Morning light crept through the cracks of Lio's rundown house, casting soft golden beams on the wooden floor. The air smelled faintly of baked bread from nearby stalls, mixed with the lingering scent of herbs and old parchment from the gear they had stored in a corner the night before.
Outside, Red stood calmly, his arms crossed as he watched both Selena and Lio huff and puff, bent over in exhaustion after a solid hour of morning training. He had them go through footwork drills, close-range sparring, and even a few improvised evasion tactics using crates and sacks as mock obstacles. His expression hadn't changed once, stoic, focused, but deep inside, he was quietly satisfied.
Selena fell flat on her back, arms splayed.
Selena: Ugh! You're a demon in black armor, Red!
she whined, sweat running down her face.
Selena: I can't feel my legs!
Lio: I think I'm dying…
Lio whimpered, crumpling like a folded curtain beside her.
Lio: I thought I'd improve with new gear, but I still suck…
Red finally cracked a faint smile.
Red: You both survived a Goblin King. You're already beyond rookie level.
Selena opened one eye.
Selena: That's not very comforting when I feel like I'm about to throw up.
Red: You'll get used to it.
Red walked over to a wooden barrel filled with clean water, dipped his hands, and poured it over his head. He removed his black chestplate and shirt, letting the water cascade over his toned torso, scars mapping his journey from shoulder to hip. He was quiet and focused as ever, unaware that a certain rogue was watching.
Selena, still on her back, tilted her head toward him. The moment she saw Red shirtless, her cheeks lit up like an overheated forge. Her lips parted slightly in a dumbfounded stare.
By the goddess… those muscles…
Lio: Selena? You okay?
Selena: I...I'm fine!
she jumped up so fast she tripped over her own foot and fell face-first into the dirt.
Red glanced over his shoulder briefly.
Red: Watch your step.
Selena: I said I'm fine!
she yelled from the ground, face bright red.
Later that evening, the trio shared a modest dinner with Lia and Lana, all of them gathered around a warm little fire in the corner of the cramped room. The girls were cheerful, playing with pieces of cooked potato as if they were tiny dolls. Selena smiled warmly, helping Lia braid her hair, while Lio chatted with Lana about the sword lessons Red gave him that day.
Red sat in the corner, sharpening one of his black swords in silence, listening but not intruding. He looked up just once to see the small family interact, then turned back to his work.
Night fell quickly, and the little house could barely contain five sleeping bodies. Lia and Lana slept curled up in a pile of blankets near Red. Lio took the far end near the door, and Selena found herself nestled right in the middle, until her eyes slowly fluttered open in the middle of the night.
Her arms were wrapped around something warm. Hard, steady, and breathing. Her face was… pressed against someone's chest.
Wait… no… no no no—!
Selena's eyes shot open. Red was asleep beside her, his shirt still off from earlier, looking as serene as a mountain monk. Lia was snuggled on his other side, one hand gently clutching his arm like a child clinging to a toy.
Selena stifled a scream. She slowly, carefully, untangled herself from Red's sleeping form. Her face was a mixture of crimson panic and abject horror.
She stood up so quickly she slammed her head on the low-hanging ceiling beam. "Ow!"
Red stirred but didn't open his eyes.
Selena scrambled away into the tiny washroom, splashing her face with cold water.
Get a grip, Selena. You just—You were just cold. That's it. A coincidence. Totally normal. N-not like you wanted to snuggle him or anything…
She buried her face in a towel.
When dawn came, the sun greeted them with soft warmth and chirping birds overhead. Red was already up, fully dressed and armored, standing by the door.
Selena joined him a moment later, still red in the cheeks but keeping her cool, barely. Lio, donning his new gear gifted by Oki, clumsily strapped his belt the wrong way again.
Lio: R-ready!
he declared, even though one of his gloves was on backward.
Red: You're improving,
Red muttered with a slight smirk.
Lio: Really?
Red: No, But you're enthusiastic.
Red deadpanned, walking out the door.
Selena snorted, already back to her usual teasing self.
Selena: C'mon, rookie. We've got goblins to kill.
They arrived at the guild soon after, just as adventurers were beginning to mill around the board. Selena scanned it eagerly, eyes lighting up.
Selena: Hey, Red! Here's one, Northern outskirts, potential goblin resurgence, needs investigating. Good coin, too."
Red: Let's take it
The clerk at the guild raised an eyebrow as the three stepped forward.
Receptionist Sophia: Ah, the goblin slayers, Didn't expect to see you three again so soon. Especially you, Lio. Surprised you survived."
Lio: I—I had help!, Red was amazing! And Selena too!
Selena gave him a playful punch in the arm.
Selena: You weren't bad yourself, you know."
The clerk handed over the parchment.
Receptionist Sophia: Good luck then. North again, huh? You lot seem drawn to goblin nests.
Red took the parchment silently, nodding, before turning to his team.
Red: Gear up. We leave before noon.
"Yes, sir!" Selena mock-saluted.
Lio, flustered, accidentally dropped his sword, then fumbled to pick it up again.
Their journey north had begun once more.
But this time… it was a team.
A clumsy rogue with luck as her best weapon.A scaredy rookie swordsman trying to be brave.And a black-armored swordsman with a quiet past and hidden strength.
Together, they took their first steps toward an uncertain but exciting adventure.