The blizzard had passed. The snow piled on the ground, creating a layer of ice, even above the roof.

Time had definitely moved but there was still no sign of Darwyn yet.

Liliana explored the road with her worried eyes. Searching for that certain burly man, waiting for him to appear.

Her staff vibrated at her grip, boring it into her chest. Where is he?

Everything was clad in orange. The flare of the all mighty sun will soon end and shall be replaced by the blue moon.

“The church is the only thing that we hadn't check yet.” It was the voice of Shen that calmed Liliana. She seems cool and collected, taking everything at face value. But her ears worked like Liliana has never seen before. It went from up and down, left and right, basically spinning. Shen was trying to hear every bit of noise around.

“Y-yeah... Sure he's in the church.” He has to be. They toured the whole city, visited all places, but they kept the church as their last destination.

As if they were hoping that he would be there with his usual demeanor.

Their unease was covered by the chattering of the passerby, the sound of shouting merchants. The snow clung to her boots as if stopping her to take another step.

Her legs landed with a heavy motion, alternating her limbs until finally, the arrived at the statue of Aversia. Even with snow, the white sculpture never lost its beauty, it proudly held its symbol to everyone who looked at it.

Liliana could see clerics and acolyte bustling around with their scrolls and paper. Their panicking face spelled out that there was something wrong.

“I wonder what happened?” Shen watched the clergies walking around, then she tapped the back of Liliana. “Let's go.”

In all honesty. Liliana felt like not walking. She wanted to stay at the tavern and wait for Darwyn himself to come. Because if he's still not in the church... I... I don't know...

She dragged her feet, inching closer to the door of the edifice.

“Clear the way!”

“Woops.”

Before she could even register what happened, Liliana was grabbed by Shen, her shoulders were taken and moved her to the other side.

A full-speed carriage, decorated extravagantly, heading for the church. And as soon as the horses ceased, and the wheel still, an old fat man landed on the snow.

A noble. A public servant. Liliana immediately recognized this as she was a daughter of a noble herself. The man was guided by a—presumably—nun and they entered the church together, both have a serious expression.

Liliana and Shen moved as one, following the nobleman and the nun, but they were stopped by a keeper, a paladin of some sort.

“Sorry, but the church is off-limits for now.” He wore something like of Darwyn, but smaller, and that he has no helmet.

His piercing gaze was faced by Liliana's frowning. “Okay, fine, we don't need to go inside anyway. Just tell us if there's some very big guy entered the church.”

“And why should I answer that?”

“Erg! This man!” Liliana stomped her feet in frustration. Should a follower of Aversia act like this? Soon, her wizard hat was patted by the smiling Shen as she smoothly entered the conversation. “Because we're his party members. I think we have the right to know what happened to him, no?”

Her voice carried persuasion and reason, it became hard for the keeper to conserve his stern face. “Hmph. All I can say that he's inside the church, but any more of that is classified.”

The tone of the keeper was softened, and then he stared far away, at the spreading snow field that buried his city. “Well, you're an adventurer, right? You'll soon know why.” He snorted.

“What do you mean?” Liliana said as she peered into him, and he answered noiselessly. From the looks of it, he wouldn't reply any longer.

“Just this one, answer this one, please... Tell me if Darwyn is alright... Just that... Please...”

Just that, at least tell me that. Even without using a miracle of truth that the servants of law were known for, the keeper could tell her words hid no lies.

Without looking at the girl, he muttered something. “Sir Darwyn is alright now, there is nothing to worry.”

“Really!”

“...” And he went silent again. Even so, this made Liliana sighed in relief. She leaned on her staff with a tired expression, gazing at Shen who was smiling at her.

“It is Darwyn after all, no need to worry.” Shen patted the wizard, her ears giving a gentle twitch. “Now,” she added. “We should check the Adventurer's Guild if there's something we could find.”

***

The Guild was bustling with adventurers of all races and classes. A dwarf cleric passed Liliana with its stubby feet, grunting about something. A rabbit-kin rustled through her bag of the catalyst before gesturing at her party members.

