Chapter 27 – The Vow Beneath the Eyes of Soluna
Chapter 27
The Vow Beneath the Eyes of Soluna
Date: Day 24 of Harvestmoon. 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The dual suns finally reached their zenith.
For a while, they walked in silence. The quiet was comfortable. Companionable. The only sounds were the rustling of grass. The murmuring of the river.
But Elise suddenly yelled.
"Heyyy! A Rainlume!"
Hyoren saw her bolt. She ran toward a bush nearby. Her movements quick. Like a child who had found a treasure.
His head cocked. Confused. He quickly caught up with her.
She was already crouching beside the bush. Picking fruits that grew on the branches. Filling her bag with them. Her hands moved quickly. But there was a glee in her movements. A happiness that was infectious.
He examined the bush.
The fruits grew in clusters. Like grapes. But they were bright blue. A vivid blue that seemed to glow in the sunlight. As if they contained trapped starlight within their skins.
He picked one. Held it up to the light. The fruit was small. Round. Smooth skin.
He threw it into his mouth and bit down.
A burst of flavor spread across his tongue. Sour and acidic. Like citrus. But with a sweetness underneath. Refreshing. Cool. Like drinking cold water on a hot day.
"Ooh…" his eyes widened.
"This is delicious. I quite like the taste."
Elise stood up straight. Facing him. Her face lit up with enthusiasm. A wide grin on her lips.
"Right??" She bounced slightly on her feet.
"This is my favorite fruit! Go, Hyoren, fill your bag with them too!"
She urged him. Practically ordered him.
Ushered by Elise, he didn't have any choice other than filling his bag with the fruits. He crouched beside the bush. Picked the blue clusters. Dropped them into his leather bag. The glow of the fruits made the inside of his bag shimmer.
After they were done, the bush was significantly bare. Their bags were fuller. Heavier with the blue fruits.
They started walking again.
But Hyoren could see Elise's step was different. She was practically skipping. Bouncing with each stride. Her earlier somber mood completely gone. Replaced by pure happiness.
Hyoren picked one of the fruits from his bag. Examined it. Turned it in his fingers.
"Rainlume… Why is it called Rainlume, Elise?"
He paused. An idea forming in his mind.
"If it were me, I would just call it Graptrus. Grape shape. Citrus taste."
Elise instantly turned around. Her cheeks puffed out. Pouting. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"You!" She pointed at him.
"You and your bad naming sense!"
She crossed her arms.
"First naming Dew-heart as melopple. I can still laugh at that. But now... Graptrus."
She shook her head vigorously.
"The heck. Don't give weird names to my favorite fruit!"
She turned back and walked again. Her pace faster. Her steps still bouncy but now tinged with indignation.
Hyoren chuckled. The sound escaped him before he could stop it.
"Sorry... sorry."
He raised his hands in surrender.
"So why Rainlume?"
Elise picked another fruit from her bag. Popped it into her mouth. Savoring it while walking. The sour sweetness making her expression soften.
She chewed. Swallowed. Then answered him.
"It's because it tastes refreshing…" she spoke dreamily.
"Like rain. Cool and clean. And the fruit also glows a bit. Luminescence."
She spread her hands. Gesturing.
"Rainlume!"
Hyoren nodded. The name made sense. Aesthetic. Poetic. Far better than his practical but unimaginative suggestion.
"Rainlume. Refreshing like rain. Glowing with light. I like it."
He continued following Elise. Her skipping steps leading the way. The grassland stretched before them. The river murmured beside them. And their bags glowed softly with the light of stolen stars.
***
Elise was happy.
Eating her favorite fruits. The sour sweetness spreading across her tongue. The refreshing taste cooling her throat. The feeling loosened her mouth. Relaxed her guard.
"Okay then!" she announced.
"You already told me about your hometown and family. Time for me to tell my story, Hyoren."
She stretched her arms high above her head. Her joints cracking audibly. She turned to him. A playful glint in her emerald eyes.
Hyoren's face relaxed. He chuckled.
