Skill Maker In A New World: Start By Creating A 10x SP Skill-Chapter 75: Honored Spire Guild

Finding his way through the province, Darien finally discovered the base of the Honored Spire Guild.

He couldn't help but wonder if the path was tampered with magic because locating the base was difficult, even with the precise directions Harwin provided.

It looked like a castle, a fortress-castle, with three proud spires and a massive dome building to the right.

A monstrous gate sealed off the entrance to the wide edifice.

Two armed fellows manned the gate, and they denied Darien access even before he could ask for it.

"But I have a card from one of your captains. I'm not here to cause trouble," Darien fought back.

But they snapped at him, doubting his authenticity.

"That card could've been stolen by anyone, and we don't let strangers waltz in because of a piece of paper!"

But then, the sound of approaching footsteps drew the attention of the brawl.

From behind came three adolescent warriors, each clad in standard guild gear and armed with typical weapons.

They seemed to be guild members returning, judging from their confidence toward the gate.

The warrior in the center had green hair, the one to his left, white hair, and the girl to his right, green too.

When they saw the altercation at the gate of their guild base, they had to stop to inquire.

"Hello, Jakob. My name's Reede," said the one in the middle, likely the leader of the trio.

He looked respectable enough but was nibbling on a rice stalk.

"So, stranger… what's the knock about? You here to join, spy, or just lost your way to the market?" the boy asked, chewing lazily.

"I'm here to join," Darien replied. "Invited by your guild captain, Harwin," he added, showing Reede the card.

Reede looked at and scanned the writings.

A moment later, he sighed, handing it back.

"Come in," he said. "You're one of the few chosen recruits."

Darien smiled and shot the guards who had given him a hard time a look of victory.

The guards frowned.

"But he could've stolen it—or picked it up!" one of them tried to complain.

"It's encrypted with magic, you bum," Reede retorted. "Now open the gate."

Reluctantly, the guards obeyed, and Darien followed the three warriors into the guild base.

As they entered the inner bailey of the base toward the main entrance, Darien glanced at his saviors.

All three of them were Elementalists despite wielding swords and a staff.

The boy and the girl with green hair were siblings. Reede was a Wood Mage, and his younger sister was the first Earth user Darien had ever come across.

The silent white-haired boy was a Wind Magus.

Darien had at first thought it would be Ice. It seemed the color of their hair wasn't natural at all.

"Ever heard of asking names?" Reede said. "Getting to know us works better than studying us like a bunch of exhibits."

"Ah, my bad," Darien said with a small smile. "I'm just grateful, that's all." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Reede and Bloom were both Rank 3, while Reede's sister, Stacey, was Rank 2, close to a breakthrough.

It was commendable growth for their age, though they were clearly a few years older than Darien.

Given the commands Reede issued and the way the guards had obeyed him without hesitation, Darien guessed he held a remarkable standing in the guild.

As they passed an open training ground with dummies, Darien asked what position Reede held in the Honored Spire Guild.

Reede wittingly replied that he was a third division squad leader.

"Vice… squad leader," his sister corrected, earning a scornful glance from him.

"My colleagues here are all apprentices," he added. "You came for the entry trial, right?"

"Yes," Darien answered.

"C'mon then. We're in the best position to direct you accurately. Worry not," Reede said as he took the steps toward the imposing entrance door, but stopped midway and looked back at Darien.

"You know you don't stand a chance, right, buddy?"

Darien's brows lowered as his eyes moved between the three warriors watching him.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Seriously? A Spearman. Intermediate level? This is a seven-star magical guild," Reede replied with a shrug.

The others seemed to appreciate his words even though they said nothing.

But Reede wasn't being cruel to the newcomer; he was only being truthful.

How Darien had managed to get a card from Captain Harwin remained a mystery.

Considering how skilled warriors yearned for a place in the Honored Spire Guild, it was a wasted slot. That was certain.

But Darien wasn't intimidated.

They were right to doubt his capability, but he was far more than just a Spearman.

Still, he knew he'd have to remain only that until he became strong enough not to care who saw him for what he truly was.

"Are you doubting your Captain's judgment?" Darien asked with a smirk.

