Fantasy World - Chapter 8 (Older Edition)

Selestra found herself sitting on top of a fallen column, enjoying the cool breeze that brushed against her cheek. The scenery of the forest, sky, and ruins brought about a striking image.

When she was growing up at her family's home, there would be plenty of artwork on display throughout the family grounds. She remembered running through her family's garden, hiding behind the statues as she hid from the servants.

That kind of upbringing was very insulated, giving her the feeling that everything in the world could someday belong to her.

With Selestra's father being a Duke, there was no end to those who tried to curry favors with their family. Princes would visit her home, and dance with her at the various balls. Going to the palace wasn't something unusual for her, spending the night away surrounded by adoring suitors.

Reminiscing about such things also brought up recent memories, where she was almost devoured by a monster.

Her wet undergarments reminded her of how powerless she was, terrified of the inevitable.

Selestra's face grew warm, about how before being eaten, a dashing hero, like those inside fairy tales, appeared and slew the beast. Then, with the power of a god, her hero vanquished the creatures and kissed her passionately. A moment so perfect, the world froze for a moment while surrounded by vicious monsters.

Before that moment, Selestra didn't know she had such a classmate, the way his eyes drew her towards him. His powerful arms that held her tenderly, not allowing anything to harm her.

Soon not only her face felt warm, thinking about how his body pressed against hers. "What are you thinking about, Selestra," She chided herself, embarrassed for having such thoughts.

Leaning back and looking at the blue sky, she enjoyed the feel of the sun on her face. "It is not like he is interested in you, especially after you showed such an ugly appearance." She self deprecatingly chuckled.

It wasn't long before she pictured the corpses of her former classmates, a reminder of the consequences of her arrogance.

"Father would be so ashamed to have a daughter like me. The nobility is meant to be a shining example for commoners to strive towards, not to be puffed up with their self-importance."

A breeze danced through her hair, giving some comfort.

Thinking about those who were killed, made her realize how close to dying she was. Hunting monsters here wasn't like how it was with her father's guards and adventurers there to protect her.

"If he had not been there, my father would be included in the list of nobles who would find out their sons or daughters were killed," She thought. "Though my father will not receive any significant punishment due to my incompetence...," She lifted up her head to watch the students pack away their tents and equipment. All of them expecting news that they would be returning to the city.

After Yi had killed the remaining monsters, they had headed back to the junction to meet with the primary force. Yi had carried her in a princess carry, due to her legs still shaking from the trauma.

She had tried to walk on her own, but when her legs gave out, Yi had quickly grabbed her, before she hit the ground. Without a word, he lifted her up into his arms and carried her the entire time.

Even before reaching the junction, they were met with the rest of the class and their teacher. Those that were sent back had convinced everyone of what was occurring, though they were met with skepticism.

Hearing from the other nobles, Selestra had learned the rest of the class felt the quaking of the ground but didn't know the source. They initially called those that ran for help cowards, blowing up the danger to such an unbelievable level.

Selestra couldn't help but chuckle when learning about their accusations. It was just like what she had said to the one that inevitably saved them.

"What is the point for nobles to exist," She bitterly thought.

With the casualty numbers, Ha-Yoon had ordered for them to back up, worried that the threat hadn't been completely dealt with. Like a labyrinth, inside of the winding tunnels going deeper into the ground more of those monsters were likely waiting for them.

Upon arriving back at camp, Ha-Yoon invited Yi and some of the upper nobility to discuss what they were going to do. Selestra could understand why their teacher looked so distressed.

Monsters in these woods were not supposed to be above E-rank. This meant that all of them should have been easily able to kill these monsters. The fact that such high-level monsters were located here meant that something was wrong.

With such a large number of monsters inside a nest said that they were breeding faster, and developing their strength. This usually only happened right before an Overflow, which still had several years to occur.

Looking to the tent where Yi and the other nobles were talking with their teacher, Selestra whispered, "The Overflow..."

As a baby, Selestra wasn't old enough to witness what happened during an Overflow. It was only through the stories told by her father's guards and adventurers that she was able to glimpse the horrors seen by them.

The city that her house ruled had reinforced all entrances and brought in the farmers that were living outside the city walls.

Each city was always prepared for a siege or Overflow, so there was sufficient amount of provisions. When all preparations were finished, the sky had looked as if it was drenched in blood.

During this time there were waves of monsters that roamed beyond walls. Looking outside of them, it appeared as if the city existed in an ocean.

City guards had to fight off monsters day and night, never knowing when it would all end. Each Overflow was never the same as the past event, so such an occurrence could last days or months.

Eventually, they were able to fend off the creatures and make it to the end of the Overflow.

In the historical texts, there was an Overflow that lasted for an entire year. When the people of the world thought that they would be swallowed up by monsters, the gods had stepped in and smote the waves of eldritch horrors.

The armies of the gods were endless, and each possessed mighty powers. Their armor glimmered like the sun, and their weapons shot out an overwhelming force.

This event created the foundation for the current faith that the populace worshiped.

Since then, there has never been an Overflow that lasted as long as the one in the ancient texts.

But the problem was that if an Overflow were happening soon, it would be far too early. Especially after the Empire had invaded them, and attacked Leaf village. The Kingdom was, likely, hesitant to retaliate against the Empire for this exact reason.

An effort needed to be put in to resist the waves of monsters.

Remembering how the magic they were so proud of did little to the monsters made her clench her fist. "What do I tell father? The House is counting on me but I was unable to do anything against those things."

Thoughts of doing training and getting stronger ran through her mind. Earlier, she thought about how going to school was a waste of time, and how the pace she was going was enough. There was no need for her to take on quests, like an adventurer, cause her background was sufficient to justify her path.

Glancing over, Selestra was torn from her thoughts, as she saw Yi walking out of the tent. Jumping to the ground, she ran over to Yi.

"Yi, how was the meeting with the teacher?" She asked, not really caring about the meeting.

He looked back at her, smiling, and said, "Ha-Yoon stated that we will be heading back to the city. Considering how powerful the monsters are, we are not prepared to fight them."

"But... W-with how powerful you are, surely, we could fight those creatures?" She stammered before cursing to herself about suggesting that he face against the horde of creatures alone.

Smiling at her words, likely understanding what she was trying to say, he said, "It was only due to the lives that were at stake that I was able to bring out such power."

Lifting his hand and touching her cheek, he continued, "When I was battling those things and saw you alone and in danger, I felt compelled to rush to your aid."

