CHAPTER - 1
Responsibility
***
Rain poured under a certain spring night ,the downpour was relentless over the outskirts of Valderis— the capital city of Artesia the human kingdom— drumming against the cobbled streets in a rhythmic, sorrowful song
The newly built orphanage, its wooden frame still smelling of fresh lumber, stood against the storm just outside the local neighborhood alone , within its halls, Father Ranth Kheind, a young priest with blond hair and blue eyes, barely past his mid-twenties, sat by a candlelit desk, going over scripture for the 20th time
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and as the loud echo faded ,a knock—faint, almost swallowed by the storm—echoed through the orphanage
Frowning, Father Ranth rose to his feet, adjusting his robes as he made his way to the entrance wonder who would come by at a time as late as late as now as it was almost midnight, when he opened the door, the cold night air bit into his skin, but it was not the chill that sent a shiver down his spine
A cradle sat on the doorstep, rainwater pooling around it
Inside, a baby girl cried softly, her tiny fists clenching at the empty air, her fragile body trembling against the merciless cold, she had been wrapped in a damp cloth, barely enough to shield her from the coldness of the night
Father Ranth's breath hitched, his hands clenched into fists
An abandoned child, another innocent left to fate
His grip tightened on the doorframe as a bitter thought crossed his mind
{ Why does this keep happening? }
He had worked tirelessly to help people, to guide them, to show them there was a better way, and yet, here he stood, faced with proof of yet another soul discarded like unwanted refuse by her own parents, and to make it worse the child did not look older than a month
For a fleeting moment, his faith wavered
{ Would it not be easier to just condemn the parents who did this straight to hell's cauldron? Why must I even try to show them what's right when they can do atrocious actions like this? }
But then, the baby whimpered
Father Ranth exhaled sharply, forcing the anger from his heart, remembering what he stood for as priest and what the kind son of God said when he walked the earth
{' Even if our parents fail us, the lord is with us and will never let us down ',right my lord?
but I truly wish children as young as this one never bore the weight of an adult's sins }
Kneeling, he reached out, his fingers brushing against the soaked fabric of the cradle
" Shh, little one "
He murmured, lifting the baby into his arms, and then with a prayer from the heart he summoned a glowing wave of divine force to give the crying baby warmth
Seeing the baby's cry softening falling silent , Father Ranth gazed at the girl once more
She was small, so small & so light, as if she barely existed in this world at all, feeling her slow and calm breath brushing his skin ,his heart sank with sadness for the abandoned child ,but he did not let it show
She needed warmth and love more than anything else right now after all
Cradling her against his chest, he stepped inside, closing the door behind him, the orphanage's flickering lanterns cast a soft glow over the wooden interior, banishing the darkness of the storm
He unwrapped the damp cloth and carefully bundled the baby in a dry woolen blanket, her moved about the blanket as she nestled into the warmth, her tiny fingers grasping at his robe
A rare smile touched his lips feeling how firm her grip was
" You're a strong one, aren't you? "
He glanced around the modest room, his gaze settling on a small vase by the window, inside, a single lilac flower stood, its petals vibrant despite the weather outside
"…Lia "
He whispered
" Lia Lilac "
It was a name of kindness, of beauty and f resilience
" Grow up lovely and kind, Lia "
That was how Lia Lilac arrived at the orphanage of St Keter, a newly builted branch of it anyway, where she met with other children whom she grew up with happily
And as the years passed, Lia did grow up—lovely, kind, but…
" LIAAA!!! GET BACK HERE!! "
" NO!! I DON'T WANNA TAKE A BATH! I HATE BATHS, OLD GEEZER!! "
" I'M NOT OLD, YOU LITTLE BRAT!! AND WHY DID YOU CUT YOUR HAIR!! "
" IT'S COOLER THIS WAY AHAHAHA GAH!! (Got caught) — I'm...sorry fath- "
Bonk!
...She was rather boyish at times
***
Nestled in the heart of Artesia, Valderis was a city of contrasts, alace where the echoes of the ancient met the relentless march of progress, home to the strongest soulwielders
Towering marble structures with elegant archways stood alongside wooden houses with tiled roofs, their chimneys releasing soft plumes of smoke into the crisp morning air, narrow cobbled streets wove through the city like a labyrinth, bustling with the footsteps of merchants, travelers, and everyday citizens
At its heart lay St. Keter's Cathedral, an architectural marvel of marble and stained glass, its towering spires reached toward the heavens, reflecting the morning sun like a divine beacon
Bells rang from its highest tower, their chimes resonating across the city as a reminder of faith and order, surrounding it was the Central Plaza, a vast open space where markets thrived, street performers entertained, and heralds delivered the latest news
But looming over the city, standing as its greatest landmark, was The Ivory Spire, the royal castle of Artesia's ruling family, perched atop King's Hill, the castle's pristine white stone walls gleamed even under the dimmest light as a symbol of the kingdom's strength and nobility
Its grand towers stretched toward the sky, while high battlements overlooked the city below, hrom here, the monarchy and their court governed Artesia, overseeing matters of war, law, and diplomacy
The castle was both a fortress and a palace—its inner halls adorned with golden chandeliers, intricate murals depicting the kingdom's history, and velvet banners bearing the crest of Artesia—a radiant sun over a silver sword
The Royal guards consistenting of the higher ranking Soulwielders patrolled its walls, their polished armor reflecting the sunlight, ever watchful for threats to the crown, the nobles and high-ranking officials who visited the castle spoke in hushed tones of politics, alliances, and the ever-present tension between Artesia and its neighboring kingdoms
Beneath King's Hill, the city unfolded in layers of wealth and struggle
To the north, the Noble Quarter stretched out in orderly streets lined with lavish manors and private gardens, aristocrats, scholars, and high-ranking officials resided here, their homes built with intricate stonework and adorned with family crests, the air here smelled of perfumed oils and freshly baked bread, a stark contrast to the lower districts
To the south, the Common District pulsed with life, blacksmiths hammered steel in open forges, bakers shouted the prices of warm loaves, and children darted through the crowds, laughing as they played, taverns and inns stood at nearly every street corner, their doors welcoming weary travelers and drunken patrons alike, this was where the people of Valderis truly lived, where the heart of the city beat strongest
Beyond the Common District lay the Outskirts, where poor lived, here, life was not as kind, the roads were rougher, the houses more worn, and the scent of damp wood and burning coal filled the air, most of the city's poor and forgotten resided here, struggling to make ends meet, but even in this harsh place, there was warmth—found in the bonds of families, friends, and those who refused to give up.
