The Way To Life Is Sacrifice
"Are you ready?"
A slight nod of the head was Mary's way of saying yes. She didn't need to use words; only a direct show of her will through a nod was enough.
As the blood dripped down to the ground, she walked towards Mariada, who bared her chest to reveal the magic circle.
Without even wasting any more blood, she positioned her nicked finger on top of the magic circle on Mariada's chest. Few drops of blood fell onto the circle, and as they fell, they didn't stream down, but flowed in the lines of the circle, to give it a red color.
Not long after that, the circle was fully covered in blood, and soon after, it glowed along the blood trail, giving the magic circle a presence.
"Don't do anything stupid."
"I won't... I only want to save Krai."
The blood was the activation part of the seal; breaking it was another part that Reina proceeded to accomplish next. She placed her palm in front, the inside facing the circle.
"Seal Magic, Seal Breaking Spell.... Purple Dance."
As soon as Reina finished reciting those words, black patterns surrounded Mary, and her whole body was covered in them. It was a beautiful sight to behold; they were like tattoos engraved on her body, complementing her beauty.
However, beneath all that splendor, those tattoos concealed a monster of great power.
"Sir Marcus, what's going on?"
"Reina is breaking the seal on Mary's magic... You should get away from here."
"Seal? But Miss Mariada can use magic."
Driven by curiosity, Veda stayed to watch the show. It wasn't intentional; she wasn't trying to disobey Sir Marcus's warning, but her curiosity had taken over.
The patterns fully encased Mariada, and then Reina stepped back, removing her hand. The magic circle was the core and the key to the seal, so it served as the center for all the patterns surrounding her.
All at once, the magic circle and markings on her body began to crack and shatter.
**Blast!**
An influx of mana converges around Mary.
Her total mana increased drastically.
It wasn't like Krai or Marcus, who absorbed mana from the surroundings; it was different. It was as if the total cap on her mana had been lifted, and now she was able to produce and release all the mana her body was capable of.
The color of her mana was purple, like her fur and eyes.
As her mana increased, small bits of mana leaked out and turned into manacules.
It was a fast process. The way her mana increased to the way it quickly flooded the court field with manacules was all done in mere seconds of breaking the seal.
"Cough-cough... I can't... breathe. Hhhhng-ha hhhng-ha... cough."
"Dammit!"
Marcus grabbed the girl and leaped away from Mary.
"Are you okay, child?" Marcus asked the girl while patting her back.
"What was that? Cough."
"That was just your reaction to Mary's mana... Don't worry, you'll be alright."
The girl caught her breath and calmed down a little. She was confused about what Marcus said; after all, she is a mage whose specialty is healing magic.
Even though she still has a lot to learn, she is above average when it comes to protecting herself from almost any status ailments.
"But... I'm immune to mana poisoning."
"No! You're immune to weak mana poisoning... And besides, Mary's mana and your mana are opposites of each other.
The stronger one poisons the other."
"..."
She remained silent.
There was nothing she could say after that brutal awakening Marcus gave her.
"Control it, Mary."
"..."
Mary began to suck in the overflowing mana inside her body as well as the manacules that leaked out.
Slowly and steadily, the mana was sucked and contained in her body. Now she had all her power back.
She took a big breath and placed her hands over Krai's body, the same way Veda did when she was healing him.
During all this, all Mariada could think about was, 'Save Krai no matter what.' And she was about to do just that.
"Dark Magic, Space-Time Heal..."
The spell Mary was about to use has two working functions, and both have their negative effects.
The first one is Dark Magic, Space-Time Heal. Hasten, which would accelerate the body's healing capabilities 10-fold, but they will lose a few years from their lifespan due to the accelerated bodily functions, as well as the degree of injury.
And...
"...Backlash!"
From Mary's hands came a purple light, which enveloped Krai in a capsule-like circle from head to toe.
Inside the capsule, Krai's wounds and blood were returning to their original state. Blood was being sucked in through the openings on his body - The nose, the eyes, the mouth, and even the cuts all over his skin.
Time was being reversed on his injured body.
She looked relaxed at first, but after a few minutes, she began to show signs of struggle. She gritted her teeth, and a sheen of sweat ran across her face.
It took some time, but she finally stopped and released the magic.
Krai emerged fully healed, with no trace of any wound left on his body.
No drop of blood was left on the ground either; it was all absorbed back into his body, and even the blood that was on everyone's clothes and hands was gone.
Mary lounged back and sighed with relief as she saw not a trace of wounds on Krai.
Her job was done, and now she can be at peace.
**Cough!**
Mary coughed up a big splash of blood.