"Right I want to know more about you too, Elise."
She picked another rainlume from her bag. Bit into it. The juice dribbled down her chin. She wiped it with the back of her hand. Thinking where to start.
She exhaled her breath. Decided.
"Okay. Firstly! Elf culture."
She glanced at him.
"Hyoren, you, as a human, might find it weird. But elves have a different concept for family and marriage."
Hyoren tilted his head. Curious.
"What do you mean different, Elise?"
She stopped walking for a moment. Turning to face him. The wind played with her long, silver hair. Carrying strands across her face. She brushed them aside.
"Elves don't have the concept of marriage like you human. Or other race too."
She spoke carefully. Choosing her words.
"We find a partner we love, then we stick to them. Elves rarely change partners through their life. They are faithful. Only the death of a partner can separate them."
She paused.
"But there is no ceremony. No marriage registration. And in elven society, the community, the enclave, works together to raise a child."
She looked at him.
"So yes, I have biological parents. But we are actually not close."
Hyoren blinked.
It was a concept so foreign to his human upbringing. So detached from the social contracts and legal bindings he was used to. The ceremonies. The vows. The legal documents.
It sounded... incredibly free. And somehow... felt like nature.
"I was born in Silentwood Forest."
Elise continued walking.
"And while I'm not really close to my parents, I was close with my younger sister."
She glanced at him.
"I already mentioned her, right?"
Elise jumped over a small stream feeding the river beside them. The water splashed softly beneath her feet. Hyoren followed her. Jumped. Landed on the other side.
"Ah, yeah. You said her name was Lyra and she studied magic?"
Elise's eyes looked to the west. To somewhere distant. To her hometown. A longing in her gaze.
"That's right. She currently studies magic in Sylvana's Repository. A magic academy in the capital of our elven free states."
She started talking about her hometown while walking. Her voice took on a dreamy quality. Nostalgic.
The Silentwood Forest.
A peaceful and serene forest. Ancient trees stretching toward the sky. The society of elves who loved embracing nature. Living in harmony with the forest. Building their homes within the trees themselves.
The community was closely knitted together. Everyone knew everyone. Raising the children together. Their future.
"Elf nations are also different from humans…" she continued.
"Human nations, the Kingdom of Altaria, have strict bureaucracy. Nobles ruling territories. Royal family ruling the kingdom."
She gestured broadly.
"For Silverwood Enclaves, it's different."
Hyoren looked up.
“How different Elise?”
The path they traversed started to have tall grass. Elise glanced a bit to back, seeing Hyoren still catching up. Before continuing.
"Our nation is actually a coalition of multiple states…" she explained.
"The Enclaves. There is the capital, the Silverwood Enclave. And there is a multitude of other forest communities. Each enclave will send its Elder to act as a council of the nation."
She made a sweeping gesture with her hand. As if outlining the borders of an invisible map in the air. Drawing the shape of her homeland.
"The capital, Silverwood Enclave, is the only one which is... different. And that's the reason it became our capital."
She looked at him.
"There's a World Tree there. And Silverwood's ruling elder is what you can call our nation's royalty. They protect the World Tree for millennia."
Hyoren tried to imagine it. A tree so important it defined a nation. Ancient. Massive. Sacred.
The concept of a World Tree was familiar to him. A staple in fantasy stories. A tree of life.
To think it actually existed here. Protected by elves.
"Also, our nation used to be recluse. We rarely let visitors come. But since the Aethellgard Concord was signed, it changed."
She picked another rainlume. Ate it while walking.
"Now you can visit our nation freely. But unlike the Kingdom of Altaria, which is really open to any race despite its human background, the tradition of Silverwood Enclaves is still strong till this day. There's rarely another race actually settled in our cities. They seem unable to adapt to our culture. Fufu."
Hyoren listened to Elise's joyful explanation. Absorbing the knowledge about her culture and hometown..
***
Hyoren and Elise continued walking through the grassland.
"I see. That is interesting, Elise. Now I know how elven society works."
