Chapter 92
“It’s been years since she left me, but I can’t forget her.”
Jacob let out a sorrowful laugh.
“If she allows me, I want to meet her even just once…”
His eyes started to get moist.
Elena didn’t say anything.
After hearing from Jacob and seeing his expression, her heart ached too.
But this made her convinced that Sera’s father was Jacob.
Both Jacob and Roen missed each other.
‘If only Roen allows it, then the two of them can meet again…’
She wanted to convince her.
But after a moment, Elena changed her mind.
‘No. It’s a waste of time.’
She didn’t want to convince someone who didn’t wish for it.
It was unfortunate for all three of them, but it was unavoidable.
*****
The next day.
Elena got out of bed with lightness in her body.
She had a good rest yesterday, so she particularly felt rejuvenated today.
She wondered what she should do on this day.
Surprisingly, something came to her room.
It was a golden bird with familiar mana.
“Are you the Archmage’s messenger?”
The golden bird transformed into a golden paper as soon as it touched Elena’s hand.
In a neat font, the message in the paper read:
Come to the office.
As soon as she saw the content, Elena moved quickly.
After a prompt wash and changing of clothes, she left the West Tower immediately.
As soon as she arrived in front of the Archmage’s office, the door opened.
“Archmage.”
Elena greeted the Archmage who was sitting comfortably in the chair.
“For the time being, I’ll be busy handling matters about the Black Continent.”
As she spoke, the countenance of the Archmage appeared better than yesterday.
Of course, she still appeared as emotionless as usual, but it was a good sign since she looked more like herself.
And it sounded as if she had decided to do something significant about the Black Continent.
‘… Thank god.’
Elena sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, Karen reached out to her.
“But while I’m gone, I don’t want anything to happen to you like last time…”
As Karen spoke, she gestured to Elena.
Elena walked right up to her and held out her hand.
Then, she felt Karen’s magic flowing in.
“Elena. If something goes wrong with your body, this magical power will protect you.”
“Thank you, Archmage.”
Elena smiled softly at her.
And Karen’s lips slightly went up in response.
*****
Coming out of the Archmage’s office, Elena decided to go out today.
The destination was the slum.
She couldn’t help but think of Sera, who had burst into tears when she saw her during the battle with Killian.
‘Maybe that little girl thinks I got hurt because of her.’
So Elena thought it would be best to show the child how she was currently doing.
In addition, she wanted to see if the slums that had been destroyed throughout the battle were restored to their original state.
So, garbed in her robe, Elena crossed over the portal.
As she neared the slums, her pace hastened.
Once she entered the slums, vivid memories of her meeting with Killian flashed.
Shortly thereafter, the place where she met him appeared.
But it was different from the last time she saw it.
‘It has been restored.’
Seeing that there were no damages, it seemed as if the Archmage had restored it.
‘… Come to think of it, the appearance of Killian doesn’t seem to be a topic of discussion in the Empire.’
On the way from the capital to the slums, she passed a newsstand.
However, there was no mention of Killian Halos’ return in the newspaper.
‘If it was Killian, it would have been on the front page of the newspaper.’
Was this also done by the tower?
‘… Maybe it was because I was the victim.’
Because the Magic Tower found it distasteful to be a topic of conversation in the Empire.
After the war, the relationship between humans and wizards improved a little, but the wizards still didn’t welcome them.
‘I’d rather be glad that the article didn’t come out.’
Elena didn’t want to be the center of attention either.
With that thought in mind, she headed for Sera’s house.
She saw a familiar child walking across the street.
Elena quickly opened her mouth.
“Sera.”
When she heard her voice, Sera immediately raised her head.
Since Elena was wearing a hood, her face was hard to see, but she appeared to have recognized her voice.
“Sister?”
Sera’s eyes shone with joy.
“Yeah. It’s me, Sera.”
As Elena drew closer, the child’s face brightened.
But soon, Sera’s eyes became wet with tears.
Drip, drip.
“Ugh, hic, sister.”
Sera ran to Elena’s arms with tears in her eyes.
