Valen still had hours before nightfall.
He needed to clear his mind — and blood blade practice always did that.
He walked to an open field outside the town and trained relentlessly.
Sweat flew with every swing, breath burned with every stance.
He drilled his footwork, his aura control, his counters, his slashes — over and over until his muscles screamed.
Little by little,
he felt it —
control.
When he finally stopped, the sky was already black.
Damn… I lost track of time.
He grabbed his things and ran.
Pig's Song — Nightfall
The street leading to the inn was lit by lanterns swaying gently in the breeze.
And then he saw her.
Daphne stood under a lantern, waiting — glowing like an angel cast in warm light.
Her blonde hair was tied back neatly, and she'd put on a touch of makeup.
Her clothes were simple — shirt and fitted trousers — yet somehow she looked radiant.
Valen blinked.
Why… does she look so good? It's just meeting a teammate… right?
He shook the thought away and approached her.
"I'm sorry. I made you wait."
Daphne smiled brightly.
"It's okay. I'm just happy you came.
I was starting to think you ditched me."
Valen laughed.
"No way. Let's go."
Together, they walked into Pig's Song.
The tavern was loud tonight — packed with adventurers boasting about their kills, drinking heavily, and offering jobs for anyone brave or foolish enough to join them.
Valen and Daphne stepped inside — side by side.
Their search for teammates had begun.
Pig's Song was alive tonight — lanterns flickering, mugs clashing, voices overlapping, mercenaries swearing, travelers singing horribly off-key.
Valen and Daphne slid into an empty table.
Daphne leaned forward, eyes restless.
"So… how do we even start?"
Valen scanned the room.
Most people were either drunk, dangerous, or both.
Then, at a dimly lit corner table, he noticed two young adventurers — both quietly observing the chaos instead of joining it.
One of them caught Daphne's attention.
"Valen… look."
A Mage Trying His Best (and Failing)
The boy was thin, pale, and gripping his staff like it might run away.
His robes were slightly burnt at the edges — a very concerning detail.
He wasn't looking at them.
He was staring nervously at his own spellbook… and whispering:
"Okay Elliot… don't burn anything this time… please…"
Daphne whispered:
"He's cute."
Valen raised an eyebrow.
"He looks cursed."
Still, the boy suddenly noticed them watching him.
He froze like a deer in torchlight.
Then he stood up too quickly—
his knee hit the table—
his mug fell—
his sleeve caught fire again—
"A-Ah! Ahhh! Not again!"
He panicked, smacking his arm with a plate until the flame died with a sad pffft.
Finally, he approached them with trembling steps.
"…Um… hi."
Valen blinked.
Daphne smiled warmly.
Elliot swallowed hard.
"S-So… are you two… forming a party?"
"…because I… uh… wouldn't mind joining… if you'll have me…"
Daphne whispered:
"Aww, he asked so politely."
Valen thought:
At least he's honest. And not a pervert.
Valen nodded once.
Elliot lit up like he just survived death — again.
"R-Really?! I swear I can use magic! I mean… sometimes on purpose!"
Daphne giggled.
Valen sighed.
Well… if he doesn't explode, he'll be useful.
Lyra — Spear Girl With Attitude
Before they could respond, the girl sitting at the same table swung her spear down and leaned on it like a throne.
Short brown hair, intense eyes, boots up on the table — the confident type.
She looked at Valen like she was judging his soul.
"So you're recruiting?"
"Yes," Valen answered simply.
"Rank?"
"Card is being made."
She nodded approvingly.
"Good.
''Mid-ranks are all idiots anyway."
She pointed her chin toward Elliot.
"And you — stop setting yourself on fire.
You'll embarrass the whole team."
Elliot squeaked.
Daphne laughed.
Valen hid a smile.
The girl stood and tapped her spear on the floor.
"Name's Lyra.
I stab things.
If you need someone who doesn't run away, I'll join."
Daphne grabbed Valen's arm excitedly.
"We have a party now!"
Valen exhaled softly.
This… might actually work.
The group was seated at a corner table in the Pig's Song, discussing roles and basic plans.
The tavern was loud, crowded, and full of the usual morning chaos — but their corner stayed relatively calm.
Then—
A heavy hand slammed onto their table.
Cups shook.
Elliot flinched.
A large man stood beside them, broad-shouldered and clearly used to throwing his weight around.
His steps had been slow and careless, the kind of swagger that came from getting what he wanted by force.
"You lot… trying to form a party here?"
Valen lifted his gaze.
"We are. Is there a problem?"
The man didn't answer.
Instead, he leaned closer, eyes shifting directly to Daphne.
Daphne instinctively pulled her shoulders back, uneasy.
He pointed at her with his chin.
"You.
Drop these kids and join my team."
Valen's expression didn't change, but his voice lost all softness.
"She said no."
A low laugh escaped the man's throat.
"And who the hell are you?"
He grabbed Valen's collar abruptly and pulled him forward.
"You starting trouble, boy?"
Valen didn't respond.
He simply reached up, took hold of the man's wrist, and twisted —
not fast, not flashy… just precise.
