The next morning, Aria sat on the bed, still in her pajamas, swinging her feet while brushing Sir Bramble's little yarn hair.
"Do you have to go to the guild again today?" she asked softly.
Liora smiled and nodded. "Just for a little while. I'll be with Tessa. We're registering as a party."
Aria's face lit up. "So you're a party now?"
"As soon as the paperwork's done."
"Okay," she said, clutching her doll. "Tell the guild lady I said hi. And that you're the strongest party."
Liora chuckled and gave Aria's head a gentle ruffle. "Deal."
The Adventurer's Guild was already buzzing when Liora and Tessa arrived. Swords clinked, boots thudded on the floorboards, and papers fluttered as guild clerks dealt with the morning rush. A few familiar faces glanced their way, some with casual nods, others with mild curiosity.
Liora approached the main counter, where the receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman named Mariel, glanced up from her ledger.
"Well now," Mariel said, eyeing the pair, "didn't expect to see you bringing in a recruit."
Tessa straightened, clearly trying to look taller.
"We'd like to register as a party," Liora said calmly.
Mariel raised an eyebrow and reached beneath the counter for a parchment scroll. "Name?"
Liora looked at Tessa, who blinked.
"Oh! Um… The party name?"
Mariel rolled her eyes fondly. "Yes, dear. That."
Tessa looked to Liora nervously. Liora gave her a half-smile.
"…How about Silver Hearth?" Tessa offered, her cheeks a little pink. "You know… 'silver' for your hair… and 'hearth' because you're warm like a home?"
Liora blinked.
Mariel snorted, scribbling the name down. "Cute. Alright, Party: Silver Hearth. Members: Liora Valestra, rank C. Tessa Windrel, rank E."
She handed each of them a parchment to sign. Tessa signed quickly, her hand shaking slightly. Liora signed with steady fingers.
Mariel stamped the forms with a firm thunk, then passed them back.
"You're registered as an Official party. You can now take duo or team quests. Shared rewards, shared rank growth. And… shared danger," she added, giving Liora a look.
"I know," Liora said simply.
Tessa grinned like it was her birthday.
"Oh!" she turned to Mariel. "Also… Aria says hi."
Mariel blinked. "…The little one? She's sweet. Smarter than half the rookies in here."
Liora gave a small, proud nod.
As they stepped away from the desk, parchment in hand, Tessa whispered, "Silver Hearth… I still can't believe you said yes."
"I said we'd see how we did. You proved yourself."
Tessa smiled. "Thanks, Liora. I won't let you down."
Liora looked forward as the crowd parted around them, adventurers moving aside for the new party.
"You're part of something now," she said. "We both are."
Back at the inn, Aria waited with cookies and an eager face. When Tessa and Liora walked in side by side, the parchment in Liora's hand, Aria squealed.
"You did it!"
"We did," Tessa said, kneeling beside her. "You're stuck with me now."
Aria giggled, handing her a crumbled cookie. "Only if you promise to protect Liora too."
Tessa gave a mock salute. "Deal."
Liora stood above them, watching the scene, the child she protected, the girl who had chosen to stand beside her.
She had never imagined her life would look like this.
But now, it felt like something real.
Something worth building.