The town of Mirewood, once quiet and forgotten, bustled with excitement.
Colorful lanterns hung between trees and rooftops. Stalls lined the streets, serving roast skewers, candied fruits, and bubbling cider. Children ran laughing through the grass while musicians filled the air with cheerful notes. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Festival of Sparks had returned.
The mayor, a portly man named Bramble, had insisted it was all thanks to one thing:
"This new guild, Twilight Zone! Three young mages defending our town? Inspiring!"
Julius scratched his head awkwardly as he stood beside the festival stage. "We didn't really do much…"
Lyra elbowed him. "We beat up a rogue enforcer who broke a wall. That counts."
Rael smirked. "Also fixed your reputation. You're welcome."
"Welcome?" Julius said. "You stole my watch three days ago."
"Water under the bridge," Rael replied, flicking sparks between his fingers.
As the sun began to set, the mayor approached the trio.
"Kids, you'll open the show. Let's see what Twilight Zone can do!"
They nodded, stepping onto the raised wooden platform.
Julius whispered, "Let's not show everything. We're still Iron Rank, remember?"
Rael grinned. "Sure. Just a little thunder."
Lyra created an arch of glittering ice flowers. Julius gently slowed time around them, causing them to hover in place, twinkling like stars. Rael launched small bursts of harmless lightning, making the crystals shimmer with rainbow hues.
The crowd gasped in delight.
Children clapped. A woman in the back wiped a tear. And for a moment, the world wasn't broken. It was beautiful.
But beneath a canopy on the far end of the square, a man with a silver badge on his cloak watched them carefully.
His name was Calem, scout for the Silver-ranked guild Storm Fang.
And he wasn't clapping.
Later that night, while the town danced and feasted, Calem approached Rael in the shadows.
"You're wasting your time in an Iron Rank shack."
Rael's eyes narrowed. "You're from a guild?"
"Storm Fang. Silver rank. Real quests. Real pay. Real growth. You've got potential, kid. We could polish it. Turn you into something more than a carnival trick."
Rael stayed quiet.
Calem stepped closer. "You think this Twilight Zone fantasy will survive a real fight? One S-rank enemy and your guild falls apart. You'll die next to your friends."
"…We'll get stronger," Rael said. "All of us."
Calem's tone darkened. "Loyalty's cute. But it gets people killed."
He left Rael with a card.
Storm Fang – Invitation valid for one week.
Rael pocketed it.
Then tossed it into the fire that burned near the festival stage.
He turned to see Julius and Lyra smiling, holding plates of sweets.
"We saved you the cinnamon buns," Lyra said.
Rael grinned. "Perfect timing."
Twilight Zone Guild – Members: 3
Julius (E-Rank Mage, Iron Guild Master)
Lyra (E-Rank Mage, Ice-Make Magic)
Rael (D-Rank Mage, Lightning Magic)
F Rank Quests Completed: 40/1000E Rank Quests Completed: 4/10000D Rank Quests Completed: 1/1000
Next Chapter Preview: Whispering Blades
A mysterious swordswoman arrives with a bleeding wound and no memory of who she is—but monsters seem to follow her wherever she goes. Julius faces a difficult choice: turn her away to keep the town safe, or protect someone who may be a curse in disguise.