Morning came with the pale gleam of sunlight filtering onto his work desk though the windowstill.
Kael sat quietly before the table, narrowing his eyes at a puddle of blood hovering above the desk. His control was getting better. At this point he could make it float a few meters above the table if he truly put his mind into it.
He left the blood to fall on the table with a small splash as a sigh escaped his lips.
'Guess that's all for now.
He stared out at the window, watching the hustle of the city below him.
'I really should head out to the guild now...'
---
Like every other day, the guild was alive with it's usually early morning chaos. The clatter of mugs against wooden tables mingled with the low murmur of adventurers discussing quests, bounties, and the occasional boastful tales. Sunlight filtered in through the high windows, glinting off polished armor and the dark wood of the counters. The air carried a faint mix of ale, smoke, and dust—a somewhat familiar aroma to those who spent their days in the service of dungeon runs.
Kael leaned against the table. As always, his hood was up to hide his face. Beside him, Hazel fiddled with her bow, while Elise gracefully sipped a cup of tea. Gareth sat just across from kael, polishing his axe with methodical patience, occasionally casting a glance toward Kael.
"Think we'll get a decent quest7 today?" Hazel asked softly, her eyes darting to the quest board across the hall.
> "We'll you know" Gareth replied, not looking up. "Same old same old... But keep your wits up, one slip up could cost you your life."
"Sure thing captain." She mused, staring back at her bow.
Kael smirked faintly. "Predictable is boring. I prefer a little chaos to test myself.
Ewlise rolled her eyes, though a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Just don't get yourself killed before you get there."
They exchanged quiet banter, the ease of familiar camaraderie filling the space around them. It was a rare moment of calm before the storm—a lull that made the guild hall feel almost peaceful.
But that calm shattered instantly.
"Hey Gareth... Long time no see"
Five figures moved with confident grace toward their table. They carried the kind of presence that demanded attention without a single word. Their armor gleamed under the morning light as they reached the table. The one who called out scanned the table until his gaze landed on the newbie.
"Well, well… look what we have here," Rourke drawled, leaning casually against the bar. "Gareth managed to nab the little rookie himself," the man smirked though from the looks of it, he wasn't here for Kael.
"So do you ladies wanna hang out? Our party is pretty strong you know... Not like this–"
"Thanks but I'll pass," Elise said immediately.
"Yeah I'm with Elise." Hazel replied as her mood soured instantly. "Besides, don't know underestimate our party Rourke."
Kael watched the display with interest. The party that had just arrived were strong. Stronger than theirs, heck they had three 2nd tier holders already.
Their team was simple. A 2nd tier axe user, a 2nd tier tank and two agility type classes.
What really stood out to him though was this man, Rourke Daystar.
'Soul Insight...'
[Name: Rourke Daystar]
[Class: Mage {Lv. 25} ]
Scribe {Lv. ??}
Apart from the fact that this was the first mage he'd met in his life, what caught his attention was the name.
'A... surname?' Kael thought to himself. 'Is this guy a... Noble?... '
Here on Terra, surnames we're only given to wealthy families or families born of royal blood. And from the looks of things, Rourke was a part of the few noble families living in Fairhaven.
Gareth stiffened, his hand gently brushing the hilt of his axe. "What do you want Rourke?."
"Me? I'm just here to ask these ladies out" Rourke's grin widened heinously. "Is that so wrong?...dear Gareth?"
"You were rejected, so beat it... Your presence here doesn't exactly scream good to any of us."
"How rude Gareth, I thought we were friends I mean we had so much fun toge–"
Before the mage could finish, Gareth has steadied his grip on his axe, already preparing to swing his axe at Rourke, but then-
Knock!!
The sound came from somewhere across of him. It was Kael. He had
"Please sir, do you mind giving us a little space we have a hard day ahead of us so were just a little grumpy is all." he smiled innocently.
"And who asked you to speak peasant?" Rourke shot back at Kael's attempt to calm the situation.
"Sorry I just.."
"I said shut up." Rourke replied authoritatively. "Didn't your parents teach you to bow before nobility boy?..."
"Hey..."
