Milo stood in front of his house, taking a slow breath after a long day. He gently pushed the door open, the soft creak echoing as he stepped inside. The warm air wrapped around him like a gentle embrace, easing the weight of the day.
"I'm home…"
On the living room sofa sat Melina, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her deep brown eyes shone with care and affection, and her calm, warm smile filled the room with comfort, softening Milo's tense thoughts.
She looked up at him and said softly, "Oh, you came a little early. So, how was your day?"
Milo paused, feeling a small sense of peace in Melina's presence, though tension from his encounter with Toxivar lingered. He tried to hide his fatigue.
Melina walked toward him, concern in her eyes.
"Why do you look pale again? Did someone steal your necklace?"
Milo replied calmly, "It's already around my neck."
She smiled, placing a hand gently on his head.
"Yes… I know."
Noticing he had grown taller, she teased softly, "Ugh… you've become taller than me…"
Milo's gaze drifted, lost in thought.
"Melina… I…"
She interrupted gently but firmly.
"So… are you going to tell me what's bothering you? I feel like you're hiding a lot…"
Milo hesitated, meeting her eyes, then replied softly,
"Tomorrow… not now. I'm tired."
As he started toward the stairs, she grabbed his hand.
"Really? Tomorrow?" she asked, surprised and concerned.
Milo looked at her, his eyes full of sincerity, and replied calmly, "Yes... I promise."
Melina smiled faintly, feeling a quiet relief that her brother still trusted her, even if only in small steps.
Melina smiled softly and said, "Good night then."
Milo replied with a faint smile, "Good night."
The house was quiet, calm settling after a long, tense day.
Morning light filtered through the curtains, scattering a warm golden glow across the floors. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of dew and grass, while birds softly sang the start of a new day. Milo felt a sense of calm and renewal as he prepared for the day ahead.
His brown eyes reflected the sunlight, light brown hair slightly messy over his forehead. After washing his face, he returned to the breakfast table, taking a deep breath before starting his meal.
Melina sat across from him, frowning, eyes sharp.
"What???" Milo asked, surprised.
"You promised you'd tell me what's bothering you," she said, placing a hand lightly on the table. "But all you do is just stare at me like that!"
Milo replied, surprised, "What? When did I promise?"
Melina lightly thumped the table in frustration and said sharply, yet with a hint of laughter,
"You fool... are you pretending not to notice?"
Milo recoiled slightly in his seat, raising his hands quickly,
"I'm just joking... calm down!"
Melina sighed slightly, then said softly, "Alright... go ahead..."
Milo paused, noticing his sister giving him a chance to speak. He sat down calmly, taking a deep breath.
"Melina… do you think the Church is unfair?" he asked, his voice soft but earnest.
Melina looked at Milo in silence, then said seriously,
"This is a matter far more dangerous than you realize, Milo..."
Melina sighed, her tone serious.
"The class system in Novara is completely unfair, Milo. Some live in luxury, while others suffer, with almost no chance to change their lives. Even after hundreds of years, they still haven't found the Foundation Stone."
She paused, her voice calm but firm.
"But Milo… talking about this or even thinking of opposing the Church is impossible. They control everything. Every corner of Novara falls under their ranks."
Milo spoke to her in a calm tone,
"Yes... I know, but..."
Melina interrupted him, smiling lightly,
"If this bothers you, it's a simple matter."
Melina spoke encouragingly,
"Milo… we're middle class, more or less. You have the chance to make a name for yourself here, just like our father did."
Milo's tone grew serious.
"That's not what worries me most… there's a gang called the 'Trouble Makers.' They want to"
Melina interrupted, surprised,
"Oh… so you know about them too?"
Milo blinked, shocked.
"Whaaat? You know about them too?"
Annoyed, Melina shot back,
"And what… do you think I don't know what's going on, Milo?"
Then she continued, curious and firm,
"So... what's the problem with them?"
Milo said,
"You know about their goal, right? Their goal is to fight the Church."
Melina interrupted him quickly,
"No... that's not exactly their goal. The members of this gang are almost completely uncoordinated. That's what I know about them... the objectives of the leaders are not fully understood."
Milo replied seriously,
"Alright... but I'm afraid that if they try to fight the Church, a war could break out in this city and it might involve us too."
Melina answered calmly and firmly,
"Milo... are you sure that a single gang could stand against the Church, with its full ranks of government, agencies, guilds, and squads? That's impossible."
