The irony of the beginnings

Kyle announced neutrally,

"Don't worry, it suits us just fine. "Dawn's Flash" is happy to have you on board, even if it's just for a while."

The guild hall was bustling, as always. Adventurers of all ranks were chatting, laughing, or consulting the mission boards. The "Dawn's Flash" group had just joined, and the announcement of Kyle's temporary inclusion triggered mixed reactions.

"I'm all for it!" Everyone says he's a prodigy. And... isn't he cute? "Iris said with a mischievous smile, winking at Kyle.

"We don't know anything about him. You want us to just bring him into the group? It's risky. What if he's not cut out for teamwork?"

                                                              Elena sighed heavily, then glanced pointedly at Kyle.

"...All right. But we have to keep an eye on him."

At that moment, the great door of the guild burst open. An icy breath swept through the room, freezing the atmosphere. Conversations ceased.

A woman of almost unreal beauty crossed the threshold, and the light seemed to linger on her features as if to exalt her presence. Her noble gait, punctuated by the discreet echo of her footsteps, commanded silence and respect, while the rustle of her dress glided through the air like a breath of mystery. Without a glance at those she captivated, she ascended the stairs with a distant majesty, indifferent to the murmurs and fascinated eyes that followed her, like a vision escaped from a dream.

Lys whispered.

"Who... was that?"

Eris replied in a low voice, almost reverently.

"Freya. The Ice Empress." An elemental mage, she's one of the Guild's S-Rank adventurers."

"An elemental mage? What's the difference from a normal mage?" Lys asked, intrigued.

Iris spoke in a slightly professorial tone:

"Ordinary mages can wield several types of magic elements, but they are limited by their ability and the number of elements they can use. An elemental mage, on the other hand, specializes in a single element. They become immune to it, create their own spells, and..."

Kyle added calmly:

"...and they can use ultimate spells. Unlike the lower, middle, or higher-level spells used by regular mages, elemental mages have access to a higher level. They have absolute control over their magical elements."

Surprised, Iris turned her head towards him.

"It's rare for a warrior to know so much about magic. Usually, their knowledge is limited to the magical abilities related to physical combat."

"I'm interested in everything, as long as it's interesting," replied Kyle.

Tristan laughed softly.

"You really are a man full of surprises."

A little later, Tristan became serious again.

"We need to choose a mission. Since our group is D-Rank, we can accept a quest of C-Rank at most."

The group dispersed around the quest board.

Upstairs, in the guild master's office...

A muscular man with a neat beard banged his fist on his desk, making the inkwell shake.

"Freya! I've received several complaints about your behavior, particularly your relationships with men," he growled.

 Casually leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, Freya shrugged with a sly smile.

"I don't force them to stay, you know? It's not my fault if men are attracted to beautiful, young, and powerful women," she replied in a mock-innocent tone.

The guild master frowned.

"Ugh... 'young,' huh? We're the same age, remember."

At this, Freya's gaze hardened like ice. The air grew heavy, the room's temperature dropped.

The guild master coughed and quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway... Any news of the other one?"

Freya raised an eyebrow.

"Last time, he was talking about retiring."

A nostalgic smile touched the guild master's lips.

"Retirement?" But he's the youngest of us... What a joke."

"Or maybe he was just fed up," Freya retorted casually.

The master straightened up.

"And your mission with the Kraken?"

Freya swept a strand of hair behind her ear, looking nonchalant.

"Over weeks ago. The rest of the time, I enjoyed the sea... in very good company."

The master sighed loudly.

"I knew it. You volunteered just for that."

A mischievous smile lit up Freya's face.

"You know me so well."

The master rolled his eyes.

"Well, you've had a good time... I have another mission for you."

Freya immediately raised a hand, as if to dismiss the idea.

"I refuse."

"You didn't even listen!" he protested.

"Whatever. And you have the other two for this sort of thing."

"They're already on missions," the master replied curtly.

"Then go yourself," Freya said with a provocative smile.

"If only. But as guild master, I can't leave this place for too long," he admitted, crossing his arms. 

Freya approached and grabbed the mission sheet lying on the desk without even reading it.

"Just this once. But you'll owe me a favor."

A satisfied smile crossed the master's face.

"Deal."

Downstairs, everyone was showing their mission.

Kyle held out his, his eyes shining.

"Dislodge a minotaur, a C-rank quest. Sounds like a good challenge."

Tristan smiled.

"Nice choice, but let's start slowly. Let's get to know each other first."

He held up his own card.

