317 Remnant
*Drop*
A single tear fell from Alyssa’s seemingly dull eyes when she saw the name of her deceased mother.
Once, she was a mage praised for her prowess and remarkable abilities. Now, however, her name only invoked hatred in people’s hearts.
Images of her departed mother flooded Alyssa’s mind, while the screams from her nightmares echoed in her ears.
The tear that landed on the book evaporated, protected by a spell, but it was the only tear Alyssa shed.
“I am not weak anymore,” she muttered as she turned the page.
“I promise you mom,” Alyssa said with her emotionless eyes.
Despite her appearance, from the inside, her emotions were a wreck.
She was having difficulty controlling herself, but she knew she had to do it.
She knew that if she crumbled here, it would be a waste of all the opportunities she had received until now.
Outside the Sanctuary,𝗈𝑽𝓵𝔢xt.𝑐𝑶𝔪
The elders who had just left were returning, but the expressions on their faces were far from pleasant.
“I can’t believe they allowed a child like hers inside such a place,” one of them said.
“It’s such a disgrace that we’ve allowed all this to happen,” he added.
However, one of the elders with them didn’t share the same sentiments as the others. Still, he went along with their views because letting Alyssa into the Sanctuary of Mages tarnished their reputation.
The Mage Association primarily consisted of individuals from ordinary backgrounds who worked for and contributed to the association. All three Associations were structured in such a way that regular citizens could climb the ranks if they possessed the necessary talent and capability.
Allowing someone related to the Garcia family in was tantamount to inviting public animosity. The current state of affairs already had people raising questions about some of the Elite Families.
Recently, even the World Association faced scrutiny until they abruptly altered the rules they’d established.
‘Sigh, if only she wasn’t her child,’ the Elder lamented. While he felt sympathy for Alyssa, he also harbored resentment towards the Garcia family.
He understood why the other Elders strongly opposed letting someone like Alyssa in. Their animosity wasn’t aimed at Alyssa, but her mother, Elizabeth Garcia.
She had been offered a position as an Elder in the Mage Association but had turned it down due to her marriage. Had she accepted, she would have become the youngest Elder in the association’s history.
There were whispers suggesting she might have been a strong contender to succeed Silvus in the distant future.
Her academic achievements earned her disdain from some elders who believed much of Elizabeth’s success stemmed from her influential background.
Even though she didn’t possess a monstrous talent like Ivar Greville, Elizabeth was exceptional in Magic Research. Having her work housed in the Sanctuary of Mages stood as testament to her profound understanding of magic.
Just like Alyssa, Elizabeth also possessed the Ice Advance Element.
‘Making a child suffer because of their own mistakes,’ the Elder mused, shaking his head as he walked alongside the other Elders.
Meanwhile, Elsa stood near the gate, with Edward present as well. Edward knew that Elsa would remain there due to her duty, but he had many responsibilities demanding his attention elsewhere.
“Unfortunately, I must leave. However, if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact me,” Edward remarked. Elsa nodded in acknowledgment.
As Edward departed, Elsa turned her gaze back to the gate.
“I wish things had gone differently for both you and her,” Elsa whispered.
From the moment Elsa laid eyes on Alyssa, she recognized her identity. Upon closer observation of Alyssa’s condition, Elsa discerned that Alyssa’s days were numbered.
With damaged mana meridians and the use of Gravity magic, Alyssa’s fate seemed sealed, destined for an early demise. She would either succumb to physical deterioration or the mental strain associated with wielding the Space Element.
A memory from the past resurfaced.
“I wonder what it’s like to have a child,” a radiant young woman in her early twenties with cherry blossom pink hair mused, gazing at her friend.
“Dummy, you’re too young to be thinking about that,” her friend replied, playfully flicking her on the forehead.
“Ouch!” the young woman exclaimed, rubbing the spot.
“Elsa, you’re so mean!” she protested, eliciting a giggle from her friend.
“How will you handle all those grumpy old men in the Mage Association if you can’t even handle this, Liz?” Elsa asked with a teasing smile.
“Hmmph, I’ll simply show them my talent. Who would dare bully the daughter of the Garcia Family?” Elizabeth retorted with a smug expression.
“And my brother already promised he’d deal with anyone who tries to bully me,” Elizabeth added.
“As if you’ve ever asked for his help,” Elsa said, shaking her head in amusement.
“Do you recall how often we could’ve avoided trouble if you’d just leveraged your status a bit?” Elsa asked.
Despite her proud references to her family, Elsa knew that Elizabeth seldom used her family’s name to get out of sticky situations.
“Come on, it’s not like I don’t have my best friend to lean on,” Elizabeth said, playfully grabbing Elsa’s arm.
“Spare me the drama. I’d rather stay out of the messes you make for yourself,” Elsa replied with a tired look on her face.
“Sigh, my best friend would abandon me,” Elizabeth lamented playfully.
Suddenly, they felt someone jump onto their backs and wrap their arms around their shoulders. However, this unexpected gesture didn’t startle Elizabeth or Elsa in the slightest.
“Don’t worry, if Elsa won’t help you, I’ll be there to rescue you,” the girl chimed in, clinging to their backs.
“Thank you, Filia,” Elizabeth responded, placing her hand atop Filia’s and offering a warm smile.
Taking a deep breath, Elsa refocused. The past she was reminiscing about was of no consequence now.
The present wasn’t the bright future they had envisioned, but there was nothing she could do now.
There was no way to save Alyssa. Elsa wasn’t even sure if she wanted to, considering how Alyssa’s life might have unfolded if she weren’t in her current condition.
“It’s better for you to find peace in your life, at least in what’s left of it,” Elsa murmured, shutting out her thoughts.
Hours passed while Elsa waited for the trio, but within the Sanctuary of Mages, an unforeseen event was unfolding.
“You’re saying you can enter that place?” Asher inquired, glancing at Rifir, who gave a slight nod in confirmation.
Asher’s gaze drifted to a large white door, adorned with the insignia of the Mage Association and a slot for a specific badge.
Judging by its shape, Asher surmised that this was one of the exclusive doors only Silvus could access within the Mage Association tower.
For the past two months, Asher had dedicated much of his time to hunting and providing Rifir with mana gems he purchased using his own GP.
Rifir reached his limit once his level hit 20. Not only did his size increase, but Asher also sensed a growth in Rifir’s abilities.
The system labeled these as “Innate Skills” and indicated that upon reaching Level 20, Rifir possessed certain unique skills. It elaborated that some of Rifir’s abilities stemmed from his innate instincts and could only be developed further over time.
What Asher didn’t knew was that Rifir wasn’t gaining new abilities but was instead recalling them, consuming the beasts and mana gems to regain his original power.
The reason for Rifir’s self-imposed limitations remained a mystery, known only to the strange beast. However, due to sealed memories, the massive beast, which could strike fear into even the most powerful beings, had transformed into the smaller snake beast it now appeared as.
“Try, but don’t break anything,” Asher instructed, watching the black energy appear from the tattoo on his hand and move toward the door.