This time, Hero Claire and Rena returned to the moment where everything was happening, and saw Hero Anna now in focus.
The healer's scream had completely stopped Anna in her tracks.
She took a short breath, then shut down almost all of her awareness.
The sound of the wind… gone.
Her own heartbeat… forced into silence.
The feel of the ground beneath her feet… as if it didn't exist.
Only her eyes remained.
Her gaze locked onto the male heroes—especially those who were injured and had run out of mana—as they began to act strangely.
Rena said.
What's strange… hmm…
At first, nothing seemed strange. Only one thing was off.
They moved, even breathed, like ordinary humans.
But the longer she stared…
Something was out of sync.
That strange behavior began to spread to various injured men and those who had exhausted their mana.
Hero Claire said.
Don't tell me…!!!!
When the healers used the surrounding natural mana to accelerate the healing of the male heroes and those low on mana,
The light around their bodies looked pure white—
but… it felt uncomfortable. Unlike ordinary mana. Even just looking at it seemed peaceful.
Hero Claire said with an anxious tone.
This… exactly!!!
Rena, watching, just fell silent, as if she couldn't see anything—at least that's how she appeared, not reacting.
Or more precisely—it wasn't like the mana light she had seen when calmness enveloped other creatures.
This was different.
That whiteness was too stable.
Too perfect.
As if it wasn't light…
but an imitation of light.
Anna's eyes narrowed as she scratched her head.
These particles…
They're similar to the particles around the dragon. Not from the dragon, but clearly these particles are waiting for something…
In the form of inconsistent white particles.
Rena, hearing that, tried to process it… but still thought hard, then said.
What's the difference??
It still looks the same…
At least, that's what Anna saw, and Anna wanted to report it. Even she—not a mage—could see it.
Then, briefly, Anna looked at the dragon.
With trembling lips, Hero Anna said.
The dragon's mana…
Is now truly disappearing…
Hero Claire, now just analyzing, said.
I knew it… this has all the same characteristics!!
Quickly, she turned her gaze back to the men.
This is too fast…
Mana from a creature that has died should slowly dissipate and merge with nature.
Moving this fast, it's already clear…
That something is wrong.
With furrowed brows, Hero Anna concluded.
This must be related to the particles that were around the dragon earlier.
Then Hero Anna swallowed slowly, and said calmly.
And it seems those particles now have another purpose.
Quickly, Hero Anna reached for the golden sword at her right waist,
while saying.
This time, those particles have succeeded in taking the dragon's 'vessel' (mana) and disguised themselves to go unnoticed.
I have to act!…
Before Hero Anna could draw her sword from its sheath, suddenly a voice came from the direction of the Calderia hero, and now that person was gripping Hero Anna's shoulder.
With a loud, sharp tone, she said.
What are you doing, late hero!!!
As a knight, you should be helping channel mana so the men can recover!!
Hearing that, Hero Claire and Rena were startled, recognizing whose voice it was behind that, but they chose to remain silent…
With that shoulder touch, Hero Anna snapped back, shifting her attention to the hero speaking to her.
And indeed, it was Hero Tina—the famous mage hero from Calderia, who had stood out so much earlier.
Hearing those words, Hero Anna, with her cheeks lifted, stepped back a few paces, her lips parted as if she wanted to oppose Hero Tina, then said.
Sorry, Tina… but don't you realize what's happening as a mage hero??
Hearing that, Hero Tina was startled, then thought to herself.
Hmm… something is strange… but it doesn't seem dangerous.
But hearing that from Hero Anna made Tina's brows furrow sharply, her jaw tensing as she said.
Oh… don't act like you know better than a mage…
I know more than you, you late hero!!!
And so, the two stood in tension, each with their own choices.
But at least, both of them knew—
something that looked white…
carried a feeling that was not pure at all.