“I hope we just got here first,” Christopher said with some nervousness laced into every word he spoke.

He was worried about the others, especially his sister.

He didn't doubt Selestia's ability to carry out her mission, but as a good brother, he was worried that something might happen to her. “Please, Gods, make everyone okay.”

Sebastian was unable to hear it, his ears were not developed enough to be able to hear mere murmurs. Maybe if he used reinforcement magic things would change, but for the moment it is not an option to use it.

But among them there was someone who was able to hear him. Mathias, the demihuman, his ears pointed towards Christopher when he spoke and mentioned these words, but given the tension of the moment he decided to simply say nothing.

It was not the time to give in to the anguish, everyone was under a high degree of stress. He also wanted to say some words of encouragement, but those same words might only increase the stress on his friends.

“Don’t worry, my friend, you’ll see that they will all return safely.” Among the three friends, Mathias was the most optimistic. “They are more than capable, isn’t that so, Anita?”

“Diana.” Sebastian’s heart was very afflicted, thinking only of his sister and what things she must have seen. He was extremely confident that she was capable of succeeding in her mission. Furthermore, he was even more confident that being with Selestia and Anita nothing would happen to her.

Still, she was worried about what this new Diana would be like, after having taken someone's life. “I hope you continue to be the same spoiled brat you always were. Please don't change.”

“Hm?” Something caught Mathias’ attention and because of that his ears perked up reflexively. “Someone is approaching,” he pointed towards the trees, none of them moved from their spots. They were all waiting for who would come out of that place, “there are several people.”

It was a total disappointment for the group of three friends when they saw what it was about, Christopher even sighed with an air of disappointment closing his eyes.

After all, both he and the others wanted to see the girls and what appeared was not them.

“I’ll take care of it.” Sebastian said, unsheathing his Katana, “stupid Zombies.” He also looked quite disappointed, Mathias with his arms crossed. Christopher was watching the action and Sebastian was about to finish off the Zombies that had appeared.

“I thought they had already taken care of all the Zombies,” Christopher’s eyes watched the exact moment his best friend destroyed all the pesky Zombies, “am I misinformed? Or am I just overthinking it.”

“It seems that this one has been kept hidden,” Mathias replied, “but I highly doubt it is the only one, there are sure to be more…”

“And you'll definitely want to be the next one to finish them off,” Christopher laughed.

“That's why you're one of my two best friends, you know me so well,” Mathias's ears twitched again, “and again I hear someone approaching.”

Sebastian shook the Zombie's blood to the side, looking seriously at Mathias. "Do you think you can identify how many people these are?"

Christopher also looked seriously at his friend.

“Of course,” Mathias replied, “there are three people… and they have already arrived.”

From between the trees emerged three beautiful ladies, but at the same time strong adventurers and a future adventuress. The three of them looked ahead seeing their precious friends, family and partner.

“You guys are here early,” Selestia said first, “it’s good to see you’re all okay, guys.”

She sighed, but it was finally one of relief. Maybe she wouldn't show it right now, but she was very happy to see that everyone was okay.

“Diana,” Sebastian called, “come here for a moment.”

She obeyed without complaint and went to her brother's call. Sebastian, regardless of the fact that they were in the middle of a mission, hugged her with such brotherly strength that she was able to feel an indescribable warmth. "I'm so glad you're okay, thank you, thank you for coming back alive."

A teardrop threatened to escape from the sweet maiden's eyes, "Sebastian, I..."

“Yes, I know, you did a good job.” Sebastian wouldn’t let her finish the sentence, it wasn’t necessary “I know what you want to tell me, but it was all for the good of our city and our people.” He hugged her even tighter “don’t forget that, you didn’t do anything wrong, but there was no other option.”

It was here that the little tear was able to escape, running down her dirty face until it touched the ground.

Diana buried her face in her brother's clothes as she nodded. Being hugged by her brother gave her warmth and quite a bit of peace. “Be strong, my sweet little sister, we still have to continue until the end, don't give up for anything and just keep moving forward” and she nodded again.

