"What's this?"

  Something slipped out from underneath Jeanne's armor. A white envelop.

  "A letter? How did this get there?"

  Janna picked it up.

  "I think that's fire-proof paper."

  One of the materials that exists in this world is a paper that doesn't burn until very high fire temperatures. Made from a tree called blood scorched larch, named so because of it's fire red almost blood like colored bark.

  A rare tree. It is said that a normal tree has to barely survive a forest fire and it will be reborn as one of these trees hundreds of years later. But nobody has proven it.

  "Should we open it?"

  Janna asked Thea.

  "No. If we do and she asks us if we did, you'll just tell her we did."

  "What? I wouldn't do that."

  "But your face won't be able to lie. Give it to me, I'll keep it safe."

  "You won't secretly read it, right?"

  "I won't."

  "Really? You swear it?"

  "Mmm...ok, maybe I'll take a peek."

  "You scamp! How could you? After saying I shouldn't read it!"

  "Ok, ok! We'll read it together. But you have to keep a straight face if she asks later."

  "Alright, fine. Open it up."

  They opened up the letter, the envelop wasn't sealed by anything.

  "Dear whoever is reading this..."

  The letter was addressed to the person who opened it first. It was written by Jeanna herself.

  It was a sad letter. Jeanne talked about her life so far. Finding the letter meant she had died and might have already found a better place than her life in the world of the living. It was a letter of last will.

  In it, Jeanna described her life. There was nothing positive in it. All of it was depressing. So many years of isolation and being looked down upon by her family member. So many years of training to reach the four star rank and still not be praised for it.

  In the end, Jeanna wrote down some things that she wished for...in the next life. A loving family. A father who would give her rides on his shoulder. A mother who would applause her even when she drew a terrible drawing. Or wake her up in the morning and call for breakfast.

  A normal happy family. Jeanna also said she didn't want any siblings or friends since that would be too selfish of her.

  Her final wish was to have the reader remember her name for a while. Even if only for a bit.

  The two readers' eyes were pouring tears. Especially Janna, she couldn't stop her tears and snot. And her lips were trembling from emotion. Jeanne had truly lived a sad life.

  "...Thea...please...*sob*"

  "Yeah?"

  "...please help her..."

  Janna asked through tears.

  "Absolutely. I'll do everything to help her."

  "Also, isn't she amazing? She's two years younger than us and already on the same level as us."

  "Twenty-one and four star swordswoman with a terrible hand dealt to her. I'm beginning to think she might be a talented person."

  "Oh! We should absolutely tell her this when she wakes up. Her letter said nobody praised her for her efforts, right? We have to do this."

  "Agreed. But also..."

  Thea put her hand on Janna's head and ruffled her hair.

  "Wh-what are you doing?"

  Janna was caught off guard.

  "Janna, you did amazing too. You've grown so much. I'm so proud of you."

  Thea praised Janna for her emotional growth during the fight yesterday.

  "Mnm...thank you."

  Janna had a big smile on her face.

  "Let's go, we have so much to do today."

  Thea put the letter behind Jeanne. The two said they'll keep it a secret.

  "Apparently, there was a dwarf among the refugees."

  Thea told Janna what she had heard from Silas.

  "Dwarf? I read they make the best swords."

  "Well, not this one. He's a young dwarf studying construction."

  "Bummer. My sword feels lacking now that I'm a four star swordswoman. The one Jeanne has felt amazing to hold."

  "Is that so? Maybe you can use the hero sword I have?"

  Thea said jokingly.

  "Your joke isn't funny. I still can't believe you took it for yourself. How is that fake hero guy gonna survive?"

  "I discussed it with Sophily at the time. He'll be fine since the ones behind him won't want people to find out and they have to keep showing the hero's party to the public."

  "What about you then? What if he tells them about you?"

  "He won't, but doesn't matter if he does anyways. The people behind him will have trouble moving their forces to get the sword back. Sophily was certain they're trying to keep it a secret. And if they do move, the Holy Empire will find out eventually."

