Chapter 19

"Oh, its just a matter of effort" Edrii said modestly.

Isla turned her head towards Sila, while asking "Excuse me, Ms. Edrii, but how is my sister?"

Edrii frowned as she spoke, "I don't know what you two sisters went through, but you were both on the verge of dying when we found you. Your sisters injuries were much worse than yours, so she might be in a coma for a few more days".

Isla remembered the moment Sila pushed her out of the way, a sharp pain came from her heart, however her face remained calm.

"I'm very sorry for troubling you so much. We never expected to get hurt so badly. Do you mind if we stay until my sisters injuries have healed? " Isla asked with a soft expression.

"Of course not. We're happy to have company here. Feel free to rest up, it's about the time they'll start cooking" Edrii showed a kind smile.

"Thank you again" Isla reiterated.

Seeing Edrii close the door, the soft smile on Isla's face disappeared. Her eyes regained their vigilance. Even if the woman named Edrii saved the two of them, she didn't believe others would show kindness for no reason.

If it was as simple as wanting some compensation, then Isla is more than willing, but if their thoughts are on her and Sila, then she can only send them to death a little more mercifully, thanks to their life saving grace.

Outside the house Edrii had just walked out, before the others sitting by the camp fire looked towards her.

The leader; a tall man with a healthy tan spoke in a deep, steady voice, "How is it?"

Everyone's eyes were on Edrii, who spoke with the same gentle voice, "The less injured of the two has already awoken. Definitely a wary little girl".

Another man spoke up, "They're both silver rank adventurers. If they didn't have some guard against us, that would be the strange thing".

"That's true. To make it to the silver rank, they should definitely have begun to understand the filthy side of the guild" a muscular woman agreed with the previous man.

"What I don't understand is why we had to take the trouble to help them? This will delay us for many days" a short man with a sinister look said.

The group was helpless towards the man, "Rale you of all people know the danger of that place. If we can temporarily recruit two more powerful members, won't we have a better chance of succeeding" the leading man, Harold spoke.

"Are they really useful? Silver ranks have always burdened us when we took them on quests in the past. Why are these two any different?" Rale said unconvinced.

"You're right about the past. We have been disappointed by silver ranks before, but you weren't there when we found them. That part of the forest had been almost destroyed, and by the traces left, we're confident those two girls managed to take down an earth bear" Edrii responded, trying to convince the group.

"An earth bear?" Rale asked strangely.

"What's an earth bear doing so close to the outskirts?" another man jumped in.

"There must be some trouble deeper in. Perhaps the high level magic beasts and monsters are fighting for territory again" Harold guessed.

"An earth bear with just the two of them does show strength, but will they even be willing to join us? That place isn't somewhere you just walk out of if you want to" Rale continued, the questioning voice didn't match the sinister face of the the man.

"You big softy. Just say you don't want innocent people to get hurt" the muscular woman, Irene said with a bellowing laugh.

Rale's cheeks showed a blush and he quickly argued, "Damn old lady, I just don't want to have to take care of some little girls while we're in that place".

Irene continued to laugh. She knew the temperament of the sinister looking man the best. A mouthy old bastard with a warm heart.

"If we can prove the value of going, I'm sure they'll accept" Edrii smiled at the interaction between Irene and Rale.

Rale didn't want to continue being mocked by the arrogant woman, so he snorted perfunctorily, which meant his acquiescence.

The group didn't know that their conversation had been heard by Isla who was caressing her sisters forehead. Though even if they knew she could hear, they probably wouldn't care.

Isla was surprised by how calm they were when speaking of the earth beat, as if it was a common occurrence to deal with it. They knew where it should be and even had ideas as to why it travelled so far from its usual territory.

This is not the thinking a group of villagers should have, and looking at the corners of the room that have built up a thick layer of dust, it's easy to see they have only settled here for a short time, not bothering to tidy up the houses thoroughly.

Isla guessed this was probably an adventuring team. Hearing their familiarity with each other, as well as the content of their conversation. Isla could only think that this was probably a gold rank team.

Isla and Sila never pay attention to the population of the adventurers guild. They only go there to take quests, receive their rewards and repeating the same process.

The most Isla knew was that Rusvil had four or five gold rank teams. One had to be in the city at all times, just in case of emergency, so the groups would rotate every few months.

She heard five people speak. Three men and two women. A usual group composition would consist of around that number. Usually to maximise the advantages of the main roles of the group. Because too few members have many disadvantages, just like Isla and Sila know, they lack force at range, as well as magic altogether. Relying only on the few talismans they have left.

But too many makes it harder to assign the roles and divide the tactics clearly, as well as smaller gains from rewards or treasure, which is the main reason to become an adventurer in the first place.