Dawnstead – Four Years Ago
The Adventurer's Guild of Dawnstead was alive with energy, a constant hum of voices filling the hall as adventurers swapped stories, collected rewards, and browsed the quest board for their next adventure. Amid the crowd stood Garron and Darin, two fresh recruits still finding their footing but eager to make a name for themselves.
Garron and Darin had been friends since childhood. Growing up in Dawnstead, the two were practically inseparable—one was a mountain of a man, dependable and steady like the earth itself, while the other was a reckless firebrand, always charging ahead without a plan.
Even when they became adventurers, that never changed.
"Alright, big guy, what are we feeling today?" Darin asked, eyes flicking over the parchment pinned to the board. "Goblin hunting? Escort mission? Or maybe something with a little more excitement?"
Garron scratched his chin. "Something with action but not too much risk. We're still fresh recruits."
Darin scoffed. "Pfft. You play it too safe. How are we gonna make a name for ourselves if we don't take risks?"
Garron smirked. "By not dying before we do."
Darin let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Alright, fair point. But if I have to do another escort mission listening to some noble complain about his 'delicate feet,' I swear I'll set his boots on fire."
Just as they were about to settle on a quest, a movement caught their attention.
A young woman stood at the quest board, clutching a parchment in her hands. She had long, icy-blue hair cascading in soft waves down her back and piercing violet-blue eyes that flickered with hesitation. Unlike the confident or rowdy adventurers surrounding her, she looked uncertain, out of place.
Darin nudged Garron. "What's her deal?"
Garron shrugged. "Let's find out."
The two approached her, and Garron spoke first, his deep voice steady but kind. "Need help picking a quest?"
The girl blinked, startled. "Ah—uh, no, I mean—yes? I was just… trying to decide."
Darin peeked over her shoulder at the parchment she was holding.
"A herb-gathering quest? Boring."
She frowned. "I thought it'd be safe for a first quest…"
Darin crossed his arms. "Safe? Maybe. But where's the excitement in that?"
Garron sighed. "What he means is, maybe you should pick something that actually challenges you." He glanced at her staff. "You're a mage, right? What kind?"
She tilted her head. "I specialize in healing and ice magic."
Darin let out a low whistle. "Oho, a healer! That's exactly what we need."
The girl looked surprised. "Wait… need?"
Garron folded his arms. "We were about to pick a quest ourselves. If you don't mind teaming up, why not come with us?"
She hesitated. "But… we just met."
Darin grinned. "Hey, all friendships start somewhere."
Garron nodded. "Besides, two-man teams don't last long in this line of work. We're better off watching each other's backs."
For a moment, the girl seemed to weigh her options. Then, a small smile appeared on her lips. "…Alright. My name's Lena. Lena Fayne."
Darin smirked. "Darin Cale, fire mage and resident badass. And the big guy here is Garron Von."
Garron rolled his eyes but extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Lena."
As their hands met in a firm shake, Trinity Blade's first seeds were planted.
The three of them had chosen a forest wolf extermination quest—a step above the usual beginner contracts. The target was a wolf that had been attacking livestock near the outskirts of Dawnstead.
Not exactly legendary, but a good test of their teamwork.
As they traveled through the dense forest, Lena clutched her staff tightly, her gaze shifting nervously between the towering trees. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows that stretched like grasping fingers across the forest floor.
"This is more dangerous than I expected…" she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Darin, always the confident one, flicked his fingers, conjuring a small flame that hovered above his palm. He smirked. "Relax. We've got muscle, magic, and now a healer. What could go wrong?"
Garron shot him a look. "Don't say that. You'll jinx us."
Darin chuckled, but Lena only tightened her grip on her staff. Despite their lighthearted banter, she could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her. This wasn't training. This was real.
They found their first sign of trouble near a torn-up clearing. Patches of fur and claw marks scarred the trees, and the pungent scent of blood lingered in the air. Lena's stomach twisted at the sight of a half-eaten deer carcass lying in the underbrush.
Garron knelt beside the remains, his brow furrowing. "It's fresh. The wolf is close."
Darin cracked his knuckles, embers dancing around his fingertips. "Good. Let's get this over with."
Lena took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. She could do this.
Then, a low growl rumbled through the trees.
The wolf was fast—faster than any of them expected. One moment, the underbrush was still, and the next, a blur of fur and fangs erupted from the shadows.
Garron barely raised his tower shield in time to block a savage lunge, the impact nearly knocking him off balance. The beast was larger than they had anticipated, its muscles rippling beneath its dark fur as it snarled, saliva dripping from its bared fangs.
