A parchment rustles as it dangles from Frieda's hand.
The runes on the paper form concentric circles layered within each other, glowing with a faint bluish hue. An empty circle sits at the center. The orange light from the joined torches paints a warm contrast over the parchment.
Rosa watches the paper attentively.
Use it if you're out of mana and need to activate something.
Helgen's voice resounds in her mind, as if triggered by the sight of the scroll.
She thought it would be drained dry, just like everything else.
Frieda waves the scroll forward, grabbing Rosa's attention.
"As for this scroll—this might be the answer to our mana problems."
Silence lingers for a moment as Rosa considers the implications.
She raises her hand.
"The answer... can you clarify what you mean by—"
"What do you mean by that?"
Lilia's voice cuts in, her hand already raised. Rosa's own question, stolen right from her mouth.
Frieda's jaw slackens as she raises an eyebrow.
"Even though you're the ones who brought them here, you're not aware of what they do?"
Rosa and Lilia shake their heads in unison.
"Not even the daggers?"
"Not even the daggers," Rosa replies flatly.
"Well, the fact that the centipede thrashed around like that—it definitely did something."
Lilia rubs the back of her head as she gazes at the limp carapace.
"Frieda."
Eihard's voice cuts through, cold and sharp. Rosa flinches.
"Right. I got sidetracked."
Frieda clears her throat and places the unfurled scroll on the ground.
"This is, without doubt, a runic mana infuser. Place items that require mana on it, and the scroll will infuse them."
"That geezer! The least he could do is explain that instead of being cryptic!"
Lilia's face flushes with frustration as she raises a clenched fist.
Rosa's eyes widen. Her mind finally clicks.
"That means... mana potions, mana stones, sigil scrolls—we can infuse them all!"
Frieda nods.
"However, I don't know to what extent, or how much it will infuse. We should use it cautiously."
"Hmm..."
Lilia hums, pressing a finger to her chin.
"Can we infuse a living thing?"
Frieda shakes her head.
"Unfortunately, I don't know—I'm no artificer. But even if it were possible, I wouldn't recommend it."
Rosa nods immediately.
"Agreed. Though I've never truly confirmed it, there are cases of mana poisoning when too much mana accumulates in the body."
"So? How does this help us kill the monster?"
Eihard's voice cuts in again, firmer now, sharpened by a quick breath. Rosa flinches once more.
Lilia scoots closer, her arm wrapping around Rosa's shoulder as she shoots Eihard a pouty glare.
Frieda brings the daggers near the scroll, placing them side by side.
The runes on the dagger Rosa used glow weaker than the other.
"Right. With this, we have more options."
She points at the dagger with the weaker glow.
"We can infuse this one. That way, we'll have two fully charged daggers to strike with."
Rosa reaches into her satchel and pulls out the batch of blue potions. She places them near the scroll.
"Or we can infuse the stale potions... and gain our magic back..."
Rosa puts her bag forward and brings out her sigils.
"I have several sigils as well. Yet as you can see, most of them are for escape."
Her eyes meet Frieda's.
"We can try to rush past the monster, but I only prepared for two people."
Rosa glances at Lennard, helplessly lying on the floor. Then at the rest of the group.
She shakes her head.
"Yeah... I don't think that's a good idea."
Frieda scoots closer, examining Rosa's scrolls.
"You... did prepare for everything..."
Her gaze lifts to Rosa. The pity in her eyes is undeniable.
Rosa sighs as conflicting emotions brew inside her. Someone recognizes her effort—yet that look of pity sours it.
Lilia scoots forward and taps one of the vials.
"I say we stick to the potions. We'll need Frieda's restraint later, right?"
She gives Frieda a warm smile.
Frieda nods, returning the warmth.
Then her eyes glint. Watery beads begin to form.
She sniffs and wipes her eyes gracefully with her finger.
"I apologize. Please don't mind it."
Rosa blinks, unsure what about Lilia's smile stirred such a reaction.
Soft rustles from Eihard's direction catch her attention.
He leans against the wall, looking away from the group, jaw tense.
"Infusing the potions sounds like a good idea. It'll give us versatility in case we need to adapt."
Frieda's voice pulls Rosa back before she can dwell on Eihard. Rosa shakes her head.
"I have no objection."
Lennard begins to lift his body, struggling to sit.
"Let me... fight as well..."
Frieda immediately rushes over, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to support him.
"You don't have to force yourself. All you need to do is rest for now."
Lennard stares at the ground. He nods briefly.
His jaw tightens as he looks away, lowering himself back down.
Frieda pulls her arms away once he settles.
"Then we have an agreement. Anything to add, Eihard?"
No sound. No rustles. Her question meets silence.