Milo replied,
"Alright..."
He felt a bit of reassurance and relaxed slightly in his chair.
Melina spoke as she stood up,
"My work shift will start soon, I'm a bit late."
She stood and began preparing her clothes for work.
Milo continued his breakfast quietly, when suddenly Melina called out,
"Milo!"
He turned to see her, and she said with a smile,
"Don't worry about what's happening. Just focus on your personal life. You need to become a great hunter like our father, not a mischievous one, alright?"
Milo smiled at her and replied,
"Of course, sis."
After getting ready, Milo stood before the mirror, studying his reflection. His face still held traces of youth, but his brown eyes carried a maturity beyond his years. His light brown hair fell slightly over his forehead, brushed into place, and he wore his usual training outfit: a light black shirt, dark trousers, and sturdy boots.
He picked up his familiar necklace from the table, placing it around his neck. The cool metal brought a fleeting memory of his late mother, stirring a brief pang of longing, but he pushed it aside.
Stepping outside, Milo walked through the streets of Novara. Vendors were setting up, the scent of fresh bread and spices drifting through the morning air. Children laughed as they ran along the alleys, and merchants called to early customers. The ancient stone buildings cast long shadows, and the weight of his necklace reminded him of both his past and purpose as he made his way to the Guild Agency.
Her presence remained calm and still, almost mysterious, as if the bustle of the guild barely touched her. She spoke little, her quiet tone carrying thought more than words.
Milo raised his voice slightly over the buzz of the guild.
"Lilithia!"
Lilithia glanced at him calmly and gave a gentle nod, acknowledging his call without losing her usual composure.
Milo and Lilithia stood for a moment, the guild bustling around them, yet their small corner felt unusually calm.
"So… how have you been lately?" Milo asked, leaning slightly against the doorway of the training hall.
Lilithia tilted her head thoughtfully, dark hair falling over one shoulder. "I've been… fine. Busy with my own training, as usual."
"I'm fine, thanks," Milo replied softly.
Her gaze lingered, calm but curious. "Where's Herax? I thought he was always with you during training… I don't see him around."
Milo shrugged lightly. "Probably helping his parents. He hasn't replied to my messages, so I guess he won't come today."
Lilithia nodded gently, her expression neutral. "Oh… alright then."
Milo waved goodbye to her and opened the door to enter his room.
Suddenly, Lilithia called out, "Milo… wait!"
He turned to look at her. She brushed her hair back and looked away for a moment before asking softly, "Could I… train with you?"
Milo smiled. "Of course!"
They entered the training room, and a calm, clear voice greeted them.
"Welcome, I am Nova, the assistant system of the Guild Agency. I will guide you through your training and provide necessary information."
Nova raised her digital hand, and a list of commands appeared along the side of the screen, detailing how to operate the magical training room.
Her gaze shifted toward Milo and Lilithia.
"Oh, you two must be the newcomers," she said. "Milo, you were with your friend the last time you sparred, and Lilithia, you trained alone against the monsters. Both of you demonstrated a very good level of skill."
Lilithia looked at Milo. "Hmm… you faced Herax. How was the fight?"
Milo looked back at her. "It was fun."
Lilithia smiled faintly. "Then… Milo, shall we face each other?"
Milo was surprised. "You mean… a fight?"
Lilithia smiled. "Yes!"
Nova prepared the training arena for them, and the two stood facing each other.
Lilithia spoke, her tone calm but determined: "I've been working on improving my abilities… making them stronger. It would be good to use them now and see if they've really grown."
Milo got ready, adjusting his hair slightly and preparing himself, focusing on the upcoming spar.
Nova began the preparations, her calm voice echoing through the arena:
"Alright… get ready. Begin!"
Milo and Lilithia immediately assumed their stances, eyes locked on each other. Tension filled the magical training room, the air humming with raw energy as both prepared to test their skills.
With lightning precision, Lilithia launched a long, silken thread toward Milo, slicing through the air like a living extension of herself. Strong yet flexible, it aimed to bind him, to slow his movements within the arena.
Milo's eyes narrowed, muscles tensing as he readied himself. The thread snaked around his arm, tightening instantly. Lilithia stepped forward, yanking to drag him closer, but Milo's stance remained firm, resisting her pull.
