Hello there! As you know, I'm Blaze. Blaze Lumnell. Last time--AHH!
"Slowly, Mari! You are hurting me. Ahh!" I said to Mari. Mari was the girl I made friends with when I came to the adventurer guild. She was the one who issued my AID.
"Yes, yes. I was surprised to see you again, too," Mari said while wrapping a bandage around my arm. "And injured this badly—on your first day? In a friendly dungeon, no less."
She sighed. "Too bad there's no healer on duty right now. Just your luck."
"There are so many adventurers, but still there are no healers. Well, bad luck." I was feeling bad. This was my first time going out of my world. And was that really necessary for that Rhinotaur to spawn one day ahead, only to beat me up?
"I said that we should meet again. But never thought we would meet that fast." Saying that, she smirked and glanced toward me with some weird-flirty eyes, "Are you that into me?" Mari teased, eyes glinting. "You should've just said so earlier, darling~ I might have considered going on an adventure with you."
"H-Huhh?! Like hell I'd be attracted to someone like you!" I barked, but my traitorous face burned crimson. Gods, why did she have to be so... distracting?
"Pfft... Hahahah. I can see that from your face, Blaze." Mari laughed at my face.
"Wait, will you really go with me?" I was alone in the journey, and I also needed to join a party to go through the dungeons. So I need members whom I can trust, and Mari is really someone I can trust. And she is also kind.
"Yes, let's form a party and go on an adventure--just kidding. I have a lot of work and don't have time to loiter around like you adventurers." Mari replied. Well, that makes sense. She is a head receptionist in this branch of the Adventurers' Guild. I got my hopes too high. Kill me.
Mari tightened the last bandage with a sadistic grin, her fingers lingering just long enough to make me squirm. Before I could protest, the guild's creaky door swung open—and in walked a guy who looked like he'd stepped out of a royal academy brochure.
"Hello there." A boy came to me. He looked like my age. He had a pair of glasses. He looked like a normal boy with small black hair. But he was well dressed. Is he from some noble family or something?
"Hello. How can I help you?" I replied. Let's see what he wants.
"My name is Ken. Ken Beastheart. I am a battle mage. Are you perhaps looking for some party members? I am also alone and want to join a party. "Would it be alright if we teamed up?" He said. He wants to join a party with me? But we barely know each other. Would it really be okay if we joined one? Dad told me to be careful. But he doesn't look like someone bad to me.
"I am Blaze Lumnell. You can call me Blaze. And you are right. I am looking for some party members. But you see, I am going on a journey to go on adventures in all sorts of places. And I also want to become the strongest, so I am gonna fight with as many people as possible in my journey. Are you really sure you wanna go with me?" Let's see what he says. I told him what I want to do. But I don't think he'll come with me after hearing that.
"Really?! You will go to all sorts of places?! I am in." What?! His eyes are sparkling. It's pretty dangerous. I think he still doesn't know about the outside world. I just got beaten up by that Rhinataur in the dungeon. "Yes! Yes! I thought I had to change parties now and then to become stronger and adventurous."
Is he for real? "Are you sure. You can even die in the fights." I warned him.
"Don't worry. I don't look like it, but I also want to become strong. Strong enough to become an Arch-Magister. And also, I'm a secondary-level mage." He replied to me.
"A secondary-level mage?!" My jaw nearly hit the floor. This bookish guy in tailored robes—who smelled faintly of lavender and ink—could level a building? Maybe he isn't all talk after all.
Well, it's not like I can pair up with someone I know. So that'll be all right, I guess. If there is any problem later, then I just have to be strong enough that he can't harm me, that's all.
"Nice to meet you, Ken. It's great to be in the same party as the future Arch-Magister." I was happy that someone strong joined me. But that's not enough. I have to be stronger than him.
"Yes, Blaze. Future strongest swordsman." He replied and shook hands with me.
"Okay, now then, how can we form a party?" I asked.
"Looks like you made a friend, Blaze." Mari came. She was at the reception desk, helping some adventurer. Good that she came.
"Mari, good. Now that you are done. He is Ken. He and I will join a party." I said. I was happy that I could join a party.