"I'll take that as a no."
Rosa raises her hand.
"Um, about the infusion. I think it's best if we infuse just before the fight. Otherwise, we might end up as drained as we are now."
Frieda taps her chin and nods.
"Hmm, that's a great point. Then we shall do that."
She glances at Eihard and Lilia.
"As for the ones who deliver the strike... Eihard?"
He approaches without a word and grabs the dagger.
"I'll take the other one then."
Lilia leans over and takes the remaining dagger from Frieda.
"Seems like everything's wrapped up! Shall we go?"
She stands first, stretching.
The rest follow, beginning to pack up as well.
Frieda leans over to Lennard and lifts him onto her shoulder.
"Lilia, a little help?"
"Sure!"
Lilia walks over and hoists Lennard onto her shoulder from the other side.
Rosa gathers the scattered items around the torches.
Sigil scrolls go in first—she won't need them. Then the dead lantern.
She pours the dead mana stones into a separate section of the bag.
The green potions and the blue potions to be infused go into her satchel for quick access.
The runic scroll follows.
"Rosa..."
"Eeep!"
Rosa instinctively jumps backward, her expression hardening with fear.
Her hand already reaches for the staff.
In front of her stands Eihard, looking down as he grits his teeth.
"Sorry... for earlier. Really. I shouldn't have scared you like that."
Rosa's throat relaxes along with her hands, letting air flow back into her lungs.
She averts her gaze. She wishes she could make eye contact, yet she just can't.
"I... am also sorry. I overreacted... even now..."
Her body jolts the moment she hears his footsteps drawing closer.
Her hands want to grab the staff and cast something—anything—or at least jump backward.
Then her eyes land on the jade crystal at the staff's tip.
Liesel's staff.
"Hey! What are you trying to do!?"
Lilia barks from the sideline, still carrying Lennard with Frieda.
"I don't plan to do anything. It's just..."
His gaze falls to the staff.
Rosa grips it. Not to point it at him—but to offer.
She nods as she extends her hand, the handle facing Eihard.
His hand reaches out with hesitation. He stops midair.
Is this how I looked?
Rosa can guess what he's probably thinking.
Do I deserve this? After all I've done? Do I really... have the right?
Her gaze sharpens as she moves her hand closer. The handle meets his palm.
He finally grips it. The grit in his teeth doesn't ease.
His breath wavers as he pulls the staff and plants it into the ground.
The jade crystal gently meets his forehead as he presses against it.
Rosa glances over at Lilia, who already wears that proud smile.
She shifts her eyes away, pushing down the crescent forming at her lips.
....
The walk across the cave corridor is accompanied by the silent crackle of their torch.
Eihard holds one of the torches, the dagger embedded in his belt.
Behind him walks Lennard, carried by both Frieda and Lilia.
Rosa watches over them from the back, her crimson eyes mixed with the blue glow of her magic.
She puts the empty vial back into her satchel. Three green potions left.
She scans the ground, the walls, the ceiling.
The flame light from the torch she holds barely pushes against the cave darkness.
Her gaze locks on marks near the side of the path.
Faint scuttle marks. She stops.
"Wait."
Rosa calls out. The whole group halts.
"What is it? Enemy? What? Where?"
Lilia immediately glances left and right.
Seems like her exaggerated reactions have returned as well.
Rosa stares at her flatly.
"...There is none. But I found the marks they left behind."
Rosa points toward the grooves.
"Ore hermits..."
Frieda mutters.
"Those are a hassle in groups."
Eihard takes a deep breath.
"Well, we can probably take them out now! We're no longer just two people after all!"
Lilia grits her fist in determination, pulling the air downward.
Rosa remembers how persistent they are. One of them tanked her mid-tier magic, even if weakened by the void.
If they come in large numbers, that'll be a problem on its own.
"The marks go in the opposite direction we're heading, so we're probably fine... It's just... best we avoid them."
Eihard nods.
"I'll keep an eye out."
The group continues forward.
"Frieda... I can walk by myself now..."
Lennard speaks, his words fragmented by hitched breaths.
"Yeah, and I'm brimming with mana."
Lilia's voice drips with sarcasm.
"Lilia is right. All you need to do is rest and leave the rest to us."
Silence creeps in as Lennard gazes at the cave floor.
"I... just don't want to be a burden... Not after all of this... I..."
Rosa's eyes cast to the floor as well. Not looking for tracks or clues.
"Lennard."
Eihard calls out. Sharp.
Even Rosa's body can't help but flinch again.
"I'll tell you just once, so listen. You'll be a bigger burden if you force yourself and collapse midway. So you better listen to her."
Eihard continues.
