First Steps in Delmar
The city of Delmar wasn't big, but it felt packed.
Too packed.
The main street was filled with carts, tired soldiers, and refugees from all over Altheria.
The air smelled of baked bread, wood smoke, and the endless noise of the market.
Lans looked around wide-eyed.
It was the first time he had seen a city this big.
"Don't get too amazed," Aven muttered, tucking his hand into his robe. "Delmar is just a place for people running from something."
Lans said nothing.
To him, Delmar felt like a new beginning.
They crossed the busy square and headed toward a small stone building with a sun and hourglass symbol on its door: the Sanctuary of Delmar.
It was where scholars of time gathered—and where Aven would stay.
"I won't be coming with you," Aven said when they reached the door.
Lans turned quickly. "Why?"
"I have work here," Aven said. "Time around Delmar is starting to shake. I need to stabilize it… and find clues where other Timekeepers might be weakening."
Lans looked down. "So... I'm on my own?"
Aven pulled out a small round object wrapped in old cloth and placed it in Lans's hand.
"This is a Crystal Thread," he said softly. "You can't call me whenever you want. But if you truly need me… hold this and focus. I'll come if I can."
Lans gripped it like it was treasure.
Aven patted his shoulder.
"Start small, Lans. Sometimes saving one person matters more than trying to save the whole world."
The Willow Guild
The Willow Guild wasn't what Lans expected.
Outside it looked simple, but inside it buzzed like a small marketplace.
Long tables were filled with people eating and laughing.
Mercenaries traded stories.
The wooden walls were covered with mission flyers and help requests.
At one side was a quick food counter, and at the other—a reception desk with stacks of paperwork.
Lans's stomach growled.
Without thinking, he bought a bowl of potato soup and a piece of hard bread—the last coins he had from Thergon.
When he finished, he reached into his pocket—and realized he had no money left.
His heart sank.
Desperate, he walked to the reception desk.
Behind it sat an old man with a grey beard and a metal badge on his chest.
"Excuse me," Lans said quietly. "Is there any job I can do? Anything at all?"
The old man raised an eyebrow.
"Name?"
"Lans."
"New here?"
Lans nodded.
The old man thought for a moment, then pulled out a paper.
"There's only one request right now. A little girl went missing near the forest."
Before Lans could answer, a cheerful voice interrupted.
"Any jobs left?"
A young woman appeared beside him.
Her curly hair was messy, a longbow slung over her shoulder, and her face full of energy.
"I just arrived today! I'm Aria!" she said brightly.
The old man—his name was Garn—squinted at them.
"You," he pointed at Lans, "look too small for this job alone.
And it's too small to split between two people."
Aria glanced at Lans. "You? Partner with me? Uh..."
Garn cut in, "Work together. If you succeed, you can take missions alone next time."
Aria shrugged. "Fine. I'll take it."
Lans gave a small, awkward smile. "Thanks..."
Garn asked, "Got a weapon?"
Lans shook his head.
Garn sighed, went to a rack, and returned with a simple sword.
"Take this. Not the best, but better than empty hands."
Lans received it with both hands, as if it were a sacred gift.
Aria sized him up, walking around him like inspecting a horse.
"You look more like a librarian than a rescuer," she said, laughing.
"No bow. No supply bag. And you're holding that sword like it's your grandpa's cane."
She grinned and patted his shoulder.
"Relax. I've worked with people weaker than you."
Lans just smiled weakly, trying not to show how much her words hit his already shaky confidence.
"Well," he joked softly, "at least I won't get lost alone."
Garn gave them directions.
"The girl was last seen on the northern trail.
If she's in the forest, you must hurry. Sun's setting in two hours.
Find her before dark—and you'll officially be members of Willow Guild."
They left the guild together.
The sky turned orange with sunset.
Lans stole glances at Aria—she was quick, full of life.
But clumsy too; she tripped twice and dropped an arrow once without noticing.
"Why'd you take such a small job?" Lans asked as they walked.
Aria sighed, grinning. "Honestly? Because I'm broke.
If I don't take a job, I'll be begging the baker tomorrow."
Lans smiled and nodded.
He asked carefully, "Where are you from?"
