The morning sun filtered through the towering spires of the capital, gilding the cobblestone streets in amber light. Alter, clad in simple black linen, walked alongside Lira and Kaela. The two women matched his pace with ease, their casual clothes contrasting the elegance of the upper district, but none of them seemed to care. Purpose guided their steps—today, they were buying a home.
Inside the grand marble-tiled chamber of a real estate agency, the trio's entrance drew little more than a passing glance. The clerk at the front desk barely lifted his eyes, noting the plain clothes, and returned to scribbling in his ledger.
"Can I help you?" the man asked dryly, voice unimpressed.
"We're looking for a private estate. Prime district," Alter said calmly. "Several million gold budget."
The agent's quill paused mid-stroke. His gaze slowly rose, laced with skepticism. "Several million, you say? Do you have an appointment?"
Alter said nothing. Instead, he reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out a gold-enchanted storage token. With a flick of his wrist, a pile of pure, gleaming gold coins fell with a resounding clang onto the stone floor—neatly counted: two million gold.
The entire room went silent.
The agent blinked, mouth slightly agape. "O-One moment, please!" he stammered, nearly tripping over his own feet as he darted to the backroom.
Moments later, he returned with a thick leather-bound catalog. "Prime estates, high walls, multiple courtyards, private sectors—follow me, sirs and ladies!"
They were soon ushered into a mana-drawn carriage, the trio glancing through estate listings while the agent, now overly polite, explained each option with far more enthusiasm than before.
Their search took most of the morning. They toured grand manors with marble columns, secluded villas beside shimmering lakes, and even one estate overlooking the royal barracks. Each location had merit—but none quite fit.
Until they arrived at a stone-gated manor perched atop a small hill on the city's northern edge.
It had everything they asked for:
A sprawling courtyard garden and open training yard bordered by enchanted stone walls.
A main building large enough to house multiple guests and staff.
Separate wings for servants' quarters, guest rooms, and private chambers.
And most importantly: seclusion, with magically fortified borders ideal for privacy and long-term security.
Alter walked the perimeter quietly, inspecting the rune-etched stonework and mana flow beneath the soil. Lira ran her fingers across the hand-carved balcony railings while Kaela tested the weight of the training dummies already installed in the backfield.
"I want this one," Lira said with certainty, a rare excitement in her voice.
Kaela smirked. "Finally, one that doesn't look like a royal funeral hall."
Alter nodded. "We'll take it."
The real estate agent's eyes sparkled. "Excellent! I'll prepare the contract immediately. The cost is 2.6 million gold, plus furnishing—about another two hundred thousand—"
"We'll pay in full now," Alter said flatly.
Once the transaction was complete and magic seals confirmed the transfer, the agent nearly collapsed in joy. He promised to handle all the arrangements and have the estate fully furnished within the day.
True to his word, the next morning, the trio stood before their new estate—clean, fully decorated, and waiting.
Their new home gleamed under the morning sun. Birds flitted around the trees lining the training yard. The scent of newly polished wood and fresh linens floated from the open windows. Servants and maids were already present, hired and instructed as part of the furnishing fee.
Alter stepped inside first. Lira and Kaela followed close behind.
"This… feels like a dream," Lira whispered.
"No. This is our foundation now," Alter replied softly. "The first step toward something greater."
After weeks of travel, fights, and endless dungeon exploration, the trio stood at the gates of their newly purchased estate. The property was expansive—a stately, multi-winged mansion nestled just outside the capital's bustling center. The structure was made of white-stone and silverwood accents, its tiled blue roofs gleaming in the morning sun. A vast training field sprawled behind it, and inside were over two dozen rooms, enough to comfortably house a team, servants, and guests alike.
They had paid a premium—2.6 million gold for the land and estate, and an additional 200,000 to furnish and renovate everything to their specifications. But Alter never hesitated. This was an investment not in comfort, but in the future.
By the following day, the trio had moved in. Furniture had been arranged, training dummies and barriers installed, and their private quarters fully prepared. The rooms were pristine and custom-furnished to their taste. Lira's mage study radiated gentle arcane light. Kaela's quarters had weapon racks along the walls, while Alter's room was austere—save for a map of known dungeons and a clean, enchanted rack for Astral Requiem, his divine sword.
In the grand dining hall, breakfast had been prepared by the estate's newly hired staff—maids, footmen, and cooks trained for noble-class service.
Alter and Lira emerged from their room together, drawing quiet attention from the staff. Kaela joined soon after, stretching and yawning from her morning routine.
