Lucien froze in place. His sudden stillness didn't escape Aryel's notice.
"What's wrong, is there a problem, Lucien?"
Lucien was lost in his thoughts; Aryel's voice pulled him back to reality.
"Ah… no. I was just wondering what might be written inside this."
Aryel frowned slightly.
"Are you sure? You look pale."
Lucien took a short breath. "Maybe because my hair is white, I always look like this. I said I'm fine."
Aryel tilted her head slightly. "My fault for asking, then," she muttered.
The others had stopped, watching them. Maia, unable to hold it in, started giggling again.
Nathan nudged her with his elbow; his gaze was fixed on Lucien. He had noticed that something was off too. They had been on many missions together for about a year. Neither of them talked much, but they had learned to understand each other. Nathan knew that even if he asked, Lucien wouldn't answer.
Lucien was still questioning himself inside. What was written there held many clues for them. But what would happen if he admitted he could read it? He already drew too much attention because of his dark energy. In the end, he decided to stay quiet; he could share the information later, pretending he had found it elsewhere.
For now, the priority was the city they were going to. The next target was clearly written in the text. But how would he say it?
Lucien broke the silence. "Should we decide where to go now? We could take a vote."
Vega immediately replied, "It'd be good to choose now. The closest one seems about a week away."
Kael spoke in a thoughtful tone. "Going by vehicle will draw attention. Besides, we can't drive deep into the forest."
Griffine nodded. "We can take the vehicle as far as the forest, then continue on foot. It'll save us time."
Nathan glanced over the paper. "Then Branthol, Miren, Doralik... which one do we choose?"
Aryel and Lucien answered at the same time:
"Miren."
Maia smiled in surprise. "Wow, how did you say it at the exact same time! I'll go with Miren too."
Nathan shrugged. "Alright then, Miren it is."
Vega gave a short nod. "Fine by me."
Griffine placed his pen on the table. "Since everyone agrees, we'll leave for Miren in two days."
After coming to a decision, everyone left the room to prepare.
Lucien felt a quiet relief inside. He had been wondering how to get them to choose Miren, and somehow it had resolved itself.
But his mind was still tangled: the dark energy, his ability to read that language, the recurring nightmares…
Had those things really happened?
His head was so full that he didn't even notice where he was walking.
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck through his skull. He had walked right into the corner of a wall.
"Ahh…" he groaned.
Aryel appeared right behind him.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Lucien shook his head slightly. "I'm just thinking about some things that don't add up about Blackthorn."
"What kind of things don't add up?" Aryel asked, watching him carefully.
"The attack on Kael... was it his own plan, or the organization's decision?" Lucien said quietly. Sharing his thoughts with someone else had never been easy for him.
Aryel took a deep breath. "I've thought about that too. I think it was something more personal. It wouldn't make sense for the organization to target all of us at once right now. But we can't know what they're thinking. Even if he didn't die that night, his wounds must've been deep. I don't think he'll move again anytime soon."
Lucien lowered his head. "If it was the organization's plan, we should stay on guard. But if it was personal, you might be right."
Aryel lifted her shoulders lightly. "Either way, we have to be careful. But overthinking won't change something that already happened. So, let's just live and see."
Lucien paused for a moment; without realizing it, he smiled.
Seeing that, Aryel smiled too. "So you can smile when you want to."
Lucien raised an eyebrow teasingly. "I'm not that much of a grump, you're exaggerating."
Aryel chuckled softly. The ice between them was slowly beginning to melt.
***
Drax collapsed onto the ground, writhing in pain at the spot where he had teleported.
"If I'd used it even a little later… I'd be dead," he muttered through his bloodied teeth.
Each member was given only three teleportation stones. To receive new ones, specific conditions had to be met.
These stones weren't easily obtained; if someone used up all three, the organization would evaluate whether they were still useful.
If found unworthy, they were executed.
Drax worked for Vorrin — one of Morvax's six most powerful men.
As he crawled across the floor, trying to reach the infirmary, Vorrin had already sensed the surge of magic from the teleportation and headed there immediately.
