Sunrise Alchemist, Ch 6: Azurewind Guard (Patreon)

A couple of hours later, Verse found himself outside the Azurewind Guard outpost. It was located in the Guards’ Quarter. The walk there gave him a good view of the parts of the city he hadn’t seen yet.

Boreas was arranged with four major quarters. There was the Alchemists’ Quarter, where the alchemists, herbalists, and auction house were located, along with a large chunk of the wealth in the city. Then there was the Residential Quarter, where most of the locals lived. That was divided into separate areas by wealth and there was a section for the nobility near the northern wall, where the estates were larger.

After that, there was the Trade Quarter, where the non-alchemist crafters and merchant shops did their business, including those from other guilds. The formation guild was located there, as well as the weaponsmiths’ guild, the armorers’ guild, the adventurers’ guild, and more.

Lastly, there was the Guard Quarter, which doubled as the administrative center for the city. This was where the city council had its chambers, where the guard barracks were established, and where some of the nobility had their houses if they didn’t like the options in the Residential Quarter.

The other three quarters were fairly strict about what could be done there, but the Guard Quarter was more open. Basically, if something didn’t fit into one the others, it could come here under the watchful eyes of the city guard.

The Azurewind Guard building was an opulent office more than a barracks, but it still had a martial quality that was obvious at first glance. The doorway opened onto a wall that divided traffic to the sides. When he walked around it, there was a clear line of sight to a reception desk at the far back of the room.

Anyone trying to charge in would find their momentum interrupted by the wall, and then they would be targeted by the not-so-subtle formations that covered the lobby. If they managed to break through those, there would still be some space between them and the desk, giving anyone sitting there time to deal with them.

The lobby was large, but the only other people in it were a group of three off to one side and the receptionist behind the desk at the far side. The group was made up of a grizzled older man with arms the size of a tree trunk and a humorless expression, and a young man and woman who looked like they were more accustomed to silks than to armor.

The older man had the attitude of a sergeant long past the limit of his patience with the two youngsters in front of him.

“No, you cannot end your training early,” he was saying with a growl. “If you want to remain in the Azurewind Guard, you will follow me to the depths of the northern forest, retrieve the beast lord cores you’ve been told to retrieve, and place them on the desk within a week.”

“If my father hadn’t ordered otherwise, I would have left this so long ago,” the young man complained as he turned to look at the woman for sympathy. It looked like he wanted to sniff into a handkerchief and was sad he didn’t have one available. “Without your becoming presence, Visele, it would be completely intolerable. Won’t you help me out here?”

“I’m here because I want to be,” Visele said as she raised an eyebrow in response. “Your pleading isn’t going to make it go by any faster, Breslin. Can you stop being dramatic? If we don’t get started now, it’s going to be a repeat of last week when we had to clean a hundred suits of armor before we went home.”

They were apparently a couple of trainees for the guard. Breslin sniffed and started to respond, but Verse tuned him out as he looked around the rest of the reception area.
The walls were painted with battle scenes that showed Imperial legions, the Boreas city guard in their distinctive emerald leathers, and solo azure-armored warriors facing down dangerous beasts and foreign armies. It seemed to be giving equal respect to all three organizations, but at the same time it suggested a single Azurewind Guard was worth a regiment of the others.

There wasn’t anything else in the room besides the paintings and the desk. It looked expensive, but spartan. Since that was the case, he decided not to waste any time. He figured being direct would go over the best here.

From across the room, the receptionist was studying him calmly. Something about her said that if a group of warriors barged into the room and started fighting back and forth, she wouldn’t react much differently. There wasn’t anything besides her cultivation to suggest her capability, but he doubted it would end well for them. She was also ignoring the trainees off to the side.

“What can the Azurewind Guard do for you?” she asked as he walked up to the desk. She was a young-looking Fire Sylph, but the race was long-lived, so she could have been a couple of hundred years old. Her cultivation was at the late stage of the Aligned realm, higher than his and impressive even in Boreas.

“I’m interested in joining,” Verse said simply. He pulled Rekan’s signet ring out of his spatial ring and set it on the table. “I was told this would work as an introduction.”

“Understood,” the receptionist said. There was a matter of factness about her that didn’t spend any extra words as she picked up the ring and began to examine it. A moment later, a jade plate appeared in her hand and she began to compare the two.

“This is the personal signet ring of Baron Rekan Voranir,” she confirmed after a minute. “He is recorded as a silver-ranked guard. We received notice of his death on a mission some months ago, which was confirmed by his partner, the Silver Crane Countess. She left a message that he wished to pass on his position to Verse, Imperial Knight of the Crimson Sunset.”

She looked up at him with just a touch more interest, her eyes lingering on where the Knight’s Seal was hidden on his shoulder.

