The Messenger of Golden Wings

                                                                       Then he slowly turned his eyes to Kyle, his gaze as frank as a punch.

"You are one of the most talented adventurers I've met, and you have the potential to rival the most powerful adventurers in the kingdom..."

He took a breath, paused.

"Despite your strength, you're still human, and you need to learn to take it easy."

Kyle wanted to scream. To say that he just wanted to live his dream, here, in this fantasy world. That he had finally found a place where he felt alive. But the words died in his throat.

Then, like a ray of sunlight piercing a cloudy sky, a soft voice spoke.

"I think it's best to wait until he recovers..." Elena said, folding her hands on the table. "Even if he's a little strange, he's still our companion."

"That seems like a good idea," Anne added, nodding.

Finally, Lys turned her head toward him, her gaze softening.

"You know, I'm starting to know you well. You're dying to live this adventure."

Kyle looked at her. And for some reason, his lips trembled.

"I..."

But again, nothing came out.

Edward broke the silence by standing up slowly.

"Very well. Two weeks. That's how long you'll have to prepare. The departure will take place after that."

He pointed at Kyle.

"You have this time to recover. And above all... to learn to work as a team."

Tristan stood up, arms crossed.

"We'll train properly. No special treatment. Not even you, Iris." 

A burst of laughter rippled through the room, breaking the tension that had been weighing on the room just a few moments earlier. In this lightened atmosphere, the group left the guild master's office, full of enthusiasm, ready to face the rest of the day.

The next morning, the dining hall was bathed in soft morning light. The members of Dawnbolt were eating a modest breakfast.

Iris slowly placed her spoon on the table.

"I know... I'm the weakest in the group."

Everyone turned to look at her. Her voice was neither sad nor bitter. Just... honest.

"This week, I'm going to train. I want to change that."

A brief silence fell. Anne patted her gently on the shoulder. Elena smiled at her. Even Tristan looked away, thoughtful.

 "I'm going to the church in the capital," Lys declared. "I have... things to do there."

She didn't elaborate. And no one asked. Her look was enough.

"I'm going to sleep!" Anne blurted out, stretching.

"I'm going to help with the preparations for the mission," Elena added, blushing a little.

Kyle turned to Tristan, feigning relaxation.

"And I suppose you have damsels in distress waiting to be rescued."

"No, but I have some unfinished business..." Tristan replied enigmatically.

Kyle sighed, slumping back against the chair.

"B-rank, huh? And I'm stuck in the guild with no quests. How ironic."

He muttered under his breath,

"And yet I'm the protagonist of this story...?"

After breakfast, everyone dispersed like leaves blown by the wind. The convivial atmosphere at the table quickly faded, leaving behind a strange sense of hollowness.

"So, shall we go, Elena?" Anne asked, adjusting her cloak.

"Hm. Yes. Lys, are you coming?" Elena replied, her voice still calm, casting a gentle glance at the priestess.

 Lys nodded silently.

"...Thank you for accompanying me."

The three young women left the guild hall and headed toward the city, their footsteps echoing in the nearly empty hall. Their destination: the capital's church. A place of faith... but also of memories.

Iris, however, said nothing. She stood up, ran a hand through her hair, and walked out toward the training room. Her eyes shone with a newfound determination.

"It's time I improved myself too... I can't remain a novice forever."

A whisper to herself, like a promise etched in the air.

Tristan stayed with Kyle for a while longer, arms crossed, looking thoughtful.

"Well, I'm going to see Julie. I'll take some quests. See you tonight?"

Kyle nodded silently. Tristan gave her a wry smile before turning on his heel. 

"Try not to die of boredom."

He left with a light laugh, carefreely walking through the guild doors.

And Kyle found himself alone.

The silence that fell wasn't the kind he liked. It was a hollow silence. Cold. Uncomfortable.

"...Huh?"

He looked around. No one was there. Even Julie had slipped into the back. He could hear the steady ticking of the magic clock mounted on the wall.

"Why... is it so unpleasant?"

In his original world, he would have loved this. To be alone, quiet, with no one bothering him. He would have taken out a manga, or turned on an anime.

But here, in this world... the silence had a bitter taste.

He stood up without really thinking about it, his hands in his tunic pockets.

"Hah... This is ridiculous. I'm supposed to be an introvert. I've always been comfortable alone."

