Steel met steel with a sharp, ringing cry that echoed across the merchant’s yard.Henry’s twin blades collided with Vorden’s sword, and the impact sent a violent tremor racing up Henry’s arms. His wrists stung instantly, muscles protesting as raw force traveled through the metal and into his bones. He slid back half a step, boots scraping against packed earth.Vorden hadn’t just swung, he had driven the attack with his full body. Strength, weight, experience. Everything Henry currently lacked in swordsmanship.Henry adjusted his stance, shoulders tense, breath shallow. A small smile curved at the corner of Henry's mouth as he tightened his grip and stepped forward again, he moved, controlled, confident, deliberate.Then he charged.Vorden closed the distance in a blink, blade whistling as it came down in a brutal diagonal slash aimed at Henry’s shoulder. Henry didn’t even try to block it head-on. Instinct screamed at him.He ducked.The blade passed inches above his head, slicing onl

“We’d like to register as adventurers,” Vorden said confidently to the receptionist behind the counter.The woman looked up from her desk and smiled politely. “Wait a moment.” She pulled open a drawer, retrieved a small stack of forms, and spread them neatly before the group.“Please fill these out first,” she said.Henry stared at the paper in front of him, feeling lost. The only things he could confidently fill in were his name and age. Vorden, however, was already writing swiftly, so Henry subtly peeked at his sheet for clues and managed to complete his own form with some effort.Once they were done, the receptionist began explaining the rules and responsibilities of adventurers, how guild ranks worked, the importance of missions, and the conduct expected from every registered member. She had clearly done this many times before, her tone professional yet patient. Henry listened with extra attention; everything about this world was new to him, and he didn’t want to miss a detail.Wh

“What is it? Why are you smiling?” the receptionist asked, narrowing her eyes slightly, curiosity playing at the corners of her lips. Henry blinked, snapping out of his daze. “Nothing,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His eyes accidentally drifted down for the valley at her chest but darted away before she could notice. “Come on, guys! Let’s get this quest started!” Wednesday spoke. They left the guild together but soon split up, each heading toward their respective quest destinations. Henry followed the rough map printed on the back of his quest sheet, his boots crunching softly on the gravel road. “I’m only supposed to kill two Fang Boars and bring their crystals back,” he murmured to himself, holding the quest paper against the wind. “Even if I take down twenty, no one would know. The extra crystals would all be mine.” He grinned a little at the thought. But as he walked through the busy street leading to the capital gate, his attention was caught by a famili

Henry stared at Juliet, his breath uneven. He was lost in words and didn't know what to say.Juliet’s eyes softened for a moment, then hardened again. “I don’t know why I’m attached to you, Henry,” she said quietly. “I know nothing about you.” She brushed past him, giving him a slight shove as she walked ahead.Henry sighed, rubbing his neck. “Last time I told her where I really came from, she didn’t believe me,” he muttered under his breath. Shaking his head, he followed her down the dusty path toward the merchant’s house.“Juliet!” he called.She didn’t answer. Her pace didn’t even slow.When they reached the merchant’s residence, Juliet entered first. Henry followed, keeping a respectful distance. Hours passed before Wednesday and Vorden finally arrived, looking exhausted but pleased. They gathered in the sitting room, talking about the quest and the strange beasts they’d faced. Henry caught Juliet’s eyes once—but she turned away almost instantly, pretending to focus on her food.D