Snow's Pov

It's been 9 years since I came to this town of Zerah,

'Ryu has grown up too, but as precious as ever,' I thought as I saw Ryu eating his breakfast, and I patted as I asked

"Not going today?"  from the past 3 years after that contest Ryu goes to the next town a lot with Chief uncle, it is weird and I know something is sneaky as Ryu's mana levels are suddenly not properly visible by my [Mana sight II] skill,

"I will stay at home today!" he replied with a cheerful look, it makes me feel like spoiling him so bad even though there is Jue too now, I still feel partial to Ryu for some reason he is like a familiar feeling to me,

The one who didn't have any family adopted just because of high magic talent, sent to the Epnir trade town for unknown reasons, I found a place to call true family here once we reached this town of Zerah. Everyone treats me kindly.

"Lina sister, today roam with Carol" I notified Lina sister,

"Have fun, Snow! But be back before dusk, I want to prepare your favorite Fel custard today… so you'll give me a hand right" Lina sister said with a delightful expression, and I nodded instantly, I like helping with cooking, seeing one taste turns into another is amazing.

I noticed that I was clenching my fist in the excitement for Fel custard and felt embarrassed as everyone looked at me, they all laughed at my embarrassment a warmth set in the breakfast room.

'Meanie' I pouted as I was consoled by Lina sis and Lana. We all finished eating breakfast.

I played for a while with Ryu and then started preparing to hang out with Carol. She was my first adventuring teammate and the first person besides my family who I could refer to as a friend.

She is also the one being the major connecting link between me and the Phoenix Gate party.

Before 3 years I nearly put it straight after Jack's actions during the contest that I would not be doing any more quests with them, but only because of Carol's persuasion I still do quests once in a while with them. Sometimes Jack tries to talk to me but I don't have any intention of relating to him any further since what happened and even before that I found his too prideful behavior stupid.

When I exited the house saying bye to everyone, Carol surprised me by being present just out of the gate,

"Good morning, Snow!! Let's have fun today" she exclaimed as she came towards me, too loud she is especially this early in the morning,

"Good morning, let's go!" I returned the greeting trying to match her enthusiasm,

We walked towards the market. I noticed how much the place has changed since we came here. There are way more shops than before and there are many new faces, especially adventurers,

"The place suddenly became a hot spot for newbie adventurers… Snow I hope the places we visit be empty," Carol said, looking a bit troubled. Her favorite sweet shop is quite famous to be empty,

"Hope so," I answered, patting her back.

We went inside the shop. Hopefully, there were seats empty I sat down as usual and Carol went to order our sweets and coffee,

'shouldn't eat much, later fel custard,' I thought as I remember the taste of it in my mind,

When I was lost in my thoughts, Carol came back and sat down

"You know there is a sale at old man's armor shop want too together?"

And I nodded, then we talked about a lot of it, mostly it was she talking and me nodding,

'Wish could talk that well' I wished in my mind, as I saw her kept talking and talking, from a young age since I was adopted into the Magic circle by my teacher, she taught me to focus on magic while talking as less as possible and before I knew that become my way of talking,

"Snow, can I ask something?" Carol asked as her coffee ended with a serious face and I nodded like usual,

"You remember what happened during the event 3 years before?" she spoke, I nodded again,

'Justify Jack's action again' I thought as I got a bit angrier, she knew I can't forgive Jack in any way, but she still brings it up again and again trying to justify his that day's action even though it makes me angry,

"This time…" she looked up a bit and continued, "I won't be justifying Jack's action… instead as a friend I want to ask you, will you come with me?"

I was confused, as what she was saying was not what I expected it to be, but it still was something vague and senseless.

"Value of our party is decreasing since then" she spoke as she holds my hand on the table and added,

"Most of our members are already C-ranked" she waited for me to nod before she continued,

"We have decided to start traveling… I want you to join us as a party member," Carol said to me with shining and needy eyes, but my answer was fixed

"No," I spoke with a resolved voice,

"Why Snow, you are already a B-ranked adventurer, I am sure you are above an apprentice mage since we first met, a traveling party is best for you to grow as a mage," Carol said in a voice that seems to be stating facts,

"don't want to start traveling, especially with Jack" I put it straight in front of her. I want to spend a few more years with this family I got before I consider traveling to grow as a Mage. Somehow, I know not growing is not an option as the world is full of strange happenings for a few years now, especially,

If I want to save my precious family in any case, I need to grow first, but still, I want to spend a few more years with my family and I want to teach basic magic to Ryu before going on my growth journey, I can already proclaim being an Archmage, due to my mana pool and the best spell I can chant is already beyond being Archmage,

Apprentice mage, Mage, Archmage, and Grand mage, are the basic titles mages got called by according to their qualifications there are many others too depending upon the type of magic and their jobs,

"But that was just one day, Jack is not that bad and our party needs you… I need you," Carol said,

"Sorry, can't," I answered, with a low voice. Then Carol tapped the desk,

"Is it about your family? Or that troubling kid?" she spoke, calling Ryu troubling it made me angry.

"Too much!!" I said to her with a hint of anger,

"But it isn't a lie. Your family is just using you as a strong adventurer, that's why they are not letting you leave right!!" she said with a somewhat motivated voice, but it was making me angrier,

"Stop!" I said again hoping she'll end this conversation finally, but she kept going,

"Why are you bound to them!? It is not your mistake your brother never came back… you could be a grand mage if you grow a bit more!!" she spoke in a concerned and mad voice. Everyone's attention in the shop was turned to us,

The contents she was speaking were from the story we came up with while settling in this Zerah Town, but it is still stupid and thoughtless to say that my family is bounding me, even if they were to try to bind me it'll make me happy because I love every one of them,

"I don't want to leave, I won't hear about this further," I said clearly not to leave any doubts, but before she could speak anything a voice came from behind me

"Snow sister!!!" Aiena came inside in shop rushing towards me, and Carol seemed to be a bit flustered by Aiena's sudden appearance,

"What happened?" I asked Aiena, who was holding the hem of my cloak,

"That Jack person is at home, saying weird things to Viscou… big sister Lina and she is barely holding back her emotions," Aiena spoke hastily and I turned my face towards Carol.

'Was this the reason for inviting today' I thought as I asked her in a low voice,

"Why?" she tries to move the eye contact as she answered in a hazy,

"It was our plan. We know you are not going due to your family… so for your sake, we decided to convince your family instead!!"

"Why!? Stupid" I said as I stood up to leave, Carol was following behind me apologizing, telling me it was for my good, how I can come back once I become Grand mage, how Jack takes this risk despite knowing he could be in danger if Geld was there,

"Hurry up!! What if Lina big sister really can't hold back" Aiena said following me as well,

After running through the market listening to Carol's helpless justification was just making me angrier at Jake who dare to enter our home even though he tried hurting Ryu in past.

When I finally reach home, there was no noise coming from inside, somehow fearing the worst that Lina big sister used her flames, I opened the door hurriedly,

'How could!?' but what I saw inside was something completely opposite of fire and unexpected,

-to be continued

[Author's note- have fun!]