The scent of blood lingered in the air, and the forest echoed with the clash of steel. A young girl, no older than six, trembled behind a thick tree, her knees pressed to her chest, tears streaking her cheeks. In the clearing, her older brother fought bravely, a Level 10 Hero, his twin short blades moving in graceful arcs. But his opponent—a rogue hero cloaked in dark garments—was too strong, too fast.
The girl's breath caught as the rogue hero's blade pierced her brother's chest. He staggered, eyes locking with hers.
"Mirable... run," he whispered, blood bubbling from his lips.
She did. Her tiny feet carried her away as sobs tore through her chest. The memory faded into darkness.
---
Mirable opened her eyes.
The soft golden glow of morning filtered through the curtains. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, letting the remnants of her dream slip away like smoke. The pain lingered, but she wore it like armor.
She pushed herself up, stretched lightly, and began her morning routine. The house was silent; the others were still asleep. She moved to the kitchen and tied her long orange hair into a single braid.
Today, she cooked.
She worked quietly, skillfully. Soon, the aroma of grilled meat, fluffy eggs, and buttered bread filled the house. Footsteps echoed down the stairs.
"Whoa, that smells *amazing*," Kell said, appearing in the doorway with messy hair and a wide grin.
Lira and Arriel followed shortly after, blinking sleep from their eyes.
"Mirable, you cooked?" Lira asked, yawning.
Mirable smiled. "Thought I'd surprise you all. Hope you're hungry."
The four gathered around the table. Plates clinked, and conversation flowed.
Kell took a bite and nearly melted in his seat. "This is better than Lira's cooking."
"You wanna die this early in the morning?" Lira replied, grabbing a spoon but setting it back down after a second.
Arriel chuckled, silently enjoying his food. Mirable just smiled as she watched them, comforted by the warmth.
---
Later that morning, the group made their way to the adventurer's guild. The air buzzed with life. Horses trotted, shopkeepers called out their wares, and children ran laughing through the streets.
The guild was busy as always. Dozens of adventurers milled about, scanning the bulletin boards, chatting with staff, and boasting of recent quests.
"Let's see what's posted today," Arriel said.
The group approached the board. Lira spotted it first.
WANTED – Dead or Alive
Name: Jaemo
Age: 28
Race:Human
Status: Rogue Hero
Crimes: Murder, Robbery, Rape
Level: Unknown
Reward: 30,000 Git
"Disgusting," Lira muttered, her brows knitting together.
"Just memorize the name and face," Arriel said. "Better to avoid people like this if we can."
"Big reward though," Kell added. "Dangerous target, for sure."
The trio turned to look at other quests, but Mirable stood still. Her eyes were fixed on the poster.
"Mirable?" Lira called out.
Mirable blinked and turned, her face already back to cheerful. "Ah, sorry! Just spaced out."
Kell eyed her for a moment, but said nothing. They returned to the board and debated their options.
"How about this one?" Kell pointed. "A-rank. Monster sighted near the north border. Locals say it's aggressive."
"You sure we're ready for that?" Lira asked, cautious.
"I think so," Arriel said, his tone calm but resolute.
"Let's do it," Mirable said with a grin. "We'll show everyone what the 'Kind Heroes' are made of."
The others smiled, nodding. They signed up for the quest, accepted the location briefing, and prepared to gear up.
As they left the guild, Mirable turned her head slightly, her eyes lingering on the wanted poster. Her smile faded.