Trials Of Life

Chapter 8: Patience and Progress

Yumiko shot up from her makeshift bed, her heart racing, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Sweat clung to her skin, a thin layer of dampness on her forehead. She wiped it away with the back of her hand, her mind still clouded by the haunting images of her nightmare. It took a moment for her to remember where she was—underground, buried in the cold, windowless basement of the holding cells. No sunlight filtered through, only the dim, flickering glow of torches lined along the stone walls, their flames casting eerie shadows.

Her eyes darted around, scanning the room. Across from her, the blonde man sat slumped in the corner of his cell, his expression unreadable. She hadn’t heard him stir, yet there he was. Yumiko stilled, watching as he opened his hand, summoning a small flame to life with a flick of his fingers. The fire danced in his palm, delicate embers swirling and twisting into tiny shapes—figures that resembled animals or maybe people. It was a quiet, almost peaceful display, far removed from the violent power she had seen him wield before.

Then, with a simple clench of his fist, he extinguished the flames, and his gaze flickered up, locking onto hers. Yumiko quickly looked away, pretending she hadn’t been staring at him. Her stomach twisted with unease, the silence in the room oppressive, almost suffocating. Time seemed to crawl, hours dragging by as neither of them spoke. She stood up from her bed and started to think of her dream and tried piecing it together.

The silence between them was thick, broken only by the occasional crackle of the torch flames lining the walls. The dim, flickering light cast wavering shadows across the cold stone of the cell, giving the small space an even more oppressive feel. Yumiko leaned back against the rough, unyielding surface of the wall, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She glanced over at him again. He hadn’t moved—still seated in the same position, his back straight against the opposite wall. His hand, held lazily in front of him, flickered with small flames that danced along his fingertips, twisting and curling in the air like restless spirits.

She narrowed her eyes, unsure of what to make of him. The figure from her dreams had been clear—follow that man, guide him—but her mind was still fixated on her brother. How could she focus on this stranger when her brother’s fate remained a mystery? Despite so many questions her dream had left, she needed to find out more about this man.

“So,” she finally muttered, the words breaking the silence like a stone dropped in still water. Her voice wavered slightly, tinged with uncertainty. “You have fire magic.”

The man didn’t bother to look up, his attention still focused on the flames flickering between his fingers. His tone was dry, his response clipped. “Good observation.”

The firelight illuminated his sharp features, casting strange shadows over his face as he continued to play with the flames. The display was mesmerizing—dangerous, yet beautiful. Despite herself, Yumiko found her eyes drawn to the intricate patterns he created. It was as if the fire obeyed his will with perfect precision.

After a few more moments of watching, his voice cut through the silence again, this time with an edge of irritation. “I’d prefer it if you stopped staring at me.”

Yumiko clenched her fists, frustration bubbling up within her. This was the man the figure in her dreams had spoken of? The one she was supposed to guide and help? Surely there was a mistake. Every instinct told her to abandon this course, to focus on finding her brother. But she forced herself to calm down, drawing in a slow, deep breath.

“Fine,” she exhaled, her voice steadier now. “So… you didn’t steal my brother’s sword?”

At that, the man finally looked up, his sharp gaze meeting hers with a flash of irritation. “Why would I?” he asked, his tone thick with disdain.

“I’m trying to figure out why you have it,” she started, but before she could finish, the sound of heavy doors creaking open at the far end of the holding area cut her off. She tensed, turning her head toward the source of the noise.

From the darkness, Josefina emerged, her form framed by the flickering torchlight. Her steps were slow and deliberate, each one echoing ominously off the stone floor as her boots clicked with authority. A guard followed close behind her, the jangling of keys in his hand announcing his presence as they neared the cells.

Josefina came to a stop in front of the blonde man’s cell, her arms folding over her chest, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She looked entirely too pleased with herself. “Congratulations, Lukas Adler,” she said, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “Your payment has been processed. You’re free to go. You can collect your belongings at the front counter upstairs.”