"tch-... worthless son of a B-
BOOM!
This time around it was Kyle that snapped. the next instant the table was shoved to the side and in seconds, his blade was already at the neck of the mage. His crimson eyes burned with a hatred he didn't even know existed. His every being screamed at him to shut the mouth of this person instantly. But to his disappointment, the blade never reached its mark. The tank from the other party had stepped in just in time to take the hit as the clash of metal resounded in the guild, drawing the eyes of everyone within.
Elise and Hazel recoiled in shock at the suddeness of his attack before scrambling to their feet, considering whether to hold Kael back from the mage or to let him finish the job.
The tension in the bar thickened instantly. Adventurers instinctively gave the two groups space, sensing the subtle clash of intent between Kael's team and Rourke's. The ladies stayed by Kyle as he calmed down a bit, but even so, the fire in his eyes still burned as he stared the mage down.
Rourke's party didn't move immediately as the shock of the whole thing still coursed through theiir veins.
Rourke for one was terrified. A few milliseconds too late and he would've died. Kael on the other hand was unflinching, he met their gaze with rage evenly.
"Wha- h... Hh- how d-are you!-" Rourke stuttered. "I'll have-"7
"Okay guys, wrap it up." The elven receptionist finally spoke up.746 "No fighting in the guild... unless you wanna take it up with the guild master."
The crowd slowly dispersed at her words. But the parties still stared each other down, various thoughts running through their heads.
Seconds passed as Rourke finally turned to leave. Going through the guild doors, His face red with embarassment as he couldn't even lay a finger on the brat. He wouldn't take this, no, he was a Daystar, a noble... He would have his revenge.
'Watch your back newbie, you're my prey now.'
At the same time, a certain red head walked through the door, noticing the tense mood circling the guild.
"Uh... Did I miss something?"
--
Their dive into the dungeon was quiet that morning — too quiet in fact. At least until.
A-hahahahahaha!
Doran's laughter echoed through the halls, attracting even more monsters to their location.
"Quiet down will you" Hazel told him.
"Yeah, yeah, but that brat Rourke had it coming you know?... Heck I know I never say this, but I'm proud of you kid- haha."
The 'kid' in question felt distracted. Usually he would throw a remark or two, but this time he didn't even bother as they cut their way through the dungeon in silence.
"Last chamber should be just up ahead," Gareth said at last, alerting them to their location. "Once we clear that, we're can head back."
"Sure..."
"Yeah..."
"Got it boss...
"..."
Kael still wasn't feeling himself. He knew nobles. They were a prideful bunch. He was sure that Rourke was probably scheming a plan for him this very moment.
'Thats just what they think of... Tch- they're no different from gods..." He thought angrily as they rested on the final chamber, preparing the for their ascent to the surface.
Kael's gaze drifted over to the door before them, a single thought screaming through his mind. It felt like the answer to everything. He wanted it. He wanted to get stronger. He wanted more power.
'I want to be...' his words drifted at the end as he remembered the slaughter on his town that thing had levelled the entire place singlehandedly. He had absorbed its soul, but he was still as weak as always.
'I want to be stronger...' he thought, clenching his fists and stared at his them with a somewhat blank expression
'I have to...'
*****
[You have leveled up]
[...]
'Its at level 22 already?' he thought blankly, a bit surprised at his level speed before taking a look at the corpses around him. Goblins, kobolds, and many other 1st tier monster corpses littered the forest grounds.
"Maybe... I went a little overboard, but it was worth it," he glanced at the injuries all over his body as a frown crept on his face. "I'm still alive and that's all that matters..."
His voice trailed off as heremembered the events from earlier. The scuffle with the mage, Rourke did well to spark a few painful memories within him.
Back when he was still 6, he watched his parents die by the hands of a noble. He could never forget that day... Ever. He swore to himself all those years ago that he'd return the favour if he had ever got the chance.
Back at the he would've let rourkes remark off the hook, but the guy was a noble.
"No point thinking about it, I'm already past curfew." He sighed, dusting himself before heading back to the guild, leaving the small mountain of monsters corpses behind him.