Before the Battle
Dale stumbled back ."Who… are you?"
The door creaked and Arden walked in, almost too calm for someone uninvited.
"We need to talk, Dale," he muttered, closing the door with a quiet but final click.
Inside, Dale smiled nervously ." Sure, sure — come, uh… come sit," he gestured toward the dining table with a shaky hand.
Arden sat down . He lowered his hood. His face was clean, his eyes glowed purple .
Dale sat opposite him, stiff spine, forced courage, terrified eyes.
There was silence for a while .
Arden finally spoke ." Are you scared of me ?"
Dale laughed nervously, waving his hand quickly." No, it's not like that . It's just your eyes are glowing and you said you wanted to talk. Who talks with eyes like that? Heh."
Arden stared a second longer than comfort allowed.
"I see."
The glow faded — dimming like someone turned the moon off.
Dale exhaled. Relief poured out of him like he was holding his breath underwater.
"S–so, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Arden looked down as if checking the table for dust.
"Where is Selena?"
Dale swallowed. "Selena? Why — is something wrong?"
"No," Arden replied softly. "I just want to speak to her. It's been three weeks since I last saw her… I was hoping we could catch up on things."
Dale chuckled like it would soften the air.
"Oooh, so you're like a friend of Selena."
Arden stared at him blankly.
"You could call us that. In fact… I'm a very old friend. One she will be shocked to see."
Dale laughed ." So you wanna surprise her!"
" Yes ."
Dale scratched his cheek. "Well… she's not around. She left to clear a dungeon. I told her not to, but she said it's an F-rank so she will be home by dinner she said."
Arden blinked. "I see."
He stood. Chairs scraped the floor.
"Then I shall take my leave. Sorry for bothering you."
"Wait!" Dale jumped up. "If you like, you can wait here till she comes back.Then you can have your reunion at home. He smiled ."We were going to have dinner anyway, you can join us."
Thanks for the invite. But I'll pass." Arden stepped toward the door. "Besides she may return late. Don't trouble yourself.I'll meet her myself."
But—how are you going to find her?" Dale called.
Arden didn't look back.
"Don't worry about that."
He paused mid-step.
"By the way. I can perceive something burning."
Dale sniffed — eyes wide.
He screams." Arghhhh! The curry!"
Arden walked out, closing the door gently behind him.
—————
Present Day
Dale sat at the table with his head propped in his palm.
"I can't believe I screamed like a child because of the curry," he mumbled. "What image does he have of me now?"
He sighed.
"I wonder if he met Selena. But—wait… what is his name?"
He dropped his head on the table.
"I can't believe I forgot to ask his name."
He looked up again.
"I'll ask Selena when she comes—"
Few hours went by.
"It's late now… where is she? The food's going to get cold."
He stood.
"I'll reheat it. She must be held up with work."
—————
Arden returned home.
Verona sat outside, feeding the wolves — five bowls clanked.
She spotted Arden and walked towards him smiling .
"You're back."
"Yes. And I didn't come home bloodied as promised."
"Good," she chuckled lightly, "it's better this way."
She turned ." Sit. I will bring your food ."
She walked inside.
Arden sat, watching the wolves tear into food like they hadn't eaten in days.
He thought to himself." The population of the wolves has reduced."
He tapped his chin." The total was fifteen. Five stayed home. I took ten with me . Selena killed five... leaving five . The total now... ten. I can't believe I lost five wolves to—"
"Arden! Arden!"
He blinked out of the thought.
Verona stood at the doorway. "Where were you just now? I kept your food on the table already. Eat before it gets cold."
Arden looked at the table . There was a bowl in front of him.
He nodded and ate quietly.
—————
That night.
Arden laid flat on the woven mat. Hands behind his head. Staring at the ceiling like answers were carved in the wood.
He thought."The king is behind the dungeon incident… no, the Crimson Guild are. The king merely just took advantage of their sheer stupidity to feed his philosophy. So together… they share the punishment. They all... are the same."
