NOVEL WEB Chapter 34 – Mission
Mission: Escort of Bloom
The sky that morning was a soft grey, the clouds brushing the edge of sunrise like someone had smudged ink across a pale canvas. The scent of moss and cracked wood lingered in the clearing. And in the center of it all—
Solen Drayvahn, the team's so-called mentor, stood with both hands dramatically raised like an overexcited street performer.
White hair tousled by breeze.
Burnt-silver eyes glinting behind a smirk.
A crimson cloak trailing behind him—its edges frayed from battles no one could remember.
But that wasn't Solen.
Not really.
That was Isen, the Keiryuu, master of hidden paths and mischief. Disguised perfectly down to vocal rhythm and spiritual resonance—so perfectly, in fact, even the Echo sensors in the academy hadn't blinked.
Still, to the two young Veinwalkers before him, he was just "Mentor Solen."
And Solen was waving.
"Helloooo!!" he called out, cheerfully wiggling his fingers like he hadn't just terrified half the instructors last year with one glare.
Khael Corzedar sighed quietly, standing to the side with arms crossed.
His eyes briefly flicked toward the girl beside him—
Ceyla Nox, who stood with her arms folded, chin slightly raised, expression locked somewhere between bored and irritated.
Khael opened his mouth to speak.
Ceyla caught him.
"Don't look at me, dumbass."
Khael blinked. "S-So—Sorry…"
She turned away. But for just a fraction of a second—
She smiled.
Not wide. Not long. But it was there.
Juno Arkai, standing at the edge of the group, narrowed his eyes. His fists were clenched lightly, but his gaze flicked between the two like he'd just walked into a crime scene.
(…That smile was scarier than anything, master throw at me)
Solen clapped his hands, the echo cracking like someone had ignited a spark in dry air.
"Alright, alright! Eyes front, Team 9!"
He pointed dramatically, finger cocked like a pretend gun.
"Boom! You're all chosen! Congratulations! You're leaving on your first mission today!"
He spun on his heel and flicked his wrist. A small scroll shimmered into view in the air—a floating paper sealed with a crimson thread and wrapped in gold sigils.
The scroll unfurled itself with a soft shhfff, revealing glowing ink that only a Veinwalker could read.
Khael stepped forward, reading aloud.
"Mission Class: C.
Objective: Escort Bloom Clan emissaries to Vernara, the Eternal Spring Village, to attend a sacred Ritual of Renewal.
Ensure safety. Prevent sabotage.
Monitor Voidflare activity near the forest perimeter.
Client: Bloom Elders Council.
Location: Vernara, Southwood Sector.
Duration: Three days."
There was a moment of silence.
Then—
"...Pretty awesome, right? Right??" Solen beamed, finger guns still aimed, now both at once.
No one responded.
Khael muttered, "Is that a Bloom Clan thing… or a... literal renewal ritual?"
Ceyla snorted. "Who cares. If Voidflare activity's even mentioned, it's gonna be a trap."
Juno cracked his knuckles once, slowly. "I don't mind. Protecting people is part of the path."
Khael nodded vaguely.
He looked up at Solen no, at Isen, still grinning like a fool.
And Isen looked right back at him.
For a split second, their gazes locked.
And beneath the grin, beneath the smirk, Khael saw it:
(Be careful out there, my disciple. You're walking a hard roads)
Khael raised his hand, his expression unreadable, but eyes calm.
Solen blinked, amused. "Khael?"
The half-dragon boy didn't lower his hand immediately. His voice was casual—too casual.
"Will you be coming with us, Sensei?"
The air around the question was still.
Ceyla tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in silent curiosity.
Juno remained expressionless but attentive, Taishin warrior to the core.
Solen's grin didn't falter.
He gave a theatrical bow, arms spread like a showman.
"Of course I am. After all… I am your mentor."
He ended the gesture with a lazy wink.
Khael nodded, expression calm, but inside—
His thoughts ran sharp and fast, like wind sliding across a blade.
(Good. If Master Isen is coming… then we're safe.)
(Even if something unpredictable happens… even if this escort turns into a battlefield… Master will handle it. He's the strongest in the world. Stronger than any Voidborn. Stronger than the Eclipse Vanguards. Stronger than the plot itself.)
He cast a sideways glance at Ceyla, who was already stretching her arms behind her back, grumbling something under her breath about "flowery rituals and annoying nobles."
Then to Juno, who stood tall and firm like a boulder blessed with patience.
(They don't know. About him. That he's not Solen Drayvahn.)
(They don't need to. Not yet.)
Khael breathed in deeply, calming the flicker of emotion in his core.
The Wind Affinity stirred faintly around his shoulders, responding to his pulse.
He looked back to Solen—Isen—who was now absentmindedly spinning the mission scroll like a coin on one finger.
….
Meanwhile on Team 3
Raiden stood in front of them arms crossed, coat fluttering like smoke around his legs.
In his hand, a tightly rolled mission scroll.
His voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Your mission is here."
Kaen's eyes lit up immediately, grin spreading across his face.
"Finally. A real mission. Let's go!"
He clenched his fist, flame dancing in his palm for a brief second before extinguishing.
Rael, standing to Kaen's left, didn't speak right away. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scroll, his hand tightening at his side.
(Finally… a mission… A real mission to test myself how far I become.)
He could still see the memory behind his eyes, his mother's last moments, the figure who destroyed everything. He shook the thought off, his jaw tightening.
Lira stood calmly on Rael's right, her Bloom Affinity shimmering faintly at her fingertips, subtle and composed.
(So this is where it begins...) she thought.
(No more practice. No more controlled environments. This is the field.)
Raiden tossed the scroll to Rael, who caught it cleanly with one hand.
Rael opened it.
Mission Class: C
Objective:
Escort a diplomatic seal and vital supplies to the Pyrosend Flamekeeper Council. Assess reports of "unstable magma-forged Echo artifacts."
Client: Ignisar Dominion Envoy
Location: Pyrosend – Mount Ignarok perimeter
Duration: 4–6 days
Kaen leaned in, scanning the scroll with growing excitement.
"Magma-forged artifacts? Sounds spicy." He chuckled, already cracking his knuckles.
Rael didn't react. His mind was already analyzing—terrain, risk factors, Echo instability levels.
Lira stepped forward slightly.
"The Pyrosend council… they're picky with protocol. One mistake, and they'll shut us out or assume sabotage. We'll need to act as diplomats, not just guards."
Raiden nodded.
"She's right. This isn't just about strength. This is about control."
He walked forward, his tone shifting slightly—quieter, but heavier.
"And about responsibility. Echo artifacts that go unstable… don't just explode."
He met each of their eyes, one by one.
"They mutate."
Kaen blinked. "Mutate… what?"
Raiden nodded.
"Sometimes Echo power—when forged wrong, or pushed beyond limit—starts to change. Becomes semi-sentient. Parasites the emotions of those nearby. You'll need to keep your Shinrei tightly bound. No flare-ups. No uncontrolled Vein Gates."
Rael frowned. (Artifacts that react to emotion… dangerous.)
Lira nodded. "Understood."
Raiden held up a small sealed box—the diplomatic seal. The runes along its edges glowed faintly, bound by three layers of Shinrei-lock.
"Deliver this intact. Guard the crates. And don't die." He smirked faintly. "At least not before your second mission."
Kaen grinned wide.
"Don't worry, ThunderDad. I plan on making it back covered in glory."
Rael rolled his eyes.
Lira sighed.
Raiden just waved them off.
"Team 3. You're dismissed. Gear up. You leave at dawn."
To be continue