"Easy, Mary! Are you okay?"
Reina went to her side and supported her to sit upright.
She wiped off the blood on her lips with the back of her palm.
"I'll be fine." She said
"Why use Backlash, huh? Why not Hasten? It could have done a better job as well."
"10 years"
"Huh?"
"That's how much he would have lost. 10 years."
"...Does that mean you've lost 20 years?!"
Reina was reluctant to ask that question.
"Yes, at the very least."
"Wow, this is the largest one yet. I can never get over you losing years from your life."
Reina said. There was a hint of worry in her voice, even though she was speaking as if it were nothing serious.
She wasn't surprised at how many years Mary had lost from healing Krai. The toll of using Backlash on him was going to be a large one, and she knew the consequences of it.
"But, I don't get it. Humans are the easiest for me to heal and take little time too..."
She said while being supported by Reina to stand up.
She stared at Krai with a puzzled look. Was she catching on to Reina's deception and lie? Because the way she stared at Krai suggested she was going to dice and investigate him in search of the answers.
"So why did I use so much mana?"
Sorry, Mary, but Krai is not just any human. He's an Arch Human, Reina thought. I will bear the burden of knowing the truth alone. You all shouldn't get involved. I'm truly sorry.
"You okay, master? You're looking a little distraught."
What? It must have shown on my face.
"It's nothing. You should focus on relaxing. You look pale."
"...Okay"
That sudden moment of thinking almost sold her off.
Mary collapses in Reina's arms.
"Mary?" Reina checks up on her. "Oh! She's just asleep."
She lets out a big sigh of relief and carries Mary in her arms as gently as possible, and prepares to take her inside.
While she was about to walk, she was intercepted by a demihuman in guard clothes.
"Lady Reina... There are people at the gate demanding entrance."
"Turn them away... I don't have the energy or the time to deal with them now."
She waves her hand to gesture at him to show them away. It was a light wave since she carried Mariada with both her arms, but it was clear to see.
"It's the adventurers, ma'am, and the guild master is with them. He's the one demanding to see you."
"Shugal is with them?"
She stared in the direction of the gate, trying to discern the reason for their visit. Not to mention, they were demanding entrance, which suggests they were serious about their intention for the visit.
"Let them through."
"Yes, ma'am."
The Guard leaves and heads back to the gate.
"Marcus."
"Yes, my lady."
"Take Mary into the house and put her in my bed... And carry that fool inside as well."
Reina hands Mary to Marcus.
Another servant, the healer girl, comes to pick up Krai and follows Marcus into the house.
☆☆☆
The most pressing matter was resolved, but another one was presenting itself with the unexpected visit of Shugal and the adventurers.
I wonder what Shugal wants?
This caused Reina to ponder the reasons behind their visit, which obviously she did not know of. But she did have an idea of what they could be there for.
She stood there waiting, and not long after, Shugal was close enough for them to hold a conversation.
"Hello, Shugal... For what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from you?"
"Hello, Reina... Wow. You look rough."
"And you look scared out of your mind."
"Fufufufu!"
They both laugh as if not trying to show any weakness towards each other. None of them was going to reveal their hand first, because that would mean letting the other person run the conversation.
Especially Reina, she must refrain from saying anything about Krai, and what just happened.
It might turn out to be what Shugal came to investigate.
"Will you two stop playing around?"
Kierra edged them.
"Aww, Kierra!" Reina jumps and hugs her, rubbing her cheeks against hers. "Just look how cute you are."
"Hey, stop that. I'm a grown woman of your age, you know."
"And you're my friend too," She said with a cute little voice.
"..."
Kierra just had a slight happy smile on her face, and when Reina saw it, the cheek rubbing only intensified.
They were both enjoying the interaction.
"That's... Reina, The Mother of Ice!" One adventurer spoke out loud.
"The S-rank?" Another joined in.
Reina heard her name and looked back to see a whole group of adults marveling at the sight of her; some were teenagers, but all were B-rank adventurers or higher.
Half of them had sparkly eyes like kids who had just received candy.
"What's up, Shugal? You even brought a whole fan base for me. Something major must have happened."
Shugal's face became serious.
"Yes... We came here searching for answers."
"Answers?" She says while still holding Kierra.
"People have been falling and losing consciousness in town, and when we found that a flow of mana was being absorbed and heading in the direction of your mansion.
That's why we came here."
"Oh, that."
Shugal squinted his eyes and unraveled his arms. He didn't try to size Reina up or get answers out of her little by little.
He went straight to the topic.
"Reina, do you know something?"
"Well... You know..."
