The sun had barely risen, casting a soft golden hue over the town as Lyra made her way through the familiar streets. Her eyes were drawn to the adventurer's guild ahead, the bustling sound of activity already spilling out from the door. She could hear the chatter of adventurers inside, discussing their jobs, making plans, and giving advice to the new recruits. Lyra paused for a moment, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, the leather of her armor creaking softly.
It had been a few weeks since her last big job—one that had brought her a small, but significant, sense of pride. She was still an F-rank adventurer, of course, but the constant stream of odd jobs had made her stronger, more confident. And though she wasn't sure if anyone else had noticed, Lyra could feel it: the whispers had grown quieter. They weren't as constant as they used to be, and for the first time in a long while, she could walk without that oppressive weight on her shoulders.
Still, there was always that nagging sense of unease in the back of her mind, like something was always watching her, waiting for her to make a mistake. And she couldn't afford that. Not now, not with her sister relying on her.
She stepped inside the guild, the warmth of the firelight inside a welcome change from the cool morning air. The receptionist, a woman with short, brown hair, looked up from her desk as Lyra approached.
"You're here early today," the receptionist noted with a friendly smile.
Lyra nodded, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Just looking for something new."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow, motioning to the job board nearby. "You're in luck. There's a new job for F-rankers today. It's more of a test for E-rank eligibility, though. Think you're up for it?"
Lyra's heart skipped a beat. E-rank. That was the next step, wasn't it? The next hurdle she had to clear. It wasn't much in the grand scheme of things, but it was something. A little more respect, a few more opportunities. She could do this.
She walked over to the board, scanning the various job requests until one in particular caught her eye.
Test for E-Rank Adventurer Eligibility.
It was a simple request: track and defeat a wolf-like monster that had been terrorizing the outskirts of the forest. The creature had been a nuisance for the past few weeks, and the guild needed someone to take care of it. There wasn't much detail, but it was marked with a red stamp that signified the job was for E-rank testing.
Lyra's mind raced. It was just a monster, right? A challenge, but nothing too extraordinary. She had fought monsters before, and this would be no different. The real question was whether she was ready. Her armor had been helpful, but she knew she couldn't rely on it too much. The whispers in the fabric always felt like a distant presence, urging her on, but they were no substitute for real experience.
"I'll take it," Lyra said firmly, turning to face the receptionist.
The woman raised an eyebrow, but she didn't argue. "You sure? It's a dangerous one. The wolf's quick and vicious."
"I'll be fine," Lyra replied, her voice steady. "I need this."
The receptionist gave a small nod and handed Lyra a map with the location marked. "Good luck. And be careful."
Lyra left the guild with the map in hand, her mind filled with a quiet determination. The task seemed simple enough, but the forest beyond the town was always unpredictable. She couldn't afford to underestimate anything.
As she made her way toward the forest's edge, she thought about her sister, Emmy, and the life they were building together. Lyra had promised her sister that she would protect her, and the thought of failing her was always lurking in the back of her mind. It was why she worked so hard, why she pushed herself so far. Emmy needed her.
The path through the woods was quiet, the trees thick and imposing. Birds chirped high above, but the deeper Lyra ventured, the more still everything became. The further she went, the more the whispers in her armor began to stir. Not a loud sound, but more of a faint hum—a vibration in the back of her skull that she couldn't ignore.
Lyra paused, adjusting the straps of her armor, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Something was off.
She scanned the trees around her, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. The trail of the wolf-like monster was faint, but it was there. Scratches on the bark of trees, broken branches, and the faint scent of blood in the air. Lyra followed it, the tension in the air thickening with each step.
The whispers grew louder, the strange voices in her armor almost urging her forward. Hurry. Find it. Now.
The words were fragmented, like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't quite put together. But she trusted the instincts they gave her. She knew the monster was close.
Just as she was about to move forward again, a sudden rustling from the underbrush caught her attention. Her grip tightened on her sword as she turned toward the sound. A pair of glowing eyes stared back at her from the shadows.
The wolf stepped forward, its massive form emerging from the thicket. It was a hulking creature, its fur matted with dirt and blood, its eyes sharp and intelligent. Its massive paws padded silently over the forest floor, and its long, pointed fangs gleamed as it bared its teeth in a low growl.
Lyra's heart pounded in her chest, her hand gripping the sword's hilt tightly. The whispers in her armor urged her to strike, to attack, to defeat the creature in front of her. But she hesitated, sizing up the beast. It wasn't just an animal—it was intelligent. Dangerous. And it was fast.
Control. Focus. Think.
The whispers calmed for a moment, and Lyra took a deep breath. She could do this. She just had to remain patient. The fight would come soon enough, but she wasn't going to rush into it.
The wolf's growl deepened, and it took a slow step forward. Lyra tensed, her muscles coiling like a spring. It was only a matter of time now.
As the monster prepared to strike, Lyra's mind raced. The whispers were silent now, waiting for her move, but there was a calm within her that hadn't been there before. She was ready.
And this time, she would face the challenge on her own terms.