---
The morning mist clung to the valley, painting the village rooftops in silver as the sun broke lazily through the clouds. From the hilltop cottage, smoke rose in slow, sleepy curls — a sign that breakfast was already underway.
Inside, Mira hummed as she stirred a pot of stew, her long white hair tied neatly behind her. Her movements were graceful, practiced — until a familiar voice broke the calm.
"Morning, Mira!"
Arin appeared at the door, tall and lean now, his black hair still just as messy, violet eyes glinting with mischief. At fifteen, he had outgrown most of his old clothes, the sleeves of his tunic rolled up to his elbows, and a wooden practice sword strapped to his back.
Mira smiled warmly. "You're up early today. That's new."
"I couldn't sleep," he said, moving closer. "Kaelith's group is leaving for the north ridge today, right?"
"Yes," Mira replied. "She, Seraph, Lyra, and Evelyn left before dawn. It's just us for the next few days."
Arin's eyes brightened. "Then you'll let me go into the city?"
Mira nearly dropped her spoon. "Arin—no. You know what your mothers said."
"But I'm fifteen now," he argued. "That's old enough to register at the guild. Everyone in the village says so!"
Mira sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Fifteen is still young, and besides, you're not like everyone else. You—"
"I know," he interrupted softly. "I'm Elara's son."
The way he said it made Mira's heart ache. There was no arrogance in his voice, only quiet longing. She turned to face him fully, searching his face — and saw not the fragile boy she once cradled, but a young man burning with purpose.
"Please," he said. "I just want to see what it's like. I promise I won't do anything reckless."
Mira hesitated. Her mind screamed no, but her heart — the part that remembered Elara's last words — whispered let him live.
After a long silence, she sighed in defeat. "Fine. You may go to the city. But only until sundown. And if anything happens—"
"I'll come straight home," Arin said quickly, grinning wide. "You're the best, Mira!"
He darted forward, kissed her cheek, and ran off before she could change her mind.
Mira watched him disappear down the path, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. "You really are your mother's son," she murmured.
---
The city of Valen was alive with sound and color. Merchants shouted prices, adventurers in bright armor haggled over supplies, and the clamor of steel echoed from the training yard near the guild's entrance.
Arin stopped in the middle of the street, eyes wide. "So this is it…"
The Adventurer's Guild stood before him — taller than any building in the city, its stone walls engraved with names of heroes past. The banners fluttered with the crest of the Twin Blades: courage and unity.
He pushed the doors open, and the noise hit him like a wave. Inside, the guild was packed — warriors laughing, mages arguing over scrolls, and clerks sorting quests behind the counters.
Arin stepped forward, clutching the small satchel Kaelith had once given him. He approached the registration desk, where a tired-looking receptionist looked up.
"Name?"
"Arin."
"Age?"
"Fifteen."
The clerk raised an eyebrow. "First time registering?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You'll start as an F-Rank adventurer. Standard for beginners. You'll need to complete at least three minor quests before you can take any monster hunts. Sign here."
Arin signed, hands trembling slightly. When the clerk handed him a small bronze badge with the guild's crest, he couldn't help smiling.
"I'm really an adventurer now," he whispered.
---
Outside, the sun had reached its peak. Arin wandered through the training yard, watching older adventurers spar. A group of rookies around his age were practicing sword drills, their laughter echoing across the courtyard.
One of them — a boy with short brown hair and a red jacket — noticed him. "Hey, new face! You joining the rookies too?"
Arin smiled nervously. "Just registered, actually."
"Perfect," he said, tossing him a wooden sword. "Let's see what you've got."
He caught it by reflex. "Wait, now?"
"Now!"
The boy lunged, fast and precise. Arin barely dodged, instincts kicking in. He parried once, twice, then countered — his movements fluid but natural, like something inside him already knew the rhythm of battle.
The clash ended when his wooden sword stopped just an inch from his throat.
The boy blinked, then grinned. "Not bad, newbie. Name's Ren."
"Arin."
"Well, Arin, you're buying lunch," he said, laughing. "Guild rule — winner feeds the loser."
He laughed too. For the first time, the city didn't feel so big.
---
While eating, Ren looked up from his plate, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You know," he said, breaking the comfortable silence, "you're a really good fighter. Honestly, you could probably get into a D-rank adventurer's party without much trouble."
Arin, still munching on his food, paused mid-bite. "Really?" he asked, crumbs clinging to his lips.
"Yeah," Ren nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You're that good."
Arin chewed thoughtfully for a moment, then asked, "So… are you in an adventuring party yourself?"
Ren shook his head, picking at a piece of meat. "No. I might be decent with a sword, but it's nothing special. I've never really had the chance to join a proper party."
Arin's brow furrowed slightly as he continued munching. "Then why not… create your own?"
Ren laughed softly, shaking his head. "If you want to form an adventuring party, you need to at least be an E-class adventurer. And, well… you need money too."
Arin leaned forward, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "How much money are we talking about?"
"Five silver coins," Ren replied without hesitation, "or five hundred bronze coins. And if your party members are rookies, you need at least five of them."
"So… you're saying I can't adventure yet?" Arin asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Ren shrugged. "Not exactly. You can do small, simple tasks — gathering herbs, spices, running errands, doing labor. But real adventuring? That requires rank and resources."
Arin's gaze drifted downward, toward the pouch tucked under the table. He lifted it slightly, revealing a collection of silver and bronze coins. Mira hadn't given him any gold coins — that would have drawn too much attention. He counted quickly and picked out five silver coins, placing them on the table. "Do you want to… create an adventuring group?" he asked, looking up at Ren.
Ren's eyes widened slightly. "Where did you get that much money?"
Arin shrugged nonchalantly, stuffing the coins back into his pocket and securing the pouch in his shirt. "My aunt gave it to me."
Ren frowned, concern creeping into his voice. "Keep it… it could bring us trouble."
"I'll be careful," Arin replied with a grin, trying to appear nonchalant.
Ren's expression softened, and excitement started to show. "Well, then… all we need now is an E-rank adventurer and two more people."
Arin tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Do you… have a name idea for the party yet?"
Ren leaned back in his chair, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up his eyes. "Hmm… not yet. But I've got a feeling this is going to be fun."