[Scene: Backyard – Ashen's Household | Afternoon Sun]
The afternoon sun hung lazily above the rooftops, casting a golden haze across the small backyard. The grass swayed with the breeze, and the faint scent of mango blossoms lingered in the air.
Katrina stood still in the middle of the yard—her back straight, her sling still wrapped around her arm.
But Ashen noticed something else.
Ashen (internal):
"Wait… yesterday she looked like she barely survived the fight. Bruises everywhere. Blood."
"Now… her skin's clear, the cuts are almost gone. Just the sling remains."
"Did a healer heal her…? That must be it. Their magic… it's powerful."
The thought lingered, lingering just long enough to feel awe.
Then Katrina broke the silence.
Katrina (casual, almost too casual):
"Where would you like your guild tattoo?"
Ashen blinked.
It felt like someone had suddenly handed him a legendary item in the tutorial.
Ashen (internal):
"Tattoo? Already?"
He instinctively took a step back—not in fear, but excitement. A childish grin tugged at the edge of his lips.
And then…
That spark.
That very specific, very nerdy spark.
Ashen (internal):
"Wait a sec… where would it look coolest?"
"I mean… it's not just a tattoo—it's part of my character design."
"This is like… a panel close-up moment in a manga."
He ran through visual sketches in his mind. Arm? Too basic. Chest? No one would see it.
Then it hit him.
The neck.
Right side. Bold. Cool. A perfect detail for someone like Ashen.
Ashen (determined):
"Right side of the neck."
Katrina blinked. That was… specific. Peculiar. But she didn't question it.
She crouched down, reached into her pouch, and pulled out an odd device—round, metallic, with carved runes glowing faintly along its rim.
Thup!
She pressed it firmly against his neck.
Ashen flinched.
Ashen (internal):
"OW—what the heck kind of tattoo machine is that?!"
Katrina stood and inspected the mark.
A crescent moon, tilted slightly to the right — thin, sharp, like a whisper on the edge of sound.
Inside the Crescent:
A small, elegant flame cradled within the moon's curve.
The flame isn't wild — it's stylized and controlled, like a spirit fire or eternal lantern.
Then she smiled.
Katrina (gently):
"Congratulations. You're now the 8th official member of Whisper's Light."
She paused, then let her eyes linger on the fresh tattoo glowing faintly in red against Ashen's skin.
A subtle smile tugged at her lips.
Katrina (softly):
> "I actually searched through every crest variation until I found one in red…"
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing thoughtfully, approvingly.
Katrina:
> "It suits you. Matches that hair of yours."
Ashen blushed. Then blinked.
Ashen:
"Wait… eight member? That's it? We don't have, like, tons of members hiding in the shadows?"
Katrina straightened and crossed her arms.
Katrina:
"We control a lot of guilds. But Whisper's Light—the core? We've always been small. Personal."
"Before you, there were just seven."
She held up a hand—one finger and a thumb raised, her other hand still in a sling.
Katrina:
"Master Madhav. Arjun. Solis. Kael. Eron. Rhask and me."
Her voice dropped just enough to sound… reverent.
Katrina:
"Everyone except Master Madhav is around sixteen to nineteen. That would make you the youngest."
Ashen stared into the sky for a moment.
The tattoo on his neck tingled gently—like a seal unlocking something deeper.
Ashen (internal):
"I killed myself in my past life thinking I'd never belong anywhere."
"But now I've got a mark… a design… a group."
"…Guess the story's finally begun."
Katrina caught the look in his eyes and gave a rare, crooked smile.
The wind picked up again.
The world felt a little bigger.
Ashen (grinning, eyes gleaming):
> "Let's go meet the others! I haven't seen any of them yet—this is the perfect time!"
Katrina exhaled through her nose, slow and measured. Then she smiled faintly—an amused little flicker of maturity.
Katrina:
> "Well… hate to burst your bubble, kid—" She stretched her one good arm upward toward the sky. "—but I doubt you'll see anyone except Master Madhav today."
Ashen blinked, caught mid-hype.
Ashen:
> "Huh? Why not?"
Katrina's gaze lingered skyward for a breath. The sling around her arm fluttered slightly in the breeze.
Katrina (lower, thoughtful):
> "Because they're already gone." "They're probably not even in Brevia right now… headed toward whoever attacked us last night."
Ashen's brows knitted.
Ashen:
> "But... didn't you already beat that guy?"
Katrina (chuckling, dry):
> "That wasn't the guy. That was just a guy." She shifted her weight slightly. "I don't even know if he was part of a rogue guild or a pirate crew."
> "But one thing's certain—he wasn't alone."
Ashen went quiet.
Katrina (firmly):
> "Whoever sent him… their friends will come looking." "And the rest of Whisper's Light? They don't wait for threats to knock twice."
She smiled, tired but proud.
Katrina:
> "They literally just came back after crushing a rogue guild."
> "Now they've left again."
Ashen:
> "No rest at all?"
Katrina shrugged with her good shoulder.
Katrina:
> "That's the standard. We don't just protect cities—we clean up what other guilds can't touch."
She looked at her sling, expression twisting slightly with frustration.
Katrina:
> "I'd be out there too if this stupid arm wasn't a problem."
Ashen noticed her knuckles tightening despite the injury.
Ashen (softly):
> "So… I wait?"
Katrina turned to him again. Her tone softened—still dry, still Katrina—but it held a strange warmth beneath it now.
Katrina:
> "You wait." "You train." "And when the time comes… we don't carry you."
She poked his forehead with her good hand.
Katrina:
> "You walk beside us."
Ashen stood still. No witty comeback this time.
Just a nod. One that meant more than any brag ever could.