Stellar Echo: Heart of the Myst

[lordanl]

After one last inspection, making sure the dress had no further imperfections, the young woman walked over to the shelf on the wall, from which she took a pair of slightly mended long shorts and a loose, light-colored blouse, and put them on.

Now that she was wearing comfortable clothes, the young woman took the dress and went to the back of the house, where there was what looked like a small courtyard with a small stone washbasin in one corner. There, she proceeded to wash the dress with utmost care, making sure to clean it thoroughly while also avoiding any damage to the garment.

Once the dress was clean again, the young woman wrung it out carefully and gently, ensuring she removed as much moisture as possible without twisting it too much, since that could damage the fabric or the dress's buttons. She then hung it on a clothesline stretched across the yard, using a couple of clothespins, making sure to position it somewhere rain could not reach it in case it rained during the night.

Having finished with her dress, the young woman walked back inside the house and arrived at a kitchen which, though modest, was spotlessly clean and organized, with various utensils that were well-maintained and arranged in meticulous order. The shelves, full of jars of spices and basic food staples, revealed a life of home cooking carried out with care and attention.

Inside the kitchen, there was an old-looking table with three chairs, where someone was seated who could only be described as a carbon copy of the young guide, looking almost exactly like her—although there were two important differences between them.

In the case of the young guide, she had smooth, silky hair, whereas the young woman in the kitchen had wavy locks that fell softly down her back. The most striking difference, however, was that unlike the young guide, who had a vibrant, healthy complexion, the young woman in the kitchen looked incredibly pale, sporting a skin color that was almost greenish. Meanwhile, her lips—unlike the young guide's, which were a lovely cherry shade—were almost deathly white with small violet discolorations in some parts.

"Clara, what are you doing up?" Upon noticing the sickly looking young woman, the young guide exclaimed with some concern as she approached her.

"Don't worry, Sofía. I'm fine. I got up a while ago and, since you hadn't arrived, I decided to make dinner." The young woman seated in the chair said with a slight smile on her face, as she pointed to an old-fashioned wood stove in one corner of the kitchen, on top of which a pot was boiling.

"Don't overexert yourself. You know you've been more delicate than usual these past few days. Let's go to bed; I'll finish making dinner." Sofía tried to lift Clara from the chair, but Clara placed a hand on her shoulder while speaking in a serious tone.

"You don't have to treat me like I'm useless, Sofía. At least let me help with this, or I won't be able to rest easy in that bed."

Upon hearing her sister's words, Sofía could only give her a troubled look, but after a moment, she sighed and left her in the chair again with a sad expression. However, just then she seemed to remember something, which filled her with profound excitement, and she exclaimed with a huge smile on her face, which slightly surprised Clara.

"Clara! I already have the solution to our problems. Today, life smiled on me and finally decided to help us. I'll be right back!"

Clara blinked in surprise at Sofía's sudden excitement—who ran out of the room even before she'd finished speaking—but shortly after, she shrugged with an ironic smile on her face and stood up from the chair with difficulty, making her way over to the old stove to check the soup that was about to be ready.

Not long after, Sofía came running back into the house, carrying two simple-looking linen bags in her arms, her face brimming with excitement. She then presented the bags to Clara and exclaimed excitedly.

"Look at what I got today!"

Though somewhat taken aback by her sister's excitement, Clara examined the bags Sofía was holding with a keen gaze. After all, despite their simple appearance, she was sure that the fabric was something very expensive and fine—something her sister, who was merely a tour guide in the city, shouldn't have.

Worried, Clara quickly took one of the bags from her sister's hands and opened it to see what it contained, discovering several dozen crystals displaying slight iridescent spirals about the size of her palm, which pulsed with latent power, almost entrancing anyone who looked at them.

Mana Crystals of intermediate purity—that was the first phrase that came to Clara's mind as she looked at the crystals in the bag. The realization caused her already sickly appearance to worsen, turning several shades paler, while at the same time she felt the little strength in her body vanish. She stumbled to one side in fright, dropping the bag to the ground and scattering the crystals all over the floor.

"Where did you get that, Sofía?!"

Despite her frail condition, Clara shouted at the top of her lungs, panicking as she stared at Sofía in alarm, fearing what might have happened for her sister to have something so valuable in her possession.

"Hehehe, don't worry, Clara. I earned them at work today. A very handsome and generous young man gave them to me for my services." Sofía answered with a small, cheerful smile and a touch of pride on her face as she gathered the mana crystals from the floor, all the while recalling that starry-haired young man who looked like a prince charming.

But her words only worsened the pallor on Clara's face, making her look almost ghostly. The sickly young woman grabbed Sofía's shoulders as best she could and shook her while shouting in anger and fear.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOFÍA? WHAT DID YOU DO?!!!"

Tears began to well up in Clara's eyes as her mind filled with all sorts of increasingly gruesome scenarios. This overwhelmed her with profound sadness and guilt for having forced her sister into such a predicament because of her own illness and uselessness. It led her to bite her lip hard, causing a thin trickle of blood to run down her chin.

Seeing her sister's outburst, Sofía panicked and quickly stopped picking up the crystals. She then carefully hugged her and began to explain hurriedly, trying to calm her, terrified that her condition would worsen because of the outburst.

"Don't worry, Clara. I swear on the memory of Mom and Dad that I didn't do anything strange to get them. I just guided him and his wives around the city, and since they seem to be really wealthy, the young man was very generous and gave me these crystals for my work."

"Are you telling the truth, Sofía? He just gave them to you for showing him around the city? You didn't do anything else?" Overcome with panic yet filled with hope, Clara asked fearfully as she stared intently at Sofía, trying to detect any lie. Sofía answered with complete confidence.

"Of course, he gave them to me for guiding him around the city with his wives, and even…" Sofía seemed to recall something and quickly added, while helping her sister sit back down on the chair.

"Hold on a second. He also gave me the most delicious sandwiches I've ever tasted in my life. I brought one for you. Hang on, I'll get it!"

Eager to produce enough evidence to put Clara at ease, Sofía ran to her room and came back with a red handkerchief. She unwrapped it, letting her sister see three beautiful sandwiches that looked as though they came from another world, and handed them to her.

"That young man gave you these as well?" Clara asked as she examined the sandwiches in her hand, which, despite looking a bit squashed, still appeared incredibly appetizing.

"Yes, try one. They're the best thing I've ever eaten in my entire life." Sofía remarked, trying to hold back the drool that threatened to escape her mouth as she looked at the sandwiches.

"Okay, I'll try one."

Feeling somewhat nervous, Clara spoke in a serious tone and took one of the sandwiches, then took a small bite. She was instantly transported to another world, enchanted by the flavor that perfectly combined sweet, salty, acidic, and umami, taking her to a near-celestial culinary bliss.

