Chapter 69: Nice (1/2)
”Alright, everyone,” shouted the Guild Master of Water. ”Please step forward and announce your name. We will then tell you which guild is willing to accept you. If more than one guild is willing to accept you, you may choose which one to join,” she explained.
Every participant scattered around and then waited. The participants threw some glances at Gravis, waiting for him to go first, but he didn't move and just continued waiting. So, the first person stepped forward.
”I am Karl!” he announced.
”The Earth Guild is willing to accept you,” said the Guild Master of Earth.
”The Fire Guild is willing to accept you,” said the Guild Master of Fire.
”The Darkness Guild is willing to accept you,” said the Guild Master of Darkness.
No other Guild Master stepped forward, and Karl chose the Earth Guild. He walked forward and stood behind his Guild Master.
The next person stepped forward, and the same thing repeated. The person chose their guild, and the next one came. This cycle repeated itself multiple times until only Gravis was left. Sigur had chosen the Fire Guild, and the second-place winner had chosen the Water Guild. Sigur only watched Gravis with terror in his eyes.
Gravis stepped forward, said nothing, and just walked behind the Guild Master of Lightning. The Guild Masters of Fire, Darkness, and earth sighed in helplessness. However, they were prepared for that. Gravis and the Guild Master of Lightning seemed too close lately. The others saw that coming.
In the end, most people joined the Earth Guild. From 60 participants, the Earth Guild ate up 15. The guild with the least new recruits was the Light Guild, with only five people, and the other guilds were in the middle. The Lightning Guild had nine new disciples, including Gravis.
The Guild Masters sighed. ”Only 60 new disciples. That's really meager compared to the last entrance exams,” said the Guild Master of Light helplessly. Gravis had turned the whole exam upside down, and they had to adapt. ”This was also the most stressful one.”
”Protection disciples, assemble!” shouted the Guild Master of Earth, and all 28 protection disciples ran into the arena. ”We're done!” and with that, the protection disciples all went to their respective Guild Masters.
”Alright, this is where we part ways,” said the Guild Master of Light with a smile, and all the disciples looked at him. ”I wish you all good luck in your cultivation path.”
The disciples looked back and bowed slightly in thanks. Everyone said their goodbyes and the disciples left with the Guild Masters. What was strange, was that the protection disciples didn't follow, but went to a different side of the arena. After a while, they drove several carriages around the arena.
The carriages were loaded with a lot of things. Treasures, boxes full of pills, and even the tower bench were on the wagons. So that was why the Guild Masters always seemed to be prepared for everything. They had carriages full of different stuff.
”Alright, let's go home,” said the Guild Master of Lightning to his new disciples.
”Home,” Gravis didn't know how to feel about this word. He didn't have a place where he belonged in this lower world. He didn't even own a house. Theoretically speaking, Gravis was actually homeless. Yet, he had a home now in this lower world. It might not be his real home, but it still felt nice.
The Guild Master of Lightning walked at the front, while Gravis was slightly behind him. The other disciples left several meters of space between them and those two. The Guild Master of Lightning didn't walk as quickly as when they ran to the Basin of Nature. It was more relaxed now.
”You know,” said the Guild Master of Lightning to Gravis. ”Most of the Guild Masters are bitter and angry about your participation.” Then, he smirked. ”But I'm not! Know why?”
”Because I joined your guild?” asked Gravis.
The Guild Master of Lightning laughed. ”That is part of it, but not the whole reason. Whenever we hold the entrance exams, we split the costs. Some guilds bring the Fire-Torture Pills. Some guilds bring healing pills and treasure. It always costs a lot of money when we hold the entrance exams.”
Gravis looked back at the carriages following them and noticed boxes filled with pills. ”I guess we were responsible for the Fire-Torture Pills?” he asked.
The Guild Master of Lightning noticed that Gravis didn't say 'you' but 'we'. He grew even happier when he heard that. ”Exactly. Just imagine the cost of producing 5,000 Fire-Torture Pills. Yet, we didn't need to waste any of them. Well, except for the one you took. We saved a lot of money,” he said with a smirk.
”That's nice,” commented Gravis.
”It is nice,” the Guild Master said back.
The Guild Master then looked like he remembered something. ”By the way, let me tell you something about how things work in our guild,” he started, and Gravis nodded.
”Every disciple is, officially, of equal rank. We are not that many, after all. We are about 100 people in total. Yet, there are, of course, unofficial rankings. Those are based on how far the person has come in their path.”
”The lowest disciples are the new recruits,” he pointed back with his thumb. ”Those guys behind you.”
”I don't count as a new recruit?” Gravis asked.
The Guild Master laughed. ”You have tempered everything but your muscles. You are basically already at the end. Here, catch,” said the Guild Master as he threw a book towards Gravis, who promptly caught it. ”This is the way to create a Lightning Seed and how to use it to temper your muscles.”
Gravis furrowed his brows. ”You're just giving it to me like that?” he asked. Gravis also strangely didn't see any threat of Heaven behind the Guild Master. It seemed like Heaven was fine with it.
”Hehe, normally, you would need to buy it for 1,000 gold.” When Gravis heard that, his face blanched, yet, the more he thought about it, the more affordable it seemed. He was not in a minor Hunting Guild anymore. Everyone could take on low-grade demonic beasts, and more experienced disciples could probably even take on middle-grade demonic beasts.