The forest north of Tianyu village had become a secret home for two boys.Every morning, before the sun touched the thatched roofs, Ren Tianyi and Draven Ignis slipped between the trees with only stale bread and a bamboo canteen.
To the village, they were children playing.But inside the hidden clearing, the fate of Arkhésia was quietly being forged.
Ren had traced circles on the ground with charcoal and white stones.Precise lines, simple glyphs—the beginnings of a rune training field.
Draven watched with folded arms, skeptical.— "You really think drawing scratches on the ground will make me stronger?" he scoffed.
Ren smiled.— "They aren't scratches. They're stabilization runes. They help channel ambient mana."
Draven sighed but followed the instructions.When the last line closed, the air inside the clearing seemed to pulse.The wind twisted, and tiny red sparks rose into the air.
Ren lifted his wooden staff.— "Now breathe. Feel the heat, but don't fight it."
Draven shut his eyes, breath ragged.Sparks danced around him.For a moment, Ren feared the flame would get out of control.
Then, the fire focused into a perfect sphere in the boy's palm.
[Skill Detected: Minor Fire Sphere.][Fire Element Control: +1.2%]
Draven opened his eyes, astonished.— "I… did it?"
Ren nodded, smiling.— "I told you—control beats power every time."
Draven let out a short laugh.— "You talk like an old master."— "And you act like a stubborn pupil."
They laughed together, the sound swallowed by the leaves.
🌿 The Whisper of the Bow
That afternoon, while they trained, a different sound split the forest—a high whistle, followed by a dull thud.
Ren looked up.— "Did you hear that?"Draven scanned the trees, on edge.— "Sounded like… an arrow."
They ran a narrow path and found the remains of an overturned cart tangled between the roots—splintered wood, signs of struggle, and three bodies marked with serpent tattoos at their necks.
Draven's face hardened.— "Slave traders," he growled.
On the ground, a silver-haired elf girl in torn clothes was dragging a broken bow.When she saw them, she raised the shattered weapon toward Ren.
— "Stay back!" she shouted, voice shaking. "I won't go back to those chains!"
Ren put his hands up.— "Calm down. We don't want to hurt you."
Draven approached cautiously.— "She's hurt…"
[Potential Observer Activated.][Target Detected: Lyra Sylwen][Race: Elf][Potential: A+][Affinity: Wind / Precision][Recommended Class: Spirit Archer]
Ren's heart thudded.— "It's her…"
Draven blinked, puzzled.— "Her who?"— "The second."
Lyra tried to stand but stumbled, collapsing to her knees.Ren ran to help despite the girl shoving him away.
— "I told you not to come any closer!" she spat.
Ren gripped her shoulders firmly.— "Hate me later. Right now, you need healing."
He concentrated, channeling pure mana.The blue flame at his staff flared, but this time it wasn't heat—it was light.
[Improvised Skill: Minor Purification][Effect: Stabilizes minor wounds]
Energy wrapped around the girl, sealing cuts and steadying her breath.Lyra stared at him, shocked.
— "You're… a mage?"
Ren nodded.— "And you're someone fate shoved onto our path."
She studied him, wary.— "Our path?"
Ren pointed to Draven, watching in silence.— "I'm Ren Tianyi. He's Draven. We're building something new. A guild."
— "A guild?" she repeated, testing the word.
Ren offered his hand.— "Want to join us?"
She hesitated. Memories—screams, chains, fire—flashed in her eyes.But for the first time in a long while, she saw something different in a human's face: determination.
Slowly, she took his hand.
[New Member Recruited: Lyra Sylwen][Class: Spirit Archer][Function Unlocked: Group Synergy – Level 1][Active Bonus: +1% shared accuracy and perception among members]
A soft wind brushed by, lifting dry leaves into a small whirl—the Circle of Leaves.A symbol marking the birth of the second bond within the Immortal Guild.
Draven crossed his arms, trying to hide a smile.— "Looks like we've got someone to hunt for dinner from afar."
Lyra arched an eyebrow.— "And someone to roast the prey alive, from what I see."
Ren sighed.— "You two are either going to get along perfectly… or kill each other."
The forest answered with distant thunder.Arkhésia continued to spin in war, but beneath that sky, in a hidden hollow…a legend was beginning.