A little girl who sleeps soundly inside a well-kept room with Nordic interior was awoken by the rumbling of the thunder and pitching strike of lightning; a storm.
She gasped as the only thing illuminating her room was the lightning outside, her candles had all gone out. When did her windows open? It was cold, she was shivering. If she could be any younger, she would cry and the maids would come running to comfort her and deliver her to her parents' room. But she's not a child anymore, at least it is what she thinks. She is just five after all, but tomorrow, she will celebrate her sixth birthday.
She tiptoed towards the window and struggled on reaching the handle, if she gets any more closer, she could fall. She does not like that.
"Just a little more," she grunted.
"My lady?"
The young girl gasped when her door creaked, her governess, Sheila rushed towards her and helped her close the window.
"I apologize, my lady. I should have come here a bit earlier," Sheila bowed, ready to receive a punishment from the little girl. She, of course, is not the one to execute it. But one word from her, their father would not hesitate to commence what they had asked.
"It is alright, Sheila," the girl smiled.
"Thank you, my lady."
Sheila took pride in her work as this young lady's governess; poise, elegance, respect. She is the perfect daughter every household longed for, such a genteel tiny girl. She's never given her maids a headache in looking after her. She's a dream come true to raise.
"Would you like to sleep in your parents' room tonight, my lady?"
The little girl shook her head, "no."
This surprises her maid.
"I will be fine."
"First, let us change your nightgown."
On the morning of her sixth birthday, the little girl ran around in her new white dress with red ribbons and pretty lace. She's happy, she will be celebrating another birthday. There will be cakes, and wonderful dresses walking around the hall.
"Please, my lady," Sheila is on her tail. She's so happy, she cannot stop from running. She had to show her parents and sister her dress.
Her sister's room was partially opened and she had an idea of creeping in and surprising her, but when she took a peek, she saw two adult figures beside her sister. They were looking at something.
She tried to move to have a better look, it seems like her sister is holding something on her palm. But before she could confirm what the object was, because the door was already opened, she stumbled inside and fell.
Surprised, her sister, who shares the same face as her, closed her palm and the lightning on her palm spread out, hitting anywhere in the room.
"Serene!"
Serene opened her eyes and gasped as she felt her chest heavy. She sat up and tried to catch up her breath as sweats rolled down her skin, glistening it.
She rubbed her temples with both of her palm before brushing her damped hair with her fingers.
'I thought I have overcome this?'
She inhaled deeply before letting out a shaky sigh. Serene moved her blanket away from her and got off the bed. She gently made her way to the door and made sure to leave the room without creating a single sound for the others to wake up.
She wanted water, she felt so suffocated. And her sweat, she could use a quick bath right now. But, would they let her use it this late? Are there any more staff awake?
The memories of the past kept swirling inside her head, if this keeps up, a headache is bound to form with the stress it comes with.
She groaned.
Serene silently made her way towards the dining hall and looked for water. Fortunately, the jug of water they put out for the people to drink for free wasn't kept and still had a lot inside.
She took a cup beside the jug and poured herself a glass of refreshing, sweet water.
"Ha!" she let out a sharp sigh to help her relax. But all efforts seemed ineffective.
"Will the bags under my eyes be obvious tomorrow?" she groaned again, "I don't want them to pry in my business if it does."
"What business?"
Serene whipped her head towards the entrance of the hall and saw a tall figure entering.
"Why are you up in his ungodly hour, Serene?"
"I could ask you the same question, Verin."
He smiled and walked up to her, "I shall be having my routine earlier than usual."
She nodded, "Ah, you're so diligent."
"You think so?"
She smiled, "how come you are not the one to lead us when this is how you are?"
"You may think I am better suited for the job," he smirked, "but Lance is a lot better than I. His intelligence is up to par."
"Really?" she tilted her head to think, "He seems like another idiot to me."
Verin chuckled, "perhaps you will know her better during this mission."
He patted her head, "go get some sleep."
Serene watched his shadow leave the room, it got her thinking, if Verin is the best swordsman in the kingdom and unmatched, his tactics and cleverness on the battlefield must be superb. But to him to praise Lance and think ever so highly of him, perhaps, there's something she's yet to learn about the people she surrounds herself with.
She blinked, remembering what she was planning on doing after drinking water.
"Argh," she irked, "I should really take a bath."
The next morning, everyone woke up feeling refreshed. With almost 24 hours on the road, without a roof in their heads to keep them safe, the group had taken advantage of this day off Lance had given them. And when they all have gathered – aside from Verin who was tasked to fetch the wagon – and made sure everything was ready, they all went to the lobby and bid their goodbye to the owner and the staff for taking good care of them.
"Thank you for your patronage," the owner's daughter bowed before waving her hand.
