Part 1
After days of walking, the fresh breeze brushed against Haruto's face as the group neared Stonehollow, the first grand city at the border of Mythara, territory of the light elves.
The towering trees began to yield to an open landscape, where elven architecture emerged majestically, echoing the grandeur of ancient times.
Stonehollow stood tall and proud, a poem in marble and crystal. Its high towers gleamed under the afternoon sun, radiating an aura of magic and perfection.
—It's more impressive than I imagined —Haruto said, his eyes filled with awe.
In the distance, elven sentinels blocked the path with an imposing presence. Their armor, bathed in silvery light, reflected the mastery of their craftsmen. Though their spears appeared ceremonial, their rigid postures exuded authority.
One of them stepped forward, scrutinizing the group with a serious gaze.
—Identify yourselves —he ordered firmly.
Yuna stepped forward.
—I am Yuna Kazeharu of the Aeris tribe. This is Melodía Luminis, and we are traveling to the Durkheim Confederation on a mission.
The guard nodded, but his attention shifted to Haruto.
—And the human?
—Haruto Kibou, an adventurer accompanying us on this mission —Yuna replied, her tone calm but resolute.
The sentinel frowned, his gaze sweeping over Haruto as if trying to unravel a puzzle.
—Would you kindly show me your pass? —he asked, his tone firm and unyielding.
Yuna stepped forward with composure.
—He doesn't have a pass. This is a special situation, and he is under my responsibility —she said calmly.
The guard raised an eyebrow, dissatisfied.
—Without a pass issued by the Elven Guild, any human in Mythara is considered an intruder. Those are the rules. Guards!
—I understand the rules —Yuna said, bowing her head slightly—, but I insist—he is under my charge, and I will take full responsibility for him.
The sentinel evaluated her words while murmurs arose among his companions, their disdainful gazes falling on Haruto.
Melodía, silent until now, stepped forward with the grace of her lineage and a smile that radiated authority.
—Do you not recognize the daughter of Aurelius Luminis? Or has your memory failed you?
The guards exchanged uneasy glances.
—We've received no notification of your visit, miss —one of them replied, attempting to maintain composure.
Melodía sighed theatrically, crossing her arms.
—Really? You don't even have an updated record? This is absurd.
—Procedures are standard, miss. And the human is violating Mythara's rules. We cannot make exceptions —the sentinel insisted.
The silence that followed was heavy. Finally, the guard concluded:
—For security purposes, he will be taken into custody. We need to verify his identity. We'll use Nulite cuffs in the meantime.
The words fell like a sentence. Yuna narrowed her eyes, clenching her fists slightly.
—That won't be necessary. As the daughter of the leader of the Aeris tribe, I take full responsibility for him.
The sentinel shook his head coldly.
—The laws are clear. You two may proceed, but the human will be detained.
The tension mounted. Melodía, visibly furious, stepped forward with determination.
—This is outrageous! I demand to speak with Caelum Solis immediately!
—I'm sorry, but Lord Solis is unavailable —the guard replied, unfazed.
—Do you even know who you're speaking to? I am Melodía Luminis, ambassador of the Lumaris tribe. This is an insult!
—Once again, I repeat, there is no record of a visit from the Luminis family —the sentinel replied calmly, yet unwavering.
Before Melodía could respond, Haruto raised his hands, attempting to defuse the situation.
—It's fine, it's fine. I don't want to cause more trouble. I'll comply.
—Haruto! —Yuna exclaimed, turning to him with a stern look.
Haruto smiled weakly.
—Yuna, if we keep arguing, we'll get nowhere. Don't worry, I'll be fine.
The sentinel gestured, and one of his companions brought out a pair of cuffs, cold to the touch. As they locked around his wrists, Haruto felt something inside him disconnect from the surroundings, leaving a strange emptiness.
"I just need to endure this," he thought, forcing a smile. Doubts tangled in his mind like roots, questioning his place in this world.
—These cuffs completely nullify magic and reduce physical strength. It's a standard procedure —the sentinel explained, fastening them with a click that sounded like a final judgment.
Yuna watched in silence, her fists trembling with restraint, while Melodía frowned, crossing her arms with visible frustration.
—This is absurd. I'll personally make sure they're sent back to the academy —she muttered under her breath.
In an attempt to lighten the mood, Haruto joked…
—Does this always happen when someone tries to enter?
—Only if that someone is a human without a pass —Yuna replied, her tone betraying her discomfort.
Satisfied, the sentinel gestured for them to move forward.
—You'll be escorted to the registry. If everything is in order, you may proceed —he instructed.
Yuna sighed as the group began moving, surrounded by the guards, their firm footsteps echoing around them.
—At this moment, they see you as a forest invader who entered illegally —she murmured, keeping her eyes on the sentinels.
Melodía, with her characteristic sharp tone, added…
—And with those clothes, it's a wonder they didn't mistake you for a mercenary. We're definitely going shopping.
Haruto managed a faint smile, though he couldn't help but feel his pride take a hit.
The group advanced, escorted as though they were dangerous criminals. The gazes of the light elves on the streets, full of disdain and curiosity, followed them closely.
Stonehollow, with its elegant towers and polished marble streets, reflected the light elves' perfection and exclusivity. But for Haruto, it was nothing more than a reminder of how out of place he was.
The stares from passersby were telling: distrust, judgment, and in some cases, outright contempt. Some even whispered among themselves, as if convinced he had manipulated the elves accompanying him.
Yet not all the attention was on him. Simo, with her piercing eyes and pristine feathers, drew even more uneasy looks. To many, her very presence was an omen of misfortune.
—It's official —Haruto whispered, avoiding the gaze of a merchant—. I'm more hated here than I was at my old school.
Melodía let out a soft laugh, her eyes still scanning the whispering elves.
