The area within the forests located deep into the valley experienced surreal peace, the noises of turmoil at the village not being able to pierce such through such a distance. Frantic howls and cries of monsters occasionally broke the tranquility in the region as the creatures appeared frightened, scurrying around the woods in restlessness.

swish!

A shadowy figure darted through the woods, jumping along the randomly placed branches of the thick canopy in one fluid motion. Its speed was terrifying, cutting through the dense forests like a knife, while it completely ignored the many frightened monsters running away from its path. Not a single rustle of leaves or creak of wooden branches could be heard as it sprang through them, making itself appear weightless.

After a certain amount of time rushing along the woods, the figure gracefully landed on open rocky ground under a steep hill. Covered all around in tight black clothing that greatly displayed the provocative hourglass shape, the human woman walked straight ahead towards the hill with her swaying hips, that could invoke desires from the even the impotent of men.

A black hood and a mask covered her face in its entirety, only revealing a pair of razor-sharp eyes and a few reddish bangs of hair on the forehead. She did not slow down in the slightest even after the wall came right in front of her nose and...

shhhh!

...strangely enough, went right through the hard rock with a faint purple glow outlining her figure that disappeared into the wall as if the hill was an illusion itself.

The woman ended up in a faintly illuminated cave that echoed with the rhythmic sound of falling water droplets. Faint shadows crawled upon the frigid stony walls giving away a small campfire that was supposedly lit further inside.

Blocking the narrow path like a boulder, stood a tall and well-built man that kept guard just before the entrance. A giant greatsword rested between his log-like thick arms and the solemn atmosphere around conveyed that he would cleave any stranger unfortunate enough to wander inside. The woman hastily approached the statue like a firm guard as she removed the mask, displaying her pretty face that was tinged with seriousness.

"Did the old man talk yet?" she questioned. The distant wriggling flames illuminated her visage and her reddish hair appeared vibrant within the darkness. The villagers would recognize her as one of the adventurers that had 'abandoned' them.

"No. They are waiting for your report," the tall man replied. Similarly, he was also a member among the said group, the aloof young man to be specific.

"Are you sure you don't want to listen to him," the woman asked again after walking past the man by a few steps.

"No"

Hearing the short and firm reply, she didn't persuade the aloof man any further before heading inside. The cave only got wider as she proceeded until she reached a large hall like cavern within it. Three people had been awaiting her arrival seated beside the glimmering campfire, the restlessness in their faces being openly displayed. Two of them, of course, were the other members of the visiting party, the handsome wizard and the friendly man with the french beard.

The other person that opposite to the adventurers was, astonishingly, also someone the villagers would recognize, even more so than the stranger party. With a wrinkly forehead and swept-back white hair, Uncle Granos sat cross-legged with a solemn look, gazing at the newly arrived company. The woman's gaze instantly turned vicious for a moment when she glanced at the old man and if looks could kill, Uncle Granos would probably have been long since dead, since even the man with the french beard bore a very unfriendly eye towards him.

"Good work Serina. I'm sorry for making you do the hard work," the wizard said, his face dyed with eagerness.

"Can you tell us about the situation outside? What did you find?"

Serina's visage turned bright in an instant hearing the man's praise but she wiped off the grin on her lips right after, bringing back her seriousness.

"Yes. It is as the old man had said. The entire region is crawling with people. Many of them are dressed as stereotypic bandits, but their movements are too well-coordinated and disciplined. Most likely they are soldiers, elites at that. They have covered a very large perimeter, surrounding the village as the center."

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A heavy and stifling silence descended the cavern as the three men heard the report. The two adventurers pondered hard with faces of a frown, not being able to make heads or tails out of the situation. Perplexed after thinking for a long while, the duo glanced at the old man who displayed a bitter smile as if he knew all of this from the very beginning.

"Master Augrey," the wizard spoke in a respectful tone. "Our relationship goes a long way back. I know very well about the mastery of your craft and have immense respect for you in that regard. I would not have been this patient if it were any other individual.

