The Silver Rank badge felt heavier than it looked. Suho pinned it to his chest with trembling fingers as the cheers of the Guildhall still echoed in his ears. He should have felt triumphant, but his heart refused to settle.
The cloaked figure he had glimpsed during the trial lingered in his mind. A watcher, silent and unseen. Suho told himself it was just nerves, but the whisper that had filled his chest—They are coming—would not fade.
---
A New Beginning
The following morning, Suho rose early, as was his habit. The dormitories assigned to Silver-ranked adventurers were small but comfortable, each with a bed, a writing desk, and a window that overlooked the bustling streets of Aramore.
When he stepped outside, the city was already alive. Merchants raised their voices to advertise wares, children darted through the alleys, and guards patrolled with the easy swagger of men at peace.
For Suho, peace was an illusion.
He strapped on his sword and headed toward the guild for the first meeting of his new rank. Silver adventurers were expected to take on more dangerous contracts, often involving coordinated teams. Today, he would be paired with strangers, no longer sheltered under Lira's guidance.
The Guildhall was crowded when he arrived. Dozens of adventurers milled about the quest boards. When he entered, conversations stilled for a heartbeat—then resumed, heavier with curiosity.
"There he is."
"The rookie who cleared the constructs."
"He moves like he's been training for years."
Suho ignored the voices and stepped toward the counter, where a young clerk smiled nervously at him. "Ah, Suho Kim. Congratulations on your Silver promotion. You've been assigned to a party for your first mission."
She handed him a parchment. Suho scanned it quickly.
Mission: Escort a caravan of scholars to the ruins of Veloria.
Difficulty: High-Copper/Low-Silver.
Assigned Party Members:
– Kaelen Duskbane (Swordsman, Silver)
– Mira Fernwillow (Wind Elf Mage, Silver)
– Bran Stonehide (Beastkin Warrior, Copper, pending promotion)
Suho raised a brow. A mixed party. Not unusual, but not without risks.
---
Meeting the Party
The meeting point was the south gate of Aramore. Suho arrived early, watching wagons piled high with supplies being secured by nervous scholars. The ruins of Veloria lay several days south, in lands known to be haunted by remnants of the old war.
A tall man with raven-black hair and a sharp jawline approached first. His sword, polished and well-maintained, hung casually at his side. He extended a hand.
"Kaelen Duskbane," he said smoothly. "You must be Suho. The Guild's latest prodigy."
Suho hesitated before shaking his hand. "Just another adventurer."
Kaelen smirked. "Modest. I like that."
Before Suho could reply, a figure landed lightly beside them—an elf, her long silver hair tied back, emerald robes fluttering in the wind she conjured to soften her landing. Her eyes were bright and mischievous.
"Mira Fernwillow, Wind Mage," she introduced. "So you're the boy who broke the constructs? Impressive."
Suho rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to respond.
The ground trembled slightly as the final member arrived. A massive beastkin, half-lion in appearance, strode forward with arms thick as tree trunks. His fur shimmered golden in the sunlight, his amber eyes sharp yet kind.
"Bran Stonehide," he rumbled. "And don't let my Copper badge fool you—I've wrestled direbears."
Mira grinned. "We'll make a fine party, won't we?"
Kaelen's smirk widened. "As long as everyone pulls their weight."
Suho said nothing, but he could feel it already—the strange pull of fate that drew people together.
---
Journey to Veloria
The caravan rolled out at dawn, dust rising behind the wheels as the scholars debated loudly about ancient ruins and magical ley lines. Suho and his new party rode alongside, weapons at the ready.
For the first day, the journey was peaceful. Mira's laughter filled the air, Bran told exaggerated tales of past hunts, and Kaelen discussed sword forms with an ease that revealed his noble upbringing. Suho mostly listened, speaking only when necessary.
But that night, under a crescent moon, the first test came.
Shadows moved at the edge of the firelight.
"Wolves," Bran growled, rising to his feet.
But when the creatures stepped into view, Suho's blood ran cold. These were no wolves. Their eyes glowed crimson, their bodies wreathed in faint tendrils of black mist. Corrupted beasts.
Kaelen drew his sword in a flash. "Protect the scholars!"
The pack lunged. Bran met them head-on, his claws tearing through fur and bone. Mira unleashed gusts of wind that sent wolves sprawling. Kaelen fought with graceful precision, his blade singing as it struck.
Suho hesitated. The warmth stirred within him, begging release.
He gritted his teeth, drew his sword, and charged.
The fight was brutal. One wolf lunged at a scholar, and without thinking, Suho's blade flared with light. The beast shrieked as the glow seared its flesh, collapsing into ash.
The others froze. So did his party.
"What—what was that?" Mira breathed.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "That… was not ordinary magic."
Suho's chest pounded. He forced the glow to fade. "I'll explain later. Fight now."
They did. Together, they cut down the rest of the corrupted beasts, though unease lingered in the air.
When the last wolf fell, Bran clapped Suho's shoulder. "You saved them. Whatever that was… it was strength."
But Kaelen's gaze was sharper, calculating.
---
Ruins of Veloria
By the third day, they reached Veloria.
The ruins stretched across a valley, ancient towers toppled and swallowed by ivy. Crumbled statues of forgotten heroes lay shattered in the grass. The air was thick with old magic, humming faintly against the skin.
The scholars rushed ahead eagerly, but Suho felt something else—a weight pressing on his chest. The warmth inside him responded to this place, as if the ruins whispered to his very soul.
"This place is cursed," Bran muttered.
"Not cursed," Mira corrected, eyes wide with fascination. "Alive."
They set camp at the edge of the ruins, but that night, Suho's sleep was shattered by a dream.
A woman cloaked in radiance stood before him, her hair a cascade of golden light, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"Child of Light," she whispered. "Beware the shadow. It knows you now."
Suho reached out, but the vision dissolved, leaving him alone in the dark.
When he woke, Kaelen was sitting across from him, polishing his sword. His eyes flicked to Suho.
"You're hiding something," Kaelen said quietly. "And one day, you'll have to tell us."
Suho said nothing. But deep inside, he knew Kaelen was right.
---
End of Chapter 13