The guildmaster's office was bathed in a golden glow, filtered by heavy purple curtains. The atmosphere was solemn, almost sacred, a world away from the usual hustle and bustle of the guild's great hall.
The members of the Dawnbolt squad sat around the oval table. Sitting at the head of the table, Edward, the guildmaster of Verdelune, closed a thick leather folder, his wrinkled fingers clasping together in a calm, measured gesture.
"Hmph... The preliminary report indicates a stable mana concentration. This would be a C-rank dungeon... maybe even D," he declared, his steely gaze fixed on Tristan. "Nothing insurmountable, certainly... but to think it'll be a walk in the park? I advise you not to be reckless."
A heavy silence followed. Even the air seemed to hold its breath. "A mission of this type requires a week of preparation, at least. For now, departure is on hold."
At the back of the room, Kyle, until then hidden in the shadows of an armchair, felt his heart leap in his chest.
"A dungeon... a real one! A dungeon, here, in this world!"
His mind raced. His fingers, resting on his knees, were almost trembling with excitement. He wanted to jump to his feet, raise his fist to the sky, and shout his enthusiasm like in the manga he read... but he simply bowed his head, stifling a feverish smile.
Until a cold voice cut through the air like a blade.
"In that case, I object. Kyle will not participate."
It was Lys. Straight as a rapier blade, her arms crossed, she was giving Edward a stern look.
"He collapsed barely three days ago. His magic is unstable, his body still weak. Sending him to a dungeon would be... foolish."
"L-Lys...?" Kyle murmured, looking up hesitantly.
She wasn't even looking at him. But her voice trembled slightly.
"I'm saying this for your own good, Kyle."
Edward sighed deeply, glancing discreetly at Tristan.
The group leader, looking grave, scratched his temple wearily.
"Honestly, I was going to say the same thing," he finally said.
Then he slowly turned his eyes to Kyle, his gaze as frank as a punch.
"You climbed to B-rank in a flash, you have a fighting style that would make veteran strategists sweat, and you dared to face Edward without flinching. But here's the problem..."
He took a breath, paused.
"We don't really know who you are. What you want. You're marching with us, but... are you really with us? Or are you just following us until we find a better group?"
Kyle lowered his eyes. The words weren't harsh or hurtful. But their weight... ah, he could feel it.
He wanted to scream. To say that he just wanted to live his dream, here, in this fantasy world. That he'd finally found a place where he felt alive. But the words died in his throat.
Then, like a ray of sunlight piercing a cloudy sky, a soft voice spoke.
"I think he wants to be with us..." Elaria said, folding her hands on the table. "He's clumsy... but sincere."
"He's always put himself in danger for others," Anne added, nodding.
"He's definitely hiding something," Iris said, crossing her arms. "But I trust him... even though I keep an eye on him."
Finally, Lys turned her head toward him, her gaze softening.
"You want to have an adventure, don't you? You're dying to see this world... despite your condition."
Kyle looked at her. And for some reason, his lips trembled.
"I..."
But again, nothing came out.
Edward broke the silence by slowly standing up.
"Very well. Two weeks. That's how long you'll have to prepare. Gather the potions, the maps, do the magical briefings. The departure will take place after that."
He pointed at Kyle.
"You have that time to recover. And above all... to learn to work as a team. A dungeon doesn't kill. Unpreparedness does."
Tristan stood up, arms crossed.
"We'll train properly. No special treatment. Not even you, Iris."
"Tch." You're not done complaining... grumbled the girl in question.
"We'll make a real adventurer out of him, our little prodigy!" declared Anne with a wink.
"He already is..." murmured Elaria.
Lys took one last look at Kyle.
"Don't run. Live. This world won't escape you tomorrow."
Kyle gave a bitter smile.
"You're wrong, Lys... This world may be ephemeral. And so am I. That's why I have to enjoy it while I can."
The next morning, the dining hall was bathed in a soft morning light. The members of Dawnbolt were eating a modest breakfast.
Iris slowly placed her spoon on the table.
"I know... I'm the weakest in the group."
Everyone turned to her. Her voice wasn't sad or bitter. Just... honest.
"This week, I'm going to practice. I want to change that."
