Chapter 191: Asna

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.