[Distant Past, Eldion Empire]

When both Mia and Alda arrived at the Empire's capital they immediately headed straight for the adventurers Guild and registered as an official adventurers

By that time onwards both Alda and Mia reap achievements from mission after mission after mission

Due to this both of them ranked up way faster than they should normally would which in turn caught the attention of several nobles including the church to form a connection to them

From time to time whenever they had free time on their hands, they would visit back on their village and spend some time there before returning to the capital

As years passed both Alda and Mia was at the peak of their A-rank status in their guild, with a few more push they would be able to breakthrough from A-rank going to S-rank

One day Alda received a reward from the church after successfully defending their Main Church from the demons that assaulted the Empire's capital

The moment that the reward was bestowed upon him by the church, he was donned by a stinging bright light that shone everywhere of the vicinity

As the light faded he suddenly acquired a skill called sword saint manifestation which allows the user to wield the power of the sword saint in the legends

Due to this the church held a celebration for this piece of information together with the people of the capital, because of this the Empire's nobility and royalty caught the attention of Alda

Using this kind of power both Alda and Mia managed to get passed the trial and successfully becoming an S-ranker

Few days have passed since their promotion both Alda and Mia are now spending their time inside a cafe of the Empire

"So we finally made it!" Said Alda

"I know! You keep saying that for a few days now" complained Mia

"What can i do? I still can't believe that we actually managed to become an S-ranker and not just that but also acknowledged as the strongest dual wielding swordsman of the empire" explained Alda happily as he slumps down on his seat

Seeing him in a euphoria state Mia couldn't help but smile at him which cause the person in question to be flustered

"Wa!... What are you smiling about?" Asks Alda in surprise from seeing Mia's charming smile

"Why? Can't I be happy? After all we've been through all these years... I'm pretty sure that I deserve some happiness" stated Mia as she takes a sip from her cup

"Happiness huh!" Exclaimed Alda

After that silence permitted the place for about few seconds before Alda said

"Maybe I want to settle down!" He said

Hearing him Mia almost spill her drink as she turns her attention at Alda

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"Settle down?" She asks

"Yeah! Not maybe but I want to settle down at least... I've already earned enough... Now I want to settle down, marry someone, and live a happy life with the family I created" he said as he dreams as such event

"Well... I... I think that whoever you marry will be a lucky person because you are a caring person after all" said Mia as she turns a little bit red

"Yeah... But the thing is I don't know when I'll stop... Maybe I should try to groom myself a little bit! That way I could attract some girls and maybe just maybe I would find the one I'm destined" said Alda happily

"The one your destined... Sounds a bit cringe and fantasy like" retorted Mia

"I know but no matter how cringe that is... In the end you'll still be destined to the person whom you'll spend your life with" stated Alda

At that Mia went silent as she drinks the content of her cup with a flustered expression

After a few months both Alda and Mia was called for his majesty appearance and appointed as the Hero's companions together with Luke whom they haven't known yet back then

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[Present time, passageway]

"And after that event... You already know what happened" said Alda as he finished his story up until they met Luke

"So that's your story... Sounds like a story from a typical scene that is seen in a play" said Luke

"I know..."

After that Luke asks Alda one important question

"The thing is... Do you like her? Do you like Mia?" Asks Luke

Hearing his question Alda was about flustered and embarrassed for a moment as he tries to come up with an answer

"Well... Well yeah I think... No... I think I do like her" said Alda with an embarrassed expression

"Figures! After all she is the one who was there when your in times of need and she's the one who's supporting you all these years... It wouldn't be strange if you fell for her" stated Luke as he explained some facts

"Is... Is that so?... So do you think that she likes me?" Asks Alda

"I don't know... But if she does then lucky you" stated Luke

After that both Luke and Alda talked some as time pass, by the time they got their rest all four of them headed out to find the exit

As they were walking both Anna and Melfina patted his shoulder

"Good luck to you boy" said Anna

"Wish you luck" said Melfina

At first Alda was about confused by their sudden action but then he realized that both Mia and Anna heard everything that he told Luke which made him all the more embarrassed

After some while the four of them found an exit atop of the pile of stones

When they got out of the dark passageway, the sun shine brightly that it illuminated their sights making them squint their eyes just to see their surroundings

When their sight gained focus they saw that they were currently surrounded by trees all over

"Looks like we came out at the side of the mountain" deducted Luke

At that time Anna casted a spell making her able to see her surrounding from a high view

"We're just few meters away from the borders villages" she said

Hearing her Melfina deducted

"Then that means that we arrived at our destination and also means that we're near the archdemons activity grounds" she said

As she said this all of them became alerted of their surroundings as they stay vigilant

"Let's head to the nearest village and finds cover... Maybe with it we can be sure that we stay safe from the threats of the night" suggested Luke as he observes his surroundings

With that everyone agreed to Luke's suggestion making them all head straight for one of the villages

**************************

[Dark passageway]

Along the dark passageway the human Hero Hibiki is walking along the path on his own and seemed as if in a trance trying to find something

"Over here"

When Hibiki heard that, he immediately went ahead and looked for the location of the voice

"Nearer"

As he heard the voice again, Hibiki became frantic as he searched all over the owner of the voice

"Your almost there"

For the third time the voice sounded up causing to catch Hibiki's attention further

As Hibiki pass through hall of Halls of the passage, he finally saw a huge chamber with a yellow bright ball at the middle of it

"You've arrived"

Hearing the owner of the voice, Hibiki slowly approached it as he observe his surroundings

"There is no one here but me..." Said the ball of light

With that Hibiki came closer to the ball of light as he asks

"Who are you? More importantly what are you?" He asks

At that the ball of light asks him another question that will change his life

"Tell me...do you want power?"