A Familiar Aura

“So vast, already…” The black-haired girl lifted her gaze, admiring the towering city walls before her. “Humans truly possess great potential.”

Following the bustling crowds into the city, the black-haired girl’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. With seven days remaining until the Blossom Festival, the Imperial Capital was already teeming with travelers. They had all converged upon the city to partake in the annual Blossom Song Festival. Perhaps it was only during this time that people from all nations could coexist in harmony.

She walked along the spacious streets, her eyes darting about. This was her first time witnessing such a prosperous city.

How wonderful…

Taking out a map, the girl began her search for lodging. She was poor—so destitute that she could only afford to stay in the lowest-tier inn. Still, she had grown accustomed to it.

“Here for the Blossom Festival?” The brown-haired young woman at the inn’s front desk lifted her eyelids. By order of the city guard, all guests were required to present valid identification before checking in. “Please show your identification. An adventurer’s certificate, a mercenary’s license—anything that proves your identity will suffice.”

How troublesome… With that thought, the girl retrieved a small booklet from her bag and handed it to the young woman. “From the Adventurer’s Guild. This should be acceptable, right?”

Taking the small booklet, the young woman casually flipped through its pages. Then, a hint of confusion in her voice, she inquired, “Why would a five-star spear warrior like you come to our humble establishment?”

While five-star warriors were not unheard of in the Imperial Capital, they were still considered quite formidable. Their small inn typically only hosted low-tier professionals, such as those of the ‘Point’ or ‘Line’ ranks. Occasionally, a down-on-their-luck ‘Triangle’ rank might seek shelter. But a five-star warrior? This was a first for the young woman.

“Haha, I spent all my money on the road. Now I’m broke,” the girl explained, a touch of awkwardness in her tone.

“Alright, it’s none of my business anyway. Here, this is your room key—room 13 on the fourth floor.”

Accepting the key, the girl offered a word of thanks.

“A humble person like me can’t accept your gratitude,” the young woman said listlessly. “However, if you’re looking to earn some money, the Imperial Capital’s Adventurer’s Guild has plenty of quests.”

“Thank you for the reminder.” The girl tucked the small booklet back into her bag.

****

Arriving on the fourth floor and entering her room, the girl meticulously inspected every corner. Only after confirming there were no magical surveillance fluctuations did she extend her hand.

A thick darkness billowed from her palm. Moments later, a magic array formed by black lines materialized in the room. Yet, the Imperial Capital’s Forbidden Barrier system—the ‘All Evils Retreat’—which should have triggered an instant alarm, remained utterly silent.

“It’s actually… real…” A blue glow connected from afar to the magic array.

Unable to suppress her inner excitement, the girl immediately dispelled the magic array before her. Then, slinging her bag onto her back, she dashed downstairs. It was to the east, and it was very close.

Pushing through the bustling crowds, the girl felt her heart pounding in her chest. How long had it been… How long since she had last seen her?

The girl still remembered that day when she had personally plunged the spear of destruction into her beloved’s chest. In that moment, her own heart had shattered alongside it. She had wished to follow her beloved into oblivion, but the responsibility she bore prevented her from doing so.

Her kin—the Demon Race—had always been reviled by other races on the continent. If she were to vanish without a trace, she had no doubt that, having lost their protector, they would be instantly torn apart by their enemies. This was not only something she dreaded, but also something her beloved would have abhorred. Her beloved was so kind, so benevolent, that they could not bear to witness any life perish before their eyes.

If not for her beloved, the girl’s kin would likely have been utterly annihilated long ago. Yet, in the end, it was she who had sent them to hell. The girl had constantly questioned herself: if given another chance, would she still make the same choice?

And the answer was unequivocally yes. Only she could have done it. Justice must never stain its hands with the blood of peace. But destruction could.

Such was her duty. Even if it was her beloved.

So many people… what in the world is happening here?

The girl’s heart was filled with urgency. In her senses, that aura was gradually fading into the distance.

Damn it, these people…

A glint of ferocity flashed in her eyes. The girl gritted her teeth, suppressing the urge to tear apart everyone blocking her path. This isn’t what Lotia would want to see from me.

Suddenly, she felt the space ahead clear considerably.

“The Adventurer’s Guild? So that’s it.” No wonder there were so many people.

The crowd outside consisted of low-tier adventurers, but entry here required a certain level of strength. Only those of ‘Square’ rank and above were permitted inside.

This is the place…

Her black eyes meticulously scanned her surroundings; the girl did not wish to overlook anything.

Wait, that aura…

“Excuse me, please move aside.”

Roughly pushing aside the burly man blocking her path, a flash of white appeared in her vision.

“Lotia…” She was about to speak, but a hand suddenly appeared from behind, clamping over her mouth. A tremendous force followed, and the girl was dragged into a narrow alleyway, utterly powerless to resist.

****

Someone… is calling me?

Sitting at the Adventurer’s Guild’s quest submission window, Ziyao looked up in confusion. She thought she had just heard someone call her name.

Wait… the name they called wasn’t ‘Ziyao,’ but an unfamiliar one.

But why did it feel like they were calling me?

“Hmm? Miss Ziyao, is something wrong?” the Adventurer’s Guild staff member asked.

Shaking her head, Ziyao turned back. “Nothing. I just felt a very familiar aura nearby a moment ago.”

“Perhaps it really was a friend of yours. The Blossom Festival is in seven days, so it’s quite normal for your friends to be arriving here now.”

Huh? Friends? How many friends do I even have? Besides, they’re all Imperial Capital natives, and they’re all incredibly busy right now.

Only an idler like her had the leisure to come to the Adventurer’s Guild to post a quest.

“You need thirty Azure Water Lilies, twenty high-grade Water elemental beast cores, and forty units of Water Slime cores, is that correct?”

“That’s right. Please be as quick as possible; I need them urgently.” These materials were for brewing magic potions. Having consumed five vials during her last breakthrough, Ziyao’s current stock was running low.

Though she couldn’t drink them now, it was always better to be prepared. If such a situation truly arose, who would care about their body? They would certainly take the potion to save their life first. Sometimes, battles between high-tier mages were like this: neither could kill the other, so they would just stand there wearing each other down, seeing who would break first. In such moments, a single mana recovery potion became exceptionally crucial.

“After these are brewed, I’ll have to discuss Aiya’s situation with the Royal Family.” Regardless of the Blossom Festival’s outcome, Aiya’s parents had decided to cure Aiya immediately afterward. By then, Ziyao would be as swamped as Raphael and the others, who were currently running themselves ragged.

So, while she still had free time, she needed to quickly brew the potions she would need.