M came quietly, the sun peeking through the curtains as Zora remained fast asleep. Li, however, was wide awake and filled with energy. She rushed over to Zora's bed and shook him vigorously. "Papa, wake up! It's time! The trials are today! We 't be te!". Zroaned, crag one eye open to see Li's excited face. Her fidend excitement from the day before had returned in full force. Though he was still worried, he couldn't help but smile. "Alright, alright, I'm up," he muttered, stretg as he sat up.
As they prepared and headed out, Zora's thoughts were flicted. Deep dowed to admit it, but part of him hoped she would fail the trials. The thought of her venturing into the dangerous world of adventuring made his heart heavy. But above all, he wanted Li's happiness, even if it meaing her walk a path he feared.
---
When they arrived at the guild, the usual lively atmosphere was subdued. Adventurers spoke in hushed tones, and there alpable tension in the air. "What's going on?" Zora asked the receptionist. The woman sighed. "There was an urgent mission st night. We sent out our top adventurers, but they haven't returned yet. Because of this, the trials have been deyed." Li's initial disappoi quickly shifted to . "Do you think they'll be okay?" she asked, her voice soft. "We hope so," the woman replied. Li turo Zora. "I want to wait here until they e back. I hope they all return safely." Zora hesitated. "They might not return for a while, Li. You don't o wait here all day." But Li's determination was unwavering. "I'll wait, Papa. It's the least I do." Zora sighed and gave in. He left briefly to fetch food for her and theuro wait with her.
---
Evening fell, and just as the guild reparing to close for the day, the adventurers finally returheir mission had been a success, but their faces were grim. The usual cheers and celebrations were absent, repced by a plete silence. "What happened?" someone asked, breaking the tension. One of the adventurers spoke, his voice heavy. "One of our rades… didn't make it back. We don't know where he is. He went missing during the mission." The guild fell silent. Li's face dropped as she processed the news. Zora saw his ce.
"Do you see now, Li?" he said quietly. "Adventuring isn't always about glory and good stories. There's risk, loss, aache. I'm not telling you to quit, but… maybe resider. Is this really the life you want?" Li didn't respond immediately. After a moment, she turo Zora. " we stay in this town for a while? I… o think about it."
Zora nodded. "Of course."
---
The days passed, but Li was quiet and withdrawn, her usual energy gone. Zora couldn't stand seeing her like this. He tried everything to cheer her up—jokes, stories, her favorite foods—but nothing seemed to work. She smiled occasionally, but Zora k wasn't genuine.
One day, Zora went to the guild alone. He approached the receptionist and asked about the mission. "What do you want to know?" she asked, curious. "Just… curious," Zora said evasively. After some persistence, he learhe details: the mission location, its dangers, and the lost adventurer's st known whereabouts. That night, while Li slept, Zora quietly left the lodge.
---
The location was an a ruin oskirts of town, filled with puzzles and traps. Navigating it was no easy task, but Zora's experience, served him well.
The First Puzzle: Bahe EnergyIn the first chamber, floating lowed faintly, each a different color: red, blue, green, and white. The air buzzed with energy, and an inscription carved into the floor read:"Bance sustains, chaos es." Z the orbs, his eyes sing the room. "Simple enough," he muttered. Lifting his hand, he released a stream of soft, blue energy, stabilizing the movement of the orbs. Their light fred briefly as they aligned, pulsing in rhythm. Zora adjusted the flow with precise trol, watg as the room filled with satisfa. When the puzzle resolved, the pedestal in the ter sank, revealing the way forward. Zora stepped through without any pause , his movements steady and effit.
The Corridor of TrapsThe hallway ahead was dark, but Zora's sharp vision caught the faint outlines of pressure ptes on the floor and small holes in the walls. "Standard," he remarked quietly. As the traps activated, Zora moved swiftly, sidestepping spears that shot from the walls and hopping lightly over colpsing tiles. His pace remaieady, his fareadable. When a massive bde swung down from above, he deflected it with a small burst of energy, shattering the meism. When the hallway was clear, Zora simply dusted off his hands and tinued forward, no aowledgment to the challenges behind him.
The Final Room: Guardian of the Rui chamber was vast ay, the adventurer lying unscious at the ter, surrounded by glowing red sigils. A low growl echoed from the shadows as a massive stone guardian emerged, its molten eyes fixed on Zora. Zora stopped and sized up the creature. "A guardian. Of course." The guardian charged without warning, its molten fist smming down where Zora stood. With a quick step to the side, Zora avoided the impact, releasing a sharp wave of energy that struck the guardian's shoulder, crag its stone armor. The guardian roared and swung again. Zora ducked, tering with a focused strike to its chest. The guardian staggered but did not fall. Zora sighed lightly. "This would be easier if you weren't in the way." With a fluid motion, Zora summoned a rger surge of energy, f it into a glowing bde. When the guardian lunged again, Zora stepped forward, striking its core with precision. The guardian froze, cracks spreading across its body before it crumbled into pieces. Zora walked past the remains without looking back.
He walked toward the missing advehe man was injured but alive. Zora helped him escape the ruins, ensuring his safety without waking up the adventurer. Oside, Zora found a quiet spot he main road. He pced the adventurer under a tree, ensuring he would be visible to any passersby. In the distance, he spotted a mert cart approag. Zora turned and walked back toward the lodge without a sed gnce, muttering only, "That's done."
---
M came, and once again, Li was the one waking Zora. "Papa, wake up! The adventurer returned! He's alive! Isn't that amazing?". Her voice was full of joy, and she ractically dang around the room. Zora smiled, relieved to see her happy again. But then, her demeanor ged. She stopped mid-spin and looked at Zora seriously. Zora's heart sank. Did she see me sneak out st night? he wondered, panic creeping in.
But before he could say anything, Li threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Papa, I've been thinking," she said, her voice steady. "You're right, being an adventurer won't always give me good stories to tell. But that's exactly why I want to do it. For the good and the bad, because that's what being an adventurer is all about. It's what makes me happy." She pulled bad looked him in the eyes. "So… I still bee an adventurer?"
Zora stared at her, his mind rag. He wao protect her, to keep her safe from the dangers of the world. But he also knew he couldn't deny her dreams. Finally, he sighed and nodded. "If this is what you truly want, Li, then I won't stop you." Li's face lit up, and she hugged him again. "Thank you, Papa! I promise I'll make you proud!"
Now Li is again filled with excitement as she prepares for her trials, her dream of being an adventurer closer than ever. Zora, despite his lingering worries, 't help but smile as he watches her.
