Morning came with a dull throb in my head, the remnants of last night's revelry at the local pub. I raised a hand to my temple and groaned softly, recalling the drinks, the laughter, and... the company.
As I sat up in bed, the weight on either side of me stirred. Yura and Shina—our companions from the nobleman's estate—lay beneath the sheets, still half-asleep. It seemed Híroÿ had convinced them to come home with us after all. Typical.
Shina's soft gray eyes fluttered open, shimmering in the morning light like silver coins resting on the ocean floor.
"Good morning," I said, sliding to the edge of the bed. "Sorry you had to share the bed with me."
"I slept well," she replied, turning her face away with a hint of pink in her cheeks. "I'm just surprised you didn't try anything."
I let out a dry chuckle. "Don't worry. I'm not some perv. I prefer to think before I act."
I grabbed a shirt from the chest at the foot of the bed and pulled it on. "Today, I'd like you both to show me where I can get some enchanted light armor."
Behind me, Yura stretched, ears twitching and her tail rising with the movement. Even in a world bursting with fantasy races, her beauty stood out—refined yet untamed. She and Shina, both clad now in casual clothes, shared a brief glance before Shina spoke.
"Depending on what kind of enchantments or effects you're looking for, we can take you to the right place."
Just as I was about to reply, Yura pulled out her guild card and held it toward me. "Before we go, we wanted to ask… would you consider forming a permanent party with us? It's easier to progress as a group, and we're already green rank."
I blinked at the card, then at their expectant faces. "I'm not against it, but why me? I'm sure there are stronger adventurers you could team up with."
Shina shifted slightly. "Because most people only want us for our looks. You... see us differently."
I paused. Their sincerity was clear, and it wasn't something I could easily dismiss. I sighed. "Alright. Let's form a party. If you're with me, I'm guessing the other two asked Híroÿ?"
Their flushed cheeks answered before their words did.
"Well," Yura muttered, looking away, "they've already… marked that road."
I shook my head, grinning. "That man never changes."
Before things got more awkward, I clapped my hands together. "Alright! Let's get going. Help me pick something that doesn't make me look ridiculous."
After grabbing breakfast at a quaint tavern near the town square—where I accidentally ordered something like a syrup-soaked pork pancake—we made our way to the armor shop.
The storefront read Magicraft in elegant script. The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by the melodic voice of a fairy who glided from behind a silk curtain. She had snowy hair, radiant golden eyes, and luminous white wings that glimmered with every beat.
"Good morning!" she chimed. "Looking for anything specific?"
"Magic-enhanced light armor," I replied, unable to hide my fascination with her ethereal presence.
She nodded and led us into a side chamber, where enchanted gear lined the walls in dazzling displays. Weapons glowed faintly; armor shimmered with arcane runes.
Eventually, I picked out a pair of lightweight boots and a hooded, dark purple-and-black robe with subtle silver trimming. The boots enhanced my speed and agility, while the robe gave resistance against elemental and physical damage. A ring that boosted my magical output completed the ensemble—22 gold pieces in total.
The moment I stepped out of the shop, I felt the shift. My movements were lighter, my aura more stable. The robe flowed like a shadow around me, and with Kyoko perched on my shoulder and Sangui at my heel, I felt... formidable.
"Alright," I said, adjusting the mask hanging on the left side of my face. "Time to meet royalty."
The walk to the castle took nearly two hours. By the time we arrived, the courtyard was buzzing. Eight teams had been summoned, each composed of three to four adventurers. We weren't the only green ranks to get noticed, it seemed.
I fell into place behind Híroÿ and his crew, watching the others with quiet curiosity. When the king appeared, everyone bowed—but not us. We were late to it, realizing only after the fact. Hastily, we followed suit.
"Thank you for coming, brave adventurers..." the king began. His voice carried the weight of both nobility and exhaustion. One by one, the princes and princesses selected their escort groups.
Híroÿ's group was chosen by the first princess. Mine, by the second.
Our team stood to the side with her, a tall, composed woman with golden eyes and flowing violet hair. Her presence was commanding yet warm.
"I am the second princess of this state, Yullia Nera," she said, bowing gently. "Thank you for accepting this responsibility."
We responded in turn with our names and bows. My group consisted of a large warrior named Hiro, a caster named Hiroe, a brawler named Izsa, and the youngest, Izula, who specialized in support magic—a type I hadn't seen before.
Shina and Yura introduced themselves with a bit more poise now, settling naturally into the group dynamic. I followed with mine.
"I'm Shiro, and these are my companions—Kyoko and Sangui," I said, gesturing toward my shoulder and side.
Princess Yullia smiled at the mention of my bonded creatures. "A rare gift," she remarked.
The king gave one final command, explaining that the royals would travel to another state to procure resources. The land had been unstable lately, with strange creatures appearing. Our job was clear—guard the royalty, ensure safe passage, and return in one piece. The rewards, he promised, would be fitting.
A map and letter were passed to the other group leader. With the formalities complete, the king retreated inside, and we were left with Yullia.
As I exchanged glances with my new team, a strange thought crept into my mind: this world had only begun to show us its depths.
And somewhere out there, something was watching.