Morning came softly.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains in pale gold streaks, warming the quiet house as one by one, they stirred awake. Today wasn't like the others. There was purpose waiting beyond the door—names to be written, status to be claimed, a future that would no longer be uncertain.
Registration day.
Kael was already up first, hair tied back neatly, clothes practical but sharp. Riven followed soon after, dressed in dark, clean lines that made him look every bit the disciplined hunter he was. Juno emerged next, stretching lazily, flashing a grin as he adjusted his belt, looking polished in his own effortless way.
Ash stepped out last, expression calm but focused, clothes chosen with more care than usual. He looked ready—ready to face the city, the guild, and whatever judgment waited there.
Then—
Lunaria's door opened.
For a heartbeat, the world stalled.
He stepped out wearing what looked like swimming-trunks–like cloth fitted snugly at his waist, layered beneath short outer shorts that hugged his hips just right. Over it all was a light jacket, open at the front, sleeves pushed up casually. The fabric shifted with every movement, soft and fluid, catching the morning light in a way that made him seem unreal.
Beautiful.
No—radiant.
Not delicate, not fragile. Lunaria stood tall, shoulders relaxed, long legs bare and smooth in a way none of them were prepared for. There was confidence in his posture, an unintentional grace that made him look less like someone heading to a guild office and more like a deity who had wandered into the wrong world.
A god of beauty.
And very much a man.
Lunaria froze.
Color rushed to his face as he suddenly became aware of the stares.
"Oh—" He quickly tugged at the jacket, adjusting it, pulling the shorts into place with flustered fingers. "I—I didn't think it'd look this…"
He trailed off, embarrassed.
Ash was the first to recover. He cleared his throat, eyes lingering despite himself. Too long.
Lunaria looked away, cheeks burning, then bent slightly to grab his knife from the table. With practiced ease, he slid it into the side pocket of his shorts, the motion smooth, natural—reminding everyone present that beauty did not mean helpless.
"Let's go," Lunaria said softly, forcing calm into his voice.
They moved out together.
---
The city was already alive.
Merchants called out from stalls, metal rang against stone, voices overlapped in a constant hum of life and ambition. The city guild's banner could be seen from a distance, towering and proud.
And then—
The looks began.
Eyes followed Lunaria wherever he walked.
Some were curious. Others appreciative. Too many lingered, slow and deliberate, roaming without shame. Whispers passed between strangers. Heads turned. A few people outright stopped walking.
Their gazes carried intent—undisguised, hungry, assessing.
Ash felt it immediately.
His jaw tightened.
A hand curled into a fist at his side as he subtly shifted closer to Lunaria, positioning himself half a step in front of him. The city hadn't even reached out yet, and already it felt like it was trying to take something.
Mine, a thought flashed before he could stop it.
The realization startled him.
Kael noticed and smirked faintly but said nothing. Riven's eyes sharpened, scanning the crowd with cool warning. Juno clicked his tongue under his breath.
"City's got eyes," he muttered.
Lunaria sensed the change in Ash and glanced up at him, confused. Their eyes met for a brief second.
Ash looked away first.
The guild loomed closer.
And with every step, it became clearer—this city would test them.
Not with monsters.
But with desire.