“I heard of your arrival in the city today, but I didn’t expect it would be linked to the guard,” she said with a slight smile for the first time. “Let me welcome you. I take it you’re here to request expedited admission to the guard in his place? As a silver-ranked guard, he had the right to appoint a successor, but it’s rare that it’s passed on like this. Usually, it is given to a family member to speed up their induction, but it requires that the previous member has passed away. Do you know what the rank entails?”

“A silver-ranked inheritance?!” The young man, Breslin, spun around to stare at the desk as he heard that, but everyone ignored him. His attention hung on Verse and the receptionist as he watched to see what was going on. Verse ignored him, however,, since it was none of his business.

“I’m not very familiar with the Azurewind Guard, so please explain,” Verse said as he shook his head. “Rekan only told me that he wanted me to have it.”

The receptionist nodded, as if she’d expected that. Then she pulled three badges out of her desk and set them on the top. Each was made of jade, but they were different colors.

“The guard has three ranks for its regular members: bronze, silver, and gold,” she said calmly as she pointed at the badges. “There are higher ranks, but those are the most common. There are also lower trainee ranks.” With that, she glanced over at Breslin as if to make a point before continuing.

“Roughly 20% of our members are at the trainee rank, 50% are at bronze, and 20% are at silver. The gold and other ranks make up the remaining 10%. Unlike some organizations, our ranks are not based on cultivation strength. Instead, they show how well you’ve carried out missions in the past and are a measure of the organization’s trust in you. Each rank comes with its own benefits.” She paused for a moment as she indicated one badge after another.

“Bronze rank is the first permanent rank. It takes a minimum of five years and a hundred successful missions to achieve it. Once attained, it removes most of the supervisory requirements of the guild and you are free to operate independently as a full Azurewind Guard, taking whatever mission you feel qualified for. It also comes with access to our teleportation formations, shops, equipment, and crafters without an intermediary fee.

“Ten years and two hundred successful missions after achieving bronze, you can qualify for silver rank. Depending on your record, it can take longer. At silver, the benefits improve. You are entitled to a ten percent discount for services we provide. You also have the right to pass your position on to someone else, which some see as the core advantage.

“This allows families to hold onto their travel benefits and general discount from the guard even if their abilities skip a generation, and it is the foundation of some trading families’ wealth. It also allows a younger cultivator an opportunity to bring the badge back to the guard. They can either take on the mantle of a silver-ranked member or trade it in for cultivation resources and a chance to grow under our protection, while starting as a trainee.”

“This appeals to some youths, especially if they are not qualified to hold the position. They can always earn it again in the future if things go well. Most choose to trade it in, since if they fail to uphold our standards, they can lose the rank or be ejected from the guard. In that case, they will not receive our training or resources. That is why passing on the badge can be considered as gifting someone half of a career.

“If you take the rank directly, it means missing out on the guild’s training that is part of the induction process, which normally takes three to five years, but at silver rank, you only need to complete one mission every decade to maintain your position. Other than that, you are free to accept whatever missions the guard has available that are suitable for your rank and cultivation.

“The next rank up is gold, but eligibility for that is determined solely on achievements, like training new members.” The receptionist nodded at the grizzled cultivator on the side, with a slight smile on her face, making it clear that was what he was doing. “It is also unlikely before the Inspired realm, since our Gold-ranked members are often called upon for major problems. The list of requirements will be in the information you’re given once you join.”

“Will you sell that badge?” Breslin called across the room as he tried to walk to Verse. The trainer grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him back, his face darkening even more. On the side, Visele sighed as she walked away, clearly planning to stay out of it. From the looks of it, the two of them were going to be in for a rough time today.

“Therefore, you have two options in front of you,” the receptionist said as she wrapped up her explanation. Her eyes were on his shoulder again. “You can trade in the badge and receive our support, or you can assume the rank. The choice is yours.

“We have several Imperial Knights in the guard, but none are near Boreas right now, so your presence is most welcome either way. The next induction ceremony will take place in just under six months.” She glanced over at Breslin and Visele. “We have two guards in training who will be graduating, and they will be attending with their sponsors...although it’s still possible they will fail to qualify by then. If that happens, the ceremony will be canceled.”

“We won’t fail!” Visele called across the room. “I refuse to let Breslin drag me down!”

“How can you say that!” Breslin complained as he looked over at her. “I just want to do it the easy way.” He began walking toward Verse. “I can offer you a top price for that badge! Two hundred high-quality spirit stones! It’s enough to live on for years here.”

“The easy way is doing what I tell you,” the trainer growled as bands of reddish stone appeared in the air around Breslin and dragged him back across the hall. Breslin’s mouth was plugged by stone, so he could only release muffled complaints. “You think that Imperial Knight is going to sell you that badge? Even if he wanted to, I would refuse to let you take it. There’s no way I’m letting you out of training until you stop embarrassing me, which is what you’re doing currently. An inherited badge is a matter of honor. A silver-ranked guard died to pass that badge on. You will respect that.”

