1st Strand: Who Are We?


 * *It was a busy month at the Masquerade Guild and its lazier members are at the gathering hall, lounging from a long day of stressful jobs. At the bar, Shura, a proud member of Masquerade, sits down to properly welcome their new bartender/waitress/house maid, Emilly Rosaria.*

Shura:Hey Emilly, sorry for not being able to introduce myself last week, its that you caught all of us at a pretty busy time.

Emilly: No no, its fine. Dont worry about it. I get that you guys are mages and you need to work to make a living. Just like everyone else. Besides, I'd prefer to focus on my work so that I can re-earn the money I lost. Even if it is in a ghost town like this one.

Shura: Aaw man. Not you too (with a voice of dissapointment). Emilly: Whats wrong?

Shura: You know this isnt a town right?

Emilly: ITS NOT?!

Shura: *sigh* This entire place is our guild. That includes the houses, hospital, training ground, and food court.

Emilly: You're kidding, so its a ghost guild?

Shura: why do you keep using the word ghost?

Emilly: well this place isnt on the map, I assumed all you people were spirits or something..

Shura: *slaps his palm on his forhead* You're kidding me right?

Emilly: if you guys aren't ghosts, then who was that dissapearing little girl I was talking to?Shura: she's not...


 * Interupting Shura comes SEAM .

SEAM: im not a ghost you imbacile!

Shura: hey hey calm down, use you're inside voice please. You're causing loud thunder storms outside again.

Emilly: Wait so you're a weather goddess?!

Shura: 'I cant believe its gone this far'. She's not a ghost nor a goddess!

SEAM: what the hell is that supposed to mean!? At least goddess is a step up from ghost.

Shura: the Archive Barrier around the guild has seperate weather patterns, asside from those on the outside; these deppend on SEAM's mood.

Emilly: I dont get it, what are you exactly?

SEAM: im a Self Efficient Artificial Mage. SEAM for short.

Emilly: uuuhhh what?

Shura: shes basically Masquerades personal computer. Sort of.

Emilly: but you're just a 13 year old girl.

SEAM: Im 15 years old you hussy!

Emilly: Hussy?

Shura: She was created by Sheik Loxart using Archive Magic.

Emilly: who?

Shura: did anyone tell you about us at all while you were here?!

Emilly: Not really.


 * Shura and SEAM comedically drop to the ground in a state of shock.

Shura: Ok, get this through your head. Masquerade was created entirely by Sheik Loxart, its founder, using Archive Magic. Everything is powered by SEAMS tower, the huge tower at the South end of Masquerade. Sheik appointed his younger sister Tethys as the first guild master. Then she stepped down and gave the position to Lexodus Maverick. Some time later he stepped down and gave it to Sheik.

Emilly: wait stop right there. They stepped down? Why would they do that?

Shura: Because, up until now, all our previous Guild Masters were lazy bums. Anyway, Sheik quickly stepped down and gave the title of 4th GM to Akira Kazema. He says he's not stepping down any time soon. But he was raised by Lex so I cant tell if he's bluffing or not. Do you have that down in you're head?

Emilly: yeah, I get it. But why does a town full of ghosts need a guild?


 * Again, SEAM and Shura drop to the ground in yet another state of shock.

SEAM: that little!

Shura: ignore her, she'll catch on soon enough.


 * SEAM frustratedley phases into the walls and teleports back to her tower.

Emilly: hey, how the heck did she do that?

Shura: SEAM is also made from Sheik's Archive magic so her body and the guild are connected to SEAM's tower. She can still watch all of us in here, the hospital, the food court, and at the training site.

Emilly: oh thats cool. But, if she's just Archive Magic, how is she able to talk and have emotions like that?

Shura: to be honest, no-one knows how. *Pauses to take a sip of his rum* However, from what we do know, Sheik is an extremely powerful and skilled mage. To make a place as complexed as this using Archive Magic is increadible. *takes another sip*

Emilly: I'm actually more impressed with SEAM. How is a person able to create artificial human life using Archive Magic alone?

Shura: Heh, you talk about magic like you know a little something.

Emilly: well my grandmother was an everyday house mage. Using magic to do difficult tasks. She never taught me any of it because she wants me to be able to fend for myself. Its how im able to be a bartender, a waitress, and a house maid all at once.

Shura: Well that's impressive. *Chugs the rest of his rum and passes the cup to Emilly* Your grandmother must be a fine woman.