A brief silence fell. Anne patted her gently on the shoulder. Elaria smiled at her. Even Tristan looked away, thoughtful.
"I'm going to the church in the capital," Lys said. "I have... things to do there."
She didn't elaborate. And no one asked. Her look was enough.
"I'm going to sleep!" Anne blurted out, stretching.
"I'm going to help with the mission preparations," Elaria added, blushing a little.
Kyle turned to Tristan, feigning relaxation.
"Looks like we're going to get bored between guys."
"I have some business to attend to..." Tristan replied enigmatically.
"Seriously...?"
Kyle sighed, slumping back against the chair.
B Rank, huh? And I'm stuck in the guild with no quests. How ironic.
He muttered under his breath,
"And yet I'm the protagonist of this story...?"
No one commented. But in the silence that followed, he felt a little more alone.
After breakfast, everyone dispersed like leaves blown by the wind. The convivial atmosphere at the table quickly faded, leaving behind a strange sense of hollowness.
"Well, shall we go, Elaria?" Anne asked, adjusting her cloak.
"Hm. Yes. Lys, are you coming?" Elaria replied, her voice still calm, casting a gentle glance at the priestess.
Lys nodded silently.
"...Thank you for accompanying me."
The three young women left the guild hall and headed toward the city, their footsteps echoing in the nearly empty hall. Their destination: the capital's church. A place of faith... but also of memories.
Iris, however, said nothing. She stood up, ran a hand through her hair, and walked out toward the training hall. Her eyes shone with a newfound determination.
"It's time I improved myself too... I can't stay a novice forever."
A whisper to herself, like a promise etched in the air.
Tristan stayed with Kyle a little longer, arms crossed, looking thoughtful.
"Okay, I'm going to see Julie. I'll pick up some quests. See you tonight?"
Kyle nodded silently. Tristan offered him a wry smile before turning on his heel.
"Try not to die of boredom."
He left with a light laugh, walking carefree through the guild doors.
And Kyle found himself alone.
The silence that fell wasn't the one he liked. It was a hollow silence. Cold. Uncomfortable.
"...Huh?"
He looked around. No one there. Even Julie had slipped out the back. He could hear the steady ticking of the magic clock mounted on the wall.
"Why... is it so unpleasant?"
In his original world, he would have loved this. To be alone, quiet, without anyone bothering him. He would have taken out a manga, or turned on an anime.
But here, in this world... the silence had a bitter taste.
He stood up without really thinking about it, his hands in the pockets of his tunic.
"Hah... This is ridiculous. I'm supposed to be an introvert. I've always been comfortable alone."
He wandered the guild halls. Past the library. Past the kitchen. Past the common rooms. He didn't feel like doing anything. Even books didn't have the same flavor anymore.
He stopped in front of a window. Outside, the sky was a deep blue, crossed by a few lazy clouds. Apprentice adventurers were training and laughing.
Kyle clenched his fists.
"Since when did I start getting... attached to all this?"
He flopped down on a bench, staring up at the ceiling.
"...Tch. This sucks. Isn't this supposed to be a world of adventure, dungeons, and heroes?"
He sighed deeply. Then let out a quiet, almost sad laugh.
"If someone had told me that one day I'd be bothered by loneliness... I would have called them crazy."
And yet...
Today, it was.
The days follow one another and are all the same.
Kyle spends most of his time locked inside the guild hall. He exchanges a few words with Julie or distractedly listens to the other adventurers' stories before returning to his room. There, he channels his mana into simple exercises, solely with the goal of tiring himself out enough to fall asleep.
Tristan, on the other hand, is rarely present. Always on the move, he takes on quest after quest, driven by a compelling need to progress. He trains relentlessly, as if pursuing a goal known only to himself.
Lys, meanwhile, seems to have found refuge in the church. No details really filter through about her activities, but she stays there almost permanently.
Iris divides her time between the library—where she immerses herself in magical theories—and the training room, where she immediately puts what she learns into practice.
Anne and Elaria, having enjoyed their stay in the capital, now devote themselves to preparations for the upcoming mission.
A week passes in this calm, almost monotonous routine. Kyle has now regained all his strength, and Lys is finally back among them.
