The Adventurer's Guild was bustling with activity, the sounds of merchants haggling and adventurers exchanging tales filling the grand hall. Zaryth Silverlight stood calmly at the front desk, waiting as the guild official completed the final paperwork.
"Well, congratulations, Zaryth," the official said with a respectful nod, handing him a new, gleaming adventurer's badge. "With all your dungeon clears and accomplishments over the past year, your rank has been officially set to A++. One more major feat, and you could break into S-rank territory."
Zaryth pocketed the badge without much fanfare, offering a small, polite smile. "Thanks," he said softly. "But I'm done for now."
The guild official raised a brow, surprised. "Taking a break already? Not many adventurers stop when they're at their peak."
Zaryth chuckled under his breath. "Not a break. Just heading home." He gave a small wave and turned toward the exit, leaving behind the awestruck adventurers who had overheard the conversation.
---
The Imperial City – A Hero's Return
The Imperial City of Solara stretched before him, its streets buzzing with life. Towering stone walls framed the city, and majestic spires pierced the sky. The air smelled faintly of flowers from the open market stalls, and noble families paraded through the streets with elegance, their robes trailing behind them.
As Zaryth walked along the stone-paved streets, the crowd slowly began to take notice. His silver hair shone under the midday sun, and his confident stride carried a quiet but undeniable presence.
"That… Is that Zaryth Silverlight?" whispered a passerby.
"It can't be... He was supposed to be weak!" another murmured, eyes wide with disbelief.
Girls passing by exchanged quick glances, their whispers filled with excitement. Some giggled behind their hands, while others shot shy smiles his way, hoping for a glance in return.
"Look at his eyes... He's so... different."
"I heard he's an A++ adventurer! That's insane!"
Zaryth kept walking, his expression calm, unaffected by the attention. His cloak swayed behind him, and his piercing purple eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead. He didn't slow down until the familiar silhouette of his family's estate came into view, standing tall and proud within the heart of the city.
---
A Family Reunion
The front gates creaked open as Zaryth entered the Silverlight estate. The moment he stepped into the grand hall, the warmth of home hit him like a wave—along with the familiar scents of lavender and parchment that always lingered here.
Waiting for him were his two mothers, his father, and his elder sister Elysia Silverlight, who stood near the entrance, her golden armor gleaming from recent duty. Elysia, a holy knight of the kingdom, had always carried an air of command and grace, but right now, her composed demeanor faltered.
"You're back." Elysia's voice wavered slightly, though she tried to maintain her usual stern tone. She crossed her arms, but the corners of her mouth twitched, betraying a smile.
Their father, a man of few words but great presence, gave a simple nod, his gaze heavy with pride. One of Zaryth's mothers ran up to him, pulling him into a warm embrace.
"You've grown," she whispered, her voice catching in her throat. "We missed you."
His other mother followed, wrapping her arms around them both. "You worried us, you know? Leaving like that..."
Zaryth hugged them back, his heart full. "I'm sorry."
Elysia rolled her eyes but smiled, stepping closer to ruffle his hair. "You idiot. You could've at least written to let us know you were alive."
Zaryth chuckled, brushing her hand away. "Where's Ruby? And Nico?"
"They're still at the academy," one of his mothers replied, a fond smile crossing her face. "But they'll be thrilled to see you."
Later that evening, the Silverlight household buzzed with warmth and conversation as they gathered around the dining table. Zaryth listened quietly as his parents asked him questions about his year as an adventurer, his achievements, and the dangers he faced.
"So you really took down an Eldian Guardian on your own?" Elysia asked, disbelief in her voice.
"It wasn't as dramatic as it sounds," Zaryth replied with a sly grin, sipping from his cup.
Elysia shook her head, laughing softly. "I'm almost scared to see what you've become."
His mother leaned in, her voice filled with playful suspicion. "You didn't fall in love with any dangerous women, did you?"
Zaryth almost choked on his drink. "No, no... nothing like that."
As the evening wore on, they shared stories and laughter, filling the air with a sense of peace that Zaryth hadn't realized he had missed so much.
That night, as he lay in his old room, Zaryth stared at the ceiling, his mind drifting to thoughts of Ruby and Nico. He could picture Ruby, fierce and headstrong, always ready to stand up for him no matter what. And little Nico...
A memory flickered in his mind—the last words he had said to Nico before leaving. "I promise I'll become the brother you'll admire and idolize again."
He smiled to himself. It's been a year... I wonder if I've kept that promise.
With a deep breath, Zaryth closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he would return to the academy. He would see his siblings again and face whatever awaited him. But for now, he let the warmth of home lull him into a peaceful sleep.
