"Then it's decided, we'll start preparations immediately." The chiefs voice cut through the square. He looks towards his assistant and waves him over then makes his way to me, he towered over everyone in the crowd.
"Luce, I have to say, this beast is every bit as frightening as you had described. our village was lucky to have had you passing by." he says smiling. but then the air tensed his expression got serious, "so, what do you think of Amber and Sky?"
"They've got a lot of potential, really, but their weaknesses are glaring." I pause, "beasts and pests I have no doubt they can handle themselves well, but... if they were to encounter bandits or worse, it's hard to tell what will happen."
We both look towards them, and he laughs out loudly, "they'll be fine!! they're their dad's kids, but Please do look out for them."
I smile, "of course" we wave each other good bye.
I glance over at Amber. Her hands shaking slightly, but she was trying to hold it together, calming herself with deep breaths. Sky on the other hand, had a hardened look on his face that I hadn't seen in the time I've known him. It's like a switch had been flipped in him--Serious and reserved.
I turned my attention to the cloaked figure standing beside them. He was wearing dark cloak with his hood pulled low, hiding his features, though his sharp red eyes still peeked out. A hint of worry and warmth as he looked at Amber. Falco caws softly, "Yeah I know, I should go talk to him."
I approached him, trying to initiate a conversation, but his responses were curt--A few words here and there. It felt like the conversation was going nowhere.
Amber stepped forward, breaking the awkward silence. "This is Krow," she said with a smile, the shakiness in her posture easing as she spoke. "He arrived from the south earlier in the day--and he helped us bring back the beast corpse." Her voice faltered slightly at the last part, Her eyes briefly quivering--clearly the bloodstained memory still vivid in her mind.
Krow nodded slightly, offering little more than a glance.
I raised an eyebrow, unsure how to comfort her. Instead I shifted the topic. "so, uh..." I glanced around, realizing sky was walking away. "Where's Sky going?"
She Glanced in the direction Sky had gone, her voice soft. "He's probably heading home, It's been a long day-- he must be exhausted."
I nodded in understanding, a lot happened today. even for me, today was draining. I can't imagine how overwhelming it must have been for these two, facing a monster head-on like that.
"I get it, you must be tired too," I said gently. "you should head home and rest up too. but before you go-- are you and Sky registered in the guild?"
Amber gave a small nod, "Sky is. He registered around a year ago when he turned 17. I just came of age recently so i haven't yet. Honestly I didn't think I had the right mind set for it."
I Shook my head with a small smile. "Don't think like that, you'd make an incredible adventurer. Still, you definitely should register. It's not just about taking jobs--it's useful on the road, especially when dealing with the army or even nobles. Guild identification can keep a lot of trouble off your back--and it pays".
Amber nodded, heeding my advice. She then glanced at Krow. "What about you Krow? are you with the guild?"
He shook his head, "not yet."
"Alright then, that settles it." I said, clapping my hands together. "Tomorrow we'll meet up at the guild hall, make sure to bring sky with you."
Amber gave a quick nod, "sounds good." she begins to walk off but paused, turning back toward Krow. "Oh yeah--Krow, did you get a room at the tavern yet?"
He shook his head "no"
She tilted her head. "Do you have enough money for at least one night?"
Krow hesitated this time. His gaze shifted slightly, and he muttered "...No," barely meeting her eyes.
It was subtle, but I caught the way his shoulders stiffened.
I gave a small, reassuring smile. "No worries. I'll cover your room. we'll be working together soon anyways--might as well look out for each other."
Amber smiled. "Alright, I'll see you both tomorrow!"
I gave her a small wave as she turned and walked off into the settling dusk.
Then with Krow quietly in step beside me, I started toward the inn.
There was something about him--more than he let on. The way his eyes flicked around, measuring every corner, every shadow like a soldier... Or a survivor.
I've seen those eyes before--staring back at me in the mirror years ago.
Whatever tomorrow brought, one thing was certain:
It was going to be a big day.
...
