The courtyard of the Vielborne Guild was alive with noise, energy, and the buzz of ambition. Hundreds of applicants lined up, clad in different armor sets, robes, and leather gear. Some sharpened weapons; others quietly muttered spells. They were all gathered for one reason: to pass the Vielborne Examination — and maybe, just maybe, become part of the most promising guild in the kingdom.
At the second-floor balcony, Kaze Arashi, guild leader and professional trouble-evader, leaned against the railing, arms crossed. His golden eyes flickered over the crowd, unreadable.
Beside him stood Anisa, clipboard in hand, professional and ready to make things happen — unlike the man she served under.
"Everything's prepared," she said, glancing sideways. "I recommend a structured test. Team combat, solo endurance trials, and an interview."
Kaze gave a lazy nod. "Sounds good enough... for now."
Yet inside, he still debated. Should I add a real test? Something they'll never forget?
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a royal messenger, bowing low and handing him a sealed parchment.
Kaze's eyes widened slightly as he read the contents.
The King himself... requesting Vielborne to clear a dungeon others have failed to conquer?
Opportunity knocked — and Kaze opened the door wide.
This is it, he thought. I can test the applicants properly... and impress the King at the same time.
He recalled Anisa's suggestion about team combat and smiled internally. Perfect. Kill two birds with one stone.
Without hesitation, Kaze stepped forward to the edge of the balcony and raised his hand, his presence commanding immediate silence.
"The first official test will be..." His voice carried clearly across the courtyard, calm yet filled with gravity.
"Clear the dungeon assigned to us by the King!"
The applicants murmured in confusion. A real dungeon? Was this part of the exam? But as realization sank in, excitement and nervous energy quickly spread among them.
This was no longer a simple evaluation. It was a real test of skill, courage, and survival.
Kaze smirked to himself. Let's see who really has what it takes.
Still, a flicker of concern crossed his mind. Hopefully... no casualties.
He stayed optimistic. After all, Luna would be supervising the exam, and he had also tasked the twins to join for experience and exposure.
The Dungeon Exam Begins
The group moved toward the designated dungeon — an eerie, overgrown ruin on the outskirts of the kingdom, where other adventuring parties had already failed.
The air was thick with tension as Luna took charge, gathering the applicants into squads and giving clear, precise instructions. Kaze had full trust in her leadership.
Among the applicants, a few figures immediately caught Kaze's attention:
Caelith — the nonchalant Assassin. He moved with effortless stealth, blending into shadows like smoke.
Lyra — the super talented but painfully shy Cleric. Her light magic, capable of purifying curses and casting wide-range healing spells, made her a beacon of hope.
Bran — the weird but strong Knight. His unorthodox methods, like tossing rocks or swinging tree branches, left opponents utterly bewildered.
As they stepped into the dungeon, Kaze leaned back comfortably in his guild office — not physically following them, of course. Instead, he conjured a floating magic orb, a shimmering blue sphere that projected real-time images from Luna's perspective.
This is the life, Kaze thought smugly as he watched from a cozy armchair, sipping on his tea while Anisa dealt with the paperwork.
"Delegation is an art form," he muttered to himself with a satisfied grin.
"Right. Art form," Anisa said dryly from across the room, not even looking up.
Something Unexpected
At first, everything went smoothly.
The applicants fought through traps, minor monsters, and puzzles with surprising coordination.
Caelith moved like a ghost, eliminating threats before they even saw him coming.
Lyra's healing magic saved several squads from collapse.
Bran's chaotic but powerful defense tactics confused and crushed enemy formations.
Kaze smiled while watching them through the orb, pride bubbling up. Maybe this generation isn't so bad after all.
But then...
Luna suddenly stiffened. Her silver eyes narrowed. The wind around her shifted, disturbed by something unseen.
A deep, primal unease settled over the dungeon.
Kaze leaned forward, sensing her alarm. What's wrong?
Through the orb, he saw it — the very walls of the dungeon cracked, leaking a dark, corrupting miasma.
An unnatural roar echoed through the corridors, shaking the stone itself.
From the depths of the dungeon, a Corrupted Dungeon Boss emerged — a beast twisted by darkness, larger and more ferocious than anything they were prepared for.
Kaze's heart dropped.
No...! If something happens to them... if I lose them now...
A rare flicker of fear crossed Kaze's face.
Without hesitation, **Luna stepped in**, gripping the rare staff she had claimed from a forgotten dungeon — a weapon brimming with unstable, abyssal energy. Darkness surged around her as arcane runes lit up along the staff's spine, casting violet shadows across the crumbling stone.
No longer just the composed officer of Vielborne — Luna became something else entirely. A **destruction mage** of terrifying precision.
With a single incantation, a black sigil bloomed beneath the corrupted boss's feet, and spears of void energy erupted upward, tearing through its armored flesh.
She didn't wait. Another chant. Another wave. A gravity pulse crushed lesser monsters like insects, warping the terrain and giving the squads breathing room.
*She's not just strong,* Kaze thought, eyes wide as he watched through the orb. *She's... overwhelming.*
And yet, despite the raw chaos of her magic, Luna fought with discipline — anchoring the group's formation, shielding the healers, and guiding the offense like a master tactician.
Caelith blinked from shadow to shadow, cutting into weak points exposed by Luna's spells.
Bran shielded the casters, taking hits that would've turned others to pulp.
Lyra stood firm, light magic pushing back the corruption threatening to consume them all.
Together, under Luna's dark command, they formed a deadly rhythm.
