"Fuuuuussss…"
Inside the quiet chamber of the church, a nearby candle wavered—its flame bowing before the call of a higher power.
"Rooooooohhh…"
The stained-glass windows gave a soft creak. Dust drifted from the rafters in solemn surrender.
"DAAAAAHHHRRGGHHZZZHHZZZZHHH!"
A holy icon on the wall tilted with a faint clink.
Vinica bowed politely. "I must apologize again, Princess."
With watery eyes, Aeris glared back. "You're lucky I can't use my Mana. Otherwise, you wouldn't have caught me."
"I must say, Princess, we only did this for your sake."
Aeris clenched her teeth. "You… I have nothing to say to you. You're just doing your job. But you, Crispy—"
Sophia flinched beside her.
"I will never forget this!"
"Oh, come on… I-It wasn't that bad." Sophia turned away.
"Wasn't that bad? Wasn't that bad?! It was two needles! TWO! And he laughed while doing it—the sick bastard! And now he's just… sleeping like nothing happened!"
She pointed an accusatory finger at Eric, who lay snoring peacefully.
Vinica placed a hand on her flushed cheek and giggled. "Oh, isn't he cute?"
Aeris snapped, "Oh, get it together, woman! He sounds like a demon choking on a dragon shout!"
"Vinica... you bitcHRRGHHZZZZHHHH…"
Vinica's face flushed even redder. "Ohhh, hunny, I can't believe you're calling my name in your sleep!"
Aeris slowly turned to Sophia, eyes twitching. "He clearly said—"
Sophia leaned in and whispered, "Yeah… I heard it too."
"What did you two hear?" Vinica asked, tilting her head.
"Ahaha, it's nothing." Sophia chuckled nervously. "So, uh… what should we do now?"
"You'll have to wait until we figure out what exactly caused this infection."
"But what if she gets worse?" Sophia asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"This is why I'll be preparing a special potion for Princess Aeris—something that will suppress her passive Mana flow."
"Like the one you just gave me?" Aeris asked.
"Same effect, but stronger. It'll bring your flow down to the level of an ordinary human."
"That's impressive," Aeris muttered. "But wouldn't that have permanent effects?"
"Do not worry, Princess. The effect will subside as soon as you stop taking the potion. You could also override it by forcing your Mana to flow normally again—but doing that would only make the infection worse."
In the corner, Eric let out a soft "Roohhhh…"—as if on cue.
Aeris didn't even look this time. Her eye just twitched.
"When will this potion be ready?!" she snapped.
"It's a bit tricky to make," Vinica said calmly, "but it should be ready by tomorrow morning."
"You're the one making it?!" Aeris asked.
"Didn't I tell you earlier? They're a team!" Sophia chimed in.
"I might only be the Second Priest," Vinica said with a proud smile, "but I'm the best herbalist in Valkeries."
"That's… reassuring," Aeris muttered.
"So, shall we go?" Sophia asked.
"Yes…"
"I'll walk you to the door," Vinica offered, already moving with quick steps to open it for them.
Sophia stepped out first, followed by Aeris—who stopped just before crossing the threshold.
"I have to ask," she said, glancing back. "How are you priests and married? I thought those who dedicate themselves to the gods weren't allowed to."
Vinica smiled warmly. "On the contrary. Our Lord Zeryph doesn't mind love!"
Aeris gave a small nod, then left the church.
Sophia was waiting just outside, stretching her arms and rolling her shoulders.
"So, what's the plan, Crispy?"
"I actually thought this would take way longer," Sophia said as she started walking. "So... I didn't make any plans. Guess we head back to the guild?"
"You miss him already?" Aeris teased.
"For training!"
"Such a musclehead. Didn't you train this morning?" Aeris huffed.
"Not enough," Sophia said seriously. "I need to get much stronger if we're going to protect Valkeries."
"You're not confident?" Aeris asked.
"No," Sophia said, her expression firm.
Aeris blinked in surprise. "I know your strongest aren't here… but that doesn't mean you'll lose!"
"I didn't say we'll lose," Sophia replied. "I'm just saying—we're not strong enough."
"The enemy's that strong?"
"Saveth?" Sophia sighed. "He's stronger than you can imagine. Even with everyone here… the best we could hope for is to hold him back."
Aeris came to a stop. "Say, Crispy…"
Sophia paused mid-step, turning to her.
"…Should I ask for help from my uncle? Maybe Sylvalis could lend you a hand?"