"The instinct to save a beautiful woman." He blushed. "I probably sound like a foolish person, saying such words about protecting you."

Placing a hand on top of his fingers, she quickly said, "No! You saved my life!" Looking at her feet, she said in a quieter voice, "Especially after I said such horrible things to you."

Hearing a small chuckle from him, she looked up.

"I think it was rather reasonable for you to react in such a manner. I was just some person who talked about monsters without providing any evidence. Even more so taking into account that the experienced adventurer, our teacher, said that the nest was safe for us." He said to comfort her.

"Yi...," Selestra said, laying a hand on his chest.

It felt like butterflies were fluttering in her stomach, as she looked into his eyes. The sounds of her classmates talking in the background faded away.

A hand on her waist, drew her closer to Yi making her notice how quickly her heart beat. She was soon being held by him, her hand still on his chest while her head rested on his shoulder. This time her legs were functioning, no longer needing him to hold her up.

"I hope you do not find me being too forward, but thinking of what happened... I can not help but need to have you close to me." Yi whispered near her ear.

"Have I become mad?" Yi asked her.

Being so close to him and smelling his scent, she didn't seem to have a thought of how to answer his question. Slowly shaking her head, she asked, "Maybe I had died and now I am living in a fantasy world. Maybe it is me that has become mad?"

"Master, we will need to head back to the city, soon." A cold voice interrupted.

Startled, she lifted her head from Yi's shoulder to see the source of the voice and noticed his servant looking at her.

The way she looked, her mature looking body and beautiful face, caused Selestra to feel a tightening in her chest and anger deep within her. Instead of moving away from Yi, she stared back at his servant, as if challenging for the servant to say more.

Responding to the woman's words, Yi unwound his arm that held her waist. "I am sorry, Selestra, but I will need to get ready to leave."

"The class looks like it is almost finished preparing and ready to depart. I am happy to see that you are feeling better." Yi casually said before gently kissing her forehead and walking away with his servant in tow.

Watching his back, she felt like calling out to him. Even more so, when she realized that she didn't suggest that they travel together. Beating herself up mentally at the lost opportunity, her eyes then wandered to the figure of the woman next to him.

Thinking about that hussy of a servant, getting in between her Master and Selestra's conversation, she gripped her fist tightly. Thinking of him hanging around such a beautiful woman wasn't acceptable in her book.

A part of her understood that she was acting ridiculous, but she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. The way he easily defeated the monsters, while lovingly holding her.

Selestra shook her head, banishing any more thoughts. There were still things she needed to do, to get ready to head back to the city.

Also, she wanted to talk with Ha-Yoon and learn if there were methods of increasing the power of her magic.

Seeing the teacher's tent, where Yi and the others spoke, Selestra walked towards it. Before she entered the tent, she heard a voice yelling in anger, "You fucking slut, how dare you have us retreat! I will not run away from such a great opportunity, to demonstrate my great powers!"

Inside the tent, Selestra could hear her teacher's voice, whimpering, "But, Master, there are too many inside the nest. I am only doing this out of concern for you. Please, forgive me! Your father would not want me to put you in unnecessary danger."

A smack could be heard coming from the tent. "Do not talk back to me of my what my father wants!"

"I see that more training is necessary, considering how you are so willing to disobey me." The voice sounded cruel as if enjoying the thought of what was yet to come.

"Master, I can do better! There is no need for such training!" Ha-Yoon's voice pleaded.

The voice began laughing, loudly. "Your body seems to be saying otherwise."

"I bet you look forward to these sessions." The man's voice growled.

"I made sure to bring in a new batch, which I know you enjoy greatly. When we return back to the city, you will get to experience how displeased I am with you. I do not care what father says, you are mine, and I will do what I wish with you!"

Footsteps were heard heading towards the entrance.

Hearing the voice walking towards her, she quickly ran to the back of the tent and hoped that the voice did not hear her.

Though she didn't think there was any reason to be cautious, considering her father's influence, the experience inside the nest had given her a sense of caution about being overconfidence.

Waiting for several minutes, making sure that neither the man or her teacher would suspect Selestra had overhead them, she made her way to the entrance of the tent.

Pushing aside the curtain, she saw her teacher standing and facing away from the opening.

Worried that she might give herself away, Selestra hesitated by asking, "Teacher?"

Ha-Yoon jumped in surprise and whipped around, to look at Selestra standing at the entrance. Her teacher's face was red, and she stammered, "S-Selestra, what brings you here? Is there something you needed?"

"Teacher, I came to ask for your advice," Selestra said, trying to ignore the awkward atmosphere.

As if relieved by Selestra's words, Ha-Yoon managed to regain her usual demeanor. "What can I help you with?" She asked.

Feeling a little ashamed for bringing the topic up, she said, "I was wondering if there are ways to increase the power of my magical spells?"

Taking a moment to listen to Selestra's words, Ha-Yoon thought about it for a minute before answering, "There is no easy way to increase an individual's magical power, I am afraid. Is this about what happened inside of the nest?"

Looking at the ground, Selestra nodded. "Inside the nest, I was close to being eaten as I watched all of my classmates fight."

"When I was staring at the monster before it was about to eat me, I thought about all the things I regret not having done. Having those types of thoughts are not what I want to experience again." She forced herself to not dwell on her own words.

"Yi was able to save me, and I want to be able to be there for him." She blushed at the last part, feeling embarrassed at her feelings.

Her teacher stood there, mulling over something. A hand raised to her chin with the other arm supporting the elbow.

"If you are serious about becoming stronger, the best way is to increase your practical experience." She stated after being quiet.

"This is the reason why our Academy puts such an emphasis on all our students going into the field," Ha-Yoon added.

"The problem is that, though our academy does value practical experience...," She paused while looking at Selestra apologetically

"The amount you will see, of your abilities improving, are likely not what you are hoping for and is not possible inside of the Academy." Ha-Yoon pushed her mouth to one side, aware that such a thing isn't what Selestra was hoping to hear.

Seeing how dejected Selestra looked, Ha-Yoon cautiously suggested, "But if you are okay with it, becoming an adventurer would help build up your strength. Many adventurers quickly develop their talents, going on quests and taking on requests from various nations."

Holding up a hand, seeing Selestra's cheerful expression, Ha-Yoon warned, "There is a reason why adventurers face such a high mortality rate. The assignments and jobs they take on are often beyond dangerous. This is the tradeoff for seeing such rapid growth." Her stern expression meant to add more weight to her words.

