Run, echoed a voice in my head.

Feminine, confident, experienced… It was the first time I heard it. I sucked in as much air as I could, my eyes locked on the creature in front of me. Red and attentive. His fangs were soon visible and that was the incentive I needed to run. I looked down the trail and run. I ignored the sound of the creature following me so my legs kept me in rhythm, my vision started to blur and a pain filled my ribs.

I was hit. I was on the muddy floor full of golden bugs. My aching legs refused to move and the breakfast I'd just eaten made its way to the floor. It was only then—as I braced my elbow to lift my face off the muddy floor—that I saw blood trickle from my freshly opened cut. I screamed. There was little point in touching or lifting, as the wound, made by three claws, was deep. The big being leapt to its feet, its claws smeared with blood. I was deplorable. He raised his arm and opened his claws. I could hear the throb of blood flowing through my ears and feel every drop of sweat that rolled down my forehead. I closed my eyes as I gritted my teeth and waited for the blow to come. My cry was no different than when the minotaur first appeared. It pissed me off, nothing had changed.

A slicing sound, a hiss, something crashed against the floor. I opened my eyes, I was still panting. Kaled sliced off an arm from the creature with a large, curved sword. He looked at me, smirked, and held out his hand. It pains me to admit it, but I've never been so happy in my entire life to see him.

He gave a crazy smile. If something was missing in that face and in that look... It was judgment, there was only the will to kill there. Without me even answering he turned his back and slammed his swords against the giant monster's sharp claw; as if he knew exactly where he was going to be attacked. His defense made the ground sink. I noticed several tears in his clothes, most with light cuts still bleeding. I could only wish that the others were okay.

He masterfully dodged every blow, his movements coordinated and precise. The monster hit the air several times, Kaled kicked and punched him laughing as if the fight was a joke.

"He's a Hoaster" Kaled said, as he dodged a slash. “A big one.”

The creature, irritated, snarled and advanced raising its only arm over the adventurer. He smiled and walked around the Hoaster like a figure. I could barely see him. My jaw dropped when the adventurer's sword slashed through the Hoaster's back and with just one arm he lifted the creature's body. The pommel of his sword was covered by a white aura that soon turned into flames, which made the creature scream in agony until its movements stopped. Her body went to the floor and Kaled stepped on her head. He was covered in blood, smiling, his gaze focused on something behind me.

In one quick step he grabbed me by the waist and took three long leaps backwards. When I turned around and my vision finally stabilized from the blur it had become, I glimpsed at least twenty gray creatures with furious glares and very sharp teeth. I didn't know that being a gatherer required previous experience in battle. If that was the case, I'd rather try being a guard again.

The herd of smaller Hoasters broke into a slow rhythmic stride as they snarled and dragged their claws on the ground, causing Kaled to pull me behind him. He muttered a series of curses, pulled a slightly larger sword out of his pants and positioned himself. The strain on his face took away what little hope I had. I grabbed the first rock I saw and held on tight with my one good arm until, raining down from the skies, a hail of arrows threw up a barrier of fire between us and the monsters. A smile filled Kaled's face as I was transfixed by what he saw.

Cacele was using a completely white bow and arrow as if it was made of magic. The archer just pulled the string and an arrow appeared. The monsters were falling one by one as they desperately tried to get close to her. A Hoaster approached her back and Kaled shot like air and sliced it in half. He had the manic smile again.

"If you had warned him earlier about this abnormality..." Cacele said while shooting fire arrows.

"You wouldn't have listened to me even if I had told you" Kaled said, slicing another one in half.

The fight seemed peaceful. Fear flared in the eyes of the gray, angry beings as Cirlan appeared with his great hammer covered in earth and water. His weapon's collision with the ground caused ground spikes to erupt and lift the Hoasters high like skewers on a barbecue. The wind soon hit me and I crashed into the tree, but at least the enemy's numbers had thinned.

Even so, the downside was visible. Cacele and Kaled were slowly tiring, their wounds growing more noticeable and their spells fading. Cirlan managed to brutally crush several monsters that attacked him, but he was caught off guard when claws pierced his back and came out near his stomach. Blood spurted, dripped, and hopeless looks hit everyone.

"Lumi, run." Amidst all the chaos, screams, blood, fire, and falling trees, I could hear the captain's whisper like a golden bell tolling right beside me.

It's as if in that moment, in that single instant, all sound around them has been nullified and time has frozen. I clearly heard my heart beat and unfortunately the chaos brought me back to reality and everything felt fast again. I ran, without stopping, as far as my breath allowed me. I was on a narrow mountain trail, accompanied only by the howling of the wind and the weak sunlight that penetrated through the gaps in the clouds.

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I had no energy, I had to drag my legs in the sand most of the way. For the first time I looked back and luckily it was empty. Perhaps that was my mistake, for I tripped over a blessed rock and rolled into a muddy pit. What the hell. I felt pathetic. I clenched my fists and screamed for help, but I knew no one would listen. Tears just flowed. I had tried my best, but magic… If I had magic, would it really have been any different?

I spent about ten minutes complaining and decided to go upstairs. Staying there all day was unfeasible. The mud was very slippery, my hand was barely where I wanted it to be and my legs barely left the ground. Each fall was accompanied by a scream, but also by experience. I managed to go halfway down the shaft, stop and avoid going back to zero. With an absurd effort of my one good arm, I did it.