Emilly: Yeah, she was. *With a look of deep sadness she tossess the cup into the dish washer*

Shura: Oh....Listen im sorry for mentioning it.

Emilly: its Ok. She lived the life she wanted to live. And if she's happy then I'm happy for her.

Shura: is that why Akira found you traveling around here?

Emilly: Yeah, I was on my way to Magnolia Town to live with my parents. But I was conned out of the money they sent me.

Shura: (under his breath) why dont I find that supprising?

Emilly: what was that?

Shura: Oh nothing.

Emilly: Anyway, thats why I'm working here. To earn it all back.

Shura: Thats cool and all. But when you said you were moving with you're parents, you didn't look so thrilled.

Emilly: Well my parents are always working. They rarely even spend time in their own home. And I'm not mad at them because its not like they wan't to work. They actually do wan't to spend some time with me. But picturing myself being all alone at home doesn't seem like the life I wan't to live.

Shura: Is that so? Is that why you're still working here?

Emilly: what do you mean?

Shura: Well not to be rude or anything, because we've enjoyed your being here, but I'm positive you've earned at least double of what you need to get to Fiore by now.

Emilly: *drying her tears* haha! You're right. Its that this place has such a home-like feeling to it. I wouldn't mind living here. But at the same time, I dont wan't to work as a maid or a bartender nor a waitress for the rest of my life either.

Shura: So why not become a mage?

Emilly: A mage? wha. I don't think I've ever even considered that.

Shura: Then consider it now! *slams his hands on the table* You have the knowledge of you're grandmother and your youthful body. If its a familly you want to be with, Masquearade tends to make everyone who comes a part of our family.

Emilly: But....

Shura: No buts, ok? You may not have any experience with magic, but we can get one of our members to teach you. I'll do whatever I can to help get you the life you want. I'll even help you send letters to you're parents to let them know how you're doing. We just can't sit around and witness a young girl's life get torn apart because of this stupid world we live in.

Emilly: We?


 * Emilly looks around and witnessess everyone at the Gathering Hall with their thumbs up and heads nodding, signalling their support and with a smile full of joy and tears down her eyes she says...

Emilly: Thank You. *sniffles* Thank you so much!

Shura: I know this is out of the blue, but lets get started right now!

*As the people at the Gathering Hall begin to cheer, a voice begins to echoe across the room.* Unknown: Tell me something Shura. Who are YOU to be allowing completely random people to join our guild? Let me guess, you were struck my Emilly's "youthful body". The people sitting around at the table are SEAM's projections too right? What'd you do? Bribe her to help you in your hunt for a woman? Pathetic!

Shura: (to himself) AAWW CRAP!

Emilly: what the hell is going on? who the heck is talking? Shura: What the heck Akira?! You almost killed me! Akira: Im dissapointed in you Shura.
 * A large double-edged sword falls and pierces the floor right next to Shura, making him jump and scream like a school girl.
 * A figure powerfully jumps down from the second floor of the Gather Hall

Emilly: Mr. Kazema?

Akira: Emilly, I'm sorry to say that this idiot is just trying to vex you. He doesn't REALLY care about your past.

Emilly: what?*The people sitting at the tables vanished with a digital like field around them.

SEAM: I had nothing to do with it Aki! He said he was going to give me sweets if I helped him in making that girl his... Emilly: Im out of here!

Shura: Wait! Emilly! I....

Emilly: What?!

Shura: I meant everything I said! I really do feel bad for you, and I really do wan't you to join the guild!

Emilly: Oh shut it! You showed me you're true colors! Im done with this place!

Shura: No I haven't! Im actually a really booring person! Emilly: Oh my gosh. Im so sorry. Are you alright kid?
 * Emilly storms out of the Gathering Hall into the main street. After taking a few steps, Emilly slams right into a someone.

 Unknown : Its fine, just don't walk while angry please. Its not good for you or anyone else around you.

Emilly: Um ok...I..

Shura: Emilly!!!

Emilly: I'm sorry I've got to go- Unknown: Its also rude to walk away from someone who's trying to apologize.
 * The unknown child grabs Emilly by her dress.

Emilly: what? wait. How did you...

Shura: Emilly listen. I'm sorry. I thought you were just some other girl looking for a job. I really do want to-

Akira: Shura I think you should just stop talking for now. You're just gonna get a nice fist in the face by a female.

