After weeks of quests, battles, and growth, Silvia's guild rank finally reached C-rank. The three stood proudly inside the Brunhild Guild Hall as the receptionist stamped her new card.
"Finally," Raizo said with a grin. "We're all C-rank now."
"Let's take our first C-rank quest as a real team!" Fenra beamed.
Silvia nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"
They walked toward the quest board together, scanning each parchment nailed to the oak surface. Raizo's eyes narrowed when one quest caught his attention—"Flaming Salamander: Reported Sightings in Zenith Village."
His breath caught. Zenith... His eyes quietly drifted down the quest's details again.
"I guess... it's time to go back," he whispered.
Silvia tilted her head. "Raizo, what do you mean? Go back where?"
Raizo turned, smiling faintly. "My home, of course."
Fenra stiffened. "H-Home? You mean... you're going to leave me and Silvia?"
Raizo blinked, then shook his head quickly. "No, you misunderstand, Fenra. I meant that we'll take this quest. We're going back. Zenith Village… is where I grew up."
Fenra's ears relaxed. "Oh. Okay."
The receptionist approached with the stamped request. "So, this is your first quest as a full C-rank party?"
All three nodded.
"Good luck, Dilhaze."
A few days passed, and the trio finally arrived at the gates of Zenith Village, nestled between rolling green hills and wheat fields swaying in the breeze.
Raizo took in the familiar landscape. He inhaled deeply. "Nothing's changed. Not even the air."
The villagers eyed them curiously from a distance. Most couldn't place Raizo's face, his features hardened by battles and travel.
"I think I've seen that boy before…" one murmured.
"Yeah… but it doesn't ring a bell," said another.
As they walked in, a child chasing a wooden toy accidentally bumped into Fenra.
"Ahh! A monster!" the kid yelped and ran.
Silvia laughed out loud. "He called you a monster!"
Fenra twitched, annoyed. "What are you laughing at, pointy-eared girl?"
Silvia smirked. "Why don't you try me, you mutt?"
"Now now, you two," Raizo sighed, holding them apart. "Don't fight here."
"…Sorry," they muttered.
Whispers filled the village.
"Is that a therianthrope and… an elf?"
"How come they're just walking around here?"
"This is rare… Two different races traveling together."
They finally turned their attention to Raizo.
"That boy… is he their leader?"
"I think so look at his eye it's different"
Raizo ignored them and walked up to an old wooden house—his home from childhood. He knocked softly.
A woman's voice called out from inside. "Coming!"
The door opened. A gentle-faced woman, a little older now but still graceful, looked out. "Can I help you—"
But her words caught in her throat as she saw the boy before her.
Fenra, catching the scent, whispered, "Raizo… Is that your mother?"
The woman's eyes widened. "R-Raizo…? Raizo Hayagashi?"
Raizo nodded. "Yes, Mother. I'm home."
Before he could blink, Reyna rushed forward and embraced him tightly. The momentum knocked them both to the ground, her tears falling freely onto his shoulder.
Nearby villagers gasped.
"Wait… that boy is Raizo? The weak one with the Gluttony skill?"
"Unbelievable... he's changed so much."
Reyna shouted through her tears, "Lay! Lay, come quickly! Our son is back!"
A tall man sprinted from the fields nearby. "Reyna? What's wrong?"
Reyna pointed. "Look—it's our son! It's Raizo!"
Lay stared at the young man. "…Are you really Raizo?"
Raizo nodded. "Yes, Father. I've returned."
Lay walked forward, eyes watering. Then he pulled his son into a strong embrace. "Welcome home, my boy."
They sat around the table inside the house, steam rising from tea cups.
"I heard from Lucas…" Reyna whispered. "That you were attacked by demons in Galia. That your friends… died."
Raizo nodded solemnly. "Yes. They did."
"We're so sorry," she said.
"You don't need to apologize," he replied gently. "You did nothing wrong."
Reyna's eyes turned to the girls beside him. "And these two?"
"I'm Fenra," I'm a therainthrope said quietly.
"I'm Silvia," the elf added.
Lay crossed his arms. "Wait… are they your girlfriends?"
The two girls turned bright red. Fenra covered her face, and Silvia looked away, ears twitching.
Raizo waved his hands. "No! They're just companions!"
"You sure about that?" Lay smirked.
"Yes, Father!" Raizo sighed.
Reyna leaned closer. "Raizo… your eyes. One is brown like ours, but the other is… red."
Silvia tilted her head. "I never asked about that either…"
Raizo scratched the back of his head. "Well… when I got my first sword, something strange happened. A crimson light surrounded me. Next thing I knew… my eye had changed."
His parents glanced at Fenra for confirmation.
She nodded. "I was there. It's true."
Lay grunted. "So you've become stronger?"
Raizo stood and nodded.
"Then show me," Lay said, rising to his feet. "Let's spar."
He pulled out two wooden swords from a wall rack and tossed one to Raizo.
Raizo caught it with ease. "Let's go then."
They stepped into the backyard, where the warm wind blew against their cloaks.
Reyna clapped excitedly. "Come on, Lay!"
Fenra and Silvia pumped their fists.
"Let's go, Raizo!"
"You've got this!"
Raizo took his stance, his crimson eye glowing faintly.
This wasn't just a spar.
This was his return to his parents how strong he was.