She let go of Kierra and looked sideways, nervously scratching her cheek.
"No, I don't know."
"Reina, please tell us what you know."
Reina closed her eyes and looked down.
"Look, Shugal, Kierra. I can't tell you the exact details, but just know it is my fault, and I'm sorry for the trouble."
Reina said, her voice carrying a hint of remorse.
"..."
Shugal remained quiet, only staring at her.
But Kierra, with the time she spent with Reina, noticed something was off.
"Since when do you apologize so easily?" She asked.
"What?"
"You never apologize so easily, unless it's for someone's sake... Is it maybe for this new pupil of yours?"
"Aah! Yes."
Reina was surprised. Kierra was right on the money. On the first attempt, she pinned the cause of Reina's disposition.
"So please, can you keep it on the down low? I promise I'll tell you the whole story soon."
She was sincere and calm. Not the kind of Reina who would have a fit for being left alone on the island or for being called a hag.
When Kierra saw this side of her, she knew it was serious.
"Huh! Okay, fine."
"Hey! This is not..."
"Shut up, Shugal... Don't worry, we'll keep it a secret."
"..."
Shugal was shut down instantly, and he didn't even retaliate.
"Thank you, Kierra, you're the best." She said with her cute little voice, again followed by cheek rubs.
Reina and Kierra laugh hysterically.
Shugal rubs his bald head because he knows that if he escalates the situation, things won't pan out so well for him.
He turns to the adventurers who came with him.
"Alright, everyone, you're dismissed."
"Whaaaaat?"
"Come on! This was a waste of energy."
"Stop whining... You'll all be paid for the trouble."
"Heck yeah."
First, the adventurers were complaining and whining, and that all changed when they heard about being paid.
Shugal then shifts his focus to Reina.
"You're paying for this, right?"
It was a rhetorical question, and there was one acceptable answer: Yes,
Reina knew this as well and didn't make a fuss about it.
"Another thing, Reina... Look at this."
Shugal took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Reina. It was the guild quest they questioned while still at the guild.
"A guild quest? And a special one at that."
"A butler came and submitted that quest a few days back."
"Yes..." Kierra jumped in. "And he comes every day to see whether you have taken the quest."
"An investigation into the Zeus Woods? But why ask for me?"
She read the quest and also found the quest to be odd, especially considering that she's on leave.
"We don't know why, but we believe Count Harlon Juliq issued the quest."
Reina looked at the quest sheet with a suspicious eye. The count had always looked down on adventurers, saying they were rebels because of their free will, and yet he was asking Reina for a job.
She shoved the paper back to Shugal.
"Well, I can't take it. Tell the person to find another adventurer, Zecorn Maybe?"
"Unfortunately, he's nowhere to be found, and I suggest you take the quest, Reina."
"Why would I do that? I'm on leave, remember."
"Huh... I agreed to keep whatever is happening here a secret, but if the count comes sniffing around, I doubt I'll be able to lie to him."
"..."
The answer shocked Reina, and she squinted her eyes in response. They are friends, and yet one was forcing the other to do something.
"The Count has had it out for us since taking over from his father, and if the guild fails to produce results that align with him, he might use it to get Guild Headquarters to shut us down.
Sorry, Reina, but I'm not about to let the livelihoods of others end because of your selfishness."
His words rang hard and true. Indeed, Reina was being selfish for not revealing her secret and for refusing to accept the quest.
She looked up at him, trying to find a weakness in his eyes and exploit it.
But his eyes did not waver or shift.
He was telling her something that was filled with logic, and it was also the right thing a leader would do.
"Take the quest, and I'll feign ignorance about what happened."
"...Okay fine..."
She gave up on trying to reason her way out of this. Ruining the lives of others for her own comfort was not in accordance with her values.
"Please send at least two A-rankers to guard the mansion; there won't be enough manpower to keep everyone safe while I'm gone."
"I'll send someone..."
"Thank you!"
They ended their conversation there when she accepted the quest.
"See you, Reina," Shugal waves at Reina.
"Bye, friend," Kierra follows behind him.
Reina waves at them, too.
She takes one good look at the quest sheet and feels uneasy about it
Her mind races with all kinds of thoughts.
"Why do you think she wants extra guards? I mean, she already has powerhouses as her servants."
"Whatever she's hiding must be too big, or maybe she just wants to protect her demihuman servants from unsavory people.
Let's not forget, they are treated as slaves everywhere and by everyone."
Shugal and Kierra exchange opinions about Reina and her unusual state.
They both look worried, but they cannot pry too much into it, or else they risk the trust between them.
