The eastern gate stood tall and quiet under the pale light of dawn. Mist clung to the cobblestones, and the city beyond still stirred lazily awake.
Arin adjusted the strap of his satchel as he approached, spotting Ren leaning against the gate's arch, hands behind his head, grin already in place.
"You're here early," Arin said, smiling. "Sun's barely up."
Ren shrugged. "So are you."
They shared a laugh, the kind that only came easy between friends. A few adventurers passed by, heading out on their own quests, the sound of boots and murmured plans filling the air.
After a moment, Ren glanced toward the road. "Wonder if Lyssa's already on her way."
"Knowing her, probably," Arin said. "She looks like the type who doesn't sleep much."
"Yeah, she's got that whole serious-warrior vibe," Ren chuckled. "Still, I'm more curious about those twins from yesterday."
Arin blinked. "Nara and Niri?"
"Yeah," Ren replied, his tone casual — but his gaze drifted, unfocused. "They're… kinda different, you know? Not just how they argue or how they talk — it's like they light up the place without trying."
Arin laughed. "You're saying that because they couldn't decide on a flower color for ten minutes."
Ren smiled faintly. "Maybe." He scratched the back of his neck, as if brushing away a thought he didn't quite understand. "It's just—never mind. I'm talking nonsense."
Arin tilted his head, amused. "You? Talking nonsense? That is new."
"Hey!" Ren nudged him with an elbow, and they both burst into laughter again, the air between them easy and warm.
Neither of them noticed the small shift beneath the humor — the way Ren's grin lingered when he thought of the twins, or how his tone softened just slightly when he said their names.
The morning sun broke through the clouds, spilling gold over the gate.
Their journey was about to begin — and so were the feelings neither of them yet understood.
A light breeze stirred the dust by the eastern gate as the first streaks of sunlight painted the road gold. Arin and Ren stood waiting, their conversation meandering between excitement and nerves — until two familiar voices broke through the quiet.
"Ren! Arin!"
They turned to see Nara and Niri hurrying toward them, skirts fluttering lightly in the morning wind. The twins were dressed for travel now — simple adventuring gear fitted with touches of individuality:
Nara, the priestess, wore a soft lilac cloak lined with white runes, her staff strapped to her back, a small charm of the goddess dangling near her collarbone.
Niri, the mage, had chosen a darker violet robe trimmed with silver thread, and a satchel of glimmering crystals hung at her hip.
Their matching eyes — bright and full of warmth — made it hard not to smile back at them.
"You're actually early," Ren said, half-teasing. "I thought we'd have to drag you two out of bed."
Niri laughed. "We've been dreaming about this since we were kids — no way we'd be late for our first real expedition."
"Besides," Nara added, grinning, "we finally agreed on something."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That's new. What was it this time?"
"The color!" they both said together, then giggled when they realized it.
"Lavender," Nara said proudly. "It's calm, kind, and a little mysterious."
"More like balanced," Niri added. "Not too bright, not too dull. Like us."
Ren chuckled. "Lavender, huh? Guess that suits you."
Arin nodded. "Yeah, it really does."
The twins smiled, a soft warmth in their expressions that made the morning feel a little lighter.
"Thank you," Nara said, looking between them. "We'll do our best out there. Promise."
"And we'll watch your backs," Niri added, her tone firm but gentle.
Arin exchanged a glance with Ren — both of them smiling now, caught between excitement and something else they couldn't quite name.
The four stood there for a moment, the dawn wind brushing through their hair, before a familiar voice rang out from behind them:
"Took you long enough."
They turned to see Lyssa striding up the path, armor glinting under the sun, her confident smirk announcing that Silver Dawn was finally together.
Lyssa's armor gleamed faintly in the sunrise as she approached — and sure enough, there was a half-empty bottle swinging lazily from her hand.
Ren blinked. "Is that… wine?"
Lyssa grinned, raising it proudly. "Breakfast of champions."
Arin rubbed the back of his neck. "Is it… right to drink before a quest?"
She waved him off. "You worry too much, kid. It's only my third bottle."
"Third?!" Nara's eyes widened.
Niri crossed her arms, unimpressed. "You're supposed to lead us, not stumble us into danger."
Lyssa chuckled. "Relax, lavender twins. I can handle my liquor better than most men can handle their swords."
Ren snorted. "That doesn't make it better!"
"Maybe not," Lyssa said with a smirk, "but it makes me funnier."
Arin sighed, glancing at the others. "Are we really trusting her to lead us?"
Niri muttered, "Do we have a choice?"
"Not unless one of you can fight off a pack of dire wolves while hungover," Lyssa replied, resting her sword on her shoulder.
Ren chuckled under his breath. "Well, when you put it that way…"
The group exchanged looks — a mix of disbelief and amusement — before Lyssa turned toward the forest road, her confident stride somehow steady despite her admission.
"Come on, Silver Dawn," she called over her shoulder. "Time to earn our first mark."
The twins sighed in unison but followed, their robes swaying with each step. Arin and Ren trailed behind, still chuckling softly.
"Three bottles," Ren whispered. "We're doomed."
Arin laughed. "Maybe. But at least it won't be boring."
And with that, Silver Dawn took their first steps toward the unknown — a mismatched band of rookies and a drunk knight, walking beneath the rising sun.
The road stretched out before them, bathed in soft morning light. The breeze carried the scent of dew and wildflowers as Silver Dawn walked in a loose line along the dirt path leading away from the city.
Ren adjusted his pack, glancing at Lyssa. "So… what exactly are we doing for our glorious first mission?"
Lyssa yawned, stretching her arms over her head. "Simple one. E-rank request from the southern farms — a small pack of direwolves has been attacking livestock the past week."
Niri frowned. "Direwolves? Even a small pack sounds dangerous for first-timers."
Lyssa gave a lazy grin. "Relax, they're just young ones. Probably strays driven out by a bigger alpha. Still, sharp teeth, so don't get cocky."
Arin nodded, gripping his wooden staff. "Got it. Protect the farmers, handle the wolves, bring back proof. Straightforward enough."
"Straightforward," Ren echoed. "Until someone forgets which end of the sword to hold."
Nara giggled. "You mean you, right?"
Ren gasped in mock offense, earning laughter from the group. Even Lyssa's lips twitched slightly, though she hid it behind another swig from her bottle.
"Alright, chatterboxes," she said finally, tucking the bottle into her belt. "Save your jokes for when we've got the job done. Eyes sharp — we're almost at the farmlands."
The laughter faded into a calm determination as they continued down the path, their shadows stretching long behind them under the rising sun.