Night had fallen. Liven sat alone in the courtyard, lit only by the cold glow of the stars. Hours had passed since he had been chosen as captain, yet the whispers in his mind refused to fade.
"Am I really the captain now?"
"And that dark aura… what if it consumes me?"
"If I cannot control this power… will I become a devil too?"
He heard soft footsteps. Elya approached quietly.
"Liven… are you alright?" she asked.
Liven shook his head. "I don't know."
Elya sat down beside him, silent, watching.
"You've changed. But sometimes… the thing you fear most can be controlled. As long as you're not afraid to look within yourself."
The next morning…
Harven gathered everyone.
"No more waiting. The first mission begins."
He pointed to a wooden board, covered in maps, mission notes, and monster reports.
"I want you to form groups. Captains—you choose your team."
All eyes turned to Liven.
For the first time, he faced a real decision.
Who should he choose?
Loyalty, strength, or intelligence?
He thought carefully…
Elya — quiet, but deep and perceptive.
Kael — determined, strategic.
Yurei — calm, swift, and precise.
Tamar — strong and loyal.
"These four will come with me," he decided.
Their first mission:
"Investigate and eliminate creatures appearing in the Misty Forest."
Harven warned:
"Be careful. This mission is not ordinary. Some of these creatures may carry curses."
Liven thought to himself:
"Perhaps… that voice will come again. Perhaps the Devil will call me again. But this time… I will not give in."
And so, the group set out.
Through the shadows, destiny watched them closely.
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