Third Person POV (Iroko Ryusei)
The night before dawn carried a strange stillness.
Iroko Ryusei stood on the balcony of the Ostorian command tower, his cloak fluttering against the cold breath of the northern winds. Below him, two figures — Kaito Mugenrei and Anzuyi Bizen — moved through the mist, their silhouettes vanishing into the wild horizon.
The Guildmaster's seal rested heavy in Iroko's hand, the wax still warm from the order he had signed.
Kaito's mission was not an act of mercy. It was a sentence — the kind that could either purify a man's soul or consume it entirely.
And yet, Iroko saw a trace of will in that man's eyes — the stubborn ember that refused to die.
"May the gods weigh your worth better than we did," Iroko murmured.
He turned back toward the dim hall, where the last of the candlelight flickered across his desk. Scrolls, rosters, reports — all laid out in meticulous order. The rebuilding of a nation started not with swords, but with ink and conviction.
---
A gentle knock echoed through the chamber.
"Enter," Iroko said.
Lia Shinsei stepped in, bowing slightly. Her once soft demeanor now carried the discipline of a soldier. The long nights of crisis had carved a quiet determination into her voice.
"Kaito and his watcher have departed, sir," she reported. "Their supplies and coordinates are accounted for."
"Good." Iroko nodded, closing a scroll. "Then we move to the next step."
He motioned for her to sit, but she remained standing — hands clasped, gaze steady.
"There will be a General Assembly tomorrow," he said. "Every branch, every officer, every guild department head. The people must see that leadership still exists. That we do not stumble simply because the wind has changed direction."
Lia's eyes brightened. "A new Guildmaster?"
"Exactly. Ostoria cannot stand with me wearing both crowns. The army and the guild must remain distinct — one commands the field, the other the spirit."
He paused, then softened his tone. "You've done well, Lia. You'll have a role in this new order."
Her lips parted slightly — a rare smile. "I'll see to the preparations."
As she left, Iroko leaned back, exhaling deeply. The night felt longer than most.
He whispered to the empty room,
> "The world doesn't wait for peace. We must build it before dawn finds another battlefield."
---
By morning, the grand hall of the Korvath Guild pulsed with life again.
Banners of three cities — Korvath, Reflynne, and Orleaf — hung proudly from the rafters, still bearing the scars of war.
Members filled the seats: adventurers, scholars, and officers alike. The murmur of hundreds echoed like the heartbeat of a wounded giant beginning to rise again.
At the front dais stood Iroko, the crimson seal of Ostoria gleaming on his chest.
Iroko nodded. "Good. Once this is done, the Guild will have a proper spine again."
As they stepped into the hall, the chatter died almost immediately. Over a hundred guild members stood shoulder to shoulder—receptionists, officers, accountants, and adventurers alike. The faint scent of parchment and oil lamps filled the air.
Iroko climbed the dais. "You all know why we're here," he began, his voice steady but heavy. "The storm that nearly tore Ostoria apart also revealed its strongest roots. Today, those roots are given new soil to grow."
He scanned the hall. The familiar faces gave him a measure of strength.
But two seats near the front remained empty — one marked with Anzuyi Bizen's nameplate, the other Raven Blackwood.
"Anzuyi Bizen," Iroko began, "is currently on special assignment with Kaito Mugenrei under my direct order."
He hesitated before addressing the second absence.
"As for Officer Raven Blackwood… his location remains unknown. His disappearance coincided with the kobold siege on Korvath."
A ripple of concern spread across the hall.
From the left row, Yaguro Aka, the red-bearded branch manager of Korvath, rose to speak.
"Guildmaster, before the siege, Raven's movements were… erratic. He often left the perimeter at night. And during the first wave, his signal flare never lit."
Murmurs filled the air — suspicion threading through the ranks.
Iroko silenced them with a raised hand.
"Until evidence proves otherwise, Raven remains listed as missing, not traitor. But keep your eyes sharp. Shadows linger where faith falters."
He let the words hang before continuing.
---
"The time for uncertainty is over," Iroko declared, his voice cutting clean through the hall.
"Today, the Ostorian Adventurer's Guild is reborn."
He unfurled a parchment — the new chain of command.