"This is truly out of this world. It's really the tastiest thing I've tried in my entire life…" Clara remarked with a sigh, filled with countless emotions, as she looked at the sandwich in her hands. Then she turned to her sister and asked with a serious expression.

"So, are you telling me the truth, Sofía? Those crystals were just the payment for showing him around the city?"

"I'm telling you, yes. The young man is extremely wealthy. Just look at this incredible treat he has as a snack. Plus, his wives also looked like goddesses from another world, full of elegance and beauty, and even his servant was equally beautiful and refined. I'd never seen anything like them in Aranta."

"Then you were very lucky…" Clara commented softly, continuing to eat her sandwich slowly, in small bites, trying to savor each mouthful.

"Hahaha, I know. At first, I went over without expecting much, but I'm really glad I did. They were super kind and generous." Sofía said with a joyful smile on her face, but at that moment Clara replied in an almost solemn tone, snapping her out of her cheerfulness.

"That's not what I mean. In order to treat something as valuable as those mana crystals so casually, and to be able to eat something like this just as a simple snack. That young man you're talking about is probably an heir of a 'famous house', and you know what that means.…"

Upon mentioning the term "famous house", Clara's expression visibly darkened, while Sofía's face paled in fear. After all, there was nothing more dangerous than the heir of a famous house, especially for people like them.

The title "heirs of famous houses" was a common term used in the Auroria system to basically refer to the younger children of important families in the Auroria Kingdom or, in very rare cases, the children of important individuals from the Meridian Faction. From their perspective, these heirs possessed almost unlimited power and resources and were therefore treated extremely well wherever they went.

But what made these "heirs of famous houses" truly terrifying was that they generally lacked any sort of limits or scruples. They lived lives of excess without fear of the consequences because, thanks to their families' power, they would never have to experience them. That made them incredibly erratic and dangerous.

Instances where "heirs of famous houses" caused destruction in cities or even entire planets just for fun were incredibly numerous and well-known, to the point that even schools taught how to behave around such people to avoid "offending" them. Lesson number one was to run as far away as possible if the opportunity arose.

For that reason, the thing that people of limited means feared most—especially those who had a certain level of beauty like Clara and Sofía—was running into an heir of a famous house. So much so, that massive exoduses of people fleeing would occur at the slightest mention of an heir's presence in the vicinity.

The terror that people of limited resources felt toward these "heirs of famous houses" was not unfounded and was very real. After all, these individuals had enough power to literally do whatever they wanted to them in the middle of a public square, and no one would come to help. In fact, many would end up blaming them for "offending" such a person. It was an event that had happened more times than anyone cared to remember throughout the Auroria system, not to mention their planet, Aranta.

"No, I don't think he was an heir. I made sure to observe his group from a distance. The young man was only accompanied by his wives and a single maid, and there were no guards anywhere in sight. None of them gave off that heavy aura that powerful people have. Moreover, he was very kind and considerate—a world away from those 'heirs.'"

Gripped by panic, Sofía tried to explain herself in an attempt to reduce the fear she felt in her heart. Even though in the end everything turned out all right, if that young man had really been an "heir of a famous house", she would have been dancing on the edge of a knife the entire time without realizing it. And even now, she might not be safe, since you never know what those egomaniacal lunatics might do.

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Seeing her sister's state of panic, Clara sighed and extended one of her hands to gently caress her cheek. Then, with a warm smile, she commented, trying to calm her down, since, even if he truly had been an 'heir', there was nothing more to be done. It was better to stay positive than to be consumed by fear.

"Maybe you're right, and he was only the son of some rich merchant on vacation."

"Yes, you're right, that's most likely." Sofía commented while nodding like a chicken, trying to push aside the terrible foreboding that was attempting to fill her heart.

"And what do you plan to do with the money?"

Trying to change the subject, Clara asked with a smile as she withdrew her hand, then propped her face on her elbow atop the table, looking at her sister. This caused Sofía's eyes to light up like lanterns, and she immediately responded with excitement.

"I've got it all planned out. First, we'll buy a magic potion to cure your illness, and with whatever's left, we'll send Martín to the Arcane Order so he can look for opportunities. Once he's settled there, he can send for us, hehehe."

A moved but simultaneously sad expression appeared on Clara's face upon hearing her sister's words, and she quickly remarked, trying to contain the swirling mix of emotions in her heart.

"You know that's not a good idea. I've been like this for two years, and none of the doctors we've seen have been able to figure out what I have. I don't think we'll be able to get a magic potion to cure me, but your idea of going to the Arcane Order is really good. Instead of wasting money on doctors and potions, you should go with Martín to the Arcane Order—Martín is too young to go on his own."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SAYING, CLARA?!"

Hearing her sister's words, Sofía couldn't help but shout indignantly, slamming her hand on the table and staring at her, while Clara responded in a calm tone, guilt and self-loathing evident on her face.

"You know that's the best option. The Arcane Order is a land full of opportunities; if you go with Martín, you'll have a good life and won't have to suffer hunger and hardship as you do now because of me."

Tears started rolling down Clara's pale cheeks as she spoke, expressing the immense sadness and pain she felt for having ended up in this state, where simply walking was a struggle, let alone working. Now, it was also her fault that her younger brother couldn't continue studying and had to work himself to the bone in a mine just to earn a little money. It was all her fault—everything happened because she got sick and ruined her siblings' lives, the only thing she had in this world.

"I won't allow you to say something like that, Clara!!!" Sofía shouted, now completely outraged, watching her sister give in to pain and self-loathing.

" You know that's the best! Now I'm just a burden, a dead weight. I cost money, and every day, you and Martín have to kill yourselves working to support me. I don't want this anymore. I want you two to live well now that you have the chance. Leave me here; I don't want to go on like this. I don't want to be a burden anymore…!" Clara shouted in an almost guttural voice laden with pain, which only heightened Sofía's anger. Sofía yelled back at her stubborn sister, tears streaming down her beautiful face.

"Get it through your head, Clara!! You're my sister. We were born together, and we'll always be together. I won't abandon you, no matter what!"

Swiftly, Sofía wrapped her arms tightly around her sister, who was also crying inconsolably, and spoke to her in a choked voice, doing her utmost to sound calm and composed, while her heart twisted in pain at feeling how thin and frail Clara's body had become.

"You're right that it might be hard to find a potion here, but not in the Arcane Order. They say it's the faction with the best alchemists in the galaxy. I'm sure we can find a cure for your illness there. So if we go, we go together. It's just a matter of saving up a bit more. We're so close; it's too soon to give up."

Sofía's words were like daggers piercing Clara's weary heart. Despite the immense happiness she felt at the genuine love they showed her, she also felt infinite guilt weighing her down. From any perspective, the difficult situation faced by their little family was solely her fault. However, continuing to contradict her sister—who wanted to do everything in her power to help—would only be like pouring salt on the wound. Besides, deep down, she still held a tiny hope of being cured and being able to help her siblings again.

