Consciousness awakened.

She twitched slightly. She saw the surprised look on the night nurse's face, one hand still hovering over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Gwen muttered, lifting her head off the bed. She blinked, still panting from the extreme excitement of the previous night. She blushes with shame as a wisp of silver saliva runs between her and Alessia's sheets. This, combined with her unkempt hair, gives her a pathetic and pathetic atmosphere.

"There's a folding bed there, dear. The nurse, a middle-aged blonde woman with a gentle face, held back a laugh and pointed her to the guest's couch. They are in VIP rooms reserved for executives, and as a result, the furniture can be spent overnight. It is not uncommon for a lover, apprentice, or intimate partner to crave the opportunity to be vigilant about a patient.

"Thank you. Gwen stepped out of the bed. It must have been early in the morning, and a soft phosphorescent light escaped through the drawn curtains. In a few hours, the sun of a new day will illuminate the full picture of the catastrophe below.

The nurse patiently recorded the biometric data of Alesia's condition and then turned to Gwen for help.

"Would you like something to eat, dear? We have a full-time kitchen downstairs. There is also an officer's mess on the second floor. ”

Gwen thought of Alexia and was about to decline, but the motherly old lady reminded her that she hadn't eaten since morning. They were supposed to have a luncheon after the Rossby Challenge, and it was already the next morning. She hadn't eaten for 17 hours.

The nurse couldn't help but giggle as her stomach protested loudly.

"Come on, then. She lowered her head, just across the hall from downstairs. I'll pick you up. ”

Gwen stood up and followed the nurse.

"Oh my God, you're so tall!" said the woman as they walked down the hall, saying that you might want to get a new dress. Now the cafeteria is crowded. Mainly junior officers. ”

It was then that Gwen realized that she was still wearing the loose robe that hung over her body after she happily murdered "Faceless". It still has black bloodstains, especially when combined with the asylum slippers. If she were to hang out now, she would be like a fugitive from a shelter.

"Okay, I'll change my clothes first, thank you. ”

The nurse smiled softly and led her to a proper locker room, sliding between the narrow doors into a small compartment with mirrors.

She took the robe off her body, placed it in the ring, and wiped it with a wet towel. In the cubicle there was a tall mirror that shone over the length of the door frame, in which she could see herself. To everyone's surprise, she appeared to be in good spirits, unlike the anorexics she'd lived with for the past six months.

It was the gift of vitality that Almuji gave her, and her restorative essence gave her new life.

How long would it last? How many Void spells can she sustain until she reappears?

Sobel seems immune to the scourge of negative debilitation.

As for herself, who knows?

She raised a hand and touched the jade unicorn around her neck, which was sandwiched between her plump breasts. Its texture is smooth and fleshy, like a fat jade of mutton, comfortable, like her flesh and blood.

This amulet is another secret to be unlocked in the future.

Gwen put her thoughts aside and sorted through a stack of clothes. Considering the presence of the Stoneface Mage and the officers in neat uniforms, she opted for the penguin-colored dress she wore in Rosebay. Her Mary Janiss, now a veteran of many crises and battles, once had better days.

The shit that the shoes saw - Gwen pouted. Maybe one day, these two people will wake up like a pair of sentient shoes that have been enchanted. I don't have a mouth, I have to scream, and so on.

As she combed her shoulder-length hair and curled the black waterfall into a convenient braid, an involuntary thought hit her chest.

According to shameless accounts, Deborah died a year ago.

If that's the case, who would tell Deborah's parents how they should narrate? Is a friendly letter from the border government enough? Deborah's parents were well aware that their daughter was her best friend and had even seen a picture of Lumen, the two of them, cowboy hats and all, arm-in-arm in the outback.

As soon as she thought of those moments, she fell ill.

With a wave of her hand, Gwen gathered up her towels, clothes, and makeup, and swept away her troubled thoughts and miscellaneous notes. After one last check of her reflection, she left the locker room and headed for the cafeteria.