And Kaze... he couldn't help but smile.
*This is it. Not just power. But coordination. Trust. Growth.*
*They're becoming a team.*
The corrupted boss shrieked and lunged one final time, only to be blasted apart by Luna's ultimate spell — a focused beam of collapsing dark energy that split the ceiling and drove the creature into the abyss.
As the dungeon began to dissolve, the corrupted energy purged, Luna lowered her staff — panting but still composed.
Kaze realized something important — these weren't just applicants anymore.
They were the future pillars of Vielborne.
After a grueling, breathtaking battle, the corrupted boss let out a final shriek and collapsed into black mist.
The dungeon itself began to crumble, the corrupting miasma fading.
Luna gathered the exhausted but triumphant applicants. Even the twins, though bloodied, had pushed through and protected their comrades.
Back at the guild, Kaze leaned back, a small, genuine smile on his lips.
They survived... no, they conquered it.
And for the first time in a long while, Kaze felt something rare stir inside him — hope.
The Vielborne Guild's future looked brighter than ever.
The corrupted dungeon fell silent, its twisted energies dispersing like ash in the wind. A tremor shook the halls as the realm around them began to fade—cleansed.
The victorious applicants regrouped, panting and wide-eyed. What had started as a guild entry test had become a crucible.
Above all, Luna stood still, staff planted in the cracked stone. The **Voidweaver**, pulsing with dark light, finally dimmed.
"That last spell," Bran whispered, awed, "was that…?"
"Abyss Bloom," Luna said calmly, her voice low and powerful. "A forbidden channeling of collapsing mana. The staff let me control it… barely."
Kaze, watching through the magic orb, crossed his arms and nodded slowly. "Damn. That was terrifying... and beautiful."
---
Back at Veilborne Guild
The next morning, the applicants stood once more in the main hall — though now, they stood a little straighter, eyes filled with fire. The corrupted dungeon had changed them.
Kaze stood before them, arms behind his back, flanked by Luna and Anisa.
"Well then," he began, his tone unreadable. "We've made our decision."
He stepped forward, voice firm.
"**Caelith** — shadow-footed and precise. A ghost among men."
The assassin tilted his head, flashing a sly smile. He didn't say a word.
"**Lyra** — gentle, but your light held back the corruption. You've shown power where most break."
Lyra gasped quietly. Her cheeks flushed, but she bowed deeply, hands trembling slightly.
"**Bran** — your shield didn't just defend, it inspired. Loyalty like yours deserves the black cloak."
Bran blinked, stunned. "Y-you're serious?"
Kaze's lips curved into a faint smirk.
"**As of today... you three are now part of the Shadows.**"
The room burst into chatter. Eyes turned toward the trio now marked as elite.
"But," Kaze raised a hand, "one spot remains. The fifth Shadow has yet to be chosen. And it won't be filled easily."
He let the silence settle before flashing a rare, confident grin.
"Starting next year, we will hold an **Annual Shadow Battle**. A challenge where any member of Veilborne can face the current Shadows for their title. Rise... or be replaced."
The entire hall reacted—gasps, excitement, tension.
"This keeps our elites sharp… and the dream alive for everyone else."
Even Luna turned to him slightly. *That's clever,* she thought.
Beside him, Anisa rolled her eyes, hiding a small smile. "Can't believe he made that up on the spot... damn smooth," she muttered to herself. *And why is he kind of… charming when he does that?*
---
**Character Moments**
Later that day…
**Caelith** sat alone in the training yard, eyes closed as he honed his senses. He wasn't one for big crowds, but something about being chosen made his blood sing. For the first time in years, he felt like he belonged somewhere.
**Bran** tested his new armor in the forge courtyard, swinging his blade with renewed determination. "No one's gonna take this spot from me," he muttered, sweat dripping from his brow.
**Lyra** stood quietly by the garden, her hands glowing faintly as she practiced. Becoming a Shadow wasn't just an honor — it was a responsibility. She knew her traditional healing role wasn't enough. If she was to stand among the elite, she needed to change.
"I need to learn to fight too," Lyra whispered to herself. She had already begun studying offensive cleric magic—**Radiant Lance**, **Purging Nova**—anything that would allow her to strike back, not just shield and mend.
A soft determination burned in her chest. *If I'm going to protect everyone, I have to be strong enough to destroy threats, too.*
**Luna**, meanwhile, locked herself in the training hall. She wanted to understand Abyss Bloom better — to control it fully next time. The **Voidweaver** pulsed faintly in her hand, almost like it approved.
**Anisa**, flipping through reports and background checks of all applicants, stole occasional glances at Kaze… who was, once again, *doing absolutely no paperwork.*
"He's lucky he's good-looking," she whispered to herself. "And dangerously competent."
---
**Late Evening – Kaze's Office**
Kaze finally kicked his feet up on the desk and let out a long exhale. "Three Shadows down. One exam done. A whole mess of paperwork avoided…"
Suddenly, Luna barged in, her expression grim.
"I felt something," she said sharply.
Kaze sat up immediately.
"In the heart of that dungeon—there was a **second presence. Watching. Old. Foul.** The boss was corrupted… but I don't think it started on its own."
Kaze's smirk faded.
"We'll need to investigate," he said. "Quietly. I don't want panic in the guild."
Luna nodded. "I'll look into it. I've seen corruption like this before. It never acts alone."
As Luna turned to leave, Kaze muttered under his breath, "What have we just walked into…"
The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the Veilborne Guild's banner.
The celebration had ended.
But something darker… had only just begun.