  "Why the Holy Empire suddenly?"

  "Think about it. I was able to pick up the sword."

  Janna thought about it for a few seconds.

  "...the Holy Empire will back you up! Since only the hero can pick up the sword and the Holy Empire serves the hero. But what about that fake hero? Won't the Holy Empire help him instead?"

  "That won't happen. If they do a little bit of digging, they'll learn that I'm the best student ever coming from the academy. They'll consider contacting me before making a decision on who to back. I'll tell them about the ability that Erox has where he can pick up any weapon."

  "Oh, you've thought this very far already."

  "It was mostly Sophily who was confident it would work. I just wanted the sword."

  "So did you learn anything from the sword?"

  "No. I haven't had the time."

  "Haha."

  Thea and Janna laughed as they left the orphanage. Arriving at the place where Silas worked, the Silver Wolf Merchants store, they heard shouting from inside.

  "What's happening?"

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  They opened the door and saw Silas and Su. And a person with a small stature.

  "Miss Thea! Perfect timing."

  Su greeted Thea.

  "Good morning, Su. I didn't see you come in for gardening when I was sitting on the porch."

  "That's because it's been really hectic here. I'll come by in the afternoon."

  "It's all well if you're okay. I was just worried something might've happened."

  "Well, something important did happen."

  "Let me handle this."

  Silas butted in.

  "Miss Thea, this man here is named Hauford."

  "Aye, me names Hauford."

  The man, a dwarf, turned to Thea. He was short as a dwarf is usually. Braided brown hair and a big beard. A face with rough skin but eyes a beautiful color of green. Broad shoulders and a wide standing posture. On his belt were various tools that seemed to be just hanging from his belt. He had a muscular body underneath his metal plated armor.

  "An' who might ye be?"

  "This is Thea. She's the boss of this place, so you better give her some respect."

  "We dwarves say respec' be earned nae given."

  Hauford didn't blindly show respect to others.

  "You better-"

  Silas was about to say more.

  "Silas, it's fine."

  But Thea told him to stop immediately.

  "As he said, respect is earned not demanded. So tell me, what's the problem we can help with?"

  "He said he needs a group of warriors to help get his people."

  "Help get his people?"

  "Let me."

  Hauford suddenly said.

  "It be like this. Those damned beasts from the east came ta our humble home in tha mountains an' destroyed everythin'. We were driven out from our home."

  "That must've been tough."

  "Aye, it was. But we dwarves be strong bastards. So we marched out o' tha mountains in search o' a new home."

  Hauford started walking around the store.

  "Bezurd, the old chief, that senile fool found a cave near that south west mountain and thought it might be a good place to settle. Me foolish brothers and sisters followed Bezurd 'cause he be the oldest. But I saw danger on that mountain."

  "So did you speak with them about it?"

  "I did, of cours'. But dwarves are stubborn bastards. They labeled me ignorant an' a coward. But I know! That mountain is full of nothin' but danger."

  "How is it dangerous?"

  Thea asked.

  "I swear it on me life, ther' were traces o' wyverns."

  Wyverns are six star creatures. Possessing intelligence that is on the same level as a fourteen years old person, so only a step below a normal adult's ability to think. Solitary creatures that like to live alone. Although they occasionally group together to hunt more powerful enemies and fly once a year to a nearby friend to check up on them. Almost like a neighbor.

  Wyverns are extremely deadly creatures that occupy mountains. Depending on the mountain size, it can have multiple wyverns that have their own territories.

  Wyverns hate beings like humans or other intelligent species they can't have under their control. Many people get attacked by wyverns on the road when they leave their nest to visit their friends.

  "Wyverns?! How did your people not see wyvern traces? And if there's a wyvern here..."

  Janna was startled from learning this. The wyvern, or maybe more than one, could attack the village and they wouldn't be able to defend.

