In Blue Swallow Academy, a small frail mage happily receives a wooden staff. His first official graduation as a Blue Swallow caster, he is proud. Among his peers of twenty, he was the last to receive such a reward. It was worth the painstaking agony from years of training. Now he can officially begin. While others congratulate each other, this timid mage backs away. He wasn't like the others. Afraid to say something stupid, he goes quiet. Shyly, he walks away. He doesn't have any friends. The scaredy mage decided to start right away. To pick out a group immediately, he left to find the famously renown adventurers guild in Broken Tooth Falls.

Broken Tooth Falls locates at the edge of the Risen Moon river. Most who come as newly appointed adventurers. Not a dangerous place for new people, the mage decided that it is wise to go there. As soon as he got there, the majestic clear water greets. The smiling mage looks up at the gigantic falls. People around him awe at the churning of the water. The foamy scene is distracting. He feels a tap on the shoulder. The cowardly mage jumps. A girl dressed in white giggles at his reaction.

"Did the scaredy cat get frightened? Don't worry, it's only me," a big leather covered guy teases. Embarrassed, the mage hides his face.

The girl comments, "that was funny. Do it again, Noel." She anticipates Noel to scare someone else.

But he shakes his head. "Only someone like him, be that scared," Noel grins. Judging on the two, the mage figures that they are priestess and a rogue tracker. He wants to get away. But Noel pulls him in. "Say, aren't you a spell caster. Our group needs one. Joanna! What do you think?" He searches for her.

The girl in white stares at a distant, uninterested lady in a chestplate and leathers. Joanna ignores him. Instead, the footman is sharpening her sword. By her feet laid a shield. The mage's heart pounding. His head foggy. He never seen such a beautiful brunette girl. Noel madly howler, "Joanna!"

Joanna looks up. Their eyes meet. The mage shaking. She's looking at him. Then her attention is at Noel. "You sure? Does he want to join? Or is this your idea?"

The mage gulps. "I-I-I'll j-join. Sure." He managed to say. Then he thought about those words.

Joanna looks at her sword. "Alright then," she calmly says. She then resumes sharpening.

Noel pouts, "Joanna, always looking down at me. But one day, I'll make her respect me." He crosses his arms. "Say, what's your name, anyway."

The mage nervously answers, "I-it's Walton." He looks downward. Walton expects the worst.

Unexpectedly, Joanna tells, "that's a good name. Hardly met a Walton here." She finishes getting her edge ready. She gets up.

"I'm Cammy! Nice to meet ya," the girl in white greets. She bends forward gracefully with her hands behind. Cammy runs up and kisses Noel. "Yay, our group is nearly full."

Noel smirks at Walton's stare. "Lets get one more..."

Later, inside the adventurers guild:

Noel and the others waiting for another. Walton sits quietly in a corner. Joanna sleeping against the wall. And in between them, Cammy clings to Noel. They witnessed a few groups go by. Joanna sleeps after hours of waiting. After so long, Noel asks Cammy to play cutely to draw attention. She fondly agrees. "Hi, everyone. Does anyone wants to be my party member? I promise that I'll stick close by." Her finger places on her lips. A few guys went over to her. Each with eager eyes, they agreed to join.

Noel figure that it be the best idea to allow them in for the numbers needed. Even though Cammy is his girlfriend. Joanna wakes from the commotion. "What's going on? What I miss?"

"Cammy got more party members. He he," Cammy exclaims. She points at a perverted group of four. One of them, an archer stares at her butt. Cammy jumping, "we have enough people. Rrrrrrright?"

Noel reluctantly agrees. Everyone walks over to the registration desk. An older gentleman shows the group a few choices of monster subduction writs. Each are paid by different contractors. But Noel refused them all. With a group this size, he asks for a tougher one. Ignorant to the warnings, the tracker selected a cave subduction.

With a higher bounty for a group of ninety ground weasels, and three ground weasel champions, Noel expects a relatively easy pay. It warned that it hasn't fully confirmed on the numbers. Noel killed those weasels before. This being his third task. Cammy and Noel never fought a champion before. 'How hard it would be,' Noel thought.

The group left together immediately. Noel haven't bothered to learn the four's names. Joanna with a map leads them. Noel wants to take charge. Instead, Joanna volunteers and quote, "with your tracking, I doubt we'll be there before night."

Cammy sympathize with Noel. The perverted four laughing at him. Walton simply smiles. He imagine Noel taking every detour and getting lost. Then he realizes.

From the back, Walton blushing from what he finally noticed. Joanna's backside is appealing. He can't help but to stare. The archer also staring. Both looking at her hips move to each step. Walton shaking his head. He doesn't want to be hated.

With Joanna's sense of direction, they reached the cave. In the few hours outside, Noel directs a camp to be set up. The men build a fire pit. Joanna and Cammy looks for water. Walton prepares to set a fire.

When it was finished, Walton sets the pile of wood ablaze. Everyone gathers around the fire. Cammy enjoying the four men's attention as Noel envious of them. Joanna looks over at Walton. His distance from the flames is apparent. So then, she calmly went to him. The star slowly dying down.

Joanna's decision to sit next to him, scared Walton. The mage sweating. His palms clammy. His head fills with thoughts of kissing her.

"What makes you decide on joining? I'm curious," Joanna inquires. Her head facing him.

He stares at her pale lips. Then Joanna smiles. "I just. Just wanted to earn right away. The tuition at Blue Swallow...," Walton replies.

Joanna looks away. "Costly." She lays back flatly. Walton disappointingly inches away. 'What a stupid thought,' Walton recalls, 'in no way that Joanna is interested.' He struggles to look at her again. Joanna turns towards him. Her eyes warmly looking into his own. Walton looks away quickly.

"Well, we b-better rest. Night Joanna." Walton lays down. His eyes closing. He curses himself in thought.

Disappointed, Joanna lays on her back, "night Walton." She sighs to herself. Staying awake, she wonders about Walton and his behavior. Never has she met anyone like this shy mage. She doubts that Walton will ever confess. She stares at the night sky, pondering.