Aether Bound

ARC 1:The First Spark. Chapter 1: Where Light Begins

Aria looked down at the wrapped parcel—a sturdy, tied-up package about the size of a book.

"I still feel a little bad," she said softly. "Making you come with me on something so small."

"Hey, hey," Ryoto said, leaning forward to see her face. "Don't say that like I'm suffering."

"You're B-Rank already," she reminded him. "You're used to real missions. Monsters. Bandits. Dangerous things. This is just... returning something."

"'Just returning something,' she says."
Ryoto sighed dramatically, letting his arms swing. "Listen, Aria. Every quest is real. Even the little ones. If people could do everything themselves, they wouldn't ask a guild, right?"

She considered it. "That's true..."

"And besides," he added, grin returning, "an easy morning walk in a pretty harbor town with a cute partner? I'd be an idiot to say no."

Her cheeks warmed. "R-Ryoto..."

"What? It's true."
He reached out and lightly rested his hand on her head for a second—tilting down, since she was much shorter. "You're braver than you think just by taking a mission at all."

His hand ruffled a bit of her navy-blue hair before he pulled back again.

Aria's heart fluttered unexpectedly.

"I..." She looked ahead quickly so he wouldn't see her blush. "Thank you."

He shrugged like it was nothing. "No problem. But you know, you could've picked one of my quests instead."

Here it comes, Aria thought.

"Imagine it," he continued, already hyping himself up. "We could be fighting a horned boar right now. Or chasing bandits. Flames everywhere. Me punching a giant monster—"

"Scaring the villagers," she said gently.

"—saving the villagers," he corrected, thumb to his chest.

"And accidentally burning half the field."

Ryoto looked betrayed. "Okay, that was one time. And the field grew back greener."

"Because Master Seraphine personally regrew it," Aria reminded him.

"...Details," he muttered, but he smiled.

She shook her head, amused.
Then exhaled softly.

"I wanted to start with something my rank can handle," she said. "And I don't really like fighting people... unless I have to. Helping with deliveries feels... nicer."

She pictured the AetherBound Guild hall—the warm light, wood walls, the sound of members sharing meals. Compared to that, Marinveil felt bigger and louder, but the warmth was similar. People living. Working. Laughing.

If she could keep that safe by doing even small things... that felt like enough.

"Yeah," Ryoto said. "That sounds like you."

There was no judgment in his tone. Just understanding.

They walked in comfortable silence.

Then a gull screeched behind them.
Ryoto flinched so hard he almost tripped.

Aria turned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said quickly. "It just... yelled in my ear. Rude bird."

Her lips curved. "You almost fell."

"I was testing the street's durability," he declared. "For safety. For you."

"Of course," she said flatly.