A few days had passed since Kyle's sudden departure. During that time, the Valoris guild had settled back into its routine. The main hall buzzed every morning with discussion, laughter, and quest recounting—a seeming calm, barely disturbed by the looming shadow of the dungeon mission.
That morning, Tristan came down from his room, still slightly sleepy, his hair a mess. He joined Anne and Elaria, who were sitting at their usual table. They were sipping water, looking relaxed but eager.
"Hey, you two," Tristan said, approaching.
"Hey!" they replied in unison with a smile.
"How are the other two?" he asked, sitting down beside them.
"They came back last night," Anne replied. "Exhausted but happy. I hear they managed to defeat a lich between them!" »
Tristan smiled, impressed.
"Not bad at all. They're evolving quickly... And don't forget, tomorrow is mission day. We'll have to be on top form."
"Yeah..." Anne said thoughtfully. "But Kyle still hasn't come back."
Elaria crossed her arms, a worried crease on her forehead.
"I'm seriously starting to worry. He could have at least sent us another message."
Tristan shook his head confidently.
"Kyle said he'd be here for the dungeon. I know him; he wouldn't miss it for the world."
A short silence fell. Then, glancing at the empty plates, he added:
"Have you eaten yet?"
"No," Elaria replied. "We're waiting for everyone to get here. Just to celebrate Lys and Iris's success." »
"In that case, I'll wait with you," Tristan said, leaning back in his chair.
A few moments passed in a calm and warm atmosphere.
Then, suddenly, the large door of the guild opened with an all-too-familiar creak. All eyes turned toward the entrance.
And there, in the doorway, stood Kyle.
He was there. Finally.
His clothes were clean, refined, almost elegant. He wore a long, dark coat with silver trim and a neat cut. Slinging a strange bag, finely engraved with glittering runes—clearly a magical item of great value, over his shoulder. But even more than his attire, it was the expression on his face that surprised.
A broad smile lit up his features. A mixture of serenity, satisfaction, and pure excitement. He was beaming.
Tristan, Anne, and Elaria instinctively straightened. Even the other adventurers in the room fell silent for a moment, disturbed by the different aura the young man exuded.
Ordinarily, Kyle would have skirted the crowd, head down, to find a quiet corner.
But this time...
He walked straight to their table, his smile still on his lips. He wasn't running away. He was coming towards them.
As if he'd decided, for the first time, to fully embrace his place within the group.
Anne, slightly speechless, was the first to react.
"Is... is this really our Kyle?"
"That's him..." Tristan replied, an amused smile playing at the corner of his lips. "But he looks... different."
Kyle reached them. He stopped, looked at them one by one... then simply said,
"I'm home. Sorry for the wait."
Kyle had barely sat down when a barrage of questions fell on him.
"Where have you been?" Elaria asked, arms crossed, her gaze piercing.
"And those clothes?!" Anne continued, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"You look like you had a really good week," Tristan joked, an amused smile playing on his lips.
Kyle answered without hesitation, his tone calm but relaxed.
"I was out doing some work for someone."
He looked at Anne and shrugged slightly.
"And the clothes, they're a gift... I think."
Then he turned his head toward Tristan with a small smile.
"And yes, it was... rather pleasant."
But this calm wasn't enough to quell their curiosity. The silence lasted barely a few seconds.
"Who exactly do you work for?" Elaria continued, looking more serious this time.
Kyle looked her straight in the eye.
"For Darian."
Tristan raised his eyebrows.
"Darian? The merchant they call the clairvoyant?" I hope it's nothing illegal..."
"I hope so too," Kyle replied with a smile, adopting a deliberately dramatic tone.
The girls stifled a giggle, but Anne quickly continued:
"And what kind of work was it?"
Kyle replied, ever frank:
"Slaughtering an ancient treant to recover its wood, fighting a band of trolls in a mine, eliminating goblins... those kinds of little missions."
Tristan grimaced, surprised:
"With missions like that, why not go through the guild?"
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"Darian doesn't trust the guild very much. He says it's largely under the influence of the nobles."
