The Night Rose

"Hmmm… Tom… That is really interesting." The guild master muttered out while thinking something before he shouted out, "Tom, I know you are here! Come forward now."

Tom, who was just about to leave, suddenly stiffened like a statue, gulped out nervously before turning around and walked towards the Guild Master.

"Tom, I want the records from the examination. Where is the memory crystal? Do not tell me that some unfortunate thing happened to the memory crystal as well." The Guild Master asked out while sizing Tom up. He was clearly disappointed.

Before Tom could even answer the question, the other elder came forward and said, "Here are the records, Guild Master. I was interested in her since she should at least get some points. Yet, she got full zero, so I wanted to see the records myself." After saying that, the elder gave the records to the Guild Master.

"Sir, we inspected the ship and the answers that Arwin provided, and it's full score!

It's really excellent and marvelous work, not to mention it was done very quickly! We haven't seen this profound skills in a while. So we don't know how Arwin could have gotten zero points on the written test." One of the mechanics reported out. Since the mechanic was so excited, his voice was so loud that everyone heard it.

The audience gasped in disbelief, but didn't dare to start talking as the Guild Master was still present.

"We will see soon then as we have the memory crystal now." The Guild Master said as he opened the shell of the camera, exposing the bright blue crystal inside. He then took the crystal out and placed it next to his head. After that, he went to a trance-like state.

No one dared to disturb him right now as he was searching through the records.

A minute passed, then five minutes, and when it was around ten minutes, the Guild Master's eyes finally cleared, showing that he woke up and done checking the records.

After releasing a heavy sigh, he looked at Arwin before asking, "Are you sure you don't want to join our guild anymore?"

"I can think about it. However, as a kind elder promised, I expect to get back the items that were promised. Aside from getting my pistol back, I also can freely choose additional items." Arwin said as she flashed a smile.

"Oh! Did Colton promise that? Let it be done then. It will be better though if you can choose two items of your choice and get your pistol back. I think we owe you an apology for the error that occurred during your exam." The guild master said while looking at Colton, who was nervously fidgeting his fingers.

"That is so kind of you, Sir. However, aside from the way my test was mishandled, I also did hit my head quite badly after Tom threw me out. Actually, I haven't recovered yet from the additional traumas." Arwin said, as she held her head, her expression, grimaced in pain. "So what if we make it four items? I think I will feel better by then, and I can forget this small matter." She said as she tried her luck out now. Arwin knew that the Guild Master wanted her to join the guild, after all. Because of this, he would probably try to do his best to be on her better side.

However, after she said this, some of the audience and elders were surprised. They unhappily started to commend. Some say that Arwin was too arrogant, or some expected that the Guild Master will throw her out himself.

"Let's make it straight to five then, if you suffered so much. But, you only get to choose two of them, and the rest are randomly drawn." The Guild Master replied, not showing any sing that he was offended, before flashing a gentle smile at Arwin.

"Thank you so much! You are far too kind. I will be in your care then." Arwin answered happily. She was not expecting much when she tried to ask for four, now she got another item. Regardless of it being randomly drawn and her not sure if any of it would be usable, Arwin would never deny something freely given.

"Tom, I want you to come later at my office. We have to talk about something." The Guild Master said as he looked at Tom, who couldn't guess what the Guild Master would do to him later.

He gulped nervously before he answered, "Ye...yes, Sir! I will come right away." But in his heart, he has already cursed Arwin a thousand times.

'Why the fuck did she spoil my plans? Because of her, I'm now being investigated and watched out. She's even a woman who shouldn't know anything about airships.' Tom thought to himself.

"Good, I will be waiting for you then. Now I have to go with Arwin to give her the reward she had won. Colton was even so kind to pay them out from his wages." The Guild Master said.

Upon hearing this, Colton turned pale, but managed to answer nervously, "Yes Sir, of course. I saw her potential straight away and promised to help her out to shut those mouths who doubted her skills." His tongue turned glib while he tried his best to appear better than Tom.

"Oh, you saw it immediately? I guess we have to thank you then. It is good that you are really willing to sacrifice your wages to pay the items. I never knew that you were this kind." The guild master sarcastically said while Colton thought that he was clear for now.

"Yes, Sir! I saw it immediately and promised the pistol tp her straight away and one additional item that I would pay while the others were saying she was a hoax, I even commanded the to shut up. I'm so lucky to witness this day when she finally did shut their mouths up." Colton continued to lick their boots. He was unable to see the guild master's expression, so he continued.

"That's enough, Colton we are leaving now with Arwin, so I want you to take care of the things here and make these people disappear for now." The Guild Master said, before he started to head out, Arwin following closely behind him.