Chapter 13: Guild Fight
Layer Two pulsed with life.
Pink neon lights flickered across the crowded streets while hundreds of people moved between food stalls, markets, and glowing storefronts.
Sanat walked slowly through the plaza, watching everything with curiosity.
This place felt very different from the quiet luxury of Layer One.
Here the city breathed.
Street musicians played strange instruments.
Vendors shouted prices for exotic foods.
Hover bikes zipped between buildings.
Sanat smiled.
"I like this place."
But suddenly—
A loud crash echoed down the street.
People stepped aside as a group of armored fighters began shouting at each other.
Sanat turned toward Boba.
"What's going on?"
Boba's eyes flashed.
"Scanning."
After a moment the robot replied.
"Two Tier-3 guild groups are in conflict."
"Guilds identified: Iron Fang Guild and Crimson Meridian Guild."
Sanat folded his arms.
"A guild fight?"
"Yes."
But another question had been sitting in Sanat's mind for a while.
He turned toward Boba.
"Tell me something."
"Yes, Lord Sanat."
"Do guilds and noble houses fight each other?"
Boba answered calmly.
"Occasionally."
Sanat frowned slightly.
"And do guild members attend the Royal Academy too?"
Boba nodded.
"Guild members are usually not nobles, so they are not directly eligible."
"However, most noble houses maintain partnerships with guilds."
"These alliances allow the children of guild masters, elite fighters, and talented members to attend the Royal Academy."
Sanat nodded.
"So the academy is basically nobles and guild prodigies competing."
"That is correct."
The Crystal Dispute
Sanat moved closer to the argument.
Now he could hear them clearly.
"You owe us the full mountain crystal shipment!" one man shouted.
"We delivered everything!" another yelled.
"Half the crystals vanished in the dungeon fight!"
"That's not our responsibility!"
Sanat understood immediately.
They were fighting over energy crystals.
Someone believed part of the payment had been stolen.
Sanat leaned closer to hear more.
Suddenly—
Someone shoved him.
"Hey!"
A rough-looking guild fighter glared at him.
"What are you staring at?"
"You noble house kids always stand there watching like it's entertainment."
"Get lost!"
Sanat blinked.
Before he could respond, the man noticed Boba standing beside him.
The guild fighter froze.
"…Oh."
His tone instantly changed.
"I'm… sorry."
"I didn't notice your assistant."
He backed away quickly.
Sanat looked at Boba.
"That reaction again."
Boba replied calmly.
"I am a high-grade tactical model."
"In this district such models are usually owned only by powerful nobles or guild leaders."
Sanat chuckled.
"So you're basically my luxury status symbol."
"That description is acceptable."
Trouble
Sanat kept walking through the street.
But he didn't notice something.
The crystal pouch Kyala had given him hung loosely from his belt.
And it was glowing faintly with energy.
Several shady men in the crowd noticed it immediately.
One of them stepped forward.
"Kid."
Sanat turned.
"Yes?"
The man smiled coldly.
"Hand over the pouch."
"Slowly."
Before Sanat could respond—
A girl suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Run!"
Sanat blinked.
"What—?"
"No time!"
She pulled him through the crowd.
The thieves shouted behind them.
Several rough fighters began chasing them.
Sanat and the girl sprinted through narrow neon streets until they reached a metal door hidden between two buildings.
She slammed it open.
"Inside!"
They rushed in.
The door closed.
The noise outside faded.
Sanat finally caught his breath.
"…That escalated quickly."
The girl leaned against the wall and laughed.
"You almost got robbed in your first ten minutes in Layer Two."
Sanat looked at her properly now.
Short dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Light combat armor with a small guild emblem.
"You saved me."
She shrugged.
"You looked clueless."
Sanat smiled.
"Fair."
A New Friend
The girl crossed her arms.
"So."
"Who are you?"
Sanat thought quickly.
He couldn't reveal his real identity.
"Sanat," he said.
"Side branch of a viscount house."
She nodded.
"Thought so."
She extended her hand.
"Lira Voss."
"Iron Fang Guild."
Sanat shook her hand.
"So you're the one who dragged me out of that mess."
"Someone had to."
She glanced at the glowing pouch on his belt.
"You carry crystals like that in the open again and you'll start a street war."
Sanat laughed.
"Lesson learned."
Lira looked at him carefully.
"You heading to the Royal Academy?"
Sanat nodded.
"You too?"
She grinned.
"Yep."
"Guild candidate."
Sanat smiled.
"Well…"
"Looks like we'll be classmates."
Outside, the neon lights of Layer Two flickered across the crowded streets.
And somewhere in the city…
Someone had just reported the appearance of a strange noble with a high-grade robot.
The academy journey was about to become far more complicated.