"Thank you…"

With a voice that was almost a whisper, Clara commented through her tears, feeling immensely happy to have been blessed with a family like hers. Despite having experienced so much loss and pain, her sister was still willing to take care of someone as useless as her.

"You don't have to thank me. We're twins; we can never be apart from each other. Besides, your illness is only temporary. I'm sure we'll find a cure very soon in the Arcane Order. You know what they say— that place is a land where anything is possible." Sofía spoke in a gentle tone, delicately stroking her sister's back, almost as though she were afraid of hurting her in her frail condition.

"… Yes, you're right. In the Arcane Order, we can start a new life, and we'll find a cure…" After a few moments, Clara replied, a bit calmer in her sister's arms, but just then, her small nose twitched slightly as she caught a scent, prompting her to comment with a faint smile.

"And please turn off the fire. The soup is ready."

Hearing her sister, Sofía lifted her head and sniffed the air, immediately recognizing the unmistakable aroma of Clara's chicken soup. This led her to speak with a smile, genuinely pleased to see her sister feeling a bit better.

"You're right, I'll do it now."

After letting go of her sister's embrace, Sofía headed to the stove and removed the pot using a couple of kitchen rags, which were nothing more than scraps of clothing too worn to be repaired. She then closed the stove's air vents, letting the wood fire burn out slowly.

After that, Sofía poured some water from a large clay pot in the kitchen into a couple of metal cups and brought one to her sister, who received it with a smile. Though her expression still showed a bit of sadness and melancholy, lost in thought.

Clara's life had not been easy. Because she was born with a weak body, things were always a bit more complicated for her than for others. She got sick often, and it was common for her to spend long periods in bed, meaning she frequently missed school and had very few friends. This led her to a solitary, homebound life where her family was all she had.

When their parents were still in this world, Clara attended Aranta's main school along with Sofía and her younger brother. There, in addition to reading, writing, and mathematics, they learned basic knowledge about the galaxy, mana, mana users, and more. Though for the time being, they were at most a couple of Initiate-level individuals of second rank in the best of cases, given that they had had to leave school far too soon.

That the siblings could attend such a distinguished school in the Auroria Kingdom was thanks to their parents' good jobs— their father was a doctor and their mother was an artist. But everything changed around five years ago when their father suddenly fell ill and died shortly thereafter, prompting their mother, a deeply emotional woman, to fall into a severe depression. She soon passed away as well, leaving them alone in this world.

Although losing their parents was devastating—two crushing blows within just a few months, turning their little world upside down, leaving them broken and unsure how to keep living—that was only the beginning of a series of "misfortunes" that would eventually leave them in the miserable state they were in. It also taught them the true nature of the world in the worst possible way.

A few days after their mother's death, their parents' few relatives reappeared at her funeral, showering them with consolation and embraces, vowing to help and support them as though they were their own children. They even fought among themselves to see who would take custody of the siblings. Innocently, the three believed this might be something good amid such tragedy. But soon, reality showed its ugly face, teaching them the harsh truth of the real world.

The one who ended up "winning" custody of them during that squabble of relatives was their mother's younger sister, who showed herself to be empathetic and was the one they knew best, as she visited their mother often and stood by her side from the onset of her depression until her bitter end. She was also kind to the siblings, always bringing them gifts, helping them, understanding them, and supporting them, earning a very special place in their hearts. But appearances can be deceiving.

Shortly after they received the inheritance their parents had left them, the loving, caring aunt who had always helped and pampered them vanished like smoke, transforming into a cruel and ruthless woman who was bothered by everything they did. She even pulled them out of school, claiming their performance was abysmal and they were wasting her money.

From the moment they left school, she fired the woman who had served as her housekeeper for years and began treating the siblings as mere servants, in charge of all the household chores. She insulted and hit them if something was not done to her satisfaction, though perhaps a more accurate term for that treatment would be "slaves", one of the greatest taboos in the galaxy.

She wasn't just absolutely heartless in how she treated them; she was extremely stingy, allowing them only to eat whatever was left after her family had eaten. They were also banned from using the main dining room and could only eat at a small table in the kitchen. They had to share a single old bed for all three of them, and the clothes they wore were her family's old hand-me-downs or whatever the neighbors donated to the poor, since most of their own decent brand-name clothing "disappeared" and was never found again.

Over time, Clara came to partially understand the reason behind their "aunt's" hatred. She was a despicable, greedy woman who had envied Clara's mother her entire life and only acted nice because her mother used to help her financially. So once she got hold of the money, that twisted woman started "getting revenge" on them because, according to her, Clara's mother had "stolen the life that should have been hers". This went on for almost a year, but everything changed when one of that woman's sons hit their dear younger brother, and things spiraled out of control.

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One day, just like any other, Martín—her younger brother—grew tired and tried to defend himself from his cousin. This cousin, who used to treat him kindly and play with him all the time, now wanted to show off in front of his friends by hitting him with a stick just for fun. The problem was that, in Martín's attempt to defend himself, he ended up pushing the ruthless boy, who fell to the ground and ended up with his head bleeding.

That incident nearly drove their aunt insane. She beat all three of them so severely that they still bore several scars from it. But she wasn't satisfied with just that—she threw them out on the street with nothing but the old clothes they were wearing, which were torn and bloodied from the beating they had received.

Even though the siblings apologized and begged the merciless woman not to kick them out, she refused to listen. She went so far as to call the neighborhood's private security where they lived—a moderately exclusive, relatively high-level area in Aranta, to which she had moved shortly after taking in the siblings, leaving behind the lower-middle-class neighborhood where she had previously lived.

When the guards arrived, the hysterical woman demanded at the top of her lungs that they kick the siblings out of the neighborhood. The guards did so literally, without a moment's hesitation, looking at them with arrogance and contempt on their ugly faces the entire time.

That was where the siblings' problems really began. Although they had spent a year practically living like slaves, they still had food and a roof over their heads. But after being expelled from their aunt's house, even those small comforts became luxuries they could only dream of having again.

After leaving their aunt's house, Clara and her two siblings went to the home their parents had left them, hoping to live there. One of the reasons they had decided to stay with their aunt in the first place was because she had sworn on their mother's memory that she would keep the house in perfect condition. So, they could return at any time. After all, it was their most precious possession, full of memories from the happy life they once had with their parents.

But the siblings' innocent hopes were once again crushed by the overwhelming weight of reality. Their exhausting journey back to their old home—where they arrived after forcing their bruised bodies to keep walking—only served to reveal that the house had been sold not long after it was handed over to them.

That day, with a broken heart and her frail body covered in wounds, Clara, while clinging to her siblings with tears streaming down her face, could only watch through the windows at the family now living in the house they had loved so dearly. She saw them dining happily, smiles on their faces, but their presence seemed to bother the family, as they were eventually chased away from there not long after.

