Desiderio Domini

Chapter 7

“Good morning class! Wow, present agad ang lahat ah!”

Napatingin kami sa pumasok na Photomancer sa library na gaya ng aming Guild Madam ay napakaganda, sexy at may mayamang hinaharap na pinagmukhang pasas ang sa amin ni Wynda.

She is Grasya Divina, the Guild Matron.

Siya ang in-charge sa domestic affairs ng Neox ranging from cooking excellent meals as she showed us last night, to teaching new members the basics of guild duties and advanced skill manipulation and tactics.

Hindi gaya ng Photomancer sa Aindrac, she reminds me so much of my mother.

She acts, speaks and behaves like a real representative of the light.

Napakabait, maalalahanin at maalaga.

Ngayong umaga lang din nalaman na siya ang magsisilbing governess namin for the duration of our training and transition to bonafide guild members.

You see, hindi kami basta-basta magiging members agad ng Neox Sodality just because we signed our contracts stating that we are official members.

They still need to break us in thoroughly in the nuances of being guild members and how we should behave, act and speak as official representatives of Neox.

Kailangang matutunan namin hindi lang ang kung paano magsalita, kundi paano na rin back-upan ng gawa ang aming sarili in times of need.

Normally, it’s the Guild Hero who should teach us these things pero dahil merong Photomancer sa aming guild, the duty is delagated instead to her.

That, and hindi talaga dapat natanggap ng mga hindi nakapag masteral, that is to say mga hindi pa naabot ang last stage ng jobs nila, ang top eight guilds but Neox always happily makes exceptions as long as kinakitaan nila ng potensyal ang mga baguhan.

Though matindi-tinding training, pag-aaral at immersions ang kailangan para mai-push kami ng aming guild to finally reach the zenith of our jobs and only then, they will allow us to be trully one of them.

But for now, they will be treating us their prized trainees.

“Kamusta naman ang tulog ninyong tatlo? I hope everything was comfortable?”

Tumango agad si Mors, “Naku, ang sarap ng kumot at ng kama, pati na ng ulan! Hindi ako makapaniwala na may sarili kaming mga kwarto at ang gaganda pa!”

“What he said, I would be an ungrateful b***h kung magreklamo ako,” Wynda agreed as she looked at me who just nodded at the governess who clapped her hands approvingly and began writing in the blackboard.

“Perfect! Don’t forget, kung may kailangan kayo o reklamo, sabihin ninyo agad sa akin or to any members dito sa Neox. Your comfort and happiness are our number one priority,” she said seriously before tapping at the board smartly, “Now, I would like to inform you na for the duration of six months, mag-aaral tayo ng general knowledge on how guilds works, the nuances of the politics between us and other guilds, what to expect after your trainings and what are expected from you in return after everything has been settled. Any questions?”

Umiling kaming tatlo at ngumiti siya ng matamis.

“Perfect! Considering the fact na you all graduated with top honors, hindi ako tiyak mahihirapan sa pagtuturo and truth to be told, I am so excited. Ngayon ko pa lang magagamit ang minor ko sa Guild Education in our guild. Hindi ko akalain na after several years, makakakuha kami ng new members! Naku, let’s get started na nga with this question, “How are the guilds connected to the Kingdom of Tribon and its Royal Armed Forces?”

Nagtaas agad ng kamay si Mors at hinayaan itong sumagot ng governess namin.

“Technically speaking, the sixty official guilds are part of the Royal Armed Forces though they all act autonomously from them. They take on more civilian roles and interact directly with the citizens while the Royal Armed Forces are focused on the security of our borders against immortal incursions and minor evil swarms who managed to enter our territory,” malinaw na paliwanag ng bata as he took a deep breath and continued his explanation of his answer, “Acting autonomously they may be, the guilds answer directly to the reigning monarch, in our case, Queen Zabel and to the members of the Royal Aristocracy to some extent.”

Our teacher nodded kindly at the kid, “Nothing less expected from our future Neomancer. Truly knowledgeable. Now, Vladira, can you tell me about the Royal Aristocracy and their connections to the guilds?”

