Evolution begins with an ant colony

John's curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask, "4★ mage?"

With a smug grin, Mina proudly presented the Magic Tower's insignia, which adorned her attire. She extended her hand gracefully, displaying the insignia as if it were a precious gem. "Yup," she began, her fingers tracing the intricate design, "it was given to me by the grand mages of the tower." Her movements were deliberate, emphasizing the importance of this recognition.

"You know, because of my exceptional talent in magic."

Chris leaned in slightly, his eyes focused on the insignia as he examined it closely. His head tilted, and he squinted to get a better look, his curiosity evident in his body language. He noted, "Huh, looks completely different from the insignia the holy church gave us." Discover hidden tales at empire

As he spoke, Chris leaned on the counter, his posture relaxed yet inquisitive, showing his genuine interest in the matter at hand.

John then turned to Mina and Chris, a thoughtful expression on his face. He scratched his chin for a moment before suggesting, "Hey, since all three of us are here," he gestured with his hand to include Mina and Chris, "why don't we take on our first quest together?"

John's suggestion hung in the air for a moment, and Mina's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. She nodded eagerly, her body language mirroring her excitement. "That sounds like a fantastic idea! I'd love to embark on our first quest together."

Chris also seemed interested, and he leaned in closer to the group, his body language showing his engagement with the conversation. "Agreed. It could be a great way to kick-start our adventuring careers."

The trio shared a moment of anticipation, their body language speaking volumes about their shared excitement and newfound camaraderie.

Mina, her eyes filled with enthusiasm, turned to John and Chris and asked, "Have you two already registered as adventurers?" She leaned in slightly, eager to know their status.

John nodded and replied, "Yeah, we're all set. We were actually at the quest board about to pick our first quest when we saw you walk into the guild. Perfect timing, it seems."

Chris chimed in with a friendly grin, "That's right. We figured we'd start with something manageable for our first time. But now that you're here, we can make it a team effort." He was clearly excited about the prospect of working together on their first adventure.

Mina, thrilled by the idea, grinned back at them. "Great! Teaming up sounds like a plan. Let's see what quests are available and choose one together." With a sense of camaraderie, the trio approached the quest board, ready to embark on their first adventure as a team.

As the trio considered their quest options at the board, the atmosphere in the adventurers' guild suddenly shifted. The room filled with excited shouts of "Kalardix is back!" They turned around to see a well-known group of adventurers, led by Kalardix himself, making a triumphant return to the guild. To their surprise, Evan was standing among them.

Chris couldn't contain his excitement and muttered, "Is that Evan?" His eyes widened with surprise and delight at the unexpected reunion.

Mina, equally thrilled, dashed over to Evan, her smile lighting up the room. "Evan! How have you been?" Her words were filled with genuine warmth as she greeted her friend. "We were just about to choose our first quest as a team.

Would you like to join us?" She gestured towards Chris and John, who were standing nearby by the quest board, both waving enthusiastically, eager to welcome Evan into their group.

Evan glanced at Mina's colorful hair and shifting eyes, then inquired with a composed demeanor, "What happened to your hair?"

Mina's cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anticipation as she played with a strand of her unique locks. "Do you like it?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky.

Evan's response was calm and measured. He shifted his gaze from Mina's colorful hair to her ever-changing eyes before he finally spoke, "Well, it's not bad."

Mina's initial excitement waned a bit, but she wasn't ready to give up. She reached out to pull Evan toward John and Chris, her hand gently grasping his arm.

"Come on, Evan," she urged, a hopeful smile forming on her lips. But her optimism quickly waned as Evan resisted her pull, his voice cold as he explained, "I'm sorry. I already have a party, and we're here to report on our previous quest."

Mina's shoulders slumped slightly in disappointment as she let go of Evan's arm. Her initial excitement was replaced with a sense of longing as she watched Evan and his party, who had important business to attend to.

Mina's lips formed a slight pout as she furrowed her brows in disappointment, her colorful hair bouncing slightly with her every movement. She took a small step closer to Evan, her eyes carrying a hint of hurt. "Evan, don't be so cold. We are friends, remember?" Her voice held a plea for warmth and understanding.

Evan, however, remained stoic and distant. He maintained a measured distance, his arms crossed over his chest as if creating a protective barrier. His reply came out as frosty as his demeanor. "We are classmates, not friends. Those are two completely different things," he retorted, his tone sharp. He shifted his gaze away from Mina, avoiding eye contact, as if the mere sight of her troubled him.

"Don't get them twisted. Now, if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."

His words hit Mina hard, catching her off guard. The coldness in his response weighed heavily on her heart, leaving her feeling crushed and bewildered. Her ever-changing eyes blinked rapidly as thoughts raced through her mind, questioning her actions and wondering what could have caused this sudden rift. "Why is he being so cold?" she pondered silently. "I thought he would become nicer towards me.

Did I do something wrong?"

As Mina grappled with her emotions, Chris and John, having approached from behind her, expressed their confusion and frustration with Evan's behavior. Chris, with a furrowed brow, shook his head in disbelief. "Seriously, what's his problem?" He couldn't quite understand why Evan seemed to be acting so aloof. "Is it because he became an adventurer before us? Now he thinks he's hot stuff?"

Meanwhile, Evan continued walking toward Kalardix and his party, his thoughts consumed by a different, darker matter. He couldn't help but feel a sense of dread hanging over him. "I'm sorry, Mina," he thought with a heavy heart, "I currently can't associate myself with you. I doubt Akun would spare me if he found out about that." His gaze, though focused ahead, betrayed a deep concern.

"From what I saw in that forest, I'm almost certain Akun wants to exact his revenge on all of you. And with how powerful he has become, he will be able to pull it off, sooner or later." Evan's steps grew heavier with each thought, burdened by a weight he couldn't easily share.