Ash entered the inn’s common room, the weight of the katana at his side a comforting reminder of his progress. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread, mingling with the sharper tang of spiced ale. Laughter and the clinking of mugs filled the space, a stark contrast to the tension simmering at one of the corner tables. The warm glow of the hearth flickered against the wooden walls, casting dancing shadows across the weary patrons. The day had been one of breakthroughs: mastering the silk-cutting exercise under Master Kaidan’s guidance, succeeding in his first test alongside Scarlet Enclave, and earning his first true katana. Yet as he scanned the room, his pride quickly gave way to concern.

  Leona sat at a corner table, her head resting on one hand as she stared blankly at an untouched cup of tea. Across from her, Nel gestured animatedly while explaining something, though his words didn’t seem to be reaching her. Grant, meanwhile, leaned against the far wall with his arms crossed, his scowl as sharp as his blade. A fresh tear in his leather armor suggested he’d recently been in a scuffle.

  Ash approached cautiously, his instincts as a leader kicking in. “What’s going on?”

  Grant’s head snapped toward him, his eyes blazing. “What’s going on? I’ll tell you what’s going on. Nel decided to test a new spell in the middle of a mission. The resulting explosion nearly got us all killed.”

  Nel folded his arms, his expression indignant. “I was trying to gain us an advantage. If you had let me finish instead of charging in like a berserker, it would’ve worked.”

  “Finish?” Grant barked, taking a step forward. “You nearly brought the whole cave down on our heads. You’re lucky we even made it out!”

  Leona raised a hand, her voice cutting through the brewing argument. “Stop it, both of you.” She sighed, rubbing her temples. “This isn’t helping. And Grant, you weren’t exactly blameless. If you’d exercised a little patience instead of rushing ahead, we might not have been in that situation to begin with.”

  Ash stepped into the center of the room, raising a hand to quiet them. Grant scoffed, arms still crossed. "And what if I don’t feel like listening?" he challenged. "Since when do you get to be the authority on everything?" Nel snorted, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, Ash. You’ve been off training, but that doesn’t mean you suddenly know best." “Enough. All of you.” His voice cut through the tension, sharper than his blade. "You can question me all you want, but I’m not here to argue—I’m here to make sure we don’t get each other killed next time." His eyes locked onto Grant’s. "You want to charge ahead? Fine. But when it goes wrong, are you ready to be responsible for the fallout?" Then, to Nel, "And you—if your magic is so amazing, why do we keep barely making it out alive?" He turned to Leona. “What happened, exactly?”

  Leona hesitated before answering. “We were tasked with clearing out a goblin den. It was supposed to be straightforward, but the goblins had set traps throughout the cave. Nel tried to cast a spell to collapse one of their escape routes, but it… didn’t go as planned. The explosion triggered a chain reaction that almost sealed us in.”

  “And Grant?” Ash prompted.

  Leona’s gaze flickered to the swordsman. “He charged ahead when the goblins tried to flee, ignoring my warnings and leaving Nel and me exposed.”

  Ash sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “So, reckless decisions on all sides. Got it.” He straightened, looking at each of them in turn. “This isn’t just about what happened in the cave. It’s about us as a team. We’re not working together. That has to change.”

  Ash didn’t wait for them to fall in line—he glared at them until Grant muttered a curse under his breath and sat down heavily. Nel rolled his eyes but followed. "Alright, fine, oh fearless leader. Let’s hear this brilliant plan of yours." He rested his hand on the hilt of his katana, drawing strength from its presence.

  “I’ve been training with Master Kaidan,” he began, “and one of the most important lessons he’s taught me is balance. The katana isn’t just a weapon. It’s an extension of the wielder. If you’re too forceful, you lose control. If you’re too hesitant, you lose precision. The same applies to us as a team.”

  Leona’s eyes softened slightly, while Nel and Grant exchanged uneasy glances. Ash continued, “Nel, your magic is powerful, but it’s not a substitute for communication. If you’re going to cast something that could affect the whole team, we need to know about it first.”

  Nel scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "Look, my magic isn’t something you just ‘explain’ like a sword swing. It’s complex. You wouldn’t ask a master painter to explain every brushstroke before he lifts the brush, would you?" His tone was dismissive, but the weight of Ash’s stare didn’t waver. Nel let out a sharp breath, "Fine. I’ll try to… communicate better. But don’t expect me to slow down just so you can keep up."

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  “And Grant,” Ash said, turning to the swordsman, “your strength is an asset, but it’s wasted if you’re not paying attention to the team. Charging ahead without thinking puts everyone at risk.”