The first light of dawn crept through the window, painting the room in soft hues of amber and gold. The chorus of birds chirping outside echoed through the quiet morning. I stretched, letting out a lazy yawn, and got of the bed. My clothes were neatly folded nearby, but I left armor and Spear behind for now. I glanced over Falco—still asleep, the only sign of life in the room was his steady breathing.
After getting dressed, I made my way downstairs to the tavern's dining area/ The low hum of morning chatter filled the air, but there was no sign of Krow. Guess he's not much of a morning person, huh?
I found an empty table and settled into the worn chair. A moment later, the tavern maiden approached me, her smile as bright as the morning sun.
"What'll it be hon?" she asked
"Just bacon and eggs, please," I said, pausing before adding, "Oh, and two slices of bread, if you've got any."
She gave a quick nod. "Coming right up."
After the meal, I paid and left the tavern, stepping into the cool morning air. The town was still waking up—vendors setting their stalls and stores, children chasing each other through narrow streets. I wandered aimlessly at first, taking in the sights and sounds. The familiar faces of the locals greeted me, and I took a moment to chat with some of them, asking them about Sky and Amber—Trying learn more about the the two siblings.
Before I left, I picked up some dried meat from a vendor—Falco would appreciate it, even if he was still snoozing.
Then it hit me—my old sword had snapped during the fight with the Carabar. I needed a replacement before we left for the capital. The blacksmith would be the first stop.
As I neared the smithy, the rhythmic clang of metal on metal echoed from inside. I pushed open the door, and the heat of the forge immediately hit me. There, working at the anvil, stood a tall Venturi—easily a head taller than me. His long, dirty blonde hair was tied back, and his sharp yellow eyes glinted with focus as he quenched a freshly forged blade in a vat of water. A scruffy beard framed his face, and his lion-like ears marked him unmistakably as Venturi.
He looked up as I entered, his gaze briefly meeting mine. There was something about him that seemed familiar—his stance, the way his eyes narrowed in concentration. He set the blade down to cool and wiped his brow, still studying me.
his eyes softened as he stepped towards me, his expression shifting. "Hey there," he said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What brings you to my smithy today?"
The sudden change in his mood was almost jarring. just moments ago, he'd been a statue of intensity, sweat running down his brow as he pounded away at the anvil, the heat of the forge matching his intensity. But now, he looked more easygoing, an easy enthusiasm in his voice—energetic and infectious, almost identical to how Sky talks.
I blinked, taken aback for a moment before seeing his hand reach out. "oh, uh... I was looking for a sword."
I took his hand and he firmly shook it, still beaming. "I recently broke mine while fighting a monster, and I figured I'd come by and find a replacement."
He motioned for me to follow him deeper into the forge, where the light of the coals cast flickering shadows on the walls. He grabbed a worn measuring tape from a nearby shelf.
"Mind if I take a few measurements?" he asked.
I nodded, and he got to work—measuring the length of my arms, the width of my shoulders, the way muscle sat along my frame. His brow furrowed slightly as he studied me with a craftsman's scrutiny.
"So," he began, "what kind of blade are you looking for?"
"A tuck," I replied. "Or really, any kind of thrusting sword."
He paused, one hand still resting on my forearm. "Huh," he muttered, more to himself than to me. "You don't move like a swordsman. Your build—your balance—seems more like a spear user. You've got that forward-driven stance, tight core, and a reach-focused posture."
I gave a slight shrug. "You're not wrong. I trained with spears before, but… I've grown used to the feel of a sword in close quarters."
he nodds, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Fair enough. Everyone's got their reasons." He clapped his hands. "Name's Kyrell, by the way. Kyrell Steelclaw"
"I'm Luce Forrest. Good to meet you."
Just then, the door creaked open, and a familiar voice called out from the entrance.
"Dad! You forgot your lunch again."
Amber stepped into the forge, a cloth-wrapped bundle in her hands. Her Hazelnut eyes sparkled in the firelight, and her expression shifted when she saw me—half surprise, half recognition.
"Oh—hey," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Luce, what brings you here?"
I nodded to Amber with a small smile. "Just getting a new sword made," I said, then glanced between the two of them. "Wait—Kyrell... you're Amber's father?"
