Chapter 96: Chapter 96 – Debrief 4/4

“Astrid, what is the meaning of this?” Heath sat up in his seat as he glanced at Lord Sinwen, then back to the young woman with golden hair.

Malina warned. “Girl, do not give up your future for a wasted warrior who would run away from battle.”

“The rumours about your daughter are true, Lord Sinwen,” Faris said. “She is indeed a mischievous little brat.”

The young wayfarers looked at each other in worry. The same thought seemed to surge within their minds. Would Lord Sinwen sit back while he insulted his daughter?

It was especially true for the top brass up above. Others may not know, but they would stupid not to understand that the Lord doted on his mischievous daughter above all else. If it was anyone else, they would have been dragged out to the oceans long ago for causing so much trouble at a young age.

Instead of Lord Sinwen frowning, or displaying any semblance of disapproval, a low chuckle left his mouth.

The concern on the young Wayfarers faces turned to confusion and bewilderment. The Spearhead of humanity is… laughing? Well, it was barely discernible, but it was definitely still a laugh!

Astrid could tell what they were thinking, not from mind reading, not that she had that ability any way without creating her Mind Domain. But because she was also thinking the same.

It was the first time that he had ever displayed a semblance of emotion in a public space. After years of retaining his steel-like expression, it had finally broken.

“You’ve always done as you wanted,” Lord Sinwen flashed a prideful smirk. “Knowing you, you thought very little of this decision. Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Actually dad, I gave it a lot of thought this time,” Astrid said. “This is what I want.”

“Very well,” Lord Sinwen’s smirk turned into a smile at the mention of dad. “Effective immediately, Astrid Sinwen is stripped of her military rank and will no longer be involved with the Wayfaring division’s responsibilities.”

Leena wryly shook her head.

“Sorry Leena,” Astrid said. “You were enjoying your time as a wayfarer, it seems I’ve ruined that for you.”

“You’re wrong, my lady,” Leena continued. “I just enjoyed my time with you. Wayfarer, no Wayfarer, it makes no difference to me.”

Astrid smiled and tapped her hand on her friends’ upper back.

“Then what happened?” Faris said.

His expression told her that he was getting bored already. The excitement from her throwing the badge on the ground only lasted a moment for him and it seemed as if he just wanted to crawl within a beer keg already.

Calum turned to Astrid. It seemed like he was also curious as to how she had defeated Prince, the very man who had massacred his entire team as if they were naught but chickens ripe for slaughter.

“After a long fight,” Astrid said. “I killed him.”

The top brass frowned at the simplicity of her words.

“How?” Milana asked. “You have been a Wayfarer for what, two months, if that?”

“The method isn’t important." Astrid crossed her arms. "Is it?”

“I guess not.” Milana nervously said as she glanced at Lord Sinwen.

“We’ll conclude it there then,” Lord Sinwen said. “We have a lot to discuss. Wayfarers, that will be all.”

The young Wayfarers bowed their heads as they all headed out of the room. As they entered the wide all of the headquarters, a collection of sighs all left their mouths.

“Bloody hell,” Nick wiped the sweat from his face. “I thought I was going to faint when Lord Sinwen displayed his anger. Just think, even a thought from the Spearhead could disassemble our bodies with ease.”

“Never mind his anger,” Froderick said. “I thought I was going to pass out from seeing him smile!”

“Astrid, you’re so lucky.” Mina clapped her hands together. “Lord Sinwen must care for you deeply.”

Astrid felt a heat bubble up within her.

As she grew up, her father had constantly berated and scolded her for the things she did wrong. To the point she often questioned whether he actually loved her. There were numerous times when she lashed out her anger and frustration from being left alone and betrayed. Thinking back on it, the punishments at the time seemed like hell, but they were lenient and always sought to improve her in the guise of punishment. Whether it was sword training, or knowledge about the world and dangers.

She had heard of other young nobles like her having acted out of line. They were then sent on missions just at the young age of twelve or thirteen without having awakened their systems. Although they weren’t expected to perform meritorious actions, but watch and to learn. To kick them in line to inherit their future positions.

However, there were cases that they ran into monsters that the team couldn’t face and they had died.

Tennyson was also one of those youngsters sent onto missions too young, but it wasn’t because he did something bad, but because he begged. Lord Sinwen allowed it in the end after countless hours of grovelling.

Astrid often wanted to follow in his footsteps, to leave the ship at a young age. But Lord Sinwen vehemently refused.

She realised something as she glanced over at Gloria. Her hands were clenched into fists as she absentmindedly looked ahead.