"Also... if you really want to use your strength, do it when it really matters."
He adds before returning to walk in silence.
Lennard's shoulders tense for a moment before they relax, allowing himself to be carried.
"Frieda. If you don't mind me asking, how did you end up trapped in here?"
"Lilia..." Rosa calls out, concern in her voice.
"It's okay, Rosa. But before I explain, may I ask the same question to you first?"
Lilia hums—the same sound she makes when scouring her brain for a careful answer.
"Well, long story short, Rosie takes on a certain quest here. I decided to follow in case something happens. And happened it did! Can't say more than that."
Rosa's eye twitches at the nickname, but she holds her tongue.
"Let me guess... A survey for void minerals in Eisenvalt in exchange for a tremendous amount of gold."
Rosa's eyes widen. She almost drops her torch.
She quickly composes herself, retracting her reaction in case Frieda might be bluffing.
Lilia is visibly sweating, glancing in Rosa's direction.
Rosa has to fight not only her own reactions, but also the overwhelming urge to plant her face into her palm.
"You don't have to guard up, because that's how... That's how Liesel took the job as well..."
Frieda's voice sharpens. Lennard clenches his knuckles.
"Sorry for bringing this up..."
Rosa's voice softens, her gaze casting down once again.
"To answer your question, Eihard and I came here to rescue my sister. Thankfully we met Lennard outside, so we weren't completely clueless. We entered the cave, got ambushed by the giant centipede, forced ourselves deeper. Yet as you might have guessed, we were too late."
Frieda's tone wavers near the end, as if choked by something lodged in her throat.
"I got separated... Because of that, they went to the cave... Because I wasn't there..."
Lennard says weakly.
"Lennard... not another word."
Eihard calls out once more.
"Focus on what's ahead."
He adds as he keeps walking.
"Sorry..." Lilia's voice drops, small and weak.
Rosa wasn't the only one.
Frieda's story confirms it.
Her mind clicks as she remembers the vendor's words.
People have been coming here these past few months.
That wasn't a coincidence.
They were all probably coaxed into the same operation.
Something threatens to rise from her stomach as cold sweat begins to dampen her clothes.
Her hand clamps over her mouth.
"Huurgh..."
"Rosa!"
Lilia's voice pierces through her mind. The warmth of her touch follows as Rosa feels the hug.
They are all coming to her. The realizations. The memories.
If it wasn't for Lilia, she couldn't have confirmed whether her potion was stale or something else was going on.
If it wasn't for Lilia, the ore hermit would have pinched her face.
If it wasn't for Lilia, nothing would have held her when she panicked.
If it wasn't for Lilia. If it wasn't for her. She would have ended with the same fate.
She opens her eyes, not realizing they were closed.
Darkness greets her. She has been burying her face in Lilia's shoulder.
Her hug tightens—her arms already wrapped around Lilia.
Her eyes feel hot. Warmth trails down her cheeks.
Her lips move.
Thank you. Thank you.
Yet no voice comes from her throat.
"It's alright... I'm here... I'm here..."
The warmth on her cheeks flows more as she feels the gentle rub on her back.
...
The party stops in the corridor after walking quite a distance. Rosa stands at the front.
She grabs another vial of green potion, pops the cork, and chugs it.
At this point, her throat no longer reacts to the sheer bitterness of the liquid pouring in.
The warmth radiates through her body almost immediately.
"Sharvessaich."
Her crimson eyes glow once more, infused with magic.
The details reflected in her eyes sharpen. The blur becomes crisp.
"There's no mistaking it. The chamber is in front of us."
Lilia leans her face against the cave wall, pressing her ear to the stone.
"Soft rustles. Many legs. It's there."
Eihard mirrors Rosa on the other side, pressing against the wall as well.
"Positive."
Frieda nods as she places the vials of blue liquid at the center of the empty circle on the runic scroll.
It hums. The glow grows brighter.
The pale blue liquids brighten their hue, as if regaining their life.
The scroll works. Eight vials.
Each person except Lennard takes two.
Gulping the rekindled potions, Rosa feels the warmth surging through her.
The quality is even better than she thought.
Her body now brims with mana despite the drain.
"Mr. Centipede, ready or not, here we come!"
Lilia slams her iron knuckles against each other.
Rosa gazes ahead. This is it. All or nothing.
Frieda clears her throat.
"Alright, just like we discussed along the way. Here's the plan. I'll protect Lennard while letting the centipede come closer. Then restraint. Eihard and Lilia stab it. If it's not enough, Rosa finishes. All clear?"
The party nods simultaneously.
Their faces lock onto the corridor ahead.
Frieda carries Lennard forward. The rest follow.
Each step filled with both preparation and determination.