Sophia's eyes widened. "You'd actually do that?!"
"I-I'm not sure if they'd agree—you know how things are—but I'll do my best."
Sophia smiled warmly. "That's okay... Even if it doesn't work… I'm glad you offered."
"Of course! You guys saved me. You took care of me. I'll always be in your debt," Aeris said, this time with unwavering confidence.
Sophia stared for a moment, then grinned and smacked her on the back, laughing. "What are you talking about?! Anyone would've done the same!"
Locked under Sophia's arm as they walked forward, Aeris whispered, "Not everyone, you idiot…"
"What was that?!"
"Nothing."
As they walked, Aeris glanced up at the sky. The city was still, but her thoughts were nothing but restless.
She kept replaying Sophia's words in her mind—we're not strong enough.
Was that fear? Or clarity?
'Will my uncle agree to help them?' she wondered, and then she clicked her tongue.
She already knew the answer.
Elves were shut-ins. They disliked outsiders meddling in their lands—and they despised involving themselves in other people's problems.
They had always been this way, for as long as anyone could remember. The Dwarven betrayal only made them distrustful of all but themselves.
Even so, compared to their bearded foes from the floors above, they had always kept a better relationship with their lower neighbors, the Humans.
Over the last two decades, however, their isolation had only deepened.
If it weren't for formal treaties and binding agreements between nations, they wouldn't deal with anyone at all.
'They helped me. They rescued me. Uncle wouldn't turn a blind eye. He'd at least consider it. Especially if I'm the one asking…'
He never said no to her.
Aeris nodded to herself.
Even though he was only her uncle, he had always treated her like his own daughter.
Aeris lost her family before learning to walk.
Her mother had died during childbirth, and her father, King Vaelthor Sylvari, fell just a year later—giving his life to defend their village from a wave attack.
The village was on the verge of collapse, fated for ruin.
If it weren't for her uncle—Mypheos Sylvari—the next raid would've been the end.
Already a hero of the village, he stepped up and took Aeris in.
'No, he took everything upon himself—'
His niece. The People. The village.
The burden of keeping the throne running until the day she could wear the crown.
Thinking of him, Aeris had to fight the sting behind her eyes.
She didn't realize just how much she missed him—
Not until now.
"Are you listening?" Sophia said suddenly.
"W-What?!" Aeris snapped.
"I said… do you feel that?!" Sophia's expression had gone tense. "I'm sensing insane Mana coming from the guild!"
"I—I can't feel anything after taking that med—wait, what?!"
Aeris's neck snapped toward her, eyes wide.
"No way! That idiot!"
Both of them broke into a sprint immediately.
Sophia didn't even bother with the stairs—she leapt forward and threw open the door, vanishing inside before Aeris could catch up.
By the time Aeris burst through, Sophia was frozen mid-step.
And the moment Aeris passed her, she was also stunned by the sight—
Jan, sitting at the center of the magic circle with his Mana flowing chaotically and no master by his side.
"He's not in control," Aeris mumbled.
"We need to stop him!" Sophia stepped forward.
Aeris yanked her arm back. "What do you think you're going to do?!"
"I said I'm stopping him!" Sophia's voice cracked with panic. "He's going to get himself killed again—I'm wiping that circle!"
"No, Crispy, you'll get us all killed!" Aeris snapped. "What do you think will happen to that Mana if you just cut it off?!"
"...What?"
"It'll explode! You'll destroy the whole building!"
"But you just said he's not in control!"
Aeris pinched the bridge of her nose, eyes shut tight, like she was trying to squeeze the right words into existence.
"Yes, he's not fully in control," she muttered, "but he's still absorbing some of the Mana back."
"So… it's working? Or is it not?! I'm not getting you!" Sophia said, frustration mounting.
"I don't know," Aeris admitted, stepping forward with a bitter smile. "But—"
CRACK—!
Lightning struck the floor just ahead. If it weren't for Sophia yanking her back, Aeris would've been hit.
"This crazy bastard…" Aeris hissed. "His Mana is all over the place—his affinity is mixing up."
"It's not even staying inside the circle anymore," Sophia said. "How is he even still holding on?!"
"It's because of his monstrous Reserve," Aeris replied. "That's the only reason his idea even worked in the first place!"
Sophia blinked. "What idea?!"
"Look at his back."
Sophia squinted—then froze.
"The drawing... It's not there!"