"Oh, hello! I am Mari. I am the head receptionist here. Thanks for joining a party with him. He would have been dead if he had been traveling for a couple of days. He just got beaten up in the friendly dungeon~ " Mari flirted out.
"Marii-- It's not the time for that," I said. I was embarrassed. I just finished lecturing him, and now...
"Okay, okay. Now then, I'll form a party for you. Come here, Blaze." She said.
"Yes, coming."
"Put your AID here and MID here." She instructed.
"Like this?"
"Yes. It's done."
"What? It was that simple. It looks simple to you from here because the artifact did all the work."
"Ouhh, yeah. Don't get angry, now."
"Now open the interface of your AID."
"Opening..."
[AID System Activated]
Name: [Blaze Lumnell]
Adventurer Level: [1]
Party: [None]
Mana Points Collected: [0]
Status: [Active]
"Now, swipe the interface from right to left." She said.
"From right to left?"
"Yes, just do it."
"Okay." Then I tried to swipe it. But this wasn't working.
"Are you an idiot? I told you to swipe right to left." Mari angrily replied.
"Yes, sir. My bad." This time it worked, and another interface...
[AID System Activated]
Party Name: [None]
Leader: [Blaze Lumnell | Class: Swordsman | Rank: Junior]
Members: [None]
Status: [Active]
"Wow, another interface. And I'm the leader? Shouldn't it be Ken? His rank is higher than mine." Ken is at the secondary level. And he is a battle mage, not a mage. So unlike the mages, he had to give exams like swordsmen. So, he is a lot stronger.
"No, it's not a problem. You can be the leader, Blaze. Ain't you gonna be the strongest swordsman?" Ken replied. He looked happy to form a party.
"Okay, then. As long as you are okay. Now, how can I add you to my party?" I asked.
"Just say, 'Add party member' and say his name," Mari instructed.
"Okay then, here goes nothing. Add party member, Ken Beastheart."
[ADDING PARTY MEMBER, KEN BEASTHEART, INVITATION SENT]
"Here, I accepted your invitation," Ken replied.
[INVITATION ACCEPTED]
[PARTY FORMED]
"Ohh, we haven't named our party, yet. What should we name our party?" I was thinking what we should name it. But no ideas.
"Right, we should use something powerful. This party is gonna become the strongest, right?" Ken enthusiastically replied.
"You guys are gonna go ahead to take on any kind of powers and adventure in many places, unstoppable, right? So, how about Driftwind--" Mari replied.
"'Driftwinds! We will be called the Driftwinds. Our dreams are different, but we will all adventure together, helping each other. So this is my decision." I cut on Mari's line.
"Wow, that's a good name, leader." Ken appreciated.
"How is the name Mari?" I asked her. But suddenly the atmosphere changed. And-- "Mari? Umm... uhh... are you okay?" Mari's eyes looked dark, and she sent a horrific smile toward me.
"You... did that on purpose, didn't you?" Mari's voice dropped to a whisper, her smile sharp enough to slice steel.
"Uhh, well—"
THWACK.
Her fist collided with my skull before I could finish. "Behave yourself, Blaze," she chirped, dusting off her hands like she'd just swatted a fly.
She got normal, but...
"Yes, I am sowwy." Where did she get that much power?
"Okay then, here you go. I set the name for your party. All good." Mari replied.
[AID System Activated]
Party Name: [Driftwinds]
Leader: [Blaze Lumnell | Class: Swordsman | Rank: Junior]
Members: [Ken Beastheart | Class: Battle Mage | Rank: Secondary]
Status: [Active]
"That's a good name I came up with, right? You could never come up with something like that, Blaze." Mari said.
"Hehh..! What was your cat's name again?"
TWACK!!
"AHH, sorry."
"Yes, you should be."
--------------
"Okay... Now that everything is done, we should head out, right, Ken?" I asked my new and first party member. It was getting late. "Or should we take a rest for today here?"
"Yes, that's what would be the best," Ken replied.
"You can stay at the tavern beside the adventurers' guild. I heard the bath is pretty good there. The cost is also average." Mari said.
