[Scene: Whisper's Light Guild Hall – Three Days Later]
The meeting room smelled like old wood.
Everyone was seated around the circular guild table.
Everyone… except Ashen.
He sat on Katrina's lap, arms crossed like a grumpy kitten, pretending he belonged there.
> Internal – Ashen:
"Why do they always treat me like luggage…?"
Across the table, Solis dropped a worn leather bag in front of Madhav.
Clink.
A lot of clinks.
> Madhav: "What's that, Solis?"
Solis didn't even blink.
> "Three million Qalistas. Payment for cleaning up those pirates."
Everyone else cheered.
> Madhav (laughing):
"Now this will help fund our subordinate guilds!"
He stood dramatically, raising a hand like a theater villain turned generous king.
> "And—100,000 Qalistas for every Whisper's Light member."
The room exploded with noise.
Fists pounded tables.
Chairs nearly tipped.
Ashen's jaw dropped.
He leaned toward Katrina, whispering:
> "Wait… even me? I didn't do anything."
She ruffled his hair gently.
> "That's how a guild works."
Ashen stared blankly.
> Internal – Ashen:
"...I love this place."
The noise died down as Madhav raised a hand again.
His tone shifted.
> "Alright, enough wallet joy. Let's talk about the storm that's coming."
He pulled out a paper scroll, unrolling it on the table.
> "The Adventurer's License Exam—which was supposed to be next year—has officially been preponed to next month."
The table went quiet.
> "I've seen everyone of you grow… and I believe every single one of you is ready to pass."
He gave a wry smile.
> "Except Ashen, of course."
> Internal – Ashen:
> "I would've passed next year."
But the room was already laughing.
Katrina smirked but didn't defend him.
Solis leaned back.
> "So we finally get to stretch our wings, huh?"
Rhask cracked his knuckles.
> "About time."
Madhav slammed his palm on the table.
> "Go out there and give the other examinees the Whisper's Light welcome."
Everyone raised their arms.
> "Let's go!"
Ashen, caught off-guard, raised his fist two seconds late.
> "Let's… go?"
He sank slightly into Katrina's lap.
> Internal – Ashen:
"I really need to earn my place here…"
Ashen glanced around the room.
His gaze moved from face to face—internal notes scribbling themselves in his head.
> Internal – Ashen:
"Rhask… looks like he could snap a boulder with his bare hands. Brute incarnate."
> "Kael's short. But stocky. Red hair—less dramatic than mine, but still fiery."
> "Arjun acts like a calm strategist… but with that hair? Dude looks like he lost a fight with lightning."
> "Eron… looks normal. Too normal. Which probably means he's secretly terrifying."
Then his eyes stopped on Solis.
> "Solis just looks like a boss. Sharp eyes. Silver hair. Guy probably stares down dragons for fun."
He blinked.
Then something tugged at his thoughts.
Ashen slowly raised his hand, voice hesitant.
> "Uhm… Master Madhav?"
Madhav raised an eyebrow. "Shoot."
Ashen pointed at the team.
> "If everyone's going to take the exam and… I'm not…"
> "What happens to my training with Katrina?"
Katrina looked at him, curious herself.
Madhav leaned back and rubbed his beard.
> "Huh. Guess you and I will cheer for them from the audience, huh?"
Ashen blinked.
> "Audience?"
Pause.
Then it hit him.
He leaned forward—eyes wide.
> "Wait—we're going with them?!"
Madhav grinned.
> "Of course."
> "This is Whisper's Light. We roll together."