Our heroes, having finished their training for today, are leaving the camp, heading for Mira's home to rest.

However, before they pass through the gates they are stopped by an old man in a brown robe.

“ Hey! Mira! Wait up.”

Mira looks behind her, followed by everyone else.

“ Mario. What's the problem.”

They stop, allowing him to catch up to them. When he reaches he waits for a little, trying to catch his breath.

“ You know, for an old man like myself, running is a far too stressing exercise.” he says between breaths.

“ Would you mind telling us what it is? We don't have all day you know.” Andrew says.

“ Hey!”

" No... it's fine Mira. Let him be. I guess you don't want to hear about the new mission that was announced then." He says, pretending to leave.

“ Wait up! What mission?” Mira quickly shouts.

“ So now you are interested.”

“ No. we still aren't.”

“ Shut up Andrew! Tell me, Mario!”

“ Ok then. But I am doing it just for you Mira. You see a report came from a village near the Jackal mountains, about fire-goblins patrolling their area. The villagers are scared and request for help.”

“ The Jackal mountains? Where have I heard that name before?” Alex wonders.

" It is where our battle with Greyo took place." Anna replies.

“ And if there are fire-goblins there, then there is a good chance that Greyo is involved.” Mira adds.

“ Exactly. If your suspicions are correct, then Greyo's master, should be targeting the surrounding area. I think it is worth checking out.”

" Thanks a lot, Mario. You are such a big help. But where did you learn about it? I haven't heard an announcement."

" I got the information beforehand. As a general, I get this kind of information the moment the report arrives."

“ You are a general?” Ivan asks in shock.

“ You bet I am. I might not look like one, but sixty years ago I accompanied the Hero on his quest to”

“ Yea yea. Mira has told us about that.” Andrew interrupts him.

“ By the way, Ivan. What rank were you?” Alex asks him out of the blue.

“ Me? I was a sergeant.”

“ I know Alex. I was let down as well by that. Only a sergeant. What a pity.” Andrew interrupts.

“ Don't say that. A sergeant of his age is something normal here. And with his new skills, I am sure he will climb the rank ladder in no time.”

“ Thank you so much for your words. It means a lot to me to be praised by such a superior officer.” he says, happily shaking his hand.

“ Thank you a lot, Mario. I will make sure I repay you someday. Now guys. We go back, prepare your stuff, and we leave as soon as possible.” Mira says tending to leave.

“ No problem, I know it means a lot to you. And I have a few ideas on how you can repay me.” He says looking at the three guys with a weird smile.

“ Nope! I am not becoming this old man's guinea pig.”

" We can settle that when we return. Now hurry." She says, almost dragging Andrew all the way back.

When they arrive at her house, Margaret greets them, but Mira just sends her off with a quick nod and goes upstairs. The guys following her up. Only Anna stops to explain.

“ We have a mission, and Mira doesn't want to waste a single minute.”

“ Does it have to do with the incident six days ago?” Margaret asks her.

Anna's face turns dark, “ Yes. It does.”

“ I see. Good luck then,”

“ Thank you.” She says.

“ And Anna.”

“ What is it, Margaret?” She asks, turning to face her.

“ Please keep her safe.” she pleads her.

“ I will. Don't worry.”

“ And one more thing. Keep yourself safe, as well.”

“ I will do my best. Trust me.”

She waves goodbye and goes upstairs.

When they come down, they are all fully dressed.

Andrew is wearing his now usual attire, that he got only four days ago. The same thing going for the others. With the only difference being Ivan, who had a bag on the side of his belt, where he held his projectiles.

Anna and Mira wearing the same clothes as every other day.

“ Is everyone ready?” She asks, getting a nod, from every single one of them.

Margaret walks in, carrying a huge backpack.

" I believe that you will need this Mira. They are supplies. I don't know how long you will be off, so I prepared three days worth of food. For Five people. Use it wisely."

" Thanks, Margaret. But let's hope, it won't take us that long. See you soon." She waves goodbye as she leaves the house. The door closing behind them.

“ Mira, what about your brother? You haven't told him that you will be leaving.” Anna informs her.

“ Don't worry. I told Margaret to tell him that. Besides, duty called, and I had to respond. I am sure he will understand.”

“ He might, perhaps. But your mother?”

" Let's deal with that when we return, please. Thank you."

“ I am sorry to interrupt you girls, but how are we going to get there? Will that merchant guy come and pick us up again?”

“ You mean Arben? No, he isn't coming. We will travel by horse. It is faster this way.” Mira replies.

“ Horse?”

“ Yes. They are faster than carriages, because they don't carry any cargo, and far more efficient.”

“ That's not what I meant. I was just expecting something a little more... you know... magical.” Andrew says.

" Well, if it was an attack, and the village was in danger, then we would have used something faster. But this is just a patrol mission. Otherwise, there would be more teams with us." Anna adds on.

“ And for that, we will go by horse? It seems really inconvenient.”

“ Trust me it isn't. It is really comfortable. You will be fine.” Mira says, getting some looks of disbelief from the guys.

“ And just how long will it take us to get there?”

" Well this village is near the area we first met. You remember where you saw that smoke and thought it was fire? Well, that is the village we are heading to."

“ Ohh. I see. But wait! That was half a day trip!”

“ Come on. I told you that it is faster by horse.”

“ How long?” Andrew asks, smelling the trap.

“ Ten hours.”

" That's all I wanted to hear. Let's get ready to leave then." Andrew says, stepping away.

“ Is that it? You are not going to complain about it?”

" No. I know how important it is to you. Everyone here does. So we don't mind that ten-hour trip." Andrew replies. Getting a blush from Mira and wet eyes.

“ Thank you.” She says weakly. The guys smiling back.

" Mira, excuse me if I am being rude, but I have to ask. I am pretty sure a horse can't do that distance in 10 hours, so how are we going to do it? Yes, we have already made that trip and with a carriage of all things, but come on, did you see those horses back then? They were the size of a school bus! I don't think these small ones can do the same." Ivan tells her.

Mira doesn't look troubled at all, though. She calmly walks up to her horse and begins adjusting her saddle.

“ You don't have to worry about such things Ivan. These are imperial horses, the ones used by the army. They are specially mutated, with enhanced stamina, capable of traveling 100 times the distance a normal horse would do. It is more than enough for our trip.”

“ I... I see. I am sorry for asking.” He says, baffled by her answer.

“ Ten hours! Ohh my!” Andrew finally says.

“ I knew it wouldn't last long.” She jokes about it. They laugh.