"I have a request," said Sylra quietly.
"Spill it," Felix replied, curious.
"Teach me how you beat Nox. I want to learn that."
Felix paused, his gaze steady. "No. I don't think I can," he said gently. "There are some things in life you need to figure out for yourself."
Felix looked away as he spoke, his voice quieter than before. He knew the weight those words carried.
Sylra's mind drifted—a flashback. A woman's voice echoed in his memory: "There are some things in life you should learn on your own." The memory hit too close, and his face tensed.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," he muttered bitterly.
He raised his voice, frustration leaking through.
Felix blinked, a little confused by the shift.
"Stop acting so childish. So repulsive," Darian cut in firmly.
Sylra, overwhelmed by a mix of emotion and memory, lowered his head and turned away. "Don't ever disturb me again," he said coldly, slipping a letter into his pocket before walking off.
Felix watched him leave, puzzled. "Does he always act like this?" he asked.
"No," Darian replied with a sigh. "Now that he's gone… would you be willing to work with someone else from his party ?
Felix gave a small shrug. "Sure. I don't mind."
Darian summoned Sylra's party. After a short wait, they appeared.
"Master, why did you call us?" the party leader asked.
Darian looked at them seriously. "why sylra acting so repulsive… volatile? What's going on with him today?"
A girl in the group spoke up. "He's usually charming… but for the past few days, he's been distant, lost in thought. When we ask what's wrong, he either gets angry or just walks away. We've tried helping, but he pushes everyone off."
"Do you know what's causing it?" Darian asked.
"We don't," she said, "but we're still trying to figure it out."
"I wanted him and Felix to gather some herbs," Darian continued, "but now he left without a team and I am also busy ."
One of them pointed to Felix. "Who is he, Master Darian?"
"My guest," Darian answered simply. "And I have a request—can you help him gather the herbs and show him around town?"
"We'd be honored," the leader said, stepping forward.
He offered his hand to Felix. "I'm Roger, the leader of this party. This," he gestured to the girl who had spoken earlier, "is Nell—our healer. And this," he pointed to another girl wearing a robe, "is Syfa, our mage. As for Sylra… he was our poacher. But not today. So, we're counting on you."
And i am Felix , The one who bends possibilities.
Roger eyes widen . " Oh i would like to see that ."
Darian nodded. "I'll be off now—I've got duties, and a meeting I'm already late for."
They all stepped outside the guild. Felix lingered by a wall covered in posters, scanning them one by one. His eyes paused on the registration notice: "Beginner Rank: Bronze. Progress through Silver, Gold, then Platinum. Final rank: Kingdom Protector."
He thought to himself, Sylra and Nox… they must be at the top already.
Roger called out, "Felix, we're ready!"
"Yeah, on my way," Felix said, tearing his gaze from the wall.
"Let's go herb-hunting. After that, we'll give you the tour of Balmwich," Roger said cheerfully.
"Are you guys born here?" Felix asked as they walked. "I heard Master Darian isn't from around here."
Roger nodded. "Yeah, we're locals. And you're right—Master's not from here."
As they approached the Balmwich gate, a guard hailed them. "Duty again, Roger?"
"Yeah, Master's orders," Roger replied, smoothing his hair.
The guard eyed Felix. "And where's Sylra? Who's this new face?"
"This is Master's guest," Roger answered. "And Sylra… isn't in the mood. Master told us to go without him, but don't worry—we know where to find him."
The guard stepped aside. "Then don't let me waste your time."
They left the town but remained within Balmwich's territory. After a while, the air changed. The soft rustle of branches and leaves danced with the breeze. The rich scent of wet earth and old wood welcomed them as they reached the edge of the forest.
"Be prepared," Roger warned. "The beasts here can be unpredictable. They'll attack from anywhere."
The forest opened before them like an ancient curtain, damp and humming with unseen life. Insects chirped in rhythmic pulses . For a moment, the party slowed—not from fear, but reverence. There was something sacred about these wild places, where nature whispered truths louder than any city bell.
They walked a bit more and found themselves before a waterfall.
"This is where we'll find the herbs Master requested," Roger said.
"What herbs exactly?" Nell asked.
"Iron Blossom and Cinder Thorn," Roger replied.
"Why can't we just buy them in town?" Felix asked.
The others stared at him, wide-eyed.
"What are you talking about?" Syfa said, incredulous. "They're way too expensive! And they're not even pure. Shops manipulate them. We make our own potions—clean and strong."
"But I bought a few Bloodroot Vine potions," Felix said.
"They'll work," Roger assured him. "Even impure, Bloodroot has its effect."
He turned to Nell. "Your time to shine."
Nell nodded. Her eyes focused as she knelt near a cluster of bushes. The ground trembled slightly, and moments later, several herbs began to glow and float toward them.
"I thought she was just a healer," Felix murmured.
Roger smiled. "She is—but her healing is tied to the earth. She can find anything. The land listens to her."
Just then, a sharp rustle broke through the air. A series of heavy thumps followed as something moved quickly through the underbrush.
The rustle became a **snarl**. The bushes *split* —not with rabbits, but twisted things , their fur matted with thorns, eyes pupilless and hungry . One lunged, jaws unhinging like a bear trap.
Note : i hate using the authors Throughts so I'll just write some things here , if you are reading this please let me know how can I improve the story i would be open to any new ideas that you tell me in the comments ok that's all I am taking my leave.