The guard turned toward the entrance, still dragging Breslin behind him. As he headed for the entrance, Visele fell into place beside him, shaking her head as she refused to look at her companion. As they passed Verse, the trainer gave him a nod of recognition.

“I’d be interested in that story some time, knight,” he said with a friendlier growl as he clapped a hand on Verse’s shoulder. “My name is Ames. Ressa knows how to find me. After you join, I’ll show you where the silver rankers drink. Now, I have to get these two to do something productive even if it kills me, so pardon us.”

With that, he dragged Breslin out of the hall. Before she disappeared, Visele looked at Verse and mouthed a word that looked like ‘Sorry’ as she gave him a helpless shrug. Their departure left a much quieter room behind.

Verse just shook his head. He had no interest in selling the badge, but he was curious about Ames’s story. He wouldn’t mind getting a drink with him and finding out more about the life of a guard around Boreas.

“So which will you choose?” the receptionist asked as she looked at Verse. “Training or the rank?”

“I’ll stick with the silver rank,” Verse said after a moment. It didn’t take him long to decide. He had no interest in being a trainee again, and especially not if those two were an example of what he’d have to deal with.

He’d come here to work on alchemy and be independent, not to do random missions for practice. He also didn’t want to deal with the restrictions that would come with a lower rank.

“Very well,” the receptionist replied as she reached into her desk and pulled out a small stone box that was heavily inscribed with a formation. “Remember the one mission a decade requirement. It’s really the only one for silver rankers, although you might be called upon in an emergency. It tends to be a mission that will support the local area, like suppressing a beast uprising, so you shouldn’t have to travel far if you plan to stay in Boreas.

“As for regular missions, you’ll be able to access the full list in a moment. It will be linked to your badge, so it’s quite efficient.” She touched the top of the box as she looked up at him.

“This is a device to create guard badges,” she explained. “Normally, I only use it to create replacements if someone loses theirs, but it can also create the initial one. Despite the policy, it is fairly rare for a silver-ranked badge to be transferred, so keep in mind we are skipping a lot of steps. You will want to read up on the guild regulations and procedures that will be in the badge.

“Other than that, if you’re ready, the process for joining is very simple. Is there any blank silver jade you’d like to use as the base for the badge? Its shape will change and some of the properties might be destroyed, but people sometimes prefer a known item.”

“A regular one is fine,” Verse said as he shook his head. He had some items from Whitestone, but none of them were a good fit for a new badge.

“Very well.” The receptionist took a plate of silvery jade that was about three inches across and four inches long and placed it inside the box. “Now, if you could add a drop of your blood inside to bind it to you? I swear by my cultivation that it will be completely used up in the process, and nothing negative will come to you from it.”

Her words echoed with a faint spiritual energy as she put the weight of her cultivation behind them. It was rare for a cultivator to make an oath on their cultivation, but when they did, it was a serious matter. Breaking it could result in spiritual backlash, flaws in their cultivation process, or failure in their next breakthrough.

Few would make such an oath without considering the consequences.

Verse frowned, but he pulled out a dagger and cut his finger, letting a single drop of blood appear. It was a deep red like human blood, but there was a faint trace of emerald energy inside, like a mist swirling through the center.

That was the progress he was making with his bloodline. Eventually, his blood would be pure emerald, just like the drop he’d found in the old hall. It was a natural feature of Emerald Dragon blood to harden into a gemstone when it was loose. A mist of Wood and Stone energy gathered across the surface of the drop as it hovered in the air, like a forest had suddenly appeared.

The receptionist’s eyebrows rose as the drop fell into the box and landed on the plate, but she didn’t say anything. She just added half a dozen medium-grade spirit stones to slots in the formation and closed the lid.

A wave of spiritual energy gathered around the box as the formation activated, covering the surface with lines of bright azure energy. A crackling sensation like a storm wind filled the room, concentrating around the box. Miniature lightning bolts shot along the surface as it rumbled with thunder.

Whoever had built the formation must have cultivated the Dao of the Storm. Their energy was potent and far stronger than the Aligned realm, and possibly stronger than the Primal realm. It made him consider the name of the Azurewind Guard and the powers behind it.

It also reminded him of Amari. She had cultivated a lightning and shadow art. Perhaps one day she would be able to make a formation like this.

A few moments later, the receptionist pulled a jade badge out of the box. The base material was still silver jade, but it was now imbued with an azure hue in the background from the Dao of the Storm and there were striations across the surface like lightning bolts. When she handed it to him, it rumbled in his hand with the echo of thunder.

More than that, the jade plate had changed shape. Now, it resembled a set of azure wings a few inches across that could be fastened onto his chest or worn at his belt.

