Chapter 27

After the group finally cleaned up the corpses in the cavern, they picked up the belongings of the adventurers that had been killed and set fire to everything below.

When they came back to the surface, they reunited with Rale and Andir, who had already started cooking. The emerald core was nonchalantly placed on the barren ground next to them.

Edrii turned her gaze towards Andir, his even more pale face trying to remain calm under her fierce eyes, "Didn't I tell you not to use your magic. Do you not have ears, you stubborn old thing" she said through gritted teeth, while pulling his ear.

"Aahh! Aaahhh! I was wrong. I was wrong" Andir yelled, destroying his usually wise image.

Edrii didn't believe this mischievous old wizards words, "You know you're wrong. Will you dare to do it again?"

Andir remained silent. If it meant he could protect his friends, he wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

His silence was quickly broken by even more painful screams. Edrii was so angry, she began pulling both his ears.

Isla and Sila watched the interaction with smiles. They hadn't even thought of joining a group, but seeing the way all the members of the golden unit interacted, made them a little envious.

Harold cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone, "As the head of the golden unit, I would like to thank the both of you for being willing to accompany us on such a dangerous task" he said as he looked at the twins.

Isla smiled "It's okay. We were happy to be apart of a mission for a Gold ranked team. The experience has definitely shown us where some of our shortcomings are".

After the pleasantries were exchanged, the group split the spoils found from the corpses. Only the storage equipment belonging to the adventurers were still intact, so everyone went through what they needed.

Sila finally received a storage ring, but she didn't seem to care much about putting any valuables in it. Instead she asked Isla to hold it, while hers simply kept the items she'd need to fight.

Isla couldn't help feeling a little sweet from Sila's doting, but as the older one she wouldn't show such an expression.

Seeing as it had already gotten dark, the group decided to camp there, instead of taking the risk of travelling through the forest at night.

When morning came the group had to separate. Harold said "We need to head over to Torrel to notify their guild leader about the deaths of their adventurers, so this is where we part ways".

"It has been a pleasure to join your group for this mission. We wish you safe travels" Isla responded.

"Oh by the way. We will let our guild leader know that you assisted us in completing the task, so you'll probably be rewarded when we get back" Harold explained.

"Thank you very much" Isla said with a smile, waving as they left.

When the group was out of sight, Sila turned to look at her sister and whispered "Isla can you stop smiling like that, it's creeping me out".

The smile on Isla's face cracked under the words of Sila, "What do you mean?"

"This whole experience with the golden unit, you've been smiling. You who usually keeps a straight and solemn expression has had to smile for so long, doesn't your face hurt?" Sila said with a mocking expression.

Isla felt the dull pain coming from her cheeks," Nonsense. When have I been reticent. I'm obviously a lively young lady".

Sila rolled her eyes openly, "Sister, after leaving Olbrand, you've changed. You've become more relaxed".

Isla looked at Sila and asked with a hint of timidity in her eyes, "Do you think it's a good change?"

Sila couldn't help but stare at Isla's eyes. She had felt Isla was acting a little strange around her, a little more clingy, even coquettish. Sila seemed to have found the answer to a long standing problem, and she became visibly relaxed. She could guess that Isla was starting to be conscious of her opinion. Sila knew that Isla was beginning to explore her feelings, not as a sister, but as something more. So she spoke with the utmost seriousness "Isla every part of you, whether it was before, now or in the future is perfect to me. You don't ever have to ask that question again. You will always be the most important person in my life".

Isla's eyes reddened. Sila's words were clearly expressing how she felt. An emotion that Isla had never dared to accept. But even she knew that she was beginning to try, let alone Sila, who has been waiting for her response for so long.

"I'm sorry. Give me some time" Isla whispered

"Don't apologise Isla. I'd wait a lifetime if necessary" Sila said comfortingly.

The conversation was just a passing moment in their day. Afterwards the two returned to normal, neither mentioned what they had spoken about, simply going back to the teasing and laughing they were familiar with.

The two had no intention of taking any mission at the moment. So they went back to their home to try and recuperate from the physical and mental strain they had been under the last few months of strengthening themselves.

"Did you hear?" A well dressed woman said to another woman in a cafe.

"What about?" the other woman responded.

"Apparently Larsille academy will be sending out their senior students as representatives to each city, to recruit the talented magicians and warriors". The well dressed woman said in a smug tone.

The other woman showed a shocked look, "Isn't that the academy where all the nobles send their children. Why would they openly recruit commoners this year?"

"It's normal if you don't know, but my husband has said that a new headmaster has taken over and the first change they made was to recruit talents, regardless of their class" the well dressed woman stated.

The people around had been listening with gusto. They wondered what the requirements to join were. Trying to figure out whether anyone in their family was capable of being recruited.

After all, the Larsille academy has existed for thousands of years, and the few exceptionally talented commoners accepted before have all become either lower nobles, or strong combat forces for the empire. Either choice can allow the families of those people to become unreachable existences to even the wealthiest of commoners. How could they not be excited?