Prologue (part 4)
I feel like my newly acquired ability 'Heart of Mana' had burst open and every energy left in my body was sucked away by the unexpected appearance of the Cromwell lady in the form of a tackle from above.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That was fun!"
I couldn't help but feel hostile for a moment before remembering that she's much powerful than me. 'Damn this woman. She's just toying with me'.
"Hmmm you're right I am toying with you." She stopped laughing and smirked at me.
"How could you even read my mind when the other souls can't???"
"Fufufufu. It's called third perspective. An ability only for me because I am beloved by the Sacred Tree."
"And please get off of me. You're too close." I tried shoving her away but this ghostly specter isn't budging an inch. She was currently on top of me smirking down at me.
'Damned gorgeous lady, please stop toying with me'.
She chuckled silently and finally stood up on her own.
"Do you remember the letter I gave you earlier?"
"I don't remember where I put in."
"It's here." She chuckled and waved her hand near my head, a small white envelope appeared out of nowhere. "This is one of the abilities this timeline doesn't have, Mana System, which is technically a whole system-like usage of mana that is gifted to anyone who is registered through the database on a Mana Screen."
"Woah! That looks like a street magic trick!" That looked cool. I've never seen that kind of magic before.
I saw her face crumpled for a bit, "This generation can only use element-based magic. Ours have fusion-type magic, technology-based magic, advance-elemental magic, inventory magic system and other case-by-case magic."
"Is our timeline really that pitiful?"
"Pitiful... is such an understatement. As they said you'll get to judge for yourself once you get there. Oh! This is my gift." She leaned in and kissed my forehead.
I could feel myself getting a little bit taller than usual and my hair glowed even more so than natural. "This is what an actual blessed bloodline looks like." She waved her hand in a circle manner and pointed her finger to me, suddenly a large mirror had appeared out of nowhere again.
Aside from the fascination of her magic showcase, I couldn't believe what I saw on the mirror.
'I look bigger than usual but not a bad big?'
I look much healthier even though I'm thin, and it feels like my bones got a tiny bit bigger than normal and as expected I did get taller. My eyes looked sharper, jaw got stronger, my shoulders even got broader and my finger turned to something of a beauty.
Well, I turned into a beauty.
Don't get me wrong I am already considered one of the most popular and beautiful ladies in the whole Empire, aristocratic or not, however this just doubles up my appearance.
"Those with blessed bloodlines have a healthier and sturdier appearance than others. And if you think that your hair looks healthy before, then that's fine with me but it doesn't make you look like someone with a blessed bloodline in my timeline. You'd look like any normal person if you went in my timeline like before."
"But if I did time travel shouldn't I look more average so that I can't aggravate your younger selves? If I look like a blessed child with no background then I'd be a mysterious popular person instead." I refuted her attempts into pouring her mana on me. She stopped and backed off properly.
"You're smarter than you look."
'Damn. Thanks, I guess.'
"I'm an Obiel heiress, you know."
"Fufufu. Indeed you are."
She smiled, placed the letter on my hand and slightly pushed me. "Huh?" I could feel my body falling towards the Sacred Tree and light burst out from all directions.
"I'm really impatient. Fufufu. You should just time travel now since you won't be any readier than you are now. Once you've been placed in the dungeon, give the letter to the first person who visits you."
And I passed out.
****
Shudder. For a moment, the mana distorted somewhat—
Knock knock.
"Come in."
"Lady Lilith, the Head of the Malafur Office asks you to confirm the lists of blessed children to join the academy this season." Butler Zhan flicked his finger and passed on the records in my inventory. "According to him, there are six students."
"Alright. By the way, did you feel that sudden mana distortion?" Butler Zhan's face turned perplexed in a flash and confusion was visible.
"Not at all, young master. Should I send out guards to check the perimeter just in case?"
"Yes. You do that." He bowed, closing the door gently, leaving me alone inside the office to continue working.
