The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting warm rays into the Silverlight estate. Zaryth sat at the family dining table, surrounded by the heavy silence of his siblings and parents. His hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the weight of the decision he had made. After yesterday's humiliation at the academy, he knew he could no longer remain the weak link in his powerful family. It was time to act.
He looked around at his family—Elysia, his elegant older sister; Ruby, his twin, concerned and skeptical; Nico, his younger brother with wide, innocent eyes; and his parents, stoic but expectant.
Finally, Zaryth took a deep breath and broke the silence.
"I'm leaving the house for one year."
The words hung in the air, sharp as blades. His mother dropped her spoon. Elysia raised her eyebrow, the usual playful smirk on her lips slowly fading into disbelief.
"What did you say?" Ruby asked, sitting up straighter.
Zaryth didn't flinch. "I've decided to take a year off from the academy. I'll come back in time for the final exams, but until then… I'm becoming an adventurer."
For a moment, no one spoke. Then came the storm.
"Absolutely not!" his father barked, slamming his hand on the table. "Do you even understand what you're saying?"
"Do you think this is some game?" Elysia added sharply, leaning forward. "You couldn't even handle the academy, and now you want to wander off into dungeons?"
Zaryth remained still, absorbing their words without reacting. It hurt, but he was no longer going to let that hurt control him.
"You won't survive out there." His stepmother shook her head, concern etched across her face. "Zaryth, you're not ready for this."
Ruby crossed her arms, her violet eyes flashing with frustration. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Zaryth looked at her, his lips forming a thin line. "I don't care what any of you say. I've made up my mind."
The youngest brother, Nico, sat quietly at the edge of the table, looking between his siblings with confused, watery eyes. He tugged on Zaryth's sleeve, whispering, "Why do you want to leave, brother? Can't you stay here with us?"
That hit Zaryth the hardest, but he bent down to Nico's level and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. His voice softened, filled with warmth.
"Nico… I've finally woken up from my dreams. It's time to stop waiting for miracles. I need to work harder." He smiled, ruffling Nico's hair. "I promise I'll become the brother you admire, the one you can be proud of again."
Nico sniffled, but he nodded, clutching Zaryth's hand. "Okay… but come back soon, okay?"
"I will." Zaryth's voice was steady, his gaze unwavering. "And when I do, I'll be stronger."
---
The Departure
The goodbyes were short but heavy. Elysia hugged him tightly, whispering, "You better not die out there." Ruby gave him a cold stare, but it was clear her heart ached. She muttered, "Idiot," before pulling him into a reluctant hug. His parents, still hesitant, offered small words of caution.
With his bag slung over his shoulder, Zaryth stepped out of the estate, the wind brushing against his silver hair. He glanced back one last time, catching Nico standing at the door, waving silently. Zaryth gave him a small smile and turned toward his new path.
---
The Adventurer's Guild
The adventurer's guild was bustling with activity. Warriors, mages, and rogues of all kinds filled the space, chatting, accepting quests, and comparing their achievements. Zaryth felt a strange mix of excitement and nervousness as he approached the guild's counter.
A cheerful, round-faced clerk greeted him with a smile. "Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild! Here to register?"
"Yes," Zaryth replied firmly.
"Name?"
"Zaryth Silverlight."
The clerk glanced up at him, eyebrows raised slightly at the famous surname but said nothing. She handed him a registration crystal. "Place your hand on this. It'll evaluate your potential and assign your starting rank."
Zaryth placed his hand on the crystal, and it glowed faintly—purple, the same color as the strange core he had seen in his dreams. The light flickered, unstable, before dimming.
The clerk frowned slightly but remained polite. "Congratulations, Zaryth. You're starting at Rank F."
Zaryth gave a small nod, unfazed. He expected as much. He wasn't here to impress anyone.
"Here's your adventurer's card." The clerk handed him a silver-embossed card with his name and rank engraved on it. "Be careful out there, alright? New adventurers sometimes get in over their heads."
"I'll manage," Zaryth said quietly, tucking the card into his pocket.
---
First Dungeon Exploration
Zaryth accepted his first quest—a simple dungeon exploration in the outskirts of the city. It was classified as a beginner-level dungeon, meant for F-rank adventurers to gain experience.
