The sun dipped low in a sky streaked with orange and violet, painting the fields gold as Ryn's party set up camp for the night. The embers of a lively day faded into quiet, smokey warmth as the group gathered beneath a patchwork tent and built a crackling fire.
With stew simmering and stories passed around, Mira returned from collecting kindling with a wry smile. "So, Lyune…" she began, nudging the silver-haired girl who was perched quietly on a log, "are you sure you're not an angel or something?"
Lyune didn't flinch. She simply watched the flickering flame for a heartbeat, then answered in her soft, direct tone: "Yes."
The campfire suddenly felt brighter as silence fell over their faces. Ryn nearly dropped his mug. Brok stopped mid-chew. Even Lena, smirk ready, stared in disbelief.
"I am an angel," Lyune continued, her gaze soft. "No… a Seraph. Higher rank." She spoke factually, as if confessing a favorite color rather than an age-old secret.
"Wait, you're… joking, right?" Mira breathed, half-grin faltering.
Lyune looked them over, then shook her head quietly. "No reason to hide it. Nobody knows me here." She raised a hand, and the campfire caught a sudden flare of unnatural brightness. Light shimmered, rippling behind her as two luminous wings unfolded with gentle, silent motion—radiant arcs haloing the dark night and casting long, shifting shadows around the camp.
For several heartbeats, the group was spellbound—awe and terror mingling, the campfire itself paling before Lyune's revealed splendor.
"These are my true wings," Lyune said softly. "I was once free to travel this world, centuries ago, after my master… God… set me loose. At first, I wandered. Laughed. Saw human lands with curious eyes."
"But then… the legend started," Ryn murmured, brow furrowed, not quite convinced but now unable to deny what he saw.
Lyune nodded, eyes distant, voice trembling like the flame. "People began calling me the Destroyer… 'Lyune, Angel of Calamity.' I didn't understand why. I was only enjoying myself, sometimes fighting, sometimes playing. I meant no harm. But the world changed—heroes gathered, bands of mortals banded together to hunt me. They called me 'Demon Lord.'"
She paused, eyes flickering across the camp. Her wings shimmered, growing brighter—and sadder.
"I grew tired. So when the last group came… I let them win. I wanted rest more than I wanted to be feared. So they sealed me, deep in a place outside time. Only recently did the seal fade, and so… I am here. But truly, I hope nobody remembers me. I just wish to sleep and fight, and sleep again. I do not wish to be a legend or a nightmare anymore."
The party listened, silent. The wings slowly dimmed, folding away with a grace that sent sparks dancing across the grass.
"Wow," Lena whispered, finally. "That's… a hell of a bedtime story."
Ryn chuckled, then looked at Lyune. "We don't care about legends. You're just Lyune to us."
Brok nodded quietly, setting down his bowl with reverence. "You want sleep, you got it."
Mira giggled, though tears brimmed her eyes. "Hero or not, we're glad you're here."
Lyune smiled faintly—as gratitude swept over her. She folded her wings away, leaving nothing but the soft glow of the fire as they all drifted quietly toward sleep.
That night, the boys stayed up late to guard the camp, their conversation quiet and full of new questions. Mira and Lena lay beside Lyune, glancing at her occasionally—both shaken and inspired by the truth.
Lyune herself watched the fire flicker one last time before closing her eyes. Sleep came easy, wrapped in a rare, peaceful acceptance.
The next morning brought golden light and birdsong. After a swift breakfast, the party resumed their journey. The road wound through rolling hills and patches of wildflowers. Lyune, now with wings hidden beneath her cloak, observed everything with quiet wonder.
Midday, the walled city of Luminious appeared on the horizon—brighter and larger than Lyune remembered. Towers gleamed in sunlight, banners snapped in the wind, and crowds pressed at the gates.
Lyune stopped, awe flooding her crimson eyes. "It has grown… much. So bright now. It wasn't so… vast, before."
Ryn grinned. "Things change, even when we don't notice."
Lena whistled, looking at Lyune. "Bet you could see the whole city from up there, huh?"
Lyune just nodded, lost in memory—and in the sharp sensation of being so small in a world reborn.
They entered the city with their merchant client, wending their way through bustling squares and into the grand marble hall of the Luminious Adventurer Guild.
The moment they crossed the threshold, an official-looking clerk approached, papers in hand. "Was the quest successful?" she asked briskly.
Ryn nodded. "Escort completed. Merchant delivered safely. Lyune's with us as a guest member—she helped."
The clerk checked their paperwork, marked the quest complete, and handed over several coin pouches. "Reward for Ryn's party. And… since Lyune assisted, her share will be credited." She slid a smaller pouch across the counter.
Lyune took it gently, cradling the coins in her palm. Something about their weight felt… comforting. Needed. For the first time, she truly felt part of human society, even if only for a moment.
As the others chatted, Lyune remembered something. She approached the counter once more.
"Excuse me," she said politely. "Can I… sell monsters here? I have a Tiger Wolf."
The receptionist blinked, faintly amused. "Of course. As long as it's registered, and not dangerous."
Lyune nodded, then materialized her trophy—nearly dropping the huge Tiger Wolf carcass onto the desk. The head alone filled half the counter.
The clerk gawked, eyes wide. "Tiger Wolf… that's a B-rank monster!" She started to panic, waving down several other staff for help. "Multiple A-rank adventurers are usually sent for these, with specialized gear… how did you—?"
Ryn stepped in, hands raised. "We didn't fight it. Lyune did. Honestly… she just played with it."
Lena grinned nervously. "It was kind of terrifying, honestly."
Mira nodded, still looking at Lyune with newfound awe. "She handled it solo. We barely had time to react."
The staff exchanged incredulous glances. Still, Ryn's party were A-ranked, their word carried weight. The clerk hesitated, then sighed, finally accepting the tale. "Very well. If they vouch for you, we must believe. The reward will be substantial. Please wait a few minutes."
After a flurry of calculations and several staff consultations, the clerk returned and handed Lyune a pouch so heavy it nearly toppled her. "This payment… covers six months' worth of boarding at any inn, three meals a day, plus a generous bonus for the Tiger Wolf's rarity."
Lyune stared at the pouch, eyes wide.
"How much… is all this?" she whispered, half-afraid to know.
Ryn smiled, explaining quietly, "With this, you can live in comfort for half a year. Eat as much as you want—maybe even try sleeping in every inn in the city."
For a long moment, Lyune just held the pouch, uncertain what to do. Gratitude, awe, and simple joy warred inside her. She finally smiled—truly, quietly, as happiness flooded her chest.
"Thank you," she said. "I will remember this."
The others watched as Lyune tucked away her reward carefully. It was not the gold or the praise that mattered, but the recognition—that after centuries of misunderstanding, sleeping in darkness and waking as legend, she was, at last, appreciated for who she truly was.
As dusk fell across Luminious, Lyune stepped outside the guild with Ryn's party, coins heavy on her hip, wings hidden and heart quietly full.
The world, for now, was bright. And in a small, peaceful way… she belonged.
Would you like Chapter 7 to explore Lyune's new life in Luminious—joining in new quests, discovering city secrets, or facing unexpected challenges?