Chapter: The Sky's Silent Reflection
The skies were clear.
No storm clouds, no moonlight distortions—just the endless blue above. But somewhere beyond human sight, something had changed.
Floating high in the stratosphere, a crack had formed, suspended between the air itself. Not in water, not on land. It wasn't a rift. It wasn't a monster. It was… a reflection.
Like shattered glass rippling silently through light.
No human eye could see it.
No current detector could trace it.
But it was there.
Watching.
Waiting.
==========
AHCA Headquarters – Special Meeting Room
Carl entered the meeting room, where only three chairs had been set.
Inside sat Rosalind Farley, calm as always in her sharp uniform, and Roland Farley, her father and the current president of AHCA, a man whose silent pressure filled the room like gravity.
Carl sat without a word.
Rosalind tapped the edge of her pen against the table. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"We've been observing something unusual," Roland began. "Not an attack. Not a rift either. Something... new."
Rosalind continued, "We don't know when this peace will break. But we've agreed on one thing—we must prepare before the unknown arrives."
She slid a folder toward Carl. "The AHCA wants to create a new guild. A specialized one. You'll lead it."
Carl opened the folder.
Inside: the name "Therym Guild."
==========
Therym Guild – Humanity's Next Step
The idea was simple in structure, but revolutionary in purpose.
Unlike regular guilds that only focused on clearing rifts, Therym Guild would specialize in technological and scientific advancement tied to Awakened powers and monsters.
They would research monster behavior, anatomy, and ecological patterns. Not just to kill—but to understand.
They would develop field gadgets, temporary seal grenades, shadow-bound cuffs, or lightweight armors powered by Awakened energy.
And most importantly—they would build new rift-detection devices, beyond the current models, to see the invisible.
Carl closed the folder slowly.
"You want me to lead a team of researchers?" he asked, voice low.
"We want you to lead a future," Roland said firmly.
Carl looked up.
==========
Two Months to Launch
The announcement came three days after the meeting.
———————————
[AHCA OFFICIAL BULLETIN – SPECIAL RECRUITMENT OPENING]
——————————
Introducing: Therym Guild
A new generation begins. For the first time, recruitment is open to:
>Hunters
>Awakened
>Non-Awakened civilians with scientific or technical backgrounds
Fields of focus:
>Monster Research
>Rift Energy Study
>Gadget & Weaponry Design
>Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Guild Master: Carl / Haruki Kureyama – S-Level Awakened
If you wish to protect humanity beyond the battlefield, apply now.
——————————
It was shared on every Hunter platform, academic board, and social network.
==========
Carl's First Step as Leader
Carl stood at the balcony of the under-construction Therym Guild tower—a sleek, modern facility within walking distance of AHCA HQ. It would be ready in a few weeks. Already, the recruitment office was flooded with applicants.
Engineers. Chemists. Tactical analysts. Ex-hunters. Young Awakened students.
Some came with nervous hope.
Others came with ambition.
All came because they believed in Carl—the man who fought shadows and never broke.
Adrian visited him that evening, watching from the edge of the balcony.
"You're really doing this, huh?"
Carl didn't answer at first. Then, "If we can't stop what's coming… maybe we can at least understand it."
Adrian nodded, then smirked. "Just don't forget to sleep. Rosalind's already predicting you'll live in that lab."