"Damn, this thing's strong!" he grunted, planting his feet to keep from being pushed back.
Darin wasted no time, thrusting his hand forward and launching a burst of fire. The wolf reacted with unnatural speed, darting to the side before the flames could make contact.
"Shit, it's fast!" Darin cursed, already preparing another spell.
Lena stood frozen at the back, her heart pounding. The chaos of battle was overwhelming—the snarls, the shouts, the flickering light of Darin's fire magic against the darkened forest.
The wolf feinted toward Garron before suddenly changing course, sprinting toward Darin instead.
"Darin, move!" Garron bellowed.
Darin barely managed to sidestep as the wolf's claws grazed his sleeve. He retaliated with a quick burst of fire, but the creature twisted mid-air, avoiding the attack once more.
Lena's breath hitched. They were losing control.
"Lena, now!" Garron yelled.
She had no time to think. Acting on instinct, she raised her staff and focused. Cold air swirled around her, and in the next instant, jagged spikes of ice erupted from the ground—right in the wolf's path.
The beast let out a strangled whimper as one of the spikes pierced its flank, sending it crashing to the ground. It thrashed wildly for a moment before its movements slowed, and finally, it went still.
Silence fell over the forest.
For a long moment, none of them spoke. The only sound was their heavy breathing.
Then Darin let out a breathless laugh. "Holy crap. Lena, that was badass."
Lena blinked, still processing what she had done. The adrenaline was still coursing through her veins, but beneath the shock, there was something else.
A sense of accomplishment.
Garron walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did good."
She exhaled, finally allowing a small smile to form. "Thanks."
Darin grinned. "I told you this would be fun."
Garron rolled his eyes. "We still need to bring back proof of the kill."
Darin groaned. "Right, right. Let's just skin the damn thing and get out of here."
As they prepared to retrieve the necessary evidence, Lena glanced down at her hands, still trembling slightly from the magic she had used. This was her first real battle, but for the first time since she joined them, she felt like she belonged.
She had made the right choice.
That night, the three of them returned to Dawnstead, exhausted but victorious. The weight of their first real battle still clung to them—aching muscles, adrenaline still fading from their veins—but the moment they stepped into the Adventurer's Guild to hand in their quest, a sense of accomplishment washed over them.
The guild receptionist glanced at their quest form before giving them an approving nod. "Forest wolf extermination? Good work for first-timers. Here's your reward."
He handed over a small pouch of coins. It wasn't much—just enough for a modest meal—but to them, it might as well have been a king's ransom. Their first real earnings as adventurers.
Darin tossed the pouch in the air, catching it with a grin. "I say we celebrate."
Lena hesitated. "We should probably save some of it for supplies…"
Garron chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, we deserve at least one good meal. We fought well today."
Lena glanced at the tiny pouch, then at her rumbling stomach. "...Alright, but nothing too extravagant."
The moment they stepped into the tavern, they were greeted by a warm glow from the lanterns, the scent of roasted meat, and the cheerful hum of voices sharing stories and laughter. It was a place where adventurers of all levels gathered, and tonight, it felt like they belonged there.
They took a seat at a wooden table near the center. Darin immediately waved over the barmaid. "Three mugs of cider, a plate of roasted meat, and something sweet for our healer here."
Lena blinked. "Wait, I didn't ask for—"
"You've earned it," Darin said with a grin. "That ice spell was the highlight of the fight. Admit it, Garron, even you were impressed."
Garron nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "It was good. But we still have a long way to go."
Darin smirked. "Always the serious one, huh?"
Lena smiled as she sipped on the warm cider. It was the first time in a long while she felt a part of something, instead of just a lone mage trying to find her way.
As their meal arrived, they clinked their mugs together.
"To our first victory!" Darin cheered.
Lena chuckled, raising her mug. "To survival."
Garron gave a small smile. "And to what comes next."
As the night wore on, the conversations became more serious. Garron leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "We did well today, but if we're going to take this seriously, we need a full team."
Darin raised an eyebrow. "You suggesting we recruit?"
Garron nodded. "A balanced party needs a warrior. We've got a tank, a mage, and a healer, but we need someone who can fight in the thick of battle."
Lena tilted her head. "Do you have someone in mind?"
Garron's gaze hardened. "Not yet. But our goal should be clear: We're not just in this to scrape by. We're going to be the strongest party in Dawnstead."
Darin grinned. "Now you're speaking my language."
Lena chuckled, glancing at the two of them. "Guess that means we have work to do."
