CHAPTER 23: CRIMSON HUE GUILD

Eric didn’t remember falling. He didn’t remember landing. All he knew was the hard, biting cold that hit the side of his face the exact time he opened his eyes. His body tumbled across smooth marble, rolling until he came to a stop near a glowing red pillar.

He groaned softly and pushed himself up. "Who the hell dropped me that hard?" he whispered.

His vision cleared. And after taking in the surroundings, he froze.

This place... wasn’t anything like the wild forest he had just left.

Towering red pillars rose toward a ceiling so high it seemed to float in the clouds. Strange glowing threads ran along the pillars, pulsing slowly and out of pattern. The walls shimmered faintly, almost like they were made of crystal, but thicker... stronger... unreal. The floor beneath him was smooth and polished, reflecting the soft crimson light that filled the whole chamber.

It felt like standing inside a giant heart.

It was warm, alive. He could almost speak to it and expect a response. But it was otherworldly at the same time.

A massive door stood at the far end of the hall, carved with strange spiraling symbols and glowing runes. The door alone was taller than any building Eric had ever seen back in the colonies.

He shivered, even though the air wasn’t cold.

"So this is the guild...uhm, Crimson Hue Guild...?" he said slowly while reading the words that had been carved intricately on the wall by his side.

He had expected maybe a fortress. Or a castle. Something stiff and military as befitting the idea of guilds he’s seen in his video games. Instead, he found himself inside a structure that felt half sacred and half impossible.

Footsteps echoed.

The big doors opened, and Winter marched in with two guild guards and Summer behind her. She didn’t even look tired anymore. Somehow, the cold glow of the place made her seem stronger.

From the other end of the hall walked in, a man Eric would never have imagined in a place like this.

He was tall, but not in a threatening way. His robes were a bright shade of red, the same shade as the pillars, decorated with small gold rings that jingled when he moved. His hair was messy and tied loosely behind his head, and his smile was way too big for his face. He stroked his beard slowly as he walked, seeming to enjoy the little act more than anything else in the world.

When he saw Winter, his expression switched and he nearly screamed.

"WINTER!" he shouted, running toward her like she was a famous actress. "My fiery angel! You’re back! You didn’t tell me you were coming today! You never tell me! Do you enjoy breaking my heart? Is that it?"

Winter groaned quietly. "Elder Ray... please don’t start."

Eric blinked. ’Elder? This clown?’

Ray grabbed both her hands dramatically. "You’ve grown even more beautiful! Look at these cheeks— look at these eyes— look at these battle marks! Glorious! Splendid! I could cry!"

Winter yanked her hands away, face bright with embarrassment. "Stop embarrassing me in front of the recruits."

"There are no recruits here—" Ray began, then noticed Eric sitting on the floor. "Oh. Hm. Who’s this? A new stray? Interesting hair. He looks like trouble."

’Oh, thank you for noticing me at last after fawning over your precious Winter, you rusty old clown.’ Of course he didn’t say that out loud.

Eric wanted to talk, but his throat felt dry, and he knew it was the foul effect this Elder Ray had on him.

Winter stepped forward. "We need Commander Aster. Immediately."

Ray raised a brow. "Aster? So serious? My, my. Usually, you save that tone for urgent— oh."

His face fell as he noticed the chains still on Eric’s wrists.

"Oh," he said again, eyes widening. "This is... oh dear. What did you bring here, Winter?"

"Something we don’t fully understand yet," she said. "So please take us to the commander."

Ray sighed dramatically, straightened his robe, and waved them along.

"Follow me, young chaos-bringer."

Eric frowned. "That’s not my name."

"Oh? Then what is?"

"...Eric."

Ray gasped as if he had been told the sad ending of a long drama. "Eric? That’s such a normal name! Why would fate give something so plain to someone who clearly radiates danger? Tragic."

Eric stared at him. Ray sighed again.

It was going to be a long day.

’Man, I want to strangle this man. Any help with how I can do that without getting punished, system?’

[I’m taking a nap, boy]

They passed through several halls as Ray led the way. With each turn, the Crimson Hue Guild grew even more bizarre.

Two giant statues made of red stone stood guard at one hallway, their eyes glowing faintly. The air around them buzzed like they were alive. Eric could swear he saw one of the beast statue blink at him.

Another room was filled with tables covered in scrolls and orbs that floated on their own. People in robes walked around rapidly, discussing things Eric couldn’t understand. The energy made the whole guild feel like a giant buzzing nest.

"This place is so... busy," Eric whispered.

Ray turned. "Of course! This is the busiest place in the realm, because we have more tasks to award adventurers than any other guild. It’s all thanks to the Commander’s wise leadership, we have maintained the top spot for more than two decades now.

"Also and most importantly, this is the second-most secure building in the entire empire. Only the imperial vault surpasses our security."

Eric looked around again.

People trained with weapons that crackled with lightning. Others meditated on floating red tiles. Some tested fire spells that hovered in the air like dancing ribbons.

It was overwhelming.