“May limang ranks sa loob ng Royal Aristocracy ng Sapienos. The highest ranking ay ang Duke or Duchess. Currently, ang Duke ng Duchy of Southminster, Duke Edmund Forster who is also the advisor to the queen, is at the top of the aristocratic food chain. Followed by the Marchioness ng Marquissate of Sabayat, though reportedly away for quite a while now, it’s Lady Morthea Thanasia, the younger sibling of the Marchioness who is leading that border dominion of the kingdom in her absence and she herself is as elusive as her elder sister, rarely, if at all, makes an appearance outside her family’s castle. Following her is the Earl of the Earldom of Farland, Earl Stradwood who is also the Royal Representative of Immortal Affiars. Next is the Viscountess of the Viscounty Revern, Viscountess Ermina Hillbatten that functions also as the queen’s official Royal Spokeswoman. Finally, the petty Barons and Baronesses of the Kingdom of Tribon. Halos mahigit dalawang daan ang mga may ari ng baronies around the kingdom and they function as village, hamlets or settlement leaders and answer to the Viscountess, whom herself answer to the Earl, which answers to the Marchioness as she is under the Duke and the Duke to the Queen.”

I nodded at our impressed governess as I finished my explanation.

“Wow, ang liwanag, concise at simple ng sagot mo, Vladira! Wala na akong maidadagdag pa, however, you failed to answer what are their connection to guilds as an entity.”

Napangiwi na lang ako at nagkibit-balikat as she raised an eyebrow at my expression nang umupo na ulit ako, “Well, I didn’t answer that because I’m afraid even for someone like me who is moderately knowledgeable, it’s a topic too convuluted and chaotic for me to even try answering.”

“Fair point. I guess, in a way, you already did answer the question, my dear,” she then started making a diagram at the blackboard connecting all but the Marquissate to sixty large dots she created in a confusing manner, “Hindi lang basta illustration itong ginawa ko sa board. This is literally how guilds are connected to the aristocracy. Bawat level ng mga dugong bughaw ay may inaalagaang guilds personally, publicly or privately.”

Itinuro ni Wynda ang bukod tanging nobility na walang koneksyon sa kahit ano, “Bakit walang alaga ang marquissate?”

“Because historically speaking, the marquesses and marchionesses doesn’t like to include themselves in the murky politics of guilds. Actually, they prefer to keep themselves to themselves. They and their citizens. The queen was once quoted saying na ayaw sa lahat ng Marquessate of Sabayat ng gulo, away at stress kaya until absolutely needed or requested by herself, hindi makikialam sa kahit anong pamamalakad sa labas ng kanilang teritoryo ang House Thanasia.”

Napakunot ang noo ni Mors at nagtaas ng kamay para magtanong na pinagbigyan naman ng aming governess, “So ano ang pakinabang nila sa kaharian? The duke serves as the monarch’s advisor, the earl is the Royal Representative of Immortal Affairs, viscountes, the Royal Spokeswoman and the barons and baronesses took care of the citizenry.”

“Well, they say that if the duke handles the public affairs of the Royal Family, its the duty of the marchioness to act discreetly in private on behalf of the reigning monarch,” tahimik at may laman na sagot ng Photomancer sabay tingin kay Mors na nagets na hindi dapat pinag-uusapan ang mga ganoong bagay and it’s dangerous to speak out loud of such things, “There is a reason why they are allowed to practically carry on with their lives as if wala silang ginagawa para sa kaharian. They serve not the people of Sapienos but its ruler directly. That is all.”

Wynda patted the back of the obviously curious Apprentice and winked at him, “There are just some things in this world you are better of not knowing, Mors. Mas maunti ang alam mo, mas ligtas ang buhay mo. Besides, the Royal Aristocracry are more trouble than they are worth for us mere peasants. Huwag mo nang pangaraping makasalamuha sila. They just live in a different world from ours.”

“Wala ding nakakonektang pangalan sa Neox Sodality. So walang backer ang guild na ito from Royal Aristocracy, Grasya?” I asked curiously na nagpangiti naman sa nagtuturo sa amin.

“Wala, dear Vladira. Since its inception, walang humawak na dugong bughaw sa ating samahan.”

“Ay, hala bakit naman?! That is quite odd considering na isa sa Elite Three ang Neox Sodality and how did you manage to finance and maintain such oppulent guild lifestyle?” tumingin siya sa labas ng bintana kung saan may mga hardinero na nag-aayos ng mga halaman sa malaking garden ng guild manse, “Aindrac is sponsored by the Duke of Southminster since time immemorial. You can’t possibly be saying na mga guild members din ang nagbabayad ng maintenance ng guild?”

Ngumiti lang ang aming governess as she wrote something on the board, “I guess that’s my cue to start the next topic for the day, Wynda. Saan ba napulot ng pera ang Neox Sodality and no, it’s not from dubious means, thank goodness.”