The evening sun bathed us in gentle warmth.
The sky glowed orange, and long shadows began creeping along the stone roads of Reinhart, the capital of the kingdom.
As usual, the city buzzed with life.
To the west, a Dragon Hunter sat outside a forge, sharpening his sword.
Across the street, the scent of oxtail soup drifted from an old food stall, a popular spot that had been crowded since morning.
Right now, I was enjoying a rare moment—a peaceful evening far away from bloodshed and clan business.
I sat back at my favorite oxtail soup restaurant, savoring a hot meal…
and the company of a girl.
Her name was Jeanne.
My childhood friend from the village—she'd moved to Reinhart long before we did.
Her long, golden hair was neatly tied to one side.
Her eyes sparkled like freshly bloomed sunflowers.
And her smile… could crumble the resolve of a thousand men with just a glance.
> "Theo, I'm really glad we could meet again. What a stroke of luck," Jeanne said, smiling warmly.
> "Of course we are too, Jeanne," I replied, gazing at her, quietly thankful for this day.
How did we reunite with Jeanne?
To explain that, we need to go back a few years—
To the very first time we stepped foot in Reinhart.
It happened unexpectedly.
We ran into Jeanne near the entrance to Rudolf Magic Academy.
She had just been accepted as a new student.
Even as a child, Jeanne had always been obsessed with magic—and clearly, her obsession paid off.
She graduated top of her class.
Let me be clear: Rudolf Academy is the most prestigious magical institution in all of Reinhart.
Getting in is already tough, let alone becoming the valedictorian.
After we reunited, we talked for hours.
Reminiscing, catching up, and sharing stories we never thought we'd experience.
What shocked me the most… Jeanne also had an Ancient Dragon Aura.
She told us that while practicing mana near her home, she wandered off and found a hidden lake behind the woods.
There, she stumbled upon a torn scrap of ancient paper—part of a dragon spell.
The mana within it was dense, wild, and violent.
When she tried reading it, the spell fused with her mana.
Her body burned, her mind went dark—and the world went silent.
When she awoke, a man stood beside her.
He said, "You've been cursed by the sly magic of the ancient dragons."
Then he forced her to drink a red liquid.
Jeanne didn't know what it was… but I do.
It was dragon blood elixir.
And that man—without a doubt—was William Shirone.
When Jeanne rose from despair and vowed to become a Dragon Hunter,
That was the moment her Ancient Dragon Aura awakened.
Since then, even though she was still tied to her academy duties, Jeanne began joining us.
She became our party's main mage, rounding out Team Rotten Flower.
Between battles, she kept studying magic.
And between magic lessons… she kept fighting beside us.
That's one of the reasons why our party became as strong as it is now.
---
The sun continued to dip.
Its warmth faded to a cool breeze, and the shadows stretched longer.
The roads of Reinhart began to quiet.
Only a few people remained—most were Dragon Hunters returning from missions,
And the rest were merchants closing their stalls.
The moon slowly peeked into the darkening orange sky.
We had just finished our oxtail soup.
It had been a warm day… full of laughter… gone in a flash.
But nighttime is my enemy.
When night falls, my vision fades.
Shadows and light blur into darkness—I can't see clearly.
And in the dark… my fears return.
I fear someone's hunting me—
Silently.
From somewhere unseen.
I stood up.
> "Jeanne, let's head back to the clan."
She simply smiled.
Her soft hand wrapped around mine, and she rested her head on my shoulder.
For a moment, it felt like I was with Luna—my sister.
But Jeanne was no delicate girl. She was a Level 6 Dragon Hunter.
Her magic? Don't even ask—she could freeze a dragon with a two-syllable chant.
We walked side by side through the dim alleys of the city.
My sight was weak… but I knew this path. At least, I thought I did.
Step by step…
We kept walking…
Then I saw it.
A tall, white building—pillars rising high, a large flag fluttering in front.
That had to be… our clan. Death Flower.
But the closer I got, the clearer it became.
And there it was:
A massive plaque that read:
> 「 Hunter Guild – Central Dragon Hunter Authority of the Reinhart Kingdom 」
I froze.
Wait a minute…
Why am I here?
Weren't we heading to our clan?
Shouldn't the sign say Death Flower!?
No…
No.
I don't accept this.
I never wanted to be here.
Jeanne looked at me, her smile soft.
> "Theo, you're so obsessed with missions, aren't you?" she said playfully.
Obsessed?
Missions?
No… I just want to go home...
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
> "Jeanne, let's go home," I said.
But before I could move—
A booming voice echoed from behind the grand doors of the Hunter Guild.
> "You said… go home?"
That voice—deep, heavy, and sharp like a giant axe—froze my blood.
A white-haired man stepped from the shadows.
The aura around him was suffocating—overwhelming enough to distort the air.
It was him.
Luch Lambreg.
Head of the Hunter Guild.
The one person I desperately wanted to avoid.
My body tensed instinctively.
Cold sweat soaked my back.
I turned away from the voice, too scared to look.
My mouth moved on its own, and all that came out was a useless whisper:
> "Ahaha…"
Heavy footsteps approached.
Then a thick, calloused hand slammed down on my shoulder—more like a grip than a pat.
It hurt. It was heavy. I nearly collapsed.
> "Hey, Theo…"
"You must be here for the new mission I received, right? Incredible! It hasn't even been announced and you already knew!"
Mission?
I'm here because of a mission?
NO.
I'm LOST.
I TOOK THE WRONG TURN.
But… I couldn't say that.
Too humiliating.
My reputation as the leader of Death Flower would shatter over one stupid "wrong turn."
Forcing a calm expression, I answered:
> "Of course not… we were just… passing by."
Luch shook his head slowly.
Disappointed? Doubtful? I couldn't tell.
Then, with a wave of his hand, he pointed toward the massive doors.
> "In that case, come in.
As it happens… I have a new mission.
One that suits you perfectly."
---
We arrived at a large wooden door carved with the official emblem of the Hunter Guild.
Two guards stood motionless at its sides, like part of the walls.
Luch opened it himself.
The room wasn't big, but it felt heavy—not from objects, but from the presence of the one who worked here.
It was simple but tidy.
A massive wooden desk stood in the center, cluttered with documents, rolled-up reports, and half-folded maps.
Bookshelves lined the walls—some filled with aged volumes, others neat and untouched.
A plain chandelier hung overhead, casting warm yellow light.
No luxury. No flashy items.
Just one large painting at the back—an old man holding a file. Probably the Guild's founder.
I sat on a long bench, one leg propped and crossed—my go-to "relaxed" pose to hide my nerves.
Jeanne sat beside me, resting her head on my shoulder, her hand tightly holding my arm.
Seriously, she was way too close.
But… I didn't move.
Luch stood by the window, hands behind his back.
He didn't speak immediately.
He let the silence build—each second making my heart beat faster.
> "Theo," he said at last, his voice deep and steady.
"I have an important mission for your team."
"Mission?"
I repeated that word to myself…
Then in my mind…
Then again in my soul.
Why a mission?
Why not "you may go home and get some rest, Theo"?
Why not "here's a vacation voucher because your life sucks enough already"?
I just want to go home.
To sit in a quiet corner…
Sip Luna's warm herbal tea…
Read fake reports I had no intention of finishing that night.