“I expected nothing less from my beautiful fiancée.” Anita and Mathias held hands, although it seemed like everything was fine, Mathias did grab her very tightly. “I'm glad to see that nothing bad has happened to you. Aren't you hurt?”

-“No my kitten, don’t worry,” Anita replied, looking into those eyes that she liked so much, “more importantly, how do you feel...” she had been able to see Mathias’ claws still splattered with blood, “I see that you have dirty your precious claws, are you feeling okay?”

“It was nothing,” he replied, his expression much softer, “but I see that your dark circles under your eyes reveal that you are in the same boat... it was not a pleasant sensation.”

“Yes, it was horrible,” Anita replied.

“Selestia, you are such a sweet and annoying little Elf sister,” Christopher smiled quite calmly, “I am so glad you are okay.”

“Oh!” Selestia laughed. “I see my handsome and annoying little human brother has been worrying about me, but you know what he doesn’t do.”

“I know,” Christopher replied, “but I can’t help it, you’re my sister and it’s impossible for me not to worry about your well-being. I know I shouldn’t worry about you completing a mission because you always do. The only thing I’m worried about is you getting hurt from one of them, you know that, mom could go crazy…”

That was how the young and beautiful Elf put her jokes aside and her gaze softened. “I was so worried, you don’t know how afraid I was that something bad would happen to you. I couldn’t think straight thinking about my little human brother.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay, Christopher, I’m glad everything went well on your side.” Selestia looked at her brother’s face and he had the same dark circles under his eyes as her “although I see that in one way or another… the fact of killing your adversary affected you…”

“It's the first time,” the brother replied, “don't ask me to be calm after killing a person, even if that person was a damn slave hunter.”

“I know,” the sister replied. “I’m sure we can talk about this later, but now, here’s a mint. It won’t make you feel better, but it will help fight the taste in your mouth if you threw up.”

“This suits me just fine,” Christopher nodded, laughing.

“Oh, by the way,” Selestia added, “we need to talk about something that could endanger our team, and I’m not kidding, the situation could turn from bad to something much worse.”

“What are you talking about?” Sebastian asked as he and the rest approached the two.

“I'm talking about the fact that we have been through a certain situation of extreme danger of death... and that doesn't include the people we have fought with...”

“Don’t tell me that…” Christopher’s eyes widened into a pair of large saucers. “Da-Daimonas?”

Sebastian's life almost escaped through his mouth, in a state of near shock he turned his head towards Anita, expecting what she would say, hoping it would be a total denial.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“NO!” Anita replied, shaking like jelly just by hearing that damn word. “Please don’t even mention them! It’s about a very important matter, we’ve encountered some… dangerous things.”

“Let’s wait for Neledia to arrive and we will give you the full report of what our part of the mission was” very seriously Selestia gave the best route to take.

Sebastian and Christopher were able to breathe. Only Selestia knew the reason for that calm breath. If she confirmed the presence of some DAIMONAS it would be a tragedy.

“There’s no need to wait so long.” A voice came from behind.

Neledia walked to position herself very close to everyone, smiling as she looked at each of their faces. She sniffed the room and with her bright eyes she took in each of them, looking at them from head to toe.

Just by looking at them, Neledia instantly knew that each of them had complied with the request.

“I see that you have fulfilled the mission I imposed on you...” she smiled heavily “I congratulate you, boys...”

The others nodded, Selestia wanted to speak, but her words and her turn were stolen by Neledia who continued. “I won’t ask you to get over it quickly, I have already done it several times and I can tell you that killing a person is not a pleasant feeling... you will have to live with that until the day you die, knowing that some lives were cut short by your hands.”

Christopher and his friends each looked at their hands and for a moment they could see them stained with fresh blood. It was harder for Diana who, when she closed her eyes, could still see the man in front of her smiling in ecstasy.

