131: The Most Showy Couple

They descended from the bus with bags slung over their shoulders. The bus, gleaming under the sun, filled the air with its engine’s chugging sound. It guzzled gasoline, filling the air with a... slight pleasant smell if Nyssa had to say.

“Stop smelling the exhaust fumes, they’re not healthy for you,” Celeste pulled Nyssa along as the sleepy girl nodded along like a wet noodle.

The bus stop, consisting of quite a large loop with a large canopy to shield people from the sun, only had their bus sitting in it considering the time of day. Morning—but after the start of the workday—on a random weekday. In contrast though, the curb where people waited to depart or pick up people though had been rammed with people. The sound of shouting and chattering filled the area. Flashes of light and camera clicks seemed to come from every direction as a crowd of paparazzi surrounded the group sent to pick them up.

Dressed in suits and sunglasses, the ten people dispatched from the Wildheart Sentinels perked up as they spotted the students. They pushed through the crowd and walked over in quick steps. Given the commotion, their footsteps couldn’t be heard, but the momentum they walked with woke Nyssa up.

All the Class Zero students, in fact, fixed their posture. They straightened their back and spread their shoulders. Ryker cleared his throat, extended a hand as the entourage came to a stop in front of them.

“No need to be nervous,” the woman in the front, centermost position took off her sunglasses. Alara, the vice guildmaster, had led the group. Though stern, her gaze softened as she swept her eyes over everyone doing a mental count. “Is everyone here, and ready to go?”

“Yup,” Ryker retracted his hand with an awkward cough. “Thank you, though, for coming out here to pick us up. You’re already very busy as the vice-master, especially right now as the interim head.”

“Haha, this is a welcome break, and it's what I should do. Considering what we’re asking of you. And, well, you know. Who you all are. If I messed this up, my guildmaster would certainly not be enthused” Alara winked with a slight smile as she and Ryker exchanged a knowing glance towards a certain Nyssa who now traded high-fives with Gideon.

As for the two trading high-fives, Gideon and Nyssa, they drew a stark contrast from the rest of the group. Where everyone else stood still, shifted on their feet, and stayed quiet, they seemed like an uncle and niece in their own little world.

Almost lacking decorum some could say.

But decorum didn’t really matter in these situations.

“I didn’t expect that you’d come!” Nyssa looked up to make eye contact with Gideon.

“I wasn’t planning on it, but when I heard you’d be here, I had to make the trip,” Gideon laughed, his whole chest rising and falling as his laughter drowned out the paparazzi for a second. “Looking forward to collaborating in these next few days or weeks!”

“For sure!” Nyssa smiled, quieting down as she noticed the paparazzi again.

---

With the entourage sent by the Wildheart Sentinels, they walked the last two blocks to the headquarters, hounded by the paparazzi the entire time. The Wildheart Sentinels, used to it, walked in a circle formation, keeping the students in the middle while ignoring all the questions and comments flooding in from the meaningless prattle around them.

Their group, with all the commotion, drew some attention as they walked through the commercial district, but, most, if not all, of the shoppers, turned away once they realized the situation. It happened too often.

Rounding a corner, the headquarters came into view. In the middle of the city, they had somehow purchased enough land to have a moderate complex. Around the edge, huge skyscrapers formed a wall of sorts. While in the middle, a small grassy open space allowed for natural sun. In the middle of the grassy space sat a smaller three story building, one in a more cozy style.

“That’s the headquarters, in the center, it's our administrative center, with branch operations happening in the skyscrapers. Some of the buildings are also residential, and will be where you all are staying,” Alara explained while pointing to a couple key features. “For now, I’ll guide you all into the administration center where you can pick up some keycards that will allow for your free entry.”

Dry.

Alara’s voice held little emotion, but Nyssa, having known Alara since her childhood—and Alara’s high school time—life, noticed the faint smile tugging at the edge of her lips.

I do wonder what this whole process would’ve been like if Roxanne was working right now though...

As the heart and soul of the guild, Roxanne’s infectious energy dictated the entire vibe of the place. Her warmth had brought the guild into its top tier in the present day. A representative guild of the country even.

Once they walked through the gate though, it closed behind them with a click, and the guild’s energy barrier reactivated. Creating a tight seal of surveillance over the entire area. Wind blew through the open space, touseling everyone’s hair as they made slow progress to the central administrative center.

They followed a tiled path. Small lights dotted the sides, but in the day, they sat turned off to conserve energy.

“Have you ever been here before?” Celeste leaned over, asking Nyssa. Her eyes, on a swivel, took in the views as she admired the architecture.

“... Like twice, it looks a lot different now...” Nyssa looked around as well. “The first time was when Roxanne became an S-Rank Hunter, and the guild celebrated. And the second was when Roxanne became the new guildmaster. That one was a huge party... I was forced to go home after the initial dinner, but I heard the party lasted for a couple days.”

“Impressive,” Celeste whistled with a faint smile. Her hand wandered up to cover it only to get batted away by Nyssa.

“Stop covering it, it's beautiful...” Nyssa squinted before turning away with a huff. “If you keep covering it I might as well sleep. I can at least see you smile in my dreams that way.”

“Oh? Do I show up in your dreams?” Celeste teased, clasping Nyssa’s hand and giving it a small squeeze. “Thank you though.”

“Man stop flirting, we’re all right here,” Conrad interrupted from right behind Celeste and Nyssa. “Lock in. You two are too lost in the sauce all the time.”

“Peh, fine,” Celeste rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out. Nyssa, as well, matched Celeste, sticking her tongue out. “You’re just jealous I’m with Nyssa instead of you.”

“Shut up, I’m past that already,” Conrad rolled his eyes as well before turning back to chat with Albion and Titus. “You two are just the most showy couple I’ve ever met in my life.”

Before either Celeste or Nyssa could formulate a response though, Alara opened the door, and began ushering them into the administrative building.