The day passed quietly at Duke Alaric's mansion, but for Emi it felt like an eternity of unbearable calm. More than three days had gone by since her arrival, and instead of the excitement she craved, she found herself trapped in monotony—watching Alex relax while she longed for some action. Her fingers tapped impatiently on the table where she sat, staring into the mansion's emptiness, wishing something would happen.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the mansion, Alex was enjoying a well‑deserved rest. He was reclining on one of the beds in the luxurious spa room, surrounded by a peaceful atmosphere. The massage he was receiving left him completely relaxed, with muscles tense from days of fighting finally relieved of pressure. He closed his eyes and thought that nothing could ruin this moment.
Alex (thinking): "This is the break I needed…" he thought, smiling at the idea that he could finally relax, without the constant worry of upcoming adventures or battles.
But suddenly, the door burst open with a crash, and Emi stormed in, her face reflecting her frustration.
Emi: "It's time for an exciting adventure!" she declared with her usual enthusiasm, paying no mind to the situation.
Alex sighed, bracing himself for what was to come. But when Emi noticed who was giving him the massage, her expression shifted. In the room, Aria was lost in her own thoughts, a look of fascination on her face as she kneaded Alex's muscles. Her expression glowed with a slight smile and heart-shaped gleams in her eyes. The intimacy of the moment felt almost romantic—and Emi couldn't help feeling jealous.
Emi: "What are you doing here?!" she exclaimed, surprised and a bit envious.
Alex, seeing the brewing tension, simply closed his eyes with a long sigh. "I shouldn't have said nothing could ruin my day," he thought, preparing himself for another unnecessary confrontation between the girls.
Alex: "Alright, alright, if you want an adventure, we'll go on an adventure," he said, standing and raising a hand to calm things down.
Aria (excitedly): "Oh! Should I wear armor? Or maybe a dress for the occasion? What kind of outfit should I pick for an adventure?"
Emi scoffed in frustration and snapped back:
Emi: "You're not coming with us."
But Aria, undeterred, looked at her father, Duke Alaric, with a confident smile and said:
Aria: "Father already gave me permission to go with Alex to his world. I'll stay with him until that happens, no matter what you say."
Emi glared at Alex, hoping he'd step in—but he simply sighed again, his expression weary.
Alex: "I don't want more fighting between you two. If we're going to do this, I expect you to behave and work together."
Reluctantly, both girls nodded as Aria retreated to her room to prepare for the journey. Duke Alaric handed her a necklace that had belonged to her mother—a piece that clearly held deep sentimental value.
The group headed toward the guild. Along the way, Alex seized the chance to talk to Aria.
Alex: "So, what does your magic do?" he asked, curious.
Aria smiled and began to explain enthusiastically:
Aria: "My magic is called Shadow Summoning, and it's tied to the purple aura around me. I can call forth ghost‑like creatures that help me in combat—or even with tasks. Although…" she added, glancing down, "I don't use them often because they scare me. They won't hurt me, but they're… a bit unsettling."
Alex looked at her thoughtfully.
Alex: "You shouldn't be afraid of them—if they can help you so much, it truly is an incredible power."
Aria gave a timid smile and then gently grabbed Alex's arm, her expression soft.
Aria: "If I ever summon them and they scare me… you'll protect me, won't you?"
EMI, jealous, interrupted, pushing Aria away from Alex with a sharp gesture.
EMI (irritated): "Don't exaggerate, Aria!"
But Aria, unbothered, continued:
Aria: "I also have the ability to form contracts with rare creatures. Not just anybody could do that."
Alex fell silent, processing the information. "Wow—so even Aria has some impressive skills. It feels like she has an important role in this story, while I… I'm just the secondary character."
---
When they finally reached the guild, Aria was completely amazed. The place was exactly as she had imagined: dark, ancient, and with a gloomy atmosphere that seemed ingrained in the walls. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she pointed out every detail, her words pouring out:
Aria (excitedly): "This is incredible! So old and mysterious! The walls, the lighting! The atmosphere is just… so intriguing!"
Guild members nearby exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether she was praising or mocking their surroundings. Some tensed at her comments, but Aria remained oblivious, fully enraptured by every detail.
EMI, on the other hand, had reached her limit with Aria's behavior. She scowled and said sharply:
EMI (irritated): "Knock it off, Aria. We're not here for a guided tour—we're here to work."
Unfazed, Aria continued, smiling, and moved toward the mission board, clearly thrilled by the array of job postings. EMI followed, taking a deep breath to calm herself, then started scanning the postings. Aria, completely mesmerized, began chattering excitedly about everything she saw.
Aria: "Look at this! So many missions! Catch a thief in the forest, cleanse abandoned dungeons, escort caravans! This is so exciting!"
EMI, impatient, warned her not to distract her since she needed to focus on choosing a meaningful mission.
EMI: "Calm down, Aria! You don't pick missions like this without thought. I need to think carefully."
Aria, ignoring EMI's words, turned to Alex with a mischievous grin.
Aria (curious): "Alex, do you think I could pick a mission?"
Not wanting more conflict, Alex nodded with a kind smile.
Alex: "Since it's your first time here, you should have the privilege of picking a mission." He thought: Maybe Aria will pick something simple and low‑risk so she doesn't stand out too soon.
Brimming with energy, Aria studied each poster carefully, pausing at every one, reading with the same enthusiasm she'd explored the guild. Finally, one caught her eye.
Aria (excitedly): "This mission sounds perfect!" she exclaimed, pointing to a specific announcement.
EMI frowned and stared at the poster. It described a seemingly straightforward task: "Capture a dangerous woman hiding in the forest who deceives men to rob and kill them." But Alex read more closely and frowned.
Alex (gravely): "Wait… this woman hates men but loves women. She won't hesitate to kill any man who approaches."
Aria, surprised by Alex's concern, looked a bit more serious—though her excitement didn't disappear entirely.
Aria (brightly): "Oh! Well, maybe that's… interesting! Right?"
EMI, worried, warned Alex that they needed to be careful about the mission they chose.
EMI: "This isn't a joke. It's dangerous. Are you sure she should take it?"
Alex, though uneasy, forced a smile to keep the peace.
Alex: "Alright—Aria chose. But we have to be extremely careful. This mission isn't like the others."
Blissfully unaware of the tension, Aria ran off to sign up for the mission with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Alex felt a deeper unease settle in. He knew the assignment could be more difficult—and deadly—than it seemed. He wondered whether Aria truly understood the risk.
EMI, for her part, couldn't help but think that this adventure, which had started so innocently, might end up being far more dangerous than any of them expected.