The air inside Sara's little home had once felt warm — alive with the smell of stew and baked bread.
But after AJ's careless words — "The Slums" — the warmth drained away as if someone had doused the hearth with cold water.
Sara froze, her smile brittle. Paul's hand clenched his cup so tightly his knuckles whitened, a sheen of sweat breaking along his forehead. Little Rasa's wide eyes darted between her parents. Slowly, Sara pulled her daughter closer, holding her tight as though the strangers at her table might suddenly sprout claws.
Yet Rasa herself tilted her head curiously and asked in a small voice, "How… slum kinda are you?"
The silence after her innocent question was worse than shouting.
Ruth leaned back in her chair, crimson eyes half-lidded, her smirk sharp.
"See? Even when they smile at you, they'll never accept you."
Her words cut deeper than any blade. Neo's fists trembled under the table, but AJ forced a crooked grin.
"Yeah," he said lightly, pushing his chair back. "It's late. We're late for the guild anyway. Thank you for the food."
Neo's voice was harsher. "We haven't stolen or hurt anyone. Why the hostility?"
Sara flinched at his tone but said nothing. Paul swallowed hard, sweat dripping, fear rolling off him in waves. He looked at AJ like a man watching a storm he couldn't control.
AJ stood, bowed his head with forced gratitude, then slapped his own cheek, muttering under his breath,
"One day, we'll form equality and democracy."
The words were foreign to them all. Sara frowned in confusion. Neo tilted his head. Ruth chuckled darkly, unimpressed.
The moment passed, but the crack in the air never healed.
---
BANG!
The front door slammed open with a thunderous crack, the wooden frame splintering against the wall. Soldiers in steel and leather stormed in, their boots pounding like war drums. Shields gleamed in the lanternlight, spears angled forward.
"By order of the Justice Servants," one barked, "these outsiders are under suspicion of fraud and theft!"
Paul nearly fell from his chair, sweat pouring as his wife clutched Rasa tighter. Sara's voice caught in her throat, unable to speak.
Ruth smirked at the intrusion, but AJ's stomach dropped. The soldiers grabbed him, Neo, and Ruth, forcing them outside into the cold night.
---
The streets were lined with whispering onlookers. Lanterns swung overhead, glowing faint yellow, casting harsh shadows on the cobblestones.
"Criminals already."
"They'll be flogged before dawn."
Neo's jaw clenched. Ruth sneered. AJ tried to smile, though it looked more like a grimace.
Halfway down the street, chaos struck.
"You cheated me, bastard!"
Two men crashed into the soldiers' path — one a merchant, the other a hawker — fists flying, curses sharp. A barrel rolled across the stones, smashing into a cart of fruit. Apples and onions scattered. Shouts filled the air.
More men dove in. Rivals, friends, anyone itching for a fight.
CRASH! A hanging lantern shattered, sparks spraying. Darkness swallowed the street, broken only by shouts and the glint of steel.
AJ's heart leapt.
"Neo—NOW!"
He yanked Neo's sleeve and darted sideways into the chaos. Bodies collided around them, fists swung, crates toppled. AJ ducked low, pulling Neo after him.
But when he looked back — Ruth was gone.
---
They ran until the brawl was a distant roar, slipping into a narrow alley — damp and choking with shadows. They pressed against the wall, panting.
Neo's eyes darted wildly. "Where's Ruth?!"
AJ shook his head, sweat dripping. "I—I don't know. She was right behind us."
The alley was silent except for their breaths. No footsteps. No glow of crimson eyes. No soldiers.
For a moment, fear struck them both. The city was vast, hostile — and Ruth, despite her arrogance, was powerful. If they'd lost her, what chance did two slum boys have alone?
Then—
WHAM!
A sharp smack landed on the backs of their heads.
"OW—!" AJ and Neo staggered forward, clutching their skulls.
Behind them, Ruth floated down from the shadows above, her crimson eyes glimmering in amusement. In her hand was a half-broken stick she must've grabbed during the chaos.
"Pathetic," she drawled. "You two ran off like frightened dogs. Didn't even notice when your queen was testing you."
Neo glared, rubbing his head. "Testing? You nearly gave us a heart attack!"
AJ groaned, but relief washed over him, his grin creeping back.
"Guess we're all here then."
Ruth tossed the stick aside and crossed her arms, smirking.
"You'll need sharper eyes if you plan to survive this city."
AJ straightened, brushing off his torn shirt. His grin hardened into determination.
"Then we'll sharpen them. If justice wants us, they'll have to catch us. Next stop—" he shot Neo a mischievous look, "—the Adventurer Guild. For real this time."
---
The sound of boots echoed through the narrow alleyway.
A soldier appeared from the mist, his lantern slicing through the darkness. His eyes widened when he saw them.
"Hey! You there—"
His hand went to his comm device.
Before he could call for backup, Ruth's eyes flashed silver.
The air around the soldier shimmered — an invisible force gripped him. His body froze mid-motion, eyes bulging in shock as his mouth was sealed by an unseen hand.
He tried to scream, but not a single sound escaped.
AJ and Neo stumbled back, hearts racing.
"W-what the—" Neo stammered, his breath ragged.
Ruth turned to them coldly. "Should I kill him?"
AJ's voice broke, "No! Just… just…"
Neo stared at him.
AJ, half-panicked and half-goofy, muttered, "If it was my otaku brother, he might've known what to do… after reading so much manga."