But I was a lightning rod of trouble. The hairs on my body stood on end, I smelled danger watching me. This time, I wished I had stayed down there, because the creature that was present was worse than the Hoaster. She was standing between two trees, her humanoid form and serpentine eyes made my legs give out. I turned around and to make matters worse, there was a goblin. Why was I scared? It was my goal. So why, even then, did I remain motionless? The humanoid being pointed at me and the goblin ran. My heart raced, I closed my eyes, felt the damage. Friction with the air was the only thing I felt before I collided with the hard ground.

I opened my eyes, got up and, still feeling the flutter in my blood, fell back against the bed. I was in a hospital room. Most of my body was bandaged, and I…was clean. Gradually I calmed down. I looked at the table next to me and there was a glass and pitcher full of water — without thinking twice I drank as much as I could. Unfortunately, my movement was limited to staying in bed, trying to get out of it could bring on a throbbing much worse than before.

“Lumi!” Said my mother as she saw running to hug me.

It was only then that I realized how dangerous it had been and how lucky I was to still be alive. I felt the fear getting closer and closer, but her embrace was like the light I needed to pull away from it. I sank into the comfort and warmth that emanated from my mother.

“It was scary” I said, my gaze blank.

“Everything is fine.” Time just passed, I would be here a long time.

"Am I interrupting something?"

“Cirlan! The mission!”

“Calm down. It completed successfully.”

A sense of relief coursed through my chest, an exhausted smile formed on my face. Cirlan placed a bronze coin on the table, greeted Amice, and stood at the head of the bed; he took a deep breath before speaking.

“First of all, I want you to know that you are now an official member and no longer a temporary helper.”

Amice and I looked at each other, and this time our smiles reached our ears. I looked at her hopefully and hugged her, then I got up, raised my arms and screamed. I grunted in pain and got hit by my mother; that she told me to be quiet.

“Cacele and Kaled are fine, it's not the first time they've been ambushed like this. I must admit that the Hoaster herd is somewhat rare in low risk zones, so Karin considered it an anomaly.”

“I hope you keep my son alive, Cirlan.”

“He's stronger than he looks, Mrs. Amice. We have already notified the Kingdom of Enguerrand, and an investigation will be opened.”

"When are we going to go out again?"

“After you recover, we'll talk about it. Being under sixteen, I can't allow you to get hurt.”

After our brief conversation, they left and the doctor arrived with a chart in her hand. She looked me up and down and made some notes. This made me very worried. We did some basic tests to test my nerves. I was fine. She said I would need at least a day of rest and obviously enough to eat and drink. According to the doctor, it was surprising that I left with few injuries because of my “muscleless” body, even with the mud cushioning the fall.

My dad came in and ran over to give me a big hug.

"Champion!" How was the first mission?”

“It was different than expected, but now I'm an official member!”

“Congratulations! Did you manage to break the age gap?”

“So-so”

"Why the low mood?"

“I need to get strong fast, I was pretty much useless on the mission. Even if there were no monsters, they don't need me.” My voice cracked, my vision felt damp.

“Son… There is no such thing as getting strong fast. You tried, but just like them, you have limits. The process is time consuming, learning and making mistakes is what you will do most. Therefore, you need to take advantage of the process and understand it at your own pace. And regardless of winning or losing, for me you are a champion.”

I nodded as I wiped my eyes and felt my heart calm down. I let her words go through my thoughts, I needed to reflect. And even with more drops on the sheet, I felt better. He placed his hand on my head and said:

"Now, what's your big goal? Something that currently seems impossible, but you really want to do.”

The question had gotten to me. I closed my eyes and thought. A goblin sounded impossible enough, but…

“A minotaur. I want to kill a minotaur,” I said, gathering all the courage I could to calm my scared kitten voice.

“Good. I believe in you, remember that.”

We touched fists and he left. My dad is awesome.

Bruno and João arrived next, they looked worried. We talked about everything that happened, I told him the details of the mission and about me being an official member. They were happy with my progress, even if it was little - or nil. My friends will start a new training sequence aimed at the adventurer test and, according to Bruno, will duel against big names.

“One day I want to go in a dungeon. So don't get left behind.” said João.

"Or the edge of an alrofy" Bruno said to Joao, then turned his gaze to me. “Anyway, glad you're alive and well. Have you managed to access or feel your magic yet?”

“I've already given up believing I have that, Bruno. But it doesn't matter, I will accompany you like a good collector.”

“Stop by the academy from time to time, I understand that Cirlan's group has the right to train together with the guard.”

“Really?” I let a smile escape.

“Yes, my dear friend!”

We spent a long time talking before they left. Finally alone, I blew out the candles and lay down to sleep. Exhausted to be able to change sides, I decided to put the pillow between my legs. I sighed and looked out the window.

“Opening…” I whispered as I looked around the room.

When I realized, there was a tall person, dressed in a black robe and a green mask, staring at me. Her scarlet eyes glittered in the moonlight, and her breathing was as calm as a sigh on a snowy day. When I raised my arm to react, his sword hit the side of my bed. My rigid body had already let me down. She brought her face close to mine and whispered:

"Careful, Kai.” The female voice was similar to the menacing tone of a snake about to strike.