Kyrell chuckled as he set the lunch bundle aside. "Guilty as charged."
As soon as he said it, it clicked—and I felt a little foolish for not realizing it sooner. The resemblance was uncanny, the way he spoke, the ease in his grin, and the way his enthusiasm filled a room. It was just like Sky.
I let out a small laugh under my breath. "I probably should've guessed. You and Sky share that same energy."
Amber rolled her eyes playfully. "It's exhausting, isn't it?"
Kyrell shrugged with a smirk. "Takes a lot to keep the forge warm."
I turned to him a bit more directly. "Think you can help me out with that sword, then?"
"Of course," he said, already moving toward his tools. "I've got a few ideas already."
Amber leaned casually against a nearby workbench. "Oh right," she said, remembering, "your sword broke during the Carabar fight, didn't it?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Snapped clean."
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "But you used a spear to finish it off, didn't you? The way you used it, it didn't seem like a backup weapon."
I hesitated, glancing down briefly. "I've worked with spears before yeah..." I said. "But I prefer swords now."
There was a pause, just long enough for the silence to settle—until Kyrell stepped in, his voice calm and certain.
"I'll have your new sword ready in three days," he said. "I've got something in mind that'll suit your build and movement."
I nodded, grateful. "Thanks. That works."
I turned to Amber. "You ready to register with the guild? Where's Sky?"
"Yeah," she said, pushing off the bench. "He's training with an old friend—Ingo."
"Ingo?"
We stepped out of the building and started toward the back, where the forge's heat gave way to the open air.
She nodded. "He's more like an older brother, really."
As we approached the training yard, the rhythmic clash of steel rang out through the space. Sky moved in tight, agile arcs, his twin blades flashing as they struck and deflected against another pair—wielded by a lean, grinning Venturi. His movements were sharp but deliberately loose, almost lazy in how casually he danced through the fight.
"As you can see," Amber said with a smirk, "they both use twin short swords."
Ingo parried a quick thrust, twisted fluidly around Sky's guard, and spun back with a grin still plastered on his face.
Then, with the same effortless ease, he sidestepped a low swing.
I crossed my arms, watching them move.
Despite the flair, Ingo's footwork was tight—measured. His balance, his tempo, the way he read Sky's rhythm... It was like he was controlling Sky's movements.
The way he fought—confident, playful, a little cocky. And definitely sharper than he let on. It was familiar.
As Ingo dodged Sky's low swing, he immediately countered, slashing downward in a swift arc behind his opponent. But Sky anticipated the move—he spun fluidly, raising one of his swords to catch the blow with the flat side, deflecting it as he twirled out of range. A grin flickered across Sky's face, and without missing a beat, he lunged at Ingo.
Ingo met him head-on. Their blades clashed with a sharp ring of metal, locking together for a brief moment. Ingo chuckled, his eyes glinting."You've gotten better, Sky."
Sky scoffed, breathless but cocky. "I've learned from the best."
They both laughed, the tension in the air briefly broken. Then Ingo's eyes flicked toward the edge of the clearing—toward where Amber and I stood. Sky followed his gaze and let out a breath, his stance loosening. Together, they lowered their weapons and started walking over, sweat still glistening on their brows.
Sky, still catching his breath, called out, "How long have you guys been standing there?"
"Long enough," Amber said with a smirk. "We didn't want to interrupt your little dance."
Ingo shot her a playful grin. "You wound me. That was a very serious sparring session," he said, doubling over dramatically and miming a sob.
I hadn't noticed his features at first—he was too far away—but now that he's closer, I can see him clearly. Ingo has short grey hair, a lean build, and a lazy, playful expression that seems permanently fixed on his face. There's something about the way he moves, the casual way he talks...
Then it clicks.
An expedition—about two years ago. We were hired to clear out a dangerous group of monsters. Several adventuring parties were brought in for support. He was part of the Laughing Hyena—they played a big role in that mission.
"You," Ingo says, squinting at me. "I know you. You're Luce... Luce Forrest. The number one adventurer." He extends a hand with a grin.