Tristan nodded slowly.
"Okay... I can understand that point of view, although it's not an excuse for everything. »
A moment of silence fell before Anne asked a more serious question:
"And you, Kyle... why did you agree to work for him?"
Kyle gave a mysterious smile.
"For two reasons. One false and one real."
The others looked at him, intrigued.
"The fake one: to have an adventure."
"The real one: to get closer to Darian. Get to know him."
Elaria narrowed her eyes.
"And... what did you find out?"
Kyle took a moment before answering.
"Darian seems like... a good man. The missions he gave me were meant to help his partners. And everyone who works with him trusts him completely. Plus, the majority of his staff are commoners."
Tristan scratched his head thoughtfully.
"So you think we can trust him, then?"
"Business-wise, yes, totally," Kyle replied. "As for the rest... I don't know."
"Why do you say that?" Elaria asked.
Kyle shrugged slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Because he's too perfect." I mean... he's kind, powerful, generous, respected, and never seems to make mistakes. And I never fully trust a flawless man."
At this, a low burst of laughter shook the table. Even Anne and Elaria smiled. It was pure Kyle—that mix of wry humor and cold lucidity.
Yes, despite his elegant attire, Kyle was still Kyle. And in that moment, they were all reassured.
After a brief silence, Anne pointed to the bag on the young man's shoulder.
"And that bag over there... what is it?"
"I can feel mana emanating from it," Elaria added, frowning.
Kyle patted the bag gently, proudly.
"It's a dimensional bag. I bought it with my paycheck."
Then, with a wry smile:
"It will be very useful for our mission tomorrow." »
The girls looked at the bag with interest. The item itself was rare, practical, and expensive. The fact that Kyle had purchased it himself for the mission spoke volumes.
"You brought it to help us on the mission?" Anne asked, surprised.
Kyle nodded.
"I thought it would be useful... carrying equipment, potions, or even precious items... that sort of thing."
The three looked at it, a little surprised, but genuinely touched. Kyle wasn't the demonstrative type, and this gesture, simple as it was, betrayed a desire to further invest himself in the group.
"That's... really thoughtful of you," Elaria said, smiling.
But almost immediately, she froze slightly.
"Oh... wait. I already got a dimensional bag from the stockroom for the mission." I thought we'd need one, so..."
Kyle's smile faded briefly. It was nothing, and yet... a hint of disappointment could be seen on his face. He hadn't done it to be thanked, but he would have liked to... be helpful.
"Ah... I see."
He looked away for a moment, trying to hide his expression.
But Anne, attentive as always, reacted immediately.
"But don't worry! Two bags will be even better! We'll be able to spread the load better, and if we find a lot of resources in the dungeon, it'll be much more practical."
Kyle looked up at her and simply nodded gently.
"Yeah... that's true."
Then he sat down calmly with them around the table. He seemed to have regained his composure, but the effort he was making not to show too much was evident, at least to those who knew him.
"And by the way... where are the other two?" he asked, changing the subject.
Anne replied, "They came home late last night, completely exhausted after their mission. We haven't seen them yet this morning."
Elaria added, with a hint of tenderness in her voice, "We're waiting for them to eat together, to celebrate their success."
Kyle nodded, then looked at the table.
"In that case, I'll wait too."
A short, comfortable silence fell. In that suspended moment, there was a sense of fragile but real harmony. Everyone had their scars, their reservations, their doubts. But here, at that table, one thing was certain: something increasingly resembling a team was being born.
Kyle sat quietly at the table alongside his companions. He glanced around before asking,
"And what was the girls' mission?"
Tristan, who was nibbling at a piece of bread, replied without looking up:
"They must have dislodged a lich, apparently."
Kyle raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed.
"A lich? Oh yeah... I understand better. They must be exhausted after such an exploit." »
Anne, curious and looking to pass the time, suddenly offered with a smile:
"In the meantime, would you mind telling us about some of your adventures? We haven't had a summary of yours since your return."
Kyle nodded, delighted to finally have the opportunity to share a little of what he had experienced.
