Arriel winced as he settled at a shaded table outside the guild tavern. His muscles still ached from the fight with the Shadowmaw Wolf, a painful reminder that even at Level 8, he wasn't invincible. The potion had restored his mana, but not the weight of the experience.
Kael leaned against the wall beside him, arms crossed. "You're getting stronger," he said, his tone calm. "But that was reckless."
"I know," Arriel replied, stretching his arms slowly. "But if I didn't step in, people would've died."
Kael gave a reluctant nod. "Just remember—getting stronger too fast draws attention. People notice. And not all of them are friendly."
Arriel glanced at the cloth covering his status bracelet. It hid the glowing number, but not the truth. "I'll be careful."
Kael sighed. "Lay low for now. Maybe take quests farther out."
Their conversation was interrupted by a voice—soft, confident, and just loud enough to make them look up.
"You're Arriel, right? The one who fought the Clawhorn Boar and Shadowmaw Wolf?"
They turned. A petite girl stood a few steps away. She looked a bit out of place in the city: blonde twin pigtails, a cute but sharp outfit—a shirt under a mage's jacket, a pleated skirt, and platform boots that made her just tall enough to look eye-level with Arriel. At first glance, she resembled a noble's daughter, but her stance was casual, and her eyes were calculating.
"That's me," Arriel said cautiously. "And you are?"
"Lira," she replied with a smile as she pulled out a chair and sat across from him without asking. "Adventurer. Been hearing stories about a kid who soloed a Clawhorn. Pretty hard to miss."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "You investigating?"
"Just curious," Lira said, shrugging. "You're moving up fast. Really fast. But I noticed something more interesting—you're the type who doesn't stand back when others are in danger."
Arriel didn't reply.
"What do you want?" Kael asked bluntly.
"I want to join your party," Lira said without hesitation. "I've been doing solo quests for a while. Got tired of it. Watching everyone from a distance. I want to work with someone who actually care about people."
Arriel looked at her, trying to read between the lines. She seemed too polished for a rookie, but there was no arrogance in her tone—just curiosity.
"Just like that?" he asked.
"Well," she said with a grin, "I'm not asking for a contract in blood. Just let me tag along for one quest. If we work well, maybe more."
Kael remained silent. He seemed wary but didn't object.
Arriel studied Lira for a moment longer. There was something hidden beneath her smile—but not something hostile.
"Alright," he said at last. "One quest."
Lira's grin widened. "One quest it is."