Adrian Valmont was born into one of the most promi noble families in the kingdom, the Valmonts, known for their vast estates and geions of political influence. However, unlike many nobles, Adriaed the rigid structure and suffog traditions of noble life. From a young age, he exhibited a curiosity and opehat set him apart from his peers. While other nobles spent their days learning courtly etiquette and practig their airs of superiority, Adria his time sneaking out of the manor to i with the townsfolk, helping farmers in their fields, or sparring with soldiers in the barracks.
His grandfather, Lord Valmont, pyed a pivotal role in shaping his ideals. An adventurer in his youth, Lord Valmont narrated Adrian with tales of bravery and honor, especially the stories of Zortheus, the legendary ander. Oory, in particur, etched itself deeply into Adrian's mind ,the tale of Zortheus' duel against a legendary adventurer. His grandfather described the way Zortheus fought with an unwavering sense of honor and iy, even in the face of overwhelming odds. "He wasn't just a warrior," his grandfather had said. "He was a symbol of what it means to stand tall, evehe world tries to break you."
When his grandfather was just 17, full of ambition and bravado, he and his team dared to veo the infamous dungeon of Zortheus. The team's leader, a warrior renowned across the surrounding cities for his unmatched strength, led the charge. The pn was straightforward, front the dungeon's master and cim the treasures hidden within. But as they delved deeper, they quickly realized that Zortheus's domain was not like any other dungeon. Every step felt orchestrated, every enter calcuted, as if the dungeon itself had a will of its own. When they finally reached Zortheus, their leader boldly challehe Dungeon Boss to a duel. The rest of the team was left to fend off the anders and tless minions that swarmed the battlefield. At first, Adrian's grandfather was awestruck by the sheer iy of the duel. His leader, wielding strength that seemed almost inhuman, pushed Zortheus to the edge. But as the fight wore on, his leader began to falter, and it became clear that Zortheus was not fighting at his full strength, he was toying with his oppo, testing his resolve. When his leader was momentarily vulnerable, Adrian's grandfather saportunity to tip the scales. Driven by desperation, he unched a sneak attack at Zortheus. The Dungeon Boss turo him with a look that froze him in his tracks, serious, calm, and filled with an unspoken warning. To his shock, Zortheus handed his on ba without a word and raised his sword toward the team leader. "This is a fight between my power and his honor. Do not ruin it," Zortheus said, his tone firm but not unkind. That moment shook Adrian's grandfather to his core. Zortheus wasn't just a monster guarding a hoard of treasure, he was a being of iy, anding both resped fear. That enter forever ged how Adrian's grandfather viewed strength, honor, and the very nature of dungeons.
This story lit a fire in Adrian's heart. He loo meet Zortheus one day, to stand before him as an equal and perhaps eve his worth against the great Dungeon Boss. But Adriahat the path to greatness wasn't through wealth or privilege, it was through grit, determination, and starting from the ground up.
Much to the dismay of his family, Adrian renouhe forts of noble life and decided to bee an adventurer. Instead of starting with a higher rank, which was one of the nobles luxury, He decided to bee advearting as a D-rank, he sought to prove to himself and others that he could earn his p the world without relying on his family's name. Adrian's noble upbringing, however, was irely without merit. It gave him a refined sense of grad a natural charm that made him approachable to almost everyone. His kindness and geerest in others quickly earned him friends wherever he went. Yet, his idealism often bordered on y. Having been shielded from the darker sides of life, he struggled to see deceit and manipution in others.
Adrian's ultimate goal is to challehe legendary figures, Zortheus foremost among them, to prove his strength and earn their respect. His journey is fueled not by vanity a by a pure and unshakable admiration for what Zortheus represents. What Adria know, however, is that the very man he idolizes is Li's father, Zora.
---
The m, Adrian and Li set out together, wandering the town in search of a third party member. Adrian's lively demeanor and optimism seemed to lift Li's spirits, and she found herself enjoying his pany more than she expected. His charisma drew attention from passersby, and his polite greetings left smiles on many faces. As they walked through a bustling marketpce, Li began to feel a prickle of unease. She looked over her shoulder and noticed someone lingering a little too long, always keeping their dista raying too far.
"Adrian," she whispered, leaning closer to him. "Have you noticed someone following us?" Adrian tilted his head in fusion, sing the crowd casually. "Following us? No, I don't think so. Are you sure?" Li frowned. "I'm sure. They've been tailing us sihe guild." Adrian shrugged lightly, his cheerful nature shining through. "Maybe they're just curious about you. After all, you're a new adventurer. It's probably nothing." But Li wasn't vinced. "Stay close to me," she said. "I have a pn."
They tinued walking, with Li subtly guiding Adrian through a series of narrow alleys. Eventually, they turned a sharp er, and Li motioned for Adrian to stop. She pressed herself against the wall, waiting silently. Moments ter, the shadowy figure rouhe er, only to be met with Li leaping forward and grabbing their arm. "Gotcha!" The figure, a young person cloaked in a hood, yelped in surprise and tried tle free, but Li held firm. Adrian quickly stepped in to help, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "Please, calm down," he said gently. "We're not going to hurt you. Just tell us why you've been following us." The hooded figure froze, their shoulders slumping i. They muttered something uheir breath, too quiet for Li to hear. "Speak up!" Li demanded, her grip tightening. The figure raised their head slightly, revealing a pair of striking, mismatched eyes, one bright green and the other an unnatural shade of violet. "I was going to ask to join your party," they said softly, their voice trembling.
Li and Adrian exged surprised looks, her expeg this answer.