As she closed the distance, Lilithia snapped her leg upward, aiming a kick at his neck. Milo reacted instantly, raising his free hand to block with a sharp smack. His other hand clutched the thread, twisting his body to pull her off balance but before he could throw her, she severed the thread in an instant, slipping free.
Without hesitation, Lilithia shot two threads toward Milo's shoulders. With a sudden tug, she propelled herself forward, driving both feet into his stomach. The impact landed solidly, yet Milo barely staggered, his core holding firm. He seized her arms, locking her in place to stop her escape.
Milo pulled with all his strength, but Lilithia twisted backward, moving with fluid agility. A thread shot from her leg, anchoring to the ceiling. From her arms, a slick adhesive spread across her skin, forcing Milo's grip to slip. In a swift, graceful motion, she swung upward, suspending herself high above him, poised like a spider ready to strike its prey.
Milo tilted his head up, watching her with a sharp gaze.
"Impressive, Lilithia. Your control over the threads has grown stronger than before."
A small, pleased smile curved her lips at his words. Still hanging upside down, she extended her hand toward him and fired a wide net in his direction.
Milo reacted instantly, sidestepping the sticky trap as it struck the ground where he had been standing. Lilithia flipped gracefully, landing lightly on her feet, her eyes fixed on him with a spark of determination.
Lilithia's voice carried a calm but playful edge as she spoke,
"You have a unique ability too, Milo… but you're not using it, are you?"
Milo exhaled, his expression firm.
"That's right. But it's not a power for training like this. It's dangerous too harmful. I won't use it against my friends."
Lilithia's lips curved into a mischievous smile, her eyes glinting with challenge.
"Then I'll just have to force you to use it."
Lilithia placed her hand on the ground, sending numerous threads spreading around her. Milo watched closely, ready to use what he had learned in training. The threads moved rapidly, tracking his every motion.
Milo leaped aside, dodging the trap. Suddenly, Lilithia shook her hand, sending a thread toward his foot mid-air.
"Damn!" Milo exclaimed, catching the thread quickly before it could pull him in.
Lilithia then channeled her energy around Milo, swirling it rapidly, while generating even more threads to pin him in place, making him feel like prey caught in her grasp.
Milo laughed lightly, "I guess I look like a meal now."
Lilithia smiled, "You fell for it."
Milo suddenly closed his eyes, subtly spreading and squeezing his energy. The threads binding him snapped instantly. He bent slightly to regain balance, fully free.
Lilithia froze. He had broken free so fast. She tried to put distance between them, but Milo dashed toward her.
Threads and webs flew, but he caught them effortlessly with his hands, snapping them apart. He launched a quick punch toward her face, stopping just in time.
Lilithia suggested,
"So, what do you think about continuing the rest of our training and facing the monster stages here, Milo?"
Milo smiled,
"Absolutely!"
Evening settled over the city. Sunset light filtered between buildings, casting warmth across the streets. A gentle breeze carried scents of fresh air, earth, and nearby gardens. Shadows stretched across sidewalks and walls, giving a sense of calm after the day's bustle.
Milo walked beside Lilithia, relaxed but alert. His light brown hair was tousled from training, eyes sparkling with excitement. He wore his usual combat-ready attire, necklace resting against his chest, looking composed yet energetic.
Lilithia moved gracefully beside him, dark hair swaying with each step. Her poised demeanor contrasted with the warmth in her gaze, and her simple training outfit highlighted her agility and precise movements. Together, they formed a balanced pair: strength and calm, energy and finesse.
Milo asked,
"Where has Solir disappeared to again? I haven't seen him in a while."
Lilithia replied,
"That's just him… he likes working alone. Probably training somewhere, maybe outside Novara. He'll show up in the next test."
Milo nodded thoughtfully,
"Hmm… alright."
Suddenly, Lilithia's phone rang. She answered, and her expression immediately changed flustered and shocked.
Milo noticed,
"Lilithia… what's wrong?"
She trembled slightly, voice shaky from a poor connection,
"It's… Sally! She's been attacked!"
Milo's eyes widened, his body stiffening at the news. His heart raced as worry for Sally surged through him.
Lilithia stood beside him, tense and bewildered, gripping the phone tightly.
A brief silence fell. Milo drew a deep breath, eyes fixed on the horizon, ready for what came next.
The chapter ends, leaving a tense sense that something significant is about to unfold.