  Grant chuckled, shaking his head. "Hey, I’ve always been a ‘charge first, think later’ kind of guy. It’s worked so far, hasn’t it?" But as he spoke, his grin faded slightly, and his fingers drummed against the table. "Look… I know I can be reckless. But I don’t do it just for the thrill. I do it because if I don’t, who else will? If I hesitate, if I don’t push forward, what happens when someone gets hurt because of it?" His voice lowered, losing its usual confidence. "I don’t want to be the reason any of you don’t make it back one day."

  “Good,” Ash said. He leaned back slightly, addressing Leona. “And you? Are you okay? You seem… frustrated.”

  Leona exhaled, frustration evident in her posture. "I just feel… limited. My healing spells aren’t strong enough. When things get out of hand, I can’t keep up." She traced the rim of her cup, her voice quiet but firm. "Every battle, I watch you all take hits, pushing yourselves beyond your limits, and all I can do is try to patch you up after the fact. What if one day that’s not enough? What if I’m too slow? Too weak?" She lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with doubt. "I don’t want to be the weakest link in this team. I need to be stronger."

  Ash placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You’re doing more than you realize. But if you feel like you’re not where you want to be, we’ll work on it together. Just like I’ve been training, we’ll find ways to strengthen your abilities.”

  The group spent the rest of the evening discussing ways to improve their teamwork. Ash suggested clearer communication during missions, with Nel providing detailed explanations of his spells and Leona voicing concerns before the situation escalated. Grant promised to rein in his impulsiveness, though he joked that it wouldn’t be easy.

  By the time the discussion ended, the tension had eased—but it hadn’t vanished. Grant still looked skeptical, and Nel’s smirk held a trace of defiance. But they were listening now. That was enough for Ash. For now. Nel even managed to get a reluctant laugh out of Grant with a dry quip about his “axe-first, think-later” approach.

  As the others headed to bed, Ash remained in the common room, the low murmur of conversation blending with the crackling of the fireplace. The warmth of the inn wrapped around him, but his mind remained sharp, focused. The scent of smoldering wood and lingering spices filled the air, grounding him as he traced a finger along the hilt of his katana. He had taken his first true step as a leader, but the path ahead still stretched long before him. The katana rested against his chair, its presence a reminder of the lessons he’d learned from Kaidan. He wasn’t just a student of the blade; he was a leader, responsible for guiding his team through their struggles.

  The next morning, Ash woke early and gathered the party for a light training session outside the city. The crisp morning breeze carried the scent of dew-covered grass, and the distant hum of Valmaris awakening provided a steady backdrop. The sun had barely risen above the treetops, casting golden streaks across the open field where they stood. The goal wasn’t to push their limits but to focus on coordination and communication. They worked through mock scenarios, practicing their roles and addressing the weaknesses that had caused issues in the goblin den.

  Ash led by example, demonstrating techniques he’d learned from Kaidan to maintain focus and balance. As he moved through the kata, the air around his blade seemed to ripple with each precise swing, the sharp whistle of steel slicing through the quiet morning. His feet shifted smoothly over the dirt, adjusting to each transition with newfound control. He paired with Leona at one point, watching as she raised her hands and murmured an incantation. A warm golden light pulsed from her fingertips, forming a translucent barrier that shimmered in the early sunlight. The spell wavered at first, but soon she adjusted herself, and the ward solidified, steady and unyielding. Later, he sparred with Grant, their blades clashing in rhythmic bursts, each strike sending vibrations up Ash’s arms. Grant’s attacks were raw and powerful, but Ash guided him to redirect his momentum, making each blow more efficient rather than wasteful. Even Nel, despite his usual arrogance, seemed more willing to listen and adjust his casting rhythm.

  By the end of the session, the group was tired but invigorated. The field bore the marks of their efforts—scorched patches of grass from Nel’s controlled fire bursts, deep footprints from Grant’s relentless footwork, and shimmering remnants of Leona’s lingering magic. The morning chill had faded, replaced by the warmth of exertion and the glow of accomplishment. Leona’s face lit up as one of her healing spells stabilized a “wounded” Grant with greater potency than before. Nel managed to cast a controlled burst of fire that dissipated on command, earning a rare nod of approval from Grant.

  “See?” Ash said, smiling at them. “We’re stronger together. Let’s keep building on this.”

  Grant smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. “Don’t get too comfortable, Ash. You’re still our leader, and we’re holding you to high standards.”

  Ash laughed. “Fair enough. Let’s head back and plan our next mission.”

  As they walked back to the inn, Ash felt a renewed sense of purpose. The path ahead would undoubtedly bring more challenges, but for the first time in a while, he felt confident in their ability to face them together. His training with Kaidan had taught him balance and control, lessons that extended beyond the katana to his role as a leader.

  Emberlight wasn’t just a group of adventurers anymore. They were a team, stronger for their struggles and united in their goals. And as their leader, Ash knew he would do everything in his power to help them succeed—not just for their sake but for the greater challenges they would inevitably face.