Mav paused his work, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Where?"

Ana grew quiet for a moment before replying softly, "The slums."

"The slums... of course," Mav thought.

His mind wandered to the image of narrow alleys lined with crumbling buildings, children playing in the dirt, and the sick huddled in corners. The scent of damp and decay filled his imagination. He hadn’t been there yet, but the mere mention of the slums conjured a vivid picture in his mind.

"So there’s a place like that even in this world..."

"There are probably a lot of people there," Ana continued, her usual cheerful tone replaced with a more somber one. "Some with illnesses, people who need healing but can’t afford it." Her shoulders sagged, and her cheerful expression dimmed. Mav noticed the way her fingers tightened slightly around the potion bottles.

He just nodded, understanding the weight behind her words.

"I know what you’re thinking, Mav," Ana said with a sigh. "But as healers, we have to prioritize. And right now, our priority is to survive. If only resources were cheap and easy to come by... Maybe someday, when the threat of the Daimoniki is gone..." Her voice trailed off, and her gaze drifted to the floor.

"I understand..." Mav replied, though there was a hint of frustration in his tone.

"But Mav," Ana continued, leaning forward as if to draw him closer, "maybe you can do something. It would be slow with your skill’s mana cost, but if you could help them little by little, it would definitely add up. Every bit counts."

"You're right..." Mav agreed, the fire in his heart reigniting.

"If only we had the leader's artifact..." Ana added.

"Artifact?" Mav’s interest was immediately piqued. "Now that's a word I haven’t heard in a while."

"Artifact?" Mav repeated, turning fully to face her. He had already finished washing the last of the dishes and was now drying his hands on a clean cloth. He walked over to the counter, sitting across from Ana, who was still engrossed in potion-making.

"You’ve never heard about artifacts?" Ana looked up at him in surprise.

"Nope, not once," Mav replied, intrigued.

"Atleast not since I've arrived here."

"Let me explain then." Ana's eyes brightened, her voice taking on a lively tone. "Artifacts are powerful items worn by some flame users to enhance their skills. I say some because we only have a few of them. For example, our guild leader has an artifact called the Scarf of Echoing Veil. It allows her to cast Blue Heal or Blue Creation on multiple targets within a certain radius, all at the same mana cost as healing one person. The only known artifact users for now are the guild leaders of each flame. I think they’re passed down from one leader to the next. As for where the original artifacts came from? No one knows. Maybe you’ll find out someday. You should ask the guild leaders whenever you meet them."

"That sounds... powerful," Mav murmured, trying to process the implications. "I need to find more information. I need to find out where they come from, and how I can use them to stop the Daimoniki."

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"If we have weapons like that..." Mav's mind raced, the gears turning rapidly. "And if I can convince all the guild leaders to let me cast Dark Ascension on them, and if I can reach level 300 to unlock Dark Rewrite... And if I find enough people willing to be able to cast it on... We might actually stand a chance against the Daimoniki, even against the likes of Kastanos and Maimou."

His pulse quickened at the thought.

"Thank you, Master," Mav said, leaning closer and grabbing Ana’s hands. "You’ve been helping me so much. Not just with the mana potions and leveling up my skills, but with all this valuable information. Please let me know if you have any other important information like this!"

Ana laughed softly. "Calm down, Mav! You’re gonna knock something over."

Mav flushed, quickly letting go of her hands. "Right... sorry!" He scratched his head, grinning awkwardly.

"Anyway, these are just common facts," Ana said, still chuckling. "And you've been helping me too, more than you know. In just a few days, you’ve earned me much more than a decent profit. Not to mention, I’ve been working you hard, so consider this my way of repaying you."

Mav beamed at her. "But you’ve already done so much."

"Just don’t abandon me when you become a big shot, alright?" Ana teased, winking.

"Master..."

"And I assume you’re planning to go to the slums, right?" Ana reached behind the counter, pulling out a bundle of small bottles filled with red liquid. "Take these. These healing potions can treat up to intermediate-level wounds and diseases. They're not in high demand because most flame users bring healers with them during their expeditions, but these healing potions might be useful for some of the people in the slums who can’t afford treatment, especially those with illnesses that need immediate attention. As for the mana potions, I've already said I can only sell you two per day. I need to reserve the rest for other flame users too. I’m the only healer in the kingdom who can make potions of this level, so if I sell them all to you, I’ll run out for everyone else."

"I understand," Mav replied, taking the potions and placing them carefully into his item box.

"But if I can only buy two potions a day, that’s going to slow my leveling up by a lot. Maybe I can find other high-level healers in other kingdoms? Problem is, I have no idea how to reach them, even if I could run there fast enough. Maybe I’ll ask Mina some other time," Mav thought.

"But you’re being too kind. I'll definitely pay you back for all of these. If you want, I can be your assistant forever! I can even live with you and help with household chores!" Mav said.

Ana burst out laughing. "You’re too young to ask to live with a woman, Mav!"

"I-I didn’t mean it like that!" Mav stammered, his cheeks reddening.

Ana laughed again, her voice full of amusement.

"Anyway, I’ll stay here for a bit longer. If no one comes for healing, I’ll head to the slums," Mav said.

"Good plan," Ana replied. "Why don’t you clean up the place while you wait?"

"Anything for you, Master!" Mav said, standing up and giving her a mock salute.

Ana shook her head, smiling. "I’m just kidding! Sit down and relax. I’ll make you some tea and bring out some snacks."

"I can’t let you do that!"

"Hush," Ana said, waving him off. "Just sit there and enjoy."

"Alright, if you insist," Mav said, settling back down.

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Ana and Mav spent the next hour chatting. She spoke about potion-making, her experiences on the frontlines, and the challenges of healing in battle. Mav listened intently, savoring the tea she had prepared and the biscuits she served alongside it. The warmth of the moment calmed him, but after some time, he decided it was time to head to the slums.

"You’re leaving already?" Ana asked.

"Yeah, I’ve been here long enough. Thanks again for everything, Master," Mav said, heading toward the door.

"Wait!" Ana called out, making him pause. "Are you planning to go there alone?"

"Yeah, why?" Mav asked, turning back.

"I don’t know what you think the slums are like, but going there on your own is dangerous. Wait here a minute. I know someone who can accompany you."

"Why is she so worried?" Mav wondered. "Doesn’t she know about my skills?" Then he remembered. "Oh, right. I only showed her Dark Blue Miracle. That’s the only one she was curious about anyway."

"Alright," Mav replied. "But who is this person?"

"You’ll see. She comes by every day around this time to buy potions. She’ll be here any minute now," Ana assured him.

Mav nodded and waited, curiosity building.