When they are far away, Andrew asks.

" Say, Mira. Who was that guy?"

“ He is an old sage. One of the greatest, alive magician in our world. He was one of the subordinates of the Hero that defeated the Monster Lord sixty years ago.”

“ Sixty years? How old was this old man?”

“ He is over eighty at the moment. His name is Mario by the way.”

“ So there are people this old in this world, eh?” Ivan says.

“ And why are you surprised?”

“ Because, you are in a constant war, right? I just didn't expect people to get this old, in an environment like this. That's all.”

“ The old Hero?” Andrew wonders as he looks at the sky. “ I want to know more about these Heroes you have told me about. They sound so cool.”

“ You can always come back and ask him to tell you stories, you know. He likes talking about his past adventures. Maybe a little too much. You will get along just fine.” Mira answers him.” But now, how about we go get something to drink and celebrate the fact, that our team, has been officially created?”

“ And how is that so?”

“ You see, I registered us as a team last night. And the only thing left, was for you to take that test. With that out of the way, we are officially a team of the Red Empire's Imperial Army.” she says with excitement.

“ That's great. But, who is the leader?” Andrew asks.

“ That is me of course. Unless you have any problem with that?”

“ No”

“ I am fine.”

“ I have”

“ For god's shake Andrew! Shut the hell up!”

And with minor disagreements, that no one cared about, everything turned out as it was supposed to.

They went to a nearby bar, where they drank and ate to their heart's content. They didn't get drunk though, Mira prohibited it. It was still noon she said.

After that, they took the way home.

On their way through the market, Mira stops them.

“ Now then. Before we return, I want you to select your armor and weapons.”

“ Armor?” Alex asks.

“ Weapons?” Ivan is next.

“ Select?” Andrew joins in as well.

“ Can't you just for once not say anything?” Ivan says with a sigh. Andrew frowns.

“ Yes. If we are gonna be doing missions from now on, you can't stay like this. You will need equipment.”

“ And where are we going to find it?” Ivan asks.

“ Right here.” she stops in front of a shop. A sign above it. On it is written.

[Magnam's Weapons and Stuff]

They walk in the shop, inside the air is filled with the smell of metal and copper. They take a look around, at the weapons hanging from the ceiling, to the armors on their stands, all in a row one the shop's wall.

A very big and muscular man comes to greet them.

" Hello there young men. How can I help you." He asks in a polite tone.

" Hello, Magnam. We are here to purchase some equipment for the guys over here." Mira says looking at the merchandise.

“ Ohhh! If it isn't Mira. It has been such a long time.” He says as he goes to hug her.

Anna steps in front of him. He sees her and stops.

“ Anna? I missed you too!” He shouts once again, hugging both of them.

“ That... is... enough.” She says, trying to survive his strong gripe.

“ Oh. Sorry.” he apologises, letting them go.

" Now... back to business. Could you please find something for these guys to use in combat?"

“ Why of course. Come with me.” He says as he invites them deeper into the shop.

They reach the back, where most of the merchandise is.

“ First of all. Clothes. How about this?” He asks them as they disappear behind the mountain of stuff.

When they come out they are already in their attires.

Alex is wearing a white shirt, with a gray leather armor on top. Black pants with the leather armor continuing up to his feet where he wears black boots.

Ivan is wearing a chainmail shirt, with a green shirt right above it. Some fade yellow leather pants, and brown boots.

Andrew... is still the same.

“ Wait... why didn't you change as well?” Mira asks him.

“ I didn't like anything in there. Besides, it isn't my style to wear armor and such. I prefer to use my body as one.”

“ I told him otherwise lady Mira, but he just wouldn't listen.” Magnam apologises.

“ Don't sweat it. Let him be. He will sooner or later change his mind.”

“ Now then. Weapons. Follow me.”

" I don't think that will be necessary." Alex says. At the same time, he stretches his hand. A white bladed katana forms in his grip. " I have this after all."

Sounds of surprise are heard.

“ When did you learn how to do that?” Mira asks him.

“ Well then, I just remembered how it felt last time, and I just redid it.”

“ That's all?” Anna also asks.

“ Yes.” he answers in excitement.

“ Ok. You have your weapon. How about the other two sirs.”

“ I don't need one. I fight with my fists. Like a man!”

Magnam looks at Andrew's statement in doubt.

“ Again. Don't worry about it. Whatever fits him best.”

" Thank you, Mira. Finally, someone who understands."

“ So how about you?” she asks Ivan.

“ Well... if you have something relatively small. Something like a dagger would be nice. I don't suppose you have commando knives, do you?”

“ What's that?”

“ Never mind. A dagger please. And some throwing knives.”

“ Since you mentioned throwing knives. How about this?” He says, bringing him a huge wooden box, and dropping it at his feet.

Ivan opens it and inside he finds some weird looking knives.

“ What are these?”

Alex comes closer to take a look as well. When he sees what this is about, he laughs.

" Come on man. These are clearly kunai. How can't you tell?'

“ I have never seen them before! Because I am a soldier doesn't mean that I know every weapon on the whole fucking planet!”

“ If you like them, I can make a special offer for the whole box.”

Ivan looks at Alex for advice.

“ If you want throwing knives, then take them. They are exactly what you need.”

“ Ok then. I will buy them.”

“ Excellent choice. Anything else?”

" I would like to purchase more weapons, but let's leave it for another time. Maybe when I actually have some money in my name, and I don't have to borrow from Mira. This will be enough for now."

And with their shopping done, they leave.

Later on, on the street in front of Mira's house, a voice calls to them as they are about to enter.

“ Mira! Mira, is that you?”