'Mana System'
[ List of New Students (Blessed Bloodline) ]
[ Lanessa Guisen ] - confirm
[ Polisha Guisen ] - confirm
[ Rakhiel Obiel ] - confirm
[ Suri Mardok ] - confirm
[ Clerifa F'yoras ] - confirm
[ Gringer Kalil ] - confirm
[ ??? ]
'What's this?'
Refresh. It still shows a blank information.
Refresh. Same thing.
"Butler. Did you say that there are only six students?" I contacted him through a Mana Communication Device (MCD).
"Yes, Lady Lilith."
"Hmmm. Inform Lord Rougeus to send me another list, I think his mana got distorted while storing files."
"Understood."
Beep. I opened the new data that Rougeus sent me. At first the error wasn't there but it reappeared again after a few minutes.
'Open [ ??? ]'s information'
[ ??? ]
[ Age: 16 ]
[ Mana Circle Level: 6 ]
[ Height: 165cm ]
[ Weight: 45lbs ]
[ Sponsor: ??? ]
[ Bloodline: Obiel Clan ]
"...Is this a distortion device?"
'Mana Manipulation: Eyes'
'Open Server'
'Location Tracker'
The location tracker shows that this random person who keeps getting registered automatically into the system is inside the Sacred Temple. To be exact within the sanctuary of the Sacred Tree.
"Butler. Inform Rougeus that I'll meet him regarding the list tomorrow." Message sent.
I grabbed a coat to cover my nightgown and left the office. Sometimes I despise how big the mansion is, especially when needed to hurry up.
"Also send me the latest data on the visitors of the Sacred Tree." With my command, another butler nodded and flicked his finger.
Beep.
[ Visitors of the Sacred Tree: Today ]
[ Year: 994 | Month: May | Day: 29]
1. Lanessa Guisen
'Only Lanessa? Is she pulling a prank on me?'
Guess I'll find out soon enough.
"Lady Lilith, we've prepared a carriage for you." I nodded and climbed on. "We'll send you a report after the guards search the perimeter."
"Alright. I'll be heading to the Sacred Temple."
"Young master, if anyone were to ask..."
"Tell them the truth."
"Understood."
****
"Butler Zhan, send this list to Lilith for me."
"Understood, Lord Rougeus."
As I finished sending him the list.
Bang!
My body quivered at the sudden mana distortion and accidentally dropped the portfolio of new files about the Exodus Magic Academy.
"Rouge did you feel that?"
Hanz's hands were visibly shaking and his handsome face crumpled, confused. "It was short-lived but that was a gigantic wave of mana."
Beep. 'Lord Rouge, Lady Lilith wants you to resend the data of students'. I resent it right away without thinking.
I focused my attention at the situation again. "That's unsettling." My insides were already roaring out in pain as I moved towards the balcony. "I can locate where it's coming from."
"It's weird since we don't have the location tracker magic but even I can pinpoint where it came from too." He grumbled.
"You can? You're two circles lower than me though." I teased.
"Shut up. I'm a technology-based mage." Hanz defended. Even though we're the same age, it's always such a wonder how different we are as mages but have the same mindset.
"We'll have to contact Lilith too."
"Butler Zhan, connect me to Lili." I pressed on the Mana Communication Device (MCD).
[Currently Butler Zhan is unable to answer his MCD as he is checking the surrounding perimeters with the guards. About Lady Lilith, she just left.] – Another butler replied.
"Where is she heading?"
[Sacred Temple, Lord]
"That settles it then. She must've felt it too." Hanz commented, already preparing a magic circle for teleportation that can hold the both of us.
"I'll pass my work to Suri for now. Suri..." I contacted him by MCD and explained the situation. As soon as he got there and sat at the Lord's table to start working, we left.
****
"Kyaaaah! Hihihihi..." she giggled when I touched her cheek with my cold hand. Just as I was removing my hair tie, I felt it.
"Blaaaaaargh!" I poured out my insides onto the road.
"Oh my god, is that Rakhiel Obiel vomiting on the side of the road?"
