Waking up from his sleep, Zack still felt wiped out. That scene of Mossley getting wrecked was etched in his mind. It's like being hit with a ton of bricks witnessing a massacre up close.
Back in the day, when he heard about wars and casualties, he'd maybe feel a pinch of empathy before moving on. Maybe toss a donation and call it a day.
But actually seeing the horror of war, watching people he knew become victims, it hits different. This whole war thing has messed with his head big time.
He's avoiding going back to Mossley, not sure if it's cowardly to look away. But after seeing the bloodshed on the fortress wall and the destruction of Mossley, he's mentally tapped out. He needs a breather.
While he's mulling over all this, his wizard's badge starts buzzing. Sending his mana into it, he senses info being beamed straight to his brain. Turns out, there's a message from the lightning magic tower.
Damn, he didn't know the tower could ping him directly like that. He always thought it had to go through the monoliths like the ones in the command center or the formation workshop.
First off, the message dropped a bombshell: the Fulminar Empire and the magic towers have lost the war. Second, the head honcho of the lightning magic tower got snuffed out by some sneaky move from the southern grand warrior. And third, because of all that chaos, they're calling all surviving level 1 wizards back to the tower. They're planning to go off the grid, shutting out the outside world to lick their wounds.
They're also giving the green light for level 3 apprentices to tag along, but only if they upgrade their contract to the soul-based one. Huh, Zack gets why they're being picky about who can enter the tower now.
See, with the soul-based contract, there's no room for even thinking about double-crossing the tower. It plugs up most of the loopholes outsiders might exploit. With the mana heart-based contract, the tower has to catch wind of betrayal before they can drop the hammer. But with the soul-based one, it's like an automatic response to any whiff of treachery.
Anyway, Zack's game plan? He's heading to the tower. Seclusion sounds like a sweet deal. He can focus on leveling up without distractions. Plus, he could really use the downtime to clear his head.
Tucking away his badge, he flips open his communication tablet, just in case Fannie sent him some messages. He's sweating bullets wondering if she got caught in the Mossley mess.
And wouldn't you know it, there's a message from her. Turns out, she was smack dab in Mossley when the war went down. Zack must've been too caught up to check his tablet back then.
At that time, Fannie's message only gave him a quick heads-up: she's chilling in Mossley and got the containers he stashed at their base. She mentioned staying put for now, wanting to plan out her future arrangements when she meets him.
His heart was doing backflips. Did Fannie make it through the chaos in Mossley in one piece? Scrolling through, he sees more messages. Thank the stars, Fannie's alright.
Turns out, the saintess only went all out on the military district and key spots like the bigwig businesses in the business district and noble hangouts in the high end area. Other areas got hit too, but folks with a bit of magic mojo like level 1 wizards and level 3 apprentices could take the heat. His chest lightened a bit at the thought that maybe most civilians had a fighting chance.
But then, there's the gut punch: even with reduced damage, most civilians bit the dust from collapsing houses, busted ground, and explosions. He almost let out a string of curses. Reading Fannie's updates was like being on a wild roller coaster.
Anyway, Fannie spilled the beans that she's planning to go to Dorzaal, a cozy little spot near the Forest of Death up north. She'll be holding tight there until he shows up.
He stows away his tablet, relieved she's safe, but he knows he's gotta check in on her, let her know he's holding up. He'd left a note back at their base when he made the trek to the tower for his "level-up" gig.
At that time, he decided against firing off messages via the tablet knowing Fannie was still in Holy Empire territory. The darn thing only worked within the Fulminar Empire, especially around the city where those transmitter and receiver towers were set up. If the receiver wasn't in range when you hit send, your message just vanished into the void. But now that Fannie was back, he figured he should shoot her a quick update.
He pinged her saying he's relieved she's alright, tossed in a casual "I'm good too," and mentioned he'd catch her in Dorzaal.
With his tablet stowed, he starts packing up his gear. Double checks his mask, slides into his alter identity mode, and triggers [Double Enhancement II] - basic enhancement. Then, he kicks on [Hermes’s Shoes - Talaria].
He made sure to note that despite [Talaria] being a pretty complex magic with the punch of a level 2 enhancement spell, it surprisingly sipped only a moderate amount of mana. With his monstrous mana reserves, he could keep that spell running all day without even making a dent in his mana pool.
Before he takes off, he flicks on [Invisible] mode, blending into the scenery. His game plan? Zip over to Dorzaal first, then swing by the magic tower.
With one step, he slips into space, vanishing into thin air.
***
Of course, he wasn't about to sprint the length of the empire from top to bottom. That's just asking for trouble. His plan? Track down a black market and hitch a ride through their teleportation circle.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Using the tower's circles wasn't on his agenda. First off, he'd have to swing by the tower before he could even access their circles. And who knows if they'd let him bounce after he steps foot inside?
But luck wasn't on his side. Most of the black markets around the fortress cities had pulled a vanishing act. They ditched their long-standing spots, facilities and all, without batting an eye.
Makes sense, though. Everyone and their grandma knew where these markets were. The Holy Empire could sniff 'em out in a heartbeat. And with their anti-wizard agenda, you can bet those markets wouldn't be left standing for long.
So he's gotta trek further west, near the empire's border, to find the kind of black market he's after. It's not like he didn't stumble upon any markets earlier. He actually found one just a day after hearing about the great relocation.
Thing is, since they're still settling in, their teleportation circles are on the fritz. No shortcuts for him just yet.
Putting that headache aside, he shells out some mana stones and bounces to another black market. Rinse and repeat until he lands near Dorzaal city.