He paused. Wiped the sweat from his brow. The trek was long. The conversation helped pass the time. Took his mind off the physical exhaustion.
He looked at her.
"So. Why did you actually decide to leave your forest home and settle in human cities?"
Elise's step faltered. Just slightly. Barely noticeable.
She seemed to remember something. A painful memory.But only for a split second. Her expression changing. Then returned to normal.
"That's because I wanted to run away."
Her voice was flat. Devoid of the usual playfulness. The shift was so sudden that Hyoren almost tripped over his own feet. The playfulness from the rainlume discovery was gone. Replaced by something heavier.
"Run away? From your parents?"
Elise shook her head. Her silver hair swayed with the motion.
"No, Hyoren. My parents and I are not that close. But they're still alive. They love me. They never restricted me."
"Then run from... what?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her stride remained steady. But her eyes grew distant.
"From my past."
She exhaled slowly.
"I... used to have a partner. He was an adventurer like me. I knew him from childhood too. His name was Kael."
She paused. The name hung in the air between them.
"But he died. Protecting me."
Hyoren's eyes widened. Shock crossed his face. He hadn't expected the conversation to turn this heavy. The playful banter about fruits and naming senses seemed like a distant memory now.
"Elise..." he spoke carefully.
"Sorry. If it's too painful for you to continue. Forget I was asking."
Elise steeled her resolve. She continued walking. Her jaw set. Her eyes forward.
"Thank you, Hyoren, for your consideration. But I've already moved on. And I want to tell you about my past too."
She took a deep breath. Let it out slowly.
"It was 15 years ago."
Her voice grew distant. Remembering the past.
"He was also an adventurer like me. We often did quests together. And that day, when we were doing a simple quest of scouting near our hometown... it happened."
Her hands tightened around her bow.
"We carelessly entered the territory of the Shadowden Collective."
Hyoren frowned. Confusion on his face.
"There's a Shadowden Collective near your home too, Elise?"
Elise gestured her hands around. Then pointed at the forest behind them. The Forest of No Return.
"They are everywhere, Hyoren..."
She lowered her hand.
"Each led by a different warlock leading their race. Like the Goblin King leads goblins in the Forest of No Return."
She turned back to the path. Walking steadily.
"There's a place called Illusion Forest near Silentwood Forest. Territory of the Arachne Queen. They lead a massive army of spiders and arachnes."
Elise didn't slow her stride. But her gaze went far away—seeing something that wasn't there.—a different time and a different place.
"That day, our quest was just scouting the perimeter. But..." she swallowed saliva.
"There was an anomaly. Usually the perimeter is free of arachnes. That day, there were multiple of them. The sign that the Arachne Queen was becoming active."
Her voice grew quieter.
"We got surrounded. Then he... Kael..."
She stopped walking. For just a moment.
"He sacrificed himself as bait. So I could escape."
The wind blew across the grassland. Carrying the sound of rustling grass. But Hyoren didn’t hear or feel any of those. Elise story caught him. Freeze him.
"I hurried back to Silentwood…" Elise continued. Her voice barely above a whisper.
"And then with the help of other adventurers, I tried to go back and save him."
She shook her head.
"But it was too late. He was already dead."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"Covered with Arachne threads."
She stared at the horizon. The wind whipped her hair around her face. But she didn't move to brush it away. She let the strands fall where they may.
"I've already moved on now though. Don't worry."
She exhaled. And tried to smile. Smile which not reaching her eyes.
"But back then... I felt like a piece of my soul was taken away."
She started walking again. Her stride resuming. But slower.
"And everywhere in Silentwood was full of memories. Every tree. Every path. Every stream."
She shook her head.
"So I decided to run away. 15 years ago."
She looked up at the sky.
"Wandering to a lot of places. I tried multiple enclaves. But it seemed I couldn't settle in elven nations. It still reminded me of Kael."
She turned to Hyoren. A sad smile on her lips.
