Tower of Paradise

Chapter 54: Members

The first thing I perceived as my eyelids opened heavily was an artificial flash of blinding white. Beyond that light stretched a wide ceiling decorated with adhered crystals that produced an intermittent glow, illuminating the interior of the room with a dancing brightness.

I confirmed with a slight head movement that I was finally waking up, and my mind immediately registered the pleasant sensation that accompanied my awakening.

I opened my eyes slowly, examining my surroundings while lying in my bed, feeling the soft touch of the sheets against my skin as I stared fixedly at the ceiling.

Among the guild's features that I had come to know during my stay was a dining room where members took their meals, a kitchen that perfectly complemented the main hall, a public bath area, an underground cage full of beasts, and an exclusive room for women that was heavily protected with elaborate traps.

Regarding the rooms, a hierarchical system seemed to have been established where older members enjoyed more spacious areas than newcomers. All the children who had arrived with me slept and ate on the third floor, while the first and second floors were exclusively reserved for official members.

Although we children wore the guild's insignia, Ivan, the master, had made it clear that we were not combat members, so we could not participate in missions.

With the exception of Reinhardt, Cassie, and me, who were Awakened and had the privilege of sleeping on the second floor, the rest of the children had been strictly forbidden from leaving the third floor during the morning due to the potential risk of accidents with other members.

One could say that we were adopted by the guild and that, in exchange for our lodging, we were in charge of cleaning and maintaining the place. The guild was certainly extensive, so the workforce was always insufficient.

Cassie... It was deeply ironic that she, being a Priestess, could not heal her own body due to her delicate condition. She had not yet regained consciousness. Although her condition seemed to improve with the passage of time, progress was painfully slow.

Now I clearly understood that the cost of vitality that Cassie had paid was temporary; she would gradually recover her vital energy through rest, time, and food intake.

But I didn't know how long Ivan would allow her to remain in the infirmary, so I couldn't afford to wait passively.

If I really wanted her to wake up as soon as possible, I had no choice but to ascend the Paradise Tower. I was unaware if this place had healing potions, but even if there were, they would surely be extremely expensive. And the rent I was already paying for all the children was, in itself, considerably high.

Ivan was far from being a charitable soul; the old man charged absolutely for everything.

While reflecting on this dilemma, my ears caught shouts and metallic noises coming from the guild hall on the floor below. The voices and crashes progressively intensified as the seconds passed, an unmistakable sign that a friendly fight was escalating in intensity.

I pushed the sheets off my bed with a decisive movement, jumped to the floor, and headed firmly toward the door.

The moment I opened the door, a wave of noise invaded my ears. Below, the guild hall was full of people talking; most laughing, while others shouted words of encouragement to their companions.

Observing from my privileged position on the second floor, I contemplated the crowd that filled the hall: some drinking, others eating, many chatting animatedly, a group singing and dancing, several engaged in fights, and the rest simply watching the spectacle. The entire guild seemed immersed in an ordered chaos. I scrutinized the place looking for Reinhardt, but I couldn't spot him; he was probably on the third floor with the other children.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the image of an unknown child punching another.

The aggressor had green eyes and messy ash-gray hair with bangs falling over his forehead and a single rebellious strand rising defiantly from the center of his head. He kept his mane in place using a black headband that proudly displayed the guild's golden insignia and a red four-pointed star with three small dots at the back.

His opponent, a boy of slender build, exhibited spiky black hair and piercing cerulean blue eyes. I could describe him without hesitation as a "handsome and good-looking boy."

The second youth returned the blow with precision, and both continued exchanging attacks without either yielding an inch of ground. Neither seemed to be older than me.

It was evident that old Ivan had taken in several children before my companions and I arrived at this place.

—Come on! Silvus! Don't lose! —Someone shouted from the impassioned crowd.

—Come on! Arthur! You can do it!

Silvus, unable to defeat his adversary after a considerable time, began to show signs of anxiety. He emanated icy air from his palm, preparing to use magic in combat.

Mages were rarer than warriors because even without talent, a person could train in handling a weapon, but without talent, one could never become a successful mage.

Meanwhile, Arthur's hands burned with intense fire:

—Come on! Who's afraid of whom?! —He challenged arrogantly.

Upon seeing Arthur's hands wrapped in flames, my eyes opened wide, completely stunned.

It was the first time I had witnessed this extraordinary power with my own eyes. That, without a doubt, was not conventional magic, which could only mean one thing: Arthur was a Knight.

Unlike mages, who channeled magic through their bodies and possessed the potential to master all kinds of spells, Knights used their elemental affinities to enhance and increase their physical capabilities, which gave them superhuman skill. As a consequence, each Knight had to have an innate ability, which made them considerably rarer and more valuable than any common warrior who only used stellar energy.

—Stop it now! Stinking brats! —A female voice suddenly interrupted.

I turned my head to one side and saw a young woman with blonde hair pulled back in an elegant ponytail, with a carefully combed fringe to one side and two strands framing her face. She wore a purple vest matching a ribbon of the same color that adorned her hair, and her expression overflowed with disdain. She appeared to be one or two years older than me.

The girl approached confidently toward the contenders and, without saying a word, firmly grabbed the ears of both, behaving almost as if she were the mother scolding her restless offspring.

As a man, I was naturally impressed by her undeniable beauty. However, it was evident that she possessed a problematic personality and a temperament from which it was prudent to stay away. Even her outfit revealed that she was a girl of difficult character.