Even with Ha-Yoon's warning, Selestra felt ecstatic that there was a method for her to become stronger.

Before going on this school trip, she had never considered the life of an adventurer as being something that was in her possibility. "Whoever heard of a Duke's daughter going out and subjugating monsters and demons?" Selestra thought to herself and wondering what her father would think.

Realizing something, Selestra asked, "What would I do about school and classes?"

Shaking her head, knowing that Selestra was going to disregard her warnings, Ha-Yoon said, "You would just take time off from classes, but it would not affect your acceptance into the school."

"Depending on the requests you take up, as an adventurer, you would receive credit towards graduation. It is a convenient method that was developed for those that required a tougher curriculum." Ha-Yoon explained.

Spending a little time to discuss minor things, mainly tips on doing well as an adventurer. Selestra soon thanked her teacher and headed out of the tent.

--------------

Once everyone was finished packing, Selestra followed after the other students who made their way out of the ruins.

Considering that there were no monsters inside the forest, and weren't doing any training, they headed towards the city, in their small groups.

---------------

Selestra walked up to her home, within the city, and felt a sense of relief. With her status, she was allowed to move into one of the housing units and bring her servants with her.

In front of the house, several guards were assigned by her father to look after her residence. They tried to come with her, into the forest, but she was adamant about not needing them to protect her.

With her strong magical powers, Selestra was confident that she would be able to defeat monsters that even a D-ranked adventurer could handle.

When she remembered that moment, her legs gave out a little. "My Lady! Are you alright?!" A guard asked her, rushing to her side.

"I am alright, Charles. Thank you. I guess I am a bit tired after the class trip." She lied, not wanting to tell other people about it.

"Of course! Please, come inside, and one of the cooks will prepare you a delicious meal." Charles escorted her, worried that she was going to collapse.

Seeing how earnest her guards were about her health made Selestra happy to be back. At the same time, there were thoughts about how she was living inside of a bubble and surrounded by those who protected her from the reality of the world.

Within her house at the Academy, there were ten guards, five maids, three cooks, and two landscapers. Though this may look like a lot, it was something she had felt was needed to reflect her status.

Now, coming back home it looked like unnecessary fluff.

Seeing what was out there had woken her up to reality.

Though nobles were usually surrounded by people, there may be a situation where there wouldn't be guards to protect them.

She would need to be capable enough to defend herself.

Monsters and demons were not the only things she needed to defend herself against. There were plenty of political enemies that would, and have, tried to harm her.

When she was a child, Selestra was kidnapped to apply pressure to her father. Selestra remembered how she had cried, asking them to let her go but they ignored her and provided only a little amount of food. Thinking that no one was going to come and save her, she fell into depression.

Shortly after, her father's men had crashed into the abandoned building and rescued her.

"My Lady, thank the goddess that you were able to arrive safely!", The head maid cried out, holding her tightly.

"Meredith, there was nothing to be afraid of. I told you that the monsters were not that powerful." Selestra tried to reassure her head maid.

Meredith continued to cry into her chest, holding her as if she would never let Selestra go.

Slowly getting control of herself, Meredith got back up and fixed her clothing.

"The Lady needs to eat something, she is fatigued from her travels," Charles told Meredith.

Nodding her head in agreement, she went back to the kitchen to have the cook prepare a meal. Selestra took a seat at the table and relaxed on the comfortable chair.

Being back in the city was preferable to her time in the woods.

This would be something she would need to break if she was going to become an adventurer.

Smelling the food that was being prepared, Selestra's stomach growled in anticipation. She blushed from such an embarrassing sound coming out of her.

"I have not even been gone for that long and I am making such shameful sounds," Selestra thought to herself.

Once the food was prepared, it was carried over to the table. There were various dishes, such as roasted pheasant, salad, and soup.

Selestra dug into the food with fervor, savoring the different flavors. The taste was immensely better than the travel rations she ate.

When she started to feel herself getting full, she looked up at Charles and Meredith. "I need to talk to you two about something," Selestra said in a serious voice.

Seeing the determination in her eyes, the two of them just nodded their heads.

"I have decided to put my schooling on hold, and become an adventurer." She held up her hand when she saw them begin to protest.

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "This is not an easy decision that I have reached. Going on the school trip has taught me that I am not ready for what is out there in the world. And my ignorance along with my inability could put myself in a precarious position in the future."

"There is no reason for the Miss to become an adventurer! We are here to protect you to allow you to focus your attention on the more pressing matter!" Charles tried to reason with her.

"Charles is correct! The Miss needs not to worry about the dangers of this world, and instead, should continue training to earn a title or marry into another family!" Meredith exclaimed, glancing at Charles for him to stop her from making such a rash decision.

"Things such as titles and honor does not mean anything, especially in the face of those with more power than you!" Selestra slammed her fist on top of the table, trying to keep it from shaking. Closing her eyes, trying to block the sights she saw in that nest of nightmares.

"For me to just rely on my magic, especially at its current strength, is reckless on my part!" Selestra said through gritted teeth.

Getting a rein on her emotions, she paused before saying, "I understand that the two of you are worried about me, but this is something I need to pursue."

"Miss..." Charles reached out towards her but stopped.

Standing up, Selestra started to head towards her bedroom. "I am tired and weary after my journey. Tomorrow, I will be going over to the Adventurer's Guild and signing up to become an adventurer."

Both Meredith and Charles stood side by side, worry plastered on their face as they watched Selestra go up the stairs.

------------------

Waking up from her restful nap, Selestra stared up at the ceiling. As she laid on top of her comfortable bed, with her many pillows around her, she wondered whether it was the best choice for her.

As a noble, there were many paths she could take instead of what she was heading towards. What sealed the deal, in her mind, was the look the creature gave to her as it was about to devour her.

Taking a deep breath, she said to the ceiling, "I can not just do nothing and hope things work out. Maybe I really am crazy." She laughed, laying a hand on her face.

Flinging the blanket off of her, she got up and walked to the changing room. There were several outfits she wore specifically for when she went training outside.

Getting changed, she walked out of her room and headed down to the dining area. Charles and Meredith were waiting for her, with food already placed on the table.

Thankful how Meredith and the maids did so much for her, she nodded her head at both Charles and Meredith. The day before still tender in her mind.