"Ew. Is he drunk?"
"He's out with another girl again. Guess she has B.O."
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" the girl I was dating right now got flustered by the sudden reaction of the crowd.
'Shit. Who the hell used a mana distortion device inside the Empire Square?'
"Brother Khiel. If you're done with your date, can you come with me?" As soon as I got my sanity back from the large wave of mana distortion, Mariah Zarosa, the youngest sister of Hanzen was staring down at me, clearly disgusted.
"I'm not disgusted by you vomiting, you're just a disgusting piece of trash right now for dating multiple people." She always seem to read my mind no matter what.
"Cheeky brat."
"Well your date ran away already so you shouldn't have any issues right, brother Khiel?" She smiled at me. Mariah really like making fun of me this way.
I groomed myself back to a proper appearance as if I never vomited in public at all and smiled at her. "Dear child, we're you the one who used a mana distortion device to screw with me?"
Her brows raised befuddled. "Did the mana got distorted? I didn't feel anything though. I was just shopping for a school bag when I saw you. Then getting a message from Lady Lilith for you."
I rolled my eyes. "What message are you supposed to give?"
"She needs you at the sanctuary of the Sacred Tree. For identification procedure..."
"Got it. Prepare to teleport me." I crossed my arms and waited for her to do so but she frowned at me. "What are you frowning for? Hurry now."
"You're a real piece of human, you know? The Sacred Temple is literally just less than twenty meters from our location. Walk there."
"Are you crazy? The temple is humongous, and your teacher needs me at the sanctuary which is the farthest from the entrance. And you want me to walk there?!"
"Fine. I'll teleport you right outside the temple so walk your way to the sanctuary. "Or so she says before activating the magic circle right under me.
In a second, I could already discern the golden white walls of the temple.
Sigh. Guess I'll walk inside. It does bother me that a gigantic mana surge or distortion wasn't felt by a fellow blessed child of mana such as Mariah.
But since Lili had contacted me through her then it was probably detected by fellow heirs of the duchy clans.
'To the sanctuary of the Sacred Tree, it is.'
****
The ground felt cold and the grass that usually tickles my feet were stabbing at my knees instead.
'How many times have I done this again...? So yesterday was...? 3286. I remember now.'
I bit my lips and felt it bleed once again as I lowered my head to the ground again. "I ask the great Sacred Tree to forgive my since for the 3287th time. Ple-please accept my mana and blood as an offer".
Just as I've done before, I strolled close to the Sacred Tree and readied my butter knife to my wrist.
BAAAM!!!
A large surge of mana thrusted out of the Sacred Tree itself intensely.
My vision flickered and I found myself stuck on the wall of the sanctuary, blood dripping from my eyes, and cuts that could've been dangerous were deeply embedded unto me barely missing vital points.
I was flung ten meters away from the tree.
"Blaaaargh!" I vomited as soon as my body dropped down to the ground. "Blaaaaaargh!!!"
'Shit. Shit. Shit! Was it my fault? Is the Sacred Guardian telling me that my sins will never be forgiven?'
"Sa-Sacred Guardian... Please... I'm sorry, let me take the sins of my fellow wrongdoers. I will ba-bare their sins." I cried out but there was no reply.
"Sniff ugh. I'm sorry, you don't ha-have to forgive me, actually. I was wrong. It was my fault. Sniff." My voice poured out unknowingly. As usual I trembled at the sight of the majestic Sacred Tree.
'Breathe, Nessa. Properly breathe.' I hushed myself.
It took me a minute before I gathered about my wits properly and picked myself up from the floor.
"Forgive me for showing an unsightly appearance, Sacred Tree." Moving closer to the Sacred Tree once again, I carefully poured half my mana into it and—
'What is that?'
Carefully I treaded closer to the gently waving mana gushing out from behind the Sacred Tree.
Someone was sleeping while leaning on the Sacred Tree.
I didn't want to disturb them but the thought of someone being the actual reason why I'm covered in blood right now flashed through my mind.
