The wind was cold and sharp up on the mountain. Clouds drifted lazily below the peak, like an ocean of mist swallowing everything in silence.
And there she stood — a small, delicate girl, barefoot upon the gray stone, her white hair swaying softly in the wind. It stretched longer than her waist, gleaming faintly under the morning sun. Her crimson eyes were like jewels against her pale skin, fixed on the town far below.
Behind her, a single white wing stretched open — radiant, angelic.But when she smiled faintly, a small fang peeked from her lips.
"…How long has it been…" she whispered, her voice so quiet that even she could barely hear it.
Her gaze softened.For ages — or perhaps centuries — she had seen nothing but darkness and emptiness.No sound, no warmth. Just the endless void.Until one day, a single beam of light had pierced that darkness.
And she had followed it — breaking through the emptiness, clawing her way toward freedom.
Now, that freedom stood before her eyes: a human town, surrounded by vast fields and bathed in golden light.
"…Beautiful," she murmured, her lips curving slightly. "So this… is the world again."
She took one slow breath, feeling the wind brush her cheek. Then, without another word, she leapt off the cliff.
Her wing opened wide — a flash of white cutting through the blue sky.The wind roared past her ears as she descended, her long hair trailing like silver threads.
It feels… nice.The air, the warmth… I'd forgotten how this feels.
She slowed her fall, gliding gracefully before landing softly just outside the town gate. The earth crunched beneath her bare feet.
"...Now then." She looked down at herself — her robe was dirty, tattered, barely covering her body. Beneath it, nothing else."...I should've thought about clothes first."
She sighed, pulling the robe tighter around her. "Oh well… let's just try my luck."
The sun was directly overhead when she reached the town's gate. Two armored guards stood there, spears in hand, stopping every traveler that approached. Their expressions hardened when they saw her.
"Oi, you there! Stop right there!" one of them barked. "Show your identification card!"
"...Identification?" Lyune tilted her head, blinking innocently.
The guards exchanged a look. "Don't tell me… you don't have one?"
"...I don't even know what that is," she admitted softly. "Is it edible?"
The younger guard blinked. "E-edible?! No, it's not food! It's proof you're a resident or a registered traveler!"
The older guard sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You must be from the countryside, huh? Ran away from home maybe?"He glanced over her dirty robe, messy hair, and bare feet. "Or got kicked out."
"...You can say that," she murmured, looking away.
Technically, I was sealed away for centuries, but that might sound… strange.
"Well, listen, miss," the older guard said, trying to sound patient, "you can't enter Lumindell without a proper check. It's for everyone's safety."
Lyune blinked. "A… check?"
"Yeah," he said, motioning to a small wooden table beside him. "We just need to make sure you're not, you know, a criminal or something."
"Criminal…" she repeated softly. "I see. That's reasonable."
The younger guard nodded, holding up a round orb the size of an apple. It shimmered faintly in the sunlight."If you're innocent, it glows blue. If you've done something bad, it turns red. Simple enough, right?"
Lyune stared at the orb for a moment. "Simple indeed."
She placed her delicate hand on it. The orb pulsed gently — then shone a calm, deep blue.
"...Huh. Blue," the young guard said. "Guess she's clean."
"Looks like it," the older one agreed. "Alright, you can go in. But try to get yourself some proper clothes, alright? You'll catch a cold looking like that."
Lyune smiled faintly. "Thank you."
She stepped through the gate and into Lumindell.
The town burst with life.
Children ran along the cobblestone streets, merchants called out prices from colorful stalls, and the scent of bread, roasted meat, and flowers filled the air.Everything sparkled — from the banners fluttering overhead to the glass windows reflecting sunlight.
Lyune's eyes widened slightly as she walked. So many colors… it's almost overwhelming.
Her stomach growled quietly when she passed a bakery. The warm aroma of butter and sugar was enough to make her mouth water.
"…I shouldn't," she whispered to herself, gently holding her belly. "Food first… clothes second. Or maybe… the other way around?"
She stopped when she noticed a group of men nearby, lifting crates off a wagon. They looked strong, cheerful, and loud — the kind of people who knew the town well.
She approached carefully. "Um… excuse me."
One of the men, a burly guy with a messy beard, turned around. "Huh? Oh, hey there, little miss. Need somethin'?"
"...Do you know if this town has an adventurer guild?"
The man raised an eyebrow. "Adventurer guild, huh? You a new recruit or somethin'?"
Lyune blinked. "You could say that. I just… haven't seen one in a long time."
He chuckled. "Well, you're in luck. Lumindell's got one of the biggest guilds in the region. Just head straight down this road, past the fountain, then turn left at the big bronze statue of a guy holding a sword. Can't miss it."
"...I see. Thank you."
"Sure thing. Oh, and uh…" He scratched his head, glancing at her robe. "You might wanna buy somethin' to wear first before goin' there. The guild's full of rough folks. Don't want them starin', yeah?"
She tilted her head innocently. "Would that be… bad?"
"Ehhh—well, not bad, but—" He blushed slightly, scratching his cheek. "You'll just get unwanted attention, is all."
Lyune smiled faintly. "Then I'll manage somehow. Thank you again."
"Y-yeah, sure…"
She followed the directions — walking through bustling streets, passing the central fountain where children splashed and laughed. The bronze statue of the swordsman towered over the plaza, its blade pointed to the sky as if protecting the town itself.
Lyune stopped briefly, gazing up at it.
"So humans still build things like this," she murmured. "Statues of heroes…"
How nostalgic.Back then… there were people like that too. Brave, foolish, kind.All of them… gone now.
She shook her head softly, brushing away the thought, and continued down the road. The air grew quieter as the houses turned larger — less crowded. Then she saw it.
A massive building stood before her — tall, sturdy, and alive with energy. Its sign read in bold golden letters:
"Adventurer's Guild – Lumindell Branch"
People of all kinds came and went through its doors — armored knights, mages with staffs, archers carrying bows, and even beastfolk with tails and ears. Laughter and shouting spilled from inside, mixing with the sound of clinking mugs and clattering metal.
Lyune stopped at the entrance, staring up at the sign. The sunlight caught her red eyes, making them gleam.
"So it still exists," she whispered. "After all these years…"
A small breeze brushed her hair across her face. She smiled softly, brushing it aside.
"...Maybe… this is where I start again."
She took one deep breath, the smell of smoke and ale drifting faintly from inside.
And then — with quiet steps — Lyune walked toward the door.
To the place where her new story begins.