He almost stepped right on top of Drax before noticing him.
"What happened to you?" Vorrin's voice was as sharp as a blade.
"My lord... I acted without thinking, please forgive me," Drax panted.
"Stop babbling. Explain."
Drax wanted to speak, but no sound came out. He coughed up blood.
Vorrin, struggling to contain his anger, gestured to his men. "Take him away."
When Drax opened his eyes, he was in a blindingly white room. The walls, ceiling, floor — even the furniture — were all the same color.
He tried to get up, but heavy iron chains clamped around his arms like shackles. Tubes were attached to his veins, and glowing magic-suppressing rings encircled his wrists.
"What's going on? Why am I chained? Damn it, how do I get out of here?"
He strained against the restraints, but they didn't budge.
"My power… my magic power! What did they do to me?"
His voice rose, consumed by rage.
"Let me go! What have you done to me? Give me back my power!"
A few people entered the room upon hearing his shouting.
One of them, dressed in a white coat, approached and injected something into his arm. Within seconds, Drax's muscles relaxed. His mind was awake, but he could no longer move or speak. The sound of firm footsteps echoed down the corridor, stopping right outside the door. Vorrin entered.
"So, you're finally awake," he said coldly.
Without warning, he slapped Drax across the face, then punched him in the stomach. Drax writhed in agony, his throat producing only hoarse, broken sounds. Whatever they had injected into him had completely suppressed his magic.
"How dare you act on your own?" Vorrin's voice was icy.
"Were you trying to expose us all? You should be thankful you're still breathing."
Unable to contain his fury, the dark magic he'd been restraining suddenly radiated throughout the room. The air thickened, pressure rising; everyone's breathing hitched. One of the nurses collapsed to the floor.
Vorrin exhaled sharply. "Pathetic," he said with disgust. "Get this useless thing out of my sight.
And Drax…"
His gaze turned toward him, his voice cold as frost.
"You'll pay for what you've done. I've authorized experiments to be conducted on you. I suggest you don't resist."
As Vorrin left the room, his footsteps faded down the corridor. Silence returned.
Drax was filled with regret, but it was too late. He was far too weak to defy Vorrin. Maybe the experiments could make him stronger, he thought. It was the only thing that dulled his fear.
He already looked inhuman — metal rings embedded in his face and skull, black voids where his eyes should've been, spikes protruding from his back.
But now, with the new chemicals coursing through his veins, he looked even more horrifying.
The doctor gazed at his new "creation," a sinister glint in his eyes. The experiment continued.
When Vorrin returned to his quarters, Zarek was waiting for him.
"I heard what happened," Zarek said with a calm smile. "Drax jeopardized everything. You know what'll happen if Morvax hears about this."
Vorrin's tone was icy. "Did you come here just to provoke me? Then get out of my sight."
Zarek smiled as if laughing. "On the contrary… I came to offer a partnership.
How about we work together to find the person Morvax is looking for?"
Vorrin eyed him suspiciously. "What are you scheming this time?"
Zarek's voice lowered, his eyes gleaming with cunning.
"I have valuable information about that person. But I don't share it with just anyone.
So… do you accept my offer?"
Vorrin's tone darkened. "And what do I gain from this?"
Zarek's lips curved into a sly grin.
"More than you can imagine…"
***
Two days had passed. Everyone had finished their preparations and was on their way to meet at the guild.
Aryel wore a battle outfit crafted from bright white fabric adorned with fine golden armor plates. The elegant patterns on her shoulders and the belt that hugged her waist created a noble silhouette. As the thin layer of armor beneath the cloth caught the light, a nearly divine glow surrounded her. Her jet-black hair fell over her shoulders, and her deep blue eyes became even more striking under the shimmer of her attire. Anyone who saw her could sense both the determination of a warrior and the calm strength of nobility.
Maia's outfit combined the deep tones of purple with the cold reflections of gray. The light armor plates were designed not to restrict her movement. Her red hair flowed freely over her shoulders, and her amber eyes perfectly matched the colors of her attire. In her appearance, grace and seriousness coexisted.
