Morning light slipped through the curtains as Lyra woke, stretching away the last traces of sleep.
Second day as an adventurer… let's see what happens today.
She took a quick bath, dressed in her light armor, cloak, and mask, tied her hair back, and checked her gear. Downstairs, the inn's cafeteria was already busy. She ordered bread, eggs, and tea, eating quietly while watching the streets fill with merchants and adventurers.
Plan for today—pick a quest, earn some progress toward promotion, maybe learn more about being an adventurer.
After breakfast, she stepped outside, climbed into a carriage, and told the driver to take her to the Adventurer Guild—unaware the day would turn out far from ordinary.
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The carriage rattled to a halt in front of the Adventurer Guild. Lyra stepped down, pulling her cloak tighter as she adjusted her mask. The moment she approached the entrance, the air shifted—louder voices, hurried footsteps, and an unmistakable buzz of excitement spilled from inside.
She frowned. That's unusual…
Inside, adventurers clustered near the first floor lounge, their murmurs overlapping.
"They're back already?"
"No way, that was supposed to be a two-week mission!"
"Top Ten—Glimmer Veil—right here in the first floor."
Lyra tapped the arm of a man standing near the door.
"What's going on?"
The man turned, eyes wide.
"You don't know? Glimmer Veil's back. One of the Top Ten. They're here with their party—Obsidian Veil—waiting for someone."
One of the Top Ten? Lyra's curiosity got the better of her. She moved through the crowd, eyes searching until they fell upon a group at the center of it all—five figures from different races.
Two humans, one man and one woman. A stocky dwarf with thick braids and arms like tree trunks. Two elves—one standing slightly apart from the others, exuding a quiet, commanding presence.
Her eyes lingered on the central elf—clearly the leader. Tall, slender, draped in a shimmering silver cloak that caught the light with faint opalescent hues. A black mask with filigree patterns framed piercing amber eyes. The glimmer of her white-silver hair contrasted sharply with her dark leather armor. That must be the Glimmer Veil.
Their eyes met.
The elf's lips curled into a slow, deliberate smile—one that felt like it saw far too much. Calculating. Predatory.
Lyra's instincts screamed at her to move. She turned to leave—but froze at the sudden weight of a hand on her shoulder.
The elf was suddenly beside her, that unsettling smile never wavering.
"It's quite rude to just run the moment you see me, right?"
Lyra's breath hitched.
"Can I have a talk with you on the second floor?" the elf asked, voice soft yet leaving no room for refusal.
Lyra could only nod.
"You're scaring her, leader," the other elf in the group called out, tone teasing.
"Am I?" Glimmer Veil didn't look away from Lyra.
"Yes—do you know how scary your smile is?" the dwarf grumbled.
The elf leader glanced at him once. The dwarf promptly shut his mouth.
"Alright, let's stop here and go upstairs," the woman said, offering Lyra a kind smile.
"Yes, we've caused enough commotion," the man agreed.
"Hah, let's go then, little miss," the elf leader said.
Lyra nodded again. Words seemed impossible under the oppressive aura rolling from them all.
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They ascended to the second floor, where the noise of the guild faded into a hushed stillness. Serenya, the elf leader, opened the door to one of the private rooms, gesturing for Lyra to enter. The group took their seats, with Lyra sitting across from them.
"Then let me introduce myself first. My name is Serenya, though most call me Glimmer Veil, I'm an Illusionist an a Mage." the elf leader began.
"And the elf there is Ilvra an Archer/sniper."
"Hello!" Ilvra greeted cheerfully.
"The man there is Kaerron a Knight, more of a tank and frontline protector."
"Good morning, miss," he said politely.
"The woman there is Meyla our Healer and alchemist."
"Hi, nice to meet you," she said warmly.
"And that shortie over there is Vorrik, He's an Engineer specializing in traps, mechanical turrets, and siege gadgets."
"Hey, who do you call shortie?" the dwarf protested.
"And we are the Obsidian Veil. Nice to meet you," Serenya concluded.
"Ah, my name is Lyra. Nice to meet you,"
Lyra replied, her voice betraying her nerves—it was only natural, given that one of the strongest parties in the city sat before her.
"Hahaha, no need to be so tense. I hear there's a promising junior who rose to Iron in just one day—that's you, right?" Serenya asked.