  "Hmm, thos' bastards packed more rum than food. Too drunk to pay any attention to their surroundin'. I only saw tha signs cause I was wee' bit sober."

  "This is serious, Thea. Everybody's in danger. Everyone here and the dwarves that went up the mountain."

  "Calm down. The wyvern won't attack here. The wyvern fears the white wolf which lives here."

  "But didn't you say the white wolf left?"

  "Well, the wyverns don't know that. Maple's smell still lingers here. And Gwyn has a similar smell, just a weaker one. Wyverns fears strong foes. They won't try to pick a fight based on just that one change."

  "I hope you're right."

  "I am right."

  "Can ye two get me people back or nae? Are ya strong?"

  Hauford didn't know much about the two girls.

  "There's almost no one stronger here than these two. So you don't have to worry."

  Silas answered Hauford's question.

  "Then we be'er hurry and leave."

  Hauford wanted to leave immediately to save his people.

  "Wait, I'll go with you. Janna has other things to do. Take this."

  Thea handed Janna her magic bag.

  "Wait, w-what do you mean I'm not going with you?"

  "The villagers here need help, so you go with them. My journey will take hours."

  "What? But it's dangerous for you to go alone."

  "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

  After a bit of explaining to Janna of what she needed to do, Thea left with Hauford to rescue the dwarves.

  Janna talked with Su and Silas about what she needed to do. Go to the forest for food and firewood. Thankfully, Silas had bought some emergency supplies from the nearest villages that are around a day away. He had sent a bird immediately and had received a reply already of the village agreeing to sell.

  So the food problem was not urgent. But the firewood problem was still huge. It was already the start of winter, the temperature was dropping everyday. The refugees won't be able to survive the cold without firewood.

  And there was also the problem of water. It wasn't a problem of lack of it, it was just that it was too far. The nearest river was to the north. It ran from west to east and through the forest. The safest route and place to get the water was to the north east where there was no forest and no monsters. It was a grass field where the river was clearly visible.

  But it took thirty minutes back and forth. The water produced through Thea's water magic wasn't exactly drinkable because it lacked in minerals. It was just pure water.

  The device Thea created did mix earth magic in it. But it was terribly slow.

  For now, it was solved by using Thea's magic bag which could store a lot of water but there was a limit to it. As it was used up really fast by the people and for growing crops.

  Some solution needed to be made in the next few days. But right now, Janna's job was to accompany the villagers to do their tasks of getting water and gathering dry wood. Janna's job was to accompany them and put the materials in Thea's magic bag. While also doubling as a protector for them.

  "You were amazing yesterday, Janna."

  "Thanks, Su."

  Next, Silas spoke up.

  "You looked like a real-life hero from the stories, Janna. The way you stood in front of the village to protect everyone, you were so brave."

  "S-S-Silas-T-thank you!"

  Janna had a crush on Silas, so being praised by him was more effective of an attack than a dragon's breath attack.

  "Is something wrong, Janna? You're messing up your words."

  Su bent her head in between the heads of Janna and Sylas. Innocently asking Janna why she was stuttering.

  "She must still be tired from the fight yesterday."

  The clueless-to-Janna's-crush Silas came up with a theory. Silas thought that Janna was feeling tired and that's the reason her face was turning red.

  "Are you sure you're up for this task?"

  "Yes, yes. I'm feeling perfectly fine. I just had something...spicy for breakfast..."

  A weak excuse that somehow convinced Silas.

  "But Janna, what happened to that one you were fighting?"

  Su was curious about the aftermath. Silas also listened in closely.

  "Oh, her name's Jeanne. She's at the orphanage right now. She passed out earlier."

  "At...the...orphanage?! Isn't that dangerous?! What about Leaf? And the two boys?"

  Su was immediately worried about the safety of the kids.

  "Don't worry. Jeanne's not a bad person. She's just had a rough life. So the kids will be fine."

  "I can't not worry. I'm going there right now."

  Su left without saying a word to Silas.

