Alaine, Hiro’s childhood friend from Vermint Town, dismounted from her horse with urgency in her steps. Her eyes filled with relief and concern as she spotted Hiro. Without hesitation, she ran toward him, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
“Hiro! I can't believe I found you here, of all places! What are you doing in this forest?” Her voice trembled slightly, a mix of joy and worry.
Hiro pulled back, offering a sheepish smile. “It’s a long story. Sky Academy wasn’t what I expected... Someone posing as an official betrayed us, and we lost everything. We've been stuck in this forest trying to figure things out.”
Alaine’s face shifted from concern to empathy. “That’s awful, Hiro... I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through that. But I’m glad I found you. Let me help.”
Before Hiro could respond, Kyren, feeling the warmth of her kindness, spoke up. “Thank you. I’m Kyren,” he introduced himself, offering his hand. Alaine shook it warmly.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kyren. Anyone with Hiro is a friend of mine.”
Hiro, who was now visibly more at ease, couldn’t help but tease, his curiosity piqued by the stranger accompanying Alaine. “Hey, Alaine, is the guy riding with you your boyfriend or something?”
Alaine’s eyes narrowed, and before Hiro could dodge, she playfully knocked the back of his head. “Idiot! That’s Roland. He’s part of my guild.”
Hiro rubbed the spot where she hit him, laughing. “Wait, guild? You’re in a guild now?”
Alaine proudly held up her guild badge, the emblem gleaming under the moonlight. “Yup. Roland and I are here to submit a report to the Arrayama's Legacy Guild. We’ve been working hard to build up our guild.”
Hiro’s eyes widened, and his grin grew wider as he scratched his head. “That’s amazing, Alaine! You’ve come so far!”
Roland, the logistics coordinator, stepped forward with a friendly nod. “Nice to finally meet you both. Alaine’s always spoken fondly about her childhood in Vermint Town.”
Alaine, who had begun tending to her horse, glanced back at the group. “You can rest up in Arramaya City. We’ll be staying the night there, so you can figure out your next steps.”
Kyren and Hiro exchanged grateful glances before mounting their horses, following Alaine and Roland toward the city. The clopping of hooves against the forest floor created a steady rhythm, punctuated by laughter and old memories.
…
As the city came into view, Hiro felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him, leaning closer to Alaine as they rode side by side.
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“You remember that old treehouse we built? The one between Verboten Gate and Vermint Town?” Hiro asked, his voice laced with fondness.
Alaine grinned. “How could I forget? That was our secret hideout. We made up all sorts of crazy stories there.”
Hiro chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “Like the one where I was ‘Hiro, the Mighty Knight,’ sworn to protect ‘Princess Alaine.’”
Alaine rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “And you always got us into trouble with that ridiculous sword you made.”
Kyren, listening to their banter, felt a pang of envy. Childhood friendships like theirs were something he had never experienced. Watching them laugh and reminisce made him long for a simpler time in his own life.
The mood shifted when Hiro, lost in memories, suddenly mentioned, “I was so worried when you moved away. I thought I’d never see you again.”
Alaine’s smile faltered, and her eyes softened. “Hiro... My dad passed away last year.”
Hiro’s breath caught in his throat. “Alaine, I... I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head, her voice steady, though tinged with sadness. “It’s okay. He was on a B-ranked guild mission. At least... he saw me achieve my dream before he passed.”
Hiro was silent for a moment, then softly said, “He’d be proud of you, Alaine. I know he would.”
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That evening, after arriving in the bustling city of Arramaya, Alaine insisted on treating Hiro and Kyren to dinner. They sat around a table in a cozy tavern, the flicker of candlelight adding a warm glow to the room.
“This is too much, Alaine,” Hiro said, shaking his head. “We don’t know how to thank you.”
Alaine waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing, really. Besides, I’ve been thinking... You still want to enroll in Sky Academy, right?”
Hiro frowned, remembering their ordeal. “I don’t know if that’s possible anymore... Everything’s changed.”
Alaine leaned in, her expression serious. “What if I made you an offer? I’ll pay your enrollment fees—for both of you. But in return, once you earn your one-star badges, I want you to join in my guild Heart Blade.”
Hiro’s eyes widened. “Wait... your guild? You’re serious?”
Roland, who had been quietly observing, chuckled. “Alaine isn’t just in the guild, Hiro. She’s our guild leader.”
Hiro nearly choked on his drink, his eyes lighting up. “You’re the guild leader? That’s incredible!”
Hiro's amused and grabbed Alaine's hand "WOAH! YOU ARE SO AWESOME MY FRIEND, YOU FINALLY MADE IT!"
"Yeah," Alaine admitted with a hint of modesty, her gaze momentarily flickering away before returning to meet Hiro's gaze, her eyes alight with a quiet determination.
"I'm in the bottom of the top 20 from the previous batch."
Hiro's astonishment only grew, his admiration for Alaine swelling within him like a rising tide. "WHOA! So you got a three-starred badge? Can I see it? Can I see it?" His excitement was palpable, his words tumbling out in a rush as he leaned in closer, eager to catch a glimpse of her coveted emblem of achievement.
"Anyway, would you accept it, Hiro?" Alaine returned her offer.
"Of course Alaine, we are gladly to accept that, it's a win-win for us, right Kyren?" Hiro looked at Kyren.
"Yeah." Kyren smiled.
"Alright." Alaine continued to finish her meal.
"So, Alaine, what does it feel like to be in Sky Academy? Can you give us some advice?" Hiro inquired eagerly.
Alaine's expression shifted, her features adopting a more serious demeanor as she considered Hiro's question. "I can't go into detail, as we're not allowed to talk about it," she began, her tone measured and cautious. "But as your friend, I'll advise you to always be careful and not get too comfortable with anyone..."
Before she could continue, Roland interjected, his voice tinged with concern. "Alaine, I know you're their friend, but I don't think you're giving them enough information."
Alaine nodded, acknowledging Roland's point, but her gaze remained fixed on Hiro, her eyes conveying a sense of urgency. "Yeah, I know," she replied solemnly.