Promise

Who is sealed?

Just as he was aiming his bow at the target, an archer stumbled. He passed out a bit later. In addition to asking the other archers to halt their training and take a short break, Javier rushed to his aid right away.

"We need a medical wizard; maybe an alchemist who can make a potion to replenish the reagent's mana rate would be fine too." One of the archers remarked, "Even though this magic is simple, it can drain our manna in just two to three attacks."

"Alright," Javier said in response.

Javier met Vanity by coincidence when he carried the previous archer, who had fainted, to Filanesia Hospital with the assistance of an archer. After escorting the previously unconscious archer to the treatment room, Vanity asked Javier to wait for her in the hospital lobby when she arrived. Shortly after Javier had been waiting, Vanity rushed over to him.

"What happened?" Still sporting blood-stained latex gloves, Vanity asked. She appears to have recently undergone emergency surgery.

"One archer fainted, probably due to running out of manna. I have already asked them not to push themselves, but they seem very enthusiastic," Javier said.

Vanity's body smelled metallic, and Javier scowled. "Don't you want to clean your body first? Your clothing has some bloodstains on it!" Javier indicated Vanity's clothing's bloodstains.

Vanity believed that what Javier had said was accurate after taking a glance at her attire. "Maybe after this." Vanity said, "I only have 30 minutes to rest before the second surgery," after taking off her filthy gloves and washing her hands.

"What has happened?" Javier inquired. "Another victim?"

Vanity simply shook her head before revealing the metal fragments concealed within her medical attire. "This is not a victim of Manji, but some mine victims who still managed to be rescued. They are in a pretty sad state. In my opinion as a medical witch, they could live, and simply surviving is remarkable in and of itself."

Vanity walked over to sit next to Javier. After taking a deep breath, the woman started to describe some of the people she was dealing with who had perished in the collapse of the Mithril mine. Vanity claims that the majority of the victims taken from the Mithril mine perished as a result of leaks in the forge dust processing pipes, which are a mine by product, rather than their corpses being crushed by the construction materials. How could the sole mine in Terra, albeit the biggest and the foundation of the wizards' existence, have such a horrible waste processing system? Vanity wondered.

"Their respiratory tracts were filled with mithril dust, or forge dust. In addition to mithril ore, smelting dust—a byproduct of mithril mining—is a reasonably priced substance that is typically utilized by inexperienced wizards to manufacture their weapons. I find it hard to accept that the system is this awful." It was obvious that Vanity was dissatisfied with Terra's mining management system.

When Vanity complained, Javier only grinned. Such events are quite common for Javier, who has long been deployed to the most remote areas of Terra and is currently a member of the Gistara Team in Malang City. Javier claims that although they might get knowledge about mankind and how one person can make another human, in reality, it will simply be a moon.

"How many... is the possibility of saving the victims?" Javier responded. "And are there any additional victims from the Manji case?" Javier inquired. Can we be certain that Manji is still killing people and taking their organs?

"Until today, there have been 7 victims, but we still haven't received any updates from other hospitals. Given that the species is still free to explore the world, perhaps the number will continue to rise." Vanity got to her feet. It appeared that his break was finished when he received a distant call.

"I have to get back. See you again!" Before departing from Javier, Vanity stated.

…

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Anthonius approached the little girl sitting by herself outside her tent at a leisurely pace.

"It's almost morning. Do you not feel drowsy?" It appeared like Antonius's attempt to get Masha to go to sleep was unsuccessful.

"Did you hear that sound, sir?" Masha asked in a low, almost whispered voice. "Like the sound of knocking, like the sound of a heartbeat?!" replied Masha. Masha motioned for Antonius to take a seat next to her, and the elf did so.

"What do you feel when you are here?" inquired Anthonius.

Although Anthonius tries to conceal Zamman's existence from Masa, it appears that the girl by his side is always aware of what he is trying to conceal. Only a few S-rank wizards may be able to detect the magical energy of Zamman seeping out of the seal that Meuz and Afar established. S-rank wizards who have had training and are used to combat situations. Furthermore, Zamman's heartbeat sounded to Masha like a clock ticking away. Who is Masha really? Anthonius wondered more and more. She was adopted by a Cule tribal family, but is she actually the daughter of a bearskin craftsman?