  "...she's supposed to be helping me with the extra work today."

  Silas sighed.

  "Oh! I...I'll be leaving...now..."

  The atmosphere became awkward. Janna didn't know how to talk to Silas. She became so nervous.

  "Yes, take care."

  "You too."

  Janna ran away in a hurry.

  "Haa...how is she so cute? ...wish I could date someone like that."

  Left alone, Silas said to himself in a low voice. He was oblivious to Janna's crush. And he didn't view himself as someone who could be together with Janna. Little did he know that Janna found him very attractive.

  "Argh, the cost of running the village is catching up."

  He complained about the cost of keeping more than a thousand and five hundred people fed and alive.

  "I really need a solution...Miss Thea must have something that could help."

  Silas would later ask Thea for solutions and be surprised.

  Janna fanned off the heat from her red face with her hand as she approached the gathering place for the people she was supposed to guide.

  A group of people started to walk up to her. They were pulling a cart.

  "Oh, if it isn't our hero!"

  One of the older looking man in the group stated.

  "Hero?!"

  Janna blushed at the statement from the villager.

  "Of course, big sister! You saved us all yesterday so you're our hero."

  A younger man in his teens said with excitement. And then everyone else started to nod their head and say agreeing words. This all made Janna feel very warm inside.

  "Haha, are you here to help us today? What happened to Miss Thea?"

  "Oh, Thea had something else to do."

  "So they sent you? Are they crazy? You just had a big fight and are still injured..."

  An angry lady was speaking and looked at Janna up and down. Her words stopped as she realized that there were no injuries on Janna.

  "You're injured...right?"

  The lady asked cautiously.

  "Nope. All healed up."

  Janna flexed her arm for the lady to show there were no injuries on her.

  "Don't worry about me. I'm perfectly healthy to accompany you guys."

  With the people convinced, they headed out to north west. The nearest grassy plane to the village.

  The group reached the grassy planes in a few minutes. A beautiful blue sky and an everlasting green on the ground. The gentle wind blew by and carried the smell of cut grass with it.

  It was very calming.

  "Uhm...Janna?"

  Someone called out to Janna. I was a women that was a few years older than Janna.

  "Hello."

  Janna gave a greeting and waved her hand.

  "I just wanted to say thank you."

  "Thank you, but you really don't need to."

  "No, no, you don't understand. You know my daughter, Caity."

  "Little Caity? You're her mother?"

  Caity is the small brave child that Janna sent away yesterday before the fight. And the one that Janna remember during her fight that helped her reach new heights of power.

  "I was worried sick when she disappeared before the chaos. But then you found her and sent her back to me and I was so relieved."

  "Of course, I would send her back every time. But really, I should be thanking you. Caity helped me realize what I was fighting for and helped me win the fight yesterday."

  "She did?"

  The mother was shocked to learn that little Caity helped Janna win the fight.

  "You have a very brave daughter. She was ready to fight alongside me yesterday. She showed a very strong resolve and a lot of courage. If she weren't a child, I would have loved to fight with her side by side."

  "That doesn't sound like my Caity."

  "Huh? Really?"

  "The Caity I raised used to be very shy and afraid. She wouldn't really talk to kids her age, you know. But she's always been kind and caring at heart. But that changed when we were forced out from our home."

  Tears were welling up in the eyes of the women. And a few of the people that were listening from behind. They all had similar stories of being forced out from their home from the wars.

  "I hate that she was forced to grow up so soon and face such an evil world. But..."

  The woman put on a smile on her face.

  "I'm glad that she has someone like you to look up to and learn from."

  The people around nodded their head.

  It was all too much for Janna and she hid her face from all the love and admiration she was being given.

  "...you guys..."

  Everyone started laughing at the cute side of Janna.

  "...no matter what happens, I'll help everyone as much as I can."

  Janna said to everyone. She's not normally one to say such things.

  "Ah, a slime!"

  Suddenly, one of the villagers shouted.