"A merchant escort. Simple, but effective. And besides, I have some unfinished business in the Royal Capital."

Iris nodded.

"Perfect for testing group dynamics."

Elena nodded.

"I agree."

Kyle sighed sarcastically.

"This is why I hate guys surrounded by girls. They always have the last word."

At that moment, Freya descended the stairs, graceful and indifferent, S-rank mission in hand. Her admirers followed her like a procession. 

Later, at Rose's inn.

As soon as they entered, a warm voice greeted them.

"Lys! Who are these charming young men?" asked Rose.

"The members of my group. We're going on a mission together," replied Lys.

Tristan bowed politely.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm the group leader, Tristan."

Rose stared at him, a smile playing on her lips. "Very charming young man."

"Not you too..." thought Kyle, looking away.

"Sit down, I'll prepare a nice meal for you," suggested Rose.

As everyone took their seats, Lys whispered to Rose:

"Kyle will be joining us for a while."

"Temporarily," Kyle corrected immediately.

Rose nodded softly.

"As long as he's with you, that reassures me. In a group, he can go on missions as much as he wants."

The night had been peaceful at Rose's inn, lulled by laughter and anecdotes. Rose, the innkeeper with a benevolent aura and a mysterious past, recounted fragments of her past adventures. Everyone listened attentively, fascinated by the tales of a former healer turned mistress of the house.

But amidst this warm atmosphere, Kyle had discreetly risen from his chair. Without a word, he slipped away, leaving the light and laughter behind him to return to the silence of his room. He wasn't used to this kind of atmosphere... and he didn't want to disturb anyone.

The next morning, just as the sun was rising, he cautiously descended the steps. He thought he'd slip out quietly, but a familiar figure was waiting for him by the door.

"You're planning on leaving without even saying hello? And yesterday, why did you leave without saying anything?" Rose asked with a mischievous smile, her arms crossed.

Kyle stopped, slightly surprised.

"Ah... sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I'm not really used to this kind of atmosphere."

"Hm. You could have at least given a warning. The others noticed you were gone, you know."

He looked away.

"I know..." he said with a sigh. "I'm going to the blacksmith. I need to get my equipment before I leave." »

Rose nodded gently, then added as she approached,

"The escort mission doesn't start until the afternoon. You still have time. And most importantly... you haven't eaten yet."

Kyle opened his mouth to protest, but she had already led him to a table where a steaming bowl of soup and still-warm bread awaited him.

"Sit down and eat, understand?"

"Okay..." he breathed as he sat down.

He quickly swallowed the meal and stood up immediately.

"At least take the time to chew...!" exclaimed Rose, half amused, half annoyed.

"That'll be fine, thanks again!" said Kyle as he walked through the door.

The sun was now high in the sky when he arrived in front of Gareth's blacksmith's workshop. The sign creaked softly in the morning breeze, and the smell of hot metal hung in the air.

Kyle entered the workshop, unaware that Lys had followed close behind. The air was thick with heat, burning metal and coal, each hammer blow echoing like a heartbeat. Sparks flew, dancing for a moment before fading on the stone floor.

"Gareth! Is it ready?" Kyle called.

The blacksmith looked up from his anvil, his arms covered in sweat and metal dust.

"The armor is finished. As for the sword, there's one more detail."

Kyle raised his eyebrows.

"Isn't the blade already repaired?"

"Yes. But it's missing the enchantment."

"An enchantment?" Kyle repeated, intrigued.

Gareth nodded, wiping his hands on his blackened apron.

"I'm no enchanter, so my means are limited. But I was able to improve the blade's mana flow. It'll respond better to your energy, livelier, more flexible. It's no relic, but it'll serve you well."

Kyle approached the workbench. The blade, half-engraved with fine runes, reflected a cold light. His eyes clouded over in silent admiration.

Behind him, Lys broke the silence with a firm voice:

"The group is waiting for you at the guild. We need to discuss the details of the contract with the client." »

Kyle gave her a quick glance.

"I'll meet you there. Go early, if you like."

Lys crossed her arms.

"No way. I'll stay. We'll leave together."

Kyle sighed, resigned.

"...As you wish."

A quiet chuckle was heard. Gareth watched them, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"You make a cute couple."

Lys flushed immediately, looking away.

"I-it's not...!"

Kyle remained unperturbed, barely shrugging.

"If you say so."

The blacksmith's laugh burst out, genuine and resonant.

"Such a stoic fellow! And you, young lady... you don't seem to realize it, but you always make sure he's not alone." »

Lys jumped, taken aback, and quickly lowered her eyes. Kyle pretended not to have heard.

