CH191
Obestan was a border city in the Norn Kingdom, home to 50,000 troops.
Asna grew up in Obestan and was taken as an apprentice by an old spellcaster due to her talent.
However, her teacher passed away after a few years.
Asna then relied on her spellcasting skills to take on jobs from the Adventurer's Guild.
Over the years, Asna became a skilled spellcaster apprentice, nearing the level of a novice spellcaster.
Once she became a novice spellcaster, Asna could earn more money to provide a better life for herself and her brother.
One night, Asna returned from an escort mission, feeling exhausted after a fierce battle.
She bought some pastries, her brother's favorite, on the way home.
Upon arriving, she found the house empty.
"Where's Lins gone again?" Asna sighed, placing the pastries on the table.
She wanted Lins to attend the Imperial Academy in the Norn Kingdom to secure a stable future as an official.
Lins lacked spellcaster talent and had average knight potential, so studying to become an official seemed best.
But Lins disagreed, resisting his sister's plans and aspiring to be a knight.
Late at night, Lins returned, weary and carrying a longsword.
Opening the door, he saw Asna in the living room.
"Did you go for knight training again?" Asna questioned.
Lins, displeased, retorted, "What's it to you?"
"I'm not stopping your knight training, but you should study those books. I even hired a tutor for you. Can you try harder?" Asna scolded.
"Leave me alone! I'm grown up and decide my own life!" Lins shouted.
Angry, Lins stormed into his room, slamming the door.
Asna, frustrated, felt helpless with her brother.
She worked hard to provide a better life for them both.
Even as a knight, Lins would face an unstable life.
As an adventurer, Asna knew knights faced many dangers.
Lins saw knights as free and adventurous, roaming the world.
But few knights truly enjoyed such a life.
Most sought to earn money and settle down.
No one wanted a life of constant wandering and danger.
***
The next morning, Asna prepared to visit the Adventurer's Guild for more work.
She took out her pouch, containing ten gold coins, her last mission's reward.
Asna placed the pouch on the table with the pastries.
Seeing Lins still asleep, she left a note: "Eat the pastries soon; they'll spoil in the heat."
Weighing the note with the pouch, Asna quietly left for the guild.
"Asna!" A girl in leather armor waved.
It was Sadi, Asna's agile rogue companion.
Besides Sadi, their team included a sword-and-shield knight and a cleric trained in holy arts.
Their four-member team was well-known locally, having completed many missions together.
Asna and her friends had known each other since childhood, like family.
This trust allowed them to rely on each other in danger.
"You up early, Sadi," Asna smiled.
Sadi linked arms with her, entering the guild hall together.
"Hope we find good missions today," Sadi murmured.
Asna nodded, "I hope so. Two more missions, and I can afford higher knowledge to become a novice spellcaster."
Sadi admired Asna, "You're amazing, Asna. Thanks to you, we've survived and saved money."
"Adventuring is risky. I hope to earn more as a novice spellcaster so we can stop adventuring. We could buy a small house and start a business."
Asna planned for their future, knowing adventuring was temporary.
They couldn't adventure forever; it was too dangerous and uncertain.
Once they saved enough, Asna would leave adventuring with her friends.
But Lins wanted to be a knight and adventurer, worrying Asna.
After years of adventuring, she didn't want Lins to follow her path.
But now grown, Lins ignored her.
"Asna, what's wrong?" Sadi noticed Asna's concern.
Asna shook her head, "It's nothing. Lins still wants to be a knight and adventurer."
Sadi patted her chest, "Don't worry, I'll talk to him. He usually listens to me."
Asna smiled, "Thanks. He seems to like you."
Sadi winked, "Maybe we'll be family someday."
"Aren't we already?" Asna laughed.
They waited in the guild hall until the others arrived.
Together, they browsed the mission board.
"Search for the missing patrol in the Lim Mountains? Posted by the Obestan military," Asna noted.
"A military mission? Let's check it out," Sadi's team was excited.
Military missions paid well and were reliable.
The military offered high rewards, paying promptly without delays.
Adventurers feared clients who delayed or withheld payment.
Asna's team had faced such issues before.
But the military was trustworthy.
"This mission has no team size requirement. We can take our time," Asna observed.