The quest board, surrounded by the adventurers, showed its various quest written in papers. They were mostly exterminating quest. To kill a monster means that the roads will be safer, thus, merchants could arrive here without worrying about an attack.

It was Shen whose face couldn't express shot a glance at Liliana. She was not an adventurer, so of course, she found this an experience new.

All sorts of sound barged into the elf's poor ears. Her eyes were swirling around and her gait zigzagged. Liliana held her hand as she was looking for something.

“There it is.” Just in time. A receptionist with a long scroll unfolded came and shook the bell she was carrying.

Emergency quest. Liliana thought. It was something that needed the help of most adventurers. A quest that so grandiose, she only heard it only in rumors.

Ring ring ring. It went on until the receptionist gathered all the attention of the adventurers.

“A new quest had arrived. It was issued by the higher-ups.” The receptionist said, examining the Guild, making sure that everyone was listening to her. And they did.

“A divination from the law has foretold that a tribe of earth giants would come and pillage this city.” That alone made the room even quieter. They knew the gravity of the situation. A single earth giant would need a party of D-ranked—one rank higher than Liliana—adventurers to defeat.

And now they are telling them that they were a tribe of them? Ridiculous! And yet, no one said a thing.

“Every adventurer party, except E-ranks and below, can join the quest. Rewards will depend on how many giants you can kill. Each head is equivalent to one silver.”

““OOHH!”” But when there was money placed in, the danger would be just another quest.

Cheers and applaud came mostly from the veterans. Shen's long sensitive ears were set back as she tried to cover it with her slim finger.

Well, it was not only her who was doing this. A bunch of sharp-eared races soon followed her action, some even left the Guild running.

“Hoo! The Monk and the Wizard.” What came from the sea of the crowd was a feline ranger, Raka. He wagged his slender tail before trotting his way into the two.

“Are you here for the quest, perhaps?” Nyaa! He exclaimed. Raka droved his neck side to side, before asking the obvious. “Paladin was not with you?”

“Hahaha, that's about it,” Liliana replied with an exhausted laugh. Raka sensed that there was more than what she was letting but he decided to not look further into it.

“Understandable.” He replied with the utmost manner. A noble attitude. “But without Paladin, I believe that you cannot participate in the quest.”

“T-that's right...” Certainly, it was only her that would venture out. Shen can fight, but she wasn't technically an adventurer. And even if she were to register now, she would still be F-ranked.

“But having me would increase the rank of your party, for I am a B-ranked, and I prided that!”

“Whoa!” Amazing! She has a feeling that Raka was not a normal archer. But to think that he was a B-ranked. Liliana's eyes shone like stars, bright yellow.

Then someone called out to Liliana, a hint of happiness wafted by the words. “Liliana!”

“Hmm? Oh! Lander!” It was the young man that she had met inside the library. An aspiring S-ranked adventurer. But who was behind him?

A human girl with flaxen short hair. Her neck was filled with accessories, fingers wrapped by rings, and a crooked staff at her hand. A warlock. A follower of gods, in some sort.

While warlocks were associated with chaos and evil, some decided to use their powers for the good.

“I knew that you're here! Are you taking the quest?” He resembled a small puppy finding its beloved owner. The girl from behind gave her some wack in his head.

“You're creepy.”

“Aww...” He held his head in pain while looking back from his shoulder. Ignoring the wailing Lander, the girl stepped forward.

“Hello. I'm his companion, and unfortunately, his childhood friend. My name is Risha. I am a warlock.” The string tied around her staff rustled at her introduction.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Liliana.”

“My name is Shen.”

“Nyaa! Raka is what they called me.”

This ragtag of adventurers were a bit funny through the eyes of Liliana. Her adventuring should not stop even if Darwyn was not here.

Just how much am I relying on Darwyn? The thought never crossed her before this event. It was not an exaggeration when she said that she grew more dependent on him more than her own family, more than herself.

Maybe she can use this event to change herself, even a little bit. Yes, it was a good plan. Darwyn might be surprised by her sudden mental growth. He might, no, he will be. When he comes back, I'll show him the new and improve Liliana!

No matter what reaction he showed at that time, it does not matter. As long as he returned, then all and good. So that's why... Please come back, right Darwyn?