The gates of Lyrion loomed like the jaws of some ancient beast, all towering stone and intricate carvings that screamed "we're a big deal." The city sprawled beyond, a chaotic mess of spires, bustling markets, and the faint shimmer of magical barriers flickering in the evening light. I whistled low, twirling my Lustrous Scepter like a baton. This place was a goldmine—both for adventure and, more importantly, for *appreciating* the local scenery.
Aria, the hot-headed captain with a figure that could start wars, marched beside me, her armored boots clanking on the cobblestone road. The caravan trailed behind, merchants muttering thanks and the twin daughters shooting me shy glances. I flashed them a wink, and they giggled, hiding behind their father's wagon. *Easy pickings,* I thought, but Aria's glare was like a bucket of ice water.
"Keep your eyes on the road, kid," she growled, her hand twitching toward her sword. "I don't trust you."
"Kid? I'm wounded, Aria." I clutched my chest, faking a stagger. "Call me Kain, your future soulmate. And relax, I'm just admiring the… architecture."
She snorted, but I caught the faintest twitch of her lips. *Progress.* I'd have her blushing like a schoolgirl by the end of the week. For now, though, I let my gaze wander. Lyrion was a feast for the senses—vendors hawking glowing trinkets, mages in flowing robes tossing sparks into the air, and women in dresses that hugged their curves just right. My inner Kazuma Hoshino was doing backflips. *This world's gonna be my playground.*
The caravan stopped at a checkpoint, where guards in silver armor inspected the wagons. Aria handled the paperwork, barking orders like a drill sergeant, while I leaned against a wall, scanning the crowd. That's when I noticed her—a girl about my age, maybe thirteen, slipping through the throng like a shadow. Black hair tied in a messy ponytail, a dagger strapped to her thigh, and a smirk that screamed trouble. She was pickpocketing a fat merchant, her fingers moving so fast I barely caught it. *Not bad.*
Our eyes met, and she froze, like a cat caught mid-pounce. I raised an eyebrow, twirling my scepter. She smirked wider, pocketed the merchant's coin pouch, and vanished into the crowd. *Oh, I like her already.*
Aria returned, her expression sour. "We're clear. The merchants are heading to the market district. You're with me."
"Bossy," I said, falling into step beside her. "Where we going, Captain Hottie?"
She ignored the nickname, though her ears turned pink. "The Adventurers' Guild. I need to report the wolf attack, and you're coming along to explain that ridiculous magic of yours."
"Ridiculous? I saved your asses," I said, grinning. "But sure, lead the way. I'm curious about this guild. Got any cute receptionists?"
She didn't dignify that with a response, which only made me chuckle harder.
---
The Adventurers' Guild was a massive building, all polished wood and stained glass, with a sign depicting a sword and staff crossed over a dragon's skull. Inside, it was chaos—adventurers in leather and plate armor swapped stories, drank ale, and argued over bounties. The air smelled of sweat, mead, and something faintly magical, like ozone after a storm. A wooden board covered in parchments dominated one wall, listing quests from "Slay Goblins" to "Retrieve Lost Artifact." My kind of place.
Aria marched to the counter, where a receptionist with curves that could derail a train greeted us. Blonde hair, green eyes, and a smile that said "I'm used to idiots." I leaned forward, resting my elbow on the counter.
"Hey, beautiful," I said, flashing my best grin. "Name's Kain Velhart, prodigy mage. You free later?"
She blinked, then laughed—a musical sound that made my heart skip. "Aren't you a little young to be flirting, kid?"
"Age is just a number," I said, winking. "And I'm no ordinary kid."
Aria grabbed my collar and yanked me back. "Focus, pervert. We're here on business."
"Spoilsport," I muttered, but I let her drag me to a side room where a grizzled man in his fifties waited. He had a scar across one eye and an aura that screamed "I've killed things you can't pronounce." The guildmaster, I assumed.
"Captain Aria," he said, nodding. His gaze shifted to me, narrowing. "And this is…?"
"Kain Velhart," I said, lounging in a chair. "The guy who turned a pack of demon wolves into charcoal."
Aria recounted the attack, leaving out my… let's call it *charm*. The guildmaster, whose name was Gorran, listened intently, his eyes flicking to my scepter. When Aria mentioned my spells—Infernal Cascade and Void Lance—he leaned forward.
"Those are high-tier spells," he said, voice low. "No kid your age should wield that kind of power. Who's your master?"
I shrugged. "Self-taught. Got a knack for blowing things up."
Gorran's scar twitched. "And that staff?"
I patted the Lustrous Scepter, its crimson gem glinting. "Family heirloom. Let's just say it likes me."
He didn't buy it, but he didn't press either. Smart man. Aria, on the other hand, looked ready to strangle me. "He's trouble, Guildmaster," she said. "But he did save the caravan."
Gorran grunted. "Fine. Register him as an adventurer. Start at D-rank, but I want him watched."
"Aw, you care," I said, smirking. "Don't worry, I'll behave. Mostly."
---
Registering was a breeze. I got a shiny bronze tag with my name and rank, which I hung around my neck like a badge of honor. Aria ditched me to handle her report, so I wandered back to the main hall, eyeing the quest board. *Goblin extermination, 50 silver. Escort mission, 100 silver. Slay a wyvern, 500 gold.* Tempting, but I was more interested in the bar, where a certain someone was sipping a drink.