The dining room is not far from the VIP room and can be accessed by going down the stairs and through the corridor. The gallery at the Melbourne Tower is designed for utility rather than security, primarily for practical goods and services for frontline mages. The area where Gwen lived was reserved for officers, the infirmary was located on the lower level, the dormitories shared with junior officers had several corridors, and the senior officers' quarters were on the second floor.

The nurse was right. Gwen hadn't even approached the noisy house when she heard noise. When she arrived, engineers, soldiers, medics, and officers packed the mess onto the rafters. Food is served buffet-style on heated trays. Next to each counter, a team of hungry mages came out of the selection, mainly gathered around the barbecue floor.

Curious eyes rose from the playful plate as Gwen walked in, surprised to see a man her age appear in the abbey fortress of the Melbourne Tower. Several of them grinned, making her doubt herself. However, Bacon looked good, so she ignored their inquiring expressions. She retrieved a tin tray and began collecting a variety of toasts, cereals, yogurt, and fruit preserves. As she passed the bacon line, she felt goosebumps all over her body again. Was it her divination signal? As a novice, she couldn't tell. The junior officers giggled a few times, and then, to her great chagrin, a young man began to walk over.

Gwen found a table that was already seated and placed the plates on the stainless steel bench. The soldiers, who were already seated, were happy to see a teenage girl join them, but then noticed that the young man was deliberately approaching them.

The junior officer must have been a person, because the men and women beside her left their seats without even looking at them.

Gwen cursed. She lowered her head, hoping that she would be so attentive at breakfast that the man would take the hint and realize that the conversation was unwelcome.

A faint shadow appeared on her buttered toast.

There was no loud noise, and the young man sat across from her, his hands under his chin, staring at her intently.

The imperious officer wasn't bad-looking, but she was hardly in the mood. The blue stripe on the collar indicates that he is a pilot, most likely one of the air combat mages stationed in the tower. Gwen knew most of the young mages stationed at Sydney Tower, which meant that this particular junior officer was either from Melbourne or Brisbane.

"Hey. "The young man opened his lips to reveal a pair of sparkling teeth, my name is Daniel. What are girls like you doing in a place like this?"

Gwen is no novice in the intolerable art of "pick-up". She can read his boast like a cheap book. Usually, she walks away or politely endures unwanted attention, but she doesn't want to be pushed around by someone known as an imbecile.

She looked up from the plate and touched his eye, and a bolt of lightning shot into her eye, giving her iris a terrifying electric hue. She held up a slice of toast in one hand, and without interrupting eye contact, continued to butter the bread.

"If you don't speak English, I have a translation stone to lend you. ”

Gwen then patiently spread strawberry jam on the toast. She folded the bread and brought the calorie-filled food to her mouth. She still made eye contact and chewed in her mouth.

Daniel remained calm, but his patience came to an end when his friends started snickering.

"You know, it's rude to ignore the person you're talking to. Who is your host? I should talk about your politeness. ”

Gwen's eyes sparkled.

An electrostatic charge is passed between the metal bench and the offending interrogator. Daniel tore his hands from the table as if he had been bitten by something fierce, rolled backwards, and tripped over his seat. A loud bang caught the attention of everyone in the audience, and the junior officer fell on his elbow with a look of expression.

"You little bitch!" he spat and got up on all fours. "How dare you! I am an officer of the border aviation!"

Gwen felt angry in her throat, and she believed murder was an option she was willing to consider. Her eyes, two fireballs full of malice, were ready to swallow the young man whole. In a word, she put everything on Caliban, and then

"Hey, Miss Song doesn't want to talk to you," they were interrupted by another junior officer. This one added a "sir" after glancing at the harasser's collar.

Gwen swallowed the murder that rose in her chest and looked at the three people who had come to her aid. She was surprised to find that she knew these young officers. The man who spoke was Julius, a young man she often talked to when she went to visit Master Henry.

"Get out of my way, cadet," Daniel spat at that I had business dealings with the girl. ”

"I'm afraid I can't, sir," said Julius again.

The other two people next to him were in lockstep with the cadet. Someone in the crowd watched the scene and asked his neighbor who this "Ms. Song" was. The other turned to greet the questioner.

"A disciple of Lord Henry. ”

"The late Lord Kilroy?"

