I continue to stare at the ring on my finger, brushing the thoughts aside. I'm not that person anymore. I intend to be strong. Even if I can't use mana, I will improve. I will be better.
I look at myself in the mirror. My hair has grown longer, disheveled and tangled — a mess. The blonde strands hang awkwardly, and my cold blue eyes stare back at me.
Despite the armor I'm wearing, it's simple. I can't stomach putting on the enchanted armor that Arden gave me. At my side are two small pistols and a dagger.
The dagger's tip is blackened, while its hilt gleams with bright gold — supposedly made from meteorite ore, or so the merchant claimed. They probably ripped me off.
Each pistol is unique, though most wouldn't notice. I wonder why I didn't use them in my fight with Arden, but I push those thoughts away.
It wouldn't have mattered — even shooting costs me a lot of mana.
I sigh. I'll have to respec my character. The pistols are just for show now.
I spent a long time fixing my hair. Making sure every strand is perfect. I don't know why. It's not like it matters. It feels important. Once satisfied, I finally leave the room.
The guild hall is impressive.The guild's logo hangs proudly in the center of the main hall, impossible to miss. The space is open, with grand staircases on both sides leading to the upper floors. From where I stand, I can see five levels, each with a distinct color theme.
The top floor is red—that's Reyna's. The floor below is yellow—mine. Green belongs to Viri, and the white floor is Sera's.
The bottom floor, a mix of blue and white, houses the kitchen and shared spaces. Teruki sleeps down there too—insistent on staying near the kitchen.
Each floor has a few rooms, used for sleeping or whatever else we want. Reyna's main room isn't for resting, though—it's where she handles guild business.
I glance at each floor in turn. My gaze lingers on the weights and gym equipment by the side wall. I've never touched them—not once. Maybe I should. Maybe I'll ask Viri to train with me.
I step onto the rune embedded in the center floor. A faint glow surrounds me. I'm on the red floor.
Inside Reyna's room, she's sitting at her desk, head in her hands. Viri is nearby, sprawled comfortably on the couch.
Reyna's armor is sleek and shogun-inspired—deep red leather with gold and black accents, reinforced with minimal plating for protection without sacrificing movement.
A custom leather holster at her hip holds a finely crafted revolver, and her katana rests at her side. White cloth peeks beneath the red leather, adding a sharp contrast.
Viri's armor is simple and practical, with a dark green cape draped over her shoulders. Her green hair and sharp eyes complete her no-nonsense look, a shotgun always within reach.
"You finally came back," Viri mutters.
"Shut up," I whisper under my breath.
"I told you not to trust him."
Teruki's voice echoes in my mind. You'll be responsible for what happens, she warned.
"Shut up!" I mutter again, this time louder. "Veronica!"
"Hey," Viri speaks up. "No one calls me that." She stands, eyes narrowing. "You wouldn't stand a chance if we fought."
I know she's right, but I keep glaring at her anyway.
"Where's Sera?" I ask, changing the subject.
"She should be here any minute," Reyna sighs, barely looking up.
Viri relaxes back onto the couch.
She chuckles bitterly. "Waste of space and resources."
Almost on cue, there's a knock at the door.
Sera steps inside, her presence commanding. She wears a mask split down the middle—half red, half white—with the red side covering her left. Her almost white, pale green hair spills out from beneath the mask, and a flowing green cape drapes over her shoulders. A small brown bag hangs at her side.
"How are you?" I ask.
"I'm good," she laughs, muffling her voice behind the mask.
"You've finally returned," Sera says, her smile faint. I catch the tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Sera whispers. "I'm so sorry." She repeats it over and over.
"You took the best move on the board," I sigh. "Sometimes we mess up."
"It's not your fault," Reyna interrupts. "I shouldn't have trusted—"
"Let's not talk about it," I cut in.
"What did you bring?" Viri demands.
Sera opens her small bag and pulls out a large crystal ball.
"This was the best they had," she says.
"Place your hand on the ball," Reyna instructs.
I obey, pressing my palm to the cold surface. Mana is yanked from my body in an instant..
The crystal glows faintly. It flickers with a soft orange light before sputtering out.
"It's as he said," Reyna sighs. "You've lost 99.9% of your mana."
What once flowed freely was now a hollow void—a restricted emptiness that seemed to press against my chest.
"Does anything feel different?" Sera asks, trying to lighten the mood.
"I haven't noticed anything," I answer. "It feels the same... I just have less energy."
Reyna shifts in her seat, her fingers tapping against the armrest.
"The Crusaders are coming to discuss the alliance," she says flatly.
"I know you're still hesitant, but at this point... it's our only hope."
Now that the top-ranking guild member doesn't have any mana, we can't afford to face things alone.
"What did you even see in him?" Viri asks suddenly.
I hesitated. "He reminded me of myself."
For a moment, no one speaks. Then I sigh. "Should I even be at this meeting?" she asks quietly.
"Yes," Reyna says without hesitation.
"We need you." Her voice softens. "You're my right hand... no matter how much mana you have."
Before I can respond, a knock echoes from the door. It slowly creaks open.