"So ten years ago, I decided to move to the human kingdom. And settled in this Frontier City, Akela. Since then."
Elise started walking with her normal pace. Seemed to let go all her feeling. She had already moved on. Talking about the past seemed remind her a bit. But she didn’t want to dally too much on it.
Hyoren followed her closely. Trying to form comforting words. But he realized, she didn’t need any. So he just affirmed it.
"So that was your past. Must be painful. Losing a loved one in a tragic incident like that."
He paused. Understanding dawning on him.
"And that's why you were so agitated when there was an anomaly yesterday. Another heightened activity of Shadowden Collective's Warlock seems to trigger your trauma."
Elise nodded.
"That's why, Hyoren..." her voice was firm now. Resolute.
"I'm always careful when seeing anomalies. I learned that when there's an anomaly, it's a precursor to disaster."
She looked at him. Her emerald eyes clear.
"It happened once. And I definitely won't let it happen. Again."
They continued their stride. But the atmosphere had shifted. The playful banter was gone. Replaced by a shared understanding of loss.
***
They walked through the peaceful grassland.
The day had been remarkably quiet. Today they hadn't even met a single monster. Only the Vent Crows in the morning.
Talking about adventurers. Quests. Shadowden Collective. It made Hyoren reaffirm his goal.
He needed to know more about them. The organization that would become his livelihood.
He turned to Elise walking in front of him.
"Hey, Elise. Can you tell me more about the Adventurer's Guild? I already know the guild processes quests for adventurers. And there's a guild card. But will you elaborate on it for me?"
Hyoren walked beside her now. His steel tip spear resting easily on his shoulder.
Elise smiled softly. She thought for a moment.
"Okay, Hyoren. Where to start..."
She exhaled. Organized her thoughts.
"The Adventurer's Guild is an independent organization. Not under the direct control of any single country."
She gestured broadly as she spoke. Painting a picture with her hands.
"The guild operates in all four great nations. Our purpose is to manage, regulate, and support adventurers. They provide jobs, information, and a place to gather."
She looked at him.
"They are the backbone of the civilized world."
Hyoren nodded slowly. He connected the dots.
"Ah. I see. They support the civilization by harvesting the magic stones, right? This world relies heavily on magic stones, so there would be a high demand for it."
He had seen the importance of magic stones himself. They powered the Ward Stones. And likely countless other magic tools he hadn't even seen yet.
"Yes. But you're only half correct."
She raised a finger. Correcting his assumption.
"Actually, the real reason the guild was established is to protect the civilized world from the threat of monsters."
She paused.
"But with the passage of time, the harvesting of magic stones became a more important goal."
Hyoren understood. It was a classic case of priorities shifting under the weight of economics.
"The guild is structured into ranks. Based on level and experience. The rank reflects the capabilities of the adventurer. The higher the rank, the more capable and trusted they are."
Hyoren leaned in slightly. His interest piqued.
Elise held up a finger to begin her explanation.
"First. It starts with Wood rank. These are the novices. The ones who have just registered and are learning the basics."
She raised another finger as she jumped over small stream.
"Next is Iron. The ones who have proven they can stand on their own two feet. But they're still fledglings."
Another finger.
"Then comes Copper. This is the bulk of the adventurer population. The rank-and-file. Most adventurers will spend their entire careers in Copper. "
She raised a fourth finger.
"After that, there's Bronze. That's my current rank. We are considered veterans. Skilled. Reliable. Trusted with more difficult and dangerous missions."
A fifth finger.
"Beyond that is Silver. These are the highly skilled adventurers."
She raised her thumb. The final finger.
"And lastly, Gold. These are the most skilled adventurers in the entire world. Legends."
Hyoren processed the information. Memorizing the hierarchy.
“I see. I understand now. The concept is easy to grasp. Progression through rank.”
"But don't think only strength defines rank."
She looked at him seriously.
"No. A strong adventurer doesn't mean they're high rank."
She paused for emphasis.
"Well... all high-rank adventurers like Silver and Gold are strong. They're all like monsters. But don't think you can climb the ranks with just strength alone."
