Chapter 87: Before The Storm

Chapter 87: Before The Storm

The great hall felt alive again. Not all at once, and not loudly, but gradually, like a chest expanding after being held too tight for too long.

The mercenaries who had frozen at the sudden arrival of their leader slowly resumed their movements, though they remained subdued and respectful.

Armor shifted, bandages were retied, and someone chuckled softly at a joke whispered just out of earshot. The scent of blood and steel lingered in the air, but now it was undercut by something warmer—relief.

At the center of it all, the atmosphere transformed completely.

Mina found herself lifted off the ground before she could utter another word. Strong arms wrapped around her with an ease that felt as familiar as breathing.

She yelped softly in surprise but laughed as she was pulled close, her feet dangling above the stone floor.

"Hey....!" she protested, though there was no real resistance in her voice.

Her sister ignored her protest entirely.

She held Mina as she always had after returning from long campaigns, firmly and closely, one arm locked around Mina’s back while the other rested protectively at her side.

The mercenary leader’s chin came to rest lightly atop Mina’s head, crimson hair spilling forward like a curtain of fire.

For a brief moment, the terrifying presence that usually dominated the hall vanished entirely. To the mercenaries watching from a distance, it was a rare sight. To Mina, it was home.

"You’re lighter," her sister muttered in a low voice that carried exhaustion rather than anger. "Did they forget to feed you while I was gone?"

Mina snorted. "I eat more than you do."

"That’s impossible."

"I do," Mina insisted while squirming slightly in her sister’s embrace. "You just don’t notice because you’re always away."

Her sister huffed softly; the sound vibrated through Mina’s chest. "I notice everything."

Finally setting Mina down, though only just, her hands remained firmly on Mina’s shoulders, thumbs pressing lightly as if confirming she was real. Her sharp eyes swept over Mina from head to toe, cataloging details with frightening efficiency.

"You healed that scar," she said flatly, fingers brushing against the faint line along Mina’s forearm, the one from training with Varric.

Mina blinked in surprise. "That was ages ago."

"You favor your right leg less," her sister continued after crouching slightly to examine her stance. "Your balance is better; your breathing is steadier."

She straightened abruptly and narrowed her eyes.

"You’ve been fighting."

Mina smiled wide and unapologetic. "Of course I have!"

Her sister clicked her tongue softly; there wasn’t any real disapproval behind it. "You’re too young to sound proud of that."

"I’m not proud," Mina replied quickly. "I’m happy."

The sister paused, studying Mina’s face more intently, not just for injuries, but for something deeper: fear, trauma, the fragile edge of someone who had been pushed too hard.

But she found none of it. Instead, there was confidence in Mina’s gaze, not arrogance or recklessness, but a quiet assurance that anchored her.

Her sister’s shoulders relaxed just a bit. "Sit," she instructed.

She guided Mina to one of the long tables, lifting her effortlessly and setting her down on the edge as if she were weightless. Mina swung her legs idly, her boots tapping against the stone floor while her sister took a seat beside her.

The mercenary leader leaned back slightly, resting an arm casually along the back of the bench behind Mina, a stark contrast to the cold authority she usually exuded.

For the first time since Mina had entered the hall, her sister smiled. It was small and tired but genuine. "I missed you," she said simply.

Mina felt warmth blossom in her chest. "You always say that."

"And you always underestimate how much," her sister replied with a flick to Mina’s forehead. "Now talk. What have you been doing while I was away?"

Mina opened her mouth to respond, then hesitated. She hadn’t realized how much there was to share until that moment.

"A lot," she finally admitted.

Her sister raised an eyebrow. "That’s not an answer."

Mina laughed softly and shifted on the table, leaning back on her hands. "Okay, okay. I’ll start from the beginning."

And so she did. She talked about Greyvale, the stagnation that had settled in before things suddenly changed, and went on to talk about the Adventurer Guild ; she continued to talk about the missions and how tasks are posted openly without nobles breathing down anyone’s necks.

Her sister listened quietly, eyes half-lidded yet sharp as she nodded occasionally.

Mina recounted her first mission and the subsequent missions she has completed, the structure of it and its clarity, before talking about her recent mission into the Ashfall Woods.

Her sister interrupted only once: "You went alone?"

"Yes."

The dangerous edge sharpened in her sister’s gaze.