The news hit Yumiko like a punch to the gut. She rushed to the bars of her own cell, her fingers wrapping tightly around the cold metal. “He’s free to go, but not me?” Her voice rose in slight disbelief.

Josefina turned to face her with a sigh, as if already weary of the conversation. “In case you’ve forgotten, you two were fined heavily for the damages you caused and the danger you put those poor onlookers in.” A guard moved behind Josefina, the clink of keys in his hand as he approached Lukas’ cell, unlocking it with deliberate slowness. Josefina gestured lazily over her shoulder at Lukas. “But that man—" she pointed at him without looking back—"paid not only for himself but for you as well.”

Yumiko blinked, her gaze snapping toward the blonde man as he slowly rose from his seated position. He stretched his shoulders slightly, his expression unreadable, and stepped toward the open cell door. “You paid for me?” she asked, disbelief clear in her voice. Her grip on the bars tightened. “Why?”

Lukas glanced at her as he passed, his tone flat and devoid of emotion. “Because. You are Hiro’s sister. That is all.”

The words hung in the air for a moment, heavy and without further explanation. He walked past her cell without another glance, his steps calm and measured as if what he’d said needed no elaboration.

“W-wait!” Yumiko called after him, her heart thudding in her chest. The sound of his boots against the stone floor echoed in the silence as he disappeared through the door. Her fingers trembled against the bars. She looked towards the guard, “Please, sir! Unlock the door!” She said with desperation in her voice.

Josefina shook her head, her disapproval palpable. “We’ll release you soon enough,” she said, her voice stern, as if scolding a child. “But I want your word—no more fighting in guild space. Understand?” Her gaze bore into Yumiko, sharp and unyielding, like a mother reprimanding her unruly child.

Yumiko bit her lip, her cheeks burning with shame. She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Yes… I understand.”

“Good,” Josefina said, satisfied, as the guard approached her cell with the keys. “When you’re released, your belongings will be waiting for you upstairs. But I want you to realize how serious your actions were. The fine that man paid was steep, and you’re lucky he took care of it.” She folded her arms across her chest, her expression hard. “I had a long talk with him while you were sleeping. Consider yourself fortunate you aren’t getting an earful from me too.”

The guard slowly inserted the key in the door as Yumiko watched impatiently. She paced towards the door, waiting for the door to open.

But Josefina wasn’t finished. She raised a finger, halting Yumiko’s movement toward the door. “Whatever story you have about that sword, it doesn’t matter. Legally, it was his. He bought it at an auction, and he had the proof. An auction ticket, fully legitimate. From the perspective of the law, you stole that sword.”

Yumiko opened her mouth to explain, but Josefina cut her off, her voice brooking no argument. “That being said, after hearing who you were, that man told me to give the sword to you.”

The words took a moment to sink in. Yumiko blinked in shock, her heart skipping a beat. “He… gave me the sword?” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

The door creaked open, and without thinking, Yumiko darted toward the exit, her legs moving faster than her thoughts. But Josefina stepped in front of her, blocking her path with surprising swiftness.

“And just where do you think you’re going so quickly?” Josefina demanded, raising an eyebrow.

“I need to thank him properly!” Yumiko’s voice cracked with urgency as she tried to sidestep the older woman, but Josefina was relentless, her arm extending to block the way.

“I don’t want to see you two fighting again,” Josefina warned, her gaze piercing through Yumiko. “Remember why you’re in this mess to begin with.”

Yumiko shook her head, shame heavy on her shoulders. She paused, closing her eyes and taking a slow breath in, steadying herself. “I went about it all wrong,” she admitted, her voice low. “I got excited… reckless, and I did something I shouldn’t have.” She straightened, her hands clenched at her sides, before bowing deeply in apology. “Such reckless behavior won’t happen again, I promise! Please… forgive me.”