“But I will ask you to endure it.” Neledia clenched her fists. “Please, just for the duration of our mission, do not let that fact cloud your judgment. A single misstep, a single moment of doubt or fear will mark your end, they will kill you without any mercy… this is a war, it is us or them.”

Each of them looked up again, focusing their attention on Neledia: “Fight for Gignit, there are too many lives to save and even more lives to protect. If any of you falls, it is one less pillar that will defend Gignit in the future.”

Christopher nodded.

Neledia continued, “You are the future of our city, you are the ones who will protect us when my generation can no longer continue. If you are wavering right now because of what happened, just remember the reason why you are here, to rescue people, to protect our city, for someone you love, for a better future for us.”

“I am here for my children, for my husband and I they are our reasons for fighting and defending the city, so you all exploit that reason for fighting and hold back any urge to cry... I love you so much, kids, I don't want to lose you... please don't die.”

PLEASE

Christopher slapped his face with both hands leaving his cheeks red and the faint mark of his palms on them “yes, you're right.”

His friends watched Christopher and for some strange reason some of his will rubbed off on them.

He had a strange ability that lifted everyone's spirits or at least made them a little more positive. "You're right," Sebastian commented, doing the same, and not just him, but everyone else as well.

“I am glad that you have not given up,” Neledia commented, now smiling at them in a much more sincere manner, “and above all that you have succeeded in your mission. I congratulate you for emerging victorious from a fight to the death and I hope that you always rise up victorious.”

“Yes ma’am” they all said in unison-

“And now, Selestia, did you have something to report to me?”

...

The skin of those present stood on end, even Neledia, who only limited herself to looking at the girls in disbelief with her ears pricked up, listening deeply to every word of what the three of them had experienced.

Incredible, it was unbelievable and they came out without even the slightest damage.

Sebastian grabbed his sister by the shoulders and pulled her towards him, trembling just imagining that something could have happened to her.

He would never forgive himself if something happened to Diana and he wasn't there to protect her. He hugged her tightly, almost shaking with fear, but it was his sweet sister who calmed him down. “Calm down,” she said very calmly, even though she was the one who lived through that moment of terror. “We're safe, don't worry.”

Mathias held Anita's hand, holding it very tightly, as if to say, "I won't let you leave my side."

On the other hand, Christopher's eyes were popping out of his sockets. "Two Alphas?" He questioned as Selestia nodded. "And at the same time?" He turned his gaze towards his best friend, more precisely towards the younger of the two. "Diana, are you sure it's the same Wyrm? That monstrous Alpha-class beast?"

“Yes,” the beautiful damsel answered, remembering that moment again as she lowered her brother’s hands, “there is no doubt about it, it is impossible for me to forget the feeling of his eyes looking at us, but the other Alpha beast...”

“The Chimera...” Neledia said, drawing everyone’s attention, “I’ve read some reports that speak of the sighting of a huge Chimera that appears to be an Alpha class… but not only that, in the last few days there have been sightings of various magical beasts marching together, as if they were searching for or fighting against something. Even some Alpha class magical beasts moving from one place to another, but...”

“But they don’t talk about Alpha classes heading in the same direction without fighting. As if they were cooperating for a period of time…” Christopher finished.

“That’s right.” Neledia sighed in boredom, something was happening and that something was not within expectations, there was no plan regarding that something that might happen or even is happening.

She touched her chin and looked at the boys “it’s not worth discussing that right now, we have more important things to do, let’s leave the subject of the beasts for later and focus on one thing at a time.”

It was just like Neledia said, they were in the middle of an important mission and had already wasted too much time. Focusing on one thing at a time would make things more effective and could lead them faster to success.

“We have to head to our designated entrance and wait for the signal to sneak out. We can't waste any more time, so I hope that while you've been waiting for me you've had a good rest, because now we'll double our speed. We have to get there as soon as possible. The second phase could start at any moment.”

“Yes ma’am” they all answered.

...

“I'm very nervous, it's my first time on a plane-“

“Don’t be a coward, it will be a lot of fun”

“Hey you two, hurry up, we're running late.”

