"Please, don't get used to seeing me like this. The dress and hair? Just tools to trick people." Kali smirked as she folded the lime-green dress, sending Asahi a pointed, knowing look.
Aletha folded her arms tightly, eyes fixed on the window. In the corner, Emine hummed a shaky melody. Despite the chaos Emine caused—shoves, near-stabs—Aletha couldn't shake a deep, inexplicable sense that forgiveness belonged to this girl. The atmosphere quietly shifted as everyone settled into their own thoughts after the tense encounter.
She reached out to the woman, trembling in the corner next to a cabinet, her gray eyes fixed on Emine's vibrant pupils. She smiled brightly, whispering as Asahi and Kali talked in the background.
"Hey. I forgive you, okay?" Aletha's voice softened as she leaned toward Emine. "Back there, I saw your face—it wasn't anger. It was fear, wasn't it? Like you felt trapped. I'm sorry I doubted you." Emine shrank back, startled, but Aletha's words stayed gentle.
Emine gulped and pushed her dark hair to the side.
"R...Really?"
Aletha giggled, trying to ease and loosen up the atmosphere.
"Of course! Didn't you say you saved us from the forest?"
Emine's eyes leered toward the wall, feeling her anxiety rise to the roof. A remorseful look plastered on her face, remembering the carriage ride and when she had taken the wanderers. Meanwhile, Aletha chuckled and pushed her white hair, slowly guiding Emine toward the glistening window that revealed the vibrant landscape.
"Come on! Just be proud that you have saved us."
Emine scratched her head and fidgeted with her fingers, looking back at Aletha and thinking.
(How can that girl forgive me? My dagger was next to her neck.)
This certain charm has always worked for Aletha, despite hostile situations. Her radiant, vibrant smile and beautiful, high-pitched voice have consistently brought positivity to everyone she has met. This moment was no different.
As Emine and Aletha relaxed and gazed out the window, the room fell into a quieter mood. At the same time, Kali tied her hair and returned to her normal appearance, while Asahi pulled out his notebook and wrote what he had experienced.
[After the abrupt encounter, I eavesdropped on my sister's discussion, hearing that it was inevitable for us to avoid participating in this foot race.]
Asahi looked up from his notebook, surprised to see softness now gracing Emine's features—a world apart from the steel-eyed wariness he'd first met.
The room felt much more lively and relaxed, with the sun lighting the floor, and the chaos behind the door coming to a quick halt as he noticed the crimson-haired man leaving the room.
Kali jumped up from the bed and packed her dress, rubbing Asahi's shoulders and alerting him.
"Hey, your sister and another person want to speak with you! They have been hollering your name multiple times!"
Asahi's face turned pink in embarrassment.
"R..Really?"
Kali replied, pulling Asahi out of his comfort zone and propelling him toward the door.
"YES, really! Come on!"
* * *
Meanwhile, it appears that Asahi hadn't realized that Telos was utterly silent. He hadn't said a word after Asahi abruptly awakened from the mindscape. Asahi wondered: could all of that be an illusion, or was it for some other purpose?
Despite these questions, the speed of events ahead escalated as soon as Emine revealed more information.
"A man named Fint helped me gather the fellow individuals who accompanied you two before my arrival behind the door. You might have seen him. He's the man with bright crimson hair."
Asahi and Aletha exhaled, pushing out their concerns and adjusting to their new surroundings. Emine continued, staring at both the wanderers with a serious tone while still keeping a slight grin on her face, as the group prepared to leave the room.
"When I escort all of us outside of the hospital, I will guide you through Oksanna village and introduce you two to everyone. Don't worry; the people here are amiable."
Asahi and Aletha wiped a sheen of relief from their faces, walking out the door with Emine and seeing Chloe, Canyon, and Pridia, all of whom were relieved to see the two. They greeted them kindly and acknowledged that everything was fine with Emine, then told them to follow the woman out of the hallway toward the lobby.
As Asahi, Aletha, and the others walked across, seeing several nurses and doctors rushing in and out the doors, Canyon approached them and asked.
"Are you two alright?"
Both the wanderers replied with a relaxed tone.
"Yeah, we're fine."
Emine pointed her finger and led the group across a room made of glass and wood. It was such a strange pattern that the silhouette of the mountains outside cast its shadows onto the floor. She closed her eyes and let the wanderers examine the beautiful room, speaking to them in a calm voice.
"When newcomers arrive from far lands to the continent of Vehemat, they usually come to Linuxinia and search for Oksanna Village. The Adventurer's Guild is the reason why everyone comes to Linuxinia. It's where new adventures like you two test their limits and see if they can obtain an adventuring license."
Aletha's eyes sparkled with fascination, shocked to believe that there was anything of that sort to be in her world. As they passed another room, seeing windows all around, flower pots, paintings, and desks, Aletha walked up to Emine and asked.
"Ooo, so... what does an adventuring license do?"
Pridia, who was pretty energetic, beamed out and pushed her mint-colored hair, expressing copious energy.
"Oh, you're talkin' about getting an adventurer's license, eh? From what I remember, it basically allows you to secure adventuring hotspots worldwide and get some rewards!"
Canyon sneered and shook his head with a look of doubt.
"You're oversimplifying it!"
Pridia pressed her hands to her cheeks and gave a half-shrug. She made a covertly triumphant voice, alerting everyone around her to be either annoyed or ignore her.
"No, I'm not. I know exactly what it does!"
The crimson-haired man fiddled with his collar and shook his head, chuckling and releasing a half-breathless murmur of amazement and incredulity.
Heavy oppression seemed to brood upon the air as he turned to the wanderers and explained. His voice was gentle, but it had a faint masculine accent.
"That boy is right. She is oversimplifying it.' Fint scratched his head and stomped his foot on the ground, gradually raising his voice.
"An adventurer's license isn't required, but it's highly recommended for those who want a smooth journey worldwide. It's an opportunity to receive payment to purchase items, compete with others, and claim a reward for the best adventurer... or simply ride your own personified mount. There are many benefits to having an adventurer's license, and that's not even scratching the surface."
Sweet bewilderment of tremulous apprehension floated in both the wanderer's faces. They never would have expected to discover such a carefully organized faction with benefits and opportunities awaiting them.
Pridia was still upset about being wrong, but she instantly jumped up with joy as she heard the people's greetings flooding her ears.
Aletha beamed and expressed, walking with Fint, Asahi, Chloe, and the others, feeling the fresh breeze from outside pass through them as they walked outside the hospital.
"Ooo, so you're saying that by just having that adventurer's license, we would be given our very own mount?! That's SO cool!" Aletha grabbed Asahi's shoulder and pulled him, begging her brother to be interested in the deal.
"Bro, let's do it! Let's get an adventurer's license. Did you hear what that man was saying?! We would be able to join this faction and everything."
Canyon pointed out.
"Actually, it's much more expansive than that. Take it for me, for example: "
Canyon stepped forward and posed, staring at the treetops above his head.
"Seven years ago, I had to go through this training process where we would have to go on specific expeditions and complete quests, pass through obstacles, and help others far from this place. They would teach me how to wield a blade, fight monsters, traverse the terrain, and help others."