I return the smile and take his hand. "And you must be Ingo. It's been a while—two years, right? Since that expedition?"
"Yeah," he laughs. "You've really climbed the ranks since then, huh, Luce? Let me guess—you're here for Sky's reevaluation?"
I nod. "Yeah. Heard he never actually did the strength assessment—just registered and slipped through."
We start walking together toward the guild, the familiar streets buzzing with activity around us.
As we made our way down the cobbled street toward the guild hall, I glanced at Sky."By the way," I said, keeping my tone casual, "I already spoke to the guild. They're also ready to register Amber and Krow."
At the mention of Krow's name, Sky's ear twitched—just slightly, but enough to notice. His eyes stayed forward, but there was a sharpness in them now. I didn't press.
The guild hall loomed ahead, its familiar crest engraved on the wide oak doors. The place was busy as usual—adventurers of every shape and size coming and going, the air filled with chatter, clinking armor, and the faint smell of ink and iron.
The moment we stepped inside, Ingo drifted off, his eyes locking onto the front desk where a young woman was sorting papers."Ah, Rachel's here today," he said with a lopsided grin. He ran a hand through his already messy hair and sauntered over.
Sky rolled his eyes. "Here we go..."
I leaned in and whispered, "Is he always like that?"
"Unfortunately," Amber replied. "But it's harmless."
Sky, Amber, and I crossed the hall, weaving through the crowd until we spotted him—Krow, standing near one of the request boards, arms folded, cloak hanging loosely off one shoulder. He looked up as we approached, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Hey," I greeted. "You ready?."
Krow gave a small nod, his gaze flicking briefly to Sky before returning to me.
We reached the front desk where Rachel, the guild maiden, was now politely fending off Ingo's flirtations with a practiced smile and a slight blush.
"Rachel," I said, stepping in. "We're here to register two new adventurers—Amber and Krow—and also to reevaluate Sky's rank."
She perked up, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear and ignoring Ingo's last attempt at charm. "Of course! I'll need identification and magical signatures from the new registrants. And Sky, you'll need to fill out a reevaluation form. If your performance matches the reports… you might be in for a nice promotion."
Sky gave a small, confident smirk. "Looking forward to it."
Ingo leaned over the counter. "And maybe afterwards we can all get drinks. On me. Rachel?"
She gave him a tired but amused glance. "We'll see, Ingo. One thing at a time."
Inside the guild's evaluation chamber, the hum of arcane devices filled the air. Two large crystals stood at the center—one glowing faint blue for Mana, the other pulsing a dull red for what the guild called Martial Energy—a measurement of raw physical and combat strength. There are 6 classes. Most adventurers get measured in the 3rd to 5th Class range. second class was rare. First Class was practically legendary.
Rachel stood off to the side, clipboard in hand. "Alright, who's first?"
Amber hesitated, then stepped forward. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the mana crystal. The moment her hand touched the surface, the crystal lit up like a star.
Bright blue light surged through the runes etched along the floor. The glow was so intense, Rachel instinctively took a step back.
My eyes widened as the room fell quiet.
"...First Class Mana," Rachel said slowly, almost disbelieving. "That… that's First Class."
Amber blinked. "Is that a… good thing?"
Everyone was staring at her.
I spoke up, "Amber, most royal court mages don't hit First Class. Even the majority of high priests get Second. That reading is… remarkable."
Amber's eyes widened. "Oh. Uh. Thank you?"
Ingo let out a low whistle from the corner. "Damn, the everyone's gonna be fighting over her."
Sky leaned toward me and whispered, "what did you get when you first did it?"
I smiled. "Only 2nd class"
Next, Krow stepped forward. Calm and composed, he placed one hand on each crystal.
The lights flared—steady and firm. Not nearly as blinding as Amber's, but the resonance was clear. Blue and red runes lit up along the pedestals, humming with contained energy.
Rachel nodded and read from her clipboard. "Mana: Third Class. Martial Energy: Third Class. Balanced. Reliable. Good foundations on both ends." Krow gave a short nod and stepped back without comment. But as he did, something shifted—subtle, but unmistakable.
