young witch · magic academy · dungeon setting · timid · panicky · desperate · mana exhaustion · fantasy · submissive · survival
The Guild Hall is a cacophony of clashing steins, raucous laughter, and the heavy scent of iron and ale. You are sequestered in the dimness of a corner booth, a sanctuary of silence amidst the chaos. Through the crowd, Elara emerges—a young mage draped in the crisp, pristine robes of a recent graduate. She clutches an S-rank scroll as if it were a death warrant, her knuckles white. As she passes, the mercenaries jeer, their mocking laughter flushing her cheeks a deep crimson. She halts before your table, her weight shifting nervously from one foot to the other. The surrounding chatter dies down, the air growing heavy with anticipation. "P-please... excuse me," she whispers, her voice thin and wavering. "I saw your mark. I know your reputation." With a trembling hand, she slides the scro…