Hyoren frowned. Confused.
"So, other than strength, what defines rank?"
She counted on her fingers.
"Trust from the guild. Trust from the community and the ruling nobles. A clean criminal record."
She shook her head.
"The guild won't let dangerous or suspicious individuals climb the ranks. There are no bad-behavior adventurers in the higher ranks. The guild is really strict on this."
Hyoren considered this. It made sense. A ranking system based purely on strength would attract the wrong kind of people.
"So there's no unruly adventurers, Elise?"
Elise laughed softly. A short sound.
"There's some. But mostly in Iron or Copper. And if their actions are too severe, the guild will expel them."
She looked at him seriously.
"Adventurers are respectable workers. They're the backbone of civilization, Hyoren."
She spread her hands.
"You don't want criminals to become one, right?"
Hyoren nodded. True. Adventurers in this world were like farmers. Or miners. It was a respected profession, not a band of criminals..
***
They walked through the peaceful grassland. The afternoon suns had begun their descent.
The conversation about adventurers and guilds and ranks lingered in Hyoren's mind. The hierarchy made sense. Wood. Iron. Copper. Bronze. Silver. Gold. A progression of skill and trust and reputation.
But something tugged at his thoughts.
"Elise." He spoke up. "What about special ranks? You mentioned ranks based on skill and trust. But what about heroes? Is there something beyond Gold?"
Elise slowed her pace. Glanced back at him.
"Oh. You know about that. Yes there is special rank. Reserved for heroes. One rank above Gold. Platinum."
Elise stopped walking. Turned to face him. The breeze caught her silver hair. Strands danced across her face.
"It's not a rank you can achieve through experience alone, Hyoren…" her voice was solemn.
"It's a reward. Given only to a Gold Adventurer who performs a truly miraculous deed."
She paused.
"A feat that changes the course of history."
She looked toward the horizon. Her eyes distant.
"Currently, there is only one person in the entire world who holds this rank."
She turned back to him.
"The Princess of the Elven nation. Eleanora. She received it after her party single-handedly killed a rampaging earth dragon that was wreaking havoc on Silverwood Enclaves. Ten years ago."
Hyoren stopped walking. A dragon.
He stared at her. Disbelief on his face.
"And this princess Eleanora actually killed it alone? How is that even possible?"
He tried to imagine it. A single person facing a dragon.
He couldn't. His mind couldn't conjure the image. It was too far beyond his experience. Too far beyond anything he had ever known.
Elise shook her head. Her expression grew darker.
"Hyoren. It was not without sacrifice."
She started walking again. Her stride slower now. Heavier.
"By the time Princess Eleanora finally managed to confront the dragon, the dragon had already laid waste to several enclaves."
Her voice dropped.
"Hundreds. Maybe thousands. Dead."
Hyoren felt a chill run down his spine. The victory suddenly seemed hollow.
A splash of water from the river woke them both. They started their stride again.
"And she was not alone. She had a party. A full complement of Gold-ranked adventurers. Some of the finest warriors of our nation. They fought with her. Stood by her side."
She took a shaky breath. The memory clearly painful. Even though she hadn't been there. Her hand gripped her bow tighter. Her knuckles turned white.
"None of them survived."
The words hung in the air.
"They were all killed in action. Other than Princess Eleanora."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"All eight of her party members died in that battle. She won. But she paid a terrible price."
She turned to look at him. Her emerald eyes glistening.
"She lost everyone."
The grassland stretched around them—peaceful and quiet—Indifferent to the weight of the story being told.
"No one else survived?" Hyoren spoke quietly.
"That's... tragedy."
Elise nodded. Her stride slowed further. As if the weight of the memory pressed down on her shoulders.
"Yes..."
She looked back at Hyoren. Her emerald eyes filled with a profound empathy. It was as though she retold the story from her perspective.
"And her tragedy is not only losing her party members."
She swallowed.
"Her fiancé was also her party member."