They turn around, a young man is running towards them, waving his hand.

“ Brother Nel! How are you? I haven't seen you since forever.” Mira greets him.

He charges to her, bringing her into a hug.

“ I am just fine Mira. But tell me about you. How are you? Are you hurt? Tell me.” he says tightening the hug even more.

“ Brother... you are... crushing me.” she tries to tell him.

“ Oh, I am sorry.” he says letting her go. The people behind her giggling a little.

" By the way. I just heard about your arrival from Margaret. I am so happy you are safe. I was so worried when I learned what happened to your squad. I was afraid that something might have happened to you." he says, his eyes emitting his feelings.

“ I am just fine. Both me and Anna. But I can't say the same thing for everyone else.” she says looking down. It seems that she still holds herself guilty for what had happened.

“ Well, if you are fine, then I am more than happy. Come inside. Brother wanted to talk to you.”

“ So. He is finally home, eh?” she says, making a long sigh. She follows her brother, into the house. Her team following from behind.

Andrew walks beside her and asks.

“ So, is this one of your brothers?”

" Yes. His name is Nel. He is the same age as you."

“ And the brother he was talking about?”

“ That is our older brother and current leader of the household. You still haven't met him, have you? Please don't act stupidly in front of him.”

" What? When did I act stupidly before." he asks her, getting an angry look from her. "Ok. I promise I won't do anything irrational."

“ As long as you keep that promise.”

“ By the way. If he is your brother, and older than you, does that mean that he has a higher rank in the military as well?” Ivan asks her.

" Who Nel? No, no. He isn't interested in war. He is a teacher at one of our schools. Unlike me or my older brother, he never had any powers, to begin with, so instead of going and dying, he stayed behind to teach the future generations."

“ I see. So you have schools. Are they only available for nobles?”

“ No. Our educational system is just fine. Everyone can attend it, it teaches necessary things for this world, like history, writing, maths, and many others. Shhh, now. We have arrived.”

They stop at the staircase, in the living room. At the top of the stairs, was a woman, with long, straight red hair. Her fancy clothes, giving off a sense of superiority.

Andrew, even though he knew nothing about this lady, didn't like her. He disliked people, who acted like that. Like they were above everyone else. And the smirk on her face wasn't helping with her first impression.

“ So, finally decided to join us, Mira?” she says in an annoying tune.

“ Eleanor! That's enough. You know that Mira went through a very dramatic experience. So back off!” Nel yells at her.

“ Ha! I don't want to hear that from a garbage, like yourself. But, brother wants to meet with you, stop wasting his time and come already.” she says leaving, motioning for them to follow her.

Mira quietly obeys her. But before she leaves, she tells them.

“ Don't worry. It's just a normal family meeting. It is my sister's character like that, and she gives the wrong impression. In reality, she isn't a bad person.”

“ Little hard to imagine her as one.” Andrew points out, what was in everybody's mind.

“ Well... just give her a little while.”

And with that, she climbs the stairs, and onto the third floor.

She is now inside an office. It is a normal looking one, with books left and right in bookshelves, mountains of paperwork on the desk and on the floor next to it.

On the chair behind the desk, sat a man dressed in a long brown robe. He had red, short hair, along with a goatee. His eyes were darkened and he seemed tired.

“ Brother.” they all say with a light bow.

“ Sit down, please. All of you.” he says motioning to the three chairs in front of him.

They obey.

" Now then. First of all, I would like to thank you, Eleanor, for your help yesterday. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have finished the job, so quickly."

She nods to his words, with a light blush on her cheeks.

“ It was my pleasure brother.”

“ As for you Nel... keep up the good job.”

“ At least pretend you care!”

" As a household, our place is on the battlefield. We are born fighters. Brother can't waste his time on cowards like you!" the woman named Eleanor says, getting an angry look from him.

“ That's enough Eleanor. You might have a point, but people like Nel are also important. We need guys like him to teach future generations. Education is a very powerful weapon. Don't underestimate it.” he says, getting a sigh from her.

" As for you Mira. I heard about what happened at the Jackal Mountains. It was a real tragedy. But I am glad you are safe. You are one of our strongest members and it would be a shame if we lost you like that." he tells her.

“ Of course that's what you cared for.” she complains.

“ What did you expect Mira? You might be our sister but, you are the daughter of that woman. You will never become an actual member of this family.” Eleanor taunts her.

" Eleanor! You know that this isn't true. Mira is our sister. Even though she comes from a different mother, it is our job to"

“ She is right Nel.”

“ Brother?”

" Mira. I have told you before, because of your lineage, you don't hold any power inside this family. But this can change. If you can improve your military ranking, your status will also improve. But with your failure at the Jackal Mountains, you have done the opposite thing. However, keep trying. You will eventually reach, what you desire." He advises her, staring at her with a cold expression.

“ I will try my best, brother.” she replies.

“ That's all. Dismiss.”

Both Mira and Nel make a slight bow, before leaving the room, leaving Eleanor and their brother behind.

“ Ha. That was amazing, brother. You manipulate her so easily. Giving her hope, to benefit from her successes. And if she fails, blame it on her. It is a win-win situation.” she comments.

“ Is this how it seems to you? I am disappointed with you Eleanor.”

“ Brother?”

" You think I am just manipulating her? It might be true that I am using her feelings for the sake of our household, but I am also using them for her shake."

“ I don't understand. Even if you say that you care about her, your cold look and acts, make me think otherwise.”

“ Well. You are still young after all. You will sooner or later realise, the boundaries between the two.”

And with that their conversation was over. They both leave the office and head towards their rooms.