"Ah, yes, that's me. Is there something I can help with?" Lyra asked cautiously.
"To the point, I like it. My purpose here is simple: join my party, Lyra," Serenya said.
"Eh? Me? Why? I'm only Iron rank—not even Steel yet."
"That's true, but you have great potential, which is why I want to recruit you. So, what do you say?"
After a pause, Lyra said,
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm sorry—I have to decline."
"Oh, interesting. We're one of the strongest parties in this city—not even ordinary Silver ranks can enter—yet you decline? Can you at least tell me the reason? If I can, I'll try to meet your requirements."
"Well… I won't stay in this city for long. I'll leave with a caravan for the capital in a few days, so I don't plan to join any party here."
"Well, if that's the case, there's nothing I can do. But how about joining us on a mission today? Observe our capability—you might change your mind."
"But I wanted to do missions for my promotion today," Lyra admitted.
"Don't worry about that. What we'll do is a Silver-rank beast extermination, and you'll get about 30% progress from it if you come with us."
"Really? Then… please take care of me today," Lyra agreed.
"That's a given. Do you hear her? Let's show her our capabilities," Serenya said.
"Of course," the others replied in unison.
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The group stepped out of Veldenreach's gates, the faint winter chill nipping at their faces. Snow still clung stubbornly to the mountaintops ahead, jagged peaks cutting into the pale sky like silvered blades.
Leading them was Serenya, her long braid swaying as she glanced over her shoulder.
"You know about monster classification, right?"
Lyra nodded. "Of course. I read about it in the library before. Greater Magical Beast — capable of using advanced magic, often intelligent and territorial. They require skilled adventurers or magic users to confront." Her voice carried a quiet, assured tone.
"Good," Serenya replied with a faint smile. "That'll save us time. The one we're after is an Ice Ape — strong, fast, and nasty in the cold. It's been carving out territory in the northern mountains for about a month. A hunter spotted it a few days ago and reported to the guild. By now, it's likely gathered some subordinates. Expect trouble from them as well."
Kaerron, the team's towering shield-bearer, adjusted his massive tower shield, the etched runes glinting faintly in the pale light.
"Ice magic users…" he rumbled. "We'll see how they fare against warding steel."
Ilvra moved with quiet precision at the flank, eyes narrowing toward the distant peaks.
"How big?"
"Larger than a bear," Serenya said. "Thick fur, ice-hardened claws, and it likes to strike from above."
Vorrik grunted, adjusting the straps on a pack that clinked faintly with hidden mechanisms.
"Good hunting weather, then."
Meyla, walking just behind Serenya, tightened her grip on her satchel of alchemical vials.
"Let's just make sure none of you get frostbitten before I can patch you up."
The group gave a quiet, unified "Yes."
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Their boots crunched through snow as the forest slowly thinned into rocky slopes. Somewhere ahead, the wind carried a faint, bone-deep chill — as if the Ice Ape had already claimed the very air as its own.
They reached a frost-covered clearing marked by shattered trunks and clawed earth — the Ice Ape's territory. The air was sharp, every breath biting at their lungs.
Serenya's eyes narrowed. "It's here. Get ready."
She glanced at Lyra. "We'll handle the ape. You take care of its subordinates, all right?"
Lyra gave a confident nod. "I can do that much. I don't want to be a burden, after all."
A low, guttural roar split the air, and shadows stirred among the trees.
The first wave came fast — a mix of frost-furred wolves and thick-shelled boars, all wreathed in icy breath. Most were only normal beasts, though three lesser magical beasts snarled at the rear, their eyes glinting with mana.
Lyra drew her blade. The moment the nearest wolf lunged, she sidestepped, her sword flashing in an arc that left its breath frozen mid-growl. Her movements were clean, decisive — dispatching beasts one after another. The magical ones put up more of a fight, layering attacks with bursts of ice spikes, but they too fell beneath her steady strikes and sharp timing.
Between clashes, her gaze kept flicking to the main battle. It was… bizarre.
The Ice Ape towered like a moving glacier, hurling spears of ice that shattered the ground in blinding explosions. In response, arrows streaked in from impossible angles, some vanishing in midair before reappearing at the ape's flank. Kaerron's massive shield absorbed crashing blows that would crush stone. Vorrik's mechanical turrets spat bursts of crackling energy, pinning the ape's movements. Meyla darted between them, her staff glowing as she healed wounds before they could slow her allies.
