Wielder Of The Dragon Flame

Chapter 19

Jabber was quiet for a moment, clearly not used to being asked his opinion. 

"I... I can do crowd control. My flame, when I can manifest it properly, it spreads wide. Not as focused as most flame types, but good for covering large areas. And I'm... I'm fast. Faster than I look."

"Mobility and area control then." 

Mira said, nodding approvingly.

 "That's actually a solid composition. We've got close, mid, and long-range cover, plus someone who can control the battlefield."

 She looked back at Flora. 

"You know I was planning to join Marcus's group, right?"

Flora's face fell slightly.

 "Oh. I didn't realize you'd already…"

"But I like this better."

 Mira interrupted, a small smile tugging at her scarred face. 

"Marcus's group is all about brute force,no real strategy, just hitting things harder until they stop moving. This has potential. You've actually thought about roles and composition." 

She extended her hand to Flora. 

"Count me in."

Flora clasped her hand, relief and happiness clear on her face. 

"Thank you, Mira. You won't regret this."

"I better not." 

Mira said, but her tone was light, teasing. She turned to Asta and Jabber, offering her hand to each of them in turn.

 "Looking forward to working with you both."

Asta shook her hand,her grip was firm, confident,and mumbled something about looking forward to it too. Jabber hesitated longer, staring at Mira's extended hand like it might be a trap, before finally reaching out and giving it a brief shake.

"Good." 

Flora said, all business now. She spread her form out on a nearby bench, pulling a pen from her pocket. 

"Let's get this filled out. Guild name first. Anyone have suggestions?"

They all looked at each other. Asta certainly had no ideas,he'd never expected to be forming a guild today, much less helping to name one.

"Something about fire?"

 Mira suggested.

 "Seems traditional."

"Too common." 

Flora countered. 

"Half the guilds will probably have 'flame' or 'fire' in their names. We should be more distinctive."

"Rising Phoenix?" 

Asta offered hesitantly.

Flora made a face.

 "Also very common. And kind of pretentious."

They stood in silence for a moment, thinking. Around them, the crowd was thinning as people completed their forms and left to submit them. Old Man Kael and the other officials were processing the early submissions, reviewing the information and asking questions.

"What about..."

 Jabber's quiet voice surprised everyone. They turned to look at him, and he seemed to shrink slightly under their attention but continued anyway. 

"What about Ember Watch?"

"Ember Watch."

 Flora repeated slowly, testing how it sounded. 

"Why that?"

Jabber shrugged, his eyes on the floor.

 "Embers are... they're what's left after the fire burns down. Everyone thinks they're dead, finished, useless. But they're not. They're still burning, just quietly. And if you give them air, give them fuel, they can start the fire all over again. Bigger than before."

A heavy silence followed his words. Asta felt something tighten in his chest,that description felt uncomfortably accurate for all of them, didn't it? People who'd been written off, dismissed, sent to the labor section because they didn't fit someone else's expectations. But still burning, still fighting, still waiting for their chance.

"And 'Watch' because..." 

Jabber continued, his voice even quieter now, 

"Because we're watching. Waiting. Ready for our moment."

"I love it." 

Flora said immediately, already writing it down on the form.

 "Ember Watch it is."

"Agreed." 

Mira said, nodding firmly. 

"It's perfect."

Asta found himself smiling,genuinely smiling for the first time since the confrontation. 

"Yeah. Ember Watch. That's... that's really good, Jabber.”

Jabber's lips quivered slightly,not quite a smile, but close. The closest Asta had ever seen from him.

Flora continued filling out the form, writing each of their names in careful script.

 "Now we need a guild leader. This person will be the official representative, the one who selects our missions and speaks for us in guild business. Any volunteers?"

No one spoke. The silence stretched awkwardly.

"Come on." 

Flora said, looking up from the form with mild exasperation.

 "Someone has to do it."

"Not me."

 Mira said immediately.

 "I'm good at following orders and hitting things. Making decisions for a group? Not my strength."

Asta opened his mouth, then closed it. He wanted to volunteer,wanted to prove he could lead, could be useful despite his lack of flame,but doubt crept in. Who would follow a flameless leader?

"I'll do it." 

Flora said when no one else spoke up. 

"Unless anyone has objections?"

Asta shook his head quickly. 

"No, you'd be good at it. You're organized, you think things through…"

"And you're not afraid to speak up to higher officials when needed." 

Mira added with a meaningful look at Asta.

Flora wrote her own name in the 'Guild Leader' space, then stepped back to review the completed form.

 "Ember Watch, party of four: Flora Ashwyn, Guild Leader. Asta... wait, what's your full name?"

"Just Asta will be fine." 

He said, feeling a familiar embarrassment. 

"Asta it is then."

 Flora said without judgment, writing it down.

 "Mira Stoneheart." 

She glanced at Mira, who nodded confirmation.

 "And Jabber... ?"

"Sunfeld."

 Jabber supplied quietly. 

"Jabber Sunfeld."

"Perfect." 

Flora finished writing, then looked over the form one more time, checking for any mistakes or missing information. Satisfied, she looked up at her new guild mates with a brilliant smile. 

"We're official. Or we will be, once we submit this and it gets processed. Welcome to Ember Watch, everyone."

They stood there for a moment, the four of them, and Asta felt something shift,something he couldn't quite name but could definitely feel. T

hese three people, brought together by circumstances and chance, were now bound together by choice. They were a team. A guild.

Ember Watch.

"Come on." 

Flora said, already moving toward where the officials were collecting forms.

 "Let's make it official…”