“Azure wings open in flight are the symbol of the Azurewind Guard,” the receptionist added with a smile. “Welcome to the Azurewind Guard as a silver-ranked member, Sir Verse. My name is Ressa. I am the administrative head of the guild here at Boreas. The commander is a gold-ranked member known as Lady Elisene.

“Remember to keep your badge with you at all times. As a silver-ranked one, it is made from Silver Thunder Jade, a durable Rank 5 material. It is linked to you, so if you perish, it will shatter, but otherwise it should survive most fights. It is linked to our main formations and you’ll find that it acts as an access point, mission list, contribution point record, communication device, and more. If you wish to pass the badge down in the future, you can record that desire in our records through the badge or by telling any guard station.

“As long as you are within the empire or not too far from its borders, the badge should be able to function. If you go farther than that, you will need to augment it with a support array before it is capable of communicating with the main formation. There are few organizations in the empire with our resources, and those badges are one of our most significant symbols, so please try not to lose it. The replacement cost is 500 medium grade spirit stones.” With that, Ressa finished the explanation. It sounded like one she’d given many times.

Verse turned the badge over in his hand. He was looking forward to studying the functions. Rekan’s gift to him had been worth more than he thought. This would make things simpler in Boreas. Hopefully he could find some good missions with it.

“Since you’re new here, let me give you some advice,” Ressa added. Her posture was as straight as ever, but she looked more relaxed than before. “I do not doubt your capability in battle, but the Aligned realm is usually the requirement for new members, and those who receive a direct admission are sometimes frowned upon, especially if it seems that you could make the guard look weak. At the moment, your cultivation at the late Essence Condensation rank is much too obvious and a glaring disadvantage.

“I would not put it past that young fool Breslin to challenge you and try to get you to gamble your badge. The guild rules don’t allow it to be transferred like that, but it’s something he would try. The fact that you’re an Imperial Knight will only make him try harder, because he does not know what that means and he isn’t wise enough to fear the unknown. I would ask that you not kill him, and if possible, that you ignore his request.”

The words made Verse frown. He released a wave of his aura, flooding the area with a sense of oppression before he pulled it back. He held back his bloodline strength, but his aura still had the unique golden signature of an Imperial Knight. The pressure from it was around the middle of the Aligned realm. His strength was much deeper than it seemed, more than enough to be ranked in the Azurewind Guard.

Ressa’s eyes were knowing as she looked at him. There was a slight smile on her face, as if she’d known that would happen.

“Strength comes in many forms, but for the sake of keeping up appearances and making things easier on yourself, it would be best if you could reach the Aligned realm before the next induction ceremony. Otherwise, it might cause some unwanted rumors about favoritism and bring you trouble. Breslin and Visele, for all their other faults, are already at the middle of the Aligned realm and they might reach higher before then.”

In other words, he would stand out a lot if he was lower than them.

“Understood,” he said with a nod. Breaking through to the Aligned realm was one of his own goals for the near future, and if it would save him some trouble, he would try to make it happen before the induction ceremony.

Six months should be plenty of time.

“I’m looking for alchemy and formation materials,” he said as he changed the topic. “That’s why I’ve settled in Boreas for now. Do you have a recommendation for missions?”

“Are you focused on crafting?” Ressa’s eyes rose with surprise for the first time. “That will go over well in the city. I thought you were a standard battle cultivator based on the information about you. If you are looking for that type of mission, just examine your badge. You’ll be able to sort through the options. I can’t recommend anything specific without knowing the exact materials you’re after, but we do have quite a few local missions like that. Crafters in town are always asking us to bring back specific materials from the Obsidian Forest or the volcanic mines.”

“Thank you then,” Verse said as he gave her a smile back. “You’ve been very helpful. I’ll try to follow your advice.”

“Your badge has the details of the ceremony,” Ressa added with a nod. “While it’s not required, it would be best if you made an appearance. It is a good introduction to a number of local powers and they place a lot of value on it, since it only happens once or twice a decade. If you skip it, it will be a missed opportunity to make connections in the city. But either way, you are now a registered silver-ranked member and are free to take missions.” With that said, she pushed Rekan’s signet ring back across the desk toward him.

“You should know that there is no record of Rekan’s family with us, except that he was associated with the Profound Light Monastery. Rumors say their relationship was fragile, but you could take his ring back there one day, if you believe he wanted that.”

“I’ll try to find my way there.” Verse nodded as he put the ring away. “Thank you for the help.”

She’d made this process easier than he was expecting, and her advice was solid.

“It wasn’t much,” Ressa replied as her smile brightened, “but you’re welcome.”

Verse glanced around the area as he turned to leave, but it was still free of trainees who overestimated themselves. That meant he wouldn’t have to beat them up today. He chuckled to himself as he headed back outside, scratching at Leaf’s head.

He was looking forward to seeing what this new badge could do.