After a series of devastating blows from reality, Clara and her siblings had no choice but to sleep on the streets and eat leftovers given to them by restaurants or families. At the same time, they desperately tried to find their other relatives, the same ones who had seemed so empathetic and caring when their parents passed away, swearing they would help them with anything they needed. But they were unable to find almost any of them, as if they had vanished into thin air.

Now, however, Clara wished she had never found any of them and could have kept alive a small ray of hope—both in her heart and in her siblings' hearts—about their so-called "family". But as if life enjoyed shattering their illusions, after some time, they ended up finding one of those "empathetic and caring relatives". He merely mocked them sadistically for making the wrong choice and handing their money over to a two-faced bitch, all the while throwing a piece of bread on the ground as a "gesture of goodwill toward family".

Seeing the true face of what was supposed to be their family—human trash worse than any beast, capable of lying, deceiving, and betraying anyone to get what they wanted—Clara, for the first time in her short life, felt true despair. It only grew deeper as she saw the pain and hunger on the faces of her siblings, the only family she had left.

In no time at all, they had gone from living under the loving care of their parents, sleeping in a good home, eating proper meals every day, and worrying only about school exams and their classmates' gossip, to living on the streets where dangers lurked around every corner. They ate scraps and garbage, were looked down upon with contempt, and were constantly chased away from everywhere for being beggars.

But life is always capricious, and as if it had suddenly grown tired of toying with them, one day, while Clara went out with Sofía to find something for their younger brother Martín to eat, they ran into their "good friends" from school, who only made fun of them for their situation. That humiliation shattered their already wounded, hopeless hearts even more. Paradoxically, though, it was also the event that triggered the change in their lives.

One of the fathers of those "good friends", who knew their parents and happened to be there, felt a bit sorry for the pitiful "trio of beggars", as he called them. Condescendingly, and with a look of disgust on his face, he gave them a few mana crystals and allowed them to stay in a property he considered lost in the slums—the same house where they are currently living.

From that point on, things began to improve for Clara and her siblings. Even though her body had always been weak, ever since she was little, she had shown a remarkable talent for cooking. So, using the few mana crystals the owner of the house had given them, Sofía and Clara decided to invest in some cooking utensils and ingredients to create different kinds of desserts, which Sofía began to sell out on the streets.

Clara's cooking talent was genuinely impressive, and the desserts she made sold very well. Not long afterward, their lives began to improve: they were able to buy clothes again, even if only second-hand. They started eating three times a day, every day, and gradually bought some items for the house and made a few repairs. They even managed to pay for their younger brother Martín to attend school again. Although it wasn't the exclusive main school of Aranta, it was still a good one, which filled them with pride and joy.

Yet, it seemed life wasn't satisfied with the little bit of happiness their small family had found. Two years ago, Clara's condition suddenly took a dramatic turn for the worse, leaving her confined to bed and incapable of doing anything. Though her siblings tried to find treatment for her and spent all the savings they had, none of the doctors were able to help. Their lives sank back to a low point.

With Clara unable to make her desserts, the family's finances took a nosedive. Martín had to quit school once again, and Sofía had to figure out how to earn money. She slightly altered the dress she used to wear when selling Clara's pastries—the only brand-new dress she had ever bought, since they had learned over time that desserts sold better if she was nicely dressed.

Applying the same logic that appearances are crucial in business, Sofía modified the dress so it looked a bit more elegant. She then began her new venture: offering her services as a tour guide on the streets. After all, for a young woman with no education, the range of legal and honorable jobs was quite limited.

During her time selling desserts, Sofía had met many people, including several who worked as tour guides. After all, planet Aranta is a beautiful place filled with an exquisite artistic sense, attracting a large number of tourists every year. Many of those guides had been good customers of hers, so they explained to Sofía how their work functioned: how much to charge, how to present the sights, how to identify potential clients, and much more.

While being a tour guide wasn't particularly bad, it wasn't as profitable as selling Clara's desserts. Coupled with the continual monthly expenses on doctors and medication required to keep Clara stable, the family of three once again found themselves in a critical state in which they could barely manage to eat once or twice a day.

Seeing how dire things were, Martín decided to start working in a mine on the outskirts of the city. One of his old school friends, who also had to drop out, worked there, and this job allowed them to survive up until now. But it pained the twins every time they saw their little brother coming home exhausted and dirty from work, barely able to get a bite to eat before collapsing into a deep sleep.

"Don't you think Martín is taking a long time today?"

While chatting idly with her sister at the table, waiting for their younger brother to arrive so they could serve dinner, Clara suddenly glanced at an old clock on the wall and asked in a worried tone. Sofía could only nod with a somewhat pale, fearful expression, also staring at the clock.

"You're right. He should be here by now…"

"Let's not worry. I'm sure today's just been tough. I heard him mention this morning that they were opening a new tunnel in the mine, so that's probably why he's running a bit late. Let's serve dinner. He won't be much longer."

Despite her concern, Clara tried to remain calm and spoke gently, hoping to soothe her sister's worries—while also trying to convince herself and steady her own racing heart.

"Yes, you're right. That must be it. Martín shouldn't take much longer."

In a nervous voice, Sofía spoke as she nodded, also trying to reassure herself. She then set about serving the delicious soup Clara had made into three steel bowls, arranging them on the table alongside the remaining two sandwiches.

But no matter how much the twins tried to stay calm, time continued to pass, amplifying their anxiety. It was as if they could almost hear each tick of the clock like a hammer blow. Still, Martín showed no sign of arriving, and the soup on the table—untouched—had gone cold.

"I can't wait any longer. Something must've happened. I'm going to the mine to look for Martín."

Feeling suffocated by uncertainty and worry, Sofía spoke forcefully as she hurried out of her chair. Clara wanted to stop her—given how dangerous the streets were at night in their neighborhood, especially for a young woman—but she couldn't. A sinister feeling gripped her heart, causing it to pound wildly. All she could do was watch her sister's retreating figure, biting her lips in pain and frustration.

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With a worried expression, Sofía ran to her room, where she grabbed her pocketknife and a black veil that she used to cover her head, making sure her face was hidden, since going out at that hour of the night was already dangerous, and if she showed her beauty on the street, she would only be asking for trouble.

Once she was ready, Sofía ran toward the entrance of the house, where she saw Clara approaching with slow steps, leaning against a wall. Clara's face was filled with worry as she bit her lips, trying to keep her frustration in check.

"Be very careful, Sofía. The street is dangerous at this hour, and even more so in this neighborhood. Please be very careful…" Clara spoke in a worried and remorseful tone as she looked Sofia straight in the eyes, one of her hands on the wall for support.

