CHAPTER — The Shape of a Guild
Uno stared at Luke for a second.
"…Don't tell me," he said slowly, squinting. "You seriously don't know what a guild is, do you?"
Loid burst out laughing. "Wow. Luke, you slept through the biggest update of the century."
Luke frowned slightly. "I know what a guild is… kind of."
Uno grinned. " 'Kind of' means no."
They both laughed, the sound light and familiar, the kind that came from years of friendship rather than judgment. Luke shook his head, letting out a small sigh. Even after the world had changed, this part of them hadn't.
"A guild," Uno said, suddenly serious, "is kind of… everything now."
The word lingered in the air.
Luke didn't respond right away. The idea itself was not new—yet it was new in a world where power had only just awakened. He listened, quietly, while his mind tried to grasp the weight behind that simple suggestion.
Guilds were not casual groups.
They were the foundation the world had begun to build the moment aura appeared.
Across the globe, governments had released the framework almost immediately, as if it had been prepared long before the sky ever changed. Official statements described guilds as organizations meant to understand aura, support controlled growth, and encourage cooperation in the new era. To the public, they were presented as adventure-oriented groups—places to train, explore, and adapt together.
But the structure was strict.
A guild could not be formed freely.
The minimum requirement was five members, each fulfilling specific roles. At least two Achievers, two Aura Blasters, and one Creator or Destroyer were required for registration. Without this balance, a guild could not exist. The system itself rejected incomplete formations.
There was no age restriction imposed by the government. Children, adults, even the elderly could join. However, each guild was allowed to enforce its own internal rules—age limits, conduct codes, loyalty oaths. The freedom came with responsibility.
Joining a guild was optional.
No one was forced.
Yet the moment someone chose to form one, it became a legal entity.
Every guild had to be officially recorded with the government, listing each member's category and rank. Any change—whether a member left voluntarily or was expelled—had to be reported immediately. If even one required role went missing, the guild entered a seven-day grace period. Failure to replace the missing member within that time resulted in automatic dissolution.
No exceptions.
Because of this, most guilds sought not just powerful members—but loyal ones. A single departure could erase everything they had built.
Each guild also required a leader.
Contrary to public belief, leadership was not restricted to the highest-ranked individual. Strategy, judgment, and trust mattered more than raw power. Many early guilds failed because they mistook strength for leadership.
All members were required to undergo an aura verification test at an official Guild Enrollment Center. It wasn't a combat test—but it did require activating one's aura under observation. Only after verification could a guild be formally approved.
Luke felt uneasy.
He had never truly used his aura.
Not even once.
Yet among all these rules, there was one condition that remained unspoken in public broadcasts.
Aura Masters could not form or live within regular guilds.
From the moment the system appeared, Aura Masters were treated differently. Unique. Singular. Incompatible with normal structures. There were only one hundred and ninety-eight Aura Masters worldwide—and one more, unknown to the world.
Luke.
For Aura Masters, a separate structure already existed. A government-controlled, global guild—unified, centralized, and classified. Its existence was acknowledged, but its details were sealed. From the very beginning, governments across nations had begun searching for Aura Masters, quietly but urgently.
Luke understood why.
Aura Masters were not just powerful.
They were variables.
Unpredictable ones.
That was why they were forbidden from joining normal guilds. Why they could not blend in. Why the system itself separated them.
And that was why Luke had lied.
If the truth came out, he wouldn't just lose his freedom—he would be absorbed into something he did not yet understand.
The wind moved through the park, rustling the leaves above them. Loid and Uno were still talking excitedly, imagining what their guild might become. Their voices were hopeful, untouched by the weight Luke carried.
He watched them.
Friends who still saw him as Luke.
Not a rank.
Not a role.
Not a responsibility.
Luke exhaled slowly.
Then he smiled.
"Alright," he said. "Let's make a guild."
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End of chapter.