"It's exactly the same. ”

Some observers showed a gloating expression.

Poor Hopkins, he was promoted. Wait for Lord Gunther to hear this. ”

"Oh,. ”

"He's dog meat. ”

"Rest. ”

The person who harassed her turned pale.

Gwen wondered if it was a good time to dodge the matter. There's a mermaid down there, and there's a city to be cleaned.

"Hopkins, stand back!" a familiar voice called out of the hallway by Gwen.

"Yes, sir!" Hopkins immediately drew attention, and his subliminal training began.

The rest of the cafeteria was similarly upright, and a man wearing a triple stripe (two wide and one thin) walked into the dining room. The second badge has a stick and two coiled snakes, indicating that the officer is from the medical team. When the crowd dispersed, the military mages began to salute, while the civilian mages stood aside in respect.

"Major!" Daniel Hopkins stood straight, beads of sweat already on his forehead.

The mustachioed officer turned his sea-like eyes to Gwen and smiled kindly at her.

"Jonas!" Gwen said in surprise that you are here!

"How could I not?" Jonas replied that he was sorry that I couldn't be there when it was all over. ”

"I'm sorry too. Gwen sighed and brushed away a wayward strand of hair from her face. Her voice became muffled and filled with guilt. "Alicia is badly injured. ”

"I know we're here to see if we can do something about it. ”

"We?"

Two more figures appeared behind Jonas and squeezed through the crowd.

"Paul!

"Gwen, God, I'm glad you're okay!" Paul walked out of the crowd, hugged her, and hugged her tightly. "After I sent you over, we lost contact!

"I'm fine now, but ......" Gwen squeezed the magician back, feeling guilty, she had to be the bearer of the bad news.

"Yes, I know. ”

Well, I'm glad you

The confessor hugged Gwen as well.

"Thanks, Taj Mahal," Gwen replied with a big man's hug Billy.

The Taj Mahal replied: "He was kept in the intelligence service until it was all cleaned up." "Otherwise he'll be here right away. You know he still likes you, right?"

"Taj Mahal!"

The men all laughed at Gwen's sacrifice. Decades apart, what they have in common is a special love for Alesia.

As Gwen and the decorated team conversed freely, the crowd around them could no longer suppress their curiosity.

"Did you see that?" said an agitated voice, the girl knew Major Doon. ”

"And Captain Philip and Captain Mackay!"

"You idiot, haven't you heard, she's a retinue of the late Lord Henry. ”

"But Lord Kilroy only has two ......"

"Use your brain!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Jonas turned to the petrified statue, which was Daniel.

"The wicked don't rest, Hopkins, you're going to be on double duty for the next two weeks, understand?"

"Yes, sir!" Daniel's voice raised an octave. Any punishment would be better than Lord Gunther's displeasure.

"Disband!"

Daniel saluted and walked past them. He stopped when he walked up to Gwen.

The man bowed.

Gwen nodded, embarrassed to be in the spotlight.

"So, I'm in trouble, it's not yet 6 a.m. Jonas giggled and pulled the bench out under them and gave Gwen's seat to Gwen Do you want to go upstairs to the dining room with us? This is for the senior officers, better food, better décor, less noise. ”

Gwen shook her head.

"I'm done anyway. ”

"You should eat more! You're a great bone! Put more meat, like Alessia. ”

A pale smile bloomed on Gwen's lips.

A young woman brought them tea and coffee, which they carefully placed beside them. Gwen was surprised to find that she was among them.

"Well, what a mess, ah. Paul began, "What have you done?"

Jonas spoke first, recounting his experience throughout the ordeal. With the attacking Leviathan and the Tower disappearing, he summoned his men to the CBD. There, they met with officers of other tattered bands leading civilian militias and resisted the approaching mermaid tide. The conversation continued, with Jonas appreciatively talking about seeing Gunther flying around the city, and hearing a strange story about a masked mage who had the power of pink salt and could save civilians wherever he went.

"You too?" the Taj Mahal raised an eyebrow. "One of my junior officers said she was saved by a mage who turned the merfolk into pink pillars of salt. ”

"Which one?"

