Wallace listened attentively as Mana Knight Rederic began to explain the complex network of magic systems that governed their world.
The whole place was filled with suspense, as every word spoken by Rederic had the potential to unlock a wealth of knowledge and power that Wallace didn't know but also wanted to know.
"Sir Baron," Rederic started, his voice calm yet urgent. "In this world we live in, magic is intricately woven into various aspects of our lives. But for us humans, the most common form of magic is seen in Mana Knights."
Wallace leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Rederic.
The descriptions that followed were vivid, painting a clear picture of a hierarchical structure that governed the abilities of the Mana Knights. His mind absorbed every detail, as the different stages and levels of their powers became etched into his consciousness.
"Mana Knights, you see," Rederic continued, his voice growing more animated, "have different levels of progression. Let's take the Initial Mana Knight, for example, which spans from the 1st to the 12th stage. And then there's the Secondary Mana Knight, which also covers the 1st to 12th stage. The intricacies of each stage, and the growth and potential they represent, are what truly define a Mana Knight's power."
But just as Rederic was about to delve deeper into the mysteries of the magic systems, the silence was shattered by an abrupt interruption.
Wallace's attention was immediately grabbed by a figure approaching from the corner of his eye.
Turning his head, he saw Butler Mendez, wearing a smile on his face. However, it wasn't Mendez who caught Wallace's gaze—it was the disheveled girl with tangled brown hair standing beside him.
"Who is she?" Wallace asked, his voice filled with curiosity, his eyes fixed on the mysterious newcomer.
Without hesitation, Butler Mendez extended his hand, motioning for the girl to come closer.
"This is our new Baron, young Sir Baron Wallace," he announced, his tone conveying a sense of urgency and annoyance, while his hand beckoned Wallace. Butler Mendez looked at the girl and said, "Now, tell him why the lives of all the villagers are hanging precariously in the balance."
Meanwhile, the messy girl's eyes widened in surprise as Butler Mendez introduced Wallace to her. Her mind raced with questions, "Who is he?"
She had faithfully served Lucas, Luna, Leila, and Leshna, but this person named Wallace stood before her, a stranger to her ears.
How had she never heard of him before?
And now he claimed to be the new ruler of this area?
It didn't make sense.
In her heart, Ellenair held a secret, one known only to her close friends—Lucas, Luna, Leila, and Leshna.
She possessed the rare ability of a Magic User, a power that pulsed within her veins. But beyond that trusted circle, no one else knew her truth.
Ellenair wasn't an illegitimate child, but rather an abandoned one, left to navigate the world alone.
Her father, though never explicitly expressing his hatred for her, made it abundantly clear that he didn't care for her presence.
Her mother, who once loved her, loved her father more so deeply, and had also joined him in disregarding Ellenair.
The pain cut deep, especially when her half-sister entered the picture.
From that moment on, her father and mother focused all their attention on her sibling, leaving Ellenair abandoned and forgotten.
Seeking comfort elsewhere, she turned her attention to the ruling family, the Toraz siblings.
They were initially distant, but upon discovering her status as a Magic User, they grew closer.
Not only that, they became like family, making a pact and promising to be there for each other, no matter what.
Just yesterday, Ellenair overheard her family planning their departure under the cover of darkness, claiming that chaos would engulf the entire town.
They believed that every living person here would become a victim. At first, she couldn't bring herself to believe their words, dismissing them as unfounded fears. But when her half-sister callously stated that Ellenair should not be included in their escape, the truth struck her like a sudden realization.
They had indeed planned to leave without her, leaving her to face the impending danger alone.
This doesn't break her heart because she no longer considered them relatives.
Her true family was her friends.
So Ellenair came running down here to tell the Baron Family so they could leave, and so she could also come with her friends and the people she considered her true family.
However, what she encountered was Wallace.
Where are they?
Where is Lucas, Luna, Leila, and Leshnam
Who is this Wallace?
Why is he the Baron now?
Almost her age?
Meanwhile, Wallace Toraz stood in front of the unknown girl, his eyes filled with curiosity and determination. He needed answers because she said the lives of the people in his town were in danger. "What's wrong?" he asked urgently, "What could put the lives of our townspeople at risk?"
The girl looked away, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "There's nothing to discuss or talk about," she whispered, barely audible. Doubt clouded her eyes as she hesitated to trust someone from the Toraz family who wasn't legitimate. But Wallace couldn't let her silence win.
"Listen, young lady!" Wallace's voice carried authority, tinged with a sense of impending disaster. "You said that the fate of this entire town depends on what you know. If you keep it to yourself, chaos will consume all the living and also, the Toraz family you are looking for, the ones who you might believe could save us, have already left!"
Genuine concern showed on every line of his face as Wallace fought to protect the town he now called his own.
As his words lingered in the air, the girl, who looked like a beggar, underwent a sudden change in expression.
Surprise and disbelief played across her face.
"They left?" she gasped, her voice trembling with an unexpected realization. Wallace's suspicion grew with her reaction as he raced to connect the pieces of the puzzle.
With a careful nod, he confirmed, "Yes, they did."
Once Wallace confirmed that Toraz's family had departed and he was the sole remaining occupant of that family, the girl, who appeared destitute, would gaze longingly at his visage.
Suddenly, her world seemed to crumble, and she would collapse. Her voice quivered as she cried out, "No! Unbelievable! Lucas, Luna, Leila, and Leshna would never go without me!"
Disbelief etched across her countenance as she struggled to come to terms with the harsh truth.
How could they abandon her?
It felt unimaginable, completely impossible!
They had made vows, vows that included her as a member of their family.
How could they seveer those sacred ties?
The weight of the betrayal she didn't believe slowly bore down on her, slowly consuming and crushing her spirit.