Blue wandered through the city streets, the buzz of the crowd around him nearly drowning out the swirling thoughts in his mind. His recent promotion to Kingdom S-Rank was still fresh, and though he remained calm on the outside, there was a growing awareness of the challenges ahead. It wasn't just the new responsibilities; it was the attention, the constant eyes on him. The world was now keenly aware of his rise, and that could mean trouble.
Looking for a moment of peace, Blue spotted a small coffee shop tucked away between two buildings. The inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted out the door, and he decided it would be a good place to relax for a bit. He stepped inside, the soft bell ringing overhead as he entered.
The shop was warm, cozy, and nearly empty—except for two familiar figures seated by the window.
Celia and Lyra.
Celia was leaning back in her chair, arms crossed and wearing her usual confident smirk. Her sharp black eyes were scanning the room, though she didn't seem to notice Blue right away. Lyra, seated across from her, was quietly sipping her tea, her golden hair tied back in a simple braid. She had a calm and welcoming air about her, contrasting Celia's brash attitude. Lyra was a skilled mage, known for her quiet intelligence and mastery of elemental magic.
Blue hesitated for a moment but then decided to approach them. His footsteps were quiet, but Celia seemed to sense his presence.
"Well, well, look who finally shows up," Celia said with her trademark grin, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't expect to see you in here, Blue. You hiding from someone?"
Lyra glanced up at him, a soft smile forming on her face. "I didn't think you'd be around today," she said. "How's the guild? Everything going well?"
Blue smiled and took a seat at their table. "It's been busy," he said casually, glancing around before focusing on them. "Been trying to get some peace and quiet today. Thought I'd have a drink here, maybe take a break."
Celia let out a chuckle. "A break? You? What's got you wound up?"
"I'm not wound up," Blue said, giving a small shrug. "But it's good to step back for a bit. Things have been moving fast lately."
Lyra sipped her tea again, her eyes soft with curiosity. "Well, I heard some interesting news today," she said, glancing between Celia and Blue. "A new S-Rank member for the Kingdom. I think it's making waves—no one really knows much about this person."
Celia leaned in slightly, her interest piqued. "Oh? Another S-Rank, huh? You think the King's just handing those out now? What's the catch?"
Lyra shook her head. "No idea, but it's strange. I mean, it's not every day that someone rises that quickly to S-Rank. It's a huge deal. Do you think they have something special about them?"
Blue's lips curled into a small smirk, but he didn't give a direct answer. Instead, he simply lifted his coffee mug and took a sip. His gaze flicked between them as they continued discussing the newcomer.
Celia snorted. "It's probably some show-off trying to ride the King's coattails. S-Rank titles are more political than anything else these days."
"I don't know," Lyra said thoughtfully, her voice calm and considered. "Whoever it is, I'll be curious to see how they hold up. You don't just get the title without proving yourself."
Blue set the mug down, a slight chuckle escaping his lips. "You know, I think you both might be surprised."
Celia raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You got some insight, Blue? Are you saying you know who it is?"
Blue leaned back in his chair, his casual demeanor betraying no hint of his actual identity. "Maybe I do," he said, his voice playful. "Maybe I don't. Could be anyone, right?"
Lyra glanced at him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "You're awfully cryptic about it. You sure you don't know something we don't?"
"Could be," Blue said, his grin widening slightly. "But you'll just have to wait and see."
For a while, the three of them continued chatting, the conversation flowing from the new S-Rank to their personal experiences in the guild. Celia had recently changed her class to Swordsman, and she seemed particularly proud of the transformation.
"I've been working on improving my sword skills," Celia said, tapping her fingers against the table. "You know, I wasn't really getting the results I wanted as a rogue. So I switched things up. Now I can cut through a lot more than just shadows."
Lyra smiled softly, her eyes twinkling with pride for her friend. "I'm glad to hear that. You've always been talented, Celia. I bet the new class suits you perfectly."
Celia rolled her eyes. "Swordsman's more than just a title. It's about commitment. And I've got that in spades."
Lyra laughed gently, shaking her head. "I know you do. You'll be unstoppable with that sword, I'm sure."
As the conversation continued, Blue couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the simplicity of their days before the title, before the weight of the kingdom's expectations. His thoughts were momentarily interrupted when Lyra turned to him.
"What about you, Blue?" she asked, her tone curious. "You still sticking to your old ways as a warrior?"
Blue chuckled softly, though there was an edge of mystery in his voice. "I'm… finding my own path, like everyone else."
Celia gave him a sidelong glance. "Sounds like you're trying to dodge the question. You sure there's nothing you're hiding, Blue? You've been acting a little different lately."
Before he could answer, the server returned with their order, and the conversation shifted again. But Blue's mind was still on the words they'd said—especially about the S-Rank. They didn't know it, but they were talking about him.
It was only a matter of time before they found out.
Later that day, the three of them met up at the guild hall, ready for a mission. As they approached the mission board, Celia and Lyra began browsing through the available jobs.
"Let's take something low-level, just to stretch our legs a bit," Celia said. "We've got time for an easy job, right?"
Lyra scanned the board. "There's a C-Rank mission about clearing out some monster nests in the woods nearby. It seems manageable."
Celia snorted. "Yeah, sounds like a nice, easy day. I'll take it."
Blue, though, glanced at the mission description with some interest. To him, a C-Rank mission was nothing more than a slight inconvenience—barely worth the effort. But he remained silent. He didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable by revealing his real rank just yet.
"Well, if you two are up for it, then I'm in," Blue said nonchalantly.
Celia raised an eyebrow. "You sure? I mean, C-Rank missions aren't exactly a walk in the park, especially if you're used to F-rank stuff. But hey, we'll make sure to keep it interesting for you."
Lyra smiled. "We'll take it easy. It'll be good practice, and we can always teach you something new."
Blue gave a small nod. "Sounds good to me."
They set out together, with Celia confidently leading the way. Along the journey, the trio discussed everything from their past missions to Celia's recent class change. Lyra, being a mage, kept a sharp eye on their surroundings, always alert to any magical threats, while Blue was content to let them take the lead, watching them both work with ease.
Little did they know, Blue's capabilities far exceeded their expectations. He was playing the part of a humble adventurer while they thought he was simply a high-ranked warrior—a F-Rank at best.
As they reached the woods and began clearing out monster nests, Blue's mind wandered briefly to his future interactions with them. He was enjoying the company of his friends, but soon, they would discover the truth.
But for now, Blue was content to let them think he was just another adventurer. It would be more interesting when they found out for themselves.
As the day went on, the trio made quick work of the C-Rank mission. But Blue's power remained hidden beneath the surface, leaving Celia and Lyra none the wiser about the true identity of the Kingdom's newest S-Rank adventurer.