Aster's heart did a little nervous flutter at Kael's words. He looked down at his lap, his fingers involuntarily twitching.
My first real mission since I got here... Aster thought to himself, a cold knot of anxiety forming in his stomach. He glanced over toward the corner where his gear was kept. But my weapon...
He didn't have anything that truly felt like it belonged to him yet. He had been practicing, sure, but entering active duty meant facing real danger, real monsters, and real stakes. Standard issue gear felt clumsy in his hands, and the thought of going out into the field without a weapon he could completely trust made the room feel suddenly a bit colder.
Finn noticed the sudden drop in Aster's energy and slapped him hard on the shoulder, nearly knocking him off his chair. "Hey, don't look so grim, newbie! You've got us covering your back. Besides, you think Elio would let you walk out of here without making sure you can at least swing straight?"
"Hmph," Elio grunted, not looking up from his bow string, though his voice was steady. "If you die on your first mission, it reflects poorly on my training. I won't allow it."
Finn's grin returned, wide and reassuring, as he gave Aster's shoulder another firm, friendly pat.
"Don't worry, we will protect you!" Finn said, his voice bright and completely confident. "That's what a squad is for. You're one of us now, Aster."
Junie nodded vigorously from the couch, temporarily forgetting her heartbreak over Sir Sylas. "Yeah! If anything gets too close, I'll just blast it with my magic before it can even touch a hair on your head!"
Eva gave Aster a gentle, comforting smile from across the room, her calm presence instantly taking some of the sting out of his anxiety. Even Elio didn't argue with Finn's statement, merely letting out a quiet grunt of agreement as he went back to his gear.
Aster nodded gently, a small but determined smile finally breaking through his nervousness.
"I will try my best," he said, his voice steadying as he looked around at his squadmates.
"That's all we ask for, Aster," Kael said, walking over and placing a warm, grounded hand on Aster's other shoulder. The squad leader's gaze was serious but deeply encouraging. "We don't expect you to be a master warrior on day one. Just keep your eyes open, stay behind Elio and Finn when things get rough, and focus on surviving. You're part of Squad 4 now."
"Exactly!" Finn grinned, finally letting go of Aster's shoulder to stretch his arms. "Now, since we have a big day tomorrow, I say we finish off whatever food Eva has left and get some sleep."
"Touch my kitchen again tonight, Finn, and you'll be doing laps before sunrise," Eva warned with a sweet, terrifyingly pleasant smile.
Finn instantly raised his hands in surrender, causing Junie to giggle and even Aster to let out a genuine laugh. The looming threat of tomorrow's mission didn't disappear, but sitting here with them, Aster felt a little more ready to face whatever was coming.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The morning sun had barely begun to slice through the high windows of the barracks, painting the stone floors in pale shades of gold, when Aster was already awake. The rest of the squad was still fast asleep—proven by the faint, rumbling snores of Elio echoing down the hallway.
Unable to shake the restless energy in his chest, Aster had slipped out of bed and made his way to the bathhouse.
Now, he was completely submerged up to his shoulders in the steaming, hot water of the stone bath, his eyes closed as he let out a long, slow breath. The intense heat of the water worked its way into his tired muscles, melting away the lingering tension of his anxiety.
Today is the day, he thought, watching the steam curl and disappear into the cool morning air above him.
The water was perfectly still, save for the ripples he made whenever he shifted. It was peaceful, a quiet sanctuary before the inevitable chaos of his first official mission would begin. He leaned his head back against the smooth stone edge of the tub, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to mentally prepare himself for whatever Kael was going to brief them on in a few hours.
The heavy wooden door of the bathhouse creaked open, and a wave of cool morning air cut through the thick steam. Aster blinked his eyes open as heavy footsteps echoed on the wet stone floor.
It was Kael. The squad leader walked in, a towel draped over his shoulder, looking surprisingly awake for this hour. He paused when he spotted Aster in the water, a relaxed smile crossing his face.
"Good morning," Kael said, his deep voice echoing slightly in the damp room. "You are up early."
