Departure

Yawn!

Kai woke up, stretching lazily as the morning rays washed over him.

He sat up and glanced around. Lira was still curled up under the blanket, her breathing steady.

Smirking, he stood up and put on his usual tunic before slipping out of his shack.

He strolled toward the market square, passing from stall to stall, browsing food and clothing.

Finally, he stopped at a potion stall.

Various bottles filled with different-colored liquids were neatly arranged on the shelves.

Beside these shelves, a man who seemed to be in his fifties sat on a chair. He was bald, with a long silver beard and mustache.

"Sir, do you have any work for me? I can do anything—cleaning, delivering goods, or gathering supplies. I just need work," Kai said to the vendor, who was sitting on his wooden chair, reading a piece of paper.

Hearing Kai's words, the man glanced at him, assessing him from head to toe. After about ten seconds, he finally spoke.

"No."

Then, without another word, he resumed reading his paper.

Just as Kai was about to turn around and leave, the man called him back.

"Wait!"

Kai quickly turned his head, his eyes gleaming with hope, thinking the owner had finally changed his mind.

But as he approached, the man simply handed him the paper he had been reading and said, "Throw it in the bin."

"Huh?" Kai blinked, gazing at the old man. But soon, realization hit.

"What?" Kai gritted his teeth in frustration but didn't say a word.

He clenched his fist, crumpling the paper, and turned away to leave the stall.

"What the feck does he think he is?" He strolled around, cursing the potion vendor under his breath.

Eventually, he stopped at the equipment shop.

The air was thick with the scent of oiled metal and charcoal. Swords, daggers, axes, and polearms hung on the wooden walls, while suits of armor stood silently in the corner.

Behind a sturdy counter sat a middle-aged man, dressed in a light brown tunic and gray pants.

"Sir, do you have any work for me? Anything?" Kai asked.

The shopkeeper eyed him for a moment before standing up. Walking closer, he said, "Come with me. I need to pick up some raw materials from the Adventurers' Guild."

Without another word, he stepped out of the shop, and Kai followed behind him.

Soon, they reached the guild. 

The massive stone building stood tall; its sturdy walls reinforced with dark wooden beams. A large sign, hung above the entrance, bearing the emblem of crossed swords over a shield. The doors, thick and reinforced with iron, constantly swung open and shut as adventurers moved in and out.

Kai stood outside while the shop owner went in. The entrance was bustling with adventurers—some boasting about their latest hunts, others negotiating quests with guild staff.

After a few minutes, the shop owner returned, and they made their way to the back of the guild.

Knock! Knock!

At the rear entrance, they stopped in front of a worn wooden door, its surface scarred with scratches. The air here was filled with the scent of iron and damp wood.

After a few seconds, the door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man with a stocky build, a rough beard, and tired eyes.

Flashing a small metal card, the shop owner said, "I'm here to pick up the raw iron and beast hide."

The man gave a silent nod before disappearing inside. The sounds of shifting crates and shuffling footsteps echoed from within. Minutes later, he returned, a large burlap sack slung over his shoulder. Its rough fabric bulged, weighed down by the contents inside.

"Here," he muttered before dropping the sack with a heavy thud and shutting the door behind him.

The moment the door closed, the shop owner, who was standing beside Kai, barked, "Quit standing around! Pick it up. I don't have all day!"

He grumbled and turned away, leaving Kai staring at the sack on the ground.

He wrapped his fingers around its neck and tried to lift it.

"Argh!"

Thud!

He barely managed to raise it off the ground before it slipped from his grasp, landing with a dull, heavy thump. His arms ached from just that brief attempt.

"Sir... It's too heavy," he admitted, turning to the shop owner with a pleading look.

The man shot him a sharp glare. "So what? Wanna do the job or not? Fuck off, I'll call someone else."

Kai swallowed hard. "N-No, no, I'll do it!" he stammered.

Taking a deep breath, he braced himself for another try. His fingers dug into the rough fabric as he tightened his grip. His muscles tensed, veins straining against his skin.

"Argh!"

--

"Nmhp!" Lira rubbed her eyes, finally waking up after a long sleep.

She stood up and glanced around. Not seeing any sign of Kai, she mumbled, "I overslept today... yaaawn..."

Pulling on her cloak, she slipped out of the shack.

"What should I buy today?" she whispered, wandering through the bustling streets. The market was alive with chatter, the scent of fresh bread and roasted meat mixing with the morning air.

But then, something unusual caught her eye.

"What's going on?" she murmured under her breath, her gaze drifting toward a group of armored figures patrolling the square. The guards moved deliberately, scanning the crowd while holding a white sheet in their hands, checking it against the faces of passersby.

Lira continued strolling, lost in thought, until—

"Wait!"

A sharp voice cut through the air.

A guard, gripping a spear, strode toward her.

The guard carefully examined her, his eyes lingering on her face before glancing at the sheet of paper in his hand, comparing her features to whatever was drawn or written there.

Then, without warning, he grabbed her shoulder, making her flinch.

"Found her!" he shouted to the nearby guards.

In an instant, they all rushed toward her, their movements swift and precise. To her surprise, they stopped a few feet away and gave a curt bow.

"Let's go, young mistress. My lord is waiting for you," said the man in blue armor, his uniform distinct from the rest.

"W-What?" Lira stammered, blinking in confusion.

What were they talking about?

"Lady Lira, your grandfather assigned us to find you. Now, please, let's return. And change into something proper—these filthy rags don't suit you."

"But—"

Before she could protest, the blue-armored guard gave a subtle motion to the men beside him. One of them swiftly stepped forward and delivered a precise chop to the back of her neck.

Her vision blurred. Darkness swallowed her consciousness.

"Let's go," the blue-armored guard ordered, lifting her into his arms in a graceful princess carry before turning away.

--

"Hah! Two copper coins for hauling that heavy sack." Kai grumbled as he walked back from the equipment shop, his arms still aching from the effort.

A few minutes later, he reached home.

"I'm back, Lira." He called out as he stepped into the shack.

Silence.

His brows furrowed. "Huh? Where did she go?" He muttered, glancing around the small room. There was no trace of her.

As he scanned the room, his gaze landed on the wooden table. A piece of paper lay there, and on top of it rested a strange, crystalline, light-blue oval object.

His stomach twisted.

Slowly, he took cautious steps toward the table, his heart thudding in his chest.

Leaning forward, he peered at the paper.

It was a letter.

He picked it up, bringing it closer to his face. His fingers trembled slightly.

His expression twisted. His eyes darted over the scribbled words.

"Who the f*ck sent me this? I don't even know how to read!"