After leaving the guild almost an hour ago, our heroes found themselves inside a carriage pulled by sturdy black horses. The rustle of the wind against the wooden walls and the steady rhythm of hooves created a soothing melody… but not for Daniel, whose mind was already wandering.
"You know what would make this even more epic?" he said, leaning slightly toward Élise and Mina, a mischievous grin on his face. "If this mission felt like an anime opening… explosions, flashy powers, and a dramatic soundtrack."
Élise raised an eyebrow, both amused and exasperated. "Daniel… can't you focus for even a second?"
Daniel pretended to bow with mock seriousness. "But I am focusing! It's strategic concentration: otaku mode activated." Lysandra, in his mind, sighed. "Seriously, Daniel… even on a mission, you need to think about the plan, not the openings…"
Mina burst out laughing. "I knew you had a heroic side… but I didn't expect you to treat anime clichés as actual strategy."
Daniel shrugged with feigned modesty. "Hey, the important thing is to keep morale high. A rank‑S mission would be way too boring if we didn't add a little style."
Élise shook her head, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. She knew well this mix of seriousness and absurdity that defined Daniel. The road ahead was long, the potential dangers enormous… but between nervous laughter, absurd references, and whispered strategies, the team moved toward the unknown, ready to write a new chapter of their legend.