----------------------------------------
After Renn regained her strength and weight, the time had finally come for the grand meeting of the descendant team.
It was afternoon when Velle, Mint, and Renn entered a room on the far left of the second floor. At the end of the room stood a large Mana-infused device with a screen attached to it.
“Whoooa! What is this room?!” Renn exclaimed, eyes wide as she took in the unfamiliar sight.
“It’s the meeting room!” Mint replied with her usual enthusiasm. “We use that device to communicate with other workshops and the Alchemist Corp headquarters.”
“Wow...” Renn marveled, staring at the setup like a kid in a candy store.
“We’re holding a meeting with Howl here,” Velle said, already booting up the device. “Grab a chair and sit down.”
Moments later, the screen flickered to life. After a few keystrokes, an image appeared: a handsome, blonde-haired man with a red headband, his striking crimson eyes vivid on the display.
“Hello? Is the audio working?” the man asked, making exaggerated noises to test the connection.
“Yes, it’s working. Can you be serious for once?“ Velle snapped, rolling her eyes.
“Did you know being serious all the time makes you age faster?“ he quipped, a playful grin on his face.
“Shut it.“
Watching the exchange, Renn couldn’t help but notice how comfortable Velle seemed with the man. She leaned toward Mint. “Uh, so that’s the prince?“
“Yep, that’s him—”
Before Mint could finish, the man on the screen interrupted, “That’s me! Howl Cladun, at your service! You must be Renn!“
“Y-Yes! Nice to meet you, s-sir!“ Renn stammered, overwhelmed by his energy.
“Whoa, no need for ’sir’! We’re all descendants here! Our ancestors fought side by side, right? So relax!“
“I... I guess so?“ Renn replied, unsure how to handle the situation.
“And since you’re Garland’s descendant, doesn’t that make you royalty too? No need to be formal!“ Howl added with a wink.
Renn froze, unsure how to respond to his rapid-fire enthusiasm.
“Hold on,” Velle interjected. “Renn’s never met her real parents. Her identity as a descendant hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.“
“Wait, what?!“ Howl’s face shifted to shock. “Who would abandon a hero’s descendant like that?“
“We only recently found a way to verify her lineage,” Velle explained. “Back then, no one cared much about who was descended from whom.“
“That’s ridiculous. But don’t worry, we’ll help you find your parents!“ Howl said, determined.
“Thanks…” Renn murmured softly.
“Now, about our next steps,” Velle continued, steering the conversation back to business. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t find anyone else with a Mana wave match above 50% besides Renn. So right now, we only have three confirmed descendants, not including Axel’s.“
“Right,” Howl nodded. “But now that Renn’s back on her feet, you focus on training her. Leave those enemies to me for now.“
“Objection,” Velle countered, her voice firm. “They already have Axel’s powers. You can’t handle them alone.“
“That’s why I need Renn trained up! She’s got the highest match out of all of us. As it stands, we’re outnumbered and outgunned. If we stick together, we can’t cover enough ground. We’ll need to split into three teams, one descendant per group.“
Despite his carefree attitude, it was clear Howl had thought this through carefully.
Mint chimed in, “We still need to find the remaining three descendants and get them on board, right?“
“Yes,” Velle confirmed. “But since we’ve already scanned all the hunters, the remaining descendants are either non-combatants or... they don’t exist.“
“Don’t exist?“ Renn asked, confused.
“It’s been centuries,” Velle explained. “Not all the heroes had well-known bloodlines. Some descendants might have died out.“
Renn looked stunned. “That’s... awful.“
“We’ll have to keep that possibility in mind,” Howl said, his tone growing more serious. “For now, focus on training Renn so she can fight on her own. Once she’s ready, split into two teams and cover more ground. I’ll take the southern region.“
Renn raised her hand hesitantly. “I have a question.“
“Go ahead!“ Howl said, pointing at her from the screen with both index fingers, his energy undimmed.
“Why can’t we just go and absorb our ancestors’ Mana before the enemy gets to it? Like, straight from the sources?“
“That’s impossible,” Velle replied, shaking her head. “We’re not just outnumbered and outpowered—we also don’t have the technology. We don’t know how they extracted Axel’s Mana so quickly, let alone how they managed to inject it into someone. Our only option right now is to prevent them from collecting the remaining Mana.“
“But they won’t be able to use the Mana of the three heroes we represent, right? Because we’re here,” Renn added, her expression hopeful.