Kael's outfit carried the warm tones of flame red and dark brown. On the chest of his armor, the phoenix emblem of his family was engraved. The metallic patterns on the fabric shimmered with a crimson glow in the light, reflecting Kael's confidence and agile stance.
Vega, on the other hand, wore an outfit that blended green and white. The collar and cuffs of his attire were trimmed with silver, giving him a simple yet elegant appearance. His short cape fluttered in the wind, and his light armor plates reflected his agile and nature-aligned style.
The crests on their armor silently told the story of each of their origins.
The carriage was silent. This was their first mission for the guild, and everyone carried a hidden sense of unease. Would we really be able to do this? — none dared to voice the thought aloud.
It was Vega who broke the silence.
"Your armor looks amazing, Aryel. It really suits you."
Kael immediately cut in.
"Yeah, it's nice, but white armor? How are you gonna get blood stains out of that?"
Aryel gave Kael a blank look for a moment, then smiled slightly — she didn't want to let her tension show.
"Thank you. Your armors look great as well."
Maia jumped in right away. "Hey! Are you guys only complimenting Aryel? Why are you skipping me?"
Kael smirked teasingly. "Isn't Nathan's praise enough for you? You wouldn't care what we say anyway."
Vega lowered his head with a faint smile. "Kael's got a point."
Maia crossed her arms dramatically. "So now you're taking Kael's side, Vega?"
She always loved to dramatize things — she had a talent for drawing attention to herself.
Kael laughed. "Why shouldn't he? He's my friend too, isn't he? Does he always have to be on your side?"
Aryel finally cut in, her patience wearing thin.
"Guys, we've arrived at the guild. Finish your argument before we go in. We've got a long road ahead."
Maia wriggled excitedly in her seat. "Yay! I'll get to see Nathan — and on a long trip too!"
Kael shook his head. "I wonder how I'm supposed to survive this."
Vega just smiled; by now, these little quarrels had become a familiar ritual.
When they stepped out of the carriage and entered through the guild's gates, Lucien and Nathan were waiting for them in the lobby.
Lucien was dressed entirely in black. Except for the silvery sheen of his hair, everything — his armor, cloak, and gloves — was as dark as the night. The depth of that darkness, which seemed to swallow the light, made his silent and mysterious presence even more striking. As he moved, his armor made almost no sound, as if he were melting into the shadows themselves.
Nathan, on the other hand, seemed to be one with nature. His dark green cloak, brown armor, and simple belt gave off a calm yet powerful impression. The faded leaf patterns along the hem of his cloak looked as if they spoke of his connection to the natural world.
Aryel and Lucien's eyes locked instantly.
Aryel broke the silence. "Hello." But her heart suddenly began to race.
Lucien and Nathan replied at the same time. "Hello."
Just then, Maia rushed toward Nathan.
"How do I look?" she asked, almost pressing her face up to his.
Nathan froze for a moment, his face turning red.
"I–It really suits you," he managed to say with difficulty.
Maia asked excitedly,
"Really? You liked it? Isn't it better than the armor I wore last time?"
Nathan shyly turned his head away.
"Yeah… it's nice."
He never knew what to say — talking about things like this in front of everyone always embarrassed him. Maia didn't seem to care; she was clearly enjoying his reaction.
Aryel turned to Lucien and looked him over carefully.
"Wow… you're dressed completely in black."
Lucien gave a faint shrug.
"And you're all in white. Everyone's just reflecting themselves, I suppose."
He paused for a moment, then let his eyes travel from head to toe before adding,
"Doesn't that get dirty easily?"
Aryel was already flustered under his gaze, and that question made her even more embarrassed.
Kael jumped in immediately.
"Dude, I said the same thing. I mean, we're going to battle, not a ball. Who's gonna wash that thing?"
Vega shook his head.
"How can you two think so alike? Haven't you heard of enchanted fabric? It cleans itself — and it's durable too."
Aryel took a deep breath and smiled.
"Ah, yes, since it's made of enchanted fabric, it's fine. I don't get why you're so fixated on it. You should worry about yourselves."
Lucien replied with a teasing tone.