The morning sun bathed the guild in a soft light. As always, voices mingled, laughter erupted here and there, and the smells of warm bread and sweat formed a mixture now familiar to Kyle.
He slowly descended the stairs, half-yawning, his hands in the pockets of his black cloak. His gait had regained confidence. His mana too.
"I'm finally recovered... Well, more or less. I stopped playing zombies in my room, that's something."
As he set foot on the last step, he saw them.
All of them.
They were there.
At a large table at the back of the guild, Anne and Elaria were chatting animatedly. A map was spread out in front of them. Iris was reading a spellbook, as usual, and Tristan… well, Tristan had his boots on the table, looking as pleased with himself as ever.
And right next to the central column, leaning quietly against it, a white-robed figure looked up at him.
Lys.
Kyle's heart skipped a beat.
"They're all here..."
As if sensing it, Lys moved away from the column and walked toward him. She said nothing, but her gaze spoke for her. Calm. Present.
"Oh, look at that," Tristan said, setting down his tankard. "The ghost from Room 12 has decided to join the world of the living."
"That's funny coming from a guy who's spent more time chasing goblins than sleeping," Kyle replied, approaching the table.
"That's what we call intensive training, man. You should try it sometime, you'd hardly die."
"Very reassuring."
"Kyle," Iris said calmly, closing her spellbook. "Glad to see you're feeling better."
"Thank you. You seem... less stressed too."
She gave a small smile, and her gaze returned to the book.
That's when Lys stopped in front of him. She still hadn't said anything, but she slowly reached out and placed her fingers on his sleeve. Just for a moment. Just a touch.
"I'm back," she murmured. "Sorry I couldn't be here sooner."
Kyle lowered his eyes slightly.
"You don't have to apologize... I'm the one who worried everyone."
"You mostly slept like a wounded bear for a week," Tristan sneered.
"Shut up, Tristan."
Elaria gently slammed the map on the table.
"Okay! If you're done teasing each other, I suggest we get back to work. The mission is coming up."
"Before that," Anne interjected with a tender smile, "maybe we should all eat together. It's been a while since we've done that, hasn't it?"
A silence fell. Then, one after the other, they nodded.
Kyle sat down as well.
"I don't know what this mission has in store for us...
But this time, I'm not alone anymore. Even if I'm still a lost soul in this world, at least... these people are here."
And in a way, that was enough for today.
The meal was in full swing.
Still steaming plates were passed around amidst laughter and raised voices. The bread crunched under their fingers, and the soup bubbled gently in the bowls. It wasn't anything extraordinary—but for Kyle, it was a rare treat.
"...And that's how I managed to do a magic double jump with a foothold on a puddle," Tristan finished, grinning, miming a ridiculous gesture.
"You just slipped," Iris corrected with a sigh. "And you fell flat on your face in front of a ghoul."
"Yeah, fine, the details."
They burst out laughing. Then it was Kyle's turn.
"Me... Honestly, I thought I was going to die. But from boredom."
"Hm?"
They all turned to him. He shrugged.
"I was stuck in my room. From doing nothing... I started using Loop Detection during the day." Just to get a little stimulation. And at night, I channel lightning into my hands until I collapse from exhaustion."
A silence fell. Then:
"What…?" Anne asked, taken aback.
"You seriously did that?!" Tristan cried, his eyes wide. "Are you crazy or what?"
"I was bored," Kyle muttered.
"Kyle," Lys said, her voice soft but firm, "that wasn't rest. You just inflicted another injury on yourself, a mental one this time."
She looked down a little, visibly worried. Kyle looked away.
"I didn't know what else to do."
"You really are... an idiot," Iris sighed, her hand to her temple. "But an impressive idiot."
"Huh?"
"Using that much mana for several days without getting sick or losing consciousness... Even I couldn't do it. And I'm supposed to be the group mage."
Her tone was neutral, but a bitter glint briefly crossed her eyes.
> Is she jealous?
No... frustrated, maybe. It's true that Iris has always been serious. She doesn't like anyone encroaching on her territory.
"Impressive, yeah... but stupid," Tristan insisted. "Your mana isn't a toy, and neither is your body. Did you think you were invincible or something?"
"Oh, come on, vigilante," a teasing voice called out.