"Katie of the 3rd Ground Division. ”

"Oh, she's a good girl, and it's nice to know you're okay. Magical deformers, that," Paul said whistling.

Their conversation bypassed the topic of Alexia for the time being, and Gwen listened to their military jokes in bewilderment.

"So, I mean, what's wrong with the girls in Rose Bay, the third-graders?" Gwen asked Paul.

"After you left, we hid for a while. But when things started to get shaky, I used the emergency glyph key that Ferris left behind to open a teleportation circle to their sister school, Lilith's. ”

"Is everybody out?"

"yes, thank goodness. Lilith's three suburbs are far from the Parramatta River, so they are not flooded. Still, they were surprised when their teleportation circle launched on its own. When we started to show up in a dozen, it almost blew us up. ”

"What did you do afterward?"

"I did everything I could to connect with the kids. No one was found, and the tower fell and was not found. ”

The group continued to chit-chat for a while, until Jonas stopped in the middle of the conversation to listen to the message. The medical mage turned and stood in his chair.

"Alexia got up. ”

Gwen stood up so fast that the bench behind her suddenly burst out, and Paul nearly tripped him as he tried to get up.

"Let's go together," Jonas suggested.

The group followed.

They walked down the hallway up the stairs to the VIP room. The same nurse is cleaning a cart full of bandages and other medical supplies.

Gwen and her officers and soldiers looked up.

"My, my, you're clean. She smiled brightly at Gwen, then turned to Jonas and tilted her head respectfully to Dr. Doon. ”

"Nun. Jonas nodded, is Mags de Botton optimistic?

The nurse didn't say anything. She handed over a diagram clipped to a trolley. Jonas's eyes darkened as he read the report.

"Jonas ......" Gwen struggles with acid reflux.

"Let's go inside. ”

The four of them walked into the room in a line.

Alicia leaned back on a pillow and peered out through the drawn curtains. Despite the early hours, the horizon outside had taken on a warm hue, casting the room in soft velvety shadows. The bed was raised, which gave Alicia a comfortable slope to rest her head on.

The once lively mage's lips were bloodless, his cheeks were yellow and sunken, and his bright eyes were buried by two black concentric circles.

Gwen's eyes moistened. It was heartbreaking to see Alesia emaciated and frustrated like this. Thinking about the first time she met her, Gwen thought Alicia was the most beautiful and energetic woman she'd ever seen in years.

"Gwen, everyone. Alexia's loud, muffled voice had now become exhausted.

"What's wrong?" Gwen asked Jonas if she was okay yesterday. ”

Jonas sighed deeply and walked over to the bed.

"You always push yourself hard......" he said softly.

The other two were apparently also disturbed. Apparently, the atmosphere became depressed.

"Jonas..."

"It's soul burning," Jonas replied in an advanced form of magic burning. When mages channel mana to manifest spells, they impart phenomenal powers by commanding signals to enter the astral body and enter the elemental layer. When mana burning occurs, unconsumed mana lingers in your astral body and inflicts physical damage on your body in the physical realm. ”

"Soul burns are spells that mages attempt to overshoot their abilities and eventually cast their astral bodies. When a person's soul is harmed, the body becomes fragile and depleted

"Is there a cure?" asked Gwen anxiously.

"Time and care," Jonas turned to Alexia, saying it means there will be no more fighting in the foreseeable future. ”

Alicia groaned.

"I'm serious," Jonas chanted solemnly.

Before Jonas could speak, Gwen stretched Alexia out with a trembling hand.

"Alesia," Gwen said, you can tell me if

"The girls are all good," replied Alessia, confidently guessing Gwen's inquiry. They're still figuring it out. ”

"Are they alright?" asked Gwen suspiciously.

Alicia nodded.

"Hypothetical, of course. I mean, I don't understand why the trio would be bad, as long as they're alive. ”

"Where are they now? Where's Grote?" asked Gwen in despair. She just wants to teleport to Grote now to save her friends.

Alicia's eyes trembled with fatigue and she struggled to speak and became short of breath. Jonas moved his body to support her back, channeling a gentle stream of positive energy into Alicia's torso.