"I know, Clara. I'll try to be as careful as possible, but you take care of yourself too—don't overexert yourself."

Sofía nodded and spoke in a serious tone, then approached her sister to help her sit on a nearby chair. But just at that moment, three knocks sounded on the door, making the twins' hearts tighten because Martín had a key to the house—he wouldn't be knocking.

While settling Clara into the chair, Sofía looked straight into her eyes. Clara responded with a solemn nod. Quickly, Sofía hurried to the door, lowering the veil over her head as she picked up a sturdy-looking stick to one side. She fastened the chain on the door so that only a small gap could open.

Upon opening the door, what Sofía saw made her heart tighten painfully and filled her with panic. Standing there was José, one of the people from the neighborhood who worked in the mine with Martín. But what truly panicked Sofía was seeing him battered, blood covering his head and arms.

"What happened, José? Why are you alone? Where is Martín?" Sofía asked through the small opening in the door, her voice anxious as she tried to look around.

Hearing her sister's panicked voice made Clara, inside the house, go pale. She clenched her fists tightly, praying and begging with all her might that what she feared was not true. Meanwhile, José, a sturdy man who looked to be about thirty years old, with bronzed skin and dark hair, showed a troubled expression on his face and spoke with difficulty.

"Sofía, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid a tragedy has happened…"

José's words nearly caused Sofía's legs to give out beneath her. But not wanting to surrender to despair, she quickly bit her lips. Then, after dropping the stick in her hand to the side, she shut the door to remove the chain. A moment later, she flung the door open and pounced on José like a wild beast, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt as she questioned him, panicked.

"What happened to Martín? Where is he? Why hasn't he come back?"

"Calm down, Sofía…"

José, who was much taller than the young woman clutching his collar, spoke in a tense tone, his face showing pain and pity. That only made Sofía's face grow paler, and she couldn't stop herself from screaming at the top of her lungs, trying to drive away the fear gripping her.

"HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO CALM DOWN?! TELL ME RIGHT NOW WHERE MARTÍN IS!!!"

"I suggest you calm down because what I'm about to tell you is serious…" José said, his expression dark. Those words only made Sofía's panic increase tremendously, and she screamed even louder.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!!!"

"There was a collapse in the mine just as we were about to finish our shift. Some of us managed to get out in time, but many didn't make it, and there are already thirty confirmed dead…" José answered in a gentle and pained voice, since among those thirty people was his partner in crime, his closest friend.

The news fell on Sofía like a bucket of cold water. Her arms went limp, and she stumbled backward, completely devastated, feeling her strength leave her entirely. Inside the house, Clara felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces, an immeasurable guilt washing over her. Tears of pain, sadness, and overwhelming remorse began streaming from her eyes like waterfalls, while her nails dug into her palms so hard that blood splattered onto the floor.

"Martín… died?" Sofía's voice escaped almost in a whisper, her face devoid of life. José responded sadly.

"We still don't know for sure, but he was still inside working, so it's the most likely outcome…"

José's words ignited a glimmer of hope in Sofía. She asked urgently while pulling herself together, feeling a furious blaze of hope flare up in her heart.

"But doesn't that mean there's a chance he could still be alive and just trapped?"

"It's certainly a possibility, but even if that's the case, Martín was assigned to one of the deepest tunnels today. Only a very powerful earth mage could reach him in time to rescue him, but I highly doubt the Rivera family will be willing to hire one to do it…" José shook his head, filled with sorrow, yet his words, instead of extinguishing Sofía's hope, made it flare up like a raging fire. She shouted with conviction.

"Maybe they won't, but I will!!"

After speaking, Sofía tried to run off as she adjusted the veil on her head, but she was stopped by José, who grabbed her arm and asked in a serious tone.

"What are you planning to do? Don't do anything crazy. Earth mages are very expensive, especially one capable of rescuing Martín. Even if the entire neighborhood pooled their money, we wouldn't be able to pay someone that important. Don't do something foolish."

Refusing to be stopped by anyone, Sofía yanked her arm free from José's grip and quickly shouted into the house.

"Don't worry, Clara, I SWEAR I'LL BRING MARTÍN BACK!!"

"WAIT, SOFÍA!!!"

Clara's pleading cry was cut off by the slamming of the door as Sofía rushed out, leaving José behind, looking sorrowful. Shortly after, he left for his own home, walking slowly with a pronounced limp, clearly injured.

…

As though her life depended on it, Sofía ran with all her might, trying to reinforce her legs with every last drop of her meager mana. She wiped away the tears streaming uncontrollably down her face, fighting with all her strength to keep the flame of hope in her heart from going out with each passing second.

Soon, a panting Sofía arrived at an open area that contrasted starkly with the splendid harmony with nature the capital city was known for. Here, there was nothing but a barren plain filled with dust and arid stones, riddled with countless holes and scattered tents everywhere.

Hundreds of people were crying and running about in all directions, while a little farther off, dozens of bloodied and disfigured corpses lay in different places. The sight chilled Sofía to the bone, but she quickly shook her head and sprinted toward the largest tent in the center of the area.

Upon arriving, Sofía found the foreman in charge of the mine, Foreman Hernández, seated on a simple wooden bench with blood covering several parts of his body. He was yelling orders in every direction, his expression grim, while a young woman tried to tend to his wounds, her face filled with panic.

"Foreman Hernández, where is my brother?!!!" Wasting not a second, Sofía ran directly to the man in the chair and asked him in an urgent voice.

The foreman, a man of around forty with black hair and bronzed skin, turned to look at Sofía, who had revealed her face, allowing him to recognize her immediately. He quickly spoke with a touch of scorn, barely paying her any mind.

"Sofía, I'm sorry to tell you this, but your brother is dead. I have a lot to do trying to get the machinery out of the collapsed tunnels, so move aside and let me work."

"YOU SON OF A BITCH, HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT?!!!!"

Sofía shouted, enraged, only to receive a harsh slap from the foreman that sent her to the ground, her mouth filling with blood. However, she managed to soften the blow slightly by using her mana to fortify her face just a moment before the impact.

"HOW DARE A BEGGAR BASTARD LIKE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY?!!! Your brother is dead—now get out of my sight before I lose my patience and make you disappear myself!"

The foreman shouted in fury as he glared at the young woman on the ground with a nearly murderous look. The sight made the young woman tending his wounds tremble in terror, but with one glance from him, she returned to her work, tears filling her eyes.

For her part, Sofía glared at the foreman, full of hatred, covering her bloody mouth with one hand while clenching the pocketknife with the other, preparing to give that bastard what he deserved. But after thinking it over briefly, she decided not to do anything and instead focused all her energy on rescuing her brother. Later, she could settle the score with that motherfucker. So, she got up and left the area swiftly, the foreman watching her go with contempt and lust in his eyes.

