The sun rose, its rays illuminating Celeste’s face she had forgotten to close her window. Slowly waking up, she realized it was already morning, and the sun was high in the sky. Her body longed for the comfort of a soft bed, a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed in days while camping in the woods.

Celeste slowly stirred from sleep, her body heavy with fatigue. The softness of the bed beneath her felt unfamiliar, a contrast to the battlefield she had been fighting in not long ago. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the dim light filtering through the window. For a moment, she just lay there, listening to the stillness of the room, trying to catch her breath not from any physical exhaustion, but from the weight pressing against her heart.

Her chest tightened as the memories of her mother came rushing back, bittersweet and sharp. The pain of loss was still fresh, as if a piece of her had been torn away, leaving an ache she knew would never truly fade. Her mother’s smile, her gentle voice, the warmth of her embrace they played over and over in her mind like a dream she could never return to.

Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill, but Celeste wiped them away with the back of her hand. She didn’t want to cry anymore. She couldn’t. She had made a promise to herself.

Sitting up slowly, she gazed out the window, the sunlight casting a soft, golden glow over the landscape outside. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to be lost in the memory of her mother, closing her eyes and picturing her face so vividly it felt as if she were still there, sitting beside her.

"I miss you, Mom," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But even as the sadness clung to her, a part of Celeste knew she couldn’t let it consume her. Her mother had always been strong, always told her to stand tall, no matter how heavy the burdens became. Her mother wouldn’t have wanted her to live in sorrow no, she would have wanted her to keep going, to keep fighting, to live a life full of purpose and meaning.

With a deep breath, Celeste squared her shoulders, trying to shake off the lingering sadness that threatened to pull her down. The world hadn’t stopped turning; there were still battles to be fought, challenges to overcome. She couldn’t afford to let grief take her away from the path she had to walk.

"I won’t forget you," Celeste murmured to herself, her voice stronger this time. "I promise. I'll carry you with me in everything I do. But... I have to keep moving forward now."

As she stood from the bed, she felt a familiar warmth spread through her chest, a quiet reminder that her mother would always be with her not in body, but in spirit. A part of her mother lived on in her, in every step she took, every challenge she faced. And that thought gave her strength.

Celeste glanced down at her sword, its polished surface catching the morning light. Her reflection stared back at her, and for a brief second, she swore she could see her mother’s eyes in her own.

With that thought, she steadied herself, brushed off the lingering sorrow, and set her resolve. There was still much to do.

"I'll live on, for both of us."

She lay on the bed once again and remember the memories of her mom ever since she was young.

She lazily sat up and reached for a glass on the bedside table. Muttering a simple water spell, she managed to conjure a small amount of water. "I still suck at this," she thought, recalling her poor ability with elemental magic. She drank what little she had produced and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. A warm shower would help tame her unruly hair, which was now a wild mess.

“I love my hair’s color, but it’s such a pain to manage when it’s this messy, especially in the mornings,” she grumbled to herself.

After a quick shower, Celeste headed downstairs to the inn’s lobby, asking the staff for something to eat. On her way to the cafeteria, she noticed a group of adventurers also having breakfast, their gear unmistakable. Some wore leather armor, while others donned robes and carried staffs, clearly mages. She slipped past them, choosing a table in the corner where she quietly ordered her meal.

She soon realized that several adventurers, both men and women, were staring at her. With her wet hair and fresh, alluring scent, it was clear why. “Well, it’s not my fault I ended up with a pretty face,” she whispered to herself, ignoring the attention as she focused on her meal.

Her breakfast was a hearty meat broth with bacon-like strips and bread on the side. As she ate, she began planning her day. She had decided to visit the Adventurer’s Guild and register for her first quest.

Finishing her meal, Celeste made her way to the Adventurer’s Guild, passing through the bustling streets. She hadn’t seen this many people in a long time, having spent years training in isolation with her master, Kite. It was refreshing to be among so much life again.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

She arrived at the guild’s Willowshade branch, a large three-story building with several shops in front. One shop, in particular, caught her eye—a herbalist. “I might visit later and learn a thing or two about healing potions,” she thought, though she didn’t need them herself.

As she approached the guild’s entrance, she passed a knight wearing the familiar red and black colors of the Obsidian Order, the same group she had encountered the day before. She entered through the large doors, taking in the bustling atmosphere of the lobby. “This reminds me of my old life,” she mused. “So many busy people, just like my old office.”

Spotting a receptionist behind the counter, Celeste asked where she could register. The woman smiled and directed her to the administrator's office but told her she’d need to fill out some forms first. Basic information—name, age, address. Celeste completed the forms and waited in the hallway with a few others, four boys who seemed to be registering as adventurers as well. They kept sneaking glances at her, but she ignored it.