"With pleasure."
He first recounted his confrontation with an ancient treant, a colossal sylvan creature, then how he had protected a group of travelers attacked by a band of aggressive goblins. His stories captivated everyone's attention, accompanied by expressive gestures, sometimes comical details, and a few deliberate exaggerations.
As he began another anecdote, he saw out of the corner of his eye two still-drowsy figures descending the guild stairs.
"Look, they're finally awake," Elaria announced, discreetly nodding her chin.
Everyone turned their heads toward the two newcomers. Lys and Iris, visibly still sleepy, walked slowly but purposefully toward their table. Once close, they greeted everyone in an almost coordinated voice:
"Hey everyone..."
Lys, who had barely emerged, looked up and noticed Kyle sitting at the table.
"Hey, Kyle... you're home. How have you been since?"
"Good, thanks. And you? I've heard about your exploits, and frankly, I'm impressed."
Lys blushed slightly, looking down with a nervous chuckle.
"Oh... it wasn't much..."
Iris, feeling a little left out by the two of them, added with a pout, "Hey, I was there too, you know."
"Sorry, Iris, you're right. Well done to you too. You did a great job," he said sincerely.
Lys then teased
"We would have even finished two days earlier if Iris hadn't screamed every time we encountered an undead!"
"Lys! This is supposed to stay between us!" Iris exclaimed, embarrassed, as everyone laughed.
You could clearly feel a great bond between them, strengthened by the ordeals they had just gone through together.
Tristan placed his mug on the table with a smile:
"Well, now that everyone's here, we can finally eat!"
"Were you expecting us?" Iris asked, a little touched.
"Of course," Anne replied. "We'll celebrate your return together."
The two girls took their seats around the table. Iris, curious, frowned as she looked at Kyle more closely.
"Wait... your clothes... they're different from usual."
Kyle grimaced slightly, embarrassed.
"Oh, that." I finished Darian's assignments yesterday, completely exhausted. I barely had time to let him know I'd completed all his requests... before one of his employees—I guess?—jumped out on me."
He pointed to his elegant outfit.
"In two seconds, complete makeover. Then, without me understanding why, he sent me to a luxury hotel... And this morning, I woke up dressed like this."
"It must have been a gift from Darian," Anne concluded, amused.
"That's what I thought too."
Lys looked at him, a little worried.
"Wait... you work for Darian now?"
Kyle sighed slightly.
"It's a long story. Let me explain from the beginning..."
He continued his explanations while everyone ordered their meals. The plates began to arrive, bringing with them the appetizing smell of roasted meats, spicy stews, and freshly baked bread.
After a moment, between bites, Tristan gently rapped his fist on the table, adopting a more solemn tone.
"Tomorrow's the big day."
Kyle, his eyes shining with excitement, replied a little casually.
"A dungeon, huh? Well, nothing too complicated. It's like in video games, right?"
He immediately stopped, realizing he might have talked too much. But no one seemed to really notice.
Tristan continued, seriously:
"This isn't your average dungeon mission. We'll be the first to enter. There's no map, no clues. No adventurer has explored it yet. The traps and monsters will be unpredictable." »
Elaria nodded.
"It's up to us to lay the groundwork. That's what being pioneers means. And it's part of our mission."
Tristan then glanced at his team.
"Who's ever explored dungeons before?"
Elaria raised her hand.
"A few Rank F dungeons. Once, a Rank D. Nothing too dangerous."
Lys added.
"At the church, they made us enter small dungeons infested with undead to practice purification."
"Never been in a dungeon," Iris admitted.
"Me neither," Kyle said.
"Once," for me," Anne replied.
"As for me…" Tristan said with a proud smile, "I went into a Rank A dungeon with my master."
"What?!" " exclaimed Iris. "And what exactly is an A-Rank dungeon?"
Tristan turned to her, adopting a professorial tone.
"Dungeons are classified by their depth and danger. An A-Rank can be up to 90 levels, or even 100. B-Rank: 75 to 50 levels. C-Rank: 50 to 25. D-Rank: 25 to 20. E-Rank: 20 to 15. F-Rank: 15 to 5. G-Rank: less than 5 levels."