A short silence fell over the trio before Reede broke it with a simple chuckle. "We'll see," he said, continuing his stride up to the door.

Using a strange magical key marked with identification runes, they unlocked the towering door and stepped into a grand, dim, and cold hall.

Darien's eyes wandered across the vast interior as his mind half-listened to Reede's formal introduction of the base.

To the right side of the big hall sat a receptionist and her desk, though it was obvious her duties were more than just welcoming guests.

She was the first person the trio brought Darien to meet before Reede instructed Stacey to send for their captains.

With black curls that framed her face and sparkling eyes that could easily enchant anyone, the receptionist was striking at first sight.

But her shimmering eyes were part of her innate ability to see through illusions and discern certain levels of truth.

Fortunately for Darien, his illusory item was of the highest grade; her gift couldn't pierce it.

"Welcome, Jakob," the woman said candidly without bothering to offer a handshake. "I barely know of any Spearmen. That's a very… inferior occupation."

Darien glanced toward Reede and his companions, catching their smug I-told-you expressions.

He only smiled faintly and nodded at the lady, choosing silence over defense.

She proceeded to document his name and background, explaining that accommodations would be provided for the night.

The entry trial wouldn't take place until the following day. He had come a day earlier, but that was the expectation.

In that case, he was late.

Just as the receptionist offered the youths a seat at the lounge, the center door opened from the thigh of one of the three statues in the hall.

Out stepped two figures, moving with calm authority, both of whom were instantly familiar.

It was Harwin and Alyx.

Darien felt relieved at the sight of the masculine captain, but he became sour the moment his eyes landed on the slender vixen.

Her presence alone made his stomach twist.

Greetings came from everyone, including the receptionist, as the pair strode across the hall toward the new recruit.

When Alyx saw the brown-haired warrior, her crimson eyes widened in amusement.

"Haha! It's really him! The whelp came!" she laughed, leaning on Harwin.

Harwin sighed and gave Alyx a stern glance. "You should stop being childish," he said, silencing her laughter.

He then approached Darien and gave him a nod of welcome before turning to Reede and his group.

Harwin heartily thanked them for guiding him with good directions.

After confirming that the boy's details had been properly recorded, Harwin gestured toward a corridor branching from the hall.

"Come, I'll show you to your temporary quarters," he said.

Alyx's crimson eyes narrowed, irritation rising through her chest as the two disappeared through another door.

She couldn't understand what Harwin saw in that boy.

Darien, as Jakob, looked like any other rookie stumbling through the ranks. He looked ordinary and unremarkable.

What could a guild like theirs possibly need a mere Spearman for?

A troubling thought crossed the mind of the blood mage.

Had Harwin been influenced somehow? Put under a spell? Perhaps by another guild… or maybe by the boy himself?!

The last time Alyx had gotten close to Darien, she had sensed something strange within his blood.

What she sensed had more gravity than what was on the exterior. And in this magical world, the interior was more important.

Maybe that was the reason Harwin viewed him specially.

Alyx tightened her jaw, crossing her arms as she resolved to uncover who this Jakob boy truly was.

Outside the hall, toward the first wing beneath the shortest spire, Harwin led Darien into a quadrangle.

The quadrangle housed several guest rooms, all surrounding a small training space at the center of the rectangle.

Harwin explained that most of the other rooms were already occupied by aspirants while guiding Darien toward one of the few empty chambers available.

It became clear to Darien then that he would indeed be participating in a trial, competing alongside these other hopefuls for a place within the Honored Spire Guild.

He wondered how many would be taken.

Harwin would have gladly spared him from the process, but when the deputy guildmaster arrived, he wanted to see how a Spearman earned his spot in a seven-star guild.

"Thank you, ser!" Darien said, saluting at the foot of his door.

Several doors cracked open, curious aspirants peeking out to see who was being escorted personally by a captain.

Darien scanned the unfamiliar faces evaluating him.

But one face among them was unmistakably familiar, and she wasn't even looking his way.

The warrior stepped into the open for her noon drills, tightening her gloves and heading for the training space at the quadrangle's center.