Her sincerity was unmistakable. Josefina could see it in her posture, hear it in the earnest tone of her voice, and read it in the regretful look in her eyes. She sighed, a quiet but understanding sound, and softened her stance. “Be patient. Not just in battle but in life,” she said, her voice carrying a note of caution. “Don’t go charging into things without thinking.” Josefina paused, letting her words sink in. “That also applies to your travels.”

With that, she reached into her pocket, her fingers brushing against something small and metallic. Slowly, she pulled out a shining guild tag. The metal gleamed dully in the dim light, a symbol of status and recognition. She held it up for a moment, studying it before handing it over.

“I did some research on you and that man,” Josefina said, her tone calm but commanding as she held up the guild tag, inspecting it before turning her gaze to Yumiko. “Yumiko Hoshino. Age twenty-one, from Jinsoku. Guild member for three years and two months.” She paused, letting the weight of those facts linger. “You have an older brother, Shoto Hoshino—a current member at level thirteen. Most impressive.”

Josefina shook her sighed while shaking her head in a scolding manner, “I don’t think he would be happy to hear that his younger sister spent a night in jail. Think about what kind of spot that would put him in.” She said, looking back at Yumiko with a sharp look.

The shame hit her like a cold wave. She stood there, silent, feeling her face warm under Josefina’s gaze. She had never considered how her actions might affect Shoto’s standing in the guild. Suddenly, her actions in the past few days felt even more reckless to her.

Josefina’s expression softened, though only slightly, as her eyes flicked back to Yumiko. “Despite that recent confrontation,” she continued, her tone lighter but still firm, “your achievements, your recommendations from other members—they’ve earned you a level-up in the guild.”

Yumiko blinked, her surprise growing. A level-up? After everything she’d done? It seemed almost unreal.

“Your actions earlier could have cost you this,” Josefina added, her gaze wandering thoughtfully around the room before returning to Yumiko. “But…” her expression shifted into a small smirk, a mix of curiosity and challenge in her eyes, “I made sure that it didn’t happen. Consider yourself lucky.”

With a swift motion, Josefina extended the tag toward Yumiko. The cool, nickel-plated surface gleamed in the dim light as it dropped into Yumiko’s open hands. She stared down at it, feeling the weight, the cold metal pressing into her skin. Etched into the surface was the number “7,” the design more intricate and finely crafted than her old level-six tag. It was heavier than her previous tag—a reminder of what she had worked for, and what she nearly lost.

Yumiko looked down at the tag, her fingers curling around it with a sense of disbelief. “You made sure I wasn’t demoted,” she said quietly, her voice touched with surprise. “Why?”

Josefina hesitated, rubbing the back of her head with a faintly awkward gesture. She seemed to be gathering her thoughts, her expression shifting from its usual sternness to something more personal, more vulnerable. “Let’s just say… I have a situation similar to yours,” she said, her tone softer now. “I, too, am looking for someone.”

Yumiko’s eyes widened at the admission, the connection between them suddenly clear. Josefina returned her gaze, but her expression quickly hardened again, as if she was pulling back a curtain she hadn’t intended to draw. “But don’t think that means your earlier stunt was acceptable,” Josefina warned, her voice firm once more. “The higher your rank, the more you represent the guild. People will be watching, expecting more from you. So work hard.”

Yumiko nodded quickly, her heart lifting as she glanced back at the new guild tag. The weight of Josefina’s words wasn’t lost on her, but neither was the opportunity now sitting in her palm. “Thank you so much!” she said, her gratitude overflowing as she carefully tucked the tag into her pocket.

Josefina stepped aside, her face softening into a rare smile. “Good luck finding your brother,” she said, giving a small nod of encouragement.

Yumiko’s eyes sparkled with renewed determination. “I will!” she called back as she bolted away, her feet light, her spirit reignited. She waved briefly at Josefina before disappearing down the corridor, the weight of her past mistakes already beginning to fade into the distance.