The next morning, Shyri woke up to the soft glow of sunlight streaming through her window. She stretched, feeling the slight ache of a full night's rest and the echo of the excitement from the previous evening. Today was Wednesday, her longest day of classes, and she knew she had to focus. Despite her thoughts being filled with Kalem, she was determined to keep her grades up and not let her schoolwork slip.
After a quick shower, Shyri dressed in a simple but neat outfit—jeans, a fitted sweater, and her usual glasses. She braided her hair in the same style as her in-game character, feeling a little more confident and composed. She packed her bag, double-checked her assignments, and grabbed her notebook. Today was all about balancing her life, making sure she stayed on top of school, despite the thrilling distractions of the game and her growing connection with Kalem.
Throughout her morning classes, Shyri focused hard, taking notes diligently and participating in class discussions. By the time the afternoon rolled around, she was feeling more in control, her academic worries subsiding as she finished her final class of the day.
As she was heading toward the cafeteria for a well-deserved break and to grab something to eat, a familiar group of girls approached her. It was the same group that had stopped her before, asking about Kalem. They moved in quickly, surrounding her before she could make it to the doors of the cafeteria.
"Hey, Shyri," one of them said, her tone a bit too sweet to be genuine. "We noticed you’ve been spending a lot of time with Kalem lately." Another girl chimed in, "Yeah, so, what's the deal? Are you two, like, a thing?"
Shyri stiffened, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. She had expected this at some point, but she wasn’t sure how to answer. "We're friends," she replied calmly, trying to maintain her composure. "We play together, that’s all."
The leader of the group narrowed her eyes. "Friends? Kalem doesn’t really hang out with girls, especially not like that. So, it just seems... interesting."
Shyri could feel her pulse quicken, the girls' gazes heavy on her. She knew what they were insinuating, and it irked her, but she didn’t want to cause a scene. She had more important things to focus on. "Look," Shyri said, standing firm, "Whatever you think is going on is your business, but I need to get to lunch."
The girls exchanged glances, clearly not satisfied but not pushing further. They let her pass, but their whispers followed her as she made her way toward the cafeteria, feeling the weight of their stares the entire time.
Shyri grabbed a tray and made her way through the cafeteria line, her mind still buzzing with the encounter she’d just had with the girls. She tried to shake it off, but their questions lingered, poking at her thoughts. She picked up the meal of the day—cheesy baked ziti with a side of steamed broccoli and a small dish of rice pudding. The warm, savory smell of the food was comforting, but her mood was still sour.
After paying, she found a quiet corner in the cafeteria and sat down with her tray. Stabbing her fork into the gooey ziti, she took a bite, trying to focus on the meal in front of her. But her mind kept drifting back to the girls’ comments. They were clearly jealous of how much time she was spending with Kalem. The more she thought about it, the more irritated she felt.
But as she chewed, something unexpected crept into her thoughts. If she saw Kalem talking to another girl as much as they’d been hanging out, how would she feel? The answer came quicker than she expected: she'd be jealous. Shyri stopped mid-bite, her fork hovering over her plate as the realization hit her. Jealous? Of Kalem?
She couldn’t help but laugh at herself, the sound barely audible as she glanced around to make sure no one noticed her sudden self-discovery. She hadn’t considered that her feelings for him had grown this much, but now, she couldn’t deny it. The idea of him talking to another girl more than her... it made her chest tighten in a way she hadn’t expected.
Shyri shook her head, feeling a mix of surprise and frustration. Since when did I start caring so much? She didn’t want to admit how deeply Kalem was starting to affect her, but there was no denying it now. Shaking off the thought, she took another bite of her ziti, trying to focus on her food. Still, the truth lingered, even as the cheesy comfort of her meal dulled the edge of her thoughts.
After finishing her meal and a long day of classes, Shyri decided to take the long way back to her apartment. The sky was a deepening shade of blue, with the last rays of sunlight fading into twilight. Instead of heading straight home, she found herself wandering toward the oceanography building, her feet moving almost instinctively.
As she walked, the campus was quieter, the hustle of the day settling into a calm stillness. When she reached the building, she slowed her pace, the soft glow from the lights inside catching her eye. She didn’t plan to go inside—she wasn’t even sure what she would do if she saw Kalem—but something about being near his world, in his element, made her feel more connected to him.
Her eyes scanned the windows, catching glimpses of students and faculty, but there was no sign of Kalem. Still, just being near the place where he spent so much of his time felt oddly comforting. She imagined him in there, surrounded by books and charts, studying ocean currents or marine life, his focus entirely on his work. The thought brought a small smile to her face.