The blade glowed slightly, the magical pattern engraved on it pulsing with a faint blue glow. Kyle retrieved it, strapped it to his hip, and left the workshop alongside Lys, ready for his first mission with the group.

The heavy guild doors opened gently in the morning light. The interior was already bustling: adventurers were coming and going, some with tired smiles, others reading the quests posted on the large central board. At the back of the room, a table had been requisitioned by a small group of familiar faces.

"Ah, so you're finally here!" Anne said, waving her hand.

Tristan was already talking to Eris. He turned as they approached, nodding wordlessly.

"Hi!" Lys said, smiling warmly at the girls. "Elena, Anne, Iris. Did you sleep well?"

"Like a log. Rose's inn is really comfortable," Anne replied, stretching.

Lys sat down relaxed. Kyle, true to form, took a seat without a word, his eyes discreet but attentive.

"Hey, Kyle." " Iris asked, her emerald gaze fixed on him. "Why did you leave last night without saying anything? We were all having fun."

The man in question turned his head towards her, but his voice remained calm.

"I was just tired." She narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced, ready to retort, but she was interrupted by Tristan's return.

"The client won't be long, but in the meantime... we might as well take advantage of this to better understand our capabilities so we can cooperate effectively."

He sat down in turn, placing his scabbard confidently on the table.

"I'll start. I'm a Swordsman." He lightly drew his weapon, the blade giving off a peculiar glow. "And this is a draconic sword. A superior weapon. If I infuse it with mana..."

A small reddish arc crackled on the blade before dissipating.

 "I can cast fire spells."

Kyle entered the workshop, unaware that Lys had followed close behind. The air was thick with heat, burning metal and coal, each hammer blow echoing like a heartbeat. Sparks flew, dancing for a moment before fading on the stone floor.

"Gareth! Is it ready?" Kyle called.

The blacksmith looked up from his anvil, his arms covered in sweat and metal dust.

"The armor is finished. As for the sword, there's one more detail."

Kyle raised his eyebrows.

"Isn't the blade already repaired?"

"Yes. But it's missing the enchantment."

"An enchantment?" Kyle repeated, intrigued.

Gareth nodded, wiping his hands on his blackened apron.

"I'm no enchanter, so my means are limited. But I was able to improve the blade's mana flow. It will respond better to your energy, livelier, more flexible. It's not a relic, but it will serve you well."

Kyle approached the workbench. The blade, half-engraved with fine runes, reflected a cold light. Her eyes clouded over with silent admiration.

Behind him, Lys broke the silence with a firm voice:

"The group is waiting for you at the guild. We need to discuss the details of the contract with the client."

Kyle gave her a quick glance.

"I'll meet you there. Go early, if you like."

Lys crossed her arms.

"No way. I'll stay. We'll leave together."

Kyle sighed, resigned.

"...As you wish." »

A quiet chuckle was heard. Gareth watched them, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"You make a cute couple."

Lys flushed immediately, looking away.

"I-it's not...!"

Kyle remained unperturbed, barely shrugging.

"If you say so."

The blacksmith's laugh burst out, frank and resonant.

"Stoic, he is! And you, young lady... you don't seem to realize it, but you always make sure he's not alone."

Lys jumped, taken aback, and quickly lowered her eyes. Kyle pretended not to have heard.

"Impressive..." Lys murmured.

"Your turn, Iris," Tristan said, waving her hand.

The young mage nodded shyly.

 "I'm a mage specializing in the elements of light, fire, wind, and water." She raised her hands. "For now, I can only use lesser spells."

"No worries, everyone starts somewhere," Tristan smiled.

"I'm a priestess," Lys continued. "I master blessings. I can purify, heal, and grant divine protection."

"No wonder you caught the attention of quite a few people before you joined the group," Anne said with a laugh.

"And you?" Lys asked her two other classmates.

"Elena. Archer. I grew up in the Verdean Forest. My specialty: long-range accurate shots. I also have some basic magic. I'm also a very good scout."

"Anne. Spear warrior. If there's something to impale, I'm the right person."

Everyone then turned to Kyle.

Kyle hesitated. He certainly wasn't going to say he was an elemental mage—that would be too obvious. So he opted for a veiled truth.

"For now, consider me a Spellblade," he said finally, his voice neutral. "I use both sword and magic. Lightning spells, mainly." »

He thought this would avoid attention... but it had the opposite effect.

"A Spellblade?" Iris asked in surprise. "So you can use magic and a sword?"

"That's incredible!" Lys continued admiringly. "You wield both arts at once!"

