As the carriage began its journey out of Silverbrook, Valeria felt a mix of excitement and wonder bubbling up inside her. The soft cushions and the finely decorated interior made her feel like she was in a dream. And as the carriage rolled through the streets, she noticed townsfolk waving and cheering. She peeked out of the window, watching with wide eyes as the crowd treated Dante’s group like heroes from the stories she loved so much.
Dante, sitting at the front of the carriage, was basking in the attention. He waved energetically at the crowd, flashing his usual charming grin, clearly enjoying every moment. Valeria couldn’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm.
Inside the carriage, the rest of the group began introducing themselves to Valeria, one by one.
“I suppose it’s only fair that you know who we all are. I'm Aldus, a mage” he began with a gentle smile as he gestured to the others. He sat directly across from Valeria, his posture relaxed but attentive. “You’ve already met Dante,” he said with a slight chuckle as Dante continued waving, “our fearless leader and swordsman.”
Dante turned around just enough to give a wink to Valeria. “That’s me!” he said proudly before returning to his waving.
Aldus shook his head, amused, and continued. “This here,” he said, gesturing to the young woman next to him, “is Edith. She’s our summoner.”
Edith smiled warmly at Valeria, giving her a small wave. “Hi there,” she said softly. “Dante’s told us a bit about you. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Valeria smiled back, feeling a little shy but grateful for their kindness. “Nice to meet you, too,” she replied, her voice quiet but excited.
Aldus then pointed to the front of the carriage, where a large, muscular man was riding alongside them on horseback. “And that big guy out front, that’s Miguel. He’s our tanker—handles the heavy lifting and makes sure we don’t get squished.”
Valeria peeked out of the window again and saw Miguel towering over the horse, his broad figure making the animal look small in comparison. He looked strong, and Valeria was a little in awe of how easily he guided the horse.
“He’s nice, don’t worry,” Edith added with a grin. “Big and scary-looking, but he’s a softie.”
Valeria giggled at that, liking the idea that someone so strong could also be kind.
Aldus turned his gaze to the tired-looking woman sitting near the back, who hadn’t said much since they started. “And that’s Lydia,” he said with a slight smile. “She’s our alchemist.”
Without looking up from her book, Lydia waved a hand lazily in acknowledgment. “Yes, yes, the name’s Lydia,” she mumbled, her eyes glued to the pages. Her tone was disinterested, as though she had far more important things to focus on than introductions.
Valeria smiled politely at Lydia’s response, unsure of how to engage with her. Lydia didn’t seem particularly interested in socializing, but Valeria thought she must be smart and powerful to be part of such an experienced group like Henry said.
Lily, sitting quietly beside Valeria with her hood pulled low over her face, seemed less enthusiastic about the whole situation. She had burrowed her face into her hands, trying to hide from the attention and the grandeur of it all. The more the townspeople waved and cheered, the more Lily seemed to sink into her seat, clearly uncomfortable with the spotlight.
Feeling a little guilty for pushing Lily into this situation, Valeria reached over and gently patted Lily’s back. “I’m sorry, Lily,” she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.
Lily didn’t look up but offered a soft, “Thank you,” in response. Her tone was quiet, but Valeria could tell she appreciated the gesture.
Despite her concern for Lily, Valeria couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. The interior of the carriage was so grand, and the thought of being in a carriage that was being waved at like they were heroes from her favorite stories filled her with joy. She looked out the window again, seeing the crowd cheering and smiling. And for a brief moment, she allowed herself to feel like she was part of something big—something important.
As the carriage moved out of town and the noise of the cheering crowd faded into the distance, the atmosphere inside gradually shifted. The bustling energy of Silverbrook was replaced by the quiet hum of the road. Valeria could feel the carriage sway gently as they traveled along the quiet streets, the rhythmic motion soothing her.
Lily, who had been visibly tense the entire time they were in town, slowly began to relax. She still kept her hood low, but now that they were away from prying eyes, her posture softened. She leaned back in her seat slightly, no longer pressing her face into her hands.
Dante couldn’t resist poking a little fun at her. “You know, Lily, you really should enjoy yourself more,” he said with a playful grin. “You’ve got every reason to. After all the things you’ve accomplished, you’d think you’d be used to the attention by now.”
Lily sighed but didn’t look at him. “It’s not about the attention, Dante,” she muttered quietly.
Dante raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat. “Still, people respect you. And for good reason! You've helped a lot of folks. Maybe if you let yourself enjoy it a bit more, you wouldn’t seem so… tense all the time.”
