Chapter—The First Step of Aurafiest
The guild training center stood quietly under the clear weekend sky, its wide concrete grounds surrounded by low metal fences and tall observation lights. For Luke, this place felt different from school or home. It wasn't fear exactly—but a tight awareness, as if the air itself was watching him.
Auru stirred gently inside Luke's bag.
"Calm yourself," her soft voice echoed in his mind. "You are not alone anymore."
Luke exhaled slowly and stepped inside.
Marin was already there, standing with Chika and the others, laughing loudly as if this was just another casual meetup. The moment Marin noticed Luke, his face lit up.
"You're late," Marin said, grinning. "But perfect timing. We were just about to start."
Luke nodded and joined them, his shoulders finally relaxing. Seeing familiar faces helped. Whatever this world had become, at least his friends were still the same.
"Alright," Marin clapped his hands. "First activity—Aura Sphere control. Same as before. I want to see how stable everyone's aura is now."
One by one, the guild members stepped forward.
Chika formed a bright, flickering sphere that wobbled midair before stabilizing. Others followed—some strong, some unstable, but all filled with determination. Cheers and teasing mixed freely, turning training into something warm and human.
Luke hesitated when his turn came.
"Imagine only what you need," Auru whispered. "Not more."
Luke closed his eyes. He didn't summon power. He shaped restraint.
A small, calm aura sphere formed above his palm—soft blue, steady, almost gentle. It hovered quietly, neither trembling nor expanding.
Marin blinked. "Whoa… that's actually really clean."
Luke scratched the back of his head. "I just focused on keeping it small."
Mie floated beside Marin, her elegant form glowing faintly. Her eyes lingered on Luke's sphere a moment longer than necessary. Something about it felt deep—far deeper than it should have been—but she said nothing.
After that, the training shifted.
They paired up for relay control drills, passing aura spheres without altering their size. Mistakes were common. Laughter followed every failure. Luke took a support position, adjusting his timing perfectly, helping others succeed without ever standing out.
Next came blind navigation. One member closed their eyes while another guided them using aura signals. Luke played the follower again, pretending uncertainty while quietly sensing every movement around him. Trust grew with every step.
As the sun climbed higher, fatigue began to show. Sweat soaked shirts. Breathing grew heavier. But no one stopped.
Then—slow clapping echoed across the training ground.
Everyone froze.
A man in a dark formal coat stood near the entrance, hands coming together slowly. His presence felt sharp and disciplined—like a blade carefully sheathed.
"Impressive," the man said. "Especially for a newly formed guild."
Whispers spread instantly.
"Who's that?"
"A government official?"
"Did we do something wrong?"
Marin stepped forward. "Sir, may I ask who—"
"I am the Head of the Guild Foundation," the man interrupted calmly. "The one responsible for organizing and regulating guilds in this new world."
Shock rippled through Aurafiest.
The official looked around, his eyes scanning each member. When his gaze passed Luke, Luke felt a strange pressure—as if something tried to peer deeper—but it moved on.
"Your coordination is good. Your discipline is better than expected," the man continued. "You show potential."
Marin swallowed. "Th-thank you, sir."
"Every guild begins at Rank E," the official said. "And I am here to officially register yours."
He raised a small device. A soft chime echoed across the ground.
"Guild name: Aurafiest. Rank: E."
For a heartbeat, silence ruled.
Then—
"We got a rank?!"
"Already?!"
"No way!"
Excitement exploded.
The official allowed himself a faint smile. "Work hard. Improve. Perhaps one day, you will reach Rank S."
With that, he turned and walked away. After a few steps, he paused—just briefly—and glanced back.
"There is something special here," he murmured, too softly for most to hear.
But Luke heard it.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
As soon as the man vanished, chaos returned—this time joyful.
"We're official now!" Chika shouted.
"A real guild!"
"We're gonna rise fast!"
Marin laughed, energized. "Looks like giving it a heavy name worked."
Chika smirked. "You know who that guy was, right?"
Marin nodded. "Yeah. He's famous. Defeated a wild bear using pure martial arts."
Chika explain."Not only that he is one chosen Auramaster of our country. "
All exclaimed. But Luke froze.
"Aura Master…"
His fingers clenched unconsciously.
"So close," Auru whispered. "But still unseen."
Luke looked away, heart racing.
Why him? Luke wondered silently. Why not someone like that… someone who truly deserves it?
Before his thoughts could spiral further, Marin nudged him. "You spaced out. Everything okay?"
Luke forced a smile. "Yeah. Just thinking about how strong we'll need to be."
Marin grinned. "Then we'll train harder. Together."
The rest of the day passed with renewed motivation. They trained not just to grow stronger—but to grow as a guild. Strategies were discussed. Roles suggested. Dreams shared.
Luke stayed quiet—but present.
Auru rested peacefully in his bag.
As the sun dipped lower and shadows stretched across the ground, Aurafiest left the training center not as individuals—but as something new.
A guild.
As darkness slowly claimed the sky, a voice echoed—unheard by everyone.
"You still do not know Luke what power you possess," the system whispered.
"That is why you are unique. One day… you will understand."
And so, Luke took his first true step into this changed world—still hidden, still unknown—but no longer alone.
End of Chapter.