He closed his eyes slowly.
—————
Arden stood under the shade of the red maple tree .
His eyes glowed purple. purple light flickered in his palm.
"Come out."
A purple circle of shadows formed .
Four wolves emerged.
And then one — massive — stood on two feet, shoulders broad, claws long.
The circle vanished.
Arden pointed lightly at the giant wolf.
"As the strongest, you probably need a name." He squinted. "How about… Grim.
The wolf bowed — one knee down — hand on chest. It's head lowered.
"Grim… understands. I await your orders… master."
Arden's eyes widened." You... you can speak?"
Grim raised his head. "Yes."
Arden examined it and nodded slowly ." I see so through amplification, Grim gained the ability to speak ," he muttered to himself.
"There are no orders yet," Arden said. "Before anything… I need a way into the Royal Palace."
Grim's ears twitched.
"The Royal Palace?"
"Yes," Arden exhaled. "That's our next stop."
—————
At breakfast.
Arden sipped his tea slowly . He dropped the cup.
" Do you by any chance know how I can get into the royal palace ?"
Verona who had bread in her mouth drank her tea and felt relieved ." I thought you knew the palace when you got your memories back ."
"Oh, I know how to get there. I mean how to stay there."
Verona bit her bread." Hmm... I don't know how you can stay at the palace, as only with permission are one even allowed to enter ."
Arden sighed. "Then it's impossible."
Verona snapped her fingers. " I have an idea."
" What is it?"
Verona replied." I heard there's a selection exam going on in the royal palace . It seems the royal healer in the palace died and a new healer is to be selected ."
Arden tapped his chin." The royal healer died? Most likely was sacrificed," he muttered to himself.
"Arden! Are you listening?"
Arden shook his head ." Yes—go on ."
Verona continued."They're holding an exam to select a new healer. If you really want to stay at the royal palace this is your cue."
Arden smiled. "Thank you. I'll apply."
"You better hurry — the exam is tomorrow."
Arden yelled in shock." Tomorrow!?"
Verona nodded.
" Of course. The tests has been announced and tomorrow is the day. I heard of it myself when I went to the market ."
Arden stood. "Then I should go—"
" Hey, Arden!"
He turned . Her expression had changed.
" What's the matter?"
Verona voice was low."Why do you suddenly want to stay in the Royal Palace?"
Arden replied." I have work to do there."
Verona dropped her gaze.
"Work. Right."
He turned ." I will go now ."
"Take care," she said softly.
Arden smiled ." I will."
He walked away .
Verona patted the wolf who stood beside her on it's head ." What do you think Arden refers to when he says he has work. "
The wolf stayed silent.
"Why am I asking you," she muttered, "I bet you're just as clueless as me."
—————
The market Square was crowded and loud. Merchants yelling numbers like war cries. Kids racing barefoot.
Arden walked through the noise .
A notice on the wall caught him.
"Royal Healer Exam — Registration."
Arden continued reading. Then he walked away .
" The registration is done in the hall of accord... should have known."
He walked .
—————
White pillars. Simple but tall enough to intimidate someone unsure of themselves, stood before Arden .
People rushed in and out — swords, scrolls, beast ears, armor pieces clattering.
Arden pushed the door.
Inside was louder. Tables full, ale spilling, arguments and laughter blending into chaos.
At the front desk — a young beast-girl with chocolate brown hair, cat ears twitching when anyone said her name, tail swaying like it had a mind of its own.
Posters pinned behind her — missions, bounties, notices — messy and overfilled.
She smiled politely.
"Welcome. What can I do for you?"
Arden said calmly,
"I'd like to apply for the Royal Healer exam."
Her smile dropped like a coin falling off a table edge.
"The Royal Healer exam… huh."
She turned, flipped through papers.
Flip. Flip. Silence. Flip.
She turned back.
"Sorry… but registration is closed."
Arden's eyes widened .
"What…?"