Hyoren stopped his breath for a moment.
"He was her most trusted companion. Another Gold-ranked adventurer. Just as skilled and renowned as she was. They fought side by side for years."
Her voice grew quieter. Barely above a whisper.
"He died protecting her."
Hyoren finally let out breath.
"He held the dragon's attention. Sacrificed himself to create the opening she needed to land the killing blow."
She stopped walking. Stood still in the tall grass.
"She saw it happen. She watched the man she loved give his life in front of her very eyes. Just so she could have that one chance."
Hyoren slowed down. He could see the shift in Elise's demeanor. The way her shoulders tensed. The way her gaze grew distant.
She wasn't just telling a story. She was reliving a pain that resonated with her own.
"After that, she became a recluse…" Elise continued but her voice was hollow.
"She withdrew from the world. Rarely seen outside of the royal palace."
She resumed walking. Her steps heavy.
"They say she will only take on adventure work if it is absolutely necessary. If the fate of the nation itself is at stake."
She shook her head.
"People say she was traumatized by the experience. That the victory cost her a piece of her soul."
The story of the Platinum-ranked hero was no longer an inspiring tale of glory. It was a tragic story. A reminder that victory often came at a terrible price.
"It's no wonder she became a recluse. I can't imagine the trauma of losing someone you loved in front of you. Sacrificing himself so she could live."
And then suddenly it clicked.
Hyoren understood. The pieces fell into place. He realized why Elise's story felt so emotional. For normal people, it would still be sad. But still full of glory. Killing a dragon. An apex of monsters. It should be a story about a hero. Even if it came with sacrifice.
But he felt the palpable sadness from Elise's voice. The weight she carried. The resonance with her own pain.
"Elise..."
He spoke carefully.
"You... You and Eleanora are... similar."
Elise stopped walking.
She didn't turn around. Her back faced him. Her silver hair caught the light of the descending suns.
"Hyoren..."
She spoke quietly.
"You realized it."
She turned slowly. Her expression was a mix of sadness and acceptance.
"Yes. That's the true reason I decided to leave Silverwood Enclaves. My nation. Ten years ago."
She looked at him. Her eyes clear.
"Everyone. Everywhere. Talked about Eleanora's heroic but tragic story. It was the story most talked about in town taverns. In marketplaces. In guild halls."
Her voice grew heavy.
"But it actually kept reminding me about my experience. Every time I heard it. Every time someone mentioned her name. I saw Kael. I saw the Arachne threads. I saw the moment I ran while he stayed behind."
She exhaled slowly.
"That's why I left my home country. To escape."
The weight of Eleanora's story and Elise's trauma seemed to merge. Two tragedies. Separated by time and distance. But connected by the same thread of loss. Of love. Of sacrifice.
"Elise..." Hyoren didn't know what to say. What could he say?
Elise shook her head. Offered him a weak smile.
"Nah. I'm fine, Hyoren…" she tried to brush off the heavy mood.
"I've already moved on."
But he could see the lingering pain in her eyes. The shadow that crossed her face. She had dug up her traumatic past just to explain to him. Just to help him understand this world.
"But of course..." she looked away.
"Remembering it still makes me a bit sad."
She resumed walking. Her stride resuming its normal pace. And Hyoren walked beside her. Understanding her a little better. Understanding the weight she carried.
***
They continued their journey. Hyoren walked in silence while following Elise’s lead. Digesting all the information Elise had given him. The story of Princess Eleanora. The tragedy of the Platinum rank. It weighed heavily on his mind.
A hero. A legend. A woman who had lost everything in the moment of her greatest victory.
He thought about Kael. About Elise's partner who had sacrificed himself so she could escape. He thought about Eleanora's fiancé. Who had died creating an opening for her to strike the killing blow.
Both of them had watched someone they loved die. Both of them had survived because of sacrifice.
Was that the price of victory in this world? Losing the ones you loved?
Elise led them through the grassland. She moved with a steady, rhythmic pace. Her eyes scanned the horizon. Watching for threats. But the tension in her shoulders remained.
