In the headquarters of the Black Bull, golden sunlight filtered into Valen's room, gently touching his face and spreading its warmth. He felt the soft heat caress his features, gradually waking him from his deep slumber. Slowly opening his dark eyes, he was met with the familiar sight of his ceiling, greeted by a soothing aura of tranquility.
He glanced down at his body to find it wrapped in bandages. Memories of his collapse during the battle with Luck surged through his mind. Luck's unexpected attack had pushed him to his limits, forcing him to unleash one of his most powerful spells—a forbidden spell considered a devastating weapon to be used only in moments of utter despair.
Even then, Valen couldn't muster the full power of the spell due to his severe injuries. If not for Yami's last-minute intervention, which saved him from certain doom, the disaster might have escalated into something far worse.
Valen sighed, his voice carrying a mix of fatigue and frustration.
"I don't know why I lost control like that... But it's a good thing Yami stepped in. Luckily, I didn't have to use another forbidden spell... Descent of the Flame Demon... It would've caused even greater destruction."
Resting his head against the pillow, his thoughts replayed the events. He began analyzing his weaknesses, realizing that his overreliance on magical spells had made him neglect his immense physical strength. Despite possessing the lineage of the elves and rigorous training that had pushed his body beyond his imagination, his arrogance had made him overlook it.
"It seems I've grown more arrogant than I should be..." he muttered to himself.
Lifting the blanket slowly, he rose from the bed, ignoring the lingering pain. He removed the bandages, revealing a prominent scar on his chest—a mark of the previous battle. For a moment, he stared at the scar in silence before furrowing his brows with determination.
"This will be the first and last scar on my body."
He quickly dressed himself, forming a new resolve in his mind. The battle had been a lesson, and he vowed not to allow himself to falter again. He made his way to the gathering hall where the Black Bull members usually convened. Each step he took reflected his newfound determination to grow stronger, not just in magic but in body and soul.
As Valen entered the hall, the voices ceased abruptly, and everyone turned toward him. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of concern and relief to see him standing after such a fierce battle.
Asta, with his usual energetic enthusiasm, jumped up and pointed at Valen with excitement:
"Valen! Finally! You're okay! I was so worried! How are you feeling now? Still in pain?"
Magna, grinning broadly and speaking loudly, slammed the table with his fist:
"Valen, you were incredible out there, but man, you didn't have to push yourself that hard. I thought you were invincible!"
Vanessa, with her calm demeanor and gentle tone, approached him slowly, holding a warm drink:
"You're so stubborn, Valen. Have you ever thought about taking a proper break? We're just glad you're back safe."
As everyone spoke, Valen sat down on one of the chairs, leaning back and glancing at them. He responded in a calm voice:
"I'm fine now. But I've realized my mistakes in that battle. I relied too much on my magic and forgot that I have other tools. This battle was a lesson I won't forget."
He paused for a moment before turning his attention to Luck, who sat in the corner, his expression filled with guilt. Luck slowly stood up and approached Valen, raising his head with difficulty to face him:
"Valen... I'm sorry. I didn't mean for things to end up this way. I went too far, and I never thought you'd push yourself that hard because of what I did."
Valen looked at Luck for a moment and then said calmly:
"It's okay, Luck. We're a team, and that means we learn from our mistakes together. But remember, strength isn't just in attacking. It's in control too."
Luck gave a shy smile and nodded, saying:
"I promise I'll be more careful in the future."
The atmosphere in the hall began to return to normal. Asta shouted excitedly:
"Alright, now that Valen's okay, let's celebrate! We need a friendly match soon, but no disasters this time!"
Everyone laughed, including Valen, but his smile was calm, reflecting his new determination. He knew his journey wasn't over and that he needed to train harder to become even stronger.
As Valen prepared for training, Yami returned to the Black Bull headquarters and summoned him.
When Valen entered the castle, all the Black Bull members were present in the living room.
Marx sat on the couch across from him.
"Oh, Valen, it looks like you're doing well?" Yami remarked absentmindedly upon seeing him.
"Captain Yami, what do you want from me?" Valen walked forward slowly.
"It's not me who has business with you, but Mushroom Head over there." Yami replied casually.
"Mushroom Head?" Valen's gaze instinctively turned to Marx, who was seated on the couch.
Standing up, Marx addressed Yami:
"Captain Yami, please refrain from using such rude terms."
Turning his attention to Valen, Marx introduced himself:
"My name is Marx, one of the close aides to the Wizard King."
"The Wizard King?" Valen was surprised and then continued, "Is there something you need from me?"
"Yes!" Marx nodded. "That's correct. The Wizard King has a mission, and Mr. Valen is assigned to complete it. Of course, for your safety, members of the Black Bull will accompany you."
"A mission? And the personnel assigned? What does the Wizard King want me to do?" Valen pondered.
Marx continued, "Of course, there are also two other new members assigned from the Knights' organization."
"I see," Valen responded.
"Alright, Captain Yami will assign someone to go with you. Meet at the royal capital's gate in an hour!"
"Well, I'll be taking my leave now."
After Marx finished speaking, he turned and left.
Yami exhaled a puff of smoke and then said:
"Who wants to accompany Valen on this mission for the Wizard King?"
"What's the mission? Is it combat-related?" Luck asked eagerly, waving his fist as he approached Yami.
"I don't know; Mushroom Head didn't say anything either. Stop babbling and quickly decide who's going with Valen," Yami replied impatiently.
"I'll go with Valen!" Magna suddenly declared.
"Alright!" Yami didn't even hesitate before saying, "That's settled. Now, get going."
Shortly after, Valen and Magna walked toward the gate of the capital.
When Valen arrived, he found several people already gathered at the gate: Yuno, Marx, and someone Valen didn't recognize.
The stranger had golden hair, striking features, and a charming smile. He wore the same cloak as Yuno.
"Alright, it's time to explain the mission," Marx began, summarizing his words before continuing.
"The village of Moka has been raided by bandits three times in a single week. The villagers had no choice but to seek help from the Clover Kingdom!"
"According to the villagers' reports, there are two mages, both at the first tier, while the rest are low-level thugs. To prepare for any emergencies, the Wizard King is sending seasoned members to accompany you."
"That's all for the briefing. Additionally, I'm a bit concerned. I hope the Knights can resolve the issue promptly. After all, another villager came seeking help this morning."
"Alright, we'll complete the mission for sure!" Magna shouted.
"Two low-tier first-class mages?" Valen murmured.
If it was true that there were only two mages as the villagers reported, he felt something was off.
"Alright, let's go!" Magna exclaimed.
Everyone nodded and summoned their brooms—except for Valen. Instead, a pair of sacred flame wings appeared behind him.
"Let's move," Valen said calmly.