Neo blinked. "Brother… otake… manga… what?"
AJ waved it off. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
Ruth's eyes slid toward AJ's hand — the faint glint of a ring catching the moonlight.
"Why don't you use that ring?" she asked, nodding at it.
AJ frowned. "Ring?"
"Yes," Ruth replied slowly. "That is… I forgot the name. But it forces people to alter their mind… something like that."
AJ's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Aj pressed his temples, thinking hard. "Yeah… I remember you mentioning it once. Some Guardian's treasure… or a relic of the multivariate kind of things."
Ruth chuckled awkwardly. "I told that?
Ruth's glare cut him off.
He raised his hands. "Okay, okay, joking!"
He looked back at the ring, its surface faintly glowing now — a warm golden pulse.
"How do I use it?" he asked.
"Just focus," Ruth said.
"That's all?"
"That's all."
AJ took a deep breath. He focused. Nothing happened.
He tried again — and this time, a surge of golden light burst from the ring.
The soldier's eyes rolled back, his body went limp, and he collapsed with a dull thud.
Neo's voice trembled. "You… you killed him."
Ruth's tone was flat. "Definitely."
AJ crouched quickly, checking the man's pulse. Suddenly, the soldier's eyes flew open.
He sat up, dazed. "Kids… what are you doing here?"
Neo's mouth fell open. "We… we're looking for the guild."
The soldier squinted. "Then why in this dark alley?"
Neo froze.
AJ jumped in fast. "We saw you here, fainted. Tried to help."
The soldier rubbed his head. "Really? Huh. Maybe I was drunk." He laughed weakly. "Anyway, the guild's that way."
He pointed down the alley, then frowned. "Weird… why was I here again?"
As he stumbled off, Neo turned to AJ, eyes wide. "It worked."
AJ's grin stretched ear to ear. "I got my first power! Only psychological… but still, that's okay!"
Ruth sighed, unimpressed, twirling a strand of hair.
AJ turned to her. "Then that pendant Neo's wearing — it must have a power too, right?"
"Yes," she muttered, waving lazily. "But I don't remember. And don't order me around."
AJ hesitated. "Can… you try?"
Ruth's eyes narrowed. "I'm having a headache. If I decide to tell, I will. If not — that's a no."
AJ nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."
As she turned away, the ring on AJ's hand shimmered once more — golden and alive.
Neo's eyes caught the light, and for the first time, both he and AJ realized something strange:
Ruth's memory loss… her sudden change to a teenager… all of it began when that ring came into his hands.
---
The city grew brighter as they walked.
The alleys behind them shrank into shadow while the road ahead glowed faintly, leading toward the heart of Brighthold — the Adventurer's District.
The sound reached them first — laughter, chatter, clanking mugs, and the faint rhythm of a drum.
Then came the light — lanterns swaying above market stalls, banners fluttering in the breeze, and, far ahead, the Guild Tower rising like a torch in the dark.
A burst of fireworks cracked the sky, scattering silver and green sparks over the rooftops.
Neo flinched, eyes wide. "Whoa… is that for us?"
AJ grinned. "Yeah, they probably heard about the mighty trio who just saved a drunk soldier."
Ruth rolled her eyes but didn't argue. For once, she looked calmer, her expression soft under the falling sparks.
They followed the crowd until they found a quiet corner — a broken fountain near the main square. The water was shallow and murky, yet it rippled softly, mirroring the colors above.
Around them, children played, tossing coins into the water. Adults talked nearby, trading gossip and ale. The air was thick with roasted bread, smoke, and celebration.
For the first time in a long while, AJ exhaled. "Feels like a different world."
Neo splashed his hands in the water. "If being an adventurer means this, I'm in forever."
Ruth sat on the fountain's edge, legs crossed, eyes lost in the reflection. "Don't get used to it," she murmured. "Places like this have a way of reminding you where you came from."
Neo frowned. "You say that like you've been here before."
Ruth's gaze lingered on the Guild tower. "Maybe I have," she said quietly. "But I can't remember anything else."
AJ looked at her. "Still nothing?"
She shook her head, pressing a hand to her temple. "Every time I try, it's like someone slams a door in my mind. I… don't even know why."
Neo leaned forward. "Then we'll kick that door open."
A faint smile crossed Ruth's face — the smallest flicker of warmth. "You're impossible."
"Yeah," AJ said, leaning back. "That's our best quality."
The night deepened, and the fireworks grew louder. Each explosion painted their faces in color — red, gold, blue.
The crowd's cheers echoed through the streets, blending with the crackle of firelight and laughter.
AJ stared up, eyes reflecting the sky. "We're finally here," he whispered. "Tomorrow we register at the Guild for test."
Ruth tilted her head. "If they even accept slum rats like us."
Neo smirked. "Then we'll make them."
The last firework burst above the Guild — a massive golden bloom shaped like a phoenix.
Its glow shimmered across their faces — tired, uncertain, but filled with a strange, shared determination.
For a moment, AJ thought he saw the faintest golden flicker on his ring, pulsing with the rhythm of his heart.
Ruth noticed but said nothing.
Instead, she looked toward the Guild tower, eyes narrowed — as if somewhere in those bright halls, her past was waiting to be found.
The cheers died down. The night quieted.
And the three of them sat by the fountain, watching the last ripples fade under the moonless sky.
Tomorrow, the real story would begin.