Hyoren gripped the shaft of his spear tighter. The rough wood grounded him. A reminder of where he was. Who he was becoming.
"Elise." He spoke up. His voice cutting through the wind.
She didn't stop walking. But she tilted her head. Listening.
"I really need to get strong."
The words came out slowly. Forming as he spoke them. Ideas that had been swirling in his mind. Finding shape. Finding voice.
"Not just so I can protect myself."
He looked at the horizon. The endless expanse of grass and sky.
"But so that maybe... maybe I can protect my loved ones, too."
He swallowed. His throat tight.
"I don't want to be someone who has to sacrifice everything to win. I don't want to watch someone die so I can survive."
He looked up at Elise. His eyes no longer just determined. But burning with a newfound purpose.
"I want to be strong enough that I never have to make that choice."
Elise stopped walking.
She turned to face him. Her emerald eyes wide.
"That was unexpected, Hyoren…" she spoke quietly.
"I was expecting you to be afraid."
She studied him. Reading his face. His posture. The set of his jaw. The grip on his spear.
"Not actually motivated."
She was awed. Not by his power. He had none compared to her. But by his courage. His determination. His refusal to be cowed.
"Of course I'm afraid," Hyoren answered with a steady voice.
"But I can't keep being scared in this world full of unreasonable things."
He gestured broadly. At the horizon. At the distant forest. At the unseen dangers that lurked beyond.
"Shadowden Collective. Demon Army. Strong monsters like dragons."
He shook his head.
"I can't cower. If I want to live and survive in this world. And protect what matters most to me."
He met her gaze. Unflinching.
"Then I have to become stronger."
Elise looked at him.
Her emerald eyes shone with a new light. A light of respect. Of admiration. And of something else. Something deeper. A budding, unspoken feeling that she herself might not have recognized yet.
The wind seemed to pause for a moment. As if the world itself were listening.
"And I will go with you, Hyoren."
She spoke softly. But with conviction.
"I will keep being your mentor. Your partner."
She stepped closer. The grass swaying around her knees.
"We will walk through all this together. We aim to become stronger."
Her voice grew firm.
"So no one and nothing can steal our precious ones anymore."
Hyoren felt something shift inside him. A weight lifting. A path clearing.
"Let's do it, Elise."
He raised his spear. Pointed it at the sky.
"Let's become stronger together. To become an unstoppable force."
He looked at her. A grin spreading across his face.
"To Platinum Rank!"
His declaration rang out across the grassland. Bold and almost absurd.
It was madness. A man who had just learned to dissect a monster. Who had survived a few wolf attacks. Who had barely been in this world for a handful of days. Setting his sights on the pinnacle of existence. The rank held by only one person in the entire world.
It was truly madness.
But it was a madness that was infectious.
Elise stared at him. Her lips parted. Her emerald eyes widened.
Then something shifted in her expression. The shadow of her past seemed to lift. Just slightly. A spark ignited in her eyes.
"I was always content to remain a Bronze rank forever."
She spoke slowly. As if the words were new. As if she were discovering them for the first time.
"But seeing you..."
She smiled. A genuine smile. Not the playful smirk she often wore. But something real. Something warm.
"You've lit a spark in my heart."
She laughed. A bright, unburdened sound. The first true laugh he had heard from her since the conversation turned heavy.
"You've changed me, Hyoren."
She nodded. Her decision made.
"Okay. I will follow you. Let's make your goal come true."
She raised her bow toward the sky.
"Together. To Platinum Rank!"
Her laughter echoed across the grassland. Bright and clear. Unburdened by the weight of her past. For the first time in years, she looked at the horizon. Not with the shadow of her memories—but with hope.
Hyoren laughed too. The sound rising from his chest. A release of tension. A declaration of intent.
There was no need for everyone to witness their vow. No crowd. No ceremony. No grand stage.
Just the wind. Just the grass. Just the dual suns of Kresneger—Sol and Luna—watching from above.