The morning sun shone brightly in the skies above as townsfolk went about their daily business. Zerandar was a gem of a city. South of the Northern Orc Fortresses, West of the Eastern Elven Spires, and in the Easternmost parts of the Western Human colonies, the city was known as one of the most influential human states in the world of Lanquar, and home to the prominent Magic Knight Guild of Excalibur. The Guild is the symbol of the kingdom's power, and it was considered an honor to sit at one of their 5-pointed star-shaped tables.
This morning, there was a commotion going on at the courtyard of the Guild. In front of the large structure made of stone and brick, there was a gathering of Magic Knights. The Guild had received a batch of new recruits, and were preparing to divide them into squads and groups. Separated from the large crowd were the Zodiac squad leaders. And among them stood Karadar Trenact, the Holy Knight of Libra Squad, wearing his casual clothing underneath his cloak of Kyr.
In his hand, he held a scroll of paper that contained the names of his new squadmates, along with some bits of information. The Holy Knight was unsure if he was up to the task. But he had been told that self-doubt would only cripple him. So, he decided he would just treat this new squad the same way his old squad leader treated him: with near-tyrannical "guidance".
The Guildmaster stepped up to a podium in the courtyard. The Guildmaster was an Elemental Knight. He towered above everyone else and had muscles that could easily beat the entire Guild in an arm-wrestling competition (not that anyone would be stupid enough to even attempt it with him). The large man was bald and had a fancy mustache. Rumors said that he used to be a child strongman for the circus before training as an Elemental Knight. No one's ever talked to him about it though, as it always made the man feel uncomfortable.
The Guildmaster was preparing to give a welcome speech to the newcomers, as per standard procedure. In a deep and booming voice, he spoke.
"Greetings, one and all to the Excalibur Guild of Zerandar. You all know why you are here, and that is to stand in adamant defense of the people of Zerandar and her allies. As some of the best Magic Knights in the land, you are expected to be the strongest weapon of the kingdom and the men who live inside it. The food we eat and the ale we drink on our 1,000 gold-coin, ornately crafted tables, are given by the kingdom because we are her shield. It is our duty to give back to her, tenfold what she gives to us. But have no fear, and rejoice as today is the day where a new life begins for each and every one of you. Thank you, and welcome to the Guild. And don't forget to stop by the souvenir shop at the gates to get a free official Excalibur Guild cloak. Have a great first day!"
Karadar's eyes lit up with pure inspiration as their Guildmaster finished his speech, and was one of the first few people to start clapping. The rest clapped only because everyone else was doing it, but no one would be able to tell the difference.
The Guildmaster spoke up once again. "For those Knights that have shown exceptional skills in their evaluation, they will be segregated into the 12 Zodiac squads. I now call upon the squad leaders to gather their new members, and orient them on how the Guild works. When your name is called, join your leader and follow them until dismissed. For those who are not called, try not to feel too bad about yourselves, and join the guides that are waiting for you at the entrance. First up, Aries Squad leader." He said. The Warden Knight in charge of Aries squad stepped in front of the podium and began calling out the names of recruits. Everytime a recruit was called, they would approach their new squad leader, and enter the Guild once the group was complete. It continued on like this for each squad as Karadar waited to be called up to the stand.
After the Blood Knight in charge of Virgo Squad finished her list, Karadar stepped up to the front. The Knight took a deep breath, and unfolded his scroll. "I will now call upon the names for those who have been included in the new Libra Squad. Step forward if your name is spoken... Chance Chazwalider, of the Redshirt Hamlet. Anna of the Flaming Heart, daughter of Syro. Andred Karrion, son of lord Nareth. and Kaiser Durun of the House of Brunswick."
”Hmm... That’s strange. This is much fewer people than the rest of the squads. Well, I can’t question the decisions of the Guildmaster. I'll just have to go with it.” He thought. After finishing speaking, he folded up the scroll and waited for his new squad to gather.
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