Lihan looks with a worried expression at her sisters (not literally). Ashe and Rei. They were about to leave with Trent, who temporarily joined their group due to one of the mission requirements. And to be able to attend and complete a mission to kill a tyrant ice troll that was assigned to the guild.

Ashe was a beautiful elf with silky, long, straight platinum blonde hair. Her face was well-kept and without any imperfections, with soft, unpainted lips. Her beautiful blue eyes glinted with annoyance when Trent tried to put a hand on her shoulder before she hit Trent's gloved hand with the back of her hand.

"We need this reward for you. Lihan, we'll be back soon!" Ashe said to Lihan with a friendly smile, the earlier annoyance at Trent's act disappeared, when she looked Lihan in the eyes.

Unfortunately for Lihan, although he wished to help his sisters on the mission, he was a mere Rank B. And to be on the mission to kill the ice troll, one of the requirements the Guild asks is that the person be Rank A or higher and the group be 3 or more.

Adventurers can be classified into various ranks. Rank D, Rank C, Rank B, Rank A, Rank S, Rank SS and Rank. SSS. Lihan knows that there are few people above rank S. He only knows of 13 people publicly in the whole world who are SS rank and there are only 3 who are currently classified as SSS rank.

His sisters would never go on a mission without him, but when they saw the rewards offered by the mission they decided that they would go on a mission without him since the money would help them to improve the weapons and armor that he wore. So Lihan reluctantly agreed, not wanting to upset his sisters or look like a whiny brat.

"It'll be a few weeks at most, so don't do anything stupid while we're gone" Rei commented seriously as she looked Lihan in the eye knowing Lihan has his moments of recklessness.

Rei was a beautiful woman who, unlike Ashe's graceful and elegant-looking appearance. Rei was more of a tomboyish-looking type, with black hair with unpleasant brown amber-colored eyes, not to mention the face had a tattoo under her left eye in the shape of a cross. Both women were classified as S-rank.

And they were the strongest women in the guild enrolled.

Rei used a magic rifle to take out her enemies, both at close and long range. She rarely missed her shots, not to mention that she was also good at close combat. Most of all, her powerful kicks can finish off monsters when they are mana-enhanced. Rei's class was Slayer.

Ashe was a prodigious mage, who used a magic staff to enhance the power of her spells. Her mana control was super precise and terrifying to the point that many mages were envious of her. Ashe's class was Sorceress.

And Trent...

Lihan frowned slightly, sensing the unsettling vibe of the arrogant, sneering adventurer who kept throwing him scornful looks whenever his sisters weren't watching. If it weren't for the fact that this idiot, Trent, was an S-Rank who had only joined two months prior, Lihan would have already thrown a punch at him—even if it meant earning his sisters' disapproval. Something about Trent made his stomach turn.

A strange sense of déjà vu filled him, one he couldn't quite place, yet it felt too familiar to ignore.

"Well… take care… sisters," Lihan murmured weakly, clenching his fists and feeling powerless. If only he'd taken his training more seriously and raised his rank, maybe he'd be an A-Rank by now, and he wouldn't have to separate, even briefly, from Ashe and Rei.

Ashe gave him a reassuring smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Lihan. Rei and I will be fine. We won't be gone long; we just need to gather funds to upgrade our equipment."

Lihan sighed heavily, still unable to shake that bothersome déjà vu. "I know… I just wish I could go with you," he replied with a forced smile.

Rei looked at him and sighed. "Then just get stronger, kid, so you can join us on more challenging missions next time. Just don't push yourself too hard." She gave him a playful grin.

"Yeah, you've made a lot of progress to keep up with us," Ashe added with an amused smile, though Lihan didn't feel like he'd done that much. "You're progressing faster than most, Lihan… just don't do anything reckless that might get you hurt."

"I suppose… it's just that I'm worried," Lihan admitted. For a moment, he wondered if he should tell them about the bad feeling he had about Trent, but he decided against it.

Rei patted him on the shoulder gently. "Don't worry, we're strong, remember?" she said with a mischievous smile, then stretched her arms behind her head. "Besides, we're not the only guild members on this mission, so killing an Ice Troll shouldn't be too difficult."

