The sixth morning came quietly.
The golden glow of dawn crept through the windowpanes of the rookie house, but there were no sleepy greetings, no smell of warm tea or breakfast stew. No clatter of bowls. No laughter from the hallway.
No sign of routine.
Just the sound of half-tied boots on wood.
Selena was the first to the door, hair unkempt, armor strapped on hastily. She didn't wait for the others.
Rika followed next, yawning hard, eyes still glazed from lack of sleep. She rubbed her temples as she stepped into her boots, the motion slow, sluggish.
Hina barely had time to throw her cloak over her night tunic before shuffling out. Yuzu was brushing her hair with one hand and fumbling to tie her staff's holster with the other.
Lio, for once, didn't say anything as he yanked on his belt. Even the Greenie on his head looked a bit concerned, bouncing less than usual.
There were no greetings, no teasing. Not even a nod from one to another.
They were all focused on one thing, getting to the board before anyone else.
Red stood at the far wall, arms folded, gaze quiet.
He watched them leave in silence.
The Adventurer's Guild was still half asleep when they arrived.
The hearth hadn't even been lit yet, and the morning shift clerk was only halfway through her yawn when the rookies burst in like a storm.
"We're taking the herb gathering quests again," Selena said.
"All three," Rika added.
Sophia had just stepped behind the counter, scrolls still in her hands. "You're early. Again."
Lio pointed at the board. "We want these three. Same areas."
Sophia blinked, then slowly picked up the three requests and laid them on the counter.
Sophia: "West hills, east marsh, south orchard again? Exact same as yesterday."
"We're familiar with the terrain now," Hina said softly.
Sophia hesitated, glancing at them all. "You kids look rough."
"No time," Selena said. "We want to start immediately."
"Skipping breakfast?" Sophia asked.
Silence.
Sophia sighed and stamped the papers. "Fine. Just… try not to collapse."
The group said nothing as they turned and left.
Red was already standing at the doorway, having followed them without a word. His expression hadn't changed.
But his eyes… had narrowed slightly.
West Hills – Selena & Hina
The climb felt longer today.
Selena wiped sweat from her brow after just fifteen minutes, something she hadn't done the day before. Her boots dragged more. Hina tripped twice, and one of their bags tore on a rock edge.
The Whisperblossoms still grew, waving gently in the wind, but their fingers shook as they plucked them.
"I… I think I forgot my waterskin," Hina muttered, cheeks flushed.
Selena passed her a half-filled bottle, saying nothing. Her lips were pale.
They worked in silence for over two hours, neither wanting to admit how lightheaded they felt.
When they finally filled their satchels, Hina sat down without asking. Selena stayed on her feet, swaying slightly, then knelt slowly beside her.
East Marsh – Yuzu and Rika
The swamp was somehow hotter today. Muggy. Heavier.
Mosquitoes buzzed louder. The reeds rustled more. Every step felt like pulling through tar.
Rika had to catch Yuzu twice when she stumbled.
"Careful," she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual bite.
"Sorry… I just feel kind of dizzy," Yuzu whispered, clutching her staff for balance.
They still gathered Feverroot and Nightgrass. Slowly. Sloppily.
Rika's arrow tips were dulled with mud. Yuzu's collection pouch was only two-thirds full when she sank down onto a mossy stump and let out a long sigh.
Yuzu: "Let's… just rest a minute," she said, voice thin.
Rika didn't argue.
South Orchard – Lio and Greenie
Lio groaned as he bent down for the hundredth time, his knees stiff and his breath shallow.
The Greenie hopped around, trying to be helpful, tugging at Sunberry Root vines, chirping at birds, and once rolling down a hill like a gelatinous green ball of chaos.
Lio barely noticed.
He hadn't eaten. Hadn't even had water. His limbs felt like lead.
"Just a few more…" he muttered, reaching into a shrub and accidentally getting scratched again.
The sun felt hotter than yesterday, the trees less shady. His hands trembled as he pulled the last bundle of herbs and tied off the sack.
"I'm fine," he whispered to no one in particular. "Totally fine…"
The Greenie hopped onto his head again and let out a worried little chirp.
They arrived just before closing, barely.
One by one, the groups trickled in, slower than ever.
Selena and Hina looked like they'd come from a funeral. Mud-streaked, legs stiff, their gear barely fastened.
Yuzu and Rika moved in silence, eyes down, clothes wet and reeking of swamp.
Lio stumbled through the door last, dragging his satchel behind him like a corpse. The Greenie sat on his shoulder like a drooping lump of goo.
Sophia looked up, startled. "What happened to you all?"
"Quest complete…" Selena rasped, laying the satchel on the counter.
"Bags full," Rika added, dropping hers with a heavy thud.
Sophia examined the herbs quickly. "Still good quality. Looks like another forty-eight copper total."
No cheers. No smiles.
She passed the pouch forward, and it dropped into Selena's limp hand like a rock.
"You kids need to rest," she said, frowning. "Seriously."
No one replied.
Red stood just inside the doorway, arms crossed.
He didn't speak.
Didn't move.
But his eyes followed them.
They arrived home just after dusk.
The stew pot was still warm. The twins had left notes again, hopeful ones:
"We made extra! You'll need it!"
But no one read them.
No one took off their gear.
No one cleaned their boots.
Selena collapsed onto the nearest bench and leaned against the wall, eyes closed.
Rika dropped her bow near the couch, face down.
Yuzu fell onto her mat without changing out of her dirty robe.
Hina lay beside her staff, motionless.
Lio didn't even make it to his bed. He fell asleep sitting against the doorframe, mouth slightly open, arms limp. The Greenie curled up in his lap, concerned.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
No one touched the coin pouch.
The house was silent.
And Red stood in the hallway, arms folded, watching.
Still no words.
But deep behind his eyes, a storm was brewing, not of anger, but of inevitability.
They were breaking themselves slowly.
They didn't even realize it.
Not yet.