"As per your requests, Serina has already confirmed your suspicions being spot on. Plus we are currently inside the strongest barrier that I can set. No one will be able to even sense any abnormalities around it and cannot enter the barrier without my permission, although as a side effect, no information from the outside can reach us."

While the wizard explained, Serina's expression gradually changed from being surprised to outright dumbfounded. She knew very well just how amazing an individual had to be for her leader to opt for such an attitude. Was this senile old man such a great figure to garner such respect?

"Let us first start with an introduction for my new teammate," the wizard spoke noticing Serina's bewilderment.

"No, no, Lord Rosworth, this old man doesn't deserve such treatment. I'm merely someone who manages the palace here and there," Granos said with a wry smile while shaking his head.

"Master Augrey, this is not the time to show humility," the wizard sighed with displeasure. "Serina, this man here is the one who governs our entire kingdom of Palaria. He is the chief high minister of the Elder Council."

"....Hah?"

"Yes. He is the second most powerful person in this country, the right-hand man of the king himself. "

The woman's deep blue pupils widened with utter surprise as her mouth went gaping wide for an instant at the revelation. The King's right hand? Chief high minister of the Elder Council?

In the long and blood-soaked history of the continent, the kingdom of Palaria was a fairly new addition to the political climate, only formed just after the great calamity with the merging of a few princely states. Technically, it was the country with the least amount of heritage as compared to other political behemoths surrounding it. But it boasted a just as special status in the hearts of people worldwide as it was new since it became the blessed land that had birthed and later crowned the righteous Hero Alistar as the first king.

Furthermore, the current largest and the most influential organization, the adventurer's guild had officially initiated in the kingdom itself before spreading far and wide in the continent. The guild headquarters currently resided within the country, functioning with a firm grasp over its uncountable branches throughout the lands.

In the initial days, Hero Alistar had posed both as the first king of a newly formed kingdom and the first Guildmaster of a newly formed organization. With the limitless amount of diplomacy and paperwork in view, the hero had established a council of famed experts in specific fields to aid him better in the governance of the country. That was the Elder Council and they were essentially the king's ministers and advisers, forming the prime governing body of the kingdom of Palaria.

To maintain a fair balance of power, the hero had imparted a few rules for the constituency of the group. It had had a fixed ratio of members from noble families, famed experts elected by the common civilians, and some special spots selected by the king himself.

Serina knew very well just how difficult it is to function as a member of such a council, let alone be the presiding leader of it. This old man modestly sitting in front of her was a giant in terms of pure political power. And that's why a multitude of questions bombarded her mind seeing such a figure in this astounding situation. Just what is going on?

"Now then..." the wizard pulled Serina out of her thoughts as he continued with a voice of impatience. "I hope Master Augrey can finally clear up our confusions."

"There are a lot many things I'm curious about, like, Why was someone of your stature living in a village far in these outskirts? Why did you ask us to abandon those people we could have saved from the bandits? Why have all these troops surrounded the region?

"But, I believe all of the answers somehow link to the identity of this....girl here, am I right?" the wizard glanced towards another figure in company sleeping beside the old man.

Her wavy brown hair had been disheveled in a mess and her pallid face had dry stains of tears on her flushed cheeks. Her appearance indicated that the girl had wailed and struggled a lot before she was knocked out and put to sleep.

Anxiety and uneasiness could be seen drowning down the wizard's eyes that glanced at the sleeping girl. The constant tapping of his forefinger on the knee gave away the man's impatience, which was a trait to be frowned upon as a wizard. Even the friendly man beside could not hide his bewilderment whenever he gazed at the girl's face. And for Serina, just seeing these two getting flustered came to be such a rare sight that she could barely contain her amazement. Just what is this girl's identity to incite such a reaction from them, especially her leader who had never lost his calm at any instance?

"She is, as you may have already guessed..."

Towards the curious and expectant gazes of the perplexed trio...

"....the fourth generation princess of Palaria and the only daughter of Lord Rosworth's former teammate, the late third queen, Lady Elaine."

...Granos dropped a bomb