"Thanks, Jonas. Alicia gasped Gwen and I said the girls were all fine because Grote was a real place, not a pocket that would collapse when the caster died. What the Master created was a direct entrance to the mysterious home of the Dreder family, Sofina's private sanctuary. It's in a black area. ”

"A black ...... area?"

Alicia nodded.

"A place unfit for human habitation. ”

Gwen's pain grew by the day.

"You say they're safe! if they're in the dark zone

"I know, let me finish. Alexia paused for a moment and then said that neither Gunther nor I knew where Grote was, but I did know that it was in a place called Caprionya, an uninhabited island chain off the coast of Singapore. ”

Gwen's skin became wet.

"That's ...... Mermaid Gate Territory. She recalls her geography class. Most of the cities in Micronesia and the Indonesian peninsula disappeared a decade ago. Today, the only beacon of human civilization there is the port city of Jakarta, the fortress city of Singapore, the most important transportation hub in Oceania.

"Don't be afraid, the elves that inhabit these islands are ancient and ancient. I'd rather venture to say that they are adored by merfolk who trade the treasures of the sea and the occasional human for golden mead. ”

"What do they need humans for?" Gwen asked in horror, do they eat?

A little blood appeared on Alicia's face.

"Anyway," Alexia coughed as a rule, when a summoned creature loses its master, it also loses its ego, its hostility, and, importantly, the shared memory. However, sentient creatures, such as marmots, have separate memories that exist outside of the empathic link shared with the magician. This means that as long as the girls remain in the yard, Sofina should take care of them while we speak. ”

"What about you?"

"I think he'll ...... Keep busy. ”

Gwen's curious expression made Alexia roll her eyes.

"I would say that they are all safe, at least for a while. Rider has a long memory. As long as they don't try to leave Grote, they'll be fed, plump and healthy until help arrives. ”

"Suppose they stay where they are?"

"Yes. ”

"But Xiao Yue is with them. ”

Gwen's prescriptive perspective reminded Alicia of her apprentice. After chewing on the scene in her head, her eyes fixed on the distance in between.

"They may be in danger right away. "Alicia's face is getting paler, we need to rescue them as soon as possible!"

"What's the fastest way to Singapore?" asked Gwen.

"No!" Jonas lifted his hand from Alessia's back, and the witch retracted back into her mat. "You need to take a break!"

"Jonas, please......" Alicia pleaded.

"It doesn't mean there isn't. ”

Gwen looked at Alexia from Jonas.

She said sternly, "I have to find them." "I don't know how, but I have to. I can't convince you. ”

"That's reckless, Gwen!" Paul chimed in.

"Paul is right, you're just on a suicide mission. The Taj Mahal also made his suggestion.

Gwen was taken aback at their logical indifference.

"I have to go," she spat at them, feeling a boiling, irrational resentment welling up in her chest and I would go on my own if necessary. ”

"What to do?" the Taj Mahal, even more unaffected by his earth element, slammed back at Gwen. "You don't have a boat, you don't have the strength, you don't have the resources, you don't have the team. How are you going to go?"

Gwen's fist rolled under the reflex. Suddenly, she wanted to punch the Taj Mahal in the face. Yue and Elvia. They are her friends! She is the only family in this world! If it weren't for Yue and Avia's company, what was the meaning of life? If it weren't for them, she would have lost all hope in her second life and been carried away by the shadow of nothingness.

If only she could be like Alesia or Gunther—with the power and freedom to do what she needed! If she could be as strong as Gunther, even like Alexia in her prime, she could fly away now and save her friends.

"Shut up!" Gwen felt her voice hoarse. Incredibly, this frustration brought tears to her eyes. "Please shut up. ”

The Taj Mahal lowered his eyes. "I understand your feelings, but your desires are impossible. ”

"It's better to ......," Paul interjected.

"We can't," Jonas interrupted Paul's rhetorical question, asking us about our responsibility here. ”

"But I can't leave them! I need your help!" Gwen pleaded.

Her demands hung in the balance, killing the conversation until Alicia broke the terrible tension.

"Okay, guys, listen to me. She was incoherent, wincing, and spoke every word in a firm tone.