Trent rolled his eyes, annoyed by the delay. "We should move out first. As S-Ranks, we need to secure the perimeter so the A-Ranks don't get ambushed," he commented. "And this place is too noisy…" he muttered to himself in irritation.

Rei shot Trent an annoyed look before turning back to Lihan. "So, don't do anything stupid, Lihan. We won't be gone long, and then we can go on more adventures together." She began heading for the guild exit.

"See you later, Lihan," Ashe called, waving as she followed after Rei.

As they left, Trent gave a fleetingly sinister grin before heading off to join the S-Rank adventurers. But before he could advance, Lihan grabbed his arm, stopping him cold.

"Hmm?" Trent glanced down, annoyed to have been halted by the young dwarf.

Lihan fixed him with a dark, empty stare. "If you hurt them, you'll regret it," he whispered so only Trent could hear. "So, you'd better look after them and not pull any tricks."

Trent yanked his arm away brusquely, glaring at Lihan. "Don't worry, kid. I'll take very good care of your sisters," he replied with a smug, mocking smile before striding off.

Rei and Ashe both peeked back from the guild's entrance to see what was taking Trent so long, especially after he'd been the one pushing to leave ahead of the others.

Lihan could only watch helplessly, frustration was evident in his stance, as Trent departed with Rei and Ashe on the mission. Running a hand through his hair, he tugged it slightly in anxious thought. His gaze drifted to the other adventurers prepping to leave, and his eyes landed on a noisy troll.

Lihan's eyes glazed over as if he were trying to recall something, yet it eluded him at the last second. He watched as the troll group, led by Brugo, chatted among themselves while gathering supplies.

A sudden idea struck him. He looked over at Leo, Brugo, and the rest of their group. Lihan might not be able to personally ensure his sisters' safety, but maybe others could keep an eye on Trent.

Taking a deep breath to gather his courage, he approached the group.

"Um… excuse me, Brugo," Lihan called out, his voice clear and strong to ensure he'd be heard.

"huh.... ah you're Rei's brat." Brugo gave him an amused smile as he looked at him curiously. "Do you need anything kiddo?"

Lihan scratched his cheek nervously. "Well… do you think you could keep an eye on Rei and our companion Ashe?"

"Bah. Why would I need to watch over them?" The troll brushed off the request with a dismissive wave. "They're strong, kid. I think they can handle themselves against a single Ice Troll."

"Come on, Brugo, you didn't have to be so harsh with the kid." Brugo's friend, an A-Rank adventurer with blond hair, electrifying yellow eyes, and armor covering his entire body, complete with skull-shaped shoulder guards, chimed in.

Brugo shrugged. "I'm just saying it like it is."

Lihan shook his head. "It's not the Ice Troll that worries me… it's that guy, Trent. Ever since he formed a temporary alliance with my sisters, I haven't been able to shake the feeling that something's off with him." He sighed. "And even if I might be wrong, I'd feel safer if you were keeping an eye on things in case he tries something."

Brugo and his friend exchanged a glance as if a silent conversation passed between them. Lihan couldn't quite tell what they were thinking, but he hoped they were at least considering what he'd said.

"Look, kid, I honestly think you might be overreacting. Remember, the guild leader doesn't just let anyone join, so I doubt Trent has any ill intentions." Brugo scratched his neck, then sighed. "But… I'll keep an eye out."

Brugo's friend placed a hand on Lihan's head. "Don't worry, everything will be fine, and then you can join up with your friends again."

Lihan sighed in relief, hoping his unsettling feelings about Trent would come to nothing, especially now that Brugo's group was involved. With their intervention, he felt a lot more at ease about the mission and Trent.

"Thank you," Lihan said before walking away to sit down on one of the guild's benches. He ran a hand over his face, then left it resting on his forehead. That gnawing déjà vu continued to eat away at him like a poison.

He frowned, his gaze dark as he looked toward the exit.

"You've got a pretty scary look on your face," said a black-haired girl, wearing a hat atop her head. Her grayish-purple eyes looked at him with a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Eh." Lihan looked at the girl, surprised, before shaking his head and letting out a heavy sigh. "Sorry. I didn't mean to bother you... I was just thinking."

"It's not a bother." She waved a hand dismissively. "You know... I've never seen that kind of expression on your face," she said, crossing one leg over the other. "Usually, you have that childish, optimistic look." She added with an ironic smile.