For just a moment, I caught it: the mana crystal flickered strangely. Its blue hue deepened, the light curling in on itself—like shadows folding through water. A soft pulse radiated from it, faint and cold.
No one else seemed to notice.
Rachel moved on without pause, but I stared at the crystal for a beat longer, my brows tightening. That wasn't normal mana behavior. Not wild or unstable… but ancient. Like a buried language whispering beneath the surface.
My instincts stirred.
Krow stood still, expression unreadable. Whatever that was… he wasn't ready to share it.
So, for now, I didn't ask.
Sky stepped forward.
"You're up," Rachel said. "Just martial energy right?"
Sky hesitated again. A glance toward Krow. "I'll do both."
Rachel raised a brow. "Alright, put your hands on the crystals and hold still." The mana crystal responded slowly, flickering, but holding. It stopped at a soft, steady glow. "Mana: Fourth Class," Rachel said, scribbling it down. "Not bad—especially for someone untrained."
Sky looked mildly surprised—but schooled his features. Then he placed his hand on the red crystal. It lit up almost immediately. A strong pulse of red surged upward, brighter than Krow's by far.
"Martial Energy… Second Class!" Rachel said, eyebrows raised. "That's a serious result. You're built for combat."
Sky turned, smirking right at Krow. "Looks like I'm better than a certain Little bird."
Krow barely reacted. Just a slight scoff as he folded his arms and looked away.
Rachel looked over her clipboard. "With these readings, we'll be assigning Amber and Krow to do the practical examination. Sky, your reevaluation combined with this result may put you into Low B or mid C, depending on how you do on the practical examination."
Sky raised an eyebrow, ears twitching. "B, huh?" He smirked, soaking in his small victory against Krow.
Rachel finished scribbling notes on her clipboard, then looked up at the group with a more serious expression.
"Alright, that covers the initial evaluations. Now for the practical examination." She straightened her posture, speaking with more authority. "The guild will conduct your formal ranking test in two days."
Sky crossed his arms. "And what exactly are we doing for that?"
"You'll each face a guild-registered B-rank specializing in your fighting style," She explained. "Mages go against mages. Warriors face warriors. The goal isn't necessarily to win—but to survive, adapt, and show your abilities under pressure. We're assessing skill, control, judgment... not just brute force."
Amber swallowed. "We're fighting B-Ranks? Actual ones?"
Rachel nodded. "Don't worry—you won't be alone. A proctor will intervene if things go too far. But yes, you'll be tested under real combat conditions. It's the only way to determine your true capability."
Krow, quiet as ever, gave a single nod. No visible reaction.
Sky grinned. "Finally. Real action."
Amber looked at him. "You're not worried at all?"
He shrugged. "So no, not really." Puffing his chest.
Amber mumbled, "Still sounds like you're gonna get knocked flat."
"Please," Sky scoffed. "I'll be fine. It's Krow I'm worried about."
Krow tilted his head slightly, voice flat. "Thanks for your concern."
Sky's smirk widened.
Rachel cleared her throat. "Save the rivalry for the ring, boys. Show up here at sunrise in two days. Don't be late."
Ingo leaned against the wall, arms crossed and spoke—his tone noticeably more serious than usual."You'll all do fine. Just remember—these kinds of tests aren't just about winning. They're about proving you can be trusted when things get dangerous."
Amber glanced at him. "Easy for you to say. You're already top-tier."
He smiled. "That just means I've failed more tests than you've taken."
As Rachel finished the paperwork, I stood back, watching them—Sky with a cocky smirk, Amber still wide-eyed, and Krow… calm, but hiding something.
Seventeen, eighteen—just getting started. Watching them now, it's hard not to think back. I was sixteen when the royal guard discharged me—angry, aimless, and with nothing to fall back on.
It took nearly a year to find my footing again, and the guild became that second chance. Four years later, I've seen what this life can take from you—and what it can shape you into.
And these three? They've got something in them. Maybe it's raw talent. Maybe it's fire. Either way... I'm excited. Not just for the exam in two days. I want to see what they become.