He wandered the guild halls. Past the library. Past the kitchen. Past the common rooms. He didn't feel like doing anything. Even the books didn't have the same flavor anymore.

He stopped in front of a window. Outside, the sky was a deep blue, crossed by a few lazy clouds. Adventurers were training and laughing.

Kyle clenched his fists.

"Since when did I start... getting attached to all this?"

He slumped onto a bench, staring up at the ceiling.

"...Tch. This sucks. Isn't this supposed to be a world of adventure, dungeons, and heroes?"

He sighed deeply. Then let out a quiet, almost sad laugh.

"It's not so much the solitude that I dislike, it's just having nothing to do that frustrates me so much."

The days go by and are all the same.

Kyle spends most of his time locked inside the guild hall. He exchanges a few words with Julie or distractedly listens to the other adventurers' stories before returning to his room. There, he uses his magic in simple exercises, solely to tire himself out enough to fall asleep.

Tristan, on the other hand, is rarely present. Always on the move, he takes on quest after quest, driven by a compelling need to progress. He trains relentlessly, as if pursuing a goal known only to himself.

Lys, meanwhile, seems to have found refuge in the church. No details really filter through about her activities, but she stays there almost permanently.

Iris divides her time between the library—where she immerses herself in magical theories—and the training room, where she immediately puts what she learns into practice.

Anne and Elena, having enjoyed their stay in the capital, now devote themselves to preparations for the upcoming mission.

A week passes in a calm, almost monotonous routine. Kyle has now regained all his strength, and Lys is finally back among them.

 The morning sun bathed the guild in a soft light. As always, voices mingled, laughter rippled here and there, and the smells of warm bread and sweat formed a mixture Kyle was now familiar with.

He slowly descended the stairs, half-yawning, his hands in the pockets of his black cloak. His gait had regained confidence.

As he stepped onto the last step, he saw them.

All of them.

They were there.

At a large table at the back of the guild, Anne and Elena were chatting animatedly. A map was spread out in front of them. Iris was reading a spellbook, as usual, and Tristan… well, Tristan had his boots on the table, looking as pleased with himself as always.

And just beside the central column, leaning quietly against it, a figure in a white robe looked up at him.

Lily.

 Kyle's heart skipped a beat.

"They're all here..."

Lys moved away from the column and walked toward him. She said nothing, but her gaze spoke for her. Calm. Present.

She stopped in front of him. She still hadn't said anything, but she slowly reached out and placed her fingers on his sleeve. Just for a moment. Just a touch.

"I'm back," she whispered. "Sorry I couldn't be here sooner."

Kyle lowered his eyes slightly.

"You don't have to apologize... I'm the one who worried everyone."

"You mostly slept like a wounded bear for a week," Tristan sneered.

"Shut up, Tristan."

Elena gently slammed the card on the table.

"Okay! If you're done sniping at each other, I suggest we get back to work. The mission is coming up."

"Before that," Anne chimed in with a tender smile, "maybe we should all eat together. It's been a while since we've done that, hasn't it?" »

A silence fell. Then, one after the other, they nodded.

Kyle sat down too.

The meal was in full swing.

Steaming plates were passed around amid laughter and shouts. Bread crunched under their fingers, and soup bubbled gently in the bowls. It was nothing extraordinary—but for Kyle, it was a rare treat.

"...And that's how I managed to do a magic double jump with a foothold on a puddle," Tristan finished, grinning, miming a ridiculous gesture.

"You just slipped," Iris corrected with a sigh. "And you fell flat on your face."

They burst out laughing. Then it was Kyle's turn.

"Me... Honestly, I thought I was going to die. But from boredom."

"Hm?" 

Everyone turned to look at him. He shrugged.

"I was stuck in my room. From doing nothing... I started using Loop Detection during the day. Just to get a little stimulation. And at night, I channel lightning into my hands until I collapse from exhaustion."

A silence fell. Then:

"What...?" Anne said, taken aback.

"You seriously did that?!" Tristan cried, his eyes wide.

"I was bored," Kyle muttered.

"Kyle," Lys said, her voice soft but firm, "that wasn't rest. You just inflicted another injury on yourself, a mental one this time."

She lowered her eyes a little, visibly worried. Kyle looked away.

"I didn't know what else to do."

 "You really are... an idiot," Iris sighed, her hand to her temple. "But an impressive idiot."

"Huh?"

