Felix closed the door behind him and let out a weary sigh. His head was throbbing as if there was an orchestra playing inside it.

He knew he needed to write a report about this incident. There were enough foolish, arrogant young masters in Public Security who lacked the basic understanding of maintaining peace and might provoke an unwarranted disaster.

"If it isn't Lord Felix," a voice greeted him.

Felix looked up and saw Healer Natasha coming down the stairs. She looked exhausted. "Good morning, Miss Natasha."

"What brings our little lord to this place, this early no less? Wait— Are you here for Jill?"

"Jill?" Felix tilted his head, having no idea who that was.

"Miss Ansel's daughter. I've just treated her, but she looked as if someone had violently assaulted her... Miss Ansel says it was a fight with a neighboring kid, but I refuse to believe a twelve-year-old is capable of causing this much harm."

Felix suddenly understood Miss Ansel's behavior, her panic, and yet her reluctance to reveal anything about Iris.

"That..." Felix cleared his throat. This case was already concluded, and he didn't want to involve Healer Natasha in the mess. "No, I haven't heard anything about that. I was here for a different task, which is now completed. I need to file a report. Farewell, Miss Natasha."

Felix had only taken a few steps before Natasha called out to him, "Wait! I was looking for you."

He turned back, surprised. "For me?" They hadn't had any contact in the last year since Natasha had decided to leave the Lancaster Estate and live her life as a mercenary.

"I mean, there's something I need your help with."

Felix's hope flickered. Could she be considering returning?

"Ask away," he replied.

"Not here, follow me," Natasha said.

Reluctantly, Felix followed her, growing more tense with each step. "Miss Natasha, you look worse. Is everything all right?"

"Y-yeah, I had to heal two people yesterday and one this morning, and I haven't slept the whole night, so I might not look okay, but I am."

He noticed her trembling hands. Why was she so nervous? As they walked, he realized they were heading back to Iris's room. That was concerning; Natasha and high-level mages never got along well.

"What do you need, Miss Natasha?"

"I'll explain in a moment," Natasha replied, raising her hand to knock on the door. Her face was as pale as if she had lost all her blood.

"Wait, why are you in contact with a Level 6?" Felix decided to drop the pretence.

"You know! Of course, you do. That makes it easier. She needs your help."

Felix wanted to know why Natasha was in contact with a Level 6. He knew her history and how desperate she had become when she was close to a high-level mage.

Natasha knocked on the door, and they were invited inside.

"Miss Nash, are you alright?" Iris asked, concerned and a little panicked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. This is Felix, the one I said could help you."

"We met a little while ago. Greetings again, Knight Commander."

"You did? That's great. Anyways, Felix, she needs to meet Lady Ilona, and you're the only one who is close to Lady Lancaster that I know. I want you to help her." Felix didn't need to ask why Natasha wanted to help Iris; it was within her nature.

"Why?" Felix interjected.

"She—"

"I'm not asking for the reason. Why should I help?" Felix's tone hardened, and he felt a rising panic. Not just out of fear, but out of concern for Natasha.

"I..." Natasha's eyes shifted, and she took a step back.

"Calm down,"

Suddenly, all the anxiety left him, and he felt weightless and calm. Even his headache vanished. Natasha appeared relieved as well. "What happened?" Felix asked, mostly to himself.

"Power of suggestion. I don't like to use it, but you both were... less sane."

"I'm sorry; it's my fault. When I panic, my power starts to affect others around me," Natasha admitted with a bow.

"I see. Why are you panicked, though? Is something bothering you?"

Natasha turned her eyes to Felix, hoping he would help her out. However, he couldn't, especially now, in the presence of a Level 6. A single wrong step and both of them could be in danger.

"You're not obligated to answer me or to do anything for me. I think you should leave. My presence is bad for you, I can see that. As for meeting Lady Ilona, I'll think of something."

"No—" Natasha began.

"She is right, Miss Natasha. Please come with me," Felix said, taking her hand and walking out. "Miss Iris, if I happen to get a chance, I'll ask Lady Ilona to meet you. But please don't get your hopes up. Lady Ilona has been averse to meeting anyone lately."

"That would be helpful. Take care," Iris replied.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

….

Iris felt a twinge of sadness seeing Natasha's condition. Was she sensitive to mana or something else? At least Knight Commander knew what to do. Iris shook her head, not wanting to dwell on bothersome things. She couldn't be of much help to Natasha anyway.

"What should we eat?" Iris asked Winny. Of course, she received no answer.

Iris wanted to feed Winny something delicious and new. New was easy; they hadn't tried many things.

Spotting a store overflowing with people, Iris assumed whatever they were selling would be tasty. It was also cheap, just four shells for a plate. However, it turned out to be awful in taste, and the oil made her throat burn.

She spat out the food and continued onward. As she was about to toss the plate, Iris noticed a small child. The boy was dressed in rags and stood behind a lamppost, his eyes fixated on the store. Iris could tell he was planning to steal from the store. She had been in the same place before falling into the Labyrinth.

The kid would likely get a beating if caught attempting to steal, just like she had. She hadn't succeeded even once; they were too weak and slow to run away even if they managed to steal something.

Iris approached the child. He noticed her but didn't immediately run. Iris could see the fear in his eyes, as he tried to convince himself that he hadn't done anything yet. But soon, he would learn to run away as soon as he was noticed. The store owner would likely beat him, whether he was trying to steal or not.

