Asteria

Personal Info

The daughter of a borderland lord, who was forced to assume the title after her parents' untimely death, before she could learn how to rule.
And with the family's power struggles intensifying, her tenure as lord was short-lived.
Afterwards, she spent some time wandering from place to place, until her path eventually led her to the Abyss.

Elegant and dignified, she quickly proved herself with remarkable accomplishments soon after her arrival.
Yet, to most people, she remained difficult to approach.
This was not out of arrogance or coldness. Rather, she treated everyone with the same level of courtesy and warmth, creating a sense of distance that few could cross.
It has nothing to do with status or power. Perhaps only those who have earned her recognition could hope to bridge that gap.

Chronicles

I'm sorry, but we have no information to share about her, I'm afraid. But what I can tell you are the heroic deeds of our current lord...
Out of loyalty to this land, His Lordship led the militias in suppressing several factions that tried to stir up rebellion. Only after it was confirmed, time and again, that the young heir had perished, did he reluctantly take up the lordship himself.
So you see, that young lord has already passed away. I hope I have made myself clear.
— A Servant Who Wishes to Remain Anonymous

The first time I met her, she was being chased by bandits. I just happened to be there, so I saved her.
Even back then, she was plenty strong. She just had no real combat experience and would freeze up at the first sign of trouble.
So, without asking, I went ahead and taught her every fighting trick I knew.
Her teacher? Oh no, no. I'm just a half-baked mage who's spent years wandering around—I could never claim to be her teacher.
If anything... well, she once called me Sister. Maybe that's closer to the truth. For a while, we were like sisters leaning on each other along the road. Hah!
— A Mage

The first time I saw Lady Asteria was when I was hired as her guide. She was far more charming than the rumors ever suggested!
Why call her Lady? Well... she carries herself with such grace, something that makes it impossible to turn her down. Anyone who meets her ends up addressing her that way.
So when word later spread that she had once been a lord, no one was shocked. Our reaction was simply, "Ah, of course."
— A Shopgirl

She is the most refined and graceful lady I've ever met. Despite enduring so many cruelties, she still carries herself with elegance and composure.
Anyone who spends even a little time with her is bound to be struck by her presence.
If only I could become a lady like her... No. I will become a lady like her! And when I do, all those people in my family who look down on us will finally be silenced!
— Rann from Key of Truth

Record

Asteria has been part of the team for some time now. Though she still maintains a polite manner, she has seemed noticeably closer to the others.
This is most evident during group activities. Her care for her friends and her dedication to their shared goals clearly go beyond mere courtesy.
Some attentive members have even noted that she now lingers more often in their company during downtime, showing a growing interest in their lives.

Before her arrival, the group had drawn up several contingency plans for how to handle possible situations.
But those plans were proven meaningless, which made them realize how much they had let hearsay cloud their view, forgetting that she is nothing but a young girl.
A girl who fought and left with the scars of a painful past.
No matter how poised, independent, and resilient she may seem now, that fact does not change.
There is no need for strategies or precautions when dealing with her, only honesty and sincerity. And perhaps that is all she has ever been waiting for.

Anecdote

Asteria rescued a young girl from several bandits. Once the girl felt safe, the tension in her body finally eased, and she broke into tears.
Asteria crouched beside her, gently patting her trembling back to calm her down, while offering her a handkerchief.
After a while, the girl gradually composed herself and thanked Asteria.
"It was nothing. You seem new here. What brought you to a place like this?"
At Asteria's question, the girl shared her story.
Her name was Giya. She had only recently arrived in the Abyss and had been on a mission with several other Explorers when they were ambushed by bandits.
The others fled quickly, but Giya fell behind and was targeted.
She tried to fight back, but her attacks had no effect against the seasoned and ruthless bandits, and she had no choice but to flee for her life...
"So, you ran this way, without thinking?"
"No, I came here intentionally."
"Why's that?"
"The others hadn't been gone long. I was afraid that if I led the bandits toward them, I'd put them back in danger. And besides..."
"Besides, I thought maybe if I ran far enough away from the Outpost, they'd give up. And the monsters here would scare them off. I just didn't expect them to catch up so quickly..."
Tears welled up in Giya's eyes again as she spoke.
"I'm sorry... I was so scared. I knew I couldn't do anything, but I still... still couldn't help myself."
"No, you did well enough. You saved the others, and you made it out safely yourself, didn't you?"
"In fact, compared to one of my acquaintances, you were very brave. She had greater strength than you do now, yet just a few ordinary bandits were enough to make her freeze up in panic."
Giya looked at Asteria with doubtful eyes, but when she saw she wasn't being mocked, a shy smile appeared on her face.
"I was just being reckless... Still, thank you so much!"
Seeing Asteria's gentle smile, Giya scratched her head and added, "You know, your smile reminds me of my sister... though she's nowhere near as strong as you."
"Oh? Well, you may call me Sister too, if you want to."
"Huh?! R-Really? It's just too good to be true..."
"Hehe. Compared to that acquaintance's 'sister,' I still have a long way to go."
"S-Sister... could you tell me what happened to your acquaintance?"
"Of course."