"Her mother threw her away at birth, the Alphon Mage picked her up and hence it all began."

The Alphon Mage had had a grand reputation but then the magic of Qitan vanished slowly generation by generation. Being one of the few who could practice the, now cursed upon, magic, he lost his status and wandered the lands alone.

One evening when he was returning back to his hut, he heard baby laughter. It was strange since he was in the deserted part of the village. Following the trail of laughter, he reached a well and peeking inside, he saw a baby about a year old floating in air in the well and laughing as if it were a game... the baby was practicing magic.

The Alphon Mage had not encountered babies who could perform magic in a few centuries, the evolution of humans made them into more materialistic and less magical beings. He was fascinated by the baby's laughter and pulled her out of the well, saying, "I will name you Hoshiko, a star," and the baby giggled.

Over these nineteen years, he taught her everything he knew and made her into a wonderful magician, even though she could never get fame as one. Due to this devolution of humans in the magical field, people had come to despise those who knew magic. Magicians became a minority that was discriminated against.

"I choose to be a doctor, Papa," Hoshiko says with a straight face.

The Alphon Mage, cleaning the dishes with a dry cloth, looks up at her with analyzing eyes. Notices her aura and says, "Good decision, doctors are in low numbers anyways. You don't plan to go to the expedition, do you?"

"I do," Hoshiko says with her determined aura.

"You still have time, why die early?"

"I won't die."

"There is a mortality rate of 340 per 1000, are you confident enough?"

"That's just numbers. I am sure about my abilities."

"You haven't joined a band yet, though."

"Most don't until they do the registration."

"I don't have many points in against, do what you are sure about."

"I won't disappoint you."

"Just don't die."

"Yup, I won't. Now, when are you going to cook?"

"Ah, you brat... back to your lazy-self. Go cook for yourself. I'll not eat tonight."

"Aye aye, captain."

After about a month, the registration for the expedition started. Expeditions are deadly adventures where bands of people go on a journey around the lands of Qitan to wipe out the virus-infected hybrids, called Vabas, who do nothing but destruction.

The monarch had mandated for everyone over the age of eighteen to go urgently on an expedition of at least two years. Youths and elders alike form groups of 5-15 members and sometimes even more and set out for the expedition.

Hoshiko got her registration done and got out of the novice building to get in a band. The other novices on the banding site, which was a huge ground where people showed their skills to get into a band, were mostly just boasting in packs, some were dueling, others showcasing their theoretical knowledge.

Hoshiko was wondering what to do when she sensed bloodlust. It reflected from a guy who was engaged in a duel. Another minute and he would kill the other person.

Without wasting thoughts, Hoshiko pulled out her sword, ran towards them and got in between the both. Their swords clinked, Hoshiko's and the blood-seeking guy's and the audience went silent. Intervening in a duel, Hoshiko had brought trouble on herself.

The guy retrieved his sword and attacked again. Hoshiko evaluated his aura and kept defending. She changed a few flickers of dark colour and the bloodlust began vanishing. The guy came to his senses and put down his sword.

"I accept defeat, sorry to cause trouble," He says and gets off the elevated ring.

Hoshiko follows him off the ring and speaks to him, "Hello, I am Hoshiko."

"So you are a girl, sorry for the scene just now. I am Garvit." He says tying his shoelaces.

Hoshiko with her short hair and manly clothes seemed like a guy to Garvit.

"Could you tell me the reason of your behaviour in the ring?" She asks Garvit.

"My family was killed by a group of Vabas, apparently. I lost my control in the ring." Garvit says as he looks up at Hoshiko from where he is sitting.

"I see. That's pretty bad."

"Yeah."

"So, are you in a band yet?"

"No one would want an edgy bandmate eh."

"Shall we make a band? I am not in any either."

"Yeah, I guess. You are quite powerful, are you a defender?"

"No, I am a doctor."

"What the heck? Seems I lost to a doctor. Imma be awkward now."

"No need. Now how do we add more members?"

"Well-"

"Hey, would you like to be in my band?" A guy appears out of nowhere and asks in excitement.

"Nice, huh." Garvit remarks.

"Sure." Hoshiko replies.

"By the way, I am Dexter, a warrior. We have three other people in our band." Dexter says.

"I am Hoshiko a doctor."

"Ohh, that's strange. Aren't you a defender? Well, I thought you were. And a girl, um."

"You can still rethink if you wish to take me in the band or not."

"Yes, of course. We need another doctor, so, you are a perfect addition."

Garvit started to walk away then and Hoshiko called onto him, "Hey! Where are you going?"

"You found yourself a band already, I'll go try my luck now." Garvit says.

"But we are already bandmates. Dexter, do you mind if he joins?"

"I think so." Dexter says making a weird face.

"I can take guarantee for him. What about now?" Hoshiko speaks.

"Well, I don't have anything against him except the recent duel. Tell me, for real, if you can take guarantee?"

"Yes, I can."

"Very well, then."

"Thanks I guess." Garvit says.

Hoshiko and Garvit went with Dexter to the dorm where the other band members were staying for the time being. Upon reaching, there appeared to be a small celebration going on. A person was singing and the other two eating and the air carried excitement.

