Soft light poured in through the circular stained glass windows of the Ivory Arcanum's infirmary. The morning rays danced across the polished marble walls, splashing hues of crimson, gold, and violet across the pristine linen sheets of the beds lined neatly in a row. Magical sigils hummed faintly on the walls, pulsing with warmth and healing energy. The chamber was calm, save for the occasional chirp of enchanted birds fluttering around the room, weaving threads of ambient magic through the air.
Selena stirred first.
Her eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the brightness above. The pain in her chest had dulled to a deep ache, but she could breathe again without feeling like the world would collapse. She turned her head and saw the others, Hina lay beside her, still pale but peaceful. Rika had one leg wrapped in bandages and was snoring softly. Yuzu was nestled beneath the covers, hugging a pillow. Lio, on the far end, was still unconscious but no longer critical.
She frowned. "Where…?"
"You're safe," came a voice to her right.
Selena's eyes widened as she turned, and froze.
A woman in crimson leather armor sat cross-legged beside her bed, spinning a dagger on the tip of her finger with a casual grace that made it look like child's play. Her red eyes sparkled, her expression equal parts amused and curious.
"You must be Selena," Lyra said, voice like a cat's purr. "Red told us a lot about you."
Selena flushed. "Who? wait, what?"
At the same moment, Hina groaned and opened her eyes.
A warm golden light enveloped her instantly, soothing her pain. She turned her head to see a serene woman in white and gold robes kneeling beside her, staff gently pressed to the floor. Her eyes were kind, her presence motherly.
"Be at peace, young healer," Hanagi said softly. "You've done well."
Rika jolted awake next. She immediately reached for her bow, but a hand caught her wrist before she could move. A tall elf with a bow slung casually over his back leaned against the wall, flashing her a lazy grin.
"Easy there, rookie," Blue said.
Blue: You're in good hands. And Red didn't let a single orc walk away.
Rika: E-Elf? Wait...you're an elf?! And...handsome...wait what?!
Rika sputtered, her cheeks exploding in crimson.
Then the lights in the room dimmed without warning. A glowing circle of arcane script appeared above Yuzu's bed, and a floating wizard in a black-and-gold robe descended from above, orbiting rings of magic rotating lazily around him.
"Yuzu," Xiao intoned dramatically, "Thy aura is potent for one so young."
"EHHHH?!" Yuzu squeaked, hiding under her blanket. "Wh-what is happening?!"
Selena, still reeling from Lyra's presence beside her, finally snapped her head around, staring from one unfamiliar figure to the next.
Selena: Who ARE all of you?!
Just then, Red stepped into the room.
He was still wearing his black armor, though his helmet hung at his waist. His expression was unreadable as always, but something in his posture was heavier than usual. He looked at each of them, his current companions, bruised and battered, before speaking.
"They're my former comrades," he said at last. "The White Storm Party."
Silence.
Selena blinked. "Wait… like, the White Storm? The legendary White Storm?! The one with the archwizard who destroyed a floating island? The assassin who infiltrated the Shrouded Citadel? The elf who won the Moonblade Tournament?! And the saint-like healer who purified a plague with her tears?!"
Lyra chuckled. "I didn't cry, thank you. That part's exaggerated."
Xiao waved. "The island thing was accidental."
Blue nodded. "The tournament was a bit unfair. I used two arrows."
Hanagi smiled gently.
Hanagi: Red told us you all showed great courage… even if the odds were against you.
Selena, Hina, Rika, and Yuzu all stared at them as if gods had descended from the heavens.
Then Lio groaned and sat up slowly.
Lio: Ugh… Did I miss something? Who are the fancy people?
Red walked over to him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
Red: Get up, Lio. You're going to train.
Lio: Huh?! I just woke up!
Red turned to face all of them, his voice calm, but with steel underneath.
Red: You were all nearly killed. That won't happen again.
He stepped forward, his eyes scanning across each of their faces.
Red: Something far worse than orcs is coming. I can't protect all of you unless you grow stronger. That means training with the best is the only solution.
