New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

On the way there, passersby and patrolling soldiers saluted Violette and Astaroth many times. Violette was getting highly uncomfortable with all the attention, and Astaroth was becoming annoyed.

When they reached the guild building, they rushed inside, both wanting to get away from the worshiping gazes and respectful salutes. Phoenix only laughed at the situation.

Many players would kill their families to be the center of attention like they were. But that went to show how well-centred their personalities were.

Phoenix and Violette headed to a counter, getting in line to grab a quest, while Astaroth went to the guarded staircase to the side.

When the guard stopped him, Astaroth showed him the S-rank card, and requested to speak with the Guild Master.

"I'm sorry, sir. The guild master is currently in a meeting with someone. You will have to wait before meeting him."

Astaroth was about to turn around, exasperated slightly, when a familiar woman walked towards him and the guard.

"Let him through. The guild master is expecting him."

The woman was the same one that had given him his card the other day.

"But ma'am. The guild master is already in a meeting."

"Did I stutter? Let him through, or I will have to tell the guild master you delayed his guest."

"No need ma'am! This way, sir!"

The guard changed his attitude as soon as his job was put on the line. The woman winked at Astaroth, before returning to the counter she was previously serving.

The player standing there had a look of anger and jealousy on his face. The woman had interrupted his service to fix Astaroth's situation, and it irked him.

'Who is that guy, anyway?'

Once Astaroth was guided to the staircase that led to the guild master's office, another guard replaced him. The players who saw another player go through thought the zone was suddenly unlocked to them, and tried going too.

When their paths were blocked, they protested and ended up getting kicked out of the building and banned for twenty-four hours. They later made many complaints on the forums, all of which fell on deaf ears.

The guard escorting Astaroth stopped before the wooden door to the office.

*Knock knock*

"Guild master. Your second guest, sir Astaroth, has arrived."

The door opened on its own, and from inside, Astaroth heard the old man's voice.

"Come in, young man."

Astaroth did as asked, lightly nodding to the guard on the way in. The guard closed the door behind Astaroth before going back to his post.

Inside the office, Euclesias was sitting at his big desk, with two chairs positioned before it. The chairs were slightly angled, forming a symmetrical triangle.

And from the door, Astaroth could see the profile of the other person present. He resembled what Kary had described to him earlier.

The man was lean and wearing fancy-looking clothes made of what looked like a high-quality material. His hair was blond, but the lustre to it was odd.

When Astaroth took a seat in the remaining chair, the man looked at him. His golden eyes locked on his own, with an intensity that almost gave him vertigo.

Within a mere moment, Astaroth already knew who this was, as this stare was not something he could forget. The slit golden eyes peered directly into his soul, as a powerful, invasive scan washed over him.

Also assaulting Astaroth was a mighty aura, one that resembled the red dragon they had slain a few days prior.

Astaroth was only under his pressure for a few seconds, but he was already sweating buckets. But his stubbornness didn't allow him to take his eyes away.

He withheld the gaze until the man before him averted his eyes. Astaroth felt the pressure immediately disappear as he started panting.

"Not bad, for a young mortal," the man said, looking back at Euclesias.

"Yes, yes. Indeed, he has great potential."

"Was that just a test?" Astaroth asked, palling.

It was Master Eustas that answered.

"Ahh, yes. Pardon his roughness. You see, lord Aurexiar isn't often in contact with our kind. He prefers to stay isolated inside his lair, at the peak of the mountain."

"The pressure you exerted... You are a dragon, aren't you?"

"Mind the way you address me, mortal."

"Ahh yes. My apologies, lord Aurexiar."

"Excuse his lack of manners, lord Aurexiar. He is still young and has much to learn."

After a moment of silence, the human-formed dragon nodded his head.

Astaroth bowed his in gratefulness.

"I would also like to apologize for provoking one of your kin, leading to his death."

"Think nothing of it," the man answered, not even batting an eye.

His answer slightly surprised Astaroth. Did the dragon not resent him?

"To answer your silent question, young Astaroth, dragons are very solitary. They don't socialize or befriend their kind as much as we do. And by the looks of it, that one was not a friend of his."

Astaroth nodded his head, absorbing the information.

"But remember this. You shouldn't assume that they are all like this. You could also accrue the hatred of another dragon if you killed its mated partner. And you don't want to be hunted down by an angered dragon."

Astaroth gulped, nodding his head again.

"Let us move on to the purpose of my presence here. I would like to return to my lair as soon as possible. It is too noisy to my liking down here."

"Ahh, yes. My apologies lord Aurexiar," the guild master said, nodding lightly to the dragon.

Then he turned his head over to Astaroth.

"Your presence, or lack of, in this situation, was greatly disapproved by the noble faction on the day of the reward ceremony. They have a bone to pick with you now."

"I apologize for that, guild master. I was hospitalized in my world, and could not make it."

The dragon frowned at his statement, but said nothing.

"It's too late to apologize now. Just be wary of the nobles in the future. They tried rescinding your right to a reward at the ceremony, but lord Aurexiar held them accountable."

Astaroth turned his head to the dragon, thanking him. Aurexiar only nodded in response.

"Since you weren't there to choose your reward, lord Aurexiar picked for you. I believe what he chose for you will be greatly appreciated."

The dragon materialized a strange shortsword and deposited it on the desk before Astaroth. Astaroth looked at the weapon curiously before looking at the guild master and dragon.

Both men nodded their heads, signalling he could take it.

So he did, scanning it at the same time. His jaw dropped.

'This... This is!'