Chapter 3: A New Chapter Begins

A decade ago, in a single night, the Magic Empire, which had reigned over the continent for more than five centuries, crumbled into ruin. Floating cities plummeted like meteors, and countless mages perished.

No one truly knew how this catastrophe had unfolded. Was it a natural disaster? A divine judgment, as the Church proclaimed? Or had the mages themselves simply lost control?

The answers remained elusive.

It was a night of unprecedented darkness. Magic-powered light sources flickered out, and every item connected to magic ceased to function.

Amidst the ruins, Naya’s survival after the floating cities fell was nothing short of a miracle.

Her brother, barely clinging to life, had whispered to her: “Live.”

Naya jolted awake from a nightmare, her brother’s dying words echoing persistently in her mind. She quietly slipped out of bed, her legs bare, and approached the dressing table, scrutinizing her reflection.

Ten years had passed, yet a hint of youthful innocence still clung to her pure face. She silently vowed never again to be deemed weak based solely on her appearance.

As dawn barely broke, Naya meticulously washed, arranged her clothes, and brushed her hair. By the time she was ready, it was still earlier than most people would typically rise.

‘Should I wake Leon for breakfast?’ she wondered.

Naya walked to the door opposite hers and tapped lightly, but received no reply. Pushing it open, she found the room empty.

A breeze, drifting in through the open window, made the curtains dance. From outside, the rhythmic sound of a sword being swung reached her ears.

Peering out, she realized Leon had already risen and begun his sword practice.

‘It seems this boy isn’t as carefree as he appears,’ she mused.

Meanwhile, Leon found the Light Howl Sword even more comfortable to wield than he had anticipated. Forged from the unique metal found in Howling Mountain Town, it was both remarkably light and exceptionally sharp.

Its quality surpassed his old, battered iron sword by an immeasurable margin.

As he finally lowered his sword, he noticed Naya already standing nearby, waiting for him.

“You’re up quite early today?”

“Here.”

Naya extended a cup of warm milk to him.

“My healing spells can mend wounds, but you’ll need to replenish any lost nutrients yourself. So, from now on, your priority is to take good care of your body.”

“Thanks,” Leon replied, accepting the milk. Simply looking at her made him feel a warmth spread through him. “Naya, you’re really amazing! You can even use healing spells.”

A faint blush spread across the girl’s cheeks. “I… I am a Priest! Healing spells are my professional skill, of course I know them!”

“I wish I could master some cool professional skills too!” Leon mused, thoughtfully raising his sword. “Like making my sword gigantic, or something.”

“That… that would probably only be possible with magic.”

“It’s a shame my benefactor told me that the catastrophe ten years ago wiped out all mages. Almost all magic was lost along with them—uh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought that up.”

Leon suddenly remembered that Naya’s own family had also perished in the calamity.

“It’s fine,” she reassured him.

“I’ve grown accustomed to hearing people talk about it. After all, the catastrophe affected everyone and even changed the world. You can always mention it in front of me from now on; there’s no need to avoid the topic or apologize.”

“You’re stronger than you look,” Leon said, taking a sip of milk. “By the way, do you still have money to buy milk?”

“I only have two copper coins left. If we don’t take on some quests today, we’ll have to sleep in a stable tonight.”

Hearing her words, Leon didn’t even fear choking as he chugged the milk. “Okay, let’s head out quickly!”

A sense of responsibility welled within him; he simply couldn’t allow Naya to sleep in a stable, no matter what.

***

The two made their way to the Adventurers’ Guild in town. Howling Mountain Town, renowned for the ores found in its nearby mountains, was the largest and most prosperous settlement in the region.

It was also the only town here with an Adventurers’ Guild. Naya felt that for Leon, embarking on his first adventure, this place was akin to his starting village.

“Excuse me,” Naya said, addressing the guild clerk across the counter.

“I know you, little Priestess,” the clerk said, glancing at Naya without pausing his writing. “You and your companions were here a few days ago—huh?”

He then darted a look at Leon, a questioning sound escaping him. Clearly, this was a new face.

“Could I please have a registration form for a new adventurer team?” Naya asked.

Throughout this continent, every newly formed adventurer team was required to register at the Adventurers’ Guild; it was standard procedure.

“Are you registering for the young man?” The clerk rummaged through his desk, pulling out a form and handing it to her.

“Oh? So the procedure is this complicated?” Leon leaned closer, asking.

“If you wish to accept quests and earn rewards, this form must be completed as per regulations. Furthermore, adventurer teams operate under a strict ranking system.

Teams demonstrating a certain level of strength are awarded star-rated medals by the Adventurers’ Guild, ranging from one to four stars, with more stars indicating a higher rank.

For instance, this little Priestess’s previous team was a one-star team, which is quite impressive.”

Naya silently filled Leon’s name into the captain’s slot. “I… I have one more thing to do,” she said, unpinning her one-star medal and pushing it across the counter to the clerk.

“What does this mean?” the clerk asked, puzzled.

“I… I wish to disband the Star Cross Lancer Corps.”

“Disbanding a team requires signatures from other members; you alone cannot dissolve it.”

“But… what if… what if I’m the only one left in the team? They all…” Naya paused for a moment, then, with immense reluctance, uttered the word: “Died.”

Her face was drawn, and a faint glimmer of tears could be seen beneath her bangs.

The clerk understood immediately. With a sigh, he pulled out Naya’s team roster from a stack of files in his drawer.

He then picked up a stamp and pressed four crimson characters—”Confirmed Deceased”—emphatically onto the names of Hissou, Rol, Jie’er, and Kurin.

The symbol of death, it seemed, was chillingly simple.

“I’ll have someone take this roster to headquarters shortly. Are you truly certain you want to disband? Honestly, a one-star team! It’s such a waste.”

“I’m certain,” Naya replied. “I… I can’t remain there any longer.”

Indeed, forcing the girl to remain in a team where all her companions had perished would be a form of psychological torment.

Afterwards, Naya wrote her own name in the slot beneath Leon’s.

“What should we name the team?” Naya turned to look at him. “You’re the captain, so you decide.”

“Well… there are only two of us in the team. You’re a Priest, and I’m a Swordsman. How about ‘The Adventuring Party of Light and Sword’?”

“That’s perfect,” she agreed. She then wrote “The Adventuring Party of Light and Sword” in the team name field.

Leon noticed her handwriting was remarkably elegant.

In that moment, a brand new team was formed. Naya was ready to embark on a new beginning alongside Leon.