Finally, her name was called. She entered the office where two women sat at desks near the door, while a large man with a blonde haircut sat at the far end of the room, looking over her paperwork.

“CELESTE! Come here!” the man boomed. He was huge and clad in armor, which threw her off a little. As she walked toward him, she noticed him glancing between her and the forms she had just filled out.

“So, you’re Ilvia’s child? I’m sorry for your loss, kid, but why do you want to become an adventurer all of a sudden? Do you really think you can handle it?” the man asked in a serious tone.

“Oh god, does every guy here know my mom?” Celeste thought but replied calmly. “Thank you for your concern, sir. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, even before what happened to my mother. Becoming an adventurer is my second choice, and it’s the only path left for me now. I’d be really grateful if you approved my application—I want to help people and complete quests.”

The man studied her, his tone softening a little. “Well, I’m the guild master of this branch. You can call me Guild Master Vincent. Before we approve your application, though, you’ll need to show us you’re fit for the job, okay?”

Celeste nodded. “So, I need to pass a test? What kind of test?”

“You’re the last to register this morning, so I’ll take you to the training yard. But first, we’ll head to the spell room to measure your magical potential. We’ll see what kind of magic you can specialize in.”

Guild Master Vincent stood, towering over Celeste. He grabbed a massive great sword, strapping it to his back, and led the way. “Is this guy a giant?” Celeste thought as they headed downstairs. She suddenly grew anxious, realizing she didn’t specialize in any elemental magic. Could they detect her Sanctum magic?

When they arrived at the spell room, the boys she had seen earlier were finishing their mana measurements. The woman operating the large mana ball, which resembled a bowling ball, called Celeste forward.

“Don’t be shy, just place your hand on the ball, and it’ll show us what element you specialize in,” the woman instructed.

Brown with and hint of green of light is earth.

red and a little bit of indigo is fire element.

and the last one is azure and sky blue light represent air.

As Celeste read the descriptions of the lights, she noticed there was no mention of water magic. “Excuse me, ma’am, where’s the water specialization? Is there no one who specializes in water?”

The mage overseeing the test gave Celeste a puzzled look. “Water specialization was abolished many years ago. It’s extremely rare now, and hardly anyone practices it.”

Celeste nodded, thinking about her own rare type of magic. “So, water specialization is rare, just like my Sanctum,” she thought.

She placed her hand on the mana ball, feeling it draw in her mana. The room was suddenly filled with a bright white light tinged with yellow. Everyone stared in shock, including Celeste herself.

“Well, that’s unexpected,” the mage said, still wide-eyed. “You’re element less. Don’t worry, though, you can still take quests here, but they’ll be chores, not combat missions.”

Celeste frowned at the remark. “I know how to wield a sword, ma’am. If you give me a chance, I can prove it,” she said, turning to Guild Master Vincent.

The guild master grinned. “It doesn’t matter, Your magical ability won’t save you if you can’t handle yourself in combat. After this, we’ll head to the training yard, and I’ll personally evaluate your combat skills.”

As they walked to the training yard, one of the boys from earlier approached her. “Hey, are you okay with not having a specialization? I got Earth, but I’m not great at it either. Don’t get discouraged, alright? I’m William, by the way. What’s your name?”

Celeste was surprised by his kindness but responded with a smile. “Thanks, William. I’m Celeste. We’ll probably see more of each other during the qualification process. Nice to meet you.”

Soon, the other boys joined them, introducing themselves. Andrew and Frank specialized in Air, and Bryan was a Fire mage. They were all shy at first, but once they realized Celeste was friendly, they relaxed. It didn’t hurt to know a few people at the guild, and they all seemed like good company.

When they reached the training yard, Guild Master Vincent suddenly spoke up. “Getting along, are you? Good. Now, there’s only one task left. You five form a party and face me!”

Everyone in the guild yard turned to watch. Some of the onlookers whispered to each other, mentioning how the guild master loved doing this to new recruits.

“This guy used to be an S-rank adventurer, right? Before he became guild leader?” one bystander said, loud enough for Celeste to hear.

“yeah and I remember he was a major on obsidian order before retiring!” another bystander add.

The yard was large, with polished marble floors and training dummies for sword practice. Celeste noticed spectators gathering around, seating themselves as if this were a common occurrence. The guild master stood in the middle, smiling like a madman.

“You have no idea how miserable being a guild leader is! This is the only part of the job I enjoy! BWAHAHAHA! Come at me, all five of you! Let me test your strength!”

The four boys behind Celeste seemed frozen in fear, but she remained calm.

Turning to them, she asked, “Hey, do you want to teach this guy a lesson?”

Before they could respond, Guild Master Vincent charged at them like a raging bull. Celeste gripped her sword, ready for the fight.

A massive boom echoed across the yard as the dust from Vincent’s charge clouded the area.