The frost plain stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of silver and white beneath the pale glow of a waning sun. The wind howled across the ice, carrying flecks of snow that stung my cheeks. Each step crunched against the frozen crust, echoing in the silence of the barren land. Aeola's hand was warm in mine, a tether against the cold and the doubts swirling in my mind.
I drifted into thoughts of Father's words, wondering if he had been right about me all along. Aeola noticed. She stopped abruptly, pulling me out of my reverie. Her worried eyes searched mine. "Natsuki, is something bothering you?"
Shame welled up inside me. I couldn't answer, not at first. But then she leaned forward, pressing her forehead gently against mine. "Come on," she whispered, smiling softly. "You can tell your big sis anything."
That broke me. I confessed everything—my insecurities, my fear of being powerless, of never pulling my weight. She listened quietly, her forehead still resting against mine, and then giggled. Her grip on my hand tightened. "Oh, Natsuki," she said, her smile radiant. "I'll always be here to protect you."
But that was the very thing that gnawed at me—the reliance, the weakness. I forced a smile, pretending her words reassured me.
We walked on, the frost plain stretching endlessly, until she spoke again. "But if it really bothers you, I might know something we could try."
I narrowed my eyes. Aeola had a history of false promises. "So," I asked, "is this like the other things you told me to try?"
Her cheeks flushed. "It's not like that!" she protested.
I raised an eyebrow. "Like the time you said I'd get ice magic by sitting in the frozen lake? Or when you told me to eat gering tree roots and I ended up sick? Or—"
Her fist slammed into my gut, hard enough to knock the wind out of me but not injure. "Shut up!" she shouted, embarrassed. She quickly steadied me, her hand on my stomach. "It's nothing like those times. Are you okay?"
I nodded, still smirking.
"This is different," she insisted. "There's a new shop—hidden deep in Durak's Forest. It's hard to find, but… I think it could help."
I froze. "Durak's Forest? Aeola, that place is crawling with high-ranked creatures. Do you even know if this shop is real?"
Her blush deepened, but her eyes held firm. "Mr. Fyuri told me. His son was weak, then suddenly came back stronger after finding it."
"Mr. Fyuri is two thousand years old," I muttered. "Are you sure it wasn't just an old man's rambling?"
She shrugged. "I thought it was worth telling you. You're always down about this."
I sighed, then ruffled her hair. "It's fine. Don't worry. It'll all work out in the end."
Her smile returned, and she pulled me along. Yet the thought lingered, heavy in my chest. My mind drifted back to the dream—the cloaked creature, the promise of power—and I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice when we reached the town.
The guild hall loomed at the center of town, its stone walls carved with runes that glowed faintly in the twilight. Tall banners hung from the rafters, each embroidered with the crest of the guild—a silver sword crossed with a golden quill. The heavy oak doors creaked as we entered, revealing a cavernous interior lit by chandeliers of enchanted crystal.
The floor was polished marble, veined with frost‑like patterns that shimmered under the light. A grand staircase rose at the far end, splitting into two balconies that overlooked the bustling hall below. Adventurers crowded the long tables, their armor clinking as they laughed and argued over quests. The air smelled of spiced ale and parchment, a mix of revelry and bureaucracy.
At the counter, clerks worked behind carved desks of dark mahogany, their ledgers stacked high. A mural stretched across the ceiling, depicting legendary heroes locked in battle against dragons, their painted eyes seeming to follow us as we stepped inside.
It was magnificent, intimidating, and alive with possibility.
Aeola's eyes sparkled. "Our dream is finally coming true," she said, tugging me toward the counter. "We can go on adventures together!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious. I followed her inside, only to find chaos at the counter. An adventurer had seized a receptionist by the wrist.
"What do you mean we can't get paid without proof?" he snarled. "Doesn't my word mean anything?" His grip tightened, and the receptionist winced.
"I'm sorry, sir," she gasped. "It's policy. I can't help you."
"Policy, huh?" He drew his sword, grinning. "Maybe I'll make you bend that policy."
Aeola froze beside me, panic flooding her eyes. Memories of her trauma paralyzed her. That was enough for me. I stepped forward, seizing the man's arm before his blade could strike.
Gasps rippled through the hall. "Who's this kid?" someone muttered.
The adventurer sneered. "So no one will care if I kill you first."
He shifted, faster than I expected, dropping his blade into his other hand. But I had trained for this—Peron's lessons echoing in my mind. I twisted, forcing him to stab his own comrade instead. My counterattack lacked strength, though, and he laughed. "Skilled, but weak," he taunted.
His party pinned me down. The sword rose above me, gleaming. My chest tightened, the air thick, panic clawing at me. Aeola screamed. Heavy boots thundered outside.
Then darkness filled my vision and I woke up in a familiar but not friendly place or or particularly joyful memory.
It was the day I found Aeola.
I was five again, sparring with Peron in the backyard. His wooden sword struck mercilessly, leaving me bloodied and bruised. Mother called him inside, but not before he shoved me aside with a sneer.
I wandered into the woods, where men chased a wolf pup. But when I reached the ditch, it wasn't a wolf—it was a girl my age, crying, whispering, I don't want to die.
I offered my hand. "Want some help?"
She hesitated, then asked, "Are you with those bad men?"
I shook my head. She smiled faintly, but the men returned. One lunged, and I reacted instinctively, slashing his wrist with my blade. Blood sprayed, panic surged, and the world collapsed again.
This time, I awoke in darkness. The cloaked creature stood before me, less monstrous, but still hidden. "Done thinking about my offer?" it asked, voice teasing.
"Yeah," I said firmly. "I don't want it."
It chuckled. "Really? If you had my power, you wouldn't have struggled to protect Aeola… or that receptionist."
My breath caught. "You've been watching me?"
"Yes," it replied.
"For how long?"
The air grew cold. "Since you were born."
Shock rooted me in place.
"You said I'm close," I whispered. "What do you mean?"
It leaned forward. "Take the F-rank quest tomorrow. Gather herbs by the lake. The rest will unfold."
"Why me?" I demanded.
It only smiled beneath the cloak as I began to get pulled and everything thinned out till I entered a bright light.
I jolted awake, drenched in sweat. Aeola sat beside my bed, asleep, her hand resting near mine. Confusion swirled inside me. The dream felt too real.