If she remembered correctly, then Gloria was one of those who had been sent on a mission at a very young age. It was probably why she was more accustomed to the blood shed compared to the other first years.

Her family was known for employing psychotic methods to train their young into incredible assassins. They usually held the mantle of being able to take care of the most lethal monsters within a mission.

The Forscythes were often called Death Walkers as they took care of the monsters that no others could.

Just like me, she must think that her father doesn’t love her because of the training he has put her through. Astrid thought to herself.

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Maybe it was the case, maybe he didn’t love Gloria in the way that other fathers did. Astrid shook her head. She didn’t believe a father couldn’t love their own blood. Not now anyway.

“Why would you willingly give up being a Wayfarer?” Calum asked. “For me?”

Astrid looked at him for a second before bursting out with laughter.

“For you?” Astrid said. “I did it for myself, for my own growth. You think I can reach the height of those elders in a short amount of time without a little sacrifice? Having to wait for missions and approval would be the death of me, I just want my freedom.”

“I get you wanting to rush and get stronger Astrid,” Froderick continued. “But isn’t your decision too hasty? You don't have a team ready even if you wanted to go out on a mission.”

“Well, I’ll figure all of that out later,” Astrid said. “I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“If you’re needing to find a team, look over there,” Josh said.

He pointed over to a large board standing by an ominous brick wall with two light stones embedded into it. Rectangle pieces of paper with texts of varying length and size were pinned to the board with flat ended, small spikes.

“The team notice board.” Astrid nodded.

It was a board where adventurers from around the ocean could form a team without the restrictions held by the Wayfarer division. Often travellers, or even pirates would take some missions for an honest paycheck, rather than stealing or plundering for their living.

A bunch of men and women wearing different outfits of varying qualities stood around the board as they shouted at each other.

At one point, Nick and Mina recoiled as the arguing increased in intensity. They were expecting a clash of hardened metal, but that didn’t happen.

Astrid wasn’t worried, she could only guess that forming a team was no easy thing.

Betrayal.

It was rife within a newly formed team, so the vetting process had to be extensive.

The best way was word to mouth. Building up a reputation over time with other teams until your loyalty and character was solid and everyone knew you could be trusted. Only then would one get invited to the better paying missions that held a lot higher risk.

It was also the benefit to living on Rebirth. It was a lot easier to vet each other if one knew their families and friends.

But, she had a team already in mind. If they wanted... no, if father would allow them to join her, that was.

Once they left the headquarters, they all split ways. The young Wayfarers were battered, exhausted, and couldn't wait to get back to the comfort of their own homes. Back to their families.

All except Calum. He followed behind Astrid and Leena like a lost puppy. He held his ribs as he seethed in pain.

“Don’t you need to go to the healers?” Astrid spun on her heels and crossed her arms.

“I wanted to ask you something,” Calum gritted his teeth. “Goddess knows I don’t deserve it, but it’s eating away at me. I–”

“Want another chance?” Astrid said.

“Need,” Calum shook his head. “I need another chance. I will do anything to secure a spot in your team. I will cook, clean, prepare camp, and carry the equipment. Anything, as long as I can fight, grow stronger, and eventually have my revenge. I know it's a lot to ask.”

“I’ll give it some thought,” Astrid continued. “I still don’t know if I even have a team yet.”

“Thank you, that's all I could ask for.” Calum bowed his head, despite being a noble himself.

Astrid shook her head. “I haven’t done anything yet.”

“You did,” he said, “you saved all of us, even if you don’t grant me a spot in your team. I will always remember. If you ever need anything, you only need to ask.”

Astrid smirked and turned around once more.

“I’ll remember that.” Astrid waved the back of her hand and walked off into the distance, toward the Sinwen manor.

The old beaten walls that somehow still stood used to fill her with a dread of everlasting boredom. Yet now it only filled her with a kindling warmth. The beaten-up manor that had managed to withstand anything thrown at it, was filled with her family.

A Sinwen guard approached her. The signature darkened metal armour gleamed in the sun as it struggled to penetrate the thick clouds overhead.

“My lady,” he said. “Lord Sinwen has sent a message, he wishes for you to wait for him in his study.”

Astrid nodded. “Thank you, what’s your name?”

“I–Joffrey, my lady.”

“Joffrey, good work,” Astrid said.

She patted his arm as she passed by. She was so busy sinking into her own thoughts that she didn’t see the soldier’s dumbfounded expression.

I doubt it’s about me giving up my Wayfarer’s badge. So it must be about the gateway. No doubt he caught onto my lies as did the others. Astrid shrugged.

From her father, she wouldn’t hide a thing.