A hot stiletto leather boots kicked the poor wooden door at Robert's Pub and it swung open right away, revealing the red headed ruby adventurer who had a smile of relief on her when she saw the familiar faces inside.
"She's here!" One of the guys who is also a regular at the pub said when he noticed Serene, "Queen Red's here!"
Those who have become friends with Serene or those who are Robert's regulars, all whipped their heads towards the door and raised their beer mugs, cheering for her.
"Hey, Serene!"
"You're back!"
"How's the mission, Serene!"
Serene's smile widened hearing the familiar voices she hasn't heard for over a week. She missed her pub family, she missed talking to Ivy and Mr. Robert, and she also missed, most especially, the beer. The ice-cold beer.
"I'm back!" She slammed the bar counter and had a giddy smile plastered on her face, this may startle and find it uncomfortable but he's used to Serene's overly excited expression. This is how she is whenever she comes back from a days worth of mission. And since this is the first she was gone this long, he kind of expected at least this much from her.
"Welcome back, Serene," he smiled at her, wanting to give her a hug and pat her back for a job well done. But since he's at the other side of the counter, taking care of customers, he settled for a smile, "you want the usual?"
Serene nodded, "yes, please."
Sir Robert went and got Serene's usual beer, "you must have missed home, huh?"
"If by home you meant here, then yes, I miss it here."
He sets two mugs of beer in front of her, "first ones in the house, hun."
"Thank you, pops."
"I'll fetch Ivy for you."
He was about to leave when Serene grabbed his sleeve, "I can go to her."
Sir Robert's brow raised, "you sure?"
"Well," she grabbed her mugs, "I want to talk to the two of you."
"Us two?"
"I want to tell you what happened at the mission."
Sir Robert had a bad feeling about her words and nodded slowly before calling one of his staff to cover his post.
"Is something the matter?" he asked. They are on their way upstairs where the father and daughter live.
"It's not something to be worried about," she gave him an assuring smile, "the mission went well."
"You know how much you mean to us, Serene. We don't want you to endanger yourself."
"Pops, it's nothing like that. I'm well."
Although she was cured, there's still a small scar tattooed on her skin and this is something she can't lie about. She knew Ivy would check her body for scars or even slight graze
"Father, can you leave the room for a moment?"
Sir Robert met his daughter's eye and immediately understood why she wanted him out. He first sighed, already expecting his daughter to find a scar on Serene, before exiting Ivy's room.
"Now," hands on her hips, eyebrow raised, Ivy faced Serene who's becoming red, "you are not going to run away from me."
Serene rolled her eyes, "fine, I'll let you check my body."
"I swear Serene, if I find something, I'll have you work here instead of continuing being an adventurer."
"And have that family talk shit about me again?" Serene raised her arms when Ivy asked her, "no freaking way!"
Ivy paused to look at her, "since when did you care about what they would think?"
Serene drooped her shoulders, "maybe I always have."
Not wanting to see Serene like this, Ivy flicked her forehead, "you've come this far. You're already in the middle of your new beginning."
The red-head remembered the things that happened to her after leaving the manor, "you're right."
Just as they were coming out of a sentimental conversation, Ivy checked her sides and saw the scar the arrow made during the last mission.
"Umm," Serene gulped.
"DAD!!!"
After Ivy screamed for her father to come in, and Serene was all decent again with her clothes, he barged with an expectant expression on his face. He was waiting for what Ivy found out.
"I just saw a fresh scar on her side, it's like she got stabbed."
Sir Robert trudged straight to Serene and grabbed her shoulders, and with a serious, unwavering look, he said, "quit your job."
Serene blinked.
And again.
She doesn't know if her brain didn't allow her to process what Sir Robert said or if she had completely erased the words as soon as she heard them.
"What?"
Sir Robert retreated his hands on her and moved back, looking down at her.
"You can live a life by helping me at the pub, you're good with people and they all like you here."
"Like father like daughter," is all she can utter.
Ivy and Sir Robert looked at each other before letting out a sigh.
"Serene, we're just worried about you."
It is true and Serene knew, she knew all too well that she's scared to quit her job. A job she has gotten that she can finally show her family what she's capable of, that she can live well by herself. Not soon after, she had learned to love and enjoy it.
But, she also loved the pub, the people coming in and out, the rowdiness of it. Especially the owner and the daughter. To her they're also family, the best family she could ever ask and wish for.
"I can't quit," she only muttered to herself, but it wasn't a reminder. It was instead telling herself that she really can't. It wasn't forced, it was natural.
"Serene," Ivy was about to convince her again when Sir Robert stopped his daughter and shook his head.
"If that's what you want, we won't make you quit. But promise us one thing," Serene's eyes were anticipating his next words, "don't get yourself hurt again. I know it's unavoidable but if you happen to get something from your mission, at least let it be a scratch and not a stab."
Serene smiled and then chuckled, "I will try, pops."
"AAAAAAA!" Ivy stomped her feet like a child throwing tantrums, "I really don't want you to not quit but fine."
She looked at her father then to Serene, "as long as what Father said were met then, fine. I still have to nag you every time there's a scratch though."
"I'm so used to it, my ears were numb from it."
Sir Robert laughed wholeheartedly at the sight of his two daughters bickering like little children. Even though they were not related to Serene by blood, they have come to love her and gotten used to her.