Lys nodded.
"So... the church dungeons were indeed G-Rank."
"Correct," Tristan confirmed. "The one I explored with my master was an elemental dungeon. Fire, to be precise. We didn't go all the way, but according to him, the dungeon master was a fire dragon." »
He lightly unsheathed his sword, the blade giving off a faint reddish glow.
"This sword is part of the loot to be recovered over there after defeating the dragon."
Kyle's eyes widened.
"So if I understand correctly, killing creatures in a dungeon... does that give you rewards?"
"Exactly. Dungeons have their own rules. Some call it 'the relic system.'"
Kyle suppressed a smile.
"A drop system, bosses, rewards... This world is becoming more and more clichéd. It really feels like a video game..."
But deep down, the idea amused him more than it worried him.
Kyle, increasingly excited by this news, was now looking forward to tomorrow.
Lys then asked Tristan what they were going to do today.
"We have to pace ourselves," he replied. "There's no way we're going to get too tired the night before such an important mission."
Elaria added.
"We should go buy some supplies first." We don't know how long the exploration will last, so we might as well be well prepared."
Tristan nodded and offered to accompany them. So he, Anne, and Elaria decided to go shopping together.
After the meal, the small group set off, leaving Kyle, Lys, and Iris alone at the table.
But a few seconds later, Iris stood up abruptly.
"I'll go with them too!" she called out before whispering in Lys's ear, "I'll give you a chance to get closer to him." Then, without waiting for a response, she ran to join the others.
Lys stood there, a little embarrassed, unsure of where to look.
Kyle, who had noticed her reaction, wanted to break the silence.
"What did she say to you before she left?" he asked, curious.
But his question only increased Lys's embarrassment, and she looked away, red with confusion.
Kyle, on the other hand, had never been alone with a girl. It wasn't that he was particularly shy, but he just didn't like being in this kind of situation.
A moment passed. Then, gathering her courage, Lys timidly suggested,
"Do you... do you want to walk around town for a bit?"
Kyle accepted with a broad smile.
"With pleasure."
So, they left the guild and began exploring the capital together. Yet, even in the bustling streets, a silence still hung between them.
Usually, when they were all together, the conversation flowed naturally. But this time, alone, it was different. Kyle thought Lys was angry with him. Perhaps because of his sudden departure, or because he hadn't taken the time to explain himself.
Trying to clarify, he spoke:
"I'm sorry, Lys... For leaving like that, without saying anything. I didn't mean to worry you... And I apologize for not apologizing sooner."
Lys shook her head.
"No, you don't have to apologize. I'm not mad at you, on the contrary... I admire you, Kyle."
Surprised, Kyle looked at her, uncomprehending.
"Admire you?"
"Yes. You always do what you want, without worrying about what others think. You follow your own path, even when it's difficult. I... I wish I had that courage."
Kyle had never been complimented like that by a girl. He didn't know how to respond, so he just smiled, genuinely.
After Lys's words, something changed in the air.
Kyle, who until then had always stayed away from this kind of situation, felt something click in his head. He could no longer ignore the obvious: the scenario had just changed. It was official. Romance mode activated.
He had always played his role brilliantly: that of the slightly off-the-wall hero, the one who never noticed that his friend had feelings for him. No, even worse: he had chosen to ignore the signs, the glances, the awkward silences. Love stories, not for him at all. And what he hated about romance manga or anime was seeing the characters go around in circles for dozens of episodes, only to finally hold hands in the last one.
So, this time, he decided to do what very few heroes did: get straight to the point.
He stopped abruptly in the middle of the cobblestone street, forcing Lys to stop as well. The afternoon sun bathed the city in a warm light, but the mood had just changed. He turned his head toward her, gazing into hers with disarming sincerity.
"Tell me, Lys. Are you in love with me?"
Lys blinked. She froze.
What?!
The world seemed to stop. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She felt her cheeks flush, and her throat tighten.
