Deep within the heavy woods, between gnarled roots and thick trunks of trees, a small cottage of wood hid from any ordinary pathway. Five adventurers sat together around a simple table, the light from the candles dancing across their masked faces.
Two girls.
Three boys.
All were clad in black; half faces masked, gear well serviced.
The following were some of their names:
Arin – swordsman, composed, he who flung the dagger at the knight
Lira - an Archer with hawk eyes, ever vigilant
Fen – huge fellow with scar, shield user
Mia – quiet healer with bright, clever eyes
Zev - dual-dagger assassin, always grinning
They were not nervous.
They waited.
Then, like a shadow peeling out of the darkness, a black figure materialized inside.
Long black top coat.
Full black attire.
Lower face veiled with a black cloth mask.
All five of them rose simultaneously.
Yet in their eyes, no fear was to be found.
Happy they were.
"You're late, Mr. Black," Zev chided playfully with a soft chuckle.
The black figure raised a hand, pulling down the cloth over his mouth. His face shifted a little, like smoke fading—and beneath it was a different face from the one that the village knew.
Rael.
In this form, to them, he was "Mr. Black."
Mia smiled softly. "Mr. Black… what brings you here?"
Rael gave them a slight, warm smile - so different from the calm, remote expression he used to face the villagers.
"You protected the village," Rael said. "I am just here to thank you."
Fen shook his head rapidly. "Sir, you have already done so much for us."
Arin stepped forward and bowed slightly. "If you hadn't found us that time, then we would have either been sold into slavery or worse. We are the one who should be thanking you.
They all pressed around, like children around an older brother they looked up to.
Rael's eyes gentled as he looked upon them.
Everything changed when he was twelve.
Back then, after defeating a Goblin King alone in the forest, he had finally grasped one thing clearly: the kingdom would not help this village. No one was coming to protect them. The knights just cared about taxes, status, and themselves.
The village always had to hire adventurers in the case of every petty threat: goblins, wolves, bandits. It was too expensive. The village could not keep on bleeding money like that.
Then Rael thought of another way.
It was during one of his wanderings in the deeper part of the forest that he had chanced upon a scene etched in his mind-the human traffickers, dragging five children in chains. Those five kids were standing before him now: Arin, Lira, Fen, Mia, and Zev.
Then, Rael did not hang on the horns. With a fraction of his power, he crushed the traffickers in an instant.
But he couldn't reveal himself.
So, with Breseark's power, he changed his face-adjusting features, aura, and even presence. Thus was "Mr. Black" born.
Then he unbound the children, gave them something to eat, and salved their wounds. Then he talked with them openly.
"If you want to live… become strong. Work with good adventurers. Learn. Grow."
He stared in their eyes.
"And if you need weapons, armor or money… look for a man named Rael in the village. He's my man. Don't say this out loud, just tell people you're under my protection."
And with that suggestion from Mr. Black, the five of them formed a group from that day onwards.
The Group of Light.
Officially, an adventurer team.
Secretly, it's Rael's shield for the village in hiding.
Now back in the small forest house, Lira looked up at him with shining eyes. "We did what you asked, Mr. Black, work under good adventurers, took quests, learned skills… and now we can finally stand on our own."
"Yeah," Zev added, smiling. "And whenever this village wants to defend something, we strike before the knights do."
Rael nodded slowly. "You all have grown stronger.
His face grew serious for an instant as he stared out the tiny window, in the direction of the distant village.
"But… it still won't be enough," he thought in silence.
It was certain that the kingdom had noticed them.
The knights had gone, but not silently.
And Keal… once again was moving in this world.
Rael's smile was back in place as he turned back to the five. "For now," he said matter-of-factly, "good work." The candles guttered. The forest wind outside howled softly. And within Rael's heart, one thought resounded: "These children. are still only the first shield. I shall need more than this." The chapter is over.