And then there was Serenya. At one moment she stood in front of the ape, runes shimmering at her feet — the next, she was behind it, her illusion magic bending reality so the creature's eyes slid right past her. She struck from those blind angles again and again, her attacks impossible to predict.
It didn't take long. Under Obsidian Veil's relentless rhythm, the Ice Ape's roars turned ragged, its movements sluggish. One final coordinated strike — Kaerron's shield slam, Ilvra's arrow, Vorrik's explosive trap, Serenya's spells— and the beast collapsed with a resounding crack against the frozen ground.
The air went still.
Serenya turned to Lyra, brushing a snowflake from her cloak. "What do you think? Your first large-scale battle."
Lyra tilted her head, lips quirking. "Bizarre."
Serenya chuckled. "Now that you've seen our capabilities, how about joining us?"
"Sorry," Lyra said, her tone tinged with reluctance. "The capital's only a temporary stop. I'll be traveling again soon — I can't stay here."
"Well, can't blame me for trying," Serenya said with a small shrug. "If you ever change your mind, you're welcome anytime."
"Thank you for your understanding."
"Don't be so stiff," Serenya teased. "You can just call me Sister Serenya. Now — let's get back to the city, report in, and rest."
"Yes, Leader," the rest of the party chorused.
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By the time they returned to the Adventurer Guild, the sun was dipping toward the horizon, casting the streets in gold and crimson. Inside, the warm glow of lamplight and the hum of voices wrapped around them. After confirming the Ice Ape's defeat, the guild clerk stamped their quest completion notice. Lyra watched her adventurer card shimmer — her progress bar had jumped forward by roughly thirty percent. Just as Serenya had said, seven more steel-rank quests and the promotion test would see her advance.
Then Kaerron handed her a small pouch. Inside, a single gold coin gleamed. Lyra hesitated, shaking her head.
"I only dealt with the subordinates…"
But Obsidian Veil wouldn't hear of it.
"You earned it," Kaerron insisted, the others nodding until she accepted.
Instead of parting ways, Serenya led them to the guild's bar. "Drinks on me tonight!" she declared. Lyra's adventurer card listed her age as sixteen, so alcohol was off-limits — Serenya ordered her a tall glass of ice juice instead, while the rest received frothing mugs of ale. Food followed soon after, and with arms full of trays, they made their way to a rented adventurer's room on the second floor.
Laughter filled the room as the night wore on. One by one, the party members slumped over, lulled into sleep by drink and warmth, until only Lyra and Serenya remained awake.
"Glim—" Lyra began, but Serenya pressed a finger to her lips.
"I told you to call me Sister Serenya, right?"
Lyra's cheeks warmed. "Sis—Sister Serenya… thank you for today. You brought me on a mission and even treated me when I declined your offer."
"That's only natural for seniors to do," Serenya said with a faint, tipsy smile. "Besides… I've always wanted a cute little sister."
Her expression softened, tone dipping. "Take care of yourself, okay? The capital isn't full of people like me. You can only trust yourself. And how long will you be staying there?"
"Two months, maybe," Lyra replied.
"Then you'll need a place to stay. I know someone — I can arrange something."
"You don't have to, you've already done enough," Lyra protested.
"You're my sister now. Helping you is my job."
"But we just met today… I haven't done anything to deserve this."
"There's no difference if we'd met earlier," Serenya chuckled. "Call it an investment. If I need help one day, you'll help me, right?"
"Of course."
"And… don't feel bad about turning me down. I knew from the start you wouldn't join."
Lyra blinked. "You knew? How?"
"Your eyes," Serenya said simply. "I've met many people. That look belongs to someone who won't stop until they reach their goal — and that goal isn't here."
"Then why try to recruit me?"
"If I can't have you as a comrade, I can still have you as a friend. Now, I have a sister too… and I like that." Her words slurred as sleep claimed her.
Lyra smiled at the warmth the woman radiated. It was the first time she'd felt anything like it since Noxy had left. Quietly, she whispered,
"Noxy… where are you? I miss you."
Sleep took her too, and the room fell into peaceful silence.