Lihan didn't say anything. He just clenched his right hand tightly, the faint crunch of his gloves audible from the grip.

She placed a hand on Lihan's knee, surprising him with her boldness and bringing a flush to his cheeks. She looked him in the eyes, offering a small smile. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on that guy. After all, I've got a bad feeling about him too."

"Ah." Lihan chuckled, a little embarrassed at being caught, but mostly because... "You overheard, didn't you?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

She removed her hand from his knee and scratched the back of her neck, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop," she said with a reassuring gesture. "It's just that you usually stick close to your teammates and rarely socialize with anyone else. So I couldn't help being curious when you approached our group leader." She shot a glare at the Troll before turning back to Lihan, watching him with shy concern, hoping the usually kind boy wouldn't be upset with her.

He wasn't. Instead, he scratched his arm, feeling a bit awkward, and laughed nervously. "I'm not mad if that's what you're worried about." Then Lihan frowned. "It's just that I can't shake off my irritation toward that guy, Trent. I didn't like the look he gave me at all." Nor the way he'd said he'd "take care of" his sisters, but he didn't mention that part. Lihan didn't want to seem like a jealous type, even if he was a bit.

"I guess even the nice guy has his grumpy moments," she teased. "By the way, I'm Leo. A-Rank, class: Rogue."

Lihan's eyes widened. The name was the same one his subconscious had been whispering to him repeatedly. This intensified his déjà vu. He stared at her intently, trying to remember if he'd seen her before.

Leo was caught off guard by Lihan's intense look, her cheeks reddening from the odd gaze of the usually cheerful boy. "W-What's with that look?" she asked, part nervous and part annoyed.

"Oh, sorry. I just thought I'd seen you before today," Lihan commented nervously, waving his hand quickly to reassure her, not wanting her to misunderstand.

The girl in the hat raised an amused eyebrow, quickly dismissing her previous feelings. "Maybe because, I don't know… we're in the same guild?" She shot him a sarcastic grin.

Lihan shook his head slightly. "No, that's not… you know what, never mind." He sighed, ignoring the strange feeling of having spoken to her before. Something in him even suggested this conversation wasn't supposed to happen like this.

Leo gave him a questioning, curious look but didn't press him to speak. Instead, she shrugged. "You really shouldn't stress so much about your teammates. From what I've heard, they're the strongest women in the guild. So if that idiot tries anything with them, they can easily handle themselves." Leo gave him a reassuring smile.

"Right," Lihan felt more reassured by the girl's words. "By the way, I haven't formally introduced myself so... I'm Lihan. Class: warrior. And I became a B-rank adventurer in just six months" said Lihan puffing out his chest proud of his achievements.

Leo's eyes widened at the absurd feat. She had been doing this for several years and had barely made it as an A-ranked adventurer. "So the rumors that you're a prodigy are true. I always thought they were exaggerating."

Lihan blushed, embarrassed by the rumors and gossip surrounding him. "Eh. It's not as impressive as it sounds. I'm still far below a lot of others in this guild." Lihan avoided Leo's gaze, instead staring down at his feet.

Leo shook his head. "Getting to B. rank isn't as easy as you make it sound. Lihan. It took me a year and a half to get up to that rank and then another year to get to A. rank and I've been stuck at that rank ever since." She said with a frustrated and somewhat envious look on her face, but then shook her head to shake those thoughts off.

Lihan looked at her for a few seconds before he put a hand on Leo's shoulder before squeezing it in a reassuring gesture making her look him in the eye. "I'm sure you'll be able to be rank S. So in the meantime try really hard. Leo." Lihan gave him an honest and reassuring smile.

Leo looked into Lihan's piercing emerald greenish eyes feeling captivated by them. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she found him adorable, but mostly it was the gentle smile that warmed her heart. Embarrassed she broke her gaze and turned the other way.

"I guess I should try harder then if I want to get to S-Rank." She murmured gaining some confidence from the boy's words. Before she could thank him for the gesture of kindness she was interrupted by the Troll's voice.

"Hey, little rat. We're about to leave. are you coming or what?" Brugo's voice was present above them as he looked at them with mocking and mischievous gestures.