"Using that much mana for several days without getting sick or losing consciousness... Even I couldn't do it. And I'm supposed to be the party mage."

Her tone was neutral, but a bitter glint briefly crossed her eyes.

Is she jealous?

No... frustrated, maybe. It's true that Iris has always been serious. She doesn't like anyone encroaching on her territory.

"Impressive, yeah... but stupid," Tristan insisted. "Magic isn't a game. If you keep this up, are you really going to die?"

"Oh, come on, vigilante," a teasing voice called out.

Julie had just arrived, her empty tray in her hands.

"Maybe you should stop lecturing, Tristan. You only just got back from your mission this morning. When did you rest this week?"

"Well, uh... I've been taking breaks."

"You've slept six hours in four days."

He turned his head away, embarrassed. The rest of the group stifled a laugh.

"Anyway!" Elena continued, cutting him short. "For those interested, Anne and I have completed all the preparations for the mission."

"With a little help from the guild master, Edward," Anne added with a smile. "We have all the necessary equipment, emergency rations... and we've also taken care of all the paperwork. Permits, roads, itineraries, everything is in place."

"Impressive," Kyle breathed. "Thanks."

"That's our role," Elena replied simply.

 Anne then turned to Lys.

"And you? Your time at the church? Did it go well?"

Lys's eyes lit up immediately.

"Oh yes! It was very informative. I was able to study new sacred texts and even train with a more experienced priestess. Thanks to her, I learned two new blessings: [Sacred Barrier], a collective defense against magical attacks, and [Light of Judgment], an offensive but purifying spell."

"We have a real saint on the team now," Iris joked.

"And you?" Lys said, scanning the group. "I'm happy to see you all again. Really."

A gentle atmosphere spread around the table. A discreet warmth. That of a group that, despite its differences, was gradually forming a cohesive whole.

The atmosphere was still filled with laughter and jokes, cutlery clattered against plates, and anecdotes were flying... when a strange flapping of wings crossed the guild hall.

"Huh? What's that thing?!"

A bird with brilliant feathers, tinged with gold and midnight blue, had just appeared as if fallen from the sky. It gracefully sliced through the air and landed without hesitation on the group's table.

Silence fell immediately.

"Wait... did it just appear?" Anne stammered.

"That's... not a normal bird," Elena added, her eyes wide.

The animal turned its head slightly, its amber eyes staring at a single person: Kyle.

"Uh... Is it supposed to look at me like that?" Kyle murmured, "bewildered." "What is this... what is this thing, exactly?"

Iris half-rose, her eyes shining with curiosity.

"It's a Karavorn. A magical creature. I read about them in an old bestiary, but this is the first time I've seen one in real life...!"

"A what?" Tristan repeated, his eyebrow raised.

"A familiar once used to deliver letters. They say they're almost impossible to tame."

"Then why is it standing there in front of us? And why is it looking at Kyle?" Anne wondered.

That's when Elena tilted her head.

"Look, it's got a scroll attached to its leg... It's a letter!"

Everyone tilted their heads in puzzlement.

"A letter?" Anne asked.

"Who could have sent this?" Elena added.

 Lys approached the bird slowly, which didn't move an inch.

"...It seems strangely calm. As if it knew exactly what it was doing. And... I think it came for Kyle."

"What?! Me?!" the bird said, startled.

"It hasn't taken its eyes off you since it landed," Iris noted. "That Karavorn has chosen its target."

"Maybe it's a love letter," Tristan joked. "Do you have a secret fiancée? Or your wife still waiting for you in Asterion?"

This sentence, spoken jokingly, caused a barely perceptible shiver to cross Lys's face.

Kyle rolled his eyes.

"Impossible. I'm an eternal bachelor."

Laughter erupted. The atmosphere lightened a little, even though the bird remained unperturbed.

Finally, Kyle reached out to the Karavorn. The animal didn't flinch. He gently untied the rolled parchment, and as soon as he did, the bird stood there... as if waiting for a response.

Isn't he leaving...?

But already, his fingers recognized the writing.

His heart skipped a beat.

"...It's..."

He immediately recognized the familiar calligraphy, a little careful, still legible.

"Reiji..."

A name he hadn't spoken in a long time. His childhood friend. His classmate.

Since their arrival in this world, they've gone their separate ways. Reiji and a few students had followed the King of Asterion, taken to the kingdom's capital.

