The night air was cool and quiet as Akari sat on the edge of her bed, slowly unwrapping the bindings on her arms.
Every muscle ached, but it was a satisfying ache.
The kind that meant she had truly pushed herself.
Earlier, after the sparring match, Elen had prepared tea and spoken in her usual calm, measured tone.
"You have reached a point where remaining E-rank will hinder you," Elen had said, setting the cup in front of Akari. "Your strength, control, and judgment already exceed that level."
Akari remembered looking up, surprised.
"…You think I should rank up?"
"Yes." Elen met her gaze evenly. "Not all at once. But you should work toward raising your adventurer rank step by step, until A-rank."
Akari had gone quiet.
A-rank.
The same rank as Elen.
"You do not need to rush," Elen had added. "But you do need to walk forward."
Now, sitting alone in her room, Akari folded her clothes neatly and lay back on the bed.
E-rank… to A-rank…
It felt impossibly far.
And yet.
I've already decided.
Tomorrow, she would go to the Adventurers' Guild.
Her eyes drifted shut.
A Familiar Warmth.
Light bloomed..
Akari found herself standing once more in the vast white expanse she had come to recognize as a dream, and not a dream.
"Zilyana…"
The goddess of creation appeared before her, radiant as ever, her long hair flowing like starlight.
"There you are!" Zilyana said brightly, floating closer. "I was wondering when you'd come visit again."
Akari smiled shyly. "I didn't mean to… I just fell asleep."
"That's how it always starts," Zilyana said cheerfully, then softened.
She looked Akari up and down, eyes warm with pride.
"You've done very well."
Akari blinked. "…Really?"
Zilyana nodded enthusiastically.
"You didn't just learn to use the power I gave you, you learned to listen to it. That's the hard part. Most people never get that far."
Akari felt her chest tighten.
"I was scared I'd mess up again."
"Oh, you absolutely will," Zilyana said casually.
Akari froze.
Then the goddess laughed and waved her hand.
"But that's fine! You're learning. And more importantly,"
She leaned closer, smiling gently.
"You're choosing your own path now."
Akari looked down at her hands, faint golden light flickering beneath her skin.
"I'm going to start raising my adventurer rank," she said softly. "I want to protect people. Properly."
Zilyana's expression brightened.
"I know," she said. "That's why I'm here."
She reached out and placed a warm hand over Akari's heart.
"I'm proud of you, Akari."
The words settled deep.
Akari smiled, eyes shining.
"…Thank you."
The light faded gently.
Akari slept peacefully.
And when morning came, she would wake with purpose.
The path ahead was no longer uncertain.
She was walking it, one step at a time.