She lingered for a moment, hands tucked into her pockets, breathing in the cool evening air. There was something grounding about being here, as if seeing this part of his life made her understand him a little more. After a few minutes, she realized she was standing still, almost hoping for a glimpse of him through the glass. But when it didn’t come, she shook her head at herself, feeling a bit silly.
With a quiet laugh, Shyri resumed her walk, this time heading back toward her apartment. Even though she hadn’t seen Kalem, she felt a little closer to him, knowing more about the place that seemed so important to him. The thought warmed her as she made her way home, the quiet streets of the campus guiding her back to her own space.
Shyri stepped into her apartment, the door clicking shut behind her as the familiar hum of Kame’s intense gaming filled the air. Kame was perched at her usual spot, headphones on, completely immersed in what looked like a wild raid boss battle. Her eyes were laser-focused on the screen, fingers dancing across the keyboard with quick precision, and her avatar darting across a chaotic battlefield. Shyri smiled softly at the sight, knowing Kame was likely leading her guild in some high-stakes adventure.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
She set her bag down by the door, the day’s exhaustion slowly easing off her shoulders. Kicking off her shoes, Shyri moved into the living room, stretching her arms above her head as she debated what to do next. She had been looking forward to a relaxing evening, maybe making some tea and curling up with a show, but just as she began to settle in, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Glancing down, she saw Kalem’s name on the screen. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly unlocked her phone to read the message.
"Hey, think you can get on soon? I know it’s last minute, but we should try to make it into Westhound tonight before logging off. I’ve got an exam in the morning, but I wanted to get this done first."
Shyri’s lips curled into a small smile, feeling that familiar warmth in her chest at the thought of him. Even though he had school priorities, Kalem still wanted to carve out time for their in-game plans. She quickly texted back.
"I’m on it. Give me five minutes, and I’ll log in. Good luck with your exam tomorrow!"
Feeling a sense of excitement stir in her, Shyri made quick work of getting comfy for the evening. She swapped out her clothes for something cozier—an oversized hoodie and some soft leggings—and pulled her hair into a loose ponytail. She grabbed her headset, setting it on the table as she settled into her gaming chair.
Before logging in, she shot a glance over at Kame, who was still deeply engrossed in her battle. "Raid boss?" Shyri asked with a knowing smirk.
Kame didn’t take her eyes off the screen but nodded vigorously. "Yeah, second phase right now. You jumping on?"
"Yeah, Kalem and I need to sneak into Westhound real quick before we log off," Shyri replied, plugging in her headset.
"Good luck! Maybe I’ll join you later if this boss doesn’t kill me first!" Kame said, half-laughing but focused on keeping her character alive.
Shyri chuckled, slid on her headset, and logged into the game. As her character appeared in the game, standing in the campsite where they last logged off, she felt a small rush of excitement. Tonight was just a quick mission, but the way Kalem made time for her—and for them—made her feel more connected to him.
As Shyri materialized into the game world, she immediately felt the familiar weight of her gear and the comforting hum of her mana reserves. She took a moment to adjust, then, with a flick of her wrist, summoned her nocturnal griffin, Umbra.
In a swirl of dark feathers and soft shadows, the majestic creature appeared beside her. Umbra’s deep, glowing eyes blinked slowly, almost like greeting an old friend. Shyri reached up to stroke the smooth feathers along her head, feeling the warmth of the griffin’s energy pulse under her touch. A sense of calm washed over her, and she whispered, “Hey, girl. Ready for another flight?”
Umbra lowered herself slightly to make mounting easier, a familiar flash of light illuminated the space in front of Shyri. The air shimmered and rippled before Kalem’s figure appeared, fully armored, his weapon sheathed at his side, and his usual calm expression on his face.
Kalem took a quick glance around the area, scanning for any potential threats before his eyes landed on Shyri and Umbra. His expression softened into a smile as he stepped forward.
"Already summoning Umbra, I see," he said, his voice light as he watched her interact with the powerful beast.
Shyri grinned, running her hand along Umbra’s sleek feathers once more before climbing up onto the griffin's back. "Yeah, thought I’d get a head start preparing to slip into Westhound unnoticed.”
Kalem nodded, still smiling as he adjusted his gear. "Good idea. I’m ready when you are."