"East side. Nowhere important," Aria said quickly, picking up her pace.
"You?"
Lans nodded. "Thergon. Small village. Burned down… Dravern attacked.
My parents were killed. I used to study healing...
Now... I'm just trying to save whoever I can."
Aria didn't say anything, but her eyes softened.
Before they could talk more, hurried footsteps echoed from an alley.
A man ran up, breathless.
"The girl! She entered the north woods hours ago! She's alone—or worse."
Aria and Lans exchanged looks.
"If we don't move now, we're finding a body, not a kid," Aria said, pulling her bow.
Lans tightened his grip on his sword. "Let's go."
They ran into the forest.
The trees swallowed the light.
The ground grew wet and cold.
Suddenly, Aria stopped, crouching down.
"Small footprints," she whispered. "And—wait—bigger ones too. Heavy boots. Two of them."
Lans crouched beside her. "Bandits?"
Aria nodded grimly.
"Some pretend to help refugees... and kidnap kids to sell as slaves."
They followed the trail carefully.
Snap.
A branch broke ahead.
Aria held her hand up, signaling stop.
Lans pressed closer, gripping his sword.
Then—a small voice.
"Help..."
A child's cry.
They moved forward—and saw them.
A big man, holding a little girl tightly.
Another man, older, dressed like a veteran soldier, stepped forward with a fake smile.
"We're just keeping her safe," he said, voice oily.
Aria narrowed her eyes. "Yeah right.
Two armed men 'guarding' a kid deep in the forest? Funny."
The veteran grinned. "Funny thing is…
You two look even more valuable than the girl."
He pulled out his sword—fast for an old man.
Before Lans could move, Aria fired an arrow—
—but he blocked it with a swing.
"He's a former commander," Aria muttered. "Be careful."
The big thug charged Lans first.
Lans barely blocked with his sword—the man's strength shook him.
Meanwhile, Aria fought the veteran, shooting arrow after arrow, all dodged or deflected with terrifying skill.
The veteran got close—knocking Aria down.
His sword raised to strike.
"ARIA!" Lans shouted.
And again—
Time slowed.
Everything moved like thick syrup.
Lans dashed forward, pulled Aria aside.
Time snapped back.
The veteran's sword struck empty ground.
They both stood, breathing hard.
"Thanks," Aria gasped, dazed.
But the thug charged again—brutal, wild.
Lans turned—and something inside him sparked again.
Not heaviness this time—
but lightness, speed.
Before he could even think, Lans swung his sword—
A clean strike across the thug's side.
The man froze, stunned.
Lans stood behind him, sword raised.
Seconds later, the thug collapsed unconscious.
Aria stared at him in shock. "First time holding a sword... and you did that?"
Lans stared at his hands. "I... don't know how I did it."
The veteran growled.
But lantern lights appeared—guards from town arriving fast.
The veteran turned to flee into the shadows.
"Aria!" Lans called. "Shoot now!"
"What? He's retreating—"
"Trust me!"
Aria gritted her teeth.
"Fine—but if this fails, it's your fault."
She fired.
As the arrow flew, Lans focused.
No magic words.
No light flashes.
Just pure will.
The arrow sped faster than any normal shot—
and slammed into the veteran's leg.
"Ugh!"
The man cried out, falling before dragging himself into the darkness.
The guards arrived, shining lights on them.
"You found her?" one asked.
Aria nodded, tired but proud.
The little girl clung to them, sobbing softly.
"My name's... Niera. My father… he's on the city council."
Aria and Lans exchanged shocked looks.
As they walked back to Delmar, neither said much.
Aria sneaked glances at Lans, frowning thoughtfully.
Lans just stared at the ground, mind spinning.
Slow motion. Fast motion.
Movements faster than thought.
Nothing made sense—but somehow, everything felt too real.
Finally, Aria laughed.
"I thought we were just finding a lost kid," she said.
"Turns out I'm stuck in a fairy tale—with a boy who can bend time."
Lans shrugged. "I'm just as confused as you are."
Aria stared at him a moment.
Then she grinned and punched his shoulder.
"Next time you get lost saving the world," she said, "you better bring me along."