"Oh, forgive me. I'm not a noble — how could I possibly know that… princess."
Kael added,
"In our family, we use traditional fabrics, so we wouldn't know."
Vega smiled, easing the tension in the air.
"In any case, Aryel looks beautiful, doesn't she?"
Aryel's face turned red instantly. They had said the same thing before, but this time her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest. Why am I feeling this way? she thought. She couldn't quite understand her own emotions.
Kael chuckled.
"No one's saying otherwise."
Aryel decided to change the subject.
"Forget about that. Are we ready? Let's focus on that. Where's Griffine?"
Lucien replied right away.
"He's finishing the final preparations with Erin. They'll be here soon."
He paused briefly before continuing,
"We've arranged the transport too. As planned, we'll blend in with a merchant group and travel without drawing attention. Though I'm not sure how much you'll blend in with that outfit."
Aryel frowned.
"Oh, enough already! Can you all stop talking about my clothes?" After giving them a sharp look, she walked away without another word.
In the quiet of the corridor, she muttered to herself,
"I should've listened to my mother and not worn something so eye-catching… I'm so embarrassed, what am I going to do now?"
Just then, she ran into Nora.
"Aryel? Is something wrong? You don't look well."
Trying to compose herself, Aryel asked,
"No, it's just… I heard you can get battle outfits from here. Where can I find one?"
Nora tilted her head slightly.
"Why? What you're wearing looks perfectly fine."
Aryel whispered with a shy expression,
"I don't want to draw attention."
"Well, if you say so," Nora said with a gentle smile. "Go straight down this hall — there's a storage room on the right. You can get one there."
"Thank you, Nora."
"I'd love to come with you guys one day," Nora said sincerely. "Next time, take me with you, okay?"
Aryel smiled.
"I'm sure you can. I'd love to have you with us someday."
After saying goodbye, she walked quickly toward the storage room.
Nora stayed behind for a moment, thinking, then, when she saw Vega, she ran up and hugged him from behind.
Vega flinched in surprise.
"Nora? You scared me."
With a faint, bittersweet smile, Nora said, "I'm sad that you're leaving. I hope you finish the mission quickly and come back safely."
Vega smiled and gently patted her head.
"Don't skip your training while we're gone. I'd like you to join us on the next mission."
At that moment, Kael cut in.
"I don't think we need two air users in one team."
Nora immediately snapped back.
"Why are you always so rude to me? Vega, say something to your friend!"
Vega was caught in the middle. He didn't want to anger Kael, but he also knew Nora was right. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Kael.
"Kael, you don't have to be so harsh. She's a protector just like us. We'll fight side by side when the time comes — it wouldn't hurt to get along."
Kael clicked his tongue, avoiding Vega's gaze as he turned to Nora.
"I don't think I was being rude. But anyway… keep training here and get stronger. Maybe one day you'll reach Vega's level."
Vega gave Kael a playful punch on the arm, a mischievous smile on his face.
Nora, ignoring Kael, clung to Vega's arm instead. Vega was caught helplessly between the two of them.
Meanwhile, Nathan, Maia, and Lucien were busy loading supplies into the carriage.
Aryel had chosen a simpler set of armor from the storage and decided not to bring the previous one. Lost in thought, she walked out and bumped into someone.
"Sorry, watch where you—" she began, then stopped as she looked up.
It was Griffine.
"Brother, it's you? I was a bit distracted."
Griffine frowned slightly.
"Aryel, is something wrong? You're never this absent-minded. If something's bothering you before the mission, talk to me, okay?"
Erin was with them too. Noticing the atmosphere between the siblings, she smiled softly.
"I think you two should talk. I'll wait ahead," she said before quietly stepping away.
Griffine turned back to Aryel, hands in his pockets.
"All right, let's hear it."
Aryel tilted her head.
"Brother… do I have to?"
Griffine's tone grew firmer.
"Aryel, tell me what's going on. I've never seen you like this."
Aryel took a deep breath, forcing the words out.
"I don't even know why I'm acting like this. Normally I wouldn't care, but… the armor I wore drew too much attention. Everyone was looking at me, so I changed it."