Before stepping foot into Dorzaal, he found himself faced with a choice: join the endless queue or take matters into his own hands. Opting for the latter, he decided to skip the line by... ahem... vaulting over the wall. Not because he fancied himself a daredevil, mind you, but simply because he couldn't be bothered to wait in that never-ending line.
Double-checking his tablet for the inn Fannie mentioned, he sauntered over and gave the door a gentle knock. Before he could even get a word out, the door swung open, and Fannie practically lunged at him.
"You're back, teacher," Fannie murmured, her voice trembling as she buried her head tightly against his chest. "I really missed you."
Gently patting her back, he guided Fannie, who clung to him like a koala, into the room and closed the door behind them.
"How'd you know it was me?" he asked.
"Who else would knock on a door and not have any presence? If it was someone else inside, they'd think a ghost was haunting them," she replied, rolling her eyes.
Scratching his head, he realized he'd only dropped his [Camouflage] and forgot about [Stealth]. With a mental flick, he ditched the stealth mode, adjusting his presence to that of your average Joe.
Taking a moment to check on Fannie, he noted she seemed none the worse for wear. No visible injuries, and she'd apparently dodged the level 2 powerhouse ambush and the Mossley mess scot-free.
But what caught his eye was her mana, or lack thereof. She'd thrown up some kind of smokescreen, masking her power to that of a mid-level 1 wizard. Nice try, but with his mana perception skills, he could see right through it. Seems like she'd been putting in work over the past year, leveling up her game and beefing up her mana reserves.
Fannie blushed and squirmed under his scrutiny, clearly not used to being put on the spot like that.
"You pervy teacher," Fannie exclaimed, unable to contain herself as she playfully pushed Zack's cheek to make him look sideways.
"Hey, I'm just checking your condition," Zack replied with a helpless grin.
Fannie knew that, of course. She just couldn't resist teasing him. Zack couldn't help but chuckle, noting how Fannie had become less timid around him after a year of teaching in Mossley. He often joked that she had become too bold, even daring to raise her hand against her teacher.
It was all in good fun, though. Zack was genuinely happy to see Fannie becoming more lively. Her antics helped to dissipate much of the gloom he had carried from his time in the war.
With a cautious tone, Zack broached the subject, "I wasn't in Mossley when it all went down, and I rushed over as soon as I got your message. Do you know what happened to the city?"
Fannie bowed her head, avoiding his gaze, and whispered, "They're all gone... everyone's gone."
Zack gritted his teeth so hard it felt like they might shatter. He closed his eyes, struggling to find the words. "I see," he finally managed to say, his voice strained with emotion.
Suddenly, he felt a gentle touch on his clenched fist, coaxing him to open it. Opening his eyes, he met Fannie's tear-filled gaze, her warmth washing over him. She spoke softly, "It's okay to be sad."
Instinctively, Zack pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face in her hair. Feeling her comforting pats on his back, he felt a sense of solace wash over him.
As soon as he realized what he'd done, he released her, his face undoubtedly beet red. What a blunder. He should've been the one comforting her, not the other way around.
"Ahem... sorry about that. You must've been feeling it worse than me," Zack mumbled, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. But there was another sentence lingering on his tongue, one he couldn't bring himself to say aloud. 'You must've been feeling it worse than me because you witnessed it all firsthand.' He couldn't utter those words, fearing they'd rip open wounds he didn't want to expose.
In reality, he felt like scum for even asking about Mossley so soon after the tragedy. But he needed closure, confirmation of what had transpired inside. He didn't have the guts to face it himself, so he cowardly relied on Fannie, forgetting the pain it might stir up for her.
He mentally cursed himself. 'You absolute moron!'
"Sure, being sad won't bring them back," she replied, her eyes red but still trying to muster a smile. Yet, the trembling of her lips betrayed the true turmoil within.
Without hesitation, Zack pulled her into another hug, determined to do his job right this time. He gently patted her back, offering what comfort he could.
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the thought. 'Man, today's been a real hug-fest.' But truth be told, he didn't mind. That's what humans do; they seek solace in each other's embrace. They comfort each other. After all, no one can bear the weight of solitude forever.
Reflecting on it all, Zack realized that saving Fannie and teaching her had been one of the best decisions he'd ever made. In her, he found a source of healing for his own wounded heart.
In a world where death looms at every corner, Zack knew he couldn't bear the burden alone. He needed someone to weather the storms of negativity alongside him. But he wouldn't selfishly dump his pain onto another; if he shared his burden, he'd shoulder theirs in return.
In his past life, he had his family. In this life... well, he had Fannie. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment at that thought. Fannie's voice snapped him back to reality.
"Nevertheless, I'll see to it that the saintess meets her end. The pope, the grand paladin, all those high-ups in the church responsible for Mossley's downfall—they'll pay," she declared brightly, though her words sent a chill down his spine.
Zack didn't protest. In fact, he found himself nodding along. Of course, he'd only make his move once he had the strength to take on those three level 3 powerhouses from the Holy Empire. He still vividly remembered the saintess's terrifying might. He could only imagine the power the pope wielded, being the oldest of the trio.
"Don't worry, I'm on board with that plan," he affirmed, his voice brimming with determination. "But first, we need to beef up our strength, alright?"
Trying to lighten the mood, he added, "Remember when you had to make a run for it from those grand priestesses?"
Fannie played along, playfully jabbing his chest. "Hey, that's only because I hadn't trained enough. Give me another year, and I'll wipe the floor with 'em."
They shared a laugh, but Zack couldn't shake the feeling that their interaction seemed a bit... too intimate. 'Wait a second, why does it feel like we're flirting? Nah, it's just a teacher and student who happen to be close,' he reasoned, pushing the thought to the back of his mind.