Sitting down at the table, she quietly ate her food. Charles and Meredith could sense that she didn't want to talk about the matter of her going to the Adventurer's Guild, so they stayed silent on the issue.

------------------

Inside of the Tower, Selestra looked at the students that were going about their day. For them, it was just another school day as they turned in their assignments.

Several of the students were chatting about where they were going to go to eat lunch, teasing one another about gaining weight. It was the type of things that Selestra would've been talking about before that day.

Walking past the typical kiosks for students, Selestra went straight to the one marked "Adventurer's Guild." An older woman that had glasses and straight black hair was patiently waiting to help out any students.

The woman looked at her and smiled, saying, "Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. Are you here to complete a request or to pick up a new one?"

Hearing the woman's words made Selestra hesitate, doubt still inside of her. Straightening her back and committing to the path chosen, she said, "I am here to sign up and become an adventurer,"

Not looking surprised by this request, the woman asked, "As a student of the Academy, your Student ID will be used as your adventurer ID."

When Selestra had handed over her ID to the woman, she placed Selestra's ID over a device. It was similar looking to the various scanners throughout the Academy.

It was the size of a person's fist and as thin as a finger. From what she knew of this device, the scanner could read the sequence of mana flowing through the card.

Selestra remembered her tutor explaining how all magic was built from a series of varying strength of mana.

This was the reason why mana inside of a person knew whether the caster desired a firebolt or firestorm to be cast.

A glow ran through her identification card, indicating that the process had begun. When the light dimmed, the woman looked at a monitor and interacted with some type of device.

Based on how smoothly the woman moved, she was well experienced in dealing with applicants inside of the academy.

Once the process was complete, the woman handed her card back to her. Looking at her card, she could see that the information was updated to include the new information.

Name: Selestra Ignalis

Year: 1st Year

Rank: Lower B-Rank

Specialty: Fire

Titles: None

Job: Adventurer

Requests in Progress:

Finished Requests:

"Though you are lower B-rank, I would recommend that you start off at D-rank missions, to get used to the difficulty level in a request. The biggest mistake that new adventurers make is not getting used to the ranking level, so they take on a request that they are not ready for." The woman cautioned.

"I appreciate your suggestion, and will take it to heart," Selestra said, understanding the weight of the woman's words.

The woman smiled at Selestra's answer, looking appreciative to help a student who understood their limitations.

"If you are looking for a team to work in, we have several groups that are looking for a powerful mage, such as yourself. You can view the various teams on the board behind you." She pointed off to the side, there were several people on each side of the board perusing through the information.

"On the other side are the requests for this area. Each of the guild branches will have various requests. This is due to the difference in terrain, monsters, and population sizes." She said.

Turning to the side to provide a better view of a large screen, she added, "Here, you will see any requests that are requesting adventurers, not within the local area. As you can see, there are different metrics to help adventurers determine what is a good fit for them and their party. Often, these requests come from smaller branches."

"They tend to be direct to those who are B-rank and above, due to their difficulty." The woman further explained.

Pointing to a spot on the board, she said, "Please make sure to check in to nearby branches to make sure there are no announcements or alerts. Such information allows you to be informed of any hazards or emergencies that could be occurring."

Placing both hands in front of her, the woman said, "Reporting to a branch also allows you to check to see if there are any messages for you. As an adventurer, you gain the benefit of using our messaging system to message other adventurers and non-adventurers."

"For any additional questions, my name is Andrea. I am one of the workers at the Academy branch office." Andrea bowed and introduced herself.

Thanking Andrea, Selestra moved toward the board and looked at the numerous notices. Just like the board behind the woman at the counter, it was some type of device that displayed paper-sized flyers. Some of the students glanced at her before returning to look at the board.

There was a broad range of groups looking for different roles. Some teams were looking for someone that could scout and look for traps, while others were looking for a strong individual that could take on a lot of damage for drawing in the enemy.

Moving closer, she used a finger to check each request. It didn't take long before Selestra finally found a flyer that asked for a mage. On the request, it even included a ranking range that they would accept. She just barely scraped by, considering they were looking for someone between lower-C-rank to mid-B-rank.

On the flyer was a section that directed adventurers to place their identification near the flyer to accept the request. Feeling a little nervous about following the directions incorrectly and embarrassing herself, Selestra pulled out her card and held it close to the display.

A rotating circle popped up over the flyer and began spinning.

Startled by the movement, Selestra jerked away.

The flyer blinked red and a black "x" flashed.

"You'll need to hold your card while it scans," A woman's voice said, giggling at Selestra's reaction.

Feeling humiliated, Selestra's face became hot. "Thank you," Selestra said, wanting to run away and hide.

Looking at the person, the woman was several years older than Selestra. She had long blonde hair and looked dazzling, giving off a caring older sister impression. The corners of her eyes wrinkling as the woman grinned at Selestra.

"The name's Su. It looks like this is your first time?" Su commented.

Nodding her head, Selestra said, "Yes." She tried to get her face to stop looking like a tomato. "My name is Selestra. It is nice to meet you, Su." Even if she felt like crawling away, manners were still important.

"It's nice to meet you, Selestra," Su said. Motioning for Selestra to try again, Su explained, "The card isn't just for giving to people who work at the counter, but also for validating various processes."

Pointing at the flyer, Su continued, "I'm assuming you wanted to party up with these people? Well, by placing your card on the flyer, you let them know that they should be expecting a serious applicant at the designated time."

"Over there," She directed Selestra's attention. "If you place your card on that side, the board will show you the status of your open quests and any requests you posted to the guild. Based on the flyer, they're likely checking the board after this place starts to slow down to see if anyone accepted."

Selestra nodded her head as she listened to what Su was telling her. Though it looked complicated, she realized the guild designed everything to be convenient for adventurers who were likely traveling throughout the Kingdom.

"Try again," Su said.

This time, Selestra knew what to expect when she placed her card near the board. Watching the device recognize her card, she waited until it blinked green and a checkmark flashed.

"You did it," Su congratulated her.

Selestra turned to face Su. "Thank you for your assistance. I really appreciate what you have done for me."

Patting Selestra on the shoulder, Su said, "Don't worry about it. Those of us who have more experience should look out for the noobies."

Both Selestra and Su moved away from the board to allow others access to it.

Su mentioned some other tips, related to noobies joining parties, before heading off to matters she needed to handle. Waving back at Selestra, Su made her way towards the exits of the tower, disappearing into the crowd of students.