Julie had just arrived, her empty tray in her hands.
"Maybe you should stop lecturing, Tristan. You barely got back from a mission this morning. When did you rest this week?"
"Well, uh... I took breaks."
"You've slept six hours in four days."
He turned his head, embarrassed. The rest of the group stifled a laugh.
"Anyway!" Elaria continued, cutting things short. For those interested, Anne and I have completed all the preparations for the mission."
"With a little help from the guild master, Edward," Anne added with a smile. "We obtained mana potions, healing supplies, emergency rations... and we also handled all the paperwork. Permits, roads, itineraries, everything is in order."
"Impressive," Kyle breathed. Thank you.
"That's our role," Elaria replied simply.
Anne then turned to Lys.
"And you? Your time at the church? Did it go well?"
Lys's eyes lit up immediately.
"Oh yes! It was very informative. I was able to study new sacred texts and even train with a more experienced priestess." Thanks to her, I learned two new blessings: the Sacred Barrier, a collective defense against magical attacks, and the Holy Light, an offensive but purifying spell."
"Ooooh, that looks so cool!" exclaimed Tristan.
"We have a real saint on the team now," joked Iris.
"And you?" said Lys, scanning the group. "I'm happy to see you all again. Really."
A gentle atmosphere spread around the table. A discreet warmth. That of a group that, despite its differences, was gradually forming a cohesive whole.
The atmosphere was still one of laughter and jokes, cutlery clattered against plates, anecdotes flew by... when a strange flapping of wings crossed the great hall of the guild.
"Huh? What is this thing?!"
A bird with brilliant feathers, tinged with gold and midnight blue, had just appeared as if fallen from the sky. It gracefully sliced through the air and landed without hesitation on the group's table.
Silence fell immediately.
"Wait... did it just appear?" Anne stammered.
"That's... not a normal bird," Elaria added, her eyes wide.
The animal turned its head slightly, its amber eyes staring at one person: Kyle.
"Um... Is it supposed to look at me like that?" Kyle murmured, "confused. It... what is that thing, exactly?"
Iris half stood up, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"It's a Karavorn. A magical creature. I read about them in an old bestiary, but this is the first time I've seen one in real life...!"
"A what?" Tristan repeated, his eyebrow raised.
"A familiar once used to deliver letters. They say they're almost impossible to tame."
"Then why is it standing here in front of us? And why is it looking at Kyle?" Anne wondered.
That's when Elaria tilted her head.
"Look, it has a scroll attached to its leg... It's a letter!"
Everyone tilted their heads in puzzlement.
"A letter?" Anne asked.
"Who could have sent this?" Elaria added.
Lys quietly approached the bird, which didn't move an inch.
"...It seems strangely calm. As if it knew exactly what it was doing. And... I think it came for Kyle."
"What?! Me?!" the bird said, startled.
"He hasn't taken his eyes off you since he landed," Iris noted. "That Karavorn has chosen his target."
"Maybe it's a love letter," Tristan joked. "Do you have a secret fiancée? Or your wife still waiting for you in Asterion?"
This sentence, spoken jokingly, caused a barely perceptible shiver to cross Lys's face.
Kyle rolled his eyes.
"Impossible. I'm a perpetual bachelor."
Laughter in the audience. The atmosphere relaxed a little, even though the bird remained unperturbed.
Finally, Kyle reached out to the Karavorn. The animal didn't flinch. He gently untied the rolled parchment, and as soon as he did, the bird stood there... as if waiting for an answer.
> Isn't he leaving...?
But already, his fingers recognized the writing.
His heart skipped a beat.
"...It's..."
He immediately recognized the familiar calligraphy, a little careful, still legible.
"Reiji..."
A name he hadn't spoken in a long time. His childhood friend. His classmate.
Since their arrival in this world, they had gone their separate ways. Reiji and a few students had followed the King of Asterion, taken to the capital with Mr. Kobayashi.
Kyle, on the other hand, had taken a different path. That of solitude. Of adventure.
He gently squeezed the paper, an involuntary smile appearing on his lips.
"You seem happy," Iris noted.
"He's an old friend," he said simply. "But I didn't think... he'd write to me."
