Inside the "Adventurers' Haven" Tavern in Green Town, the air was alive with noise and laughter.
The rich ale aroma mingled with the savory scent of roasted meat, filling the room with a warm and bustling atmosphere.
Lina chose a relatively quiet corner, and the four gathered around a heavy wooden table.
Violet gently ordered a round of the tavern's signature ale and some snacks for everyone, then turned with a warm smile toward Mira.
"Try it. The honey-ale here has quite the reputation. It's perfect for a celebration—and for helping you relax."
Her tone was soft and caring, easing away any nervousness their new companion might have felt.
Mira offered a quiet word of thanks. Her fingertips brushed against the cold wooden mug, and the chill radiating from her body caused beads of condensation to form instantly on its surface.
She still didn't seem entirely used to such a lively team atmosphere, yet she showed no rejection either—only watching quietly.
Lina slid a mug toward Kiriya, her icy-blue eyes carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible note of concern.
"Losing a level—does it hit you hard?"
Kiriya took a hearty swig of ale, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Piece of cake. A bit of grinding and I'll be back to where I was. Besides, the rewards and EXP from that hidden quest? Absolutely worth it."
He flashed a grin at Mira. "Not to mention, we picked up an amazing new teammate. That's a total win."
Mira took a small sip. The warmth—so unlike the chill she was accustomed to—made her brow furrow ever so slightly. Still, at his words, she responded quietly:
"…Your loss. I'll make up for it in the upcoming dungeon."
Her tone was serious, as though she were stating a mission objective—a vow wrapped in the icy resolve unique to the Ice Rose Mage.
Kiriya blinked in surprise, then broke into laughter.
"Ha! Don't be so grim. That's what teammates are for—covering each other's backs. Next time, who knows, it might be you saving me."
Violet's gentle voice chimed in, her eyes warm as they swept across the two of them.
"Kiriya's right. The whole point of a team is mutual support. Still, Mira… your sincerity is precious."
Her words affirmed Mira's sense of responsibility, while gently drawing the mood back toward ease.
"Speaking of the next dungeon…" Lina shifted the conversation, pulling up her map panel. A projection of a volcano glowing ominously red shimmered across the tabletop.
"Hellfire Volcano, Level 30 raid dungeon. The environment is extremely hot, with a constant 'Burn' debuff. We'll need plenty of fire-resist potions or steady healing. Most of the monsters are fire elementals and magma creatures—high physical defense, extreme fire resistance."
Her gaze turned to Mira.
"Your ice abilities should, in theory, deal extra damage there. But at the same time, the heat could partially weaken your frost magic. You'll need to prepare in advance."
Mira's icy-blue eyes flickered slightly. She raised a finger, tapping the core of the volcano displayed on the map. At her touch, a faint frost-rose pattern glimmered at her fingertip, and the projection itself wavered as though chilled.
"The weakening effect of heat is real," she said calmly.
"But the Ice Rose isn't ordinary frost. Its essence is absolute zero and rule-binding, not merely frozen moisture. The oppressive heat of Hellfire Volcano may actually temper this newly awakened power."
There was a hint of eagerness in her tone—a challenger's hunger, the quiet confidence of one who had already tasted strength.
"My Eternal Frost Domain and Rose of Ice Entombment should effectively counter magma creatures' flow and fire damage."
Kiriya's eyes lit up.
"Oh? That sounds awesome! Crowd control and counter damage—perfect! Looks like Hellfire Volcano is ours for the taking!"
Violet gave a soft nod.
"With Mira here, handling the flames will indeed be much easier. I'll make sure to prioritize healing against the burn debuff."
She was already mentally mapping out her healing rotations and potion prep.
"Then it's settled," Lina concluded.
"We rest tonight, stock up on fire-resist potions and supplies tomorrow, and head for Hellfire Volcano." She raised her mug.
"And once more—welcome aboard, Mira."
The four wooden mugs clinked together with a solid thud. Kiriya grinned broadly, Violet's smile was warm and gentle, Lina's lips curved in a subtle but genuine arc, and Mira—though she only sipped lightly—already had the reflections of her three teammates clear within her icy-blue eyes.
In the mingling scents of ale and roasted meat, among shared goals and laughter, a fragile yet undeniable bond had quietly begun to take root.
But just as they were about to enjoy this rare moment of leisure, a mocking voice intruded.
"Well, well. Isn't this the lucky one from the system announcement? Ice Rose Mage, huh? Tch… some people really stumble into fortune."
The group turned to see a man in ornate flame-colored robes, wielding a gold-inlaid staff. Several guildmates trailed behind him.
His player ID read "Rok." Jealousy burned openly in his eyes as they raked over Mira.
"A hidden class, huh? Can't deny, that's enviable." Rok sauntered closer, his gaze falling disdainfully on the plain drinks at their table. He smirked.
"But looks like your teammates aren't much, huh? Can't even throw a proper celebration feast. Hey, beauty—why not ditch this ragtag group? Our guild, Flame Wings, could use a controller like you. The resources and perks we offer… well, this little wild party can't compare."
His words dripped with provocation and mockery.
Kiriya's grin faded. He was about to respond—but Mira moved first.
She set her mug down slowly and lifted her head. The complexity and warmth that had softened her gaze earlier were gone.
In their place: the razor edge of an icy blade, colder and sharper than ever before. Frost flared around her, and her mug froze solid on the spot—the ale within turned to ice.
Without even sparing Locke a glance, her voice cut through the air. Calm. Steady. So cold it seemed to leech the warmth from the tavern.
"My teammates mean more than any so-called resources."
She paused, then added, as if stating the simplest truth in the world:
"And they are strong. They need no judgment from outsiders."
Her fingertip flicked ever so slightly.
[System Prompt (Local Effect): Player [Rok] has been afflicted with an Unknown Chill. Movement Speed reduced by 10%. Duration: 5 minutes.]
Rok shuddered violently, his expression darkening. He wanted to lash out—but under the weight of Mira's frost-laden aura, and the sharp, unkind stares from her companions (Lina's piercing cold gaze, Kiriya's mocking smirk, Violet's disappointed shake of the head), he swallowed his words.
With a frustrated grunt, he turned and slunk off with his guildmates in tow.
The tavern's clamor gradually returned, as though nothing had happened.
Kiriya shot Mira a thumbs-up, grinning from ear to ear.
"That was badass!"
Mira turned her face slightly aside, letting the frost around her slowly recede. The frozen mug thawed, though the drink still sparkled with shards of ice. She muttered softly, almost under her breath:
"…Noisy."
A flicker of amusement glinted in Lina's eyes. Violet, ever gentle, simply ordered Mira a fresh honey-ale with a kind smile.