Masha said, "May I be honest with you, sir?"

Anthonius felt moved by Masha's naive remarks. Then, in the City of Filanesia's subterranean water channel, Anthonius let Masha utter whatever she wanted to say. "Go ahead, I will listen to your entire story until it's finished!" Anthonius replied.

"When Uncle Iosif, or... maybe I should now call him Father, brought me to this city, I felt something very different from what I had felt in other big cities we had visited on Terra. I became ill immediately after we arrived, even on the first day." Masha inhaled deeply. All she could look at was the fast rush of the River Charon beneath her feet. Masha appeared unsure of what she wanted to say to Anthonius, but she also appeared unable to hold it in any longer. The City of Filanesia continues to experience a number of weird and foreign events that she has never encountered in other large cities on Terra.

"I have only entered the city a few times, and even then not for long. I believe there is a city center in Filanesia. The thing is encircled by potent protective magic, and there is one adjacent location that continuously emits extremely strong magical energy. Oddly enough, I don't feel unaccustomed to the existence of what appears to be the center of this metropolis. I felt as though I was familiar with every aspect of this location even before my mother brought me here." Masha clarified, "Everything, even before I came here or before someone told me about it."

"Masha..., have you ever studied at a magic academy? What is the duration of your studies?" Curious, Anthonius asked.

"Only 2 months. We never spend more than four months in a single city. Father still has to leave us behind and head back to the Black Sea. In order to restock the salt supplies that we will sell throughout the upcoming season, Father and Uncle must return," Masha clarified.

Anthonius became quiet for a while. He thought of introducing Zamman to Masha but changed his mind. Because Anthonius is aware that, unlike the novice wizards who have been given introductory materials at the magic academy, Masha may not yet be familiar with the full history of Terra.

"Masha, you mentioned that you were familiar with this place, right? Can you tell me everything there is to know about this underground water channel, as though I were a stranger to this city?" Anthonius requested. Anthonius is interested in Masha's emotions.

"The underground waterway of the City of Filanesia channels water from the River Charon, one of the largest rivers on Terra. There are two entrances to this channel, but a monster known as the Harbinger of Death guards the second one. That creature's guard would be extremely difficult for even an S-rank wizard to overcome," Masha explained.

"Wow...!" The depth of Masha's knowledge astounded Anthonius.

"This underground water channel has 4 levels. The first level, or the top floor, is the entrance and the guard room for the water gate. The place where the workers regulate the volume of water that can enter this underground water channel. The second floor is the one we are currently occupying; although it appears empty, there is actually a strong illusion magic set up. I don't know what is being hidden from us in this room, but I can feel that each wall on the second floor seems to have a different time setting from one another. Maybe every empty wall on this second floor is adorned with magical clocks that can set themselves. The third floor is the wet floor, where water flows, and the fourth floor is where the heart of the City of Filanesia is sealed. Am I right?"

Anthonius fell silent. He couldn't say anything.

"I don't know what is hidden there. There are 33 stone pillars with mantras engraved on them, seven guardian pillars, and a sturdy golden chain. In the middle of all of this, someone is sleeping. He is somewhat different but similar to a human. A pair of shining swords and sacred white wings adorned his back. What is that creature?"

Masha was asked by Anthonius to stop telling her story. "Masha... never tell anyone about all this, not even your mother! Come talk to me if you want to discuss something similar!"

Masha didn't say anything and gave Anthonius a perplexed look.

"MASHA...!"

When Masha's name was called, they both turned. Masha ignored Anthonius, who was by her side, and rushed to her as soon as she realized it was her mother.

"Why aren't you sleeping?!" The mother exclaimed, her face irritated. "Don't bother Mr. Anthonius; he's quite busy. Do you understand?!"

Masha didn't respond. Frowning, she stayed mute before following her mother and retiring to their tent to sleep.