"Tomorrow, we'll go to the guild and start looking for our fourth member," Garron said firmly.
And with that, the foundation of Trinity Blade was set.
The morning air was crisp as Garron, Darin, and Lena walked through the bustling streets of Dawnstead. The town was already alive with activity—merchants setting up their stalls, blacksmiths hammering away at their forges, and adventurers heading off on their morning quests.
Despite the familiar sights and sounds, today felt different.
Today, they were taking the next step.
The trio entered the Adventurer's Guild, a grand hall filled with the scent of old parchment, wood, and the faint traces of ale from the previous night's celebrations. The morning crowd was already gathered—seasoned adventurers swapping stories over steaming mugs, rookie parties nervously hovering around the request board, and guild staff busy scribbling away at their desks.
Garron's heavy boots echoed against the wooden floor as he approached the front desk.
A middle-aged receptionist, a man with graying hair and a well-worn uniform, adjusted his glasses as they stepped forward.
"We'd like to put up a recruitment notice," Garron said, his voice steady.
The receptionist barely glanced up. "Party name?"
Darin scratched his head. "Uh… we don't have one yet."
The man sighed, setting his quill down. "Right, then. What are you looking for?"
"A warrior," Garron replied. "Someone with strong melee combat skills to round out our team."
The receptionist nodded, dipping his quill into ink. "Any rank requirement?"
"We're still new ourselves," Garron admitted. "We're looking for someone who's willing to grow alongside us."
The man finished writing and stood up, walking over to the recruitment board. With a swift motion, he tacked the notice onto the worn wooden surface.
Looking for a warrior to join an up-and-coming adventuring party. Seeking melee fighters willing to grow stronger together. Inquire at the guild hall.
Darin clapped his hands together. "Alright! Now we sit back and let our future badass teammate come to us."
Lena chuckled. "It's not that easy. What if no one shows up?"
Darin grinned. "Then we'll just drag someone in."
Garron shook his head. "For now, we wait."
The trio claimed an empty wooden table near the center of the guild, ordering breakfast while keeping an eye on the recruitment board. The meal was simple—bread, eggs, and cured meat—but filling.
Time passed slowly.
Rookies came and went, glancing at their notice before moving on to the simpler quests.
Darin leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head. "How long does it take for someone to go, 'Oh, look! A cool party is recruiting! I should join!'"
Lena, slicing a piece of bread, smiled. "We're not exactly famous, Darin. And most adventurers already have their own parties."
Across the table, Garron sat silent, his gaze sweeping the room with his usual calm intensity. His eyes flickered toward the recruitment board, where their notice was pinned among a dozen others. Several rookies had paused to read it, but none had lingered long enough to be interested.
Darin exhaled loudly, drumming his fingers against the tabletop. "Alright, since we're stuck waiting, how about we actually get to know each other?"
Lena raised an eyebrow. "We don't know enough already?"
Garron smirked slightly. "We know you can freeze a wolf midair, but that's about it."
Lena flushed at the reminder of their last quest. "I, um… I studied magic at an academy. But I wasn't suited for offensive casting, so I focused on healing."
Darin sat up, intrigued. "And the ice magic?"
"That was a side thing." Lena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Most healers rely on water magic, but my affinity leaned toward ice instead. So I trained in both."
Garron nodded thoughtfully. "It worked out. That ice spike saved us."
Lena bit her lip, her fingers toying with the rim of her cup. "I was actually really scared."
Darin waved a hand dismissively. "Everyone's scared at first. Even Garron, though he won't admit it."
Garron grunted. "I wasn't scared. Just… cautious."
Darin grinned. "Right, right. Cautious."
Lena giggled. "What about you two? How did you start adventuring?"
Darin leaned back, a nostalgic gleam in his eyes. "Garron and I grew up together. He was always the responsible one. I was the troublemaker."
Garron sighed. "Still are."
Darin ignored him. "We always talked about doing something great. Something bigger than ourselves. So when we were old enough, we signed up as adventurers. Simple as that."
Lena rested her chin on her hand, her expression warm. "That sounds… nice."
Darin smirked. "And now you're stuck with us."
Lena's lips curled into a small smile. "I don't mind."
For a moment, the conversation drifted into comfortable silence. The guild's atmosphere hummed around them—chairs scraping, laughter bubbling, the occasional clatter of weapons being adjusted.
Then, a shadow loomed over their table.
A voice—steady, confident, and tinged with curiosity—spoke.
"So… you're looking for a warrior?"
End of Chapter 37