Thinking about the things Su mentioned, Selestra thought back to the directions on the flyer. It had said the party would be waiting to meet up around noon at the entrance into the city.

The party must've been eager to gain an additional member to include a time in addition to the notification system the guild had set up. Looking at the guild's kiosk, she noticed a device that tracked the movement of the sun and moon.

Judging by where the sun was, it was still some time before the team would be waiting for potential members.

This would give her enough time to gather some supplies and update her armor. Usually, a mage wouldn't wear too much armor, but Selestra now understood that the world was never predictable.

Just because an area was meant for a particular rank, it didn't mean that this would actually be the case.

Stopping by her place, she informed Charles and Meredith about what she would be doing. They were still unhappy that she decided to become an adventurer, but they were relieved that she would be joining a group.

Charles requested that he should go with her when she was looking for equipment, so the two of them headed off to the outer city to visit stores selling armor and weapons.

-----------------

When she reached the entrance into the city, Selestra was adjusting her light plate armor.

The armor wasn't the type that mages would wear, but would fit her fighting style. Her chest was completely protected, along with her shoulders and extremities.

In addition to the plate, the areas that didn't have any were covered in flexible leather.

Compared to the school trip, she was heavily armored. With the amount she was wearing, Selestra felt secure about traveling outside of the city.

Also, the armor would help her to increase her strength and endurance. At the store, she picked up a new magic staff to improve her fire magic along with a one-handed sword for melee combat.

After she had been kidnapped, her father had ordered the guards to give her some rudimentary fighting skills.

Being a mage, though she received close combat training, she primarily relied on her superior magical skills. It was foolish of her how she only relied on one method to protect herself, instead of leveraging the skills she had developed over the years.

"Father must have anticipated circumstances where my magic would be insufficient at protecting me, though I tossed his wisdom aside with my childish thinking." She thought to herself.

Thinking of the adventurers that worked for her father, Selestra said, "I still have a long ways to go before I am at their level."

While checking herself, she heard a group of people approaching. Looking up, Selestra saw a team of six heading her way.

"Are you here, in regarding the notice we placed at the Adventurer's Guild?" A well-built man, wearing heavy armor, asked.

"My name is Selestra, and I am a low-B-ranked student at the Academy." She answered.

A couple of the adventurers looked doubtful about her abilities.

The heavy armored individual, who looked like the leader, asked, "For a mage, you're wearing a lot of armor."

When he saw the expression on her face, he quickly said, "It's just unusual to see a mage with so much on."

Trying to hold back a big sigh, Selestra responded, "I have gained some experience fighting against monsters, and learned to not assume a situation to be as easy as it seems. It is always better to be overprepared than to be left in a position where you are in trouble."

Hearing her response, many of the ones that doubted her began to nod their heads in agreement. Though they still looked unsure about Selestra, they looked relieved to be dealing with someone with sense.

"It's good to hear you say that. Many new adventurers go out into the world thinking everything will be easy." A bunny-eared woman said to her.

Based on her light gear and bow on her back, Selestra thought she was the scout of the group.

The rabbit people were well known for their hearing ability and quick reflexes, so she would definitely have an advantage when it comes to finding enemies and getting back to the group.

Once they had finished introducing themselves, they followed the road away from the city.

Unlike her class, they didn't head towards the forest, which made her relax.

"I heard that the forest is filled with low-level monsters. Are we not heading towards there?" She asked, trying to learn more about that place.

A man named Albert, a magic swordsman, said to her in a stern tone, "You should stay away from there."

"Yeah. It may have been a good place to train, but now it has become an odd place where many adventurers have gone missing." Frank, the leader of the group, said.

"It hasn't become so severe where the Guild will step in and put out a special subjugation request, but it's slowly becoming known as a place that new adventurers should stay away from. We are hoping to Guild finally recognizes this, so that people stop going there." He continued.

"We only know this because many of our friends have never returned, after heading there to gain experience." Sarah, the bunny-eared woman, informed her. Her face looking depressed.

Frank tried to cheer up the mood by saying, "There is a field that monsters tend to congregate. They tend to be around D-rank, so it's a good place to visit for developing teams."

Seeing Selestra look a little anxious, Sarah placed a hand on her shoulder saying, "Our group is large enough where it's not easy for us to be overwhelmed. We understand how dangerous being an adventurer is, so we tend to be cautious."

Hearing Sarah words, Selestra was able to relax a little bit. It was very different from how the nobles in her class acted, overconfident in their abilities.

She felt like it was a good thing for her to join a group, instead of going out on her own.

----------------

The trip to their destination was relatively long, the sun getting ready to set. Frank informed Selestra that the group would need to camp for the night, instead of going directly to the field.

"This is a relatively safe area, so we won't have to worry about stray monsters or bandits. We'll still set up a night watch, just in case. You'll be paired up with Sarah for the first shift." Frank let her know, as she was pitching her tent.

Away from the city and out in the open, the stars looked beautiful the way they filled the sky. It was a nice contrast to the setting sun. Though it had a beauty to it, there was also a feeling of dread where the sun would no longer expose shadows filled with danger.

Stowing her gear into the tent and laying out a sleeping sheet, Selestra made her way out of the tent.

Albert and Frank had set up a fire, with Cynthia, the Paladin, preparing the meal for them to eat.

"You ready?" Sarah asked, walking to where Selestra was standing.

Nodding, she looked strangely at the covering Sarah had over her eyes. Selestra followed Sarah as she walked away from the campfire.

They were soon far enough away from the camp where the fire appeared like a small torch. The world was black as ink, preventing Selestra from being able to distinguish anything.

"It's because you exposed your eyes to the fire," Sarah said.

With the faint light from the fire, Selestra could see Sarah removing the covering on her face. "Is that why you wore that over your eyes?" She asked.

"When the sun is beginning to set, you'll need to get in the habit of doing the same thing if you're in charge of scouting or tasked with keeping watch," Sarah advised.

Selestra appreciated the way the older adventurer took the time to point things out as they journeyed away from Academic City. There was a difference, listening to stories from adventurers compared to living the occupation. Which was why she appreciated Sarah taking Selestra under her wing.

Standing in the dark, Selestra slowly began to see in the dark as her eyes adjusted. She took note of how long it took for her to see in the low light from the stars and moon. It really helped to make her understand how a mistake, such as looking at the fire with unprotected eyes, could be deadly.

