The soft glow of sunlight slowly filled the small room. Golden beams peeked through the old wooden window, spreading across the floor and crawling up the bed. Birds chirped faintly outside as the city of Azbecks began to wake.
Haruto's eyes opened slowly. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the light. He felt the warmth of the sun on his face and stretched with a soft groan.
He turned his head to the side, expecting to see Mai lying beside him—but the bed was empty. Her pillow was untouched, and the blanket had been neatly folded.
"…Mai?" he whispered, sitting up.
There was no reply.
He stood up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The air in the room was quiet—too quiet. Her shoes were gone. So was her little pouch of herbs that she usually kept by the bedside.
Haruto walked over to the basin, splashing cold water on his face. The chill made him flinch, but it helped clear his mind. He stared at himself in the small metal mirror. His black hair was a mess. His eyes still carried a hint of sleep. He quickly fixed himself up, pulled on his dark travel coat, buckled his boots, and grabbed his belt.
Stepping out into the hallway, he could hear soft chatter and clinking dishes from downstairs. The smell of fresh bread and hot soup made his stomach growl a little, but he had other things on his mind.
He walked down the wooden steps and approached the front desk of the inn. Behind it stood the same receptionist from yesterday—her warm smile never changing. She was scribbling something into a big leather book.
Haruto cleared his throat gently. "Um… excuse me. Have you seen the girl who was with me yesterday?"
The receptionist looked up with a cheerful nod. "Oh, yes! Lady Mai told me to tell you something," she said kindly. "She said to head to the Adventurer's Guild. She'll probably be there meeting with the Guild Master."
Haruto blinked. "The Guild Master?"
"Yes," the woman continued. "She left early this morning. I think she didn't want to disturb your sleep. She said it was important."
Haruto stood there for a second, surprised. He nodded slowly. "Alright… Thanks."
The city outside was already alive when he stepped through the inn's doors. People rushed by with baskets of fruit, traders yelled out their best deals, and a boy was running after a stray chicken through the street.
Haruto's boots clacked against the stone roads as he made his way toward the Guild. His mind raced with thoughts.
Why did she leave so early?Why meet the Guild Master now?And why did she want me to come too?
As he walked, he glanced up at the sky. The clouds moved slowly, painting patterns across the blue canvas. Everything felt… normal. But something inside him whispered that something wasn't.
The tall building of the Adventurer's Guild soon came into view. Its stone walls and large double doors stood strong, towering above nearby houses. The guild's symbol—a silver sword crossed with a staff—shone above the entrance.
Haruto stepped up to the front of the doors. He reached out to grab the handle—
But the world suddenly twisted.
The sky bent. The street disappeared. The ground fell away.
It was like the world itself had crumbled around him. Everything turned black. Silent. Weightless.
He stood in a vast empty space. A dark void. Floating.
A cold wind that shouldn't exist in nothingness passed by him. His body wouldn't move. His fingers were frozen mid-step. His heart beat loud in his ears.
Then…
A voice echoed from the darkness. Deep. Distorted. Like hundreds of whispers combined into one.
"I see… So this is what happened after I left."
Haruto's breath caught in his throat. He wanted to speak. To shout. But no sound came out.
The darkness pulsed. Something stirred deep within the void—but before he could see it—
The world snapped back.
He gasped loudly and stumbled backward. His foot hit the step in front of the Guild door. The building was back. The street was back. The sky was clear.
Everything was… normal again.
Haruto blinked, trying to catch his breath. Cold sweat ran down his face.
"What the hell… was that…?"
Just then, a group of adventurers pushed past him roughly.
"Get outta the way, rookie!" one of them barked, knocking Haruto slightly to the side.
Haruto clenched his jaw but didn't respond. He looked back at the Guild door, then stepped inside.
The familiar smell of parchment, wood, and armor filled the large hall. Adventurers stood in groups, talking, checking mission boards, or polishing their gear.
Behind the front counter was Elle, the same woman from yesterday. She was helping another adventurer fill out a form.
When she saw Haruto approach, she smiled. "Good morning!"
Haruto gave a small wave. "Hey, Elle. Uh… Where's Mai? Also… wasn't the F-Rank exam tomorrow?"
Elle raised an eyebrow. "Yes, that's right. Why?"
"Well," Haruto continued, "Mai came here early and told me to come too. I was wondering… did something happen?"
Elle tilted her head slightly, tapping her pen against the desk. "Hmm… That is strange. She asked to meet the Guild Master early this morning. But she didn't say why."
Haruto frowned. "She didn't tell me either. Just disappeared."
Elle crossed her arms. "That's unusual, even for Lady Mai."
Haruto nodded. He looked over his shoulder for a moment. The memory of the void still lingered in his mind. That voice… those words…
He turned back to Elle. "Do you know where they're meeting?"
Elle pointed to the second floor. "The Guild Master's room is up those stairs. But only top-rank adventurers are allowed up there."