Winter walked with confidence, but even she kept her eyes alert as they moved through the place. Bux, limping beside her, looked bored, while Summer tried to avoid bumping into anyone.

Finally, Ray stopped before a large door carved with intricate flame-like patterns.

"Commander Aster is waiting inside," he said. "Good luck."

Winter nodded and stepped in. Eric followed.

Commander Aster sat behind a round table that glowed softly with a spinning map. She was a tall woman with hair as dark as ink and eyes sharper than blade. Her armor shone with swirling red lines that pulsed like slow waves.

She wasn’t just strong, she looked like strength itself.

Winter bowed slightly. "Commander."

Aster didn’t look up. "Report."

Winter explained everything — the mana beasts, the strange transformations, the rejected Inspection, the transmigration burst, everything she could say without exposing Eric’s deepest secrets.

Aster listened silently.

Her gaze eventually shifted to Eric.

"You," she said. "Step forward."

Eric swallowed, but moved.

Aster stood. Her presence alone felt like a weight on his shoulders.

"We planned to take him to the Study Center," Winter said. "But the circle activated early."

She placed a hand on her chin. "We must examine him carefully. His presence alone could attract unwanted attention."

Winter frowned. "From who?"

Before Aster could answer, the floor shook.

Hard.

Scrolls slid off desks. Lamps flickered. The glowing map on Aster’s table rippled like disturbed water.

"What was that?" Eric asked.

Aster’s eyes narrowed. "That... is not normal."

Another crash, this time louder. And then, an alarm rang.

A loud, deep bell echoed through the guild, making the walls vibrate. The red crystals dimmed, then flared bright.

Aster’s face changed instantly. She grabbed her sword and rushed toward the door.

"Commander?" Winter shouted.

"Crimson Hue has been breached," was all Aster said while she bounded for the door.

Winter froze.

"What? That’s impossible! The barriers—"

"Are being torn apart."

Eric’s heart hammered.

Ray ran into the hall, panting. "Commander! We have intruders! They’ve broken through the Outer Shade and the inner guard is collapsing!"

Aster hissed, "Darkies. I know they’ve had our Achilles’ heel for years. They just wanted a good reason to start a riot like they did ten years ago. I wonder what reason they have for going about this now."

Ray nodded, face pale. "They’re inside already."

The guild erupted into chaos.

Mages ran to their positions. Fire, wind, and earth users prepared battle formations. The floors lit up with defensive runes. The walls pulsed brighter.

Winter cursed softly and turned to Eric. "You stay inside the commander’s hall. Don’t wander off."

"I’m not a kid."

"Eric, please stay here."

Her voice cracked with stress, something Eric had never heard from her before.

He wanted to protest again, but stayed quiet.

Aster, Winter, Ray, and the others rushed out, leaving him alone with the echo of battle preparations. He heard shouting outside. Running footsteps. Spell explosions.

"Just what world did you transport me into, system? I haven’t breathed fine since I got here, damnit."

[Play it like a game, noob.]

The Darkies, whoever they were, had gotten through the ’strongest security in the realm besides the empire’s." Eric wished Ray was here so he could sneak in a taunt at his multicoloured ass.

"Strongest security, my foot."

But something kept pulling his mind. Curiosity overrode his reasoning, even overpowering the fear he had.

He stepped out of the hall.

The corridor glowed faint red, flickering in distress. He followed the dimming light until he found a long hallway lined with floating crystals.

Words spun inside them. There were descriptions of artifacts, weapons sealed behind special glass, and strange glowing cores locked in burning cages.

Eric slowed down, staring at everything. Some items hummed softly as he passed, reacting to his presence.

He reached one display — a small, swirling red orb.

The moment he stepped close, it pulsed dangerously.

Eric stepped back. "What the hell..."

Another crystal nearby cracked.

A whisper crawled along the back of his neck.

"They’re looking for you..."

He spun around but he found no one. Just empty halls and crystals that flickered like dying candles.

A chill ran down his spine.

"They felt you the moment you arrived..."

Eric backed away slowly. His lungs felt tight as his heartbeat quickened.

That whisper wasn’t human. It wasn’t even a voice. It was just a presence.

A cold, dark presence curling around him like smoke.

Suddenly— footsteps pounded down the hall, edging closer with all urgency. Winter burst in, sweating, blade shaking in her hand.

"Eric!"

He stumbled back. "What? What happened? What is..."

"They came for you!"

He froze.

"What?"

"The Darkies!" she shouted. "They sensed your strange energy while we were transporting you. They’ve been tracking us since then!"

Eric’s blood ran cold.

"They’re not here for the guild," she hissed. "They’re here for you, which also means they are here for the guild as well. They will hold such an anomaly as you against us in the imperial court. I shouldn’t have brought you here."

A loud explosion shook the entire hallway. Crystals shattered around them.

Winter grabbed his wrist tightly.

"We have to flee," she whispered, voice trembling with urgency. "Now, before they reach us."

And before he could respond...

The lights went out.