Harbinger to Trouble

"Morning, Avy."

"Good morning, Dheyniz."

Avyzhia had just left the guild when she met Dheyniz. 

"Are you going to meet your brother?"

"Yes. He's on the airship terminal."

"Oh, are you going to go hunting with him today too?"

"No, not today. He's going on a mission. He said it might take weeks, so I'm seeing him and the others off."

"Others? Are Rheal and Phan going with him?"

"Yup. He said they need to have more field experience."

"I-I see." Avyzhia saw disappointment flash on Dheyniz's face. Although it quickly disappeared, she wondered if she just imagined it. "W-Well then. I'm heading on a mission myself. I'll see you around."

"Sure. See you later."

Avyzhia spent the last couple of days after she woke up hunting and running some errands with her brother.

She found out that Teiran wasn't as bad as she thought he'd be. In fact, for some odd reason, she felt like if she really did have a real brother, she'd want him to be just like Teiran. Sure ,he can be overbearing and overprotective at times, but even those she found cute and really likable. It's safe to say that they've become closer the more they spend time together.

He spoils her so much sometimes, something that she had never experienced in her previous life, that at some point, she can't help but behave like a brat when around him. Of which he doesn't look like he minds... at all. In fact, it seems that he welcomes it even.

Not just her brother but even her guildmates are all very nice and accommodating to her. Although she did wonder why they were suddenly showing such attention and often attempted to get closer to her, much to Teiran's irritation, she didn't mind at all and actually felt really good about it. After all, in her previous life, she didn't really have anyone she considered a family or even friends.

For the first time in her life, Avyzhia felt like she was finally in a place where she really belonged.

For the first time in her life, she felt like she finally had people she could call a family.

"Like I said, if they annoy you you have to tell me. Those bastards are getting more shameless by the day. Who do they think they are buzzing around my sister like some annoying bees. It's not enough that they already act familiar around you, they even dare to try and get you alone with them? Did they think I'll let them get away with it just like that?"

"It's called 'sparring', Tei. And I should be thanking them for it. I'm pretty sure they'd rather spend their time on hunts and quests instead, and yet they still made time for me." She rolled her eyes at him.

"Those blockheads' only purpose in life is to get stronger. How they're still weak until now is beyond me. So don't even think for a second that they're doing it just to help you."

"So you're saying that they have another purpose for being nice to me? Is that it?" Avyzhia raised a brow at her brother's accusations.

"Obviously."

"Alright. And why would they do that?" She sighed. "I'm pretty sure I can't even hold a candle against most of them. I didn't even had any contribution in the last guild war. Of I was them, I'd be put off."

It was Teiran's turn to sigh. Instead of answering her, though, he just ruffled her head and smirked when she started scowling and complaining that he was ruining her hair.

"Leave it, since I'm the only one allowed to do this."

"I'll just get a boyfriend then."

He stopped then and frowned. "Who would dare hit on you? Do they have a death wish? You're still too young to get a boyfriend. You just turned 18."

"Don't be ridiculous." She glared at him playfully, pushed his hand away, and tried to smoothen the top of her head, which now resembled a bird's nest. "Girls my age get into a relationship as soon as they get their first job class. I mean, there are even those who already have one while still a novice."

"Why are you in a hurry? Do you have someone you like? Are you already seeing someone?" He looked at her suspiciously. "It's not that stinking Demon Blade, is it?"

"What are you talking about? Nero and I are just friends! Besides he and Jeila are going strong." She pouted at him. "And so what if I do have someone I like, or if I'm seeing anyone? It's none of your business. Hmph!"

"Oh yes, it is." He was having fun as he resorted to pinching both her cheeks this time.

"Aw! Stop it. That hurts."

"Anyone weaker than me shouldn't even imagine approaching you."

"But no one's stronger than you..."

That made him stop assaulting her cheeks and instead smirk at her smugly. "Yeah, well. That's a given."

"...at least not in the guild." She added quietly, mumbling under her breath. Unfortunately, Teiran still managed to hear.

Teiran gestured at her that he was going to be watching her, using his fingers.

Avyzhia just rolled her eyes.

"You're making it hard for me to let you out of my sight, young lady. I should probably go with you when you do some quests."

"Augh! You're too much. Just leave me alone. Didn't Phan say that you guys have to be in Singya by nightfall?"

"Then I should just let him go there by himself."

"He just came back from doing an errand you sent him to by himself. Don't you feel sorry for him?"

"And since when did you start getting concerned with my apprentice's well-being?" He raised a brow at her.

"Ever since their master stopped caring."

"Hmm... So it's been a while. Rheal already can't stop talking about you. Are you aiming to take my apprentices away from me?"

"Don't be silly." She giggled.

"Kidding aside. Just be careful, okay?" This time, he smiled at her genuinely. "We might be gone a while, so look after yourself. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'll be fine. I can handle myself. Don't worry too much."

"I'm always going to worry, Avy. Always."

The way Teiran smiled at her gently and affectionately tugged something inside Avyzhia, and before she knew it, her eyes started getting wet. To hide it, though, she suddenly hugged him, surprising him. Although it didn't stop him from returning the gesture.

"You know, you're the best big brother in the world."

"I'm your only big brother."

"The guys from the guild said I should treat them like big brothers, though."

"What?! Those dogs- "

Avyzhia tightened her hug on him. "Please be careful and come back in one piece."

"I will." He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I'll be back before you know it."

Not long after, Avyzhia waved goodbye to her brother and his apprentices as the airship they were in ascended into the sky.

When she couldn't make out the airship anymore, she started heading for the public quest board to pick some quests and earn some coins before calling it a day.

~}xxx@xxx{~

A slender man whose face is covered in a half mask stood on a platform overlooking a laboratory where a number of glass containers with alive specimens suspended in some sort of liquid inside are being checked by some scientists.

Just then, a bespectacled woman came up to him.

"Master, we managed to get some useful data on the remains of No.127, but I'm afraid it won't be enough."

"Is that so. What a shame."

The man kept staring at the containers.

It's all because of that man that his plans kept on getting interrupted. In recent years, he lost quite a number of his experiments because of him, too, just like No.12,7 which was one of his most promising specimens.

Then again, it's still not enough for him to want to confront the other party. After all they go way back. Although if the rumors regarding one of his guild members is true, then he won't hold back.

"Send me the data you collected. And also, prepare No.328 and No.94 to be sent to her."

"Hostilely, master?"

"I'll leave it to you. What's important is to gather more data and to confirm the authenticity of the rumors."

"Yes, master."

"And one more thing, keep a close eye on that rat he sent on one of our subguilds. Try to look for anything we can use against them."

"Understood."

The woman bowed her head briefly and left his side.

For some reason, he gets the feeling that things will get more interesting in the near future. Not just his previous guildmates, but also the Dragon Emperor is starting to make some bold moves recently, even though for years they tried to keep a low profile as much as they can.

What could've changed?

Then again, he won't let them stop him from achieving his goals. He had already sacrificed a lot. He won't back down, even if it means he's going up against his old friends and the notorious emperor.

"Master, I won't let you down." He mumbled, his eyes full of determination.