Lance and Lithea decided to take over the driving and it gave relief to Verin who has been driving since they left. When everyone was all boarded and was set to leave when Viv's stomach growled and demanded food; they blinked.
"Perhaps we could eat for a little?" Thenea suggested.
"There's no harm to it, let's go find some restaurant or pub." Verin said and took the liberty of informing those who were in the front.
"Okay, there are a lot of stalls in the market." Lance said and started driving.
"Should we buy something while we are on this journey?" Lithea asked.
"Sure."
After their pleasant yet chaotic breakfast, they immediately started looking for food stalls that are proper to bring on a journey, and that are not quick to rot. They picked bread, a little bit of fruit, and they also stacked on water as they are in the hottest side of the country.
While they were heading to where they left the wagon, Thenea asked a question.
"How long does it usually take for us to arrive at the mountainous side of this region?"
"From what I have heard, it usually takes around three days." Verin answered.
"From here?" Serene butted in.
Verin shook his head, "from the capital."
"I take it, from this village, we are to arrive in the council's hall in two days?" Serene tried calculating in her head.
"Probably," Lance shrugged, "but it shouldn't matter. This is not an urgent case."
As soon as those words left their leader's mouth, they froze.
Was it really not an urgent case?
Everyone did not dare moving, they felt the heavy tension in the air. Not once have they ever thought of reading the scroll. They all just assumed it would be an easy mission, but now, with what Lance said, there is no way the guild would summon all of them in one place for one mission if it wasn't a high rank quest.
"What was the rank of this mission?" Lithea asked when she noticed her team did not have the courage to speak. She cannot have this. If they fail, they all are doomed.
"Right," Lance's voice was shaking, "I was not able to read the scroll and examine its content," he turned to Verin. "You have examined it, right?"
His friend gulped, cold sweats starting to roll down his nape.
"I," he looked at every single one of the team, "I might have only read the location and never passed it."
Everyone's jaw dropped at the revelation.
"I did not read it as it was your job to take the lead."
Lance felt his life shrunk and felt dizzy, "I was not present at that moment, was I not?"
"You are," Verin can't look at him.
"And was it not your job to proxy my absence at any given time?"
"It was."
"Who gave you the scroll?"
"I did," Thenea raised her hand, "I gave him the scroll."
"And you did not see him read it?"
"I saw him open it, I am not aware he did not read all of it."
Lance sighed and slapped himself mentally.
Serene on the other hand shook her head, she can now see what Verin and she talked about earlier. Lance is indeed better suited as a commander of a group of airheads.
"Verin," the way he said it felt domineering, if one would visualize it, they're standing on a shaky ground, "how come you did not tell me?"
Verin held his ground, "how come you did not wonder?"
Lance threw his head at his back and grumbled. He has decided to give up, there is no point in arguing and prolonging their delay. Verin too, has a point.
"Well, why don't we read it?" Serene said.
Everyone gathered and formed a circle after Lance took the scroll and unrolled it.
They started reading what's written.
'A mission for the highest rank of the Meadow Guild, Ruby,
We have received an unfortunate news from the Land of Scorpion, the desert part of the region, in regards to the missing children from the mountainous side of the land. The report on this matter started a year ago, but sadly, due to the lack of evidence, there is only a small amount of evidence gathered. Just last month, the number of missing children rose drastically. The alarmed officials of the region desperately seeks help as the investigators found that this is not an A-Rank human trafficking case. But the first S-Rank case in years.
The guild hereby allows all Ruby rank to use the gem's power to transport you to your destination immediately.
Save those children by all means necessary. Capture the one behind this alive and hand them over to the Jade's investigating team.
Best of luck,
Headmistress.'
They took their time syncing in the information written in the paper, it is not something they expected. They all were struck, refusing to believe this is all true.
"S—" Serene said.
"Rank." Thenea finished.
An S-rank mission was given to their team and they had the audacity to have fun, get a full rest, and dally as those people in the northeastern side have been expecting them.
"We should look for an area," Lance said and their eyes immediately scanned the area.
Their identity as the highest ranking adventurer in the kingdom must be kept secret, if one would witness them going around doing missions in groups, it could lead to rumours and have people feel unnecessary panic; this could also affect their trading and economy.
Viv pointed out somewhere, an alley that's hidden from the busy people of the market. An empty part of the area.
"Good work, Viv," Verin patted Viv's shoulder and they all hurried, yet discreetly went to where he pointed.
Viv's eyes sparkled. He had taken notice of Verin ever since he complemented his hair.
"Don't be suspicious, team." Lance reminded them.
The rubies had finally taken the matters seriously and with a determined face, their head painted the crying faces of the missing children.