Then, the air shifted. The temperature didn't change, but somehow... everything felt dangerous.
Mari tilted her head, her voice sweet enough to rot sugar."You know, Blaze... if you're lonely, you could always sleep with me. My bed's pretty big—more than enough space for the two of us to, you know... sleep~."
Wait.What's with that tone?!
"HUHHHH?!"Nope. Not falling for this. I know she's joking. Just stay cool, Blaze. Don't react. Ignore her. She lives off reactions.
Why is she walking toward me now?Wait.Wait. Don't come closer!
Ken, you traitor! Don't just stand there smiling! HELP ME.
Mari leaned in, her lips nearly brushing my ear. Her whisper was pure mischief."Or... is it too much for you to handle, sharing a bed with me?~"
My brain short-circuited. My face was on fire.Stop blushing, damn it! Face, obey me for once!
"U-Umm... Mari... a-ahh..."
She pulled back, bursting into laughter."Pffft—HAHAHAHA! You should see your face! It's boiling red! Oh my gods, Blaze! You really fell for that? Hahahaha!"
Mari fake-pouted. "Aww, Blaze! If you keep blushing like a virgin at a brothel, people might think we're dating~"
"W-We're NOT!"
Ken raised an eyebrow. "Leader, your voice just cracked."
Please.Someone end me.
"You two are pretty good friends. Okay, let's go, Blaze. Hahah," Ken said.
"Yes, we should go before she starts again." I somehow flee from her.
We were on our way to the tavern when something darted overhead—a flicker of darkness too fast to see clearly. I squinted upward. "What's that?"
Ken chuckled and raised his arm. With a soft flutter, the shadowy creature landed on his shoulder, its inky wings folding neatly. Now that it was still, I could see it clearly: a tiny, bat-like creature no larger than his palm. Its scales were peppered with faint silver speckles like stars trapped in midnight. It tilted its head. Its crimson eyes were glowing as it let out a chittering purr.
"Relax, Blaze," Ken said. And scratched under its chin. "I didn't introduce you yet. This is Rin. My familiar… a lesser dragon. It's a Shadowdrift dragon."
"What?! A dragon?! You've had a dragon with you?!" I stumbled back, staring. The creature yawned, revealing needle-thin fangs, then fluttered down to steal a dried berry from Ken's pouch. "But it's so… small. Looks like someone glued wings to a bat!"
Ken smirked. "He's shy around strangers. Also, insult him again, and he'll probably hide your boots in a tree."
As if to agree, Shadowdrift hissed—a sound like wind through dead leaves—before vanishing into the folds of her cloak and leaving only a wisp of stardust behind.
"And also, it's not a true dragon, a lesser dragon." Ken blinked. "Wait, you don't have a dragon? How'd you plan to cross the Obsidian Sea? Swim?"
"I—I was gonna borrow a boat!"
"Boats," he snorted, "are for those who enjoy sea monsters and loiter around in the name of adventure."
"I didn't know. Wait, is it that common to have dragon familiars?" I asked Ken. He sounds like everyone has one or two.
"First thing, this is a lesser dragon. And yeah, many adventurer has one lesser dragon with them. Those who don't have one have to pass the sea by boat. They can get bigger when they carry you."
"Wow, really, then I would also need one. Where can I get one?" Yes! Looks like I can also get a lesser dragon. And also ride on it.
"You can get one in the next lesser world. Well, if you have some luck with ya. It depends on whether a dragon responds to your summon or not." Ken said to me.
"I have to summon one?" I asked him out of curiosity. But how can I summon a dragon? I can't even use magic. So, it got me a little down.
"Why are you getting down all of a sudden?" Ken asked me when he saw I was getting down. I should tell him that I can't use mana.
"Actually, you see, I can't use mana. So, I don't think I can summon one."
"You can't use mana? Ohh, don't worry about that. You don't need mana to summon a dragon."
"Really?!" But how can I use summoning magic without mana? But still, I don't think he is lying to me. Okay... "Next stop—lesser world! Let's find a dragon that'll put Rin to shame!"
Rin responded by dropping a beetle into my hair. "Hey!"
Ken sighed. "…This'll be a long journey."