The pickpocket girl from earlier lounged at a table, her boots propped up and a dagger spinning in her hand. I slid into the seat across from her, grinning. "Fancy meeting you here, Sticky Fingers."
She didn't even flinch. "You're the kid from the gate. Nice staff. Compensating for something?"
I laughed, leaning back. "Kain Velhart, mage extraordinaire. And you are…?"
"Lila," she said, her green eyes glinting with mischief. "Thief, scout, and the best damn rogue in Lyrion. Saw your little show with the caravan. Not bad, pretty boy."
"Pretty boy? I'm flattered." I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "So, Lila, you steal hearts as well as wallets?"
She snorted, but her smirk didn't waver. "Keep dreaming, kid. I don't date guys who look like they're still in diapers."
"Ouch," I said, clutching my heart. "But I'll win you over. Bet on it."
Before she could retort, the guild doors slammed open. A group of adventurers stormed in, their armor bloodied and their faces pale. The leader, a burly guy with a greatsword, shouted, "We need help! The Crimson Fang's attacking the eastern district!"
The room went silent. Aria appeared from the side room, her expression grim. "The Crimson Fang? They're a mercenary band. What're they doing in Lyrion?"
"Slaughtering people," the adventurer said, panting. "They've got a mage with them—some guy in black robes. He's tearing through the city guard like they're paper."
My ears perked up. A mage? *This I gotta see.*
Gorran emerged, barking orders. "All B-rank and above, gear up! D-ranks, stay put unless you're suicidal."
I stood, twirling my scepter. "Guess I'm suicidal."
Aria grabbed my arm. "You're staying here, Kain. This isn't a game."
I shook her off, my grin fading. "I don't do 'stay put.' Besides, you need me."
She glared, but Gorran cut in. "Let him go. If he's as good as you say, we need every spell we can get."
Lila hopped up, cracking her knuckles. "I'm in too. Sounds like fun."
Aria sighed, muttering something about "idiots." I just smirked. Time to show this world what Kain Velhart could do.
---
The eastern district was a warzone. Buildings burned, screams echoed, and the air crackled with mana. The Crimson Fang—about thirty mercenaries in red-trimmed armor—carved through the city guard with brutal efficiency. At their center stood the mage, a lanky figure in black robes, hurling bolts of green lightning that turned soldiers to ash.
I whistled. "Not bad. But he's got nothing on me."
Aria shot me a look. "Don't get cocky."
"Cocky? Me? Never." I stepped forward, scepter raised. The mercenaries noticed us, and their mage turned, his hood hiding his face. His voice was cold, like a snake's hiss.
"A child with a fancy stick? Run along, boy."
I grinned, mana surging through me. "Big talk for a guy dressed like a discount grim reaper. Let's dance."
I thrust my scepter forward. "Glacial Tempest!" A blizzard erupted, shards of ice the size of swords raining down on the mercenaries. They screamed, scattering as the ice tore through their ranks. The mage countered, raising a barrier of green flames, but I was already moving.
"Void Lance!" A spear of darkness shot from my scepter, punching through his barrier like it was paper. He dodged, barely, and retaliated with a bolt of lightning. I sidestepped, the ground exploding where I'd stood.
"Not bad," I said, grinning. "But I'm just getting started."
Lila darted past, her daggers flashing as she took down two mercenaries in a blur. Aria charged in, her sword cleaving through armor like butter. The three of us were a whirlwind of destruction—me blasting spells, Lila weaving through enemies, and Aria tanking hits like a badass.
The mage snarled, raising his hands. "Enough! Abyssal Chains!" Black chains erupted from the ground, aiming to bind us. Aria and Lila dodged, but I just laughed.
"Nice try." I snapped my fingers. "Null Pulse." A wave of mana pulsed from my scepter, shattering the chains. The mage staggered, his eyes wide.
"Who *are* you?" he demanded.
"Kain Velhart," I said, leveling my scepter at him. "And you're done."
I unleashed my trump card. "Ethereal Barrage!" Dozens of glowing orbs materialized, each pulsing with raw mana. They shot forward, hammering the mage from every angle. He screamed, his barriers collapsing, and when the dust settled, he was a crumpled heap.
The remaining mercenaries fled, and the city guard cheered. Aria sheathed her sword, panting. "You're insane."
"And you love it," I said, winking.
Lila sauntered over, wiping blood off her dagger. "Not bad, pretty boy. You might actually be worth keeping around."
I grinned. "Told you I'd win you over."
---
Back at the guild, we were hailed as heroes. Gorran promoted me to C-rank on the spot, muttering about "reckless prodigies." Aria stormed off, probably to cool her head, but Lila stuck around, tossing me a coin pouch she'd "borrowed" from a noble.
"Split it?" she offered.
I smirked. "Only if you let me buy you dinner."
She laughed. "Dream on, Kain."
As I pocketed the coins, I glanced at the quest board. Lyrion was just the beginning. This world was full of danger, power, and—most importantly—beautiful women. I'd conquer it all, one way or another.