The First Mission

Morning at House No. 102 began with chaos.

The hallway door burst open.

“WHERE IS MY JACKET?!”

Eryx’s voice echoed through the house.

From the kitchen came the sound of a spoon clattering against a mug.

At the table, Vihaan calmly stirred his coffee, watching the storm unfold like someone who had already predicted it.

“It’s 6:42 a.m.,” he said flatly. “Our departure is at seven. Statistically, you still have eighteen minutes to panic.”

“I AM NOT PANICKING!” Eryx snapped.

He opened one cabinet.

Closed it.

Opened another.

Vihaan didn’t even look up.

“Then why are you searching for a jacket in the utensil cupboard?”

Eryx slowly looked down.

Frying pans.

“…This house is confusing.”

From the couch, Liorin let out a quiet laugh.

“You do realize,” she said lazily, “that the jacket you're looking for is on your shoulder.”

Eryx froze.

Vihaan finally looked up.

Liorin pointed.

Eryx slowly turned his head.

The black mission jacket hung perfectly on his left shoulder.

Silence filled the room.

A little later, the trio stepped onto the training ground.

The morning sun painted the wide field in soft gold.

At the center stood Team 111.

Vihaan leaned against a wooden post with his arms folded.

Liorin sat on a crate nearby, spinning a small blade effortlessly between her fingers.

Waiting.

Eryx, however, was not waiting.

CLANG.

His sword sliced through the air.

SWISH.

Another strike.

Spin. Step. Slash.

Dust lifted beneath his boots.

Vihaan sighed.

“You’re going to dull the blade before the mission even starts.”

Eryx swung again.

“That’s impossible. This blade is practically immortal.”

“Unlike your patience,” Liorin added.

Eryx stopped mid-swing.

“…I have plenty of patience.”

Liorin tilted her head.

“You’ve been swinging that sword since we arrived.”

Eryx scowled.

“Well maybe if our master showed up on—”

A calm voice interrupted.

“I am on time.”

The three froze.

Near the iron gate, a tall figure stood silently.

None of them had heard footsteps.

None had seen him arrive.

Master Valen.

He looked as though he had always been standing there.

His gaze moved toward Eryx.

“You were fighting the air.”

Eryx hesitated.

“…The air started it.”

Liorin snorted.

Vihaan turned away, hiding a smile.

Valen closed his eyes briefly, as if reconsidering several life choices.

When he opened them again, his gaze sharpened.

“The mission begins today.”

The scene shifted.

A horse cart rolled along a forest road, its wooden wheels creaking softly with each turn.

Tall grass swayed beside the path while distant hills faded into the morning mist.

Inside the cart sat Team 111.

A large iron-bound chest rested between them, locked tightly with thick metal clasps.

Instead of their soldier uniforms, the trio wore long coats and simple traveler clothing.

They looked like ordinary civilians.

Only their swords hinted otherwise.

At the front of the cart sat Valen, holding the reins loosely as the horses moved forward.

After a long silence, he spoke.

“This is a C-level mission.”

The trio looked toward him.

“We have to deliver this royal treasure safely to its destination.”

Eryx leaned forward immediately, eyeing the chest.

“Royal treasure?”

He tapped the chest lightly.

Thud.

“So… what’s inside? Gold?”

Vihaan shook his head.

“You’re thinking too loudly.”

Liorin rested her chin on her hand.

“If it’s royal treasure,” she said calmly, “then two things are certain.”

Vihaan nodded.

“Valuable.”

Eryx grinned.

“And?”

Liorin’s eyes turned colder.

“Dangerous.”

The cart continued deeper into the forest.

After some distance, the road narrowed.

Suddenly—

Valen pulled the reins.

The cart stopped.

The horses snorted softly.

Valen stepped down quietly and looked around the forest.

His eyes moved across the trees as if reading invisible signs.

Then he spoke.

“Vihaan.”

“Yes, Master?”

“I think there is no danger further ahead.”

He stepped away from the cart.

“Take the cart forward.”

A pause.

“I will meet you on your way back.”

Eryx frowned.

“Wait… you’re not coming with us?”

Valen ignored the question.

Instead, his eyes locked briefly with Vihaan.

Vihaan studied him for a moment.

Then he nodded.

“Okay.”

He grabbed the reins and flicked them lightly.

The horses began moving again.

The cart rolled deeper into the forest.

Behind them, Valen remained standing silently on the road, watching as they disappeared among the trees.

Nearly an hour passed.

The forest grew quieter.

Vihaan guided the horses calmly.

Behind him, Eryx leaned against the chest.

“See?” he said lazily. “Easy mission.”

Liorin remained alert.

Her eyes moved across the forest constantly.

Then—

WHSSHH!

An arrow tore through the air.

THUD.

It landed in the dirt just inches in front of the lead horse.

The animal shrieked.

Vihaan yanked the reins hard.

The horses stopped with a loud snort.

Dust rose into the air.

The arrow trembled in the ground.

Liorin’s hand moved to her sword.

Eryx slowly stood.

The forest was no longer quiet.

Somewhere between the trees—

Someone was watching.

WHSSHH!

Another arrow shot toward the cart.

Vihaan reacted instantly, jumping sideways off the seat as the arrow sliced past his head.

It struck the wooden frame behind him.

More arrows followed.

WHSSHH!

WHSSHH!

WHSSHH!

Liorin leapt from the cart, rolling across the dirt as an arrow passed through the space she had been sitting.

Eryx grabbed the edge of the cart and jumped down, diving forward as another arrow slammed into the wood.

Within seconds, the trio scattered.

Vihaan rolled behind a thick tree trunk.

Liorin slid behind another.

Eryx crouched behind a large rock.

Arrows continued striking the cart.

The peaceful road had turned into a battlefield.

Hidden in the trees—

The attackers waited.

The trio scanned the forest carefully.

Leaves rustled.

Branches swayed.

Then—

Eryx saw it.

High above them on a thick branch sat an attacker.

His face was covered with cloth, only his sharp green eyes visible.

Bow drawn.

Ready.

Eryx smirked.

“Found you.”

He burst from cover and sprinted toward the tree.

The attacker fired instantly.

WHSSHH!

Eryx twisted his body.

The arrow missed by inches.

He grabbed the trunk and began climbing rapidly.

Another arrow.

He jumped to the first branch.

Then another.

Arrow after arrow flew toward him—

But each time Eryx dodged at the last moment, moving with split-second precision.

He leapt between branches, climbing higher into the canopy.

Leaves scattered around him.

Finally—

He landed on a branch just a few feet away from the attacker.

The attacker’s green eyes narrowed.

Realizing the bow was useless now, he threw it aside and drew his sword.

Steel flashed through the leaves.

Eryx tightened his grip on his blade.

The branch beneath them creaked in the wind.

Two fighters stood balanced high above the forest floor.

Face to face.

Ready to strike

Team 111’s first mission has already turned into an ambush.

And this is only the beginning.

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