The dark looked ominous the way it seemed to hide everything. Even with the celestial lights giving some assistance, it only helped in creating shadows to distract the eyes. She kept imagining creatures lurking around them, which didn't help her experience in the dark.

"What made you decide to become an adventurer?" Sarah asked her without warning.

Startled by the noise, Selestra realized that it was Sarah asking her a question.

Taking a moment to reflect, she said, "I realized that I was overestimating my abilities and that I needed to become stronger."

"Does it have anything to do with the forest?" Sarah asked.

"How..." Selestra was stunned by Sarah noticing the issue.

Sarah chuckled at Selestra's reaction. "When Frank was telling you about the forest, I noticed that you looked anxious about the topic. You tried to hide it, but it was fairly obvious." Sarah told her.

Hearing how everyone in the group probably knew about her being a coward, Selestra hung her head.

"There's nothing wrong with being scared. I don't know what you went through inside there, but it isn't something you should feel ashamed about." Sarah said with conviction.

Tapping Selestra's arm with her fist, Sarah said, "Just by the equipment, you're wearing, the experience is something you learned from."

Raising her head, Selestra was appreciated that Sarah didn't think less of her.

"The life we've chosen isn't something chosen easily if you're the type to live a long life. Staying ahead of danger on a daily basis is the life we lead, which is why admitting to being afraid doesn't hurt but instead helps." Sarah softly spoke to Selestra.

Selestra was quiet, wanting to take in the words spoken. There was a lot of things that she still had to learn. It was apparent that Sarah and the others had gone through difficult times, likely losing comrades and friends as they progressed through the ranks as adventurers.

Both to concentrate and not feeling the need to fill the air with mindless chatter after such a moment, they spend the rest of their shift in silence covered by the night with sounds of insects chirping to keep them company.

When it was the end of their shift, Selestra headed towards her tent. As she crawled in and enjoyed the feel of the sleeping sheet, she felt herself smiling with the knowledge that she was traveling with kind people.

--------

The next day, Selestra was woken up from someone shaking her tent.

Having to wake up so early, she was still groggy, her eyelids struggling to stay open. Digging around in her pack, Selestra grabbed some dried meat to eat for breakfast. Tasting the dried leather, the stew from the night before made her understand that hot food was a luxury for many.

Packing her sleeping gear into her pack, she dragged the heavy bag out of the tent. Grunting from the effort, she plopped it next to her.

Wiping her hands of the morning dew, from crawling out of her tent, she stood up to stretch and yawned. She winced as her back reminded her of the quality sleep she received.

Pressing both hands to her waist, Selestra leaned back and tried to rid herself of the ache caused by rocks beneath the sheet.

With a piece of meat still in her mouth as she stretched some more, Selestra saw that everyone else was taking down their tents.

It didn't take long before the tent was collapsed and rolled, to be attached to the bottom of her pack. As she was tightening the leather straps, Selestra heard footsteps approach her.

"Looks like you've experienced your first night sleep as an adventurer," Sarah said. "Next time, I recommend you check the ground for any stones so that you don't end up so sore in the morning."

Selestra frowned at the comment, wishing they had warned her the night before.

Seeing Selestra's expression only made Sarah grin grow larger. "Just think of it as your initiation," Sarah walked over and tousled Selestra's disheveled morning hair.

Glaring at Sarah, she went to go for her pack and pull out a brush.

"You won't have time for that," Cynthia called out, which made Sarah laugh.

Sarah grabbed a portion of her own hair, showing how tangled it looked. "When you're in the process of completing a quest, don't expect to have the free time to brush your hair."

They continued to tease Selestra. Even though she pouted or frowned, Selestra didn't find their words to be mean spirited. It gave the impression of sisterly bonding.

When everyone was ready to depart, they continued on their journey towards the fields. Walking through the dewy grass, her shoes became soaked.

From her experience in the forest, Selestra was glad that she got shoes that could hold out against such things. There wasn't anything worse than wet shoes, which could lead to blisters on her feet. With her magical abilities, she could use her fire magic to dry out her shoes but thought it would waste a lot of time and leave a bad impression with the group.

The sun was starting to reach its height when they arrived.

Earlier, Sarah had shown her some of the hand signals they used in the field, before taking off ahead of them when they neared their destination.

With her job as the scout, she usually went ahead of the group to let them know if any trouble was coming their way.

Selestra learned that when the scout left the group, it was expected for each member to be alert. There were some areas where the danger was lower, so Sarah wasn't expected to scout ahead, but using the information provided by the guild they were able to time when a scout was necessary.

"If a scout is expected to keep the party safe, why are there moments when Sarah is not looking ahead?" Selestra asked Cynthia.

Making sure to keep an eye out for any dangers, Cynthia said, "It's due to how taxing her duty can be. To make sure that a scout is at their best, we make sure to check in with the guild to see areas that don't require her skills and note areas that do."

"It's important to think of a party as a living creature," Frank chimed in. "Each of us helps to cover weak areas in the group since no individual can perform every role required. This is why it's crucial, as the leader, for me to take note of each member's pulse, like if they're tired and need to rest."

Seeing Sarah making her way back so soon, each of them prepared themselves for an attack. If there were no threats, then Sarah would wait for the group to reach them.

"There are a group of monsters ahead of us. There are maybe five of them, but they look like low-level creatures, so we should have no problems with dealing with them." Sarah said when reaching the party.

Nodding his head, Frank spoke to the group, "You heard Sarah. We will be facing a group of monsters. Even though they are low-level monsters, I want all of us to approach them with caution."

Selestra took note of how Frank's personality changed as he took charge of the group. It was a stark contrast to his usual self.

"Sarah will go ahead and draw a couple of them towards us. I want Al and Pete to stand on the left side, while Zach and Cynthia will be on the right side. When the monsters get into the center, both sides will attack the monsters near them."

Looking at Selestra, Frank said, "I want you to stay behind me in the center, and cast fire spells at the beasts."

Everyone in the group nodded in agreement. There was plenty of high grass on the field so the people assigned to the sides would be able to crouch down and stay hidden.

Accepting their duties, each of them moved with confidence and assurance. There was little noise in the way they moved, their experience evident.

When they were in position, Frank signaled Sarah to draw the monsters in their direction.

Raising her bow, Sarah nocked an arrow and drew the string. Aiming at the nearest monster, the slap of the string was heard as an arrow pierced a monster.

Hitting one of the creatures in the head, she promptly ran back towards the group, while occasionally firing arrows to antagonize the rest.