As team leader, Asna was responsible for Sadi and the others.
She always ensured they could handle missions before accepting them.
CH192
From the mission board, not much information could be learned.
Asna approached a window, handing over two silver coins.
Behind the window sat a skinny man who swiftly pocketed the coins.
He chuckled, "What do you want to know this time?"
"The mission from the kingdom's army, about the missing patrol. I'd like the details," Asna replied.
She was familiar with this man, often buying information from him.
The Adventurer's Guild insiders had reliable information channels, providing Asna with valuable intel.
Information was paramount, planning before action.
The skinny man grinned, "Oh, that mission. I don't know much, but the commander sent over a hundred men to search for a month without finding them."
"Were there any casualties during the search?" Asna asked.
"None, at least none I've heard of. A hundred men searched for a month and then returned," he answered.
Asna pondered, then inquired, "What was the missing patrol's strength?"
"I wouldn't know, but typical patrols have two to three knight-level members."
Asna gathered more details about the patrol's disappearance, gaining a clearer picture of the mission.
"Asna, what did you find out?" Sadi asked as Asna returned.
Asna considered, "We can take it, but it might be risky."
"Risky?" Sadi questioned the extent of the danger.
Asna explained, "A patrol vanished in those mountains, and a hundred troops couldn't find them."
"I'm thinking, what could make a patrol disappear completely? I suspect they encountered a spellcaster."
"Only a spellcaster could make a patrol with knights vanish. That's likely why the army posted the mission, hoping adventurers might find clues."
"If a hundred couldn't find them, special means might be needed to see traces."
"If we only search for clues, it shouldn't be too dangerous, as long as we avoid any spellcasters."
Sadi leaned on Asna's shoulder, "Then let's go. The reward is a hundred gold coins!"
Finding clues alone could earn a hundred gold coins.
For Asna's group, it was irresistible.
Their last mission, a month-long escort, earned thirty gold coins.
Asna took the largest share, ten gold coins, while the others split twenty.
Even that escort mission was well-paid.
Hundred-gold missions were rare and quickly taken.
The army's mission had no team size limit, only requiring valuable clues.
It was a timed mission, rewarding the first to complete it.
"Asna, let's hurry before someone else takes it," Sadi urged, eager to depart.
A hundred gold coins!
Time was of the essence before others claimed it.
Asna nodded, planning to buy supplies before leaving.
After registering the mission at the guild, they bought water and food in town, then crossed the border.
Asna noticed many adventurers also preparing to leave.
Border missions were scarce; most were likely after the same mission.
Among them were strong individuals, adding pressure and urgency for Asna.
She felt confident in the mission but quickened her pace seeing the competition.
Asna had a natural talent for sensing magic, life force, and bloodline power.
With a glance, she could gauge others' strength.
This ability helped Asna navigate dangers in her adventuring career.
It was why she'd come so far.
At the border, Asna noticed several spellcasters stronger than herself, nearing novice level.
Riding her horse, Asna gazed at the distant mountains, gripping the reins.
***
Base 27.
After the Norn Kingdom's search team left, Base 27 resumed normal operations.
Parker predicted they'd return, sending more people.
Helag's group continued their patrol duties, joined by over ten others around Base 27.
They hid in the forest, using various methods to stay alert.
Helag sat under a tree, meditating with closed eyes.
Deep Blue's environmental scan kept watch.
David and Reese stood nearby, appearing to guard Helag.
Four months in the Elven Plane, they'd faced no danger yet.
But Helag's group remained vigilant.
They knew it was because Base 27 was still hidden.
Once exposed, they'd face a swift and severe response.
The elves harbored deep hatred for the invading wizards.
Base 27 wasn't fully fortified; discovery would lead to overwhelming elf attacks.
"Someone's coming," Helag suddenly stood, looking into the distance.
There, adventurers with swords and horses approached, followed by scattered figures.
David and Reese peered carefully, finally seeing the distant figures.
They could only discern humans by sight, unlike Helag with Deep Blue, who saw their weapons.
Helag observed further, noticing spellcasters among them.
Their magic aura was akin to third-level wizard apprentices.
No formal wizards were detected yet.
Helag frowned; if spellcasters arrived, Base 27 risked exposure.