The entrance to the dungeon loomed before him, dark and foreboding. Torches lined the walls, their flames flickering weakly. Zaryth took a deep breath and stepped inside, his heart pounding with both fear and determination.
The first few corridors were eerily quiet. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he moved deeper.
Suddenly, a growl echoed through the tunnels, and a pair of glowing red eyes appeared from the darkness. A goblin lunged at him, wielding a crude dagger. Zaryth dodged clumsily, barely escaping the attack.
"Alright, focus," he whispered to himself, trying to steady his breathing. He concentrated, willing the strange core within him to activate.
For a brief moment, everything shifted. He saw the purple particles again, swirling around the goblin, and the thin, thread-like strings trailing from its movements. Zaryth instinctively tried to manipulate them, just as he had during the academy task—but the moment he pushed too hard, a sharp pain erupted in his chest.
Blood trickled from his nose, and he stumbled backward, coughing violently. The goblin took advantage, slashing at him.
Zaryth barely managed to parry the attack, kicking the goblin away with all his might. His body screamed in protest from the strain of using the strange energy.
As he staggered, Mavuika suddenly appeared at the dungeon entrance. "Zaryth, you idiot! What the hell are you doing here alone?!"
She rushed toward him, flames flickering at her fingertips as she made quick work of the goblin.
Zaryth wiped the blood from his face, giving her a weak grin. "Just... trying something new."
Mavuika glared at him. "You look like you're about to collapse. And what's with the nosebleed? You better not be doing anything... weird."
Zaryth chuckled despite himself. "Relax. It's not what you're thinking."
Mavuika rolled her eyes and helped him to his feet. "Come on, let's get out of here before you pass out."
As Mavuika and Zaryth stepped out of the dungeon, the cool evening breeze brushed against their faces. The chaotic sounds of the city loomed in the background, contrasting with the quiet between them. Zaryth felt the ache in his muscles but couldn't deny the strange sense of satisfaction that came with it. For once, he had taken a step—however small—toward strength.
"Seriously, what were you thinking?" Mavuika asked, flicking his forehead playfully as they walked down the path from the dungeon. "You can't even walk straight, and you want to play the hero?"
Zaryth chuckled, rubbing the spot she flicked. "Hey, it wasn't all bad. I almost pulled it off."
"Almost coughed up a lung, you mean," she teased, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "If you keep doing this, you'll die before you can even enjoy your big victory."
He smirked. "Worried about me already, huh? That's cute."
Mavuika shot him a glare but couldn't suppress the grin on her face. "Don't flatter yourself, Silverlight. I'm only worried about having to drag your sorry corpse out of trouble."
They shared a laugh, the tension from the dungeon fading into the crisp night air. For a moment, everything felt simple.
Then Zaryth stopped walking and turned to her, his expression softening.
"Mavuika," he said, his voice unusually serious, "I appreciate that you're worrying about me… but from now on, don't follow me. Even if I end up dying."
Mavuika blinked, startled by his sudden change in tone.
"This is something I have to do alone," Zaryth continued. "But if you're really in love with me"—he gave her a teasing smile—"you can just wait a little bit, okay?"
Mavuika's cheeks flushed a shade darker, and she scoffed, shoving him lightly on the shoulder. "In your dreams, idiot. I'd rather set myself on fire."
Zaryth chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. "Fair enough. Can't say I didn't try."
Mavuika shook her head, grinning despite herself. "You really are a fool, Zaryth. Just don't die, okay? I still need someone to make fun of."
Alone, but Not Lost
After they parted ways, Zaryth walked alone under the pale moonlight, the streets quiet now except for the occasional flutter of leaves in the breeze. He let out a slow breath, feeling a strange clarity wash over him.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn't confused or frustrated—just calm.
"I've finally realized where I went wrong," Zaryth thought to himself, his hands tucked into his pockets. "All this time, I've been stupid, trying to force my powers when I barely understand them. That's not the way."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Looks like I've got a lot to learn."
The moonlight shimmered gently above him, and for a brief moment, Zaryth stopped walking, lifting his gaze to the sky.
"It feels good," he thought, "to know I'm not dreaming anymore."
With a small, amused smile, Zaryth continued down the empty streets, ready to face whatever came next.