Edith, sitting nearby, smiled softly. “He’s not wrong, Lily. It’s okay to let people appreciate what you’ve done. You’ve earned it.”
Lily glanced up from the shadow of her hood, her eyes meeting Edith’s briefly before flicking away. “It’s not about that either,” she said, her voice still calm but with a hint of frustration. “I just prefer to keep a low profile, that’s all.”
Dante waved a hand dismissively. “Low profile or not, you can’t change the fact that people look up to you. You’ve got a reputation, whether you like it or not. And honestly, it’s that reputation that lets us do what we do.” He leaned forward a bit, his tone becoming more serious. “The more people know about us, the more we can help. It’s why people request our group when things get tough.”
Lily didn’t respond immediately, her gaze drifting out the window. Valeria noticed the quiet tension in her, but she also noticed that the rest of Dante’s group was relaxed, not bothered by Lily’s silence. They all seemed used to the way she kept her distance. There was a sense of familiarity and respect between them, even though Lily wasn’t officially part of their team.
Stolen novel; please report.
After a few moments, Lily finally spoke, though she didn’t elaborate on her thoughts. “I understand that,” she said simply. “But I’m not interested in building a reputation. I do what I need to do.”
Aldus, who had been sitting quietly for most of the conversation, nodded slightly in understanding. “That’s fair, Lily,” he said in his usual calm tone. “Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do.”
Dante chuckled, though there was no malice in his tone. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. You like doing things your way. Just saying, it wouldn’t kill you to take a little credit now and then.”
Lily shot him a brief glance but didn’t respond. Valeria could see that despite Dante’s teasing, Lily wasn’t offended. It seemed like they had this kind of banter often, and there was a certain ease between them, even if Lily preferred to stay on the fringes of their group.
Valeria, still fascinated by the conversation, couldn’t help but ask, “Have you all worked together a lot?”
Edith smiled at Valeria, nodding. “We’ve collaborated with Lily on a few missions. She’s always been a huge help, even if she likes to keep to herself.”
Aldus added with a small chuckle, “She might not say much, but when things get serious, there’s no one better to have on your side.”
Dante leaned forward again, grinning at Valeria. “That’s right! You’re traveling with one of the best. And with us, too, of course.”
Valeria looked up at Lily with wide eyes, feeling proud that she was traveling with someone so admired. “Lily’s amazing,” she said softly, almost to herself.
Lily, hearing Valeria’s quiet praise, smiled faintly. She gently placed a hand on Valeria’s shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice soft enough that only Valeria could hear.
Lydia, who had been engrossed in her book for most of the ride, finally looked up and sighed. Her tired eyes peeking over the top of the pages. "You guys are noisy," she muttered.
Edith grinned and leaned toward Lydia. "Come on, Lydia, you love us really," she teased, her voice playful. "Besides, you can’t read the whole trip. You’ll miss all the fun."
Lydia’s lips twitched ever so slightly, though she tried to suppress the smile. "Fun? Sure… nothing like being in a cramped carriage with all of you chatterboxes," she said dryly, but there was a subtle warmth in her voice.
Edith wasn’t about to let her off that easily. As if on cue, a small bird fluttered down from the open window of the carriage and landed gently on Edith’s shoulder, holding a delicate flower in its tiny beak. With a smile, Edith took the bloom from the bird and handed it to Lydia. “Here, a peace offering for your suffering,” she said with a wink, placing the flower in Lydia’s hand.
Lydia glanced at the flower, her expression caught between amusement and exasperation. “A flower? Really?” she muttered, but Valeria could see her trying not to smile.
"Yup, it'll keep the noise at bay," Edith joked, leaning back with a grin. "Just imagine it's magical—might even block out Dante’s voice."
Dante shot her a playful glare. "Hey, my voice is the best part of this group!"
That finally earned a small, genuine smile from Lydia as she placed the flower in her book like a bookmark. "Fine, fine," she said, her tone lightening just a bit. "But if you all keep this up, I might have to start charging for potions to deal with the headache."
The group continued on, the conversation flowing easily now that they were out of the busy town. Dante’s lighthearted teasing kept the mood upbeat, and while Lily remained her usual reserved self, Valeria could sense she was more comfortable now. Even if Lily didn’t want the attention, she seemed to appreciate the company of Dante’s group—just as long as things stayed quiet.