He gave a final check to his inventory, making sure everything was in order. His armor glinted faintly in the dim light. He summoned his own beast mount—a sleek, dark horse with glowing blue eyes—Kalem turned to Shyri.
“Let’s get to the gates. We’ll fly low and make it quick. Once we’re in, we’ll log off and deal with leveling up tomorrow”
Shyri nodded in agreement. Umbra’s wings began to spread, she took one last look at Kalem, with a sharp whistle, Shyri gave the signal, and Umbra leapt into the air, her powerful wings propelling them skyward.
Kalem followed close behind, and the two of them soared toward the kingdom of Westhound, the night sky stretching wide above them.
Shyri and Kalem soared through the darkening sky, the cool mountain air brushing past them as they navigated the peaks that separated Fireguard from the kingdom of Westhound. Umbra's wings beat rhythmically beneath her, the nocturnal griffin gliding effortlessly through the wind. Kalem’s mount, a sleek black horse with glowing blue eyes, galloped beside them on the air itself, moving as if the sky was solid ground beneath its hooves.
As they flew, Shyri glanced over at Kalem, her curiosity piqued by his mysterious mount. "That’s a pretty impressive steed you’ve got there. Where’d you get him?"
Kalem looked over at her, his face thoughtful before responding. "This mount? He was a gift from a king I once helped in a past quest. It was… a complicated situation. I saved his life during a siege, and he gave me this as a reward." His voice darkened as he added, "But not long after, the king was assassinated. Fireguard officials framed me for the murder. That’s when I earned my Sinner title. It’s been with me ever since."
Shyri’s brow furrowed as she listened, feeling a familiar pang of sympathy. The weight of unjust blame, the struggle to clear one's name—it reminded her too much of her own past. She instinctively touched the pendant around her neck, the one reminder of her parents that she kept with her. Thoughts of the hooded assassin who had taken her family flickered through her mind, but she pushed them aside, not allowing herself to fall into sadness. She had a mission, and right now, she couldn’t afford to lose focus.
“Sounds like we’re both running from the past,” Shyri said softly, glancing at Kalem. He nodded in silent agreement.
They flew in comfortable silence for the next few hours, the towering mountains casting long shadows across the rocky terrain below. The stars began to twinkle in the sky, and the sharp, cold air of the high altitudes kept them both alert. As they crested a high ridge, the landscape opened up before them, revealing a narrow mountain pass below.
“That’s the route into Westhound,” Kalem pointed out, gesturing toward a narrow path weaving through the cliffs below. At the far end of the pass, they spotted a guard post, its flags bearing the sigil of Westhound—a proud golden wolf on a field of deep blue. They could see the flickering torches along the battlements, a reassuring sign of safety and refuge.
But something was off.
As they drew closer, Shyri narrowed her eyes. The guard post was in chaos. Smoke curled up from several spots around the fort, and the clash of steel echoed through the mountains. Shyri leaned forward on Umbra’s back, squinting to make out the scene below.
“There’s a battle going on down there,” she said, her voice tight with concern.
Kalem pulled his mount up beside hers, scanning the scene. “Those aren’t just any soldiers… Look at the banners. Those are Fireguard troops.”
Shyri’s heart skipped a beat as she noticed the crimson banners of Fireguard fluttering in the wind. A fierce battle raged at the Westhound outpost—Westhound guards were being overrun by Fireguard soldiers, their blue and gold uniforms fighting desperately to defend their position.
“This could complicate things,” Kalem muttered, his hand instinctively going to his weapon.
Below, the Westhound guards were outnumbered and struggling to hold their ground. Shyri could see the Fireguard soldiers advancing, using the narrow pass to their advantage, pushing back the defenders inch by inch. The flames from burning structures within the post lit up the scene, casting a hellish glow on the battlefield.
“We can’t just fly over this,” Shyri said, her voice urgent. “If Fireguard is attacking, they’ll block the way into the kingdom. We need to help.”
Kalem’s jaw tightened as he watched the battle unfold. “Agreed. We can’t let Fireguard take control of this pass. Not if we’re hoping to gain Westhound’s trust.”
Shyri nodded, gripping Umbra’s reins. "Let's do this. We’ll take out the archers on the ridge first, then clear the way for the guards."
With a swift command, Umbra banked downward, her wings tucked close as she dove toward the battlefield. Kalem’s mount followed close behind, the two of them preparing to dive headfirst into the fray. Shyri’s mind raced, already planning her next spells, her eyes fixed on the Fireguard soldiers below.
The battle for Westhound had just begun.