The meeting point was a quiet pocket of the world, far from the Association's gleaming tower.
A small clearing, bordered by gnarled trees and moss-covered rocks, where the morning mist still clung to the damp earth.
I tightened the strap of my pack, the weight of my new, plain dagger a familiar presence against my hip.
This was it. The first real step.
The air itself felt different, charged, like the moment before a storm breaks.
Just a team. A temporary arrangement. Learn the rules, then break them on your own terms.
"You're quite early."
The voice was a low rumble, as solid as the earth.
A man was leaning against the thick trunk of an oak tree, his posture deceptively relaxed.
He was built like a fortress, broad chest, thick arms that spoke of years spent wielding something heavy.
His hair was a practical, dark crop, and a shadow of stubble dusted a strong jaw.
But it was his eyes that held me, deep brown, sharp, and observant, missing nothing.
They were the eyes of a man who'd seen enough to be wary of everything.
His armor was light but sturdy, reinforced leather with strategic metal plating.
And resting against the tree was a claymore so large it seemed to defy physics, its blade bearing the subtle scars of use, its hilt worn smooth by a familiar grip.
"You are Allen, right?" he asked, pushing off the tree with a fluid, powerful grace.
The ground didn't seem to notice his weight.
"Yes," I replied, keeping my voice level.
My own posture felt stiff in comparison.
"Jace told me about you. I'm Tobias, the team leader." He extended a hand.
It was heavily calloused, a map of past battles etched into the skin.
His grip was firm, confident, but not crushing. It was an assessment.
"Lightning element, huh?" Tobias said, his gaze sweeping over me with a practiced efficiency. "We'll see how that plays out in the dungeon."
It wasn't a challenge, just a simple, factual statement.
My worth was an unknown variable.
Before I could form a response, another voice cut through the quiet, laced with a playful energy.
"Is this the newbie?"
A young woman strode into the clearing. She moved with an agile, predatory grace, every step silent and deliberate.
Her hair was a fiery red, pulled back in a high ponytail that swished with her movement.
Bright hazel eyes took me in with open curiosity, set in a face lightly dusted with freckles.
Her armor was form-fitting leather, dyed in forest tones, and a beautifully crafted recurve bow was slung across her back.
"Don't scare him off, Lily," Tobias said, a faint smirk touching his lips.
"I'm just curious," she replied, her grin widening as she stopped a few feet away, hands on her hips. "I'm Lily, by the way. Resident sharpshooter."
"Allen," I said simply.
She chuckled.
"Not much of a talker, huh? That's fine. As long as you can keep up." Her tone was teasing, but the look in her eyes was pure professional appraisal.
The next arrival was a study in controlled motion.
A lean, wiry young man seemed to materialize from the shadows between the trees.
He had a mess of dark hair falling over his eyebrows and a smirk that suggested he knew a secret you didn't.
His eyes, a mischievous amber, held a glint that was both clever and slightly unsettling.
Twin daggers hung at his hips, their blades thin and deadly.
"Name's Marcus," he said, flashing a quick, sharp smile. "I'm the team's scout and trap expert. Stick with me, and you might survive."
The offer was playful, but it carried an edge of genuine warning.
The dungeon was a place of hidden dangers.
I just gave a slight nod, unsure how to engage with his brand of humor.
Words felt like a trap themselves.
The final member of our group arrived so quietly I almost missed her.
She was petite, almost delicate, with short, silver-white hair cut in a practical bob.
Her eyes were a striking violet, large and expressive, but they darted away when mine met them.
She wore a soft, flowing robe over practical clothes and carried a staff topped with a gently glowing crystal.
"Evelyn," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm the healer."
She offered a timid smile before looking at the ground, her fingers nervously tracing the silver rings she wore.
"Glad you made it," Tobias said, clapping his hands together, the sound sharp in the quiet clearing.
The moment of introductions was over.
"Now that we're all here, let's go over the plan."
He unrolled a small, well-worn map on a flat rock.
We gathered around.
"Our target is a low-level goblin den. Standard sweep-and-clear. Shouldn't be anything we can't handle, but stay sharp. Goblins are cunning little bastards. They fight dirty."
His eyes settled on me.
"Allen, you'll be in the middle of the formation. Stay close to Evelyn and Marcus. Lily and I will handle the front line. Your job is to watch our flanks and provide support with that lightning. Understood?"
I nodded, absorbing the simple strategy.
A protective pocket for the rookie. It was smart. It was condescending.
I said nothing.
"Any questions?" Tobias asked, his gaze sweeping over the group.
Marcus raised a hand, his grin returning.
"Yeah. Can we place bets on how long the newbie lasts before he zaps himself?"
"Knock it off," Tobias said, though a hint of amusement warmed his stern tone.
Lily snorted a laugh, and even Evelyn covered a faint smile with her hand.
I kept my expression neutral, my hands relaxed at my sides.
Their jokes were a barrier, a way to distance themselves from the potential liability in their midst.
Let them talk. It doesn't matter.
"Let's move out," Tobias commanded, rolling up the map with a decisive snap.
As we fell into a loose line, heading toward the distant, ominous maw of the dungeon entrance, the weight of the moment settled deep in my bones.
This was no simulation. The air growing colder, the way the birds fell silent, it was all real.
I glanced at my temporary teammates.
Tobias, the unshakable rock. Lily, the sharp-eyed hunter. Marcus, the cunning shadow. Evelyn, the gentle, essential light.
I was the outlier. The question mark. I looked like the one they had to protect.
But I wasn't here for their approval. I wasn't here to prove I belonged in their group.
I was here to learn. To survive. And most importantly, to earn.