She wanted to answer, but no sound came out. She thought about denying it, saying it wasn't true, maybe joking. But she couldn't. Not this time.
A voice inside her whispered: It's now or never.
So she took a deep breath, stared at Kyle as best she could despite her embarrassment, and said a word. Just one. Almost a breath.
"...Yes."
Silence.
Kyle stood there, looking at her. He wasn't smiling, he wasn't laughing, he wasn't looking away. He wasn't running away either. He was calm. Present. He accepted her answer.
For the first time, Lys wasn't ashamed of having been honest about her feelings.
Kyle, still motionless, looked at Lys attentively. She was... cute, really. Her flushed cheeks, her shifty eyes, her sincerity—everything about her seemed fragile, but also courageous. In his old world, he had never experienced this kind of moment. He knew that as a man, he would surely have taken such an opportunity to say to himself, "That's it, a girlfriend!" But here, this world was different. More dangerous, more complex. The feelings seemed more intense too.
And above all, it wasn't just about having a girlfriend.
He thought about all that time spent with Lys. The missions, the meals, the knowing glances, the discreet bickering. She wasn't just a "cute girl." He liked her. A lot. And that was what made him feel even more lost.
What if he said yes, and hurt her later?
What if he said no, and hurt her now?
He didn't know what to do. And for once, none of his anime references could help him.
Lys, who could see his hesitation, opened her mouth timidly.
"You don't need to answer me now..."
That sentence, typical of heroines seen losing in love, rang like a bell in Kyle's mind. A flag.
But instead of running away or avoiding the subject, he decided to do what he did best: go against the grain of clichés.
"Why?" he asked, his voice calm.
Lys looked at him, surprised.
"Why... do you love me?"
She wanted to say something, but he raised his hand slightly and continued:
"We've only known each other for a few weeks. And I... I keep a lot of things from you. A lot, really. You know almost nothing about me."
He fixed his eyes on hers. It wasn't an accusation, nor a rejection. Just a truth, lying there between the two of them.
Lys fell silent, taken aback. She looked down for a moment, clearly searching for the right words. Then she took a deep breath, looked up, and replied:
"I don't know why. I don't know how. I just know that... I love you." And for now, that's all I know."
Silence.
It wasn't a flamboyant declaration, nor a polished speech. But it was sincere. Raw. Pure.
And in this world filled with danger, uncertainty, and secrets, perhaps it was this kind of simple truth that mattered most.
After Lys's response, Kyle sighed inwardly.
"What's this shortcut?" he thought. A real stroke of the pen by the author to force romance into the storyline...
But instead of continuing to ruminate, he decided, for once, not to analyze everything.
He stopped thinking. He listened to his instincts.
He smiled at Lys.
"Honestly... it's nice to hear that kind of thing from a pretty girl."
He didn't say it with the intention of seducing anyone. It was just... the first thing that came to mind.
Lys blushed fiercely, a little taken aback. Then she gave him a shy smile.
"Thank you..."
Kyle blinked. He hadn't even realized he'd complimented her. He frowned slightly, confused by the "thank you."
"You know," he said then, "you're probably too good for me."
Lys froze then. Her eyes lost some of their sparkle. She thought she heard a polite rejection. The kind you do to avoid hurting someone.
"I see... sorry," she murmured. "We'd better get back. The others are probably already at the guild."
But Kyle, still not quite following the emotional logic, replied calmly.
"No. I want to keep walking with you."
Lys stared at him, confused.
"Why? After 'refusing' me, you still want to stay with me? Do you want me to suffer?" »
Kyle, still in his semi-conscious otaku, improvising his life like a blank page, blinked.
"Wait... there must be a misunderstanding."
Lys seemed lost. She hugged herself.
"Then why? Why do you want to stay?"
He simply replied,
"Because I enjoy your company."
Then he added with a small smile,
"And if I understand correctly, you have a thing for lonely, mysterious, and slightly weird guys?"
Lys looked at him for a long time, then started laughing softly. A real laugh, light and sincere. Then she shook her head.