Selena sat up straighter. "Wait. You mean…?"
Red nodded to each of his comrades.
"Selena," he said.
Red: You'll train under Lyra. She'll teach you to move like shadow, strike like lightning. You'll become an assassin."
Lyra gave a sly wink. "I'll teach her everything… except the flirting part. She's got enough rivals already."
Selena opened her mouth, closed it, then flushed red.
"Hina," Red continued.
Red: You'll train under Hanagi. If you want to be the best healer… you need to learn from her.
Hanagi bowed gently. "I will teach you how to heal a village… or an army."
Hina blinked, then trembled.
Hina: W-wait… but I don't want to leave you…
"Yuzu," Red said, turning to the trembling mage.
Red: You have potential. Xiao will guide you. Learn from him… and no spell will be out of reach.
Xiao grinned. "You'll hate me for it, but in the end, you'll thank me."
"Rika," Red said.
Red: You've got the instincts. Blue will shape them.
Blue smirked. "Hope you like morning runs. We shoot between breaths."
Rika's mouth opened in awe.
Rika: I-I get to train with an elf sniper?!
Red finally turned to Lio.
Red: You'll stay with me. I'll train you personally as a swordsman.
Lio blinked, then sat up straighter.
Lio: Wait, seriously? I mean—yes! I won't let you down, Red!
The room buzzed with tension. Then Hina's voice, small and cracking, broke the moment.
Hina: Red… I don't want to leave you…
Selena nodded fiercely. "Neither do I! You can't just split us up!"
Rika and Yuzu looked uncertain, but clearly didn't share the same hesitation.
Red's gaze hardened.
Red: You almost died.
His voice was soft, but the weight behind it silenced the room.
Red: I saw all of you, broken and bleeding. I came back too late. That won't happen again.
He stepped closer to Selena, his tone softening.
Red: I need you to be strong. Not for me… for yourselves. So next time, you won't need to be saved.
Selena bit her lip, her chest aching, not from wounds, but from the ache of distance already forming.
Selena: Why not train us yourself?!
Red shook his head.
Red: Because I can't teach you what they can. Lyra can train your footwork and deadly precision. Hanagi can push Hina's magic beyond its limits. Xiao will make Yuzu rewrite reality itself. Blue will test Rika's instincts to the brink."
"But…" Hina whispered, tears forming. "We'll be apart…"
Red's expression softened, truly softened, for a moment.
"I don't want that either," he said quietly.
Red: But I'd rather be apart for a while… than bury any of you later.
That broke something in Selena.
She clenched the sheets, trembling. "How long?"
Red looked at his old party. "Within three month."
Blue nodded. "Plenty for a crash course."
Xiao cracked his fingers. "Let's rewrite some minds."
Hanagi gently touched Hina's shoulder.
Hanagi: You'll come back stronger.
Lyra stepped behind Selena, wrapping an arm around her with teasing fondness.
Lyra: Don't worry, I'll keep her alive. Maybe even turn her into a proper assassin.
Selena didn't know whether to be furious or terrified.
Red looked at all of them one last time.
Red: Train hard. We're heading toward something worse than you can imagine. And when the time comes…
He clenched his gauntleted fist.
Red: …we'll fight side by side.
Yuzu, eyes wide, finally spoke. "This is really happening, huh…?"
Rika grinned despite the soreness in her ribs. "Best training arc ever."
Lio grinned with excitement. "Just don't go easy on me, Red!"
Selena and Hina still looked unsure, but when Red turned his back and began walking away, both girls rose to their feet shakily, watching him go.
"I'll come back stronger," Selena whispered.
"I'll heal him next time," Hina added.
Blue laughed. "Alright then, rookies. Time to break you in."
Lyra smirked. "Hope you like bruises."
Xiao floated above Yuzu. "Say goodbye to sleep."
Hanagi just smiled. "Let's begin."
The five young adventurers looked at each other, at Red's back as he exited the infirmary, and the legendary figures standing beside their beds.
Their journey had only just begun.
But now… they would walk the path of legends.