-“Is there still a long way to go?”

“And we are about to arrive”

“Hey, if it crashes, do you think we'll survive?”

“Surely you don’t”

Jumping over some bushes, Christopher brought a hand to his forehead, holding it. From one moment to the next, and for some unknown reason, he felt some pain accompanied by dizziness.

“These strange visions again,” he thought to himself, jumping up, “I don't understand why I see and hear these things. I don't even know these strangers, but for some reason... they seem so familiar, as if I really knew them from somewhere.”

“Keep your passport safe”

“I’ll make a call home, I think my mom will still be awake.”

"I'm hungry"

"Again?"He thought again, sweating in small amounts, “something is happening to me, I can't explain what these strange visions are, although I will think about it later, now I just have to focus on the mission.”

...

Located in the most hidden part of the island, somewhat far from the city, there was a cave that did not seem to have been made by the hand of man.

The shape, the moss growing around it, some plants parked in the surroundings left clear evidence of the years of formation of the cave between collapse and other events.

This was one of the entrances and exits to what was the hidden base of the mercenaries, just as Espínetre had said herself if it was underground.

A few meters in front of the base, surrounding a small bonfire that provided very little light, a total of about seven people were resting and having dinner, others were drinking and laughing as if nothing would ever happen to them.

“They don’t look that strong, but appearances can be deceiving.” Commented a beastman, a pantherman with an identifier indicating his rank: PORCELAIN.

He and an entire team were hiding in the shadows.

Moving stealthily through the trees, slicing through the undergrowth, they completely surrounded the area, analyzing the possible capabilities of their opponents. They observed the weapons they possessed, whether short, medium and long distance.

Bows and arrows, short and long swords, small hand cannons and throwing weapons.

With just that, each of them came up with a plan and strategy that would help them emerge victorious, because they were sure of one thing: each of those people was strong. Although it might not seem like it, the mere fact that they were in charge of guarding the area revealed their apparent strength. After all, in these cases, one would choose to station the most capable people for combat in the area.

The young panther man tilted his head looking towards the one who was the leader of this team, like Neledia he was also a beast man, a werewolf.

“Sir, I hear a few people approaching this point.”

“I know.” the leader replied, the werewolf with his arms crossed, was almost as big as Tobias was. His ears twitched again, picking up the characteristic sound again “I heard them too, but this is not the time to worry about the other teams.”

He pointed forward, “of the seven watchers,” and moved the hand he was pointing with to the side, now pointing to the side, “those two are the strongest.”

A young girl who was the same age as Christopher and his friends stood next to the leader, her scarred skin standing out above all the others, a thick one running vertically down her face.

Her hair and right eye were a beautiful purple hue, while the left eye had completely lost its color. Her name? Akalia. “Do you think you can defeat him, Mr. Semelio?”

“I am more than sure,” answered the leader, now named as Semelio, “but if all of them get into the fight, the situation could become quite unfavorable, considering that they may not be our only opponents.”

-So, you want us to take care of the others while you fight? - the young panther beastman asked without taking his eyes off his opponents, scanning and analyzing each one of them except for those who would be Semelio's opponents. "I think that's a good idea."

“You and Akalia will team up and fight together. You may be the strongest PORCELAINS in Gignit, but that’s what you are, PORCELAIN-ranked adventurers.” Their other companions looked at them very seriously. There were two of them wearing the clothes of the city guards, one was an Elf and the other a demihuman from the Goat clan.

While the other two, human adventurers.

“I want you to support each other and if you can't, just stand back and defend yourselves until one of us is available.”

"Yes sir." No complaints or disagreements, they knew it was in vain and they knew more than anything that their leader was right, for those two it was very risky to fight separately, at least those seven were obviously superior to the two.

What's more, they will simply fight to distract them, they couldn't even defeat one.

“Then, I will go and greet our teammates and then we will position ourselves waiting for the starting signal.”