Sylvie took a moment to collect herself, and in that moment, a hundred thoughts ran across her head. She tried to calculate what exactly it meant for Sunstar to appear here and shout that he was going to fight. How would his presence change her plans?

Fundamentally, the answer to that question came down to another, more basic one: how exactly strong was he?

She did not know. Nobody really knew.

His strength was the stuff of legends, sung of by bards and chronicled by the most eloquent of poets, and yet, there was precious little she could reference with her own eyes, and above all, she believed what she saw more so than any epic or song.

And she had seen nothing of Sunstar personally.

There were also little to no eyewitness accounts of his strength. That was one thing she had a particular curiosity about. Whenever Sunstar opted to intervene in killing a monster here and there, he did so first by clearing out any adventurers in the area. To prevent collateral damage, it was said, but she had always thought that perhaps there was a secret behind it.

Exactly what - she did not know - but soon, she would see for herself.

"Jeanne, get back!" said Sylvie, prioritizing the safety of her teammate and sister first and foremost. She assumed Sunstar would at the least, based off his bravado, be able to hold the hydra off enough for everyone to regroup and gather their bearings.

"Az, and you two," said Sylvie as she spoke to Moonguard. "Regroup, but be ready for-,"

Her words ended as she stared off at Sunstar, her attention captured by the fact that the hero did not wait, did not think, he just dove in head first, flying with his fists stuck out ahead of him as he sailed right towards the hydra.

Sunlight enveloped his figure in a bright, heat wave laden aura, and he looked like a miniature comet as he shot forwards. The hydra reacted, opening its sizable maw and firing off a massive torrent of flame easily capable of engulfing an entire squadron of men. The fire itself crackled with arcs of red energy, magically infused with immensely high heat empowered even further by the orb of molten rock revolving in the sky like a malevolent eye.

Sunstar dove into that flame breath hot enough to have threatened even the sturdiest among the platinum ranked adventurers with complete and utter ease. His light wrapped form cleaved through the fire, parting it in two as instead of being repelled, he actually gained more and more speed until finally, he crashed right into the hydra's mouth.

A burst of exploding flame and sloshing lava erupted from the point of impact, temporarily clouding the scene, but Sylvie's eyes were sharp, and she used [Hunter Sight], a dual class skill for hunters and assassins for temporarily looking through blinds and illusions, to look past the blinding lights.

Sylvie stood up, breaking her cover, ignoring the searing heat of the air as she stepped forwards, blinking at the sight in front of her.

Jeanne, too, had stopped herself from retreating, instead turning around to follow Sylvie's stare.

Sunstar had flown straight through the rock hydra, tearing past its throat and punching out to the other side. For a single moment, covered as he was in blood and fire that stood out starkly against the light colors of his golden suit, he looked horrifying, slick red drenching everything except his eyes that still shone with a piercing luminescence.

It reminded Sylvie of seeing the feral, glowing yellow eyes of predators in the night as they circled a campfire.

But that was only for a moment. Heat and energy emanated from Sunstar, and the blood evaporated off, leaving his golden bodysuit and pale blue cape completely spotless. He smiled an impossibly perfect and white smile as the rock hydra stiffened, blood spurting from the hole in its throat, before it began to collapse slowly and heavily like a tipping tree.

The orb of molten rock, disconnected now from its main magic source, darkened, cooling rapidly into regular stone before cracking apart and falling to the ground. The countless kobolds in service of the hydra also broke apart, crumbling like dust.

Just like that – a creature that could have given an entire army trouble defeated in a single move.

"Greetings, good adventurers!" said Sunstar as he floated downwards, his cape billowing behind him. Despite it being night, the natural sunlight he gave off was so bright that at the least, he was always permanently illuminated.

He gave a lingering glance to Jeanne first, then turned his illuminated eyes to Sylvie and the others. He bowed, flourishing it with an arc of his arm. "As always, it is an honor to meet those who defend the fair people of Soleil from monsters. Your work is always and truly appreciated."

"Why are you here?" said Jeanne.

Sylvie stirred. Unlike usual, Jeanne's voice was muted, lacking the strength she usually projected herself with. Azhar came to Sylvie's side, and by exchanging a glance, she could feel they were thinking the same thing.

The last meeting between Sunstar and Jeanne was one that touched on an incredibly sensitive matter, and Jeanne had so far ignored it, not wishing to think of the implications of Sunstar being her father and what it meant. The biggest implication was that Sunstar had abandoned her and her mother, and that was one that Sylvie and Azhar had let her have her space with.

But it was obvious Jeanne had not processed everything, and Sunstar's presence was not going to help.

"To come help, of course," said Sunstar as he came down to ground level. "I hope we will not treat each other as strangers. For after all, we have met before, have we not?"

He stepped towards Jeanne, and she stepped back. Sylvie stepped between them, Azhar taking her lead.

"That does not answer the question," said Sylvie as she craned her neck up to look up at Sunstar's formidable height. "The entire point of adventurers taking upon this venture was that you would conserve your strength and hide yourself from the prying eyes of enemies. Will this not completely defeat that purpose?"

