist, a small reminder that even in the chaos ahead, there were tools to give me an edge.
I flexed my arms and bent slightly, testing the suit. Every movement flowed as if the outfit anticipated me, responding to my body rather than confining it. For the first time since training started, I felt… ready.
I stepped out into the hallways of the barracks, the sound of my boots echoing softly against the polished marble floors. The walls were lined with intricate wooden panels, carved with swirling motifs of wings, feathers, and blades, their surfaces catching the light from hanging lanterns that glowed a soft amber. The air was cool, carrying a faint scent of polished wood, heated stone, and something floral lingering from the bath area.
I passed wide staircases and long corridors, the ceiling arched high above, decorated with dark beams and gold trim that reflected the light in gentle streaks. The windows were tall, letting in slivers of daylight that painted the floor with golden patterns, and I could hear distant laughter and chatter of other recruits practicing or moving between classes. The atmosphere was alive but not chaotic, a rhythm of activity that hummed through the halls like the pulse of the guild itself.
"Miss Seyfe, your room is ready and the first lesson booklet is prepared for you. An exam will be held tomorrow, I hope you are ready."
A male attendant approached, adjusting his glasses as he held out a card key. The edges were smooth, the surface cold under my fingers.
"B1205…" he said.
"Umm, how can I read this?" I asked, squinting at the small letters.
"A B is the building where the dorms are for female recruits, 12 means the floor, and 5 is your room number," he explained patiently.
Twelfth floor… I swallowed, glancing up at the winding staircases. I silently hoped there was an elevator.
After a few wrong turns and wandering through the winding corridors, I finally found my room.
Gosh… the twelfth floor really…
I pulled the card from my pocket and scanned it at the door scanner. The device glowed softly, then beeped with a reassuring click. The door slid open smoothly, revealing the room inside.
Oh wow…
The room was a quiet sanctuary, a blend of Japanese minimalism and Chinese elegance. Dark wooden floors gleamed under the soft, amber light of lantern-style fixtures hanging from the ceiling. A low wooden desk sat neatly against the wall, its surface polished until it reflected the light like glass, adorned with a small ink set and a carved brush holder. Beside it, a tatami-like mat covered part of the floor, providing both comfort and tradition.
A low futon bed rested near the window, neatly made with cream-colored sheets and a deep red comforter, contrasting with the dark wood around it. Sliding shoji-inspired panels framed the windows, allowing soft sunlight to spill into the room, the paper filtering the light into a warm, honeyed glow.
Against another wall, a carved wooden chest and a small wardrobe held the simplicity of storage, each surface decorated with delicate motifs of clouds, dragons, and flowing water. The scent of polished wood and faint incense drifted in the air, soothing and grounding after the chaos of training.
I stepped further in, letting my fingers brush over the furniture. Every surface felt deliberate, crafted with care. The room was simple, yet every detail spoke of balance, harmony, and strength.
I sank onto the futon, letting the soft mattress cradle my aching body. Beside it, a small wooden table held a neatly stacked booklet—the first lesson, the one the exam tomorrow would be based on.
I picked up the booklet briefly, the weight of it in my hands familiar yet foreboding. The neat brush-stroke characters and diagrams made my chest tighten slightly. I could already feel my mind starting to race, imagining all the knowledge I'd need to memorize before the test.
But not yet.
I set the booklet back down gently, letting the futon hug me as I rested my head on the pillow. The warmth of the room, the faint scent of polished wood and incense, and the soft light filtering through the shoji panels made my eyelids heavy.
Just a short nap. Just enough to gather my strength.
Tomorrow, I would need every ounce of focus. But for now, the world could wait.