"Taj Mahal, Paul, Jonas. I'm asking you

"Alexia......" Jonas began.

"Shut up and listen to me," Alexia said firmly, showing that her well-known impatience wasn't dead. ”

Alicia took a deep breath.

"Nothing can get through this room. ”

Taj nodded. He made a circular prayer with his hands. A clear mana shield suddenly appeared around them, cutting off the sounds and communication of the outside world.

"Gwen is my master's youngest apprentice. ”

The three held their breath.

"She's more talented than me. She can gain magic, summoning, divination, and even a little transformation. ”

Swallow in three throats at the same time.

"She controls the lightning elemental and the void. ”

The men turned to Gwen for confirmation.

The boy nodded dignifiedly.

The men trembled.

Alicia continues her relentless assault. "So please listen carefully to what I'm telling you now......"

"Someday, Gwen will be more important than all of us. One day, she will inherit my master's legacy and become an all-powerful mage who inherits the will of the nobles. One day, she may become the sorcereric supremacy who brings peace to our city, and perhaps even humanity itself. Do you understand?"

"Alesia, that's too much...... Gwen began, but Alexia interrupted her. Exhausted, Mags turned and faced her teammates with a serious and purposeful look.

"But Gwen isn't strong yet, just like I wasn't strong when you first saw me. I have your support when I need help, to make up for my weaknesses and to take care of me. You are my pillars. ”

The men listened intently, their eyes full of nostalgia and memories.

"Gwen also has a backbone," Alexia went on to say that she had an affable, hot-tempered friend who, like me, was named Yue Bai. ”

"You all know Yue, how much I like her. Whenever I think of her, I think of my younger self. Her talent is equally extraordinary, and one day she will even surpass me. Suppose she has a chance to grow. ”

"Gwen has another pillar, her mental and physical support, called Elvia Lindholm. ”

"Elvis Presley is sweet, innocent, and loving, and when you hold her in your arms and smell her hair, you feel calm. She is a spiritual healing agent. ”

Alicia had to take a deep breath before continuing.

"Gwen can't afford to lose her support. She can't lose those girls, just like I can't lose you. If any of you are in danger, if any of you are in trouble, I'm going to jump out of this bed right now and climb to Indonesia, you understand?"

The three of them listened intently, and there must have been a puff of dust blowing into the room, for their eyes were plagued by allergies at the same time.

"I can't tell you the specifics, but I'm telling you now, if it weren't for Gwen, you'd all be dead. We owe her life, all of us! my life, your life, his life, Gunther's life, every mage in this damn city! She did it for us and didn't ask for anything in return. So, when I asked you to help Gwen, it was so that you and I could pay off a little bit of debt......"

There was silence in the room, save for the tired gasps of Alicia.

Jonas was the first to answer, and then the others followed earnestly.

"I understand. ”

"Me too. ”

"Yes, ma'am. ”

"Good. "I'm tired. "Alexia collapsed on the bed, pale-faced, you ungrateful bastards almost killed me again. ”

"Thank you. Gwen took Alexia's hand and kissed it. She lifted the cold flesh up and placed it on her cheek, as the moisture in her eyes made it stained.

"Little fool," said Alessia calmly, the one who took care of me. ”

"I will. ”

The four of them watched as Alesia fell asleep again, her chest rising and falling. They marched out of the room and assembled in the hallway.

"We are taken care of by you. Jonas nodded solemnly to Gwen.

Gwen turned to the three of them and bowed deeply.

Paul interjected, preventing her from making a full pleading.

"We're all darlings in the banking industry, and there's a future justice," the transposition expert joked that we wanted to do that anyway. It's important for you, for Alesia. ”

"I'm glad I can help too. The Taj Mahal admitted: "I was feeling terrible. "Although we missed the number for a full party. ”

Jonas tapped his knee with his fingers.

He warned them: "Don't get too far ahead. "We have a major obstacle ahead of us. ”

Three people turned to the major.

"What?" Jonas looked at them suspiciously. "You don't think Lord Gunther is going to let Gwen Waltz into the Black Zone, do you?"