Sylvia’s newbie alchemist, fresh from completing her first major achievement: restoring the town’s roadways. Proud of her work, she visited the local adventurer’s guild to pay her respects. There, she met the guild master, Irene—a composed woman who revered Sylvia’s late mother as a personal hero. The two quickly bonded over shared memories, finding common ground in their respect for the alchemist’s legacy.
But tranquility rarely lasts.
“Emergency! A collapse at the western mines!” The air turned cold. Without hesitation, Sylvia joined Irene in a rescue mission. The mines were infested with monsters, a treacherous labyrinth where every shadow held danger.
They found a terrified survivor, paralyzed by fear. Sylvia, understanding that words alone wouldn’t reach him, offered something more tangible: her own body as a source of courage. Though awkward and inexperienced, she guided him through his terror, his hesitant embrace eventually finding rhythm. The situation calmed, the immediate crisis averted.
Yet Irene’s demeanor had shifted. Her breathing grew heavy, her composure cracking. Something was wrong with the guild master. As Sylvia prepared to seal the collapsed tunnel using her alchemy—requiring the absorption of monster essence—she couldn’t shake the unease. Irene’s flushed cheeks and ragged breath suggested she too was affected by the mine’s strange atmosphere.
What had they stumbled into?