"That's not what I like about you."
"Oh, really?" Kyle said, curious.
"What I like... is the way you follow your desires. You don't cheat. You live as you are, even if it's strange." You do what you feel, in your own way."
They continued walking side by side. Lys gradually regained her confidence. The silence between them was no longer heavy.
Then she began:
"And you, Kyle... what's your type of girl?"
He thought for a moment, then answered honestly:
"I like girls with their own story. The ones for whom romance is in the background, not the main goal.
The ones who are strong. Independent.
The kind of woman willing to take on the whole world, including the one they love, if it means fulfilling their dreams."
He paused for a moment, looked at the pinking sky.
"Their dream doesn't have to be grandiose. It just needs to have something that defines them... other than being 'someone's mate.'"
Lys felt her heart beat faster. She'd never seen him like this. And at that precise moment, she realized: she only knew a small part of Kyle. He was even more incredible than she thought.
They talked for a while longer, then Lys asked another question:
"And... what do you consider an ideal relationship?"
Kyle seemed almost surprised by the question, but answered bluntly:
"If I ever end up in a relationship... I want it to be with someone who is, above all, my best friend.
Someone I can talk to about anything, dream together, debate, laugh with, even in silence. Someone I can be myself with.
Someone with whom time stands still without us even realizing it."
Lys drank in his words. In this world where might was king, where women often had to step back or play a role, Kyle's words resonated like a breath of fresh air.
She understood then.
If she ever wanted to walk alongside Kyle, she couldn't just wait for him or follow him.
She had to live. For herself. She had to become his equal.
That was the paradox:
To get closer to him... she had to move away, to forge her own path.
The sun was almost set. They had spent all day together.
So, as if to lighten the mood a little, Lys asked him,
"And if we hadn't been friends, and I'd just come and declared my feelings to you like that, what would you have said?"
Kyle chuckled.
"I probably would have said something classy like, 'I don't want a woman who wants me.'"
Lys burst out laughing.
"How arrogant..."
They continued walking side by side, their shadows stretching gently in the fading light.
And with that shared smile... they returned to the guild.
Kyle and Lys finally arrived at the guild. The atmosphere was peaceful, dimly lit by the hanging lights and the familiar smell of hot food. The girls were gathered around a large table, eating dinner. As they arrived, several faces turned towards them.
"Oh, here you are at last!" Elaria said, a hint of concern in her voice. "We were all a little worried, you know..."
Lys apologized immediately, slightly embarrassed.
Kyle, for his part, replied with his usual detachment:
"We just went out for a walk... We didn't notice the time go by."
He glanced around the table.
"Where's Tristan?"
"He's with Julie and Edward, the guild master." They're finalizing the details for tomorrow," Anne replied.
"I see..."
Without another word, Kyle grabbed a piece of bread, nibbled at it absently, then gave them a small bow.
"Good night."
"Good night," Kyle, the girls chorused.
As soon as he disappeared up the stairs, all eyes turned to Lys, who had sat calmly with them. A soft, almost dreamy smile still hovered on her lips.
"So, how did it go?" Iris asked directly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Good," Lys replied simply.
But Iris wasn't the type to be satisfied with such a vague answer.
"Just 'good'? Did you two get a little closer at least?"
Lys's smile widened slightly, and she nodded.
"Yes."
Iris was about to ask another question, but Elaria gently interjected:
"Iris, calm down a bit. You're going to end up attacking her."
"But I just want to talk about love," Iris defended herself, pouting. "This is a conversation between friends, right?"
Anne, amused, tilted her head toward Lys.
"Look at her face... Lys is clearly on cloud nine. She's literally floating." That's why she's lost the words."
Everyone began to smile, even Iris, who, despite her frustration, understood that something beautiful had truly happened. That look, that smile, that attitude: everything about Lys betrayed a new emotion.
"I'm going to bed," Lys said softly, her cheeks still flushed.
"Good night, Lys," the girls whispered.
Iris watched her walk away, her heart at peace.
"It's okay," she murmured to herself. "It seems like things are moving forward."