After leaving the central area, and determined to refute the foreman's words, Sofía used what little strength she had left, struggling to breathe, to reach the area where the corpses were gathered. Although the sight terrified her, she steeled herself to do it anyway—she had to confirm for herself that the foreman's words were false.

Forcing herself to ignore her fear and the urge to vomit, Sofía quickly walked through the area filled with corpses of all ages, from youths her brother's age to much older men, all in terrible condition. Some were missing limbs, others even had only half a body, and in the worst cases, it was impossible to identify them. But by examining their clothing, physique, and other details, Sofía was able to confirm that none of them were her brother.

After scouring the entire area of corpses, Sofía breathed a small sigh of relief upon seeing that her brother was not among the unfortunate deceased carelessly scattered on the ground. With renewed hope, she ran toward a tent where injured people were entering and exiting.

Although she didn't find her brother Martín in the tent either, Sofía did manage to find another one of Martín's companions whom she knew—a classmate of Martín who had also been forced to leave school and start working. He was being treated for several moderately deep cuts on one of his hands, so she quickly headed toward him.

"KEVIN!!"

Sofía called out loudly as she walked quickly to the young man seated on a simple wooden bench while receiving treatment. He turned around to look at her in surprise and exclaimed incredulously.

"Sofía?!!!"

"Kevin, where's my brother?!"

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"Kevin, where is my brother?"

Sofía's question put a complicated expression on Kevin's face. He was a handsome young man in his twenties, with tanned skin and black hair. A moment later, he couldn't help but lower his gaze in pain, hesitating whether to speak.

"What happened to Martín? Tell me!!!" Alarmed by Kevin's behavior, Sofía shouted loudly as she grabbed the collar of the young man's clothes with force. After a sigh, he explained in a low voice.

"Martín was in one of the deepest tunnels when the cave-in happened, and nobody knows what became of him…"

"When do they plan to rescue him?!!!" Sofía exclaimed, gripped by panic, as she shook Kevin with all her might. He could only avert his gaze in pain as he explained in a sad, listless tone.

"That's the thing. The foreman gave the order to write off the deepest tunnels and instead focus on recovering the machinery from the more accessible ones."

"MOTHERFUCKER!!!"

Kevin's words made Sofía's face turn so pale she looked like a sheet of paper, terror filling her eyes. She roared in anger and helplessness, but quickly realized something and asked at once, looking straight into Kevin's eyes with unwavering resolve.

"Kevin, do you know where to find an earth mage who could reach the tunnel where Martín is?"

Kevin couldn't help being a bit surprised by Sofía's words, especially because he could still see the flames of hope in those beautiful blue eyes. Yet soon after, he shook his head and responded with resignation.

"I don't know anyone like that. An earth mage powerful enough to do that is a very distinguished person, not someone a simple miner like me could ever meet…"

"You wouldn't know, but I'm sure that son of a bitch foreman definitely does!"
Sofía exclaimed with resolute conviction, then released Kevin and readied herself to run off and confront the foreman again—willing to do anything necessary to force him to cooperate. But at that moment, Kevin urgently called out.

"Wait, Sofía, don't risk yourself like that! It's not worth it. Even if the foreman does know someone, I doubt he'd tell you, especially now, after all that's happened. Besides, even if he introduced you to an earth mage, it'd be pointless. I heard him say he's giving up on the deeper tunnels because the cost of recovering the machinery would be higher than just buying it new. And from what I hear, each of those machines costs several thousand high-purity mana crystals, and there are at least a dozen of them down there…"

Hearing Kevin's words was like having a block of steel fall on Sofía's head, robbing her of all her strength and extinguishing in a single blow the glimmer of hope that still flickered in her heart. After all, while her savings amounted to a small fortune—due in large part to her intermediate-purity crystals—they were, at best, equivalent to about four thousand high-purity crystals.

Drained of strength, Sofía dropped to her knees on the ground, feeling her mind sink into a bottomless pit of despair. Tears poured down her cheeks like an endless torrent. Fear, sadness, hatred, and helplessness filled Sofía's heart, making her scream and curse the world for her misfortune, her small and delicate fists pounding the sandy ground.

Why was it always them? Why did life seem determined to make them suffer? Why her brother Martín? He was an honest, good, hardworking young man—why did someone like him have to endure such a tragedy while a useless gambler like José remained unscathed? Why did the world hate her small family so much, a family that wanted nothing more than to survive honorably amid so much misfortune? What had they done to deserve this?

After a while, while her head filled with a barrage of unanswered questions, Sofía's body was overcome by exhaustion, the result of running marathons without rest all over the place in search of her brother. Out of strength and feeling utterly defeated, Sofía let herself collapse fully onto the ground, staring vacantly at the starry sky in the distance, trying to lose herself in its beauty and immensity.

"Sofía, are you okay?!!"

From afar, Sofía heard Kevin's voice calling her, and felt him lifting her exhausted body. But her gaze never stopped looking at the beautifully star-filled sky. Inevitably, it reminded her of the gorgeous hair of a certain handsome, wealthy, and generous young man—someone who undoubtedly had more than enough capital to pay a mage to rescue her brother.

More out of fear of sinking into absolute despair than out of hope for any actual assistance, Sofía pushed away the hands trying to help her up. She stood on her own, her beautiful blue eyes brimming with the resolve to try every last possibility before giving up, even if it meant risking her life and sacrificing everything.

"..."

Meanwhile, Kevin found himself once again captivated by those beautiful blue eyes brimming with courage and strength—truly the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. They had enthralled him long ago, though he had never mustered the courage to confess his feelings. He wanted to say something to help the woman he so dearly loved, but no words came out, as if an insoluble knot had lodged itself in his throat, leaving him unable to speak at such a critical moment.

"See you around, Kevin. Thanks for your help…"

Sofía took her leave, her voice resigned, as she slowly walked toward the tent's entrance, mentally preparing for what she was about to do, while wondering where she might find that young man.

"Wait, Sofía, what are you planning to do?"

Finally coming to his senses when he saw Sofía leaving, Kevin asked somewhat anxiously. She turned around to look at him with a slightly distant expression and calmly replied.

"I'm going to try the last option…"

"Don't do anything crazy, Sofía..." Seeing her expression, Kevin felt a terrible sense of emptiness in his stomach. He could only speak with a complicated look on his face.

"I have to do it. There's no other choice…"

After speaking in a low, trembling voice full of determination and a bit of nervousness, Sofía adjusted her headscarf and sprinted away, using the last reserves of her mana to strengthen her weary legs. All the while, her thoughts raced: Where could she find that star-haired young man? Behind her, Kevin once again found himself speechless and unable to move.

...

Upon finally returning to the city, nearly out of breath, Sofía used her remaining energy to run straight to the city's most expensive and luxurious hotel. The place was practically a tourist attraction by itself; despite being in a very central part of town with easy access to the best spots, it looked like a world of its own—an artificial lake with a magnificent palace of gold and marble rising from its waters.

