Lance flew like a broken arrow—no grace, just panic and pain—slamming into the stone wall.
Blood splattered, thick and dark, like someone squeezed the life straight out of him.
Cracks spider-webbed behind his body. His head slumped, vision fading at the edges.
Rain shouted, voice cracking, "Lance!"
Aiden gritted his teeth so hard it looked like they might snap. His sword shone—brighter, brighter—like the sun was trapped inside it.
He dashed forward, a blur of yellow streaks cutting the air.
"First fold," he hissed through his breath.
Then zigzagging through monsters, "Second—third—fourth fold!"
He stopped just long enough to look back at the beasts he had cut down, their bodies dropping like puppets with cut strings.
Selena's scream tore through the dungeon as she fired another wave of fireballs.
Kaiden didn't let up—fingers locked around the trigger of his machine gun, brass shells clinking as they hit the floor.
Rowen… sat up. Barely. His breath shivered as he saw the boss—towering, monstrous—the kind of thing that makes you understand fear in a new language. He turned and saw Lance unconscious, slumped against the wall like a rag doll.
Rain staggered toward Lance, boots dragging.
Tears poured down his cheeks, messy and unhidden. "Lance… you'll be fine. I'll— I'll heal you. Just hang on."
He raised his trembling hand.
But something heavy—like a god's palm—pressed down on him from behind. His whole body froze.
Four glowing eyes. Behind him.
Rain slowly tilted his head, and there it was—the boss—its shadow swallowing him whole. Its fist rose.
The reflection of that fist was clear and cruel in Rain's eyes.
BAM.
Brugar's fist collided with the monster's, shaking the entire dungeon. Rain was blown away by the shockwave, rolling across the dirt.
Brugar raised his other fist. The boss mirrored him. Their punches slammed again—neither of them budging, even as cracks spidered through the ground beneath them.
Brugar didn't turn. His voice was tight. "Rain, get Lance out of here now. We'll hold this thing off. We'll give you time. "
Rain's voice was small, cracked. "But… I can't leave you—"
Brugar roared as the boss pushed him back, "Just go!"
Rain squeezed his eyes shut, tears falling again. "I can't…"
Aiden, struggling with two wolf-beasts, yelled without looking back, "Listen to him! Go!"
Rain turned. "But—"
"As your leader. I command you to go." Aiden barked, "That's an order."
Rain froze. Shock. Hurt.
But he wiped his face, nodded weakly, and forced himself up. He grabbed Lance, draping the limp arm over his shoulder.
"We'll wait for you," he whispered to the others… even though his voice didn't sound like he believed it.
He walked away.
Rowen still stood frozen until Aiden snapped, "Rowen! Support us—NOW!"
Rowen jolted, then raised his trembling hands. "H-Heal!"
Green glow washed over the fighters. Hope, borrowed and fragile.
Brugar smiled under the weight of the enemy's fists. He ducked low—power exploding upward as he drove a punch into the boss's gut, launching it into the air. He followed, delivering barrage after barrage of blows.
Some wolves tried to chase Rain, but Selena blasted fire at the entrance—stones crashed down, sealing the way.
Rain continued limping down the tunnel, Lance hanging heavily from his shoulder.
"I don't… think I know the way out," Rain muttered, voice tired. Lance remained unconscious, barely breathing.
He kept walking until the path split into two. He hesitated—looked left, then right—and chose the right path.
He walked deeper. The wall opened into a cliff drop beside the narrow walkway. He didn't pay attention—he was exhausted.
A small stone rolled under his foot.
He slipped.
He and Lance slammed into the ground—Lance's body sliding dangerously close to the edge. Rain's arm dangled over the empty void. He couldn't see anything below. Only darkness.
He scrambled back, heart pounding. Then he dragged Lance to a safer spot and leaned him against the wall.
Lance's blood trail smeared behind them.
"You've lost too much blood…" Rain whispered. "I'll heal you now."
He placed his hand over Lance. "Heal…"
Lance glowed green.
The spell dragged on… and on… and Rain felt his mana draining like someone uncorked him from the inside. Sweat rolled down his face. His breathing turned ragged.
"Just… a little more," he whispered.
When he finally dropped his arm, he was panting and coughing, hunched over. "I healed your wounds… and gave you some mana. You should… feel a little stronger."
He wiped his forehead with a shaky hand.
Lance slowly opened his eyes. He saw Rain's exhausted smile.
He sat up, touching his healed body. "You… did this?"
Rain nodded. "Yeah… took some time."
"Thanks," Lance said softly.
Then he looked around. "Where are the others?"
Rain's face darkened. "Still fighting… Aiden said they'd catch up."
Lance shifted to sit straighter. "If Aiden said it… I believe him."
Rain blinked. "You do?"
"Of course," Lance smiled faintly. Then his voice dropped. "Rain… can I ask you something?"
Rain nodded. "Sure."