The appearance of the monsters was like people on their hands and feet, each one the size of a full-grown adult with leathery skin and exposed skull for the head.

Half of the group scampered towards them. The rest looking unsure of the attack.

Frank raised his tower shield while turning his head to Selestra. "It's your turn now," Frank told her.

Moving from behind Frank, Selestra took up a fighting position with her staff. Gathering the mana from deep inside of her, she began her spell, "Go and burn all enemies ahead of me, Fire Bolt!!"

Ahead of her staff, the mana coalesced into four bolts before being launched at their targets. Only half of the bolts manage to strike true.

The ones that were struck were flung back, with the bolt embedded in them. Screeching, the monsters tried to get back up but were slower than previously.

The one remaining looked at its fallen comrades, then glared at Selestra. It rushed towards her but clashed against Frank's shield.

"Now!" Frank shouted toward the two groups in the tall grass, before pushing the monster off of him.

As the monster became unbalanced, Frank stepped out from behind his shield and swung his blade to hit the monster on its shoulder.

Black goo squirted out but the damage wasn't effective enough to stop the thing from attacking Frank, again.

Using his boot, Frank kicked the creature away while pulling out the blade in a single motion.

Digging his feet into the ground and rushing the monster, he collided with the monster.

Being struck, it looked dazed and stumbling on its hind legs, exposing its chest. Capitalizing on the opening, Frank plunged his blade into it. A sucking sound was heard as the monster fell back and Frank's blade slid out.

Focusing her attention on the others, Selestra saw the other two groups had taken care of the remaining two that were hit by her Fire Bolt.

With the bulk of the creatures vanquished, the party converged on the remaining two.

Making sure to lend assistance, Selestra shot another series of Fire Bolts at the remaining two. Only a fraction of her attacks struck the remaining two, but it was sufficient to aid the party with dispatching them.

----------------

"Everyone did a great job!" Frank congratulated everyone.

Though the group wasn't very large, the stress of fighting against monsters had sapped their stamina. Moving about in armor wasn't easy and made even experienced fighters breath heavily.

Everyone looked tired but glad that the fight was over.

Dragging the corpses into a pile, they started to dissect them. Moving into groups and taking on specialized tasks to help speed up the process.

When Frank saw the confused look in Selestra's eyes, he told her, "Various parts of these monsters can be taken to the Guild. They store the parts to be categorized and sent to individuals who use them. If we take care of the bodies, ahead of time, they typically give us a bigger reward."

Understanding the importance of this job, Selestra said, "Even though hunting monsters is dangerous, it seems like a worthwhile venture."

"Yes. Many industries rely on adventurers to go and hunt monsters, to gather these ingredients." Sarah agreed with her.

As she was skinning one of the creatures, Sarah asked, "What did you think about your first experience in hunting monster?"

"It was like a dance, how everyone had a part to play in," Thinking back on how they worked together to defeat the monsters while making sure not to take unnecessary risks.

"I hope that you will take me out to experience this again," She said to the group.

"Hahaha!! I'm glad that you felt that way. You have strong magical abilities, so we look forward to working with you." Frank told her.

"We often go hunting monsters, usually in this area, so you are invited anytime. When we reached the city, each of us goes our own way and meet up the next day at the same time."

"If you're still interested in hunting with us, you are free to meet us at the entrance." He said.

"Thank You! I look forward to going out and hunting more monsters." Selestra said to the group.

The way back to the city was a bit more casual, considering there were likely no monsters in their path. Sarah still scouted ahead of them, but the party members were more light-hearted and talked about what they were going to do with their money.

Instead of camping at night, they continued past when the sun went down. Sarah had explained to her that they had camped to get a feel for how she'd mix in with the group. Considering how things went, it was unnecessary for them to spend the night when the city was so close.

In the distance, Selestra could see the city lit up at night, with the moon hanging in the air.

Coming back home after a successful hunt was a good feeling. Making her feel that she'd chosen the correct path.

-----

Several days had passed since the school trip into the forest.

Han breathed in the night sky as he walked around the city,

enjoying the nightlife. There was boisterous laughter coming out of the numerous pubs and restaurants as people enjoyed their night.

Thinking of the inner area of the city, it was a pleasant surprise when seeing the outer area. Such a difference did a good job of explaining why students would leave the campus. Out here, there was less of a feeling of judgment where students didn't have to worry about being on their best behavior.

Grinning at a couple of students stumbling from having too much fun, Han thought back to his own time in college. Hanging out with friends after classes were over was something he missed before life happened and they all moved on to find their own path.

"I am sure those students will someday have to make a decision, whether to stay in the same spot or grow as people," Han sighed.

Feeling melancholy, he said, "Enough about the past. There is a reason why you came out here without your creations. You need to slowly move on from the past, not relying on those girls to coddle you."

Wanting to see the city by himself, Han had left behind Queen, Brittany, and both Anacolis and Aracia, who had arrived in the city ahead of him.

Helania was back in The Stronghold, managing daily affairs that piled up.

While his other creations complained, after listening to Helania's report, she agreed that he should spend time alone.

"Master, we will always be where you need us. It is good for you to spend time alone away from us. Such time will be healthy for you, and if you feel alone you can always call for us." Helania comforted him. She understood that there were things that he was still trying to overcome.

Hearing her words was soothing, knowing that he had people who trusted him and had his best interest at heart.

Being out among students and residents enjoying themselves, Han's thoughts began to wander to more enjoyable things particularly to a certain school girl.

Thinking about the school trip, Han chuckled to himself thinking about that girl. With the way she was acting, it was evident that she had developed feelings for him.

He thought about how she was standing by herself, away from the other nobles and realizing how they were in over their heads. A part of him, deep inside, gained satisfaction at her expression of hopelessness.

Earlier, the noble girl had acted arrogantly like the others, believing their authority meant they had nothing to fear.

Trying to warn them was all he needed to do, but when everything was hitting the fan..., "I thought seeing them suffer would be satisfying but seeing that girl..."

Han looked into the night sky, closing his eye to just be in the moment.

"My friends were right. I am just an emotional guy and could not let things play out like I wanted it to. Something about a girl in distress." He laughed.

Looking back at the street, Han saw that several people were staring at him. Flashing them a grin, Han continued to walk down the street.

Thinking of the words he had said to her, Han said, "Maybe it will be nice to deal with a girl like her, who does not have anything too serious?"