She is their unofficial adopted family, and to them she's equally important as the other.
In one of the mansions the Ember family owns, Viv was summoned by Lord Ember V alone. He was waiting at his studies with his wife, Lady Ember.
The butler's voice can be heard after three gentle knocks on the door, "my lord, sir Viv has arrived."
"Send him in," he said and the doors opened, revealing a well-dressed Viv.
Outside their home, Viv can freely choose how he dresses, but inside their walls, he must abide by the rules. Especially for someone seen with Thenea at all times.
"Come here, boy," he pointed at the seat across from him using his cane.
Viv carefully followed.
"I will get straight to the point," he said as he poured tea for the young man situated in front of him, "I have allowed you to stay with us for, say, few years now."
Viv gulped, his thoughts swerling with unpleasant scenarios.
"You have been obedient and have abided by the rules set by me just for you," he cleared his throat, "and you don't cause trouble inside the house."
Viv did not say anything and was trying to keep still.
"However," Viv's eyes shot up and widened every second Lord Ember didn't open his eyes, "you still cause trouble outside and while on mission."
Viv got his head down again, ashamed of having to lose control again. He just didn't know how to get rid of his unwanted thoughts. He knew too well it's all in the past but every night, in his sleep, they all keep crawling back to him. Waking him up in the middle of the night, and he felt bad for having no improvements.
"Although I must praise you for a job well done during your last mission in the north and the east."
He tilted his head, all confused. He thought he was summoned to get scolded.
"Viv Oz," Viv looked at Lord Ember, "do you wish to stay by my granddaughter's side?"
Viv nodded aggressively.
"Use your words properly, young man."
He blinked and blinked a couple times before finally opening his mouth. He wanted to convey his thoughts but he's hesitating. What if Lord Ember wouldn't find his words pleasing?
"I–," he gulped when he stuttered, then moved his head, as if trying to calm himself, "I do,sir."
Lord Ember did not say anything but only studied him for a minute, after this, he turned to his wife and said, "have you contacted the perfect person I asked before?"
Lady Ember grinned, "dear, although married to this household, I am still Stein Rose Raia."
"I knew I could count on you," Lord Ember then turned to Viv nodded, "very well. Viv, I want you to send you away next week. You won't be back for some time, it will probably take a year or longer. This all depends on your willingness."
The thought of him away from Thenea, the Ember, and everyone from the ruby and missions scares him. He's never been alone after meeting Thenea, will he be fine? He had a lot of worries.
"Don't dwell on it too much, it will be for your own good. And when you're back, you should be able to keep your head high."
"What are you doing?!" Thenea smacked Verin's back, "you're supposed to detangle the pennants, not worsen it!"
"It's so confusing! Look at all these flags, they are the same colours and the thread is so thin."
Thenea smiled at what she's hearing, "have you ever seen a thread that's thick for easy detangling?"
"Yes?"
"Work it out! They'll be here before dusk and the designs are a mess."
Verin heard a snicker at the corner of the room and found Lars who was juggling some apples while looking at his mess. He and Lance had just gotten back from the market and are now either helping or pissing the others with their destructive hands.
"If you have got the time to play with apples and make fun of us, can't you help?"
Lars shrugged and took a bite at one of the apples, "I already did, we went to the market did we not?"
"Fucking Jades."
Lars heard him but only laughed it off, he too has the same thoughts as him although he's of Jade rank. He pointed at Verin, squinted his eyes before nodding and moving his fingers like he agreed.
Then he took another bite of the apple.
Verin only shook his head before laughing.
Every single one of them had gotten busy for the two birthday celebrants, their schedules were messy and full, they couldn't celebrate anything properly, and even on big events and festivals, if there's a danger that requires their presence, they must drop everything and go. It is a hard life that others did not see and notice, but in truth, they hardly have any time to practice like they used to and could only sometimes do improvised movements at the actual mission. This is a risk they all have to take to keep other people's lives peaceful.
"Hey take this over there!"
"Don't move the stool you asshole!"
"Give me a new plate!"
"Is the stew ready?"
"Who's in charge of the table setting?"
"Can someone clean this up?"
"Don't put it there!"
"Verin, that's not how you put it up!"
"I got the candles!"
"Hurry, hurry, the sun's going to set!"
"Can you taste this?"
"This looks okay to me, it's just decoration, they won't mind."
Smack.
Flick.
Burn.
"Fuck! Hot hot hot HOT!"
After almost destroying the entire house, the team has finally finished and are all patiently waiting for the two. Not soon after, they heard a loud voice.
Serene.
"I just don't get why they had me pick you up when you're completely fine coming home by yourself."
"..."
"I mean, aren't you the same age as I am?"
"..."
"It's not like it's dark, the sun is still setting!"
"I guess it wasn't a good idea having them go home together," Lance uttered with a cold sweat trickling on his nape.
"Shhh, here they come," Thenea shushed them all.
When the door flung open, confetti's popped and rained down on Serene and Viv. Thenea and Lance got the cakes for them and they all yelled, "Happy Birthday!" to the two.
It was truly unexpected, Viv's birthday had passed while Serene's are not until a week, but the effort and the surprise they all came up with just to celebrate it all together amidst their skyrocketing missions were appreciated by the two.