"Slaying that house pet means nothing to me," said Sunstar as he looked not at Sylvie, but continued to point his gaze at Jeanne.

"I was under the impression I would be seeing less of you by taking these hunts," said Zal as he took careful steps forward, green eyes narrowed on Sunstar as he leaned against his divine blade. "So, what has changed?"

"Ah, the crown prince of Enna. A pleasure to meet you," said Sunstar as he gave a light bow. "I must thank you again for lending Enna's army in this march, and even more so that you lead it personally."

"I would not leave the Moon Reaver anywhere else other than my side. Least of all with my father who already has given away the army to you," said Zal.

"I assure you, good prince, your city's contribution is for the greater good," said Sunstar. "And it is only with the duchess's infinite generosity that she did not seize the Moon Reaver when Enna so graciously chose to fold itself into the duchy. I trust you will appreciate that kindness."

"Oh? Is that how it is? We folded ourselves into the crown you serve?" Zal's hand lied lightly around the handle of the Moon Reaver. "Amusing. I was but a boy when it happened, but I do hold myself to have a sharp memory. Was it not you that broke into our sacred temple of the moon to demand our allegiance?"

"I merely asked," said Sunstar as he maintained his wide smile and light tone, not taking Zal even the slightest bit seriously. "And your father was wise enough to accept. I am sure that wisdom has passed on to you."

Rudaba put her hand on Zal's shoulder and shook her head, stopping Zal from continuing this confrontation.

"I am not here for you, prince," said Sunstar. "If that is what you are curious about. My business is only with Triple Threat. You should return to camp and find some rest. The march tomorrow will be hard, and we may yet need your excellent swordsmanship."

"Fine," said Zal after a moment looking into Sunstar's unbreaking smile. He whirled around on his heel, taking Rudaba by her arm and left.

"Yer here for us?" said Azhar.

Sunstar did not look at Azhar. "More specifically, I am here for Jeanne." He nodded to Sylvie. "I acknowledge your words. I am under orders to preserve my strength and conceal my presence. But what father would not come running to the aid of his daughter when he senses her in danger?"

"Funny ya didn't say that the past twenty years she was alone," said Azhar.

Sunstar ignored Azhar's words and spoke to Jeanne. "Come, my daughter, it is past time that we discuss our relation and reveal it to the duchy. I understand if you do not wish to join the Ascendant Order, but at the very least, you should not hide in the shadows any longer.

You are the daughter of the greatest hero known among man, and you should shine as bright as your blood decrees you to."

"Azhar spoke to you," said Sylvie. She felt irked that the hero could ignore Azhar as if he did not even exist, but she did not let that bleed into her tone. She tried to be calm, though she had to admit it was difficult. "And he raised right points. Will you not answer him?"

"Circumstances," said Sunstar simply. "But matters of family should be discussed only between myself and Jeanne."

"Yeah?" Azhar snorted. "We are her family, ya halfwit. Had her back since we were kids. Got more right than you to be callin' her family, that's for sure."

"Hinterlander," said Sunstar as he finally pointed a gaze to Azhar. The hero smiled, but something about his stare felt dangerous. But only for a single moment before he continued with light tone. "I must thank you and Sylvie here for taking care of Jeanne for so long. It is my greatest shame to have been unable to be with her, but I can explain all to her. I only ask for time alone."

"Stop it, you two," said Jeanne as she came forwards, stepping ahead of Sylvie.

"Ya sure?" said Azhar, frowning. "Don't gotta deal with this if ya don't want to."

"He's right," said Sylvie.

"I know, and thank you," said Jeanne with a smile. "But I know what I want to say."

"Ah," said Sunstar. "I can see that you have begun to accept your heritage. Whence shall we meet for a much-needed talk? It need not be today, either. Perhaps the morrow when you are more rested?"

Jeanne shook her head once. Sylvie saw as Jeanne stared right at Sunstar with resolution flashing in the blues of her eyes. "No, I only have a question: why did you abandon my mother?"

"Your mother?" Sunstar paused. "Is another topic we may discuss in time."

"No, I want an answer now," said Jeanne. She looked back to Sylvie and Azhar. "And I want my brother and sister here with me to hear it."

"It is…a matter of the crown," said Sunstar. "I cannot discuss it with you lest in private."

"Then that will be the end of it," said Jeanne as she stepped past Sunstar, bidding Sylvie and Azhar to come with her.

The hero did not move, and, as Sylvie noted with a slight shiver as she too walked past him, did not stop smiling.

"You are yet conflicted. I understand," said Sunstar. He began to fly, hovering upwards. He looked down at Sylvie and Azhar, and for the slightest of moments, Sylvie's eyes – sharp as they were – felt like they captured a little break in the smile, some tiny, infinitesimal twitch that felt truly off putting, like seeing a crack in a porcelain doll revealing only darkness.

"I will give you more time, but know my daughter that should you desire answers, I will always be present for you," said Sunstar as he floated into the sky, slowly at first, and then at explosive speeds once he reached high enough, his form streaking in the night sky like a shooting star.