When the carriage stopped, Lux looked past the window and saw a grand mansion, which was at least three stories high.
The emblem that hung on the gate was a diamond surrounded by eight swords pointing outwards. Above the emblem, was a single word that Lux read with admiration.
Eternal.
It was a word that meant "to last forever".
Lux could feel the strong and unwavering resolve of the person who had named their guild with this word, and, for some reason, he felt an emotion stir inside himself.
It was an emotion that he was all too familiar with, and it was none other than "wanting to leave his mark on the world", making others recognize that he was not just another ordinary face in the crowd.
As soon as Lux stepped off the carriage, he heard the familiar call for "Big Brother," causing a smirk to appear across his face.
The guards, who were standing on the gate, opened the path for him. Their Guild Master had already informed them about Lux's arrival. This was their first time seeing a Half-Elf, so they couldn't help but look at him as if he was an exotic animal that was walking past them.
Colette didn't waste any time and grabbed Lux's hand, pulling him towards the main entrance of the mansion that served as their Guild's Headquarters.
"You're lucky, Big Brother," Colette said as she continued to pull Lux, who had caught the attention of the guild members in the lobby of their headquarters. "My sister was called to attend an emergency meeting by the Mayor of the city, but since she had promised to meet with you, she sent the Vice Guild Master to go in her place."
Lux frowned when he heard Colette's words. "Won't your Big Sister get into trouble for not going there? They would think that she's not doing her job properly as Guild Master."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"It's fine. My Big Sister and the Mayor of Whitebridge City are good friends, so she can get away with this much. Also, our guild is the one that sent the majority of our forces to hunt down the members of Twilight Rain, who are currently hiding inside the city. The other guilds may hold grudges, but they will never voice it out loud."
"... Isn't that bad?"
Colette stopped walking and turned towards the Half-Elf with a smile.
"With my sister at the helm of the Guild, they will not dare oppose us, or else they will suffer a fate worse than getting stomped on by a mountain goat." Colette smirked. "My sister is the best."
Lux could only pat the head of the smug-faced, little girl, who clearly idolized her sister.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the Guild Master's office where two guards stood at the ready.
"Go in, Big Brother," Colette said as she gave Lux's back a light push. "My sister said that she wanted to talk to you alone."
Lux nodded and knocked on the door.
A few seconds later, a curt and crisp voice answered from behind the door.
"Come in."
The Half-Elf no longer hesitated, stepping inside the room. The moment he saw her, the red-headed teenager froze. In front of him was a Dwarf girl with long-blonde hair, which had been tied up in a ponytail.
Her blue eyes looked at him with a calm gaze, but Lux was busy staring at her face, which had taken him completely by surprise.
Aina's pink lips, as well as her smooth white skin which could put the models on Earth to shame, made the Half-Elf subconsciously gulp.
Before him stood Aina Van Goldenslayer, the Guild Master of Eternal, as well as Colette's older sister who was known by her allies and enemies, as the Warrior Princess.
Lux didn't want to admit it, but he felt his heart skip a beat after seeing the girl, who looked exactly like the younger version of his favorite actress on Earth, who had the screen name Luna.
"L-Luna?" Lux stuttered after seeing the peerless beauty in front of him. "What are you doing here?"
The cold beauty looked at Lux with a calm expression before standing up from her chair. She then walked towards the Half-Elf, who was gaping at her with a silly look on his face, with steady steps.
She was like a warrior that had seen many battles and was no longer fazed by anything and everything she saw.
"I welcome you to the Eternal Guild, Lux Von Kaizer," Aina said in a calm tone. "I have heard many things about you from my sister."
The beautiful Dwarven beauty then gave Lux a deep bow, which snapped the latter from his daze.
"Thank you for always saving my sister whenever she is in trouble," Aina stated before raising her head to look up at the Half-Elf, who was taller than her. "Please, take a seat."
The doll-like beauty gestured to the chair beside her table before walking back towards her chair.
Lux lightly rubbed his face with his hands, while Aina wasn't looking at him and followed behind her.
After he sat down, he observed his childhood crush, who had come to life.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Is there something wrong with my face?" Aina asked. "I often see others look at me with the same expression you have right now, and wonder if there is something they see that I don't."
"There is nothing wrong with you," Lux replied subconsciously. "You just look so perfect that sometimes I wonder if you are real."
Lux's favorite actress, Luna, was labeled as "perfect beauty", and many wondered if she achieved her good looks through plastic surgery. Even so, the beautiful actress simply brushed the question off as if it was not even worth her time to answer it.
Lux's greatest regret in his past life was the fact that he had been unable to attend the events that Luna was part of. He wasn't even able to get her autograph nor shake her hand during the fan meetings that she had posted on her social media profile.
Now that someone who looked exactly like her had appeared in front of him, he was finding it hard to control the emotions that were bubbling up in his chest.
"I look perfect?" Aina asked in the same monotonous tone that she always used. "You're the first person to directly say such a thing to me. I guess the person that saved my sister is built differently compared to the rest of the people that interact with me on a daily basis."
Aina then rested her delicate chin on the back of her intertwined hands as she gazed at Lux with the same expressionless look on her face.
"Tell me, Lux Von Kaizer. What kind of reward should I give you for saving my sister's life?" Aina asked.
"How about, I will be able to gain your guild's help once?" Lux answered. "But, you will have the right to reject it if you think that it will be detrimental to your guild's reputation or cause you innumerable casualties. I know that your guild isn't a charitable institution, so I'll let you decide whether you will agree to my request or not."
Aina decisively shook her head. "Think of something else. I cannot in good conscience order my guild to do something for personal reasons."
Aina met Lux's gaze, and although the look in her eyes remained the same, there was a firmness in her gaze that wouldn't accept any compromise. She was the Guild Master of Eternal. One order from her and her entire guild would mobilize.
the doll-like beauty wouldn't order her subordinates to sacrifice themselves for personal reasons. this was her bottom-line.
Instead of feeling down, the Half-Elf smiled because Aina's answer convinced him that the person in front of him wasn't someone who used her authority to order his people around to benefit only herself.
"Let's change the condition a bit," Aina stated after a few minutes of silence. "Since this is a personal matter, You can ask for my help once. I, as an individual, will help you to the best of my abilities. How does that sound?"
Lux smiled and reached out his hand towards her for a handshake. "We have a deal."
Aina stared at Lux's outstretched hand for a few seconds before extending her own. As the two shook each other's hand, both of them felt that this was the beginning of something that would last a lifetime.