Mei reviewed the numbers for the fifth time, her fingers tracing the neat columns of figures.
The amounts of mana she was handling now was almost surreal.
Each page told a story of sacrifice and hope.
"The debt to the citizens is completely settled," she commented, meticulously organizing the records with practiced precision. "But they keep contributing."
"It's hope," Ren responded without looking up from his own calculations, his quill scratching steadily against parchment. "They believe that if they contribute enough, Elio will eventually find a way to end this."
The silence that followed was broken only by the scratching of quills on paper. Finally, Ren sighed, putting down his work.
"A lot of hope from many, but… Diana is growing more distant with me," he murmured, his voice mixing concern and frustration. "We barely talk lately, and when we do..."