He kept the rest to himself. His secret. This bond they shared, that no one else around the table could suspect.
The Karavorn blinked, still calm.
"It seems to be waiting for your reply," Lys said softly.
Kyle looked at the magical creature. Then at the group around him. Everyone was waiting. He took a deep breath.
Letter from Reiji:
"Dear Kaito,
I hope this letter reaches you in good condition, and above all, that you read it safely and in good health. How are you doing? You've always had this habit of taking everything in stride, so I sincerely hope you're not pushing your body... or your mind too hard.
Here, in the capital of the kingdom of Asterion, things are going rather well. Thanks to the support of the king, the court mages, and especially the immense royal library, I've been able to make enormous progress in my mastery of enchantment. There's still so much to learn... but I'm hanging in there. I think you'd understand that feeling." This thirst to understand the world we've been thrown into.
I enlisted the help of Mr. Kobayashi—who, despite his grumpy demeanor, remains true to himself—to help me reconnect with others. His Summoning class allowed him to form several pacts with magical creatures. Among them, the Karavorns, including the one who brings you this message. He accepted my request without the slightest hesitation. "We must remain connected, even when separated," he told me. Things like that, coming from him... it touched me, I won't hide it.
Thanks to him, I was able to exchange some news with other members of the class. Overall, everyone seems to be doing well, each following their own path, their own choices. It's not easy, but... no one has given up. And you, Kyle? Have you found your own path?
I hope you continue to move forward, in your own way. We're far away, but I often think of you... of all of you. If you ever want to write me back, just tell the Karavorn. He'll be able to pass on your letter.
Take care, my friend. This world is vast, and I'm sure we'll meet again eventually.
— Reiji
Kyle gently folded the letter, his expression thoughtful.
"Reiji... Always so serious... but always there for others."
At that moment, the paper glowed softly... then disappeared in a thin trail of silver light.
"...Tsk, he even thought of a magical self-destruct enchantment? This guy... he really doesn't change."
He smiled, almost moved.
"Even in another world, he finds a way to have fun."
When the letter slowly burned in a silvery glow, carried away by a discreet enchantment, no one dared to break the silence. Everyone understood that this message held particular importance for Kyle.
He stood frozen for a moment, his eyes fixed on the spot where the letter had disappeared, as if trying to retain the warmth of the words in his memory.
But very quickly, curious glances turned towards him.
"Hey, Kyle..." Lys murmured, a little hesitant. "Was she... your girlfriend?"
Kyle smirked, almost amused by the question.
"No. She's just... my childhood friend."
Lys's barely suppressed sigh was audible enough to make some of the group smile.
"A friend, huh?" Iris asked, arms crossed. "And... how did your 'friend' get hold of a Karavorn? They're not a creature you come across every day."
"He's currently studying in the capital of Asterion," Kyle replied neutrally. "He simply enlisted the help of a summoner... to send me this message."
"To call upon a summoner just for that... that must have been pretty important," Tristan remarked doubtfully.
"Tristan's right," Iris added suspiciously. "And why the mysterious tone? You could at least tell us what it was about..."
"Iris," Elaria suddenly intervened, stepping forward and placing a gentle hand on the young woman's shoulder. "Kyle has the right to keep certain secrets. He doesn't have to tell us everything."
Surprised, Iris fell silent for a moment, then lowered her eyes.
"You're right. Sorry, Kyle... I got a little carried away."
"It's nothing," Kyle replied with a small smile. "But really... the letter wasn't anything special. He just wanted to know how I was."
A silence fell.
Anne raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"Who sends a near-legendary animal across the continent just to check on me?... Your friends must be truly extraordinary. Like you, Kyle."
"Me?" "Unusual?" Kyle asked, almost embarrassed.
"You don't seem like the type to have a lot of friends," Tristan mocked with a chuckle.
"I have a few... I think," Kyle replied, looking mock-pensive.
A light burst of laughter rippled through the group.
"But that letter... It disappeared into the light," Iris remarked. "I've never heard of anything like it. Are you sure it was an enchantment?"
"My friend is an enchanter," Kyle replied simply. "He probably modified a spell himself to achieve this effect."
"Modify a spell?" Iris repeated, surprised. "But I've never heard of an enchantment that..."
