The sun was nearly gone, painting the town in a faint purple haze. A sharp breeze cut through the evening, making Hiro hunch his shoulders as he and Kyren trudged down the bumpy dirt path to his house. The streets were hushed, just the crunch of gravel under their boots and Hiro's voice, bursting with energy. "Kyren, listen—the Sacred Selection Guild? It's the real thing. Toughest fighters, brightest brains, all in one place. But the ones who steal the show? The Royal Squad. Six young warriors, each a total legend."
Kyren's eyes were fixed ahead, his face hard with focus, like he was already measuring the weight of Hiro's words. "Six warriors. That's a serious force," he said, his voice low and steady, no trace of doubt.
Hiro nodded, his hands waving as he got more fired up. "They're not just any warriors. Each one's got a title that screams how unreal they are. The Red Thunder of God—he's so fast, it's like he's a bolt of lightning. They say he can take out a whole pack of enemies before you can blink."
Kyren's gaze sharpened, picturing a warrior slicing through a battlefield, too quick to follow. "That kind of speed… it's not just skill. It's discipline," he said, his tone edged with respect.
Hiro kept going, barely pausing. "Then there's the Queen of All Blade. An assassin. Silent, deadly, scary precise. You'd be gone before you even felt her shadow."
Kyren's jaw clenched. "A fighter like that ends things before they start," he said, his voice a mix of admiration and unease.
Hiro's excitement didn't falter. "There's the Golden Royal Shield, too. Guy's a fortress. No one's ever touched him, thanks to this… aura he's got, like he's untouchable. And the Celestial Sorcerer? She's unreal. She bends reality itself. Her magic's so strong, she could probably flip this whole town upside down if she felt like it."
Kyren's brow furrowed, wrestling with the scope of such power. "Reality… that's beyond what most could even imagine," he said, his words careful, like he was sizing up the stakes.
"There's more," Hiro said, his voice dropping, almost like he was sharing a secret. "The Bloody Apex Priestess—she's a healer, but not the kind you're thinking. She can fix wounds that should've killed you, and just being near her makes you feel like you could take on the world. Then there's the Plat Maker. Started out just managing the guild's coin, helping Rezhura, but she got so good they had to pull her into the Royal Squad."
Kyren nodded slowly, soaking it in. The Sacred Selection Guild wasn't just a team—it was a pinnacle, a place for the extraordinary. But Hiro's fire, the way he talked like it was all within reach, stirred something in Kyren. This wasn't a pipe dream. It was a path they could carve out.
Hiro's voice softened, heavy with reverence. "And leading them? Rezhura, the Perfect Knight. He's not just a warrior, Kyren. He's the kind of fighter they'll write stories about for ages."
Kyren's eyes locked on Hiro's. "How does someone get to that level? What's his story?" His question was sharp, cutting straight to the core.
Hiro's energy dimmed, his gaze dropping to the dirt. "Rezhura and the whole Royal Squad… they grew up in an orphanage in Knight Bay City. No parents, no family—just each other. Kinda like me."
Kyren's face stayed firm, but his voice softened, carrying the weight of Hiro's words. "No parents," he said quietly. "That's a brutal start."
"Yeah," Hiro said, kicking a pebble down the path. "The orphanage had backing from the Arramaya's Legacy Guild and some others, so they didn't starve. But Rezhura—he took charge. Kept them safe, led them. That's what made them who they are."
Kyren stopped walking, letting the story sink in. This wasn't about flashy titles or raw power. It was about kids who'd lost everything and still built something unbreakable—a family, a legacy. "They didn't just survive," he said, his voice steady. "They rose above it."
Hiro's lips twitched into a small, sad smile. "Exactly. Rezhura's leadership made them legends. They didn't let their past chain them down."
Kyren's eyes met Hiro's, unyielding. "That's what sets them apart. They chose their path." Then, catching the personal edge in Hiro's words, he asked, "You said 'like me.' What happened, Hiro?"
Hiro's shoulders slumped, his voice barely more than a whisper. "My parents… they didn't survive the last racial war. It's been a while, but the pain's still there. That's why I'm so drawn to the Sacred Selection. They're living proof that you can rise out of darkness. For me, joining them isn't just a goal—it's a way to honor my parents. To fight for something bigger than myself."
Kyren's expression stayed steady, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm sorry, Hiro. That's a heavy burden to carry."
"It's not just me," Hiro added, his voice rising slightly. "Everyone in Vermint Town still lives with the trauma of that war."
"Racial war… that sounds like a long and painful history," Kyren said softly.
"Yeah," Hiro nodded. "That's why the orphanage here matters so much. A lot of the kids were born from violence—some from rape, some like me, who lost their parents in the war. I was lucky. A farming couple took me in this town, raised me for a while… but they've since moved to the city."
Kyren gave a thoughtful nod. "Sounds like you've grown up with a strong sense of purpose."
Hiro looked up, surprised by the steel in Kyren's voice. "Yeah… that's why this all matters. It's not just about strength. It's about purpose. About meaning."
Kyren stepped closer, his voice like a blade. "Then it's not just a hope. It's a mission. You want to join them, don't you?"
Hiro hesitated, his usual spark flickering. "I mean… I talk big, but it's a long shot. The Sacred Selection? They're untouchable. I'm just… me."
Kyren's eyes burned with conviction. "You're not 'just' anything, Hiro. You've got the same grit they did. You're already carrying their kind of strength—facing loss and still standing. We can do this. We will do this."
Hiro blinked, stunned by Kyren's intensity. "You… you really think I could make it? That we could?"
"I don't think," Kyren said, his voice iron. "I know. We're not sitting around, waiting for a shot. We're taking it. If we don't move now, we'll be stuck here forever, watching others live the lives we want."
Hiro's eyes widened, a spark of hope breaking through. "You're serious. Like, dead serious."
"As serious as it gets," Kyren said, his gaze unwavering. "This isn't a game. It's a path, and we're on it together. We'll train, we'll learn, we'll fight until we're standing with the Sacred Selection. You're already chasing this—most wouldn't even try."
Hiro swallowed, his voice shaky but growing stronger. "Okay. You're right. I want this. But… it's gonna be tough."
"It will be," Kyren said, unflinching. "But tough isn't impossible. We'll face it, step by step." He paused, his voice commanding. "So, tell me—what's the first thing we need to do to join the Sacred Selection Guild?"