Kyle, on the other hand, had taken a different path. That of solitude. Of adventure.

He gently squeezed the paper, an involuntary smile playing on his lips.

"You seem happy," Iris noted.

"He's an old friend," he said simply. "But I didn't think... he'd write to me."

He kept the rest to himself. His secret. This bond they shared, that no one else around the table could suspect.

The Karavorn blinked, still calm.

"It seems he's waiting for your answer," Lys said softly.

Kyle looked at the magical creature. Then at the group around him. Everyone was waiting. He took a deep breath.

 Letter from Reiji:

"Dear Kaito,

I hope this letter reaches you in good condition, and above all, that you read it safely and in good health. How are you? You've always had this habit of taking everything in stride, so I sincerely hope you're not pushing your body... or your mind too hard.

Here, in the capital of the kingdom of Asterion, things are going rather well. Thanks to the support of the king, the court mages, and especially the immense royal library, I've been able to make enormous progress in my mastery of enchantment. There's still so much to learn... but I'm hanging in there. I think you'd understand that feeling. That thirst to understand the world we've been thrust into.

I enlisted the help of Mr. Kobayashi—who, despite his grumpy demeanor, remains true to himself—to help me reconnect with the others. His tamer class allowed him to form several pacts with magical creatures. Among them, the Karavorns, including the one who brings you this message. He accepted my request without the slightest hesitation. “We must remain connected, even when separated,” he told me. Things like that, coming from him… it touched me, I won't hide it.

Thanks to him, I was able to exchange some news with other members of the class. Overall, everyone seems to be doing well, each following their own path, their own choices. It's not easy, but… no one has given up. And you, Kyle? Have you found your own path?

I hope you continue to move forward, in your own way. We're far away, but I think of you often… of all of you. If you ever want to write me back, just tell the Karavorn. He'll pass on your letter.

Take care, my friend. This world is a big place, and I'm sure we'll meet again.

"Reiji."

Kyle gently folded the letter, his expression thoughtful.

"Reiji... Always so serious... and always there for others."

At that moment, the paper glowed softly... then disappeared in a thin trail of silver light.

"...Tsk, did he even think of a self-destruct enchantment? This guy... he really doesn't change."

He smiled, almost moved.

"Even in another world, he finds a way to have fun."

When the letter slowly burned away in a silvery glow, carried away by a discreet enchantment, no one dared to break the silence. Everyone understood that this message had special meaning for Kyle.

 He stood frozen for a moment, his eyes fixed on the spot where the letter had disappeared, as if trying to retain the warmth of the words in his memory.

But very quickly, curious glances turned towards him.

"Hey, Kyle..." Lys murmured, a little hesitant. "Was she... your girlfriend?"

Kyle gave a small smile, almost amused by the question.

"No. She's just... my childhood friend."

Lys's barely suppressed sigh was audible enough to make some of the group smile.

"A friend, eh?" Iris asked, arms crossed. "And... how did your 'friend' get hold of a Karavorn? They're not a creature you come across every day."

 "He's currently studying in Asterion's capital," Kyle replied neutrally. "He simply enlisted the help of a tamer... to send me this message."

"Hiring a tamer for just that... it must have been pretty important," Tristan remarked doubtfully.

"Tristan's right," Iris added suspiciously. "And why the mysterious tone? You could at least tell us what it was about..."

"Iris," Elena suddenly intervened, stepping forward and placing a gentle hand on the young woman's shoulder. "Kyle has the right to keep certain secrets. He doesn't have to tell us everything."

Surprised, Iris fell silent for a moment, then lowered her eyes.

"You're right. Sorry, Kyle... I got a little carried away."

"It's nothing," Kyle replied with a small smile. "But really... the letter wasn't anything special." He just wanted to know how I was doing."

A silence fell.

Anne raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

"Who sends a near-legendary animal across the kingdom just to check on me?... Your friends must be really unusual. Like you, Kyle."

"Me? Unusual?" Kyle said, almost embarrassed.

"You don't seem like the type to have a lot of friends," Tristan mocked with a chuckle.

"I have a few... I think," Kyle replied, his expression feigning thoughtfulness.

A burst of light laughter rippled through the group.

"But that letter... It disappeared into the light," Iris remarked. "I've never heard of such an effect. Are you sure it was an enchantment?"