The man's face tightened in pain as his knees buckled.
He dropped to the floor.
Lyra rose quietly, her eyes sharp.
"She refused.
That should've been the end of it."
Rogan — that was the man's name — tried to regain his footing and swung a fist straight at Valen's head.
Valen stepped aside.
The motion was effortless, controlled.
Rogan stumbled forward from the missed punch.
Valen planted his foot and drove a clean kick into the side of Rogan's knee.
The joint gave out immediately.
The big man collapsed fully this time, slamming onto the floorboards.
The tavern fell silent for a moment.
People turned away, pretending not to see.
This wasn't the first time someone taught a bully a lesson in Pig's Song.
Daphne stared at Valen, not frightened — impressed.
Lyra gave a small nod.
Elliot held his breath, wide-eyed.
Rogan groaned on the floor, clutching his leg.
None of the patrons moved to help him.
Valen scanned the room calmly.
"Anyone else planning to cause trouble?"
No one answered.
The tavern slowly resumed its noise —
but the tables around them remained empty, like a respectful distance.
Their team, though brand-new, had just made its first mark.
Valen and the others left the noisy chaos of Pig's Song behind them.
They needed somewhere quieter — somewhere they could think, talk, and plan.
After wandering through the busier part of Trade Town, they found it:
a modest yet elegant inn tucked between a bakery and an apothecary.
The inn's sign read: The Amber Hearth.
Inside, it was nothing like Pig's Song.
Warm candlelight washed the polished wooden floor in gold.
The air smelled faintly of cinnamon and burnt sugar.
Old maps and paintings decorated the walls — sights of distant mountains, forests, and forgotten ruins.
A large stone hearth crackled in the corner, its flames steady and calm.
It was the kind of place where adventurers talked quietly,
sharing stories instead of shouting them.
Valen exhaled softly.
A peaceful place… that's new.
They took a round table near the hearth — not too crowded, not too isolated.
Lyra dropped into her seat and immediately crossed her arms.
They took a round table near the hearth, warm light flickering across the polished wood.
Lyra immediately folded her arms.
"All right. Leader. Who's it going to be?"
Elliot shifted nervously, eyes bouncing between Valen and Lyra.
Daphne leaned in slightly, curious.
Lyra smirked with confidence.
"I should lead. I'm older, and I've been in more fights than all of you."
Valen raised his head, gaze calm but sharp.
"You fought street thugs and drunk mercenaries, Lyra."
Lyra's brow twitched.
"And you think you're better?"
Valen didn't raise his voice —
he didn't need to.
"I went on countless monster hunts with my brother."
The table fell quiet.
Daphne's expression softened; she listened carefully.
Valen continued, his tone steady:
"I've survived days alone in forests filled with beasts.
I know how to track, how to fight, how to retreat…
and how to keep people alive."
Lyra opened her mouth, then closed it.
She had no experience even close to that.
Elliot raised his hand timidly.
"I… I vote for Valen."
Daphne nodded immediately.
"Same here."
Lyra let out a long groan.
"Fine. Whatever. Let the noble boy lead."
Valen didn't gloat.
He simply dipped his head respectfully.
"Good. Then tomorrow we'll—"
Daphne leaned forward suddenly.
"Wait, wait. We just formed a team.
Can we, I don't know… talk? Like actual people?"
Valen blinked.
He wasn't used to this kind of social push.
But he gave a small nod.
They ordered drinks.
Not strong ones — fruit wine, honey mead, and spiced ale.
As cups were filled, the tension finally began to melt.
The first conversation was light.
Elliot talked about how he learned magic by accidentally blowing up half a chicken coop.
Lyra admitted she didn't like children because "they always bite her boots."
Everyone laughed.
Even Valen cracked a small smile — a rare sight.
Daphne watched that smile. Just for a second.
Later, when Elliot went to refill the drinks and Lyra was arguing with a server about "portion sizes," Daphne leaned closer to Valen.
Not too close.
Just enough to be heard.
"You look different tonight."
Valen glanced at her.
"Different how?"
"Less… heavy."
He didn't respond right away.
Daphne swirled her drink.
"Most people who walk into a guild like you did… they're either running toward something or running away from something."
Valen's fingers tightened around his cup.
Daphne noticed but didn't push.
Instead, she smiled softly.
"Whatever it is, Valen… you don't have to fight everything alone."
He let out a quiet breath.
"…Thank you."
Just that.
Small. Simple. Honest.
Daphne didn't ask for more.
The night passed with more soft jokes and light teasing.
For the first time in a long while,
Valen felt something that almost resembled comfort.
When the candles burned low, they agreed on a plan.
Lyra stood up first.
"Two days from now, Adventurer's Guild.
Valen gets his card, we make this team official, and we take our first mission."
Elliot saluted awkwardly.
Daphne grinned brightly.
Valen nodded.
"Two days. Guild entrance. Don't be late."
They all left the Amber Hearth one by one, the fire still glowing warmly behind them.
( If you're enjoying Valen's journey, please add it to your Library — it helps a lot! )