He walked over to the edge of the large bath, the small, harmless green snake that usually rested on his shoulders nowhere to be seen—likely left sleeping warm back in his quarters. Kael set his things down on a wooden bench nearby, testing the temperature of the water with a hand before looking back down at Aster.
"Couldn't sleep?" Kael asked gently, his tone lacking the strict authority of a captain and matching the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the early morning.
Aster blinked, a little startled by Kael's sudden entrance, and instinctively sank a bit lower into the warm water. He gave a small, honest nod.
"Good morning, Captain," Aster said, his voice echoing softly against the stone walls. "Yeah... I was just too nervous to sleep."
Kael let out a soft, understanding chuckle and stepped into the large tub, sinking into the steaming water a few paces away from Aster with a contented sigh. He leaned his head back against the stone edge, just as Aster had been doing moments before.
"It's completely normal," Kael said, closing his eyes for a moment as the heat hit his muscles. "Anyone who tells you they weren't nervous before their first official mission is either lying or a fool. Fear keeps you sharp, Aster. It keeps you alive."
He opened one eye and looked over at the younger boy, his expression warm and grounding. "The trick isn't to get rid of the nervousness. It's just learning how to carry it so it doesn't heavy your hands when you need them."
After another few minutes of quiet, comforting conversation between Kael and Aster, the heavy wooden door groaned open once more.
"Ah! I knew I smelled hot water!" Finn's loud voice shattered the morning peace as he strode into the bathhouse, stark naked and completely unbothered, yawning widely with his arms stretched high.
Right behind him walked Elio, looking thoroughly annoyed to be sharing a timezone with Finn. He had his usual scowl, though his eyes were still half-closed with sleep.
"Oh, look at that, the Captain and the newbie are already bonding," Finn grinned, splashing carelessly into the water right next to Aster, sending a mini-wave over the edge. "Morning, boss. Morning, Aster!"
"You're too loud for this hour, Finn," Elio muttered, stepping into the bath much more quietly, sinking into the hot water with a low, satisfied grunt.
"Oh, come on, Elio! Big day today!" Finn leaned back, resting his elbows on the stone ledge. "So, Captain, are you finally gonna tell us what this mission is? Junie is probably still asleep dreaming about Sir Sylas, so you can tell us the good stuff first."
Kael chuckled, shaking his head as the peaceful bathhouse turned into a lively meeting room. "You'll find out at the official briefing, Finn. But I will say, we're heading out past the lower valley. So expect a lot of walking."
"Ugh, hiking," Finn groaned, splashing his face with water. "Aster, if my legs give out, you're carrying me."
"He'd drop you within three paces," Elio remarked dryly, eyes closed. "And I would laugh."
Sitting in the warm water, surrounded by the banter of his squadmates, Aster found the last bits of his morning anxiety finally melting away.
After finishing their baths, the squad gathered in the dining hall for a quick, hearty breakfast prepared by Eva—who strictly monitored Finn to make sure he didn't steal anyone else's rations.
Now, the morning sun was high in the sky, and NL4 was officially on the move.
The stone walls of the castle had long since faded behind them, replaced by the sweeping, vibrant green landscapes of the lower valley. Dirt crunched beneath their boots as they marched along the winding trail.
Kael walked at the front, leading the pace with a steady, watchful eye on the surrounding treeline. Eva walked near him, her usual calm demeanor keeping the rhythm of the march grounded. Finn and Junie were a few paces behind, with Finn currently trying to mimic Sir Sylas's "noble posture," much to Junie's immense annoyance.
"Stop it, Finn! You look like you have a cramp in your neck!" she hissed, shoving his shoulder.
Aster walked near the center of the formation, right next to Elio. He adjusted the straps of his gear, his eyes darting to the dense forests flanking the path. The nervous flutter from the morning was back, but looking at the backs of his squadmates walking confidently ahead of him, he took a deep breath and focused on keeping his pace.
"Keep your eyes on the path, Aster," Elio said quietly from his side, his bow already unslung and resting loosely in his hand. "The valley looks peaceful, but things can change in a heartbeat out here."