'What kind of shitty mage was unable to control their own mana circle's outburst, even while they slept, in this generation?'
"Insolent." Before I could control the suppressed anger, my hand which held my dagger, was already lunging to her head.
As my dagger was about to reach her, she moved her head to the right. "Wha-what the hell?" She paled in an instant.
"How dare you sleep in the sanctuary?" I scowled down at her.
"I'm so-sorry. Fuck. She tricked me." She mumbled and frowned deeply. "Nessa, please put down your dagger. It's dangerous."
Vexation beyond recognition surpassed my anger management levels. "Insolent child. How dare you call me by my nickname?!" I tried attacking her again but she stumbled to the side and quickly distanced herself from me.
'Who is this girl? She seems to be properly trained.'
Now that I've properly observed her she looked like a mana blessed child. She also seems to be my age. "Tell me your identifications."
"I'm... well... May I ask first the date of today?"
Sigh. Let's calm down. I feel like my 'Heart of Mana' will explode on its own. "Are you a runaway? To answer your question today is Year 994, 29th of May. Now can you answer my question?"
"I'm not exactly sure if I can answer your question the way you want me to but for now, I'm indeed someone named as Tabitha. And I'm not a runaway... No. I guess you can call me a runaway..." She prattled.
"Affiliations?"
"That's..."
"You can't answer this as well?"
"You're right. I'm not quite sure yet. Do you... know my master?"
Is she being serious?
"No, no, sorry. That was a weird question. I'm Tabitha, and you are?" She smiled weakly, looking plainly oblivious to even her own situation. She definitely looks suspicious.
"You called me by my nickname but you don't know who I am?" I retorted, displeased about how she addressed me quite informally. But then her face crumpled in a panic.
"Cuts?! What happened to you?" This girl, Tabitha, moved closer before I could respond to her and she healed my wounds.
"Hey! Don't touch me as you like, insolent girl!"
"You say that but you don't push me away." Her hand touched my arm gently and slowly poured healing magic to me.
'I sound like a broken record but who is she?'
"Lady Lanessa Guisen. Heiress of the Guisen Duchy of the Soledad Empire." I heard her murmur.
"So you do know me."
"Yes. I do." And she averted my gaze. "You look really young."
"Are you saying I look old on a natural basis, insolent one?"
"No. Not that. It's more like you look younger than how I've seen you."
I frowned. "I don't quite follow your words." She replied with a weak smile. "Let go of me." Then she moved back again.
I was right. She looked like she was blessed with mana at birth. A rare occurrence for commoners but somewhat common for families intertwined with the Duchy Households.
"Are you from the Obiel clan? Your hair doesn't same fake and your eyes resemble them."
"Oh... Uhm. I'm not quite sure. I don't remember."
"You don't remember? What does that mean?"
"Exactly as you've heard. What I do remember is waking up next to the Sacred Tree and names of various people in my head."
What nonsense.
"Then are you the Sacred Guardian?"
"No."
"Then this much is fine for now." I said calmly and knocked her out. At the same time, rough winds started to concentrate from the entrance of the sanctuary and a faint light of a magic circle can be seen. 'Seems like someone's here.'
Carefully laying her body down next to the tree, I bowed as I saw the ginger hair.
"Lady Lanessa of Guisen, I believe you know why I'm here." Lili stepped out from the strong light of the circle and sternly asked before nodded her head.
I stood tall once again and replied, "If it's about the mana surge then I do. However, I'm not quite sure if I can answer your questions confidently." My gaze moved to the sleeping girl behind me.
"Who's that?"
"I'm not quite sure either, apparently she is unable to recollect her own memories other than her first name and some high-ranking individuals." I said.
In that brief silence, various magic circles have started to materialize within the sanctuary and the other heirs of each duchy clan have gathered.
As I explained the unknown girl's circumstances once again, Khiel frowned at her rose gold head. "For now let's put her in the dungeon."
Everything was solved with that comment.