Ash Vale awoke with a spark of hope flickering in his chest. It wasn't often he felt this way, and he wanted to savor it. Last night, he had done it—formed a party. It might not have been the most glamorous group of adventurers, but it was a start. He'd wasted no time rushing to the Adventurer's Guild Association at dawn, determined to secure their first mission. Now, with the request in hand, they found themselves trekking through the dense forest that bordered the Zone.

  Ash adjusted his grip on the hilt of his sword, trying to steady his breath as his mismatched party trudged through the dense forest towards the subjugation area. The cool morning air cut through the gaps in the trees, but it did little to calm the unease swirling in his chest. Every rustle of the leaves, every snap of a twig beneath their boots, seemed to carry a weight far greater than the task at hand.

  They had encountered Nel on the way to their destination, where he had unceremoniously decided to join them without their consent. Now, Nel lagged behind them, his breath uneven, but his usual arrogance hadn't faded. "A simple job, barely worth my talents," he muttered. His confidence felt forced, and for a moment, Ash saw something else in his expression—tension, maybe even fear.

  He thought back to Nel's mana exhaustion in their first encounter earlier that day. Had he been overcompensating? Was his arrogance a shield for insecurity? Ash wasn't sure yet, but he filed it away. Perhaps Nel had more to prove than he let on.

  Leona walked silently beside Ash, her staff tucked beneath her arm. Her hands were steady, but Ash caught the way her fingers twitched every so often, as if second-guessing herself. When Grant was injured, she hesitated before casting a healing spell—her magic wavered, flickering like a candle caught in the wind.

  Why can't I heal faster? The thought gnawed at her as she pressed her staff against Grant's wound. The warmth of Luminis' magic pulsed through her fingertips, but it wasn't enough. Not fast enough. Not strong enough.

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  "Leona," Ash's voice pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts. "You're doing fine."

  She wasn't sure she believed him.

  The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a deep, guttural growl filled the air. The Greater Dire Wolf emerged from the brush, its yellow eyes gleaming in the dim forest light. It smelled of damp fur and something worse—the sickly, metallic tang of miasma clung to it, curling through the air like smoke.

  Ash's breath caught in his throat. He wasn't just facing a wolf; he was facing a predator.

  Grant lunged first, his blade flashing in the light, but the wolf was faster. It ducked under his swing and snapped its jaws shut inches from his throat. Ash barely had time to shout a warning before Grant was knocked back, blood seeping from deep gashes in his side.

  The moment stretched as Ash gripped his sword. The wolf growled, its muscles tensed, ready to lunge.

  This was it. No more training. No more second chances. He either fought, or they died.

  Grant groaned, struggling to his feet. His body screamed in protest, but his grip on his sword tightened. He wouldn't let some overgrown mutt beat him.

  But deep down, the sting of his mistake burned more than the wound itself. He had been careless—overconfident. He should have listened to Ash's warnings, should have assessed the wolf's movements better.

  Leona knelt beside him, her magic struggling to close the wound completely. "You need to slow down," she whispered.

  He let out a dry chuckle. "You sound like Ash."

  She frowned, her fingers still glowing with healing energy. "Maybe you should listen."

  Grant didn't respond. He wasn't sure if it was his pride, or if he already knew she was right.

  The battle had left them shaken. They retreated, battered but alive, Nel barely conscious and Grant nursing his wounds. No one spoke as they walked.

  Ash glanced at his team—his team—and felt the crushing weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He had failed them today. They had failed each other.

  As they reached the outskirts of the city, Grant finally broke the silence. "We should've won."

  Leona shook her head. "We weren't ready."

  Nel, now more awake, scoffed but didn't argue. Even he had to admit they had been overwhelmed.

  Ash exhaled slowly. "Next time, we don't just survive. We win."

  A spark flickered in their tired gazes. Resolve. They would grow stronger—together.