Tomorrow, his new journey would begin
The early morning sunlight bathed the imperial city in a golden glow as Zaryth Silverlight left his family's estate, feeling refreshed. He had spent the night catching up with his parents and sister Elysia, but his twin sister Ruby and younger brother Nico weren't home due to ongoing academy activities.
Walking toward the Solara Academy, Zaryth took in the bustling life of the city, where nobles and commoners alike went about their day. As he neared the academy gates, students passing by exchanged curious glances. His long, shimmering silver hair, tied loosely with a few strands falling over his forehead, drew attention from everyone, including the occasional female teachers, who paused for a moment, distracted by his striking appearance.
---
After strolling around the academy grounds, Zaryth began looking for Nico. The academy was lively as students gathered in groups, chatting, practicing magic, and going about their routines. It wasn't long before Zaryth's keen hearing picked up familiar voices coming from a small courtyard near the back of the school.
He found Nico standing in the middle of a group of students, his face flushed with anger as he argued with Sirus's younger brother and several others.
"Oi, Nico," one boy sneered, folding his arms. "We heard your brother ran away after getting humiliated by Sirus. Guess the great Zaryth Silverlight isn't so great after all, huh?"
Another student joined in, smirking. "Of course he ran away. What else could he do after that beating? My brother is the strongest, after all!" The boy puffed out his chest proudly, basking in the laughter of the others.
Nico clenched his fists, his voice trembling but defiant. "No, he didn't run away! My brother went to become stronger!"
His classmates laughed even harder, mockery clear on their faces. "Yeah, right. That's what losers always say."
At that moment, Zaryth stepped forward from the edge of the courtyard, his calm, confident stride silencing the group. His long silver hair swayed slightly with each step, and the sunlight reflected in his bright purple eyes, giving him an ethereal glow.
For a brief moment, even the female teachers nearby faltered in their conversations, casting him admiring glances as if they had forgotten where they were. The students turned toward him, their expressions shifting from smug to stunned disbelief.
Nico blinked, his anger replaced with shock as his brother approached.
Zaryth stopped just a few steps away and smiled warmly, placing a hand on Nico's head and ruffling his hair. "Fighting, are we?" His voice was soft, filled with affection.
Nico stared up at his brother, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Z-Zaryth...?"
"Hey," Zaryth said gently, still smiling. "Miss me, little brother?"
For a moment, Nico just stood there, frozen. Then, as the realization hit him, his eyes welled up with tears. He threw his arms around Zaryth, hugging him tightly.
"You're back!" Nico's voice cracked with a mix of joy and relief. "You really came back!"
Zaryth chuckled, patting his brother on the back. "Told you I'd be back, didn't I?"
The group of students, including Sirus's younger brother, stood frozen in disbelief.
"That... That's Zaryth Silverlight?" one of them whispered, his voice filled with shock.
"He looks... different."
"I thought he was weak. What happened to him?"
Sirus's brother, who had been bragging moments ago, swallowed hard, the confidence draining from his face as he stared at Zaryth. "H-He came back?"
Zaryth turned his gaze toward the group, his expression calm but sharp enough to silence them all. "Careful with your words," he said casually, though there was a subtle edge to his voice.
The students shuffled awkwardly, avoiding his eyes. No one dared say anything further, and their earlier mockery evaporated like mist under the sun.
Zaryth leaned closer to Nico, his voice still soft. "You held your ground, didn't you? I'm proud of you."
Nico wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, grinning through the tears. "I knew you'd come back stronger. I told them!"
Zaryth smirked. "And I told you I'd become the brother you admire, right?"
Nico nodded eagerly, his heart swelling with pride.
"Good," Zaryth said, straightening up. "Because this time, I won't let anyone look down on you again."
The students stood awkwardly in the background, their earlier bravado thoroughly crushed. None of them had the courage to meet Zaryth's gaze as he turned back toward them.
"Run along now," Zaryth said with a slight smirk. "Unless you want to keep testing your luck."
The boys exchanged nervous glances before quickly dispersing, mumbling excuses under their breath as they hurried away.
Once they were alone, Nico looked up at Zaryth with a beaming smile. "It's really good to have you back, Zaryth."
Zaryth returned the smile, patting Nico's head once more. "It's good to be back."
As the two brothers stood together, side by side, Zaryth felt a warmth in his chest that had been missing for a long time. He had traveled far, fought hard, and grown stronger, but in this moment—standing with Nico—he knew that this was where he belonged.
"This time," Zaryth thought to himself, "I won't just be a brother in name. I'll be someone worth admiring."
And with that thought lingering in his mind, the brothers began walking toward the academy building together, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them next.