Looking at herself—dirty, disheveled, and covering her face—Sofía realized there was no way they would ever let her into the hotel reception like this. Instead, she went up to the entrance, a beautiful raised bridge, and discreetly signaled to one of the guards stationed there. They all wore ostentatious metal armor. One guard, seeing her gestures, approached with a slightly confused expression and asked.

"What's wrong, Sofía? Why do you look like that?"

"It's a long story, but I'll tell you later. Right now, I need your help with something—this is life and death for me."

Sofía's tone was deadly serious as she looked at the guard in front of her, a thirty-year-old man with light greenish hair, one of the friends she'd made back when she used to sell pastries.

"What's so urgent? What do you need?" The guard seemed a bit surprised, yet wary. Sofía answered gravely.

"I don't need much. I just need you to check if a young man with starry hair, accompanied by two beauties and a maid, came into the hotel."

"So that's it. Well, I've been on duty all day today, and I haven't seen anyone like that." The guard answered, visibly calmer, which puzzled Sofía a bit—she was certain that someone like that would only stay in the best hotel. She promptly asked.

"Could you help me ask the other guards if they've seen him? I promise that as soon as I can, I'll bring you some delicious pastries as thanks."

"Alright, but don't forget about the pastries! My kids keep pestering me, and they don't like any of the ones I've brought home. They're driving me crazy."
The guard responded with a smile. Sofía replied firmly.

"Don't worry. Even though right now my sister can't make enough pastries to sell, making the five you usually took home won't be a problem."

"Okay, I'll be right back." The guard nodded and quickly went to ask the other guards, returning a short while later. To Sofía's disappointment, he shook his head and said.

"Nobody's seen anyone like that. Maybe you should check other hotels."

"Alright. Thank you. As soon as I sort this out, I'll bring you those pastries."

Though visibly discouraged, Sofía thanked him quickly and ran off to check other luxury hotels and any other places that might have been recommended to that group. She didn't find them anywhere. Panic gripped her; it didn't matter how determined she was—if she couldn't find them, everything would be in vain.

Refusing to give up, Sofía began recalling every interaction she had with them—the group that dressed and behaved so differently, as if they came from another world. She remembered how the divinely beautiful women clung to the young man with such love, and how they laughed and enjoyed every new thing they encountered.

As her mind wandered through these memories, Sofía suddenly spotted a couple of lovers walking intimately, arms wrapped around each other. Immediately, a lightbulb went on in her head, and she exclaimed quietly, brimming with excitement.

"Of course! They're newlyweds, probably on their honeymoon. If they're not in the hotels or restaurants, they must be out on a romantic date!"

…

In Aranta, the Celestial Whispers Garden is a haven of romance and stargazing. It sits on a gently elevated hill, far from the bustle of the main streets, like a maze of fragrant flowers and benches hidden beneath arches of climbing roses. Overhead is a vast, open dome of sky.

The garden's most coveted spot was undoubtedly the Lovers' Overlook—a beautiful pavilion with a large, intricately carved dome, embellished with metallic spirals and geometric designs. A series of pathways connect it, flanked by smaller arbors, all adorned with flowers and climbing plants of every color. The lanterns that lit the garden at night gave it a magical, enchanting feel.

On a small corner of the platform beneath the grand pavilion stood a group of four people: three women of near-divine, ethereal beauty gathered around an elegant, handsome young man whose hair seemed to blend in with the starry sky above.

Erik sat on one of the benches, gazing at the starry heavens with a nearly lost expression. On each side of him were Sigrún and Eleonora, resting their heads on his shoulders while holding his hands, fingers interlaced, their hands resting on their respective legs.

On the ground in front of the bench where Erik was sitting lay a beautiful white apron with exquisite gold and silver embroidery on the corners. Resting on it was Seraphina, who leaned her head on her hands on one of Erik's knees, with a peaceful and relaxed expression, her eyes closed. She was fully enjoying the brief moment in which she had 'allowed herself to be convinced' by Erik to momentarily set aside her professional demeanor.

"This is a great place for a vacation…" Erik commented softly, his eyes on the celestial display.

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Spoiler: The Lovers' Overlook

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"Certainly it's a great place, we definitely have to go on vacation more often…" Eleonora, perched on Erik's right shoulder, whispered in a low voice while an incredible feeling of peace and love filled her heart.

"You're absolutely right, Eli. Going on vacation was the best idea we could've come up with. We should start planning ten-year vacations from now on." Sigrún, from Erik's left shoulder, remarked with a cheerful smile while gently stroking the hand Erik had resting on her leg, her fingers interlaced with his.

"It doesn't sound bad to me, although I must admit that at first, I didn't expect much from this place when I was told it was a remote corner of the Meridian Federation. But it turned out to be a good spot." Erik commented with a small smile on his face, to which Sigrún happily added.

"Hehe, I can imagine. But really, the Auroria system was the best choice we had, given we didn't have much time. And even though it's pretty behind the times, it has an interesting artistic style that makes it a good place for a short vacation."

"Sig is right, plus the fact that it's behind the times is actually a good thing, because nobody here recognizes us and we can walk around without needing disguises. You can show off your gorgeous hair without a worry." Eleonora chimed in with a small laugh while gently combing Erik's starry hair. It was then that Sigrún, somewhat curious, turned to look at his iconic locks and asked.

"Now that I think about it, Erik, I've always wondered: why did they nickname you after the color of your eyes if your hair is so much more striking than your eyes?"

"Ah, that's because my hair wasn't like this before. It was just normal black, but shortly after I learned to use mana, it turned out this way." Erik replied with a smile, recalling the moment he saw his changed hair for the first time in the reflection of the water on that island.

Meanwhile, Sigrún and Eleonora exchanged glances, and the latter began recalling the report sent by those who had investigated Erik's past. She realized that aside from the group that had looked into Erik's mother, no one had ever mentioned his starry hair—certainly a noteworthy detail.

"That does sound strange. Have you noticed anything odd about your hair?" Eleonora asked, a bit curious, causing Erik to pause and think before replying thoughtfully.

"Mmm… Nothing especially remarkable. Although, one curious thing is that the pattern seems to shift slightly on its own from time to time. But even so, it doesn't actually change when I cut it; my hair decolors certain parts, so the pattern always stays consistent, looking exactly the same no matter how long it is—though it takes a couple hours to readjust."

"That's interesting. Maybe we should look into it more deeply…" Sigrún remarked, intrigued by Erik's peculiar hair phenomenon.

"My hair is that unusual that it's worth investigating?" Erik asked, a bit confused by his master's words. Eleonora shook her head, then smiled as she answered.

