The rusted sign of the Adventurer's Guild creaked as a breeze passed by. Achlys and Tiabishi stood before its grand structure, staring up at the worn letters overhead. With a metallic clang, the letter 'I' detached from the facade and tumbled to the ground.
"Uhm... okay, first the 'T' fell, and now the 'I'..." Achlys murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "They really need to fix that."
Tiabishi nodded, clearly distracted, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Eager much?" Achlys teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "It's kind of cute."
Tiabishi's ears twitched, her face flushed with sudden embarrassment. She turned to him with a sharp glance. "Moron," she muttered, blushing fiercely, before storming inside, a slight pout on her lips.
Achlys blinked, confused by the sudden shift in her mood. But then, as he stepped forward, a cold wind brushed against him. A whisper, faint and pleading, tickled his ear:
"Please... help me..."
He spun around, searching the empty street behind him, but found no source. The street was quiet. Shrugging off the chill that clung to his spine, he followed Tiabishi into the guild.
She had noticed it too, a flicker in the corner of her eye—but she said nothing, still sulking as she walked deeper into the bustling building.
"Wait for me!" Achlys called, jogging to catch up.
Moments later, the duo stood on the guild's lower floor before the mission board. The wall was lined with parchment, each job pinned with urgency.
"How about this one?" Tiabishi asked, pointing to a flyer.
Achlys examined it, then nodded. "Herb gathering. Sounds manageable."
Before they could proceed, a figure collided with Tiabishi. She stumbled back; her face pressed into a solid wall of muscle. A deep, honeyed voice chuckled above her.
"Ara ara... What do we have here? Children taking on quests? How splendid. Might I accompany you?"
The man, clad in yellow robes lined with symbols of the sun, gave a theatrical bow. His size alone was imposing, yet he smiled with exaggerated charm.
Both Achlys and Tiabishi instinctively tensed.
"You may—" Tiabishi began, only to be interrupted by a stern, calm voice behind them.
"—If I join as well."
The man turned, and his smile widened.
"Saria... Captain of the Loipetras Legion."
Saria gave a slight nod. Her presence was commanding, her silver armor gleaming with a warrior's grace.
"And you," she said, eyeing the man sharply, "are a member of the Radiant Dawn."
Tiabishi leaned close to Achlys. "Radiant Dawn? What's that?"
He shrugged. "No idea."
But Saria, teeth clenched, answered, "They're light users. Zealots who preach that their magic—the Radiant Light—will end all wars. They call themselves saviors of the talentless. But in truth, they destroy all elemental wielders... except light. They spread the teachings of Lagruaha Tuipli like a plague."
The man's grin darkened. "Hehehe... well-informed, aren't you?"
He turned to Achlys, eyes narrowing. "Very well. I'll join your little quest. But only if the god comes too."
Achlys stiffened. "God? What are you talking about?"
A tremble ran through his hand. He looked down to find Tiabishi gripping it tightly, her body shaking. She was scared.
Later, as the sun began to dip below the rooftops, the group made their way back home.
"Tiabishi... how's your training coming along?" Achlys asked.
She blinked at him, incredulous. "You don't see me train?"
He shook his head.
Her frustration flared. "Do you think I'm weak, Achlys? Is that what you think? A helpless elf?!"
"No!" he exclaimed quickly. "I think you're strong. Just as strong as me."
But it was too late. Her fists clenched, and she struck him on the cheek before storming off to the house.
"Short-tempered, much?" Achlys muttered, rubbing his face.
Saria placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault. This past week... it's been brutal."
Achlys gave her a solemn nod. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Morning light bathed the city. Achlys and Tiabishi waited at the city gate with another man standing beside them. Saria was late.
"Where is she?" Tiabishi snapped, refusing to look at Achlys.
The man tried to lighten the mood. "What's up with you t—"
"Shut it, light boy," she cut him off coldly.
He blinked, surprised.
Just then, Saria came running, shield in hand. Followed the yellow-capped man- Diople running as fast as he could.
Achlys wandered to a nearby shop; his gaze caught by a sword embedded with a misty grey stone.
"A Mist Stone," he whispered. "Rare..."
Tiabishi glanced his way but said nothing.
Diople noticed too, catching the shimmer in Achlys's eye. "Wait for me! You're too fast!"
The group trekked across a golden field, with dark, gnarled branches from a titanic tree looming over the distant mountains.
"Diople," Achlys called, "Why did you follow us?"
"Curiosity," the man replied with a sheepish grin. "This quest... interested me."
Achlys shrugged and quickened his pace to catch up with Tiabishi.
"Tiabishi, can we talk—"
She exhaled sharply and walked faster; spine stiff.
"Is she okay?" Diople asked, amused.
Achlys sighed. "I have no idea what I did."
"Women are like fuses," The man beside him chuckled. "Light the wrong end and boom."
Achlys gave him a strange look. Then his body jolted.
"Wha—my body!?"
Saria's eyes narrowed as she rushed toward Tiabishi. Something was wrong.
Tiabishi turned suddenly, eyes glowing. She struck Achlys away.
"Get away from me! You are NOT light!"
Saria tackled her just in time. Diople raised a wind shield.
Then came the voice:
"Achlys, my boy... I'll take your life here... SUPERNOVA!"
An eruption of pure light blasted the field. The shockwave flung them all across the grasslands.
Achlys groaned, rising among shattered trees. A crimson crater bled into the earth.
"He killed himself... why? To destroy us?"
He sprinted toward Tiabishi and Saria, both badly wounded. Blood ran down Saria's back.
"Damn that hurt..." she muttered.
Achlys knelt beside them. Diople joined, casting weak healing spells.
"I can't do much more..."
Achlys looked at Tiabishi's pale face. Unconscious.
"Take her to the healing center," Saria ordered.
"No," Achlys said. "You're coming too."
She hesitated. Then nodded.
Together, they made their way to Loipetras.
At the healing center, Achlys suddenly turned away.
"Where's he going?" Diople asked.
"I don't know," Saria replied. "But I'll check on him soon."
They rushed Tiabishi into a glowing room. One healer turned to Diople.
"How did this happen?"
He hesitated.
"It started when..." he began, voice low.
Days passed.
Each morning at 4 AM, Achlys trained alone, pushing his boost skill. He looked thinner, eyes hollow.
"Focus!" Saria snapped. "You won't survive like this. Pain doesn't mean life stops."
"Hai... Master..." Achlys muttered, his voice distant.
She studied his tired face. "Achlys... are you alright?"
He didn't answer.
"Is running away... weakness?" he asked suddenly.
She paused. "No. But it leaves you alone. Vulnerable. Why do you ask?"
Crack.
He was gone.
Then—his voice behind her:
"Thank you, Saria... for your training."
She spun, blocking his sword. Tears ran down his cheeks.
"It's my fault... you and Tiabishi suffered because of me..."
Slap!
Saria's hand marked his cheek.
"You're really stupid, Achlys."
He closed his eyes. "I know."
She watched as he turned to leave, the red-purple glow of his marking pulsing faintly.
"I'll fix this," he said, voice filled with quiet resolve.
As the sun rose behind him, Saria smiled faintly.
"I'll see you soon, Achlys."
And they walked their separate paths—for now.