"These are the new appointments," Iroko said. "Let it be known that rank is not reward—it is duty. We rebuild not for prestige, but for endurance."
He began from the lowest ranks, his tone deliberate, letting each name carry its own weight.
"Receptionists—our public front, the voices that greet the people and stand between chaos and order."
He glanced toward the row of desks at the back. "Naomi Junjo. Akira Kagerou. Taiyō Akane. Kireina Miyo."
There were polite bows, soft murmurs of gratitude.
"And our newest recruit, Emi Toshiko. Welcome to your first dawn in service."
Lia smiled faintly and gave a reassuring nod to the nervous girl in uniform.
"Quest Board Coordinators," Iroko continued. "The hands that distribute fate itself. Tora Kenji, Kuma Takeshi, Leo Shishio, Hyousuke Hayate. Your tasking and verification ensure the Guild's pulse remains steady."
The men saluted in unison, silent and disciplined.
"Accountants—our unseen shields. Hokuto Chika, Nishi Sayuri, Higashi Sora, Minami Haruko. You four form the Guild's financial backbone. Guard our ledgers like soldiers guard their blades."
The group of women bowed in perfect harmony, their ledgers pressed to their chests.
Next, his voice deepened.
"Officers—those who command in the field and uphold our creed when steel is drawn."
He paused, scanning their faces. "Yui Kizuna—veteran of the Bastion Campaign. Ren Kyoujin—our blade in the frontlines. Lia Shinsei—promoted from receptionist, for exemplary service and unshaken resolve."
The crowd broke into brief applause, though Lia only lowered her head humbly.
"Anzuyi Bizen—currently on special mission. Her courage remains a reminder that true loyalty needs no audience."
Then his tone darkened. "And Raven Blackwood… Officer, status unknown. Last seen before the Kobold siege."
The hall fell into a tense silence. Iroko let it linger before moving on.
"Branch Managers—those who safeguard our cities."
He nodded toward three men standing near the front.
"Yaguro Aka, overseeing Korvath branch operations. Kaisei Aoi, our Reflynne logistics and intelligence officer. Ryoku Midori—promoted from officer after leading Orleaf's defense."
Applause rose again, louder this time.
Iroko's gaze softened. "These are not promotions for pride—they are acknowledgments of burden. Each of you holds lives beneath your command."
Then, finally, he unrolled the final scroll himself.
"Guildmaster," he said, and the hall straightened as one.
"The one who will now guide the Guild through this era of uncertainty—Kouki Nozomi. Promoted from Branch Manager. A strategist of calm temperament, and a veteran of the first Valerian siege."
There was a quiet murmur of approval, and when Kouki stepped forward, the chamber seemed to exhale relief. His expression was calm but resolute, his silver-gray hair catching the morning light.
"I'll do my best to honor this mantle," Kouki said simply. "Under Master Iroko's vision, and the courage of every name spoken here, the Guild will rise again."
Iroko inclined his head. "The mantle is yours. I step forward to lead Ostoria as a whole, but the Guild—this heart—will beat under your command."
Applause filled the hall, not thunderous, but warm—measured. The kind of applause born from exhaustion, faith, and quiet hope.
When he finished, a solemn hush fell over the room. Then, from the corner, Kouki Nozomi — tall, sharp-eyed, and calm as a winter lake — stepped forward.
Iroko approached him with the Guild Emblem, its silver edges reflecting the morning light.
He placed it in Kouki's hands.
> "The guild now answers to its new master," Iroko said. "May your command bring order where chaos still reigns."
Kouki bowed deeply. "And may your guidance never fade from our horizon, Lord Iroko."
A quiet pride settled over the room. The murmurs were not of doubt this time — but resolve.
Ostoria had found its structure again.
As the crowd dispersed, Iroko lingered at the balcony overlooking Korvath's rebuilt streets.
Children ran past carts of lumber. Merchants shouted again. The city was breathing.
He whispered,
> "This is how nations heal — one name, one promise at a time."
Yet his gaze drifted northward — toward the faint horizon where Kaito and Anzuyi had vanished.
Beyond that line lay danger, redemption, and perhaps… the truth behind Raven Blackwood's shadow.
The Empty Seat was filled —
but the darkness it left was still watching.