Silverhaven was alive with morning light as Red, Selena, Lio, and Sarah passed under the city gates. Sunlight shimmered off the cobbled roads, and banners fluttered gently in the warm breeze. The scent of fresh bread, leather, and the sharp tang of metal from forges drifted through the air. The trio's boots thudded softly over familiar stone, while Sarah's steps were filled with new purpose and a sense of freedom she hadn't felt in years.
They paused briefly at a junction near the town square.
Sarah: "I'll catch up later. I need… a sword. And to register. I want to stand on my own two feet now."
Red gave no reply, only a slow nod.
She gave Red a meaningful smile before turning down the road toward the weapon quarter, where the clang of steel and barked orders filled the street. Her blonde hair shone like a golden thread in the sun as she disappeared into the crowd.
Sarah, newly resolute and eager, parted ways with the others almost immediately after reaching the city's heart. She made her way toward the weapon shop, the clinking sound of coins in her pouch growing heavier with each step. Her eyes glimmered with determination; today was the day she would arm herself and become an official adventurer.
Inside the weapon shop, the air smelled of sharpened steel and polished wood. The shopkeeper, a gruff but kind-eyed man, nodded approvingly as Sarah examined the short swords lined neatly on the wall.
Shopkeeper: "A fine choice for a beginner. Lightweight, quick, and easy to handle. It'll serve you well."
Sarah counted out her coins carefully, paying for the cheapest but decent-quality short sword she could find. Then, with sword in hand and a newfound confidence in her stride, she headed straight to the adventurer's guild to register.
Meanwhile
Selena and Lio turned toward the familiar facade of the Silverhaven Adventurer's Guild, a towering building of stone and timber, its stained-glass guild emblem catching light as they entered. The interior buzzed with activity: adventurers reporting in, copper ranks haggling for small jobs, silver ranks boasting of their kills, and gold ranks quietly brooding near the quest boards.
At the counter, the ever-professional receptionist, a woman in her late thirties with ink-stained fingers and an ever-watchful gaze, looked up and greeted them.
Receptionist: "Back from Elmsbrook, I see? Did the herb quest go well?"
Selena: "It did! Better than I expected, honestly."
They handed over their quest confirmation slips, and after a few scribbled notes and a thump of the guild's wax seal, the woman handed them a small pouch.
Receptionist: "Herb-picking quest complete. Twenty silver coins in total. Ten each."
Selena grinned. It was the most money she'd ever held at once. Lio, however, took his share with shaking hands, offered a quiet nod, and quickly turned on his heel.
Selena: "Lio?"
But he was already halfway out the door, moving faster than usual. Selena blinked in confusion, her brow furrowing.
Selena: "Hey! Lio, wait!"
She rushed after him, weaving through the morning crowd. His small frame disappeared down side streets, and she hurried to follow, her boots clicking across cobblestones. Red, watching from the guild's doorway, narrowed his eyes slightly. Then, with practiced calm, he followed them, shadowing their path from a distance.
Lio moved with purpose, tears stinging at the corners of his freckled cheeks. He didn't stop until the city began to change around him. Stone walls gave way to crumbling brick and slanted roofs. The clean storefronts of central Silverhaven faded into worn signs, sagging wooden porches, and children playing barefoot in muddy alleys.
They had entered the southwest district, Silverhaven's forgotten corner, where time moved slower and coin was scarcer.
Selena's breath caught in her throat as she followed silently behind. This wasn't the city she'd known these past few weeks. The air was heavier here, weighed down by hardship.
Lio reached a crooked, one-story house with flaking paint and a door that hung slightly ajar. He paused just long enough to wipe his eyes before stepping inside.
Selena: "What is this place…?"
Then the door flew open again.
Two small girls barreled into the sunlit alley with shrieks of laughter. Identical red pigtails bobbed as they tackled Lio in a warm hug. Their clothes were threadbare, but clean, and their faces shone with joy.
Lia: "Liooo! You're back!"
Lana: "Did you get us sweet buns again?"
Lio dropped to his knees, arms wide, catching them both.
Lio: "Better. I got real food today."
He opened his bag, revealing wrapped bread, dried meat, and even two pieces of cheese. The twins gasped like he'd shown them a treasure chest.
Selena watched from the corner of the alley, frozen.
She had assumed Lio was just another rookie trying to earn his place. She hadn't realized he was carrying two more lives on his back. Her hand went to her pouch of silver, and guilt twisted in her stomach.
Selena: "He's… supporting them."
Behind her, Red stood quietly, half-shadowed by a leaning building. He said nothing. He didn't need to. His unreadable gaze said it all.
As Lio looked up and saw them, his face didn't show surprise. Only a small, sheepish smile.
Lio: "Oh. You followed me."
Selena: "We… uh… just… wanted to make sure you were okay."
The twins turned their heads in unison, curious.
Lia: "Lio, who's she?"
Lana: "Is she your girlfriend?"
Selena: "WHAT?! N-no!! I'm not! I just!"
Lio: "She's a friend. This is Selena. And that's Red. They're… my party."
He hesitated over the word, then smiled again. There was something in his voice when he said it. A hope.
He stood up, brushing his hands on his trousers.
Lio: "It's not much, but… you can come in. It'd be rude not to offer."
Selena looked to Red. Red gave a slow, silent nod.
With a deep breath, Selena stepped into Lio's home. The floor creaked, the furniture was mismatched, and a single cracked window let in the sunlight—but the house was warm, and it smelled faintly of lavender and old wood.
This place wasn't just a shelter. It was a lifeline. A promise.
And now, it was part of their story.