Brugo's friend smacked the Troll's head with the palm of his hand. "Dude, I already told you her name is Leo." He said with a tired sigh as he saw Brugo ignore him while looking at Lihan and Leo with mocking gestures. Making Leo's forehead vein swell and he looked at him with irritation.

Lihan watched the exchange of glances between the girl and the Troll with a look of concern and amusement in his eyes. Feeling amused by something he couldn't place. "You two seem to be getting along quite well" Lihan commented with an amused smile.

Leo gave him a dirty, angry look. "Even in your dreams, we won't get along." She murmured softly.

Lihan raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't it be better to try to get along with him? After all, you're teammates." He looked at her with curiosity.

"They're just too noisy," she complained, though there was no real malice in her tone. "A girl like me needs her moments of peace."

In bed, maybe, a voice whispered in Lihan's mind, making him feel amused even if he didn't fully understand why. "Can't say I envy you," Lihan replied with a teasing tone. "Though it can't be as bad as Rei's training sessions with me."

Leo raised a curious eyebrow as she began to stand up. "Is it really that bad?"

Lihan shuddered before replying. "If it weren't for my sister Ashe, I'd probably have a few broken bones by now. She always reminds Sister Rei not to go too hard on me, and when training is over, Ashe makes sure to heal all my bruises and scrapes."

Leo shuddered at that.

"Hey, little rat. You can flirt and have sex with the boy after the mission. We should go we don't want to be the last to arrive." Brugo shouted partly amused by them and partly annoyed by the tardiness.

Leo and Lihan blushed at that. One from embarrassment and one from Anger.

"Damn you, Troll." She muttered before yelling. "I'm coming, you idiot, and stop saying stupid things. Before I beat you up for the stupid things you say." She started toward them with angry stomps but stopped briefly to look over the man's shoulder at Lihan. "See you later, Lihan. It was nice meeting you."

"Take care, Leo, and good luck with the mission." Lihan waved goodbye to her, adding a parting gesture.

Lihan watched as Leo approached his group before starting to argue with the Troll before the group said goodbye to a blond boy and left for the mission.

Lihan watched the group walk away through the exit/entrance of the guild. Silence would have come quickly, if not for the bustle of all the lower A ranks staying in the guild. Either because they had to stay while waiting for their groups to return from the mission or because they were just there to eat or have fun.

Lihan saw the blond boy from Brugo's group, sigh heavily before smiling brightly and approaching the bar where several adventurers were chatting with beers in hand.

The smile Lihan has on his face disappeared for a lonely heaviness to replace it. His eyes narrowed with sadness before they disappeared and were replaced with steely determination.

Lihan didn't know what this feeling of heaviness in his body was, despite being alone right now it didn't feel out of the ordinary. As if this was just another day in his life. Even though he knows he has Ashe and Rei in his life. He couldn't help but think that this lonely deja vu was familiar to him. A kind of familiar feeling that he didn't like, but had grown accustomed to.

Lihan shook those strange feelings that had been creeping up on him ever since he saw that Trent guy. If he didn't want to be separated from his sisters again then he would have to become stronger than he currently was.

So despite his sisters' warnings of recklessness. Lihan went to the mission board to look for one that he could easily handle. he grabbed one that caught his eye.

Mission Poster:

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Mission Rank B - "The Unbearable Heat"

Description:

An unusual heat increase has been reported in the town of Solvanta, located in the eastern hills. The weather has become so extreme that crops are wilting, and the population is beginning to suffer from dehydration and exhaustion. Local sages haven't been able to determine the cause, but it's suspected that a magical force or dark artifact could be affecting the climate. The Mayor of Solvanta urgently requests help to resolve the mystery and restore peace to the region. The heat continues to rise!

Tasks:

- Investigate the cause of the strange heat.

- Determine if any magical entity or artifact is responsible.

- If possible, neutralize the heat source and restore normal weather in the area.

Reward:

- 100 gold pieces.

- A local potion maker is willing to provide some enchanted water, which revitalizes anyone who drinks it (single use only).

Additional Details:

- There are rumors of fire creatures spotted near the town.

- It's recommended to prepare protection spells against fire and extreme heat.

Classification: Rank B (Medium Difficulty Level).

Mission Issued: 9 days ago. Unaccepted.

