Morning sunlight filtered through the inn's wooden windows, casting golden rays on the polished floor. The scent of freshly brewed soup drifted through the halls of Brunch Inn, curling through the warm air and reaching Silvia's nose as she slowly stirred from sleep.
She blinked her eyes open and sat up, brushing back strands of golden-blonde hair as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Downstairs, two familiar voices called out together.
"Morning, Silvia!"
She smiled softly and descended the stairs to see Raizo and Fenra already seated at the dining table, a steaming bowl in front of each of them. Silvia took her seat beside Raizo—on his right side—smiling shyly. Fenra gave a small nod and shuffled slightly closer on his left.
From behind the kitchen counter, Lia watched the scene unfold with a hand covering her mouth, suppressing a knowing giggle.
Raizo narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What's with that smile, Lia?"
"Nothing, nothing at all," she replied with a wink.
Silvia broke the moment, spooning up some soup. "So… what are we going to do today?"
Raizo leaned back in his chair. "First, we'll head to the weapon district and get you something that suits your style. Then, it's off to the Adventurer's Guild to officially register you as part of Dilhaze."
Silvia gave a small nod, her hands tightening slightly with nervous excitement. Fenra, as always, stayed close by Raizo's side.
After finishing their meal, the three stood and waved. "Bye, Lia!"
Lia waved a ladle in return. "Take care, all of you!"
The weapon district was bustling with clanking steel, the hiss of grindstones, and merchants shouting prices as smoke wafted from forges. Raizo, Fenra, and Silvia strolled down rows of finely crafted weaponry.
Silvia stopped suddenly, her eyes fixed on a sleek longbow resting against a display stand. The wood was a darkened cherry hue, etched with faint elvish runes that glowed ever so slightly in the sun.
"That one…" she whispered.
Raizo followed her gaze and smiled. "You like it?"
Silvia nodded. "It feels… right."
Without hesitation, Raizo approached the merchant and paid for the bow, strapping it across Silvia's back. She looked down at her feet, trying to hide the soft blush blooming on her cheeks.
"Thank you," she whispered.
At the Adventurer's Guild, the atmosphere was quieter than usual. Few adventurers were present, and the large hall felt spacious under the warm glow of the overhead lanterns. The trio made their way to the registration desk, where a familiar receptionist perked up upon seeing them.
"Oh, it's you two again! What can I help you with today?"
Raizo gestured toward Silvia. "We'd like to register her as an adventurer and make her an official member of our party."
The receptionist nodded, pulling out a form and placing a crystal orb on the counter. "She'll need to touch this first. It'll record her stats."
Silvia stepped forward and placed her hand atop the orb. A soft green glow pulsed through the guild hall as the orb absorbed her mana.
"Alright," the receptionist recited:
ATK: 86
DEF: 45
STA: 95
Magic Affinities: Wind, Plant
Ability: Eagle Eye
Silvia carefully filled in her name on the form and handed it over. The receptionist smiled and passed her a fresh Guild Card, the silver "G" rank etched at the top.
"You're now officially an adventurer, Silvia. Welcome."
The three walked over to the quest board, eyes scanning through the options.
"Here," Raizo said, pulling down a slip of paper. "Goblin Eradication. It's the right level of danger and will help us work as a team."
They brought the quest slip to the receptionist. As she processed it, Raizo leaned forward with a question.
"Can I ask something?"
"Of course."
"After we finish the quest, is it possible for me and Fenra to transfer the points from it… to Silvia?"
The receptionist blinked in surprise. "All of them?"
"No, just the ones from this quest. Me and Fenra are already C Rank, but Silvia is starting at G Rank. I want her to level up faster. I don't want our first C Rank mission to be just the two of us. I want it to be the three of us—we're a team now."
The receptionist's eyes softened, and she nodded. "I see… that's rare, but yes, it's allowed. I'll mark the request here." She signed the paper and handed it back to Raizo. "Good luck. And take care of each other."
Raizo smiled. "We will."
The three of them left the counter, shoulders aligned, their newly forged bond stronger than ever.
Together, they were no longer just companions.
They were Dilhaze—a party built on trust, on pain, and on a shared hope for the future.