Such thoughts made him think of older guys who'd attract younger women, making him wonder whether him drawing in a girl like her made him just as bad as those older guys.

"Not like I can have normal relationships with my ability," Han sneered as he shrugged his shoulders.

Lost in his mind, Han's eyes shifted to a pub nearby.

Seeing a pub that he could enjoy, Han walked into the establishment. The double doors were opened, to invite new customers into coming into the pub.

As he entered, the inside of the pub looked different from those on Earth. Instead of having TVs all over the place and blaring music, there were dozens of tables with people just talking.

Even though it didn't look like a place that had a lot of money, the lack of decoration and exposed wood gave a peaceful feel.

There was the occasional loud laughing or mug falling to the ground after someone had one too many to drink followed by laughter.

A cute waitress approached him, and asked, "How many are there going to be with you?"

"It will be just me, tonight." He answered, flashing her a smile.

Blushing a little, the girl directed him to a seat at the bar.

Han thought it was interesting how the bar looked similar to those on Earth. There was a solid plank of wood that was polished, with a female bartender fetching people drinks.

Behind the woman, there were several bottles of varying shapes and sizes. As he enjoyed the view of the place, the bartender approached him.

"What'll you be having?" the woman asked him.

Looking at the bottles behind her, he asked, "What do you recommend?" Unsure of what they served inside this fantasy world.

"We have some fermented nectar, called Sweety. It may not be strong, but it's a favorite for many." She informed him.

Han simply placed a gold coin onto the bar and nodding his head.

Seeing him casually set a significant amount of money on the bar, the bartender said, "Sir, a Sweety is only worth fifteen coppers."

Waving his hand, to indicate that it didn't matter, Han answered, "Just keep bringing me something to drink, and anything remaining will be your tip."

"Thank you!" The woman flashed him an appreciative smile.

She grabbed several bottles and began mixing various liquids into a mug. Placing it in front of him, she took the coin and tucked it between her breasts before moving on to another customer.

Han took the mug and drank a little of the contents. It reminded him of mead, but a little harder taste. There were some fruity flavors mixed in, which was probably what she added.

Enjoying the relaxing atmosphere, Han comfortably sat there while drinking his beverage.

--------------

After some time had passed and many of the customers had left for the night, Han was still enjoying his drink though now feeling a little buzzed and enjoying the euphoric feeling.

To prevent him from transitioning to being drunk, he set his body to resist a certain level of alcohol. He wished that he had this ability back when he was in school and going to all those fraternity and sorority parties, making him chuckle into his mug as he took another swig.

"What brings you to a pub, drinking by yourself?" The bartender asked.

With the pub looking rather empty, the bartender looked interested in Han's behavior while wiping down the bar.

"You could say that I just felt like enjoying the night, just me and my thoughts." He said to her.

Snorting at Han's words, the woman polished some glasses. "For such a young man, what thoughts are you so seriously thinking about?" She joked, keeping the mood pleasant.

"I think about where I should go. Before, I would just try to follow what my parents were planning for me. But now, I have the opportunity to pave my own way." He said. Setting his drink down and leaning on the bar.

The bartender thought about his words, as she started cleaning the more glasses. "Sounds like you're in a lucky place?" She remarked.

"Yeah. You could definitely say that." Han laughed. Looking at the bartender, he had a thought. "What do you think about this world?" He casually asked her.

Stopping what she was doing to look at Han, she asked, "What do you mean?"

"What have your experiences been like, each day as far back as you can remember? Are there things you wished were different or are you okay with how the world is like?" He followed up.

Thinking how to respond to his questions, she took a moment. "The one thing I would say is that I sometimes wished this world was a little more welcoming." She said, at last.

"How so?" Now it was Han's turn to be confused.

"It feels like this world is set up so that everyone is always worried about what the future holds. Regardless of whether you're a commoner or noble, there lies a certain degree of anxiety which contributes towards people acting selfishly. It would be nice if a situation where people could happily live with one another could appear." Her face looked happy, thinking about such a romantic idea.

Imagining what such a place would look like, he agreed, "That would definitely be a nice world to live in."

As they talked about various topics, the bartender had to close up the shop.

Feeling a little like a gentleman, Han offered to help her close up her shop. All of her employees had already left for the night, so she was left with doing some final work before closing up the shop.

Exiting the pub, the two of them stood in the dark. All the other shops had closed for the night, so the only illumination was from the stars.

"With it being so dark, how about I walk you to your home?" Han offered her.

"Thank you, I would appreciate that greatly. Whenever the city goes to sleep, it makes heading back home..." She took a deep breath.

As if realizing something, she said, "Oh my, I forgot to tell you my name during this entire time." The bartender said laughing at how forgetful she was. "My name is Hannah, and I am the owner of the Wandering Traveler."

"Hello, Hannah. I am Han Yi, and you can call me Yi." He introduced himself.

Hannah smiled at Han's introduction, looking younger at that moment.

Walking side by side, the two of them strolled through the dark streets, with the occasional street light providing some relief from the dark.

Their footsteps echoed in the darkness not that the city had gone to sleep.

Han thought about how different a fantasy world was like, compared to a modern city.

Where he lived, the city never seemed to sleep and had shops that were always opened. In this place, there didn't appear to be anyone still awake.

Hannah told him that she lived within the residential area of the outer city. Compared to the rest of the city, the residential area looked worn down in the dark.

It even had a slight stench in the air, likely from improper waste disposal.

"I apologize for asking you to walk me home." Hannah sounded guilty, once the smell became prevalent.

"You do not need to apologize. What kind of person could I be, having a lady walk to her home, alone and in the dark?" He told her cheerfully.

"Seems like there are still gentlemen out in the world," Hannah laughed, sounding more relaxed.

As they went through the winding streets and down some alleyways, Hannah said, "This is my stop."

Her home was a small two-story building, with a stairway on the side leading to another door. "I live in the upper half of this building." She explained to him.

As she stepped on the stairway, getting ready to go up to her home, she turned around and said, "Yi, thank you, for being a gentleman and walking me back to my home."

"Thank you for being a friend and lending me an ear," Han said back to her.

Hearing his words, Hannah gave him a smile that conveyed what she thought of his words. Waving to him, she began going up the stairs.

Watching as she made her way to the second floor and entered her home, Han stood there for a moment, an idea beginning to form.

Grinning and sticking his hands into his pockets, Han made his way back to his home where people were waiting for him.