Griffine's expression softened, though his voice remained steady.
"Since when are you afraid to stand out?"
"You say that, but… drawing attention isn't always a good thing."
Crossing his arms, Griffine bent slightly to meet her gaze.
"Who said something to you?"
Aryel quickly turned her head away.
"No one said anything… Let's just go, everyone's waiting."
"All right," Griffine said calmly, "but don't think this conversation is over. Never stop being yourself, Aryel."
Aryel lowered her head at her brother's words.
Why am I like this? she thought.
Was it just pre-mission tension?
Or was something inside her changing?
Whatever it was, she decided to leave those thoughts behind once they set out. She had to focus on the mission now.
When they approached the carriage, everyone was ready. The horses were saddled, and the wagons fully loaded.
Erin was chatting with the group she had just met.
"Oh, Griffine and Aryel are here too," she said with a smile. "Hello, Aryel. We haven't met yet, but Griffine has told me a lot about you. I'm Erin — I'll be accompanying you on this mission as a healer. I hope we get along well."
Aryel nodded gracefully.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Erin. It's reassuring to have you with us."
Erin giggled softly.
"Oh, you can just call me Erin. No need to be formal."
Her hair reached her waist — light blonde tones shimmering in the sunlight, soft waves cascading over her shoulders. Her sea-green eyes glimmered like the surface of a sunlit lake.
She wore an elegant outfit in shades of green, carrying the colors of nature; the fabric was light, flowing with the wind as she walked, making her steps nearly silent.
Although she was a healer, the bow and quiver on her back hinted at the agility hidden behind her delicate appearance.
At that moment, Aryel noticed Erin's calm yet strong presence — and deep down, she felt she could trust her on this mission.
They split into two groups and got into the carriages.
One had Nathan, Maia, Griffine, and Erin; the other had Lucien, Aryel, Kael, and Vega.
Everyone took their places, ready to depart.
Aryel quietly sat by the window, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Perhaps for the first time, she was this silent. Her energy was low, and she didn't speak a word.
Vega couldn't hold back.
"Aryel, why did you change your armor?"
Aryel tried to pretend she hadn't heard him, but she knew she couldn't avoid the question.
"Because I wanted to." Her voice was short; she had no intention of explaining.
Lucien felt uneasy seeing her like this. A flicker of guilt stirred inside him. Was it because of what I said? After a moment of thought, he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Aryel. About what I said regarding your armor… I spoke without thinking. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Aryel was surprised. She hadn't expected that.
Kael added right after,
"I'm sorry too, Aryel. As long as you feel comfortable, it doesn't matter what you wear."
A faint, unreadable expression crossed Aryel's face.
"Who said I changed it because of you?" But the faint blush spreading on her cheeks betrayed her words.
Lucien smiled gently.
"After all, you're a beautiful woman. Don't worry so much about what you wear. We men… we can't think as delicately as women do."
Beautiful? Aryel's heart suddenly began to race. The word echoed in her mind over and over. He said beautiful. He called me beautiful.
Kael chose to stay silent. He was seeing Aryel this… flustered for the first time.
He usually teased her, but this time it felt different. The only difference was Lucien's presence.
Vega decided not to interfere. Maybe Maia had been right after all. A mischievous grin appeared on his face.
Aryel finally managed to find her voice.
"I told you I don't care what you said! Why are you pushing me like this? Can't I just be nervous before a mission?"
Her voice cracked slightly, her nerves seeping into her words.
Lucien only smiled faintly.
"Alright, if you say so." But inside, he was just as shaken.
Did I just call her beautiful? Did I really say that? How did I even—?
His face flushed red, and he quickly averted his eyes.
Kael and Vega watched the scene unfold. They exchanged glances — it all felt so familiar that they had to look away to keep straight faces.
Just then, the carriage jolted — the wheel had hit a large stone.
Everyone lurched forward.
In an instant, Aryel fell against Lucien. Their breaths mingled; their faces were so close they could feel each other's warmth.
So close that anyone watching might have thought they were kissing.
Or maybe… their lips really had touched?