Location: Town of Solvanta, east of Shadow Mountain, beyond the Forest of Eternal Oaks.

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The fate of a town depends on your courage! For more details, visit the Solvanta town square.

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Lihan frowned. This sounded terrible. A possible artifact affecting the climate to the point where it was withering the crops in Solvanta and leaving the residents struggling. These people needed help and the mission had been hanging on the board for nine days without anyone accepting it.

He looked at the rewards. They weren't great, but they weren't terrible either. Even the potion seemed interesting. He couldn't quite understand why no one had taken it until now, although he could understand why.

Shadow Mountain was a dangerous place to venture into, and the town being east of this location did it no favors with the offered rewards. The monsters there had claimed the lives of several Rank S adventurers. If Lihan wanted to stay alive and complete the mission, he'd have to avoid Shadow Mountain.

At least the Forest of Eternal Oaks wasn't too dangerous for someone like him, so crossing the forest wouldn't be too difficult. It would be a long trek, but Lihan was used to those—he'd just need to gather all the necessary supplies. Even if he was disobeying Rei's order to wait and avoid reckless actions, he planned to do everything carefully.

Lihan couldn't help but feel nostalgic when he started becoming an adventurer and going on quests by himself before Rei and Ashe took him in. He remembered the initial arguments he had with them for overprotecting him. Not that he didn't understand it at the time, as the missions he did with them were more complicated than the ones he did when he was alone.

Back then, he'd been bold, bragging about his strength, until a mission almost cost him his life due to his recklessness. If Ashe hadn't saved him just before he was about to be killed, he wouldn't be here, worrying about his strength now.

Lihan had always admired Ashe, but from that day on, when she saved his life, he'd been completely captivated by her. He knew it was a cliché story, but he'd fallen hopelessly in love with Ashe. At first, it had been embarrassing, but eventually, he learned to manage his feelings. He'd never lost them, but he no longer acted like an idiot when he was around her.

Lihan could feel his cheeks heating up at the thought of Ashe. He wouldn't deny that he also felt something for Rei, but his feelings for Ashe were stronger. It didn't mean he loved one sister more than the other; he cared for both of them deeply. But sometimes, you can't ignore what's in your heart.

Determined not to waste any more time, he shook his head to clear his thoughts. If he wanted to return before Ashe and Rei finished their mission, he'd have to hurry and prepare to set out. Even though he felt a twinge of guilt for disobeying them, he couldn't let Solvanta's people continue to suffer.

With renewed resolve, Lihan made his way to the Guild Girl, the receptionist who handled adventurers' missions and sent confirmations to the clients who issued them. Missions accepted by one guild would disappear from other guild boards to prevent double bookings. Lihan reached into his bag and pulled out a medallion.

He ran his medallion through the scanner bars, which read guild credentials. The futuristic paper glowed white before the printed text disappeared, signaling that the mission had been successfully added to his medallion. Satisfied, he made his way to the guild assistant.

It didn't take long for him to find her. The Guild Girl was a young, beautiful woman with blonde hair tied in a side braid and striking golden-yellow eyes. Her guild uniform added to her overall elegance and charm, making her beauty even more noticeable.

Lihan couldn't help but blush; he had always found the woman beautiful, but he was too shy to make a move. Pushing that thought aside, he started walking toward her.

The sounds of the guild were typical: laughter, shouts of warning, and the clinking of swords and armor. Lihan walked steadily, his eyes fixed on the figure of the guild girl. She was standing behind a desk, organized and attentive as usual. With her dark hair and calm gaze, she managed the guild's logistics with quiet professionalism.

Lihan reached her and, without a word, extended his hand toward the desk. Resting in it was a small metal medallion, a magical device that recorded adventurers' missions. It also displayed the adventurer's class, rank, race, and age.

The guild girl noticed him approaching. "Lihan?" Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of curiosity in her tone. "Do you have a new mission?"

Lihan nodded. With a quick gesture, he placed the medallion on the desk in front of her. She looked at it, and after a flash of light, it began to glow softly. The magic that activated it allowed the mission to register before her eyes.

"Hmm... this is quite unusual…" she remarked as she read the information displayed on the medallion. "Investigation mission in Solvanta… increase in heat… something is affecting the crops… Why are you choosing this now?"

