THEIR JOURNEY BEGINS - AKI POV

With closed eyes, Aki leans against the pillar just outside the entrance arch of the picturesque village of Beakdawn. The sun lazily peeks above the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and gold. Aki knows they'll be the first to set off on their grand adventure. After all, the academy grants the graduates a whole week to prepare, and it's highly unlikely that anyone would leave the day after a raucous night of celebration.

"Hey!" he hears a familiar voice call out.

Aki opens his eyes and a wide smile spreads across his face as Yumi races toward him, her golden hair shimmering like strands of spun sunlight. Tied back in a playful ponytail, it frames her perfect oval face with a touch of whimsy. Her vibrant blue eyes shimmer with uncontainable energy, reminiscent of a cloudless summer sky. And her naturally luscious, softly curved lips are a captivating sight, akin to delicate rose petals in full bloom.

Yumi comes to a halt in front of Aki, placing her hands on her knees as she catches her breath. Aki patiently waits for her to recover. After a few seconds, she gives him a thumbs up and flashes that same infectious smile that he fell head over heels for.

"That's what you get for running around in full armor early in the morning," she playfully scolds.

While Yumi regains her composure, Aki can't help but admire her outfit—a meticulously tailored silver-plated armor that accentuates her graceful figure. Though it only shields her upper body and arms, her form-fitting pants, reminiscent of sleek leggings, are perfectly balanced by a modest chainmail skirt.

Resting against Yumi's back is a long shield—a precious gift from Aki. As a Holy Knight, she requires a shield of immense power, and Aki personally imbued his present with secret spells and enchantments, some of which remain a mystery even to her.

"Do we have a potion of rejuvenation?" Yumi asks, her words punctuated by short breaths.

Aki swiftly reaches into his satchel and silently hands a potion to Yumi.

"Thanks. I didn't get much sleep last night; I was too excited," Yumi says, her voice brimming with anticipation, before eagerly downing the entire potion.

"Now, I'm good," she declares, still slightly breathless. Striking a heroic pose, she points confidently in the opposite direction of the arch. "Let's go!"

"That's south," Aki replies, shaking his head. "There's nothing but a barren desert in that direction. We need to go around and head east, where the nearest village awaits."

Aki prepares to move, but he notices that Yumi hasn't budged. Her head is bowed, and her right hand covers her mouth—an unmistakable sign that she's deep in thought.

Finally, Yumi raises her head and asks, "You mentioned 'going around.' What lies to the west?"

Having meticulously studied their entire journey, Aki promptly responds, "A longer and considerably more perilous route. We'll encounter bandits and goblins, at the very least."

"But we'll still reach our destination, right?"

"Yes," Aki confirms, raising an intrigued eyebrow.

"Then let's go west!" exclaims Yumi, striking her pose once again, this time pointing confidently westward.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely!" Yumi asserts, her radiant smile beaming at Aki. "We graduated at the top of our class! What's the point of all that if we're just going to take the easy way out?"

"Alright," says Aki, unwilling to argue, resolute in ensuring that nothing spoils the excitement of their first day of adventure.

Yumi triumphantly strikes a victorious pose and exclaims, "YES!"

And with that, Aki and Yumi embark on their journey, their gazes fixed forward, leaving behind the familiar sights and embracing the unknown.

A few moments after the duo disappears from sight, a tall man with brown complexion and black hair emerges from behind a house. Whistling a merry tune, he follows the duo, his intentions unknown.