"My friend is an enchanter," Kyle replied simply. "He probably modified a spell himself to achieve this effect."

 "Modify a spell?" Iris repeated, surprised. "But I've never heard of an enchantment that..."

"It's Reiji," Kyle interrupted with a slight smile. "If it doesn't exist... he probably invented it."

This sentence triggered more whispers.

"You say that like it's normal..." Lys breathed, visibly impressed. "But in recent years, only a very small number of enchanters have discovered new spells. It's extremely rare."

She crossed her arms, staring at Kyle.

"If what he used was an original creation, your friend is undoubtedly one of those rare souls capable of innovating in magic. Even a simple document destruction spell... that's an achievement in itself."

Kyle lowered her eyes slightly.

"Reiji has always been incredible..."

But Tristan intervened again, this time in a more sincere tone:

"And you're not just anyone either. I remind you that Kyle became a B-rank adventurer... a week after he signed up."

The group agreed; some nodded, others murmured their surprise.

"...You're not wrong," Lys admitted. "It's not ordinary."

After a short silence, she gently asked the question many were thinking:

"Do you miss your childhood friend?"

 Kyle looked up at the sky for a moment.

"No. It's barely been a month since we last saw each other. And if I want to see him... he's in the capital of Asterion. In the royal castle with King Arvandil."

Anne, her eyes wide:

"Wait... You know the King of Asterion?!"

Kyle looked away.

"I only saw him a few times. When I lived there. That's all."

But he immediately regretted his words.

A heavy silence fell over the group. Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"How could a mere adventurer run into the king of such an influential kingdom?"

Just as Anne was about to ask the fateful question, Elena raised a hand.

"Kyle. You should answer your friend. Quickly."

 Kyle looked at her for a long time, surprised by her kind yet firm tone. Then he nodded.

"Okay... Thanks, Elena."

And without another word being exchanged, the questions were postponed.

Elena approached Kyle quietly.

"Perhaps you'd like to be alone to write your answer?" she suggested.

"Huh? No, why?" Kyle replied with a shrug. "I just need a piece of paper and some ink."

He stood up quietly, went to the reception desk to ask for the necessary supplies, then returned to his seat.

"If you prefer, we can leave you alone," said Iris, still a little embarrassed.

"No need," Kyle replied simply. "It's not like I'm writing a poem."

 Then, without hesitation, he scribbled a few words to Reiji:

> "I'm fine. I'm in the kingdom of Thoralis. I've become an adventurer, already rank B."

Once the letter was finished, he rolled it up like a scroll, slipped it into a small case, and handed it to the bird, which was still waiting. It immediately took flight, disappearing into the sky.

"Already finished?" Anne asked in surprise.

"Are you sure you don't want to write a real letter?" Lys asked with a hint of concern. "Something a little more... personal?"

Kyle shrugged, a smile on his face.

"No, that's more than enough. If I write too much, he might think it wasn't me."

A small chuckle ran through the group. The atmosphere instantly lightened. This simple touch of humor was enough to make them understand that Kyle had his reasons—and that this answer was like him.

Once the laughter had died down, Elena spoke again, this time more seriously:

"Well, I suggest we finally talk about our next mission at the dungeon. Anne and I have already taken care of the general preparations."

She paused, crossing her arms.

"All that's left is everyone's individual equipment to sort out."

"Okay," Tristan replied, straightening up. "With my intensive training, my armor is in bad shape. It won't last very long down there."

Lys spoke up in turn, looking at Kyle.

"The most urgent thing is you, Kyle. During your fight with Edward, the guild master, you literally pulverized your wards... with your own power."

 "Oh, right," Tristan added mockingly. "We wouldn't want our dear Kyle to end up half-naked in the middle of a fight again."

"That comment wasn't necessary," Kyle replied dryly, looking away.

Lys and Iris, also concerned, spoke up.

"I've made a lot of progress lately," Lys said. "And I could use some stuff."

"Me too," Iris added. "My magical catalyst is starting to saturate. I need something more stable for the next spells."

"In that case," Tristan said, rising energetically, "let's all go to Darian's. "He's a great merchant where we can find the items to meet our needs here."

"That's true," Anne agreed. "We can't seriously enter a dungeon without being well-equipped."

"Let's go," Elena declared calmly. "It's a necessity."

So the small group set off, each already thinking about what they would ask Darian, the renowned merchant they had escorted to the capital.