I hadn’t been an adventurer for long, but I’d already learned that the path ahead was filled with both promise and danger. It was hard not to feel the weight of the world pressing in when you were just a lowly first ascension. I’d always been told that it wasn’t about how strong you were but who you knew and how quickly you could build connections. That’s how I ended up meeting Yuki. I couldn’t have known then just how much she would come to mean to me.

  It all started when I was wandering through the Summoners Guild. The library there was a treasure trove of knowledge, something I’d been dying to get into. But of course, to access it, you had to complete a ridiculous number of quests. I was still a first ascension, barely out of the gate in terms of my adventuring career. And it should have helped me with my abilities as a summoner. So, when I found someone else with the same goal, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

  I was barely in the door when I noticed her. A pale woman with midnight-bck hair, her violet eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the guild hall. There was something about her that was almost... otherworldly. Yet, despite the aura of mystery surrounding her, there was a quiet intensity in the way she carried herself. She wasn’t here to waste time.

  “Excuse me,” I’d ventured hesitantly, “I noticed you’re looking at the quest board too. Would you be interested in forming a party? We could knock out some quests together, and I’m sure we’d get into the library much faster that way.”

  She turned to me, and for a moment, I thought she was going to dismiss me entirely. But instead, she studied me for a long moment before nodding. Her gaze was so intense that I almost felt like she could see right through me, but she gave no further indication of what she was thinking.

  “I suppose that would be acceptable,” she said, her voice calm, measured. Her tone held no trace of enthusiasm, but it wasn’t dismissive either. I almost felt like she was deciding whether or not it was worth her time to agree.

  We left the guild together, setting off toward the outskirts of the city. As we walked, I tried to make conversation. I couldn’t help it—I was a foxkin, and my natural exuberance made silence feel uncomfortable. “I’m Sienna,” I said, trying to sound casual. “I’ve just started as an adventurer, and I’ve been working on my elemental summoning skills.”

  Yuki’s eyes flicked to me briefly, but she didn’t respond right away. She seemed more focused on the road ahead, her every movement deliberate. Her silence was unnerving at first, but it quickly became something I could accept. After a while, I realized I was the one doing all the talking, but Yuki didn’t seem to mind. She would occasionally nod or give short answers, but otherwise, she was content to let me fill the space.

  We spent the next several days tackling quests together. I learned quickly how well Yuki and I worked as a team. She was efficient, precise, and calcuted, while I brought my own brand of energy to our partnership. My summons were a bit chaotic compared to hers, but we made it work. I could feel myself growing with each challenge we overcame, and with every success, the bond between us deepened.

  The more time I spent with Yuki, the more I began to realize just how much I admired her. She was composed, like a calm in the midst of a storm, and there was a depth to her that I couldn’t quite understand. Despite her cool exterior, I noticed little things that hinted at something more—like the way her eyes would soften when she looked at me after a successful hunt or how her hand would linger on mine when we rested after a long day. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but my heart started to beat faster whenever she was around. I couldn’t help it. She was starting to mean something to me.

  One morning, after another exhausting but successful set of quests, we found ourselves back in the Adventurers Guild. The night had been quiet, and I hadn’t realized just how close I had gotten to Yuki until we were standing next to each other at the counter, our hands brushing slightly as we exchanged our spoils. I couldn’t help but notice the way she held herself—always so controlled, so measured.

  We’d gotten a room at the nearby inn for the night. It had become routine for us to share a bed after our quests, even though it started as a practical choice. But I wasn’t sure if it was still just practicality anymore. There was something about her, something that made me feel safe and... important, in a way I hadn’t felt before.

  I woke up that morning to find her moving silently around the room, preparing for the day. I could hear her shifting quietly, but I stayed nestled under the covers for just a little longer. My tail wrapped around my legs, keeping me warm, and I allowed myself to linger in the comfort of the moment. I wasn’t sure what was happening between us, but every day I spent with her felt like a step closer to understanding it.

  “Good morning,” I finally said, stretching and blinking my golden eyes open. Yuki gave me a brief gnce, but her expression remained as stoic as ever.

  “Morning,” she replied softly, her voice smooth and calm. There was something comforting about it.

  We quickly went through our morning routine. I chatted on about the day’s pns, mostly because I couldn’t stand the silence, but Yuki listened patiently. It wasn’t the same kind of chatter I’d usually share with others—it felt more like a mutual understanding, like we were both comfortable with each other in a way I hadn’t expected. We ate a simple breakfast, then made our way out into the city again, heading straight for the Summoners Guild.

  Inside the guild, I couldn’t contain my excitement. The library was a pce of knowledge and power, and I was thrilled at the idea of finally diving into it. I had never been one to shy away from books, and this pce was a treasure trove for someone like me. I knew Yuki had her own agenda, though. While I was engrossed in the elemental tomes, she was absorbed in the advanced texts on soul magic. Her focus was absolute, and I found myself admiring the way she immersed herself in the words.

  It wasn’t long before we agreed to form a party. It wasn’t something I had expected, but when Yuki suggested it, I didn’t hesitate to agree. I wasn’t sure if it was just the allure of her presence or the practicality of it, but something about the idea felt right. We made our way out into the world, ready to take on whatever came next.

  That day, we completed several quests, including some in the forest. I loved the feel of the wilds, the way nature seemed to speak to me in a nguage only my senses could fully understand. It was where I thrived. The wolves we faced were no match for us, and the strategy we devised was fwless. Yuki was the perfect partner—silent but strong, calcuted but efficient.

  By the time we had finished the day’s quests, I felt a sense of pride swelling in my chest. We’d done it, and we had done it together. There was a kind of quiet bond between us now, a bond that had grown stronger with every challenge.

  As we arrived back at the guild, I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. I was gd to have her by my side. But there was something else too. I was beginning to feel more for her than just admiration. There was a connection I couldn’t quite expin.

  But today, as we entered the guild hall after completing four more quests, I felt something shift. A new presence had entered the guild—one that seemed to set Yuki off in a way I hadn’t seen before. A “hero,” accompanied by a team, had walked in, and the tension in the air was palpable.

  Yuki’s expression shifted, her normally calm demeanor morphing into something darker, colder. Her violet eyes narrowed, and the energy around her seemed to crackle. I could see the shift in her, and it sent a chill through me. There was something about this hero that pissed her off, and I had no idea why.

  Before I could process it further, I did the only thing I could think of. I reached for her hand, my fingers trembling slightly. When she looked at me, her expression unreadable, I gave her the smallest of smiles. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew one thing for sure—I wasn’t going to let her go through it alone. Whatever happened next, we would face it together.