Elena immediately hugged the child tightly.
“Yes, Sera. It’s okay, don’t cry.”
She gently touched her back, but Sera’s crying didn’t stop.
“Sister, hic, hic.”
Elena continued to comfort Sera.
Sera stopped crying after shedding more tears for about five minutes.
Elena wiped the child’s tears with a handkerchief.
“Si-Sister. Are you okay?”
“Yes. Sister is okay. Did our Sera worry about sister a lot?”
“Yes. I was worried.”
When the child said that, she seemed she was about to cry again at any moment.
Thus, instantly, Elena changed the subject.
“Sera. Did you have lunch?”
“Huh? No. Not yet.”
“Then, shall we eat together?”
“Yes! My mom went to work and I had to eat alone. Hehe.”
Sera’s face brightened.
Elena immediately grabbed Sera’s hand and ran out of the slum.
Before entering the capital, she briefly learned something from Sera.
As Elena surmised, it was said that the slum was restored by the Magic Tower.
And the news about Killian didn’t spread because the residents of the slums didn’t know who he was.
‘… I guess I should say I’m happy.’
Also, Sera asked the wizard, who restored the slum, about what happened to Elena.
However, she didn’t receive any answers, so Sera’s worries intensified.
It was only yesterday when Elena returned to the Magic Tower, and the restoration of the slum had been done before that, so there was no way she would have gotten word.
‘That’s why she cried as soon as she saw me.’
Elena lightly smiled, stroking Sera’s hair.
While they were still chatting, they eventually arrived at the food street.
“Sera, what would you like to eat? Is there anything you want?”
“Uh, I…”
Sera looked into the distance, her eyes wide open.
There was so much to eat; she didn’t know what to choose.
Elena grabbed the child’s shoulder and grinned.
“You can choose anything. Sister will buy you everything.”
*****
Five hours later.
Sera and Elena held each other’s hands, heading to the slum.
The two had a very enjoyable day.
Elena bought everything Sera wanted to eat, and when she was full, she played actively.
Time passed so quickly, and it was already evening.
Elena decided to walk Sera home.
As they walked side by side, holding hands, they arrived at the front of the house.
Elena rummaged through her pocket before letting Sera in.
And she pulled out some magic crystal necklaces from there.
‘I’m glad I made a lot of them when I was preparing for war.’
Elena immediately handed several of them to Sera.
“Sera. Every time you go out, wear one of these.”
“What’s this?”
“It is made by Sister. If someone harasses Sera, magic will come out of here.”
Sera’s face glowed. While tapping the magic stone, she expressed:
“Wow! Sister is great!”
“Really? Anyway, once the magic is triggered in this crystal, it will break, and you’ll have to wear a new one.”
“Yes!”
Sera smiled and hung several magic crystal necklaces around her neck at once.
Then with a grin, she said:
“But nobody bothers Sera.”
“Huh?”
“Sister is so strong!”
According to Sera, because of the conflict that happened in the slum, the friendship between the powerful wizard and Sera became known, spreading throughout the slums.
That part was what Elena was worried about.
She feared that someone with a bad heart might torment the child.
But contrariwise, people said that they were afraid that their arms would be cut off if they touched Sera.
“Hahaha. Really?”
“Yes! There were kids who used to bully me, but they didn’t bully me anymore. Hehe.”
“I’m glad.”
Still, just in case one didn’t know, Elena handed more magic crystals to Sera.
When she saw the magic stones hanging around Sera’s neck, a smile appeared on her.
They looked at each other and laughed.
“Uhmp…”
Suddenly, Elena heard someone cry.
She turned her head straight to the house.
“… Jacob, hic.”
The voice, in between sobs, was familiar.
‘Roen.’
Sera’s face darkened as she saw the worry on Elena’s face.
The two were silent for a moment as Roen continued to cry.
Then Sera spoke first.
“… In fact, mom always wanted to see dad.”
Sera added sadly.
“Since I was very young, I sometimes hear my mother cry. Calling my father’s name…”
Hearing that story, Elena made a firm decision.