Lance stared at the ground. "If I asked you to give up your life to save the rest of us… would you do it?"
Rain's breath stopped. "L-Lance… what kind of—"
"Just answer," Lance said.
Rain lowered his head. "I don't know about dying but… I'd do my best to save everyone."
Lance sighed. "I see." Then he continued quietly, "Remember when Rowen said you'd understand your role soon?"
Rain frowned. "What do you—"
BAM.
Lance's kick hit him like a cannon. Rain flew backward—right off the cliff.
"Lance! Why—"
He fell. The wind roared around him.
Above, at the cliff's edge… they all stood.
Aiden. Selena. Brugar. Kaiden. Rowen.
And Lance.
All smiling.
Rain's heart snapped. How…?
His mind flashed back to the trail of blood—neat, intentional.
Aiden waved." Goodbye, Rain."
Selena smiled wickedly." Make sure to scream, okay ."
They walked away.
Memory after memory crashed into Rain's head:
Aiden saying, "This is your last mission with us."
Rowen wearing the guild coat he had never received.
Aiden saying, "You'll get your coat soon enough."
Rowen laughing, "I thought you didn't want to complete the mission with us."
Again—You'll understand your role soon.
Rain whispered, voice shaking, "I see… so this was never a mission. This was… just a way to get rid of me…"
He struck the stone below, rolling painfully across the floor.
His head split open—blood running down into his eyes. His leg twisted. His arm broken. Everything red, blurry.
A low growl came from behind.
Wolves approached, shadows crawling around him.
The boss landed behind him. Dust blasted forward.
Rain crawled, dragging himself with one arm.
The boss howled.
The wolves surged.
One bit into his leg. He screamed. Another tore into his side. More piled on him.
Rain's eyes slowly dimmed, like a candle that forgot how to stay alive.
"I cared for you all," he whispered first… then the words cracked, rougher, "I took… you all to be my friends."
His throat tightened. He grit his teeth hard enough that it almost sounded like bones grinding.
Memories of him and the guild flickered through his head — not smoothly, not like a story — more like old photographs being thrown into a fire one by one. Flash. Burn. Flash. Burn. Each one taking a piece of him with it.
He pressed a hand to his chest as if trying to hold something together, something leaking out too fast.
"My heart…" he swallowed, eyes shaking, "my heart is turning black."
The boss stomped toward him, slow, merciless. It grabbed Rain's head, crushing him into the dirt.
Rain sobbed. "I don't want to die… someone… please…"
SLASH.
His head rolled. The boss picked it up, opened its mouth, and swallowed it whole.
Darkness.
—————
A flash of white. Blinding. Sharp.
A young man opened his eyes under a large red maple tree. Wind brushed the grass like fingers combing through hair.
He sat up quickly, confused. "Where… am I?"
His clothes were torn, body dirty, hands trembling.
He turned—there was a house nearby.
A woman in her late 20s was hanging clothes on a rope.
"Um… hello?" he called softly. "Where am I?"
She turned—shock covering her face.
"My goodness—are you alright?"
"I think so," he said, looking himself over. "But I… I don't know where I'm from. I woke up under the tree."
"You don't know?" she said. "You must've been attacked by bandits—your clothes…"
He scratched his head. "Maybe… I don't remember. Where is this place?"
"You're in the Kingdom of Velharin," she replied.
He looked toward the distant village. "Velharin…"
"You don't look like you're from here," she added softly. "My name is Verona. You look tired. Hungry too. Let me prepare a bath, then food."
He nodded.
Later, wrapped in a towel, he stared at himself in the mirror—black hair with silver undertones… silver eyes reflecting back.
Verona entered. "Clothes are in the wardrobe. Pick what fits."
He nodded again.
She paused at the door. "What's your name?"
He stared at the mirror. "I… I don't know."
"You don't know your own name?" she whispered.
He shook his head.
She sighed. "We'll talk after you eat."
—————
Outside, a wooden table set for two. Simple. Warm.
He stepped out, wearing clothes too big for him, sleeves rolled.
"These clothes…" he began.
"They belonged to my husband," Verona said gently as she set down bowls of rice. "He's gone now. You're free to use them."
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to reopen anything."
"It's alright. Sit. Eat before it gets cold."
He took one bite—and his eyes widened. Then he devoured it, almost desperate.
Verona laughed softly. "If you want more, just ask."
He didn't even hear her. He was too busy eating.
They finished, and she washed the dishes. He stood.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I… don't know. Maybe I'll find something about myself."
She looked at the darkening sky. "It's too late. You don't know who you are, and you're alone. Bandits could attack again. Stay here for now."
"It wouldn't be right. I don't want to burden you."
"It's fine," she insisted. "Stay until your memories return."
He bowed. "Thank you."
She smiled. "Alright then. How about a name? Hmm… Arden."
"Arden…" he repeated. "It's good."
"Then from now on, that's who you are."
He nodded slowly.
"My name is… Arden."