The girl standing in front of the gates of Pharos pressed down her messy hair with both hands. Because she had run all the way here, her hair had been blown into a chaotic mess by the wind. After tidying her hair, she took a deep breath. Receiving a summon from Nain early in the morning was enough to make her feel extremely nervous. It was the first time since becoming a Warden that she had ever been summoned by Nain.
Most of the Wardens' assignments were delivered through Pharos staff, so opportunities to meet Nain were rare—especially when it involved official duties. Yet this time, Nain had requested to see her personally… but why?
A special quest.
Her heart pounded wildly. She recalled that not long ago, a certain Warden was summoned by Nain and ended up taking on a special quest. Perhaps this time, she too had the chance to receive one. With nervousness and anticipation in her heart, the girl stepped into Pharos. Each step she took, the anxiety clung to her ankles like shackles.
As she walked down the corridor, she saw a group of Wardens coming toward her. Familiar faces—it was the team she had performed a mission with last time. The moment she saw them, she instinctively shrank back. The memory of her failure on that quest due to her own mistake resurfaced vividly.
Their eyes landed on her, and as they passed by, mocking laughter and hushed whispers echoed behind her. The malicious jeers were like small, sharp blades stabbing into her heart.
“I can hear everything you're saying, you know?” She wanted to respond, but at that moment, she heard a particularly piercing comment.
“I heard you abandoned civilians and ran away on your first quest?”
Her anger welled up in her throat but could not form into words. Her chest tightened in pain, and she could only quicken her pace and leave.
It was a memory etched into her bones. Every time she thought back on it, she felt crushed by regret. If she could go back to that day, she would have chosen to fight rather than flee. But time cannot be reversed. The past cannot be changed. The fact remained: she had abandoned those she was meant to protect. And so, the world branded her with the title “the cowardly Warden.”
If only she could forget—but she knew she never could. Because memories are such a cruel existence.
“This time, I won't fail again. I absolutely won't run away. This special mission—I will succeed. I'll prove that I am truly one of Pharos's finest!”
Clenching her fists tightly, the girl stepped forward with unwavering resolve.