[Work translated into English, there may be translation errors]
The streets of Apex buzzed as usual. The markets were crowded with colorful tents, and the smell of spices, burnt wood, and fresh bread danced in the air. Melina, with a bag in each hand, balanced herself between stalls, trying not to knock anything over. The sound of merchants blended with that of bards and children running around.
Suddenly, a floating magical panel opened above the square, making everyone stop. A blue glow pulsed as an image materialized, and the voice of a reporter echoed through the streets.
Panel:
— Today, we announce the retirement of the God of Lightning, or rather, the Master of Thunder… the 4th Dan Electric Mage, Master Haikai. The last survivor of the great golden era of Apex… one of the last colonizers — or rather — conquerors of this world.
The panel disappeared, and the murmurs took over.
Melina, adjusting her bangs, thought: "4th Dan Master? That's... amazing."
Suddenly, Saicha appeared out of nowhere and jumped onto her back, making Melina stumble.
— Why are you stunned, parler? — Saicha shouted, laughing.
Melina huffed, trying to steady herself.
— Parler is you, you crazy one! Get off me, I'm not your pack mule!
Saicha jumped off, laughing, her eyes shining with excitement.
— Don't you find it strange? Retiring the last guy from the Apex expedition right now... weeks before the Atreus expedition?
Melina looked sideways, thoughtful.
— You're saying... this is part of the plan?
Saicha smirked.
— Of course! I bet there's gonna be a hero's ceremony... they'll use this to rally people for the next one. Just imagine... in the future, one of these just for you.
Melina chuckled lightly.
— Makes sense.
Saicha grabbed a few bags from Melina's hands.
— Now go! Don was looking for you. Now that you work for the guild, don't mess it up.
Melina hesitated.
— Are you sure?
— Go, go!
Melina ran off, weaving through the crowd. That's when she bumped into an old man — short, even shorter than Melina, who was only 1.56m tall, hunched over, with wrinkled skin, a bald head, and a white beard that nearly touched the ground. His cloudy eyes betrayed his near blindness.
— Sorry, grandpa! — she said, bending down.
The old man smiled kindly.
— Don't worry, little girl... I think I'm the one who got lost.
Melina looked at the sun in the sky.
— Need help? But, um... I'm in a hurry.
The old man chuckled softly.
— What if I said I'm heading to the guild?
Her eyes lit up.
— Perfect then!
Before he could say anything, Melina gently lifted him onto her back.
— Hold on, grandpa!
The old man was startled.
— Hey!
She darted toward the guild, panting.
Arriving there, out of breath, she let the old man down.
— Here you are, safe and sound.
— Thank you, young lady — he said, adjusting his beard.
Melina, wiping sweat from her brow, asked:
— Do you want me to take you to your friend?
Before he could answer, Don Rosario's voice echoed:
— Glad you made it, Haikai!
Melina froze. A shiver ran down her spine. Cold sweat. She swallowed hard, staring at the old man.
— Ha... Haikai?
Her breathing became erratic.
"But this old man... doesn't even emanate an aura... how is that possible?"
Don Rosario approached.
— Melina, this is Master Haikai, my old legend. He trained the Top 2 and even Aether.
Melina could barely believe it.
"This guy... friends with the Top 1... and master of the Top 2 and 3...? But why? Why would someone so strong help a support class like an Evaluator?"
Don and Haikai shook hands.
At the moment of the touch, Don Rosario released his mana, dense as lead. The ground creaked. Melina staggered, almost falling, but gathered her own mana, trying to stay upright. Her legs trembled. The air seemed to vanish.
"It's impossible... this pressure..."
In an instant, Haikai released his mana, which was like a silent lightning bolt. Don Rosario's energy dissipated in the air.
Melina dropped to her knees, drenched in sweat.
Haikai chuckled.
— Calm down, Rosario... you almost made the girl piss herself.
Don Rosario smiled.
— She's strong. I wanted her to feel the difference between two masters.
Haikai crossed his arms.
— Don't tell me... you want her to become a master.
Don Rosario knelt, his voice choked.
— For our friendship... accept her as an apprentice.
Haikai sighed.
— At least this time it's a woman.
Melina grimaced.
— Don't even think about it, you old pervert.
Don stood up.
— The expedition leaves in 12 days from Apex.
Haikai raised an eyebrow.
— So, deep down... you're asking me for one last mission.
Don nodded.
— I know what you've lost... and that you want to rest, but... you're the only one who knows how to teach.
Haikai looked at the ceiling, exhaling slowly.
— Fine... tomorrow, after the ceremony.
Melina raised her hand.
— Where to?
Haikai smirked.
— Up, of course. Or did you think you'd get strong in 12 days?
Melina froze.
"He wants to use... the time count."
— We're going to Antares.
— Antares? Why?
— Because my house is there, duh.
Melina bit her lip.
— I'm going to die.
Haikai did the math in his head.
— 12 days here equals 324 days there.
Don Rosario turned to Melina.
— This will be your guild mission.
Melina straightened, slapping her hand to her chest.
— Yes, sir. For me... for the guild... for the children of Apex... and for everyone I'm going to protect!
The next day, the city stopped. The ceremony gathered crowds. The governor declared a holiday. After the speeches, Haikai opened a portal to Antares.
Melina looked, startled.
— But... how? Isn't it impossible to skip floors?
Haikai laughed.
— There's a lot you don't know, girl.
Melina entered, apprehensive.
— And the monsters?
The old man walked calmly.
— Forgot I killed the floor's master? No beast is stupid enough to get close.
— But... what about the irrational ones?
Haikai smiled, not looking back.
— Sometimes... they're even smarter.
They arrived at the cabin. Old, full of leaves and dust. Paintings of ancient warriors who died in the 1st Expedition decorated the walls.
Melina looked around.
— Strange... I heard Antares was a world of rare stones.
— It is. This is the only forest in the region.
Before she could ask more, she felt a brutal blow. Barely saw where it came from. She flew through the window, spitting blood. The ground spun. Her vision blurred.
"But... he was a mage... why did he attack like a warrior...?"
The old man appeared, standing tall, covered in lightning. The cane had disappeared.
— When you gain a class... you're stuck with it. It's the world's rule. Because I'm a mage... they say I can't fight like a warrior.
Melina fell, powerless.
Haikai stared at her.
— This... is humanity's mistake. You can use abilities from other classes. But for that... you need something no one masters.
Melina's vision faded.
Don Rosario was in his office, thinking as he tapped his pen.
— Will she be okay? Aether came back after a day of training, and the Top 2 stayed for 6 days, she has to stay twice that long.