Mina hurried on to reassure her: "But I was careful! I planned everything out and finished the mission."

She puffed out her chest slightly with pride. "Perfectly."

This earned a snort from her sister. "You always say that."

"It was!" Mina insisted fiercely. "I got all twenty hearts intact!"

Her sister’s eyes widened slightly despite herself. "Twenty?"

Mina nodded enthusiastically. "And I got lucky, really lucky."

She continued describing what she’d brought back: claws, hides, blood essence, and a Silver Grade Herb, her hands animatedly illustrating each detail as if reliving those moments again.

The hall seemed to lean in, almost as if it were listening without realizing it. Her sister watched intently, her expression shifting subtly as Mina recounted her tale.

Amusement flickered in her eyes when Mina described how she had knocked a wolf into a tree. A brief surge of pride surfaced when Mina mentioned the Ashen Spotted Tiger, though it was quickly overshadowed by concern.

"You fought something at your level," her sister said slowly. "And you defeated it."

"I know right?" Mina replied with a wide grin.

Her sister studied her for a moment before nodding once. "Good."

She reached out and pulled Mina closer, resting her forearm protectively across her lap. "You did well," she said quietly. "You did more than well."

Mina beamed at the praise.

"And what about the money?" her sister asked next, keeping her tone casual but with keen eyes that missed nothing.

Mina’s grin widened impossibly. "Oh!" She reached out and pulled out a heavy bag of coins, shaking it slightly so the dull clink echoed through the air.

Her sister’s lips twitched in surprise. "That much?"

"That’s just the mission reward," Mina said proudly. "I haven’t even sold off the other parts yet."

For a fleeting moment, genuine surprise crossed her sister’s face.

"You’re serious?"

Mina nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I might actually be richer than you soon."

This earned a low but genuine laugh from her sister, tired yet real.

"You’re getting bold," she said, shaking her head in mock disapproval. "Next thing I know, you’ll tell me you don’t need me anymore."

Mina’s smile softened as she leaned sideways to rest her head lightly against her sister’s arm. "I always need you."

The mercenary leader went still for a moment before placing a hand on Mina’s head, fingers threading gently through her hair. "Good."

They sat like that for a while, allowing the noise of the hall to fade into background texture. Warmth settled between them, a quiet bubble untouched by war or politics or the weight of the world beyond those manor walls.

Eventually, her sister broke the silence again.

"So," she said casually, "this place you mentioned, the Guild."

Mina hummed in acknowledgment. "Yeah?"

"Who’s in charge there?"

Mina lifted her head and blinked in realization. "Oh! The Guildmaster?"

Her raised an eyebrow and muttered under her breath. "The Guildmaster?."

Mina scrunched up her face into an exaggerated pout, lips pushed forward dramatically. "He’s petty."

Her sister blinked in surprise. "Petty?"

"Yes," Mina insisted seriously. "Really petty!"

"How so?"

"He teases me," Mina said with a hint of frustration. "All the time. He calls me names, says I’m too short and chubby and... well, you know."

She crossed her arms dramatically. "And he always smiles when he does it."

Her sister’s expression shifted slightly, a look of mild annoyance crossing her face. "That sounds really annoying."

"It is," Mina agreed, but then her mood brightened. "But he’s also fair, smart, and never cheats anyone."

Suddenly, her sister’s eyes narrowed as if she’d just made an important connection. "You said ’he.’"

The word hung in the air between them like a spark igniting dry tinder.

A small smile flickered at the corner of Mina’s lips before vanishing as she pretended not to notice.

She was still lost in thought, pouting lightly as she waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, he’s..."

Then came a creak from the hall. The heavy wooden tables groaned under an unseen weight, tankards rattled on their surfaces, and several mercenaries instinctively stiffened, hands dropping to their weapons as an overwhelming presence radiated from the bench where the sisters sat.

The warmth in the room evaporated instantly. The smile faded from Mina’s sister’s face as if it had never been there at all.

Her crimson eyes darkened, sharp and cold, an unmistakable aura of killing intent thickening the air around her. It felt like the very space was compressing under the weight of her focus.

Slowly, she turned her head to lock eyes with Mina, an intensity that sent chills down her spine.

"He?" she repeated ominously.

--------

A/N: The remaining two bonus Chapters will be uploaded soon.