Elena said nothing, but her eyes had widened slightly. Even Anne seemed visibly interested.

Tristan, however, smiled, satisfied.

"You'll be invaluable to the team. Even if you don't seem like the type to brag."

Kyle shrugged, a bit uncomfortable. That's a failure for discretion...

"Hybrid classes aren't that rare..." he said, almost to himself.

"Maybe, but since we've never seen you use magic, we didn't expect you to hide it." " noted Anne.

Elena was about to add something, but the guild door suddenly opened.

An elegantly dressed man, wearing a velvet cape and glittering rings on his fingers, entered, glancing quickly around him. He stepped forward with a confident step.

"It's him," Tristan murmured. "Our client."

The atmosphere changed immediately. The time for introductions was over... The escort was about to begin.

Tristan jumped to his feet.

"I'll take care of this."

He ran to the entrance and bowed slightly to the newcomer, exchanging a few quick words, then returned to the group with a smile.

"I present our client: Master Darian Valmont."

The man nodded politely, his eyes scrutinizing each member of the group with a certain level of scrutiny, as if assessing their competence simply by observing them.

"Nice to meet you. I'm the owner of the shop in the Royal capital: Valoris."

"Valoris..." Kyle thought. "Even the name sounds cliché."

"I came here to take care of some business. And for another project, but nothing interesting, I assure you," Darian added casually.

No questions were asked. Tristan, pragmatic, stood up.

"Then let's go."

As they left the city, the large stone gates slowly closed behind them. Kyle felt his heart beat a little faster.

It was the first time he had left the walls of this starting city since arriving in this country.

 The landscape stretched out before him: green fields, a dirt road winding between hills, and a fresh breeze carrying the songs of unknown birds.

Anne and Elena prepared the carriage, pulled by two horses with shiny black coats. Then Darian climbed aboard without delay.

The other adventurers were heading towards the mounts tied up a little further away. Each approached their horse without hesitation.

Kyle, however, stopped for a moment.

Riding a horse? I've never done that...

He stayed back, discreetly observing the others' movements—the way Tristan harnessed his mount, how Lys placed a foot in the stirrup before climbing on—then imitated their movements to the letter. After two clumsy attempts, he managed to mount with ease, hiding all traces of inexperience.

"The journey will take about three days." " declared Tristan, placing himself at the head of the procession. "We'll take regular breaks, but stay alert."

And so, the journey began.

The carriage's wheels creaked gently on the dusty road. The sky was clear, bathed in golden light.

At first, the journey passed in peaceful silence. Birds flew away as they passed, and the landscapes passed calmly by. No danger. No ambushes. Just nature.

Anne whistled from time to time. Elena kept a watchful eye on the surroundings. Lys chatted with Iris, a smile on her lips. Tristan, at the head, seemed perfectly relaxed.

But Kyle stared straight ahead. His mind was bored. Nothing moved. Nothing emerged. Just the eternal sound of hooves on the ground.

 "So this is what escort quests are like?..." he thought, his chin resting on the pommel of his saddle. "Not very exciting..."

And so the first day passed. No incidents. Just the monotonous rhythm of a smooth journey.

When night fell, tinting the sky purple and gold, Tristan raised his hand.

"We'll camp here."

The group moved off the path and settled in a small clearing sheltered from the wind. While the merchant had his private tent prepared, the adventurers began setting up their own camp.

A fire was lit. Rations were brought out. Everyone found a measure of comfort in this routine of seasoned travelers.

For Kyle, this wasn't a first. But in this world, he had always camped alone.

He didn't know it yet, but this peaceful day was only the calm before the storm.

The night stretched gently under the starry sky. The campfire crackled faintly, casting only thin shadows on the hastily pitched tents. One by one, the adventurers succumbed to sleep, still keeping their weapons close at hand, their minds still alert.

But sleep finally caught up with them... all except one.

Kyle, lying in his sleeping bag, stared at the black sky, wide awake.

"As usual, I'm not falling asleep quickly," he thought. "In my world, I spent my nights in front of my computer, but here..."

He sighed silently and activated his detection spell for the umpteenth time. So far, he hadn't detected anything—not a single monster, not a single anomaly. And after a long moment of silence...

Presence detected. 

Something was lurking, nearby... around Darian's tent.

But instead of being alarmed, a broad smile spread across his face.

Finally... something interesting.

He stood up quietly, quickly donned his leather armor, grabbed his sword, and then slipped out of the camp, not to escape the enemy, but to avoid waking the others. He wanted to have fun. Alone.

