New Friends

As Bane and Sylvie made their way up the path to the Infinite Light Guild, they couldn't help but notice the temperature dropping with each step. The air became increasingly frigid, a biting chill that seeped through their clothes. The imposing structure of the guild loomed ahead, its icy surface gleaming in the sunlight, giving it an ethereal, almost otherworldly appearance. The cold was unnatural, a clear sign that they were entering a domain of powerful magic. 

 Bane halted abruptly, throwing his arm out to stop Sylvie from taking another step. His sharp gaze fixed on the path ahead. 

 Sylvie, sensing the change in his demeanor, immediately got on guard. "Is it monsters?" she whispered, her voice tense. 

 Bane shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowing. "No... We're not alone." 

"My, my. What a specimen," a voice purred from the shadows. 

Two figures materialized out of thin air as if stepping out from the cold mist itself. Bane and Sylvie stood frozen, their instincts screaming at them to remain still. Bane had no doubt that if they had taken another step, it would have been their last. 

 They immediately recognized the older woman. She was the Guild Master of Infinite Light, Melody. Standing beside her was a striking young woman with dark hair and piercing blue eyes—Mia, their mission partner. Her expression was one of skepticism, her eyes scrutinizing them with a mix of disdain and resignation. 

 "So, you're the newbies I'm stuck with, huh?" Mia said, crossing her arms as she gave them a once-over, her tone dripping with doubt. 

 She then turned to her mother, her frown deepening. "They don't look that impressive. Are you sure your intel was correct?" Her voice carried a note of irritation, almost as if she were pouting. 

Melody chuckled softly, a sound that held both amusement and wisdom. "Now, Mia, mind your manners. These two could very well end up saving your life." 

Mia snorted at the notion, clearly unconvinced. To her, they were no more impressive than the rookies in her own guild. A girl with a weird hat and a dark-skinned foreigner who probably relied more on muscle than brains. She wished she could have teamed up with members of one of the other big guilds, but her reputation—and her mother's protective nature—had deterred many from taking the mission. 

Sylvie stepped forward, her voice calm and respectful. "Guild Leader Melody, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Sylvie of the OrionsHeart Guild. I'll be acting as the Support member for this mission." 

 Melody raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. It was uncommon for new Warlords to know that it was customary to announce their role and rank to a Guild Leader directly linked to a mission. This small act told Melody that the intel she received about Sylvie's potential wasn't exaggerated. 

"Why do you seem familiar to me?" Melody asked, her gaze becoming more inquisitive as she studied Sylvie's face. 

 Sylvie smiled softly, understanding the question immediately. "You might know my sister, Danity." 

 "Ahh, that's it! Vanguard Danity. You're her little sister. It's a pleasure. We go way back, but that's a story for another time." 

 Mia, overhearing this, nearly choked in surprise. This weirdo with a witch hat was related to a Vanguard member? Perhaps she had some talent after all. 

 Before Mia could continue her assessment of Bane, Melody turned to him with a knowing look. "And you must be the Prince. I'm truly sorry to hear about what happened to your kingdom. It's very unfortunate." 

Bane simply nodded, his expression somber. Mia's face flushed with embarrassment. Royalty and the sibling of a Vanguard member? Who her mother get her involved with? Maybe she had misjudged them too quickly. 

 Melody noticed the shift in Mia's demeanor and inwardly smiled. She knew her daughter's struggles with taking orders from those she deemed unworthy. Mia's past missions had often ended in failure due to her stubborn refusal to listen to anyone she didn't respect. Melody had personally reached out to the OrionsHeart Guild, hoping that a fresh perspective from members of a smaller guild might help Mia see that guild background didn't define a Warlord's worth. Unbeknownst to Mia, the mission had only been posted in OrionsHeart, not the other big guilds as she believed. 

 "Well, you three are on a tight schedule, so get going." Melody handed Mia three devices—teleport waypoints. "If you encounter any trouble, you can return here immediately by using these." 

 "Gee, thanks, Mom," Mia replied, rolling her eyes as she pocketed the devices, clearly irritated at being treated like a child. 

 Bane and Sylvie nodded in acknowledgment, and the trio set off down the path. This was their first mission together, and although they all wore brave faces, the anxiety of the unknown weighed heavily on them. This mission would set the tone for their futures as Warlords. 

As they walked away, Melody watched them go, a smile playing on her lips. "You can come out now," she said softly. 

 From the shadows, V stepped forward, smirking. "You're a sly one, Guild Master." 

 Melody chuckled, not denying the statement. "I had no other choice. Mia needs to learn one way or another." 

 V nodded, her expression serious. "And how's Jack been? Treating my old guild well, I hope?" 

 A chuckle escaped V as she replied, "You know Jack—scaring away recruits as usual. Except for those two who just left and one other. An Elementalist. A very talented one. He's shown three elements so far. I'd say he has more potential than even Kane or yourself." 

 Melody's eyes narrowed slightly. "I've heard whispers, but Jack is strict with guild secrets. If you're saying it, though, it must hold some weight. Three elements, you say? Which ones?" 

 V looked thoughtful. "Wind, which seems to be his favored element. He's also shown lightning and some hints of fire, but that one's a bit strange. We've seen him use a device to create it." 

 Melody's expression grew more serious. "Could it be that he struggles to manifest multiple elements? If he's newly awakened, that would make sense. Elemental magic is incredibly taxing, even with one element, let alone multiple. But if he's newly awakened and can already control three, we might be looking at a Pure or even an Origin Elementalist." 

 V laughed lightly. "Come on, Melody. There hasn't been an Origin Elementalist in over a hundred years." 

 "You're right," Melody conceded, though her mind was still turning over the possibilities. "But keep an eye on that one." 

 As they watched the trio disappear over the horizon, Melody's expression became tinged with concern. "Things are going to get very interesting. Especially since that group has finally started to move." 

 V's expression mirrored the concern. "Indeed. We'll need to be prepared for whatever comes next."