To the west, the Guild Quarter housed warriors, merchants, and craftsmen. Nearby, the Mercenary Guild and the Adventurer's Hall were always filled with hopeful recruits looking for work
Finally, to the east, the River Drelm carved through the city, its waters reflecting the golden glow of the setting sun, docks lined its edge, where fishermen cast their nets and traders loaded goods onto waiting ships, this river was one of Valderis' lifeline, connecting it to other cities across Artesia
Valderis was a city of dreams and struggles, of wealth and poverty, of faith and ambition
And within its walls, a young orphan girl with short black hair turned up at the adventure's guild right after she turned 18 with nothing but a short sword and a dream, which was not very convincing for the young receptionist Miko who gave the girl a dubious look
Lia with confidence wearing no armour with a short sword then asked Miko completely disregarding the look she was giving her
" How do I become an adventurer Miss? "
***
Miko, the young receptionist of the Adventurer's Guild, leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she eyed the girl before her
Short black hair, an eager grin, no armor whatsoever, just a simple tunic, leather boots, and a short sword that looked like it had seen more dust than combat
A total newbie
Miko sighed, she'd seen this before—young hopeful youths who walked in, thinking adventure was all about slaying monsters and finding treasure
Half of them barely made it through their first quest
" You wanna be an adventurer, huh? "
Miko asked, tapping her quill against a piece of parchment
" You don't exactly look the part "
Lia pouted
" I think I look cool though "
Miko raised an eyebrow
" You think running around without armor is cool? "
" Armor is heavy "
" Armor keeps you alive "
Lia crossed her arms, unfazed
" That's kinda true I guess (she the declared) BUT IM FLAT BROKE ,I ONLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE ADVENTURER FORM MISS "
Miko stared at her, then pinched the bridge of her nose
{ Another one of those }
" Look young lady... "
Miko said
"... being an adventurer isn't just about swinging a sword around, you need to pass a basic assessment regarding your fighting skills, survival ability, monster knowledge, first aid—you know, the skills that will keep you from dying "
Lia blinked
" Wait, there's a test? "
" Of course there's a test! "
{GEEZ!!}
Miko groaned
" You think we just let anyone with a sword run off and get themselves eaten by a goblin? "
Lia looked slightly sad now , looking a bit dejected
"…I was kinda hoping that was the case "
Miko exhaled sharply
" Alright, I'm supposed to turn away clueless rookies, but…"
She studied Lia again, something in Miko's gut told her that if she turned this one away, she'd just be back the next day
"…Fine "
Miko said, grabbing a form and sliding it toward her
" Give me the fee and fill this out, name, age, background "
Lia brightened up and gave her the money, then she grabbed the quill and quickly scribbled down her information
Miko glanced over the paper
" Lia Lilac, huh? "
She tapped her finger on the 'background' section, which Lia had left suspiciously blank
" No prior experience? "
Lia scratched her cheek
" Does beating up bullies count? "
Miko sighed
" No "
" Well, I did save my sister once from criminals "
Miko's gaze flickered up
" Oh? "
Lia shrugged
" Some guys tried to kidnap her, I beated them up "
Miko frowned, kidnappers?
{ And she beated them up? }
Before she could ask more, another guild member approached, a towering man in a fur-lined cloak, a greatsword strapped to his back, he glanced at Lia, then at Miko
" This one bothering you, Miko? "
He asked, voice deep and gruff
Lia turned to the guy, looking up at him without an ounce of intimidation
" I don't bother people "
She declared
The man stared at her, then he let out a booming laugh
" Hah! You've got guts, kid "
He turned to Miko
" She looking to join? "
Miko nodded
" Yeah, but she's a total greenhorn "
The man smirked
" Then why not throw her in the rookie test? Let's see what she's made of "
Lia grinned
" Ah yes the test (turning to Miko she asked) so What do I have to do? "
Miko rubbed her temples
" Alright, listen up, the guild's rookie assessment involves a few things—combat ability, endurance, and teamwork, usually, we assign new applicants a simple task outside the city, like dealing with weak monsters or gathering materials ,but since you're so confident…"
She smirked
" We'll give you something a bit more fun "
Lia's eyes sparkled
" Fun ?!!What is it? "
Miko pointed toward the training grounds behind the guild hall
" You're going to have a sparring match "
She said
Lia grinned
" Sweet! Who am I fighting? "
The fur-cloaked man cracked his knuckles, his smirk widening
" Me "
. . . . .
Miko watched as Lia's confident grin wavered just slightly
"…Huh "
Lia blinked up at him
" R...Really?? "
The man's smirk widened
" And you're a small girl, you shouldn't have a hard time dodging my attacks if you're as good as you say, I'm a Rank - 6 swordsman, Hal Horn by the way kid "
Lia swallowed
" Lia Lilac, unranked , it's....nice to meet you Mr Horn "
Miko chuckled along with the other adventurers present in the guild
{ I hope he goes easy on the poor girl }
End of chapter