Valeria couldn’t help but feel a little thrill of excitement. Traveling with such a seasoned group, hearing their stories, and being part of this adventure made everything feel just like one of the stories she had read growing up. She leaned back, enjoying the comfortable pace of the carriage, knowing that she was surrounded by people who, in their own way, cared about each other—and now, cared about her too.
Time flew by for Valeria as she traveled with Dante’s group. Their stories were fascinating, filled with excitement and danger, and Valeria found herself eager to listen to each one. She couldn’t help but notice how Dante’s energy was so similar to Henry’s. Yet, there was something else about Dante—his way of talking was a bit fancier, more polished, and his confidence was on a different level entirely. It made him seem larger than life to her, a figure straight out of the stories she loved.
Miguel, the giant of the group, who at first looked intimidating to Valeria, soon became one of her favorite people to be around. Though he was soft-spoken and always seemed hesitant when interacting with her, Valeria thought it was funny how such a big, strong man could be so gentle. “I don’t want to hurt you,” Miguel would say with a gruff laugh, always mindful of his strength. But despite his size, he cared for Valeria in quiet ways—making sure she was comfortable, looking out for her during their travels, and keeping her entertained with small, thoughtful gestures. She came to admire him greatly.
Edith, the friendly summoner, loved introducing Valeria to her magical companions. Her summoned creatures were large and fierce-looking, but Valeria quickly realized that they were as friendly as kittens. Valeria especially loved a massive wolf-like creature with horns that Edith called her “Guardian.” The Guardian would let Valeria pet its soft fur, and the more time she spent with it, the more she grew attached to Edith’s magical friends.
Then there was Lydia. Though Lydia didn’t talk much and preferred the company of her books, Valeria didn’t find her scary anymore. She quickly realized that Lydia was simply tired most of the time, perhaps from all the reading and research she seemed to be doing. Every now and then, Valeria would see Lydia quietly asking Edith to have one of her companions fetch something or assist her with a task. Lydia didn’t engage much with the group, but her quiet presence was a constant, and Valeria didn’t mind it.
Aldus, the calm and collected mage, took a liking to Valeria’s curiosity. He showed her several of his magic tricks, casting small, dazzling spells with ease. Valeria watched in awe as he performed them, noticing how he always used a wand to cast these spells. It made her wonder about Lily, who never seemed to need any tool to do what she did. Valeria’s curiosity got the better of her one day, and she brought up the subject.
"Lily doesn’t use a wand, does she?" Valeria asked, her head tilted as she tried to piece together what was different about her guardian.
As soon as the question left her mouth, Lily, who had been nearby, shot a sharp glance in Aldus and Lydia’s direction. It was as if she had expected something like this to come up. And the moment their eyes lit up with curiosity, Lily made a quick retreat, not wanting to give them the chance to pounce on the subject.
Aldus and Lydia exchanged amused looks, their faces twisting into funny expressions. "Ah, research subject number one," Aldus teased, his tone light as he watched Lily flee the scene. "I’ve never seen anyone else do what Lily does."
Lydia, not lifting her head from her book, simply muttered, "It’s true. It defies most conventional magic. I’d love to study it more closely, but she never lets us."
Valeria giggled, watching Lily from afar. She knew Lily wasn’t fond of being the center of attention, especially when it came to her abilities. But there was something about the way Aldus and Lydia talked about her that made it clear they respected her power.
Still, despite her evasiveness, Lily did try to teach Valeria a little bit when they had downtime. Aldus joined in the lessons, encouraging Valeria to focus on the Energy inside her. Valeria closed her eyes and concentrated as hard as she could, but no matter how much she tried, she didn’t feel anything yet. Aldus reassured her that it was normal. “It takes time, Valeria,” he said, his voice gentle. “Magic is a part of you, but it’s something you need to find at your own pace.”
Valeria nodded, feeling a little more at ease. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she was excited to try.
Of course, no matter how much she grew closer to Dante’s group, Lily remained a constant presence by her side. Valeria couldn’t help but notice that, whenever they made camp for the night, Lily would always try to slip away. She was used to wandering off by herself, but Dante’s group, especially Dante himself, often stopped her. They insisted that there was no need for her to go scouting or keeping watch. “We’ve got this, Lily,” Dante would say confidently. “You’re traveling with a capable bunch now. Relax a little.”
Lily would always sigh, clearly not used to letting others take over. But Valeria could see that Dante’s group was persistent. They wouldn’t let her wander too far, and eventually, she would settle back down by the fire, though Valeria could tell she was always a little restless. Despite that, Valeria was grateful.