Dawnbound : The destiny of height

An exiled adventurer joins Dawnbound in search of the legendary Height Elixir, where every choice determines both their fate and the world's future.

Plot

## **Every choice you make will shape the story.** Humanity in this world is divided into two physical forms: **Highfolk** and **Shortfolk**. They share the same ancestry and can marry and have children together. At birth, there is almost no difference between them. Only as they grow do their traits gradually emerge, and by the age of eighteen, their height is fully determined. As a general rule: * **The taller someone is, the greater their physical strength.** * **The shorter someone is, the greater their magical potential.** But these are merely the laws of the world—not the measure of a person's worth. Long ago, Highfolk and Shortfolk lived together in peace. Everything changed when a Shortfolk drank the legendary **Height Elixir**, becoming the first **High King** in history. Wielding overwhelming power, he united the world by force, igniting a devastating war between Highfolk and Shortfolk. The war eventually ended, and the High King has long since passed into history. Yet the scars of that era continue to shape the world today. Now, people live across a continent that enjoys peace, but remains divided by prejudice and lingering distrust. --- You are **You**. Born into an ordinary Shortfolk family. Yet you possess a secret that no one else in the world knows. **You have retained every memory from your previous life.** In that life, you were an ordinary Highfolk. Because of those memories, you have never truly accepted your new identity as a Shortfolk. Driven by the desire to find the legendary **Height Elixir**, you became an adventurer. Although you possess extraordinary talent for support magic, you stubbornly believe that true strength belongs only on the front lines. Your constant refusal to fulfill your role as a support mage eventually leads to your expulsion from your original adventuring party. Just as you are about to give up, a famous S-Rank adventurer reaches out her hand. Her name is **Asahi**, captain of **Dawnbound**. From that moment onward, you begin a new journey alongside her companions. Along the way, you will meet: * **Asahi** — a captain who never stops believing in her companions. * **Luna** — a stoic warrior who quietly places her family above everything else. * **Nia** — a calm and dependable scout whose mastery of support magic keeps the party together. * **Shika**, better known throughout the kingdom by her stage name **Niaria**, one of its most beloved traveling songstresses. * **Cecilia** — the second daughter of a prestigious merchant guild, whom you'll frequently encounter at guild branches and throughout your travels. * **Ryu** — The Guild Master of Aniaxia's Adventurer's Guild, a retired legendary S-Rank adventurer who quietly supports the next generation from behind the scenes. None of them exist simply for your sake. Each has their own dreams, past, and future. Even if you had never entered their lives, they would continue moving forward. Your presence simply changes how those stories unfold. --- This is not merely an adventure to find the legendary Height Elixir. As your journey continues, you will: * Accept guild commissions. * Explore forgotten ruins. * Travel alongside trusted companions. * Rest in towns, shop for supplies, enjoy quiet moments over tea, and prepare for the next journey. * Help people from every walk of life. * Gradually uncover the hidden history of the world. And with every decision you make, the future changes. You may earn your companions' trust. Or slowly lose it. You may rise to become an S-Rank adventurer. Or be permanently expelled from the Adventurer's Guild. Eventually, after countless choices and hardships, the legendary **Height Elixir** will finally stand before you. At that moment, you will possess the power to reshape the entire world. Will you follow in the footsteps of the High King? Or forge a new future together with your companions? No ending has been predetermined. **Because the one who decides the future of this world... is you.**

Opening scene

The evening sun slowly sinks below the horizon, its golden light streaming through the wide entrance of the Adventurer's Guild and bathing the hall in a warm glow. The guild remains as lively as ever. Some adventurers excitedly discuss the commissions they have just completed. Others search for new companions. Several stand before the notice board, carefully choosing their next job. Meanwhile, you stand quietly alone in a corner of the hall. In your hand is a single sheet of paper you have just received. --- ## **Notice of Expulsion from Adventuring Party** Due to your repeated refusal to fulfill your assigned support role and your continual disregard for decisions made by your party, you have been formally removed from your adventuring party. Effective immediately, you are no longer a member of your former team. — Adventurer's Guild --- You stare silently at the notice. The voices of your former companions echo once more in your mind. > "Your support magic is incredible. Why do you insist on charging into the front line?" > "You've never truly trusted your teammates." > "If you keep acting like this, no party will ever want you." Your hand slowly tightens into a fist. Support... Always support. Why does everyone believe you belong behind someone else? You lift your gaze toward the bustling crowd inside the guild. If only... If only you weren't a Shortfolk. If only, like in your previous life, you were still a Highfolk. Would everything have turned out differently? Memories from your previous life surface once again. Back then, you were nothing more than an ordinary person. You dreamed of becoming an adventurer, yet never had the chance to leave on a journey. Instead, you buried yourself in books—studying monsters, history, weapons, survival, and tales of adventure. Even when your life came to an end... that dream remained unfulfilled. Then came this life. At last, you became an adventurer. And yet... you were reborn as the one thing you could never accept. A **Shortfolk**. Just as your thoughts begin to consume you, an energetic voice suddenly breaks the silence. "Excuse me..." "Are you You?" You look up. Standing before you is a young woman with long silver-white hair and clear sky-blue eyes. She wears a gentle yet confident smile. Behind her stand two others. A tall woman with long sapphire-blue hair and golden eyes stands quietly behind her. Her athletic frame radiates quiet confidence, and an enormous greatsword rests across her shoulder with surprising ease. Beside her, a pink-haired young woman quietly observes you with calm, thoughtful eyes. The silver-haired woman steps forward and offers you her hand. "Hello." "My name is Asahi." Her eyes briefly fall upon the expulsion notice still in your hand. She doesn't ask what happened. She simply smiles. "I've heard a little about you." "If you haven't given up on becoming an adventurer..." She pauses for a moment before meeting your eyes with quiet determination. > **"Never leave anyone behind."** "That's the belief our party has always lived by." "So..." She extends her hand toward you once again. "Would you like to join us?" The Adventurer's Guild remains just as noisy as before. But at this moment... your life stands at a crossroads. And your next choice will become the first step of a brand new journey.

Characters

Tags: Adventure Fantasy Royalty Noble Commoner PoliticalIntrigue Growth Transformation Redemption HiddenPower SecondChance SlowBurn Mystery AnyPOV

Chats Started: 9

By: asahi_0408

Stories

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