Elyssia stepped out of her room, the fresh scent of lavender and rose petals lingering around her. Her long silver hair was neatly styled, and she wore a flowing, elegant blue gown that highlighted her striking beauty as a mage. She moved with grace and poise, her footsteps silent on the guild’s polished floors.
As she entered the guild hall, her companions turned to greet her with warm smiles. Mika raised a cup of steaming tea in a cheerful salute, while Arthur gestured to the empty seat beside him.
"Good morning, Elyssia," Mika said brightly. "Sleep well?" Elyssia took her seat, the plush cushion molding to her slender frame. "Yes, thank you. Though I did have an unexpected guest in my bed last night," she replied casually.
Her companions exchanged knowing glances, well aware of the unique bond between Elyssia and Mixarnt. Arthur leaned in, his tone playful and teasing. "Well, you did say you wanted to keep an eye on the kid," Arthur said with a grin, sliding a quest paper in front of her.
"It’s finally here. Look—Kaelzar is now an S-rank criminal. After our last encounter with him, he destroyed and terrorized seven villages, even though they had Obsidian to Amethyst-rank adventurers guarding them. They didn’t stand a chance. This guy needs to be stopped. The Kingdom of Naeva has also put a special bounty on him..." Arthur explained, knowing full well that Elyssia was a princess of the Naeva Kingdom.
Elyssia’s eyes scanned the quest sheet, her brow furrowing as she read the horrifying details of Kaelzar’s rampage. Seven defenseless villages had been destroyed, leaving countless innocent lives shattered. The sheer scale of the devastation sent a chill down her spine.
When her gaze met Arthur’s, a steely determination filled her. "This monster must be brought to justice, no matter what it takes," she declared. As a princess of the Naeva Kingdom, the suffering of her people weighed heavily on her. She understood better than anyone the importance of protecting her realm from threats like Kaelzar. "We’ll need to put together a team strong enough to take on an S-rank criminal," Elyssia said, her mind already racing with plans. "Mika, Arthur, we’ll need additional members with the skills of at least Emerald rank or higher."
By noon, Mixarnt woke up feeling hungry. As he entered the guild hall, he noticed that only a few adventurers were around. Arthur and Elyssia were nowhere to be seen. "Morning…" he mumbled, still groggy, wearing the pajamas Mika had given him. A few adventurers glanced his way, some offering nods of acknowledgment, while others simply observed him with curiosity.
Mika approached with a warm smile. "Arthur and Elyssia are out handling some mission planning. They won’t be back until late tonight." she explained. "In the meantime, why don’t you grab some lunch and take it easy? You’ve earned it." Mixarnt nodded, his stomach growling in response. The mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, guiding him straight to the kitchen.
As Mixarnt ate, he realized he only had one set of clothes, and they were completely ruined. No wonder Mika had given him pajamas.
"I should buy some clothes… I don’t want to be called the Pajama Warrior," he muttered, picturing himself fighting monsters in sleepwear.
The thought made him chuckle, but he knew he needed proper gear.
Mika, overhearing him, smirked. "Good idea. A warrior should at least look the part. Arthur can help you pick something cooler later once he returns. For now, just buy something nice." As he finished his meal, Mika suggested visiting the local tailor. "Come on, I’ll help you find something decent. We can’t have the Pajama Warrior legend spreading too far," she teased, leading him toward the guild’s rear entrance.
"H-hey, stop calling me that," Mixarnt said with a blush, making a "shhh" gesture that made Mika giggle as they walked out of the guild through the rear entrance. Mixarnt felt embarrassed walking through town in just his pajamas while holding a sword.
"Mom, look! A kid in pajamas holding a sword!" a child exclaimed. Her mother giggled and teased, "That boy must be the Pajama Warrior." The daughter’s eyes sparkled with excitement, while Mixarnt only felt more embarrassed.