Near the merchant's tent, he spotted it. A misshapen figure, with long, sinewy limbs, gray skin, and a dripping red cap.

A Red Cap.

A lone E-rank monster... a D-rank in a pack. A nocturnal creature known to murder its victims in their sleep, preferring weak targets. Its cap drew its color from absorbed blood, making the monster stronger.

Kyle stepped forward, sword in hand. He could have struck in the back... but that would be too easy. Too boring.

He smiled.

"Let's go."

He cast [Night Slice], a magical attack fusing his blade with the essence of darkness. The sword vibrated, trailing a dark aura.

The monster retaliated violently, its two dirty daggers slicing through the air with fury.

But Kyle activated Void Veil, dodging effortlessly.

Wounded, the Redcap retreated, disappearing into the trees.

Kyle, amused, pursued without hesitation.

He tracked it to another small clearing... where it stopped dead in its tracks.

"Huh?"

Eight more Redcaps emerged from the thickets, circling their prey with hungry eyes.

Kyle raised an eyebrow. A predatory grin stretched his lips.

 "Now it's getting interesting."

The monsters approached, confident. Kyle glanced toward the camp. He was far away... far enough away to let loose.

He removed his leather armor and gently placed it on the ground.

"I can finally go without holding back."

He channeled his magical energy. His body was covered in white lightning, accelerating his speed to a superhuman level. His movements became almost invisible.

Then, he surrounded his sword with a black flash, imbued with destructive energy.

The fight was a whirlwind of light and shadow.

The monsters attacked in series, fast, cruel. But Kyle danced between them, his blades tracing arcs of light in the darkness. Each blow struck true, precise, lethal.

The clearing shook with magical explosions. Trees split. The ground was plowed. The air vibrated with tension.

But Kyle was laughing.

He laughed like a child who had finally discovered a game that was right for him.

And when day finally broke, it was already over.

Elena was the first to wake up among the girls. She stretched, yawned, then rubbed her eyes. Seeing the quiet of the camp, she gently woke the other girls.

"Come on... it's time..."

Iris groaned, hiding her head under her blanket.

"Five more minutes..."

But she jumped when she heard Tristan come running out.

"Have you seen Kyle?!"

The group froze.

"He's not here. I woke up early to check the perimeter... and his bed is empty."

Lys paled.

"Is he missing?"

"We need to organize a search party. We can't just stand here and do nothing."

"Calm down," Iris said, smiling.

"Maybe he's gone off to face a pack of wolves, alone."

"That's exactly what worries me!" Tristan retorted.

Darian came out of his tent, alerted by the voices.

"A problem, fellow adventurers?"

"One of our members is missing." said Tristan.

The merchant paused in shock, then sighed.

"That's a risk of the job... But I hope he's okay."

"He'll be back," Lys murmured, staring at the edge of the forest.

And she was right.

A figure appeared between the trees.

Kyle.

His body was stained with dried blood. His face held a huge smile, as if he'd just returned from a party.

"Greetings."

Everyone froze. A mixture of relief, worry... and admiration.

Tristan ran towards him.

"What happened?!"

But before he could reply, Lys wrapped her arms around him tightly and cast a healing blessing spell and a cleansing spell, making all his wounds disappear in seconds, along with the blood stains.

Kyle exhaled a long breath.

 "We had a visitor last night. A Red Cap. I chased him... and then I fought him."

"A Red Cap?!" Anne said, her eyes wide.

Kyle shrugged.

"He wasn't very talkative."

Silence fell. Then Iris burst out laughing.

"There's never a dull moment with you."

And the journey continued smoothly.

But a certain fear hovered around Kyle.

Who was he really? How strong is he?

Lys was the first to break the silence.

"You're incredible... Honestly, even though you're officially an F-rank, you're clearly D-rank."

Kyle replied simply and confidently:

"You're right."

Tristan approached next, looking stern.

"Why didn't you warn anyone?"

Kyle shrugged.

"I didn't mean to disturb you."

Tristan sighed.

"That's nice. But you're part of a team now. Don't forget that."

Kyle nodded.

Elena, a little ashamed, apologized.

"It's my job to spot dangers. Because of the calm of the day, I lost my attention and failed in my role."

Kyle smiled.

"No problem."

But suddenly, they all sensed a hostile presence.

A group of goblins was blocking the road.

Kyle wanted to intervene, but they all stopped him.

"Rest, let us do this," Tristan said.

Reluctantly, he agreed.

 Darian invited her to climb into the carriage with him.

"After a night like this, you deserved it."