Artial's response to Pyrrha's comment was about as typical as you'd expect from the drunk. However, Kyuuten couldn't help for feel the hidden weight behind it. Harpy's Wing is famous for taking in people who have lost a lot. No one in the guild is really without a couple invisible scars...but they've comfort in each other.
"Well, I know I'd rather you be drunk that stuck in your room too." Kyuuten gave her his trademark sunny smile. Pyrrha sunk into herself some feeling a little bad for bringing it up. Artial was quick to remedy that asking about the bear tucked snugly between her and her arm.
"Oh, um...Alain? I think I like that name. Kyuu won him actually." She smiled shyly while her Celestial wizard chuckled at Artial thoughts on the games Golem had set up.
"I do wish you'd take our problems with Golem a fifth as seriously as those booths imply they do..." "If we did that we'd never get anywhere with them." Really, she couldn't argue with that. It would be easier if they could get along but stubbornness seems to run strongly in both guilds. Kyuuten just happens to be stubborn on the opposite front. Artial asked about their plans for the rest of the festival.
"Yeah, I wanna see the inauguration. It's not everyday you get to see someone become a guild master. Wish I had been there for Anwen's. What about you? Not planning to stick around?" Kyuuten made a cartoonishly disappointed face.
Adjusting his glasses, Delsin sat down with the retiring guildmaster in the library. They started a game of chess, the strategics of the game allowing him to get his mind off things.
"I apologize if I disturbed you." The old man waved away the apology.
"Not at all. It's been quite some time since I've been able to find a partner to enjoy this game with. You've been away too long Delsin." Delsin made his move.
"Then I still feel I must apologize." The old man was a wise veteran of the game.
"No need. I am dumping a heavy weight on your shoulders. You needed the time to prove to yourself that you could bear it." Delsin countered swiftly. After the guild master told him that he'd be his successor, Delsin had set out on a five month training journey. He traveled as much of Fiore as he could in order to prepare himself for taking on the mantle of master. He had only returned a month ago.
"I won't act as if I found my answers while I was away but I am at least better assured that I won't drive your legacy into the ground. Are you sure you wish to retire so soon Grandfather?" The elder chessman chuckled.
"You've always had a sharp mind, I have faith in your abilities. It's been four years since the guild's inception. My goal was to build a solid foundation. It'll be your job to build upon that foundation." Delsin made his next move and sat back looking out the small window.
"For someone so against my retirement you seem to have quite a lot of determination in those eyes." The old man set up a dangerous trap on the board.
"If nothing else, I'll make sure Golem's Hand is always here to defend Luna."After a few more turns Delsin found himself cornered. He saw a way out and made his move. Now he had set his own trap. As he sat back he glanced out the window and saw the Harpy's guildhall in the distance. As he looked upon the rival guild's abode he couldn't help but admire the elegant form it took. It was a marvel even among rivaling the settlement of Luna Crescente itself. A tree reaching high into the sky. It's...
"It's really quite infuriating, isn't it? From that nest of theirs, the Harpies have such a magnificent view of this land, yet still failed to perceive what threatened it." Delsin looked at the old man with surprise.
"When you let your guard down you're very easy to read my young successor~" Delsin scoffed at the statement.
"Hmph, you claim to see through me in a mere instant, for that is the measure in which I do lower my guard if ever?" The old man smiled wryly.
"I assure you I do not claim anything." As if Delsin had blatantly told him his plan, the old man expertly countered it and left the his grandson speechless except for two words.
"Check mate..." Sighing, he already started thinking about the ways he could have prevented his defeat.
"Thank you for the game..." The old man said standing up. Delsin looked away from his grandfather showing that he was still immature in some ways such as when losing.