"It's Reiji," Kyle interrupted with a slight smile. "If it doesn't exist... he probably invented it."
This triggered more whispers.
"You act like it's normal..." Lys breathed, visibly impressed. "But in recent years, only a very small number of enchanters have discovered new spells. It's extremely rare."
She crossed her arms, staring at Kyle.
"If what he used is an original creation, your friend is probably one of those rare few capable of innovating magic. Even a simple destruction spell... that's an achievement in itself."
Kyle lowered his gaze slightly.
"Reiji has always been an incredible person..."
But Tristan intervened again, this time in a more sincere tone:
"And you're not just anyone either. I remind you that Kyle became a B-rank adventurer... a week after he signed up."
The group agreed, some nodded, others murmured their surprise.
"...You're not wrong," Lys admitted. "It's not commonplace."
After a short silence, she gently asked the question many were thinking:
"Do you miss your childhood friend?"
Kyle looked up at the sky for a moment.
"No. It's barely been a month since we last saw each other. And if I want to see him... he's in the capital of Asterion. In the royal castle with King Arvandil."
A blank.
Anne, her eyes wide:
"Wait... You know the King of Asterion?!"
Kyle looked away.
"I only saw him a few times. When I lived there. That's all."
But he immediately regretted his words.
A heavy silence fell over the group. Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"How could a mere commoner cross paths with the king of such an influential kingdom?"
Just as Anne was about to ask the fateful question, Elaria raised a hand.
"Kyle. You should answer your friend. Quickly."
Kyle looked at her for a long time, surprised by her kind yet firm tone. Then he nodded.
"Okay... Thank you, Elaria."
And without another word being exchanged, the questions were postponed.
Elaria quietly approached Kyle.
"Perhaps you'd like to be alone to write your answer?" she suggested.
"Huh? No, why not?" Kyle replied with a shrug. "I just need a piece of paper and some ink."
He stood up quietly, went to the reception desk to ask for the necessary supplies, then returned to his seat.
"If you prefer, we can leave you alone," said Iris, still a little embarrassed.
"No need," Kyle replied simply. "It's not like I'm writing a poem."
Then, without fussing, he scribbled a few words to Reiji:
> "I'm fine. I'm in the kingdom of Thoralis. I've become an adventurer, already rank B." »
Once the letter was finished, he rolled it up like parchment, slipped it into a small case, and handed it to the still-waiting bird. It immediately took flight, disappearing into the sky.
"Already finished?" Anne asked in surprise.
"Are you sure you don't want to write a real letter?" Lys asked with a hint of concern. "Something a little more... personal?"
Kyle shrugged, a smile on his face.
"No, that's more than enough. If I write too much, he might think it wasn't me."
A small chuckle rippled through the group. The mood instantly lightened. This simple touch of humor was enough to let them understand that Kyle had his reasons—and that this answer was just like him.
Once the laughter had died down, Elaria spoke again, this time more seriously:
"Well, I suggest we finally talk about our next mission in the dungeon. Anne and I have already taken care of the general preparations."
She paused, crossing her arms.
"All that's left is everyone's individual equipment to sort out."
"Okay," Tristan replied, straightening up. "With my intensive training, my armor is in bad shape. It won't last very long down there."
Lys spoke up in turn, looking at Kyle.
"The most urgent thing is you, Kyle. During your fight with Edward, the guild master, you literally pulverized your protections... with your own power."
"Oh, right," Tristan added mockingly. "We wouldn't want our dear Kyle to end up half-naked in the middle of a fight again."
"That comment wasn't necessary," Kyle replied curtly, looking away.
Lys and Iris, also concerned, spoke up.
"I've made a lot of progress lately," said Lys. "And I could use some stuff."
"Me too," added Iris. "My magical catalyst is starting to saturate. I need something more stable for future spells."
"In that case," said Tristan, rising energetically, "let's all go to Darian's. "He's a great merchant where we can find items capable of meeting our needs here."
"That's true," Anne agreed. "We can't seriously enter a dungeon without being well equipped."
"Let's go," Elaria declared calmly. "It's a necessity."
So, the small group set off, each already thinking about what they would ask of Darian, the renowned merchant they had escorted to the capital.