—Don't worry. At least they're talking about you. Maybe you'll become a legend… though for all the wrong reasons.
Haruto nodded with a weak smile, but the weight of the stares continued to make him uneasy.
Finally, they arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, an imposing building adorned with stained glass and magical runes. The sign above the entrance glowed faintly, though the presence of the guards didn't go unnoticed by anyone.
As they entered, their footsteps echoed in the space. Conversations came to an abrupt halt, and all eyes turned to them.
Behind the counter, an elf with an impeccable appearance looked up. Her golden hair cascaded perfectly over her shoulders, and her eyes, like twin ocean pearls, gleamed with curiosity.
—Good morning, young travelers. My name is Ludmila. How may I assist you? —she said with a professional smile, though the tension in the air was palpable.
One of the sentinels stepped forward, bowing slightly toward Ludmila.
—Good morning. We need to evaluate this human. He claims to be an adventurer but has neither a status plaque nor a pass for Mythara.
Ludmila raised an eyebrow, maintaining her professional smile, though a hint of exasperation flickered beneath.
—Oh, what a surprise. Another mercenary or slave trader sneaking in —Ludmila commented with a neutral tone, barely masking a trace of irony. Without showing further interest, she turned toward a side shelf with calm movements, as though the situation hardly deserved more attention.
—Give me a moment while I fetch the evaluation tablet.
The group stood under the inquisitive stares of the adventurers present, their murmurs quickly turning to judgment.
—Evaluation tablet? —Haruto whispered, glancing at Yuna incredulously.
—With the Nulite cuffs, you can't access your status panel. The tablet reveals everything for you —Yuna explained in a low tone.
Before Haruto could reply, Ludmila returned with a rectangular artifact crafted from dark wood, intricately designed with a glowing stone embedded at its center. The stone emitted a faint luminescence.
—Place your hand here —she instructed, setting it on the counter with near-ritualistic precision.
Haruto exchanged glances with his companions. Melodía returned a faint, almost mocking smile, while Simo let out a caw that did little to ease his nerves.
—Alright —he said with resignation, placing his hand on the tablet.
A flash of light filled the room, capturing the attention of everyone present. Ludmila leaned forward to read the data that appeared on the crystal. The once neutral murmurs around them became sharper, and her serene expression twisted into one of confusion.
—This is... peculiar —she murmured, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Haruto's heart raced as the whispers grew louder around him.
—We can explain... —Yuna began, but Ludmila raised a hand, her focus still on the data.
—Name: Haruto Kibou.
—Race: Human.
—Profession: Unknown.
—Level: 20.
—Statistics: Rank "F."
—Skills: Unknown.
—Elemental Affinity: Unknown.
A charged silence followed the report. Ludmila lifted her gaze, clearly perplexed.
—Level 20, rank "F," with no skills, profession, or elemental affinity? This is unprecedented.
The murmurs intensified:
—"If he doesn't have a pass, how did he get here?"
—"That crow... it's definitely a bad omen."
—"He must've made a deal with demons."
Each comment weighed on Haruto, a relentless reminder of his status as an outsider.
The whispers were harder to ignore than the disdainful stares.
Ludmila addressed the group seriously.
—How did someone with such... unusual records make it here?
—Well, you see... —Yuna began, trying to sound composed, but the sentinel interrupted her firmly.
—The human will be taken to the dungeon while we investigate.
The sentinel extended a hand toward Ludmila.
—I need a scroll with the data.
Ludmila nodded, beginning to prepare the document, though her growing discomfort was evident. As she wrote, her brow furrowed in thought.
"This makes no sense. Level 20 without an affinity... I've never seen anyone like this. He must be hiding his real stats somehow."
Ignoring her internal conflict, the sentinel turned to the elves.
—You may proceed on your journey. The human will remain in custody until his situation is resolved.
—This is outrageous! —Yuna protested, stepping forward.
—This is an abuse of authority! —Melodía exclaimed, her indignation evident.
Their protests echoed through the guild, drawing everyone's attention. The tension thickened with every second, but the sentinel remained unmoved.
—The human is detained for trespassing. If you have complaints, take them to the authorities.
Melodía slammed her hand on the counter, her patience evaporating.
—This is unacceptable!
All eyes turned to her, but her determination was unwavering. She turned to Yuna, placing a hand on her shoulder.
—Don't worry, I'll handle this —she said in a stern yet reassuring tone.
Then she looked at Haruto, a mix of irritation and resolve in her eyes.
—And you, stay out of trouble while I fix this mess.
Without another word, she left the guild. She knew she'd have to call on Caelum Solis, an old friend of her father's, but she also understood that even he was bound by Mythara's rigid rules.
Haruto watched her leave, feeling a mix of confusion and resignation. Her ability to take charge of the situation was something he admired, but it also made him question his own passivity.
Had he been too compliant again? Despite his doubts, he knew the right thing to do was to trust them, even if it meant confronting his own vulnerability.
—Yeah, well... —the sentinel said, interrupting his thoughts as he pushed Haruto toward the exit—. Off to the dungeon.
Yuna felt a knot in her stomach but knew that pushing further would only make things worse. Haruto's gaze, filled with resignation yet tinged with trust, disarmed her more than any accusation could.
"This can't be happening. If Mizuki finds out..." Yuna thought, trying to contain her frustration.
In silence, the guards escorted Haruto, their firm steps echoing like a grim proclamation.
The disdainful and curious stares of the adventurers followed him, an invisible weight Haruto bore without complaint.
With a sigh, he avoided looking back. The weight of the Nulite cuffs was insignificant compared to the sadness emanating from Yuna.
—Don't worry —he said with a forced smile as the guards pushed him along—. I trust Melodía. This will work out... somehow.