Emilly: You should take Mr. Kazema's advice.

Akira: Look, asside from Shura's behavior, I am curious as to how you felt about the idea of joining our guild. I looked like you WERE really happy.

Emilly: It doesn't matter anymore. I wouldn't want to join a guild that has this kind of people in it anyway!

Unknown: Hey! Don't judge a group of people based on one idiots actions!

Shura: Who're you calling an idot you pint sized punk?! Akira: Reikon is right. However idiodic Shura may be, our entire guild isn't like this. In fact, I'm guessing the only reason he's acting like this is because almost all our members are out doing jobs.
 * Emilly drops her head as she conteplates her descrimination, clenches her fist, and remembers similar words spoken to her by her late grandmother.

Shura: Well I HAVE been suprisingly lonely recently. DAMN I feel like Reikon. Always being by myself like this.

Emilly: So you're name is Reikon?

Reikon: *crossess his arms and looks away* yeah? what of it?

Emilly: oh nothing, its just that you have a name that I would assume a man would have.

Reikon: what the hell is that supposed to mean! Im a proud member Masquerade and no one's opinion will scratch my pride, not even a GIRL's!!

Shura: it looks like I'm not the only one feeling on edge from not having anyone around me. I've never seen Rei Rei get all worked up like that.

Reikon: Shut up you playboy!

Shura: Do you even know what that means kid! Akira: Im guessing from that look on your face that you've changed your opinion about us?
 * As Reikon and Shura continue with their long winded bickering, Emilly smiles with a sense of warmth and comfort in herself.

Emilly: yeah. I guess joining you guys won't be a bad idea after all.

Shura and Akira Simultaneously: Welllllll. Its not that easy.

Emilly: Ok, what's the catch.

Shura: normally there isn't any. Most mages are welcome without any conditions.

Akira: the issue is you're NOT a mage.

Emilly: So what, do I have to just go out, learn magic, then come back?

Akira: Well we can always have you learn some magic here from someone. Like a training partner?

Shura: Yeah I can be you're training parter!Emilly: NO! Im still mad at you!

Akira: I would say me, but I dont know any magic that you're ready to learn.

Shura: How about SEAM? SEAM: Heck no! Akira: Reikon?
 * SEAM appears out of the blue.
 * SEAM dissappears

Reikon: What! why me?

Shura: You think little Rei can be a good coach.

Akira: I don't see why not. There's no-one else here to teach. Besides it should be good for him. You know, building a relationship and what not.

Reikon: Don't talk about me like I'm not even here!

Shura: Jeez, you're in a really bad mood today aren't you.

Akira: Yeah, you're usually quiet and stuff, I think Emilly is having a strange effect on everyone today.

Shura: regardless, do you think Rei is a good enough mage himself to even be teaching someone else?

Emilly: its alright. Emilly: I don't know what it is, but I can tell that this kid has some talent as a mage.
 * Akira and Shura look at Emilly with suprised faces.

Shura: *scratches his head* what makes you say that?

Emilly: just a feeling guess. I'm not sure.Akira: sounds to me like Pulsar Magic.

Emilly: Pulsar Magic?

Shura: Its a magic that allows its user to read the inner magic a person. Though they usually describe the color, whether evil or good. However, it can also be used to trace magical energies back to its source and has other various effects. Its usally used by tracker mages. Akira, you think she knows how to use it?

Akira: *gazes at Emilly* are you sure you've never had any magical training?

Emilly: not at all.

Akira: (Is it possible that she's had pulse magic since she was born? Or is it something else?)

Shura: Needless to say, you're new training parter is Reikon Roland, whether he likes it or not.

SEAM: (If that woman puts her hands on my man, I'm going to obliterate that frail body of hers)

Reikon: Well my day just wen't from bad to worse.

Shura: You're a kid, you don't get bad days.Reikon: Shut up already!

Emilly: By the way. How old are you exactly?

Reikon: I'm 15 years old.

Akira: Thats right. He's our youngest member. And apparently a very "proud member" Shura: you just love quoting others don't you

''And as the day ends, a new chapter in the lives of Masquerade starts with Emilly Rosaria's training. What is the secret that allows Emilly to feel a person's magic? How will Reikon get through a single session with this seemingly clueless female? To find out, coninue reading Destiny's Silk.''


 * Next Chapter: Training Arc
 * &lt;(^.^&lt;)