The trio sat down at the long dining table. But the servants simply stood by the walls, stiff and quiet, waiting.
Alter frowned.
"...Why are you standing there? Aren't you going to eat?"
The head maid bowed. "Sir... this meal is for you and your guests. We are simply here to serve."
"Not in this house," Alter replied firmly. "Eat with us. That's an order."
They hesitated. But seeing the seriousness in his gaze, they slowly gathered plates and joined the table—timidly at first.
Alter smiled and struck up conversation, asking for their names one by one. He remembered them—Mira, Jules, Rena, Thom, and Graye, among others—and slowly, they relaxed. He asked about their pasts, where they came from, what brought them here.
By the end of the meal, the dining hall was no longer silent but alive with laughter and light chatter.
Later that day, the trio made their way to the Central Adventurers Guild. They posted an official notice on the recruitment board. The parchment was enchanted and sealed with Alter's S-rank mark.
Recruitment Notice:
Seeking capable and trustworthy individuals to join a new elite expedition team.
Purpose: Dungeon exploration, team-based advancement, and specialized training.
Requirements:
Kaela: Combat skills, agility, and proficiency above average adventurer standards.
Alter: Integrity, discipline, and willingness to grow.
Housing and provisions included.
Location: Private estate near the capital.
Inquire at front desk or return message to S-Rank adventurer Alter.
By the time they left the guild, whispers were already spreading.
"Alter's forming a team?"
"A real estate property… that must mean they're serious."
"Did you hear Kaela's condition? You need skill and discipline!"
"I heard he turned away three A-rankers already…"
Alter didn't care for the attention. But Lira smiled, pleased at the growing recognition. Kaela was blunt as always:
"If they can't pass our test, they don't belong near the team."
As they walked back home under the warm glow of the setting sun, Alter looked at the two women beside him. He wasn't just building a party anymore.
He was building a legacy.
The second morning in the estate began like any other: warm bread, honeyed meat, and quiet chatter from the attending staff. But tranquility fractured quickly.
"I am not letting us go into the guild as 'Shadow Reapers,' Kaela!" Lira snapped, her spoon clinking sharply against her teacup.
Kaela crossed her arms with a huff. "It sounds intimidating! That's the point! Better than your sparkly flame name."
"Order of the Azure Flame is symbolic—"
"Of what? Overpriced perfume?"
The servants froze, pitchers and trays suspended mid-step. An unspoken rule of the estate had been broken: Lady Lira and Lady Kaela were arguing. Over a name, no less.
Alter sat at the head of the long dining table, watching the volley of words with something between amusement and fatigue. It was rare to see them bicker, but it was clear neither would budge. That's when he quietly reached within—past the noise, to the ancient force resting in his soul.
"Seraphina."
Her voice arrived not as sound but as clarity woven into thought—crystalline, layered, and divine.
"They argue for identity, Alter. A name is not vanity. It is resonance—a thread that anchors legacy."
A name echoed into his thoughts—clear, commanding, noble.
"Mythral Dawn," Alter said aloud, voice steady and final.
Kaela blinked. "Mythral...?"
Lira lowered her cup slowly. "The mythical alloy of soul and starlight. And Dawn... for rebirth."
"Exactly," Alter said, meeting both their gazes. "We carry the legacy of dragons, the power of the Creator's forge, and the will to change the world. This isn't just a party. This is a new beginning."
Both girls stared at him for a moment... then, almost at the same time, nodded.
"I can live with that," Kaela muttered.
"It's perfect," Lira agreed, softly.
The servants collectively exhaled in relief.
The grand structure of the Celestian Adventurers Guild bustled with movement and noise, but all grew quieter when Alter, Kaela, and Lira walked in, their presence cutting through the crowd like a sword through mist.
Guildmaster Ardria Valen stood at the registrar's table, already waiting.
"Settled on a name, have you?" she asked, arms folded, silver eyes studying them.
Alter stepped forward. "Register us as Mythral Dawn."
A rare smile tugged at Ardria's lips. "Ambitious. I'll assign your team Tier S designation immediately."
She passed them the registration scroll and marked the crest with a glowing seal.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Team Name Registered: [Mythral Dawn]
Status: Active | Tier: S-Class Expedition Clearance Granted
Founder: Alter | Core Members: Lira, Kaela
Unlocked Team Perks:
Mythic Synergy (Passive) — Shared EXP gain bonus for bonded parties
Dawnmarked Unity (Active) — Temporary boost to all stats when fighting together in a Raid Event
Forged by Destiny (Passive) — Reputation gain increased when completing major quests or dungeon clears