he morning sun spilled golden light over the newly inaugurated headquarters of the Phoenix Guild. Sleek, modern, and alive with energy, it stood as a symbol of promise.
Inside, three young heroes gathered for the first official meeting with their leader: Diana Flamesoul.
Darius Valtier adjusted his jacket collar, grinning."Alright, so… we're in a guild now. When do we start getting paid?"
Rose Eldara rolled her eyes."Darius, seriously?"
Inavy Stormbreak stood quiet beside them, his sharp black suit and red tie giving him a calm, composed air. A slight smile played at the corner of his lips as he observed the building around them. You could almost feel the weight of history here—yet the promise of something new lingered in the air.
Then Diana entered.
Confident, elegant, with her crimson hair swaying like a living flame, she carried herself like a true leader. Her eyes scanned the trio.
"Welcome to the Phoenix Guild HQ," she began, her voice steady. "From today on, you're part of the guild that will shape the future..."
She paused and turned her gaze directly to Inavy.
"...and perhaps, even save it."
The three nodded, serious now. But before she led them to training, Diana paused, her expression softening, mind drifting back in time.
[Flashback — 11 Years Ago]
An old training arena, dust glinting in rays of morning light. Three young warriors stood before a towering presence: Ray Stormbreak.
With Blond hair and an intense gaze, he looked at them.
"Do you even know what it means to be a hero?" he asked, his voice deep and heavy."Do you know... what's the hardest part?"
Standing beside a younger Diana were two others: Lorien Valtier, and a calm, red-haired named Kai.
Ray's voice echoed with a truth that had long marked them:
"Being a hero isn't about saving the world... it's about choosing to save it, even when the world forgets you.""A true hero isn't the one who wins every battle, but the one who stands up after every loss—just to protect those who can't fight.""Power doesn't make you a hero. It's what you do with it—and what you give up for it—that defines you.""Being a hero means carrying light, even when all you see is darkness... and walking forward anyway.""The hardest part of being a hero... is staying one, when no one believes you are.""Fighting monsters is easy. The real challenge is facing the silence after everyone's been saved... and realizing the part of you they needed might never return.""It's not the villains that destroy you the most. It's smiling at the innocent while hiding scars they'll never see.""The cruelest truth of being a hero... is knowing you'll always lose something. Sometimes, even yourself."
Back in the present, Diana blinked. The words of her mentor still echoed in her heart.
She looked at her new students with a quiet intensity.
"Think about that, everyone," she said. "That's what I learned on the road to becoming who I am today. And I owe that to your father, Inavy... to Ray-sensei. It's been eleven years, and I still carry those words."
The room fell silent. Inavy's eyes glimmered slightly. Rose looked respectfully at Diana.
Darius, of course, couldn't hold it in.
"So basically, we're screwed. But like… in a noble, heroic way."
Rose elbowed him."Darius!"
Diana laughed, a warm, genuine laugh.
"I see we'll get along just fine," she said, amused. "You remind me a lot of my old team."
Inavy tilted his head. "Who was in your team, sensei?"
She smiled fondly."There was me, Lorien... and our friend Kai. A red-haired swordsman. He's no longer with us."
Darius squinted, thinking."I was like… five years old back then. But I remember seeing you three. And Kai—yeah, he was always with my bro Lorien, right? Red hair, kind of quiet?"
Diana nodded, her smile bittersweet.
"Well then," she said, clapping her hands once. "Enough nostalgia."
She turned toward the arena as the training doors slid open with a hiss.
"Let's begin your first training, Phoenix heroes!"
The trio stepped forward, their journey only beginning. Together, they would face their limits, forge bonds, and discover the true cost of being a hero.
As the doors to the Phoenix Guild training hall creaked open, a faint pressure pulsed through the air—an aura. Ancient. Heavy. Familiar.
Inavy narrowed his eyes.Rose raised her fists.Darius grinned, stepping forward.
Diana's expression, however, changed. Her confident smirk faded into a sharp seriousness.
"This training... won't be easy. And it won't be fair.""Because today, you'll be pushed to your absolute limit. And beyond."
She turned to face them fully, flames rising faintly around her.
"Let's see if you truly have what it takes... to walk the path of a hero."
Next time on Legacy of Hero – Chapter 14: Trial by Flame
The training begins.Limits will be broken.And one of them... might awaken something buried deep inside.