Marina was paying a visit to Alwin's art gallery grand opening in the main district. Many valuable artworks by renowned artisans were displayed at the gallery.
One of the art pieces was a 300-year-old painting titled the "King-Emperor of Azrya" that was painted by an anonymous painter centuries ago. It was the most valuable painting in the whole gallery.
Yet suddenly... a conflict broke out of the blue.
"Thief!" one of the crowd exclaimed.
Everyone's attention turned to the source of the voice; a man was stealing the 300-year-old painting from the gallery.
"Stop right there!" A guard shouted.
Once the thief secured the painting, he sprinted through the crowd, as the guards chased the perpetrator and shouted at the bystanders to stop him.
Witnessing the situation, Marina didn't hesitate; she pointed her hand at the thief.
"Circuit, summoned."
A magic circuit was summoned where she stood. The magic circle was big enough to cover the entire gallery's floor with an invisible force.
"Immobĭlus Tenē." She casted.
With a flick of her finger, she successfully stopped the thief from running away — his leg was stuck to the floor as if it were cemented by unseen hands.
Just as everything was going smoothly, the painting accidentally slipped from the thief's hand and flew up in the air. Marina's eyes widened — she tried to stop the painting from crashing to the floor, but it was too late.
Thud!
"Wha- what.. ahhhhha! NOOO!!" She rushed towards the painting, looking at the broken painting.
Marina's eyes twitched in disbelief. The most valuable painting in the whole gallery was destroyed, and there was no one else to blame.
Suddenly, Alwin himself emerged from the crowd and walked up to her. He let out a heavy sigh and looked at Marina with a stern gaze.
"Marin, you will take responsibility. Won't you?" His deep voice was slightly threatening.
Marina's shoulders slumped in defeat as she weakly nodded and whimpers. Sealing her fate in debt..
P.S: Don't take a bank loan. It's not free. I've tried it.
—Penning a new chapter