"Ayo guys, I think our band is complete now," Dexter says and sits down on the sofa with the others. "Let's introduce ourselves."

"Hello~ I am Manwol. I am a navigator, nice to meet you," A really pretty looking girl who was singing just now, smiles heartily and welcomes Garvit and Hoshiko.

"Aye I am Kamaal, a defender. Looking forward to hunting with you," A bulky looking guy speaks with a small smile.

"Hey my name is Farida, I am a doctor, " A girl with smart vibe says.

"Hello, I am Hoshiko, a doctor. Nice to meet you too," Hoshiko introduces herself.

"I am Garvit, a warrior," and the introductions end.

"Well, now that we have introduced ourselves why not plan a bit?" Dexter speaks noticing that Manwol was about to say something.

"Yes," Manwol agrees.

 --- time lapse, eh [to the evening]

"I think we should go with a mini-van instead of a full-size bus," Manwol says.

"A bus would be quite inappropriate," Hoshiko supports her arguement. "We are only six people, after all."

"Two against one, alright let's go with mini-van," Dexter exclaims. "Everyone, prepare your bags by Wednesday. And we need to split other work as well. Which of you can drive?"

Kamaal, Garvit and Hoshiko raise their hands.

"Cool, three can. Who can cook?" Dexter asks.

Hoshiko and Manwol raise their hands.

"Good... next what about our fighting arrangement?" Dexter's expression turns into a tone of seriousness.

"I think the doctors and navigator should stay at the back of the pack to avoid heavy attacks. And us three can lead," Garvit says.

"There is no other way I see it. let's go with this," Dexter approves. "And tell me your scores in Combat, you all."

"34" Farida

"73" Kamaal

"54" Manwol

"90" Garvit

"Hoshiko?" Dexter asks.

"Um.. it's actually 100," Hoshiko speaks and everyone falls silent.

"T-that's impossible, isn't it?" Farida stutters.

"Oh not really. Ah, I knew you are a genius." Dexter smiles.

"That's a bit too much for that frail-looking body," Garvit remarks.

"What about your medical score then?" Kamaal asks with his eyes wide open.

"It's 100, I actually got 100 in all the five sections." Hoshiko admits.

"God is on our side, people." Dexter laughs.

"Combat, Medicine, Navigation, Defense and Logic... isn't it too hard to imagine a 100 in all?" Kamaal gasps.

"My confidence at life has risen a lot now. We can do this!" Dexter makes a victory gesture and shouts out loud.

Then he just walks to his room without uttering anything else, leaving a band of stares to be handled by Hoshiko.

"I am just a bit strange, you see." Hoshiko speaks to the stares.

"Yeah, sure." Farida sighs.

"The more I think about it, the more I am unable to believe it," Garvit says.

"My father trained me a lot since childhood..." Hoshiko tries to make them understand yet again.

"Let's just rest for the night now. Stop making Hoshiko nervous," Manwol shoos everyone away and grabs Hoshiko's arm and takes her to their shared room.

"Tell me if you need anything," Manwol says before closing her eyes.

While she sleeps, Hoshiko wonders whether she did the right thing, I shouldn't have said that. They won't know if I lied anyways, I should've just given a fake score...

This exciting feeling is bold over the others. Hope this expedition thingy turns out good. Let's just sleep for the night, shall we?

And she too falls asleep.

Due to being away from others all her life, Hoshiko might look a bit emotionless. She spent these years with the Alphon Mage, who is not quite a human himself. The Alphon Mage was a great name once, but now it is nothing more than a few letters woven together.

She looks forward to this adventure with her newly acquainted friends, she considers them as friends, that is. Only time will tell how this friendship turns out to be.

The next morning, the band leaves for the training exercise that is conducted in the main hall for the newcomers.

"Hey, you wanna come with us to the warrior training?" Dexter asks Hoshiko.

Hoshiko shakes her head and refuses politely.

"Let's go," She turns and says to Farida and they leave for the medical training.

"It's Friday already. I don't want to admit it but I am quite afraid of the expedition," Farida tells Hoshiko as they work on the wound of a little boy.

"You don't need to worry, friend. I will protect you, I can guarantee that." Hoshiko smiles a warm smile towards Farida in order to reassure her.

"I do feel quite confident because of you, full score on all the fields, you're quite amazing!" Farida shows a thumbs-up, "Even though, I am still unable to believe this lol."

"Yes, it's pretty hard to believe. I am glad that you feel that I am amazing and believe me when I say this, you are amazing too," Hoshiko keeps on the sweet talk.

"You have a sweet tongue," Farida says as she wraps up the wound.

"You know? I never got a chance to meet people of my age and make friends. This expedition is going to be fun." Hoshiko says as they start leaving for the washroom.

"You must've trained a lot since childhood to become this perfect," Farida sighs.

"Yes, but it wasn't that bad. I enjoyed it," Hoshiko smiles another warm smile.

"It's good you feel that way. I have never been good at all this. I just barely got through the other parts of the training. Even in Medicine, I got a 73." Farida smiles.