After the major events that elevated their status to Rank C adventurers, the name of Party Noiver seemed to be the sole topic of conversation in Antrows City. However, instead of capitalizing on their fame to take on the lucrative high-stakes missions now available to them, Keyzier, Donovan, and Novalia made a surprising decision: they chose not to undertake any missions for several days.
To them, the rank promotion was not the end of the journey, but a warning. The battle against the Goblin King had left a deep and terrifying impression. They realized one absolute truth: if any of them had let their guard down for even a moment, Party Noiver would have become nothing more than names carved onto tombstones.
"We cannot afford to be complacent!" Keyzier said one morning in a secluded meadow on the outskirts of the city, which they had turned into their training ground. "The Goblin King was just the beginning. Out there, there are bound to be opponents far stronger, faster, and more cunning."
During this hiatus, the three of them decided to dedicate all their time to training. This session was far more intense than anything they had done before. They were no longer practicing the basics; instead, they were honing their skills and potential to the absolute limit of what their bodies could endure.
Keyzier practiced coordinating his elemental magic so he could switch from one element to another in a fraction of a second without a casting delay. He attempted to fuse his assassin speed with close-range magical bursts.
Donovan, on the other hand, continued to sharpen his physical endurance and heavy sword techniques. He practiced parrying successive magical attacks from Keyzier to accustom his instincts to fighting mage-type enemies.
Meanwhile, Novalia focused on mana efficiency. She learned how to maintain multiple buffs and debuffs simultaneously for longer durations without draining her mana reserves. She was well aware that her role as the support was the heart of their party.
More often than not, sunset found the three of them collapsed on the ground, gasping for air, their bodies drenched in sweat from exhaustion. They frequently tried to push past their limits, forcing out mana even when they felt empty, all to expand the "vessel" of strength within themselves.
Day after day passed with extraordinary diligence, and the results began to show. They could feel a surge in their mana flow and their muscles becoming more responsive. The power they possessed now felt significantly greater than before.
While Party Noiver was busy isolating themselves in training, a new commotion swept through Antrows City. From the main gate, a troop of cavalry with glistening armor and noble banners entered the city. Leading the group was a handsome young man with a sharp, cold gaze named Tristan Alloire Varda.
Tristan was the eldest son of Marquis Sylvestre Alloire Varda, as well as Novalia's biological older brother. His presence, along with the 43 elite soldiers escorting him, immediately became the center of attention for the townspeople. The presence of such a large noble military force in a neutral city like Antrows was a rare and intimidating sight.
Without wasting a moment, Tristan spurred his horse toward the residence of the Mayor of Antrows. The Mayor, named Doan Lewis, was already waiting at the front door of his mansion. He warmly welcomed the Marquis's son, though in his heart, he felt anxious about the arrival of such a force.
Inside a closed room within the Mayor's mansion, the atmosphere felt formal and stiff. Doan Lewis served the finest tea, but Tristan seemed uninterested in small talk.
"What business brings you all the way to this city, Lord Tristan?" Doan Lewis asked in a low voice.
"I have come here on my father's orders to seek and find my runaway younger sister!" Tristan answered firmly. "Thus, I request permission from you as the Mayor to conduct a search throughout this entire city."
Tristan then produced an official parchment scroll with the Varda family wax seal and showed it to Doan Lewis. The Mayor read the contents carefully. As a city official, he had no reason to refuse a request from the son of a Marquis, especially since the document carried the full authority of the head of the Varda family.
"I understand, Lord Tristan. You have full permission to conduct a search in every corner of Antrows City," Doan Lewis said while returning the scroll.
Once he obtained permission, Tristan did not delay for a single second. He immediately ordered his troops to move. The first step he took was to head to the place where information circulated fastest in the city.
"First of all, let us head to the Adventurers' Guild! That is the place where foreigners and information seekers gather!" Tristan commanded.
With a luxurious noble carriage and escorted by dozens of fully armed soldiers, Tristan arrived in front of the Antrows Adventurers' Guild building.
Their presence inside the guild hall caused the usually noisy atmosphere to fall abruptly silent. The rowdy adventurers, who were usually shouting, went quiet at the sight of a high-ranking noble stepping onto the guild's wooden floor.
Tristan walked arrogantly toward the reception desk. There, Hana, who was on duty, looked slightly Trembling at the sight of the group of soldiers.
"I am Tristan Alloire Varda, the eldest son of Marquis Sylvestre Alloire Varda. I have come to seek someone's whereabouts!" Tristan said in an authoritative but pressuring voice. "I wish to gather information held by this guild. I hope the guild is willing to cooperate with us."
Hana took a deep breath, trying to maintain her professionalism. "I am Hana, the receptionist of the Antrows Guild. My apologies, Lord Tristan, but what information do you refer to? And who is the person you are looking for?"
Tristan looked Hana straight in the eye. "I want information regarding the whereabouts of my missing younger sister, her name is Novalia Alloire Varda."
Hana's heart hammered against her chest at the sound of that name. Novalia?
"If I may ask, what are your sister's features, Lord Tristan?" Hana asked, struggling to hide her shock.
"She has long, golden-yellow hair. Emerald-green eyes like mine, and she should be twelve years old at this time." Tristan explained.
Hana froze. The description was an exact match for Novalia, a member of Party Noiver. The sweet, polite, and talented girl who frequently came to her desk. However, Hana was caught in a heavy dilemma. On one hand, she was facing the authority of a Varda noble. On the other, she knew Novalia and her companions very well.
Hana remembered how terrifying Keyzier's killing intent had been the other day. She knew that Keyzier and Donovan possessed the ability to destroy the entirety of Antrows City if a conflict broke out or if their comrade felt threatened. If she leaked Novalia's whereabouts now, bloodshed between the Varda soldiers and Party Noiver would be unavoidable in the middle of the city.
For the safety of the city and out of loyalty to her guild member, Hana decided to keep it a secret.
"My apologies, My Lord, but so far we have never received information regarding someone with those features in our adventurer registry." Hana said with a forced, calm expression. "However, we will provide that information to you immediately should we find the person in question later."
Tristan stared at Hana for a moment, as if searching for a hint of a lie, but finally, he nodded. With a steady stride, he and his soldiers left the guild to continue their manual search in every corner of the city, from inns to the marketplace.
Only ten minutes after Tristan's group vanished from sight, the front door of the guild opened again. This time, three familiar figures stepped inside. They were Keyzier, Donovan, and Novalia, looking much fresher after their training period.
They had come to the guild today not to report, but to take on a new mission after several days of rest. However, as soon as they stepped into the center of the hall, the atmosphere felt incredibly strange. Everyone inside the guild, from the adventurers to the staff working there, stared at the three of them with gazes that were difficult to interpret. There were looks of pity, wariness, and tension.
Novalia furrowed her brow, feeling uncomfortable under the stares. Keyzier and Donovan exchanged looks, realizing that something had happened while they were away.
The three of them stood in the center of the hall, feeling surprised and confused by the sudden change in attitude from the people around them, who had gone remarkably silent. They had not yet realized that the storm from Novalia's past had truly made landfall in Antrows City.