Lihan stayed silent for a moment. His eyes clouded over briefly as he gathered his words. Finally, he sighed and looked at her with determination.

"I've decided to take it because… I don't want to stand by and do nothing. My sisters, Ashe and Rei, just left recently with Trent for an important mission. I… want to become stronger, and I think this is a good opportunity. And besides, if nothing is done soon, the people of Solvanta could face serious problems."

The guild girl furrowed her brow at his response. She was concerned. Lihan wasn't a novice, but taking on an issue like the one described in the mission—one that had gone unresolved for nine days—was serious. She appreciated his willingness to help the town, but she was also worried about his safety.

"Are you sure you want to go now? Solvanta is to the east of Shadow Mountain; you know what that means, right? It's a dangerous place. Even S-rank adventurers have died there. This isn't a mission you should take lightly, Lihan."

Lihan didn't look away. She noticed the tension in his face, but she also saw the firmness in his expression. There was no doubt he had made his decision.

"I know it's risky, but too much time has passed. The crops are withering, and the villagers rely on them. If I wait for my sisters to return, it might be too late to do anything," he paused for a moment. "This is my path. If I want to grow stronger, I need to face my own challenges."

Lihan understood. He couldn't get stronger if his sisters continued to be overprotective, so he needed to take risks. Besides, something inside him told him he needed to become much stronger in a way he couldn't quite comprehend.

The guild girl observed him silently, weighing each word before speaking. She knew she couldn't convince him to wait. Lihan was like a rock: determined, sometimes stubborn, but with a noble and kind heart. Sometimes he could be a bit cowardly, but he never backed down from a challenge despite his fears. To her, he was someone worthy of respect and admiration.

"You know Ashe and Rei won't be happy that you went on a mission alone, right? Especially one of this rank," the guild girl asked him.

Lihan nodded silently. He knew it would upset his sisters, but once they saw that he was safe and sound, they would only be proud of him. He would simply have to explain his reasons to them.

The guild girl sighed. "I understand… but it worries me that you're going alone. Even if you're B-rank, facing the unknown in a place like Solvanta is risky. You could… you could ask for help, you know?"

Lihan thought about the blond guy from Brugo's group but quickly dismissed the idea. He didn't want to be responsible if the guy got hurt, and he couldn't think of anyone else he could trust to be a temporary companion, so he declined her suggestion.

"I can't wait any longer. If things worsen in Solvanta, by the time someone steps in, it could be too late. That's why I have to do something, and if that means going alone, then I will. Besides, something tells me I can do it, and my sisters have taught me valuable lessons. They taught me to fight smart and trust my instincts." Lihan smiled slightly, thinking of Ashe and Rei.

The girl sighed, knowing there was little she could do to change his mind. Though she had doubts about Lihan's safety, she couldn't stop him from making his choice. Still, she didn't want to let him go without a few final words.

"Alright, Lihan. But… please, be very careful. You're a good guy, and I don't want to see you get hurt or worse. The Solvanta mission isn't something you should underestimate." She looked at him with concern.

Lihan smiled sincerely. "Thank you for your concern, but… I'm already used to handling danger. I'm not the reckless kid I was at the start of my adventures… and if it helps you feel better, I'll be careful on this mission. But right now, what matters to me is that what I do today helps someone tomorrow."

The girl nodded slowly, though the fear in her chest didn't entirely fade. Something told her this mission was strange, but when she reread it, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary for a B-rank mission. She knew that despite seeing the bravery and confidence Lihan showed, she couldn't shake the uneasiness she felt about him. Sometimes, determination could lead people to dark and dangerous places, and not everyone returned unscathed.

Despite her doubts, the guild girl continued. "Alright… just remember that if you ever need help, the guild will be here for you."

Lihan felt relieved that she had allowed him to take the mission. "I'll keep it in mind. Thanks again."

Without another word, Lihan turned and began walking toward the guild's exit. He knew what awaited him, and though the girl's concern lingered in his mind, his determination was stronger. He had a mission to complete, and he wasn't going to turn back.

The guild girl watched him leave, her concern lingering as she watched Lihan disappear into the distance. She knew that for him, this was just another step on his path to strength, but she also felt that this journey might cost him more than he realized.