"What!" the boy spoke aggressively, his eyes frantic.

"Here, this is for you," Iris crouched in front of him and presented the plate in her hand, which was made of disposable foam.

His eyes remained suspicious, but he took the plate. Iris stood up and saw a sparkle of joy in his eyes as he turned to leave.

"You should eat here," she suggested. If there was someone bigger than him, he would only feel pain from this food.

"I need to share with my sister."

"I see. Do not let others see," she warned, as he ran off as if she might take his plate.

Iris felt a warmth inside her. She would do things like this again.

As she continued walking, Iris remembered that she was supposed to purchase real clothes. She wasn't sure where or what to buy, as she had no idea what would look good on her; that was Winny's role. She decided to buy clothes after she had freed Winny.

She also needed a real home, not just a lodge. In a nice place. A castle, perhaps? She had heard people talking about the tournament to be held tomorrow, with a castle as the prize. It was a castle located at the very centre of the city, visible from any open or high place.

While walking around, Iris stumbled upon something called a park. People were gathered there, watching over children playing, while the old ones sat around chatting with each other.

Iris found a seat and sat down, observing the activities around her. She placed Winny on her lap.

"It's a peaceful place," she muttered softly, her hand slowly smoothing Winny's fur.

…

"Hello!" A familiar voice shouted in Iris's ears, making her jump out of her skin.

Iris looked up in a panic and was greeted with big round amber eyes that shone like morning flames. The owner of the fiery hair hunched over the backrest of the seat. Iris could smell fire off of her; she never knew flames had a smell, yet in this girl's presence, she could feel it.

"Uhm..." Iris made a confused noise. She wasn't used to meeting someone with this much energy and momentum outside of battle. It was the same creature she first encountered while entering the city, although she wasn't wearing her overly huge witch hat this time.

"I'm Hella, and you are...?" Hella jumped over the backrest and took a seat beside Iris, almost on top of her.

"I'm Iris, and this is Winny," Iris soothed the startled cat.

"Hello to you too," Hella waved at Winny, her hand slowly creeping toward the cat. Did she want to touch Winny? Iris didn't mind; Hella was the opposite of negative, yet she emitted a sense of disaster.

"Uhm... do you need something?" Iris asked.

"Your lightning grates my skin from that far away," Hella pointed towards the castle at the centre of the city.

"You must be very sensitive to the nature of mana," just like me, Iris thought to herself. Perhaps she had forgotten to rein in her elemental presence.

"Yeah, and people used to think I was mad," Hella muttered bitterly.

"That... sounds about right," Iris replied. She had it easier if people thought she was just mad.

"Right," Hella's expression shifted. "I just wanted to say—" She pondered for a moment and waved her hand in front of Iris's face. Iris tilted her head at this abrupt shift. "If you cannot see, how can you see?"

"Magic," Iris whispered mysteriously, a smile blossoming on her face. Winny had asked the same question when they first met.

"That makes no sense," Hella scrunched her brows in confusion.

"It's magic; of course, it makes sense," Iris replied, just as she had to Winny. She even expected Hella's response.

Hella pondered for a long time before a realization dawned on her. "Yes! Magic! Now, it makes sense," Hella proclaimed proudly.

Iris smiled. She knew Hella would say that. Hella didn't understand, yet she believed she did, and Iris wouldn't correct her. If she did, Hella might go insane.

"What are you doing here?"

"Watching people."

"That sounds boring," Hella said, scrunching her face bitterly. To her, the idea of sitting still and doing nothing was painful.

"Is it?" Iris mused. "Perhaps I long for such a boring life." A life without anything to do, just spending time with Winny, not this husk, but the real Winny, sounded tempting.

Hella gawked at her. "That's what my master says! Are you also a hundred-year-old ancient bone?"

Iris laughed. "I'm 18. Is it wrong to want peace so early?" Not that it was early; she had hardly more than 4 years to live.

"Me too!" Hella almost jumped at her. Did she find that to be so exciting? "Then, how come you're bored?"

"That... I do not know."

"Must be something to do with being... strong," Hella looked pleased with her absurd and nonsensical conclusion. "Anyways, are you here for the tournament?"

"Yes," Iris replied. She only wanted to entertain Hella; she had no plans to waste time on something like a tournament. Not to mention, it would be dishonourable to intentionally seek battle with weaker opponents.

"Me too!" Hella laughed and stared at her. "You are super strong; I wonder if I will win."

"You are weak compared to me; you will not win," Iris stated firmly, not wanting Hella to create a delusion.

"Hey! How can you be so sure?"

"I'm Level 6, and you're 4," Iris explained. Both of them were Casters, in the same class, but Iris had a higher level, which meant she could easily stop Hella from casting spells.

"That does not mean jackshit in a real battle," Hella countered. By "real," she meant a battle where someone was willing to wager their soul just for enough strength to win that one fight, regardless of the cruel price they must pay. What Winny did to save Iris from death.

"This is a tournament with nothing that justifies that kind of madness."

"For you, there isn't. For me, this tournament is everything, regardless of the price. I will win," Hella spoke in a tone that Iris didn't expect from her. It was a dreadful tone, willing to make a deal with eternal darkness itself.

"Is the castle that important to you?" Iris asked. The castle was the prize of the tournament, but Hella didn't look like someone who wanted a lavish castle, or at least Iris didn't think so.

"Castle?" Hella blinked comically. "You don't know?"

"What don't I know?"