"Not really. There are countless cases of physical changes caused by the body adapting to mana. For instance, there's Sage Sunflare—before she was a mana user, her hair and eyes were black."

Hearing a name that sounded familiar, Erik thought a moment before recalling the beautiful professor with silver hair and violet eyes who taught his first university class, prompting him to comment with a look of realization.

"Oh right, I remember her! Her eyes were especially striking!" After his remark, Erik turned his head to look at each of his masters and asked curiously.

"But if it's nothing too unusual, why the need to study my hair?"

"Because it's my dear disciple's hair, and I just can't leave it be, hehe." Sigrún replied with a mischievous little smile, extending one of her hands at the same time to affectionately tap Erik's nose.

"Our disciple, Sig—OUR disciple." Eleonora added with a challenging grin as she hugged Erik possessively, wanting to stress her point, which made Sigrún reply playfully while hugging her beloved in a similar manner.

"Alright, alright, our disciple, hehe."

The group continued flirting romantically under the starlight, while Seraphina watched on with a small, cheerful smile, saying nothing. Their moment, however, was interrupted when Erik sensed a familiar presence entering the platform. Turning in curiosity, he saw the young guide who had led them around the city and told him about the place.

Unlike her neat and lovely appearance from the afternoon, she now looked dirty, with soil and dust stains all over, and her delicate face was smeared with blood and tears, as though she had just undergone a dramatic accident. The sight made the starry-haired young man narrow his eyes slightly.

Seeing Erik, the young woman seemed frightened for a moment, losing her composure. But after taking a couple of deep breaths, she found her courage and approached the group under the watchful gaze of Eleonora, Sigrún, Erik, and even Seraphina, who turned to look at the girl who seemed to have struggled intensely on her way there.

Reaching Erik, the girl tried to clean herself up a bit, but seeing it was pointless, she gave up and instead took a few deep breaths to gather her resolve. Then she looked straight into the green eyes of the starry-haired young man and began to speak.

"Young master…"

Although she'd steeled herself to speak, fear and embarrassment tangled her words, causing an almost inaudible mumble. This led Erik to ask with some curiosity—an emotion shared by the three women with him.

"It looks like you've run into some trouble."

"Young master…"

Even though she'd mentally prepared during her journey to finally find him, the act of articulating her situation made Sofía's face burn with shame, and her heart pound violently, full of fear and apprehension—unsure if coming here had been a good idea.

At the same time she toyed with the idea of turning tail and running away, an image of her brother and sister smiling happily came to mind, freezing her in place. The dread of losing them consumed her completely, so with the resolve of one who would die trying, she knelt down on the ground, nearly begging in a subdued voice, doing her utmost not to break into sobs.

"T-the thing is, I'm in a desperate situation. I don't know what else to do, and I've come shamelessly to beg for your help."

"Mmm, and you think your best bet is to ask a complete stranger you showed around town today…?"

Erik asked in a slightly sarcastic tone, wearing a blank expression. Although the girl appeared truly pitiful, in his past life he had witnessed countless scenes like this from con artists who were ready to do anything for money—some even going as far as 'killing off' their own children if it served their schemes.

Plus, something most skillful scammers had in common was that they were not only terrific actors, but also extremely attentive to details—and the girl's pitiful appearance was nowhere near the "best staging" he'd seen in his time.

Hearing Erik's tone, Sofía couldn't hold back her tears any longer and broke down crying. She explained through broken sobs, her forehead pressed against the ground, overwhelmed by fear, sadness, and helplessness.

"I'm so sorry, young master. I know I shouldn't be doing this, but I don't know what else to do… My brother's trapped in a mine and everyone's declared him dead, even though I know he's still alive and waiting for help… I'm completely desperate. I've tried everything I could, and I don't know what else to do, nor do I have anyone else to go to.

"That's why I beg you, young master, please help me save my brother. I'll do anything to repay you, whatever you ask of me, I'll do it. I'll be your slave for the rest of my life, but please help me. You're my last hope. If you don't help me, I'm going to lose everything…"

Still kneeling, forehead pressed to the ground, Sofía wept inconsolably as she humbled herself, begging for help. She knew, deep down, that not only was Martín's life at risk—Clara's might be as well.

Both she and Martín had tried everything to ward off this doom, but they knew perfectly well that Clara blamed herself for his predicament. If anything happened to her younger brother, Sofa was sure Clara would not be able to bear it and would likely die soon after out of guilt and sorrow. Especially now that she'd only just recovered from a relapse and was at her most vulnerable.

Losing both siblings—the only family she had and the driving force behind her life—leaving her entirely alone in this world, was a prospect she would not survive. That looming end terrified her so much that she cast her dignity aside and essentially sold her soul to the devil, just to avert such a fate.

Meanwhile, Erik looked down at the girl on the ground with an analytical gaze, trying to discern whether she was honest or just a very skilled performer. It was all so convincing, but he had known con artists just as skilled in his past life—and even one who'd managed to scam him out of a great deal of money with a perfect story and an Oscar-worthy performance. So he hesitated to believe her.

Moreover, he knew his masters and Seraphina could likely tell if the girl was lying or not, yet they remained silent, their expressions inscrutable. Chances were they didn't want to say anything, preferring to see how he'd handle the situation.

After some contemplation, Erik decided to help the girl anyway. If it turned out to be a lie, he'd view it as the cost of witnessing a very skilled street performance—money he could easily recoup once the payment from the order arrived. Besides, he had also come up with a few ideas in case she was telling the truth.

"What do you need?"

Erik's voice was calm yet firm as he looked at the girl on the ground, who lifted her head in disbelief; though in her eyes, one could see a flicker of hope and fear. Without delay, she bit her lip and hurriedly explained her situation in the most concise way she could.

"My brother is a miner, and because of a cave-in, he's trapped in a very deep tunnel. Only a very powerful earth mage could get to him in time to rescue him."

(If this is just an act, the most likely scenarios are that she wants a hefty sum to hire that 'earth mage' to save her brother, or she plans to lure me to some out-of-the-way spot where there's an ambush. But given that she's asking me specifically, rather than my masters, she clearly can't sense their true power or even recognize them.

(Though there's also the chance it's actually an ambush for my masters, and this is part of a plan to lower our guard. But I doubt it—very few people could do anything to them, let alone when Seraphina is present, and the political fallout would be huge if it happened. Plus, they should know by now if she's lying or not, so the best move is to take the initiative and see where it all leads.)

"Mmm, alright then. Let's go." After thinking about it for a moment, Erik spoke in a relaxed tone as he released his masters' hands and stood from his seat.

In turn, Sofía remained on the ground, watching the group of four ready themselves to depart with an expression of surprise and confusion. She was uncertain whether to feel relieved that they were going to help her, or if this was their way of turning her down. That prompted Erik to ask with a small smile.

"What are you doing down there on the ground? Don't we have to save your brother?"

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