“That’s the theory,” Velle said, “but we don’t know if the person wielding Axel’s power is a descendant or not. This whole ‘descendant assembly’ could be a dead end, but it’s all we’ve got.“
A tense silence fell over the room, until Howl broke it with his usual enthusiasm. “Hey now, you’re a genius! If anyone can figure this out, it’s you, Velle.“
“Mana with similar waves has been proven to work better when infused into items,” Velle explained. “Using the same logic, the closer our Mana waves match the heroes’, the better we’ll be able to use their powers. But we still need to figure out how to safely harvest and inject their Mana into our bodies.“
“Well, that settles it!“ Howl declared, clapping his hands together. “I’ll handle the southern region. You guys focus on training Renn, then split into teams and cover more areas. Meanwhile, Velle can keep researching the process for safely harvesting the Mana. Good luck, everyone!“
With that, Howl cut the transmission, and the screen faded to black.
“Well, I guess that’s our next step, then,” Velle said as she powered down the device and stood up.
“So... you’re going to train me?“ Renn asked, her eyes wide with curiosity as she looked up at Velle.
“I would, if I didn’t have to figure out a way to harvest Mana quickly and inject it into people,” Velle replied as they all exited the room. “For now, you’ll need to handle your training on your own. Oh, and...“ She paused, turning back to face Renn with a sly smile.
“How about we get you a new weapon?“
“Eh?! Really? For real this time?“ Renn’s excitement was impossible to hide.
“Yes. After seeing how that monster absolutely wrecked you, it’s clear you need something better.“
“Ugh... yeah, about that,” Renn muttered, rubbing her arm. “I heard my bones and insides were all messed up. How did you heal me so fast?“
Velle reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bottle filled with glowing liquid. The colors inside shifted constantly, swirling in mesmerizing patterns. Renn recognized the glow from similar containers she’d seen alchemists handling on the second floor.
“This is a Mana potion,” Velle explained. “They’re incredibly difficult to make, only available at Alchemist Corp headquarters.“
“Whoa... so you used that to save me?“ Renn asked, eyes wide in awe as she stared at the bottle.
“Of course I did. I’d charge you the 20,000 gold it took to make this, but since you’re a valuable part of our group, I’ll let it slide.“
“Tw-twenty... thousand?!“ Renn stammered, eyes nearly popping out of her head.
“You say that, Velle, but I remember seeing you almost use a second bottle when she wasn’t waking up!“ Mint chimed in, bouncing on her toes.
“Which I didn’t, thankfully,” Velle said, shooting Mint a side-eye. “The higher-ups weren’t exactly thrilled with the whole situation as it was.“
“W-why? What happened?“ Renn asked, sensing there was more to the story.
“Oh! I know this one!“ Mint said, practically jumping as she raised her hand like a student. “Because Velle killed the beast that was supposed to be taken down by the Hunter Guild, they demanded the full bounty from Alchemist Corp! And since Velle used a Mana potion on you, they charged the cost to her salary as a penalty!“
“Th-that sounds like a lot of money...“ Renn mumbled, guilt creeping in. “I’m sorry.“
“Don’t be. It’s not a big deal,” Velle replied, waving it off like it was nothing. “With all the funds and resources I have access to for the descendants assembly project, those charges were barely a dent.“
“Is that so...“ Renn murmured, trying to wrap her head around the enormous sums Velle seemed so unfazed by.
----------------------------------------
After leaving Mint to handle some paperwork, Velle took Renn to Alma’s mana weapon shop.
As they entered, a middle-aged man with a messy beard greeted them with a broad grin. “Well, hello there, young misses. Ah, I see you’re from the workshop. Welcome, welcome,” he said, eyeing Velle’s uniform with recognition.
“Hello!“ Renn responded politely, while Velle breezed right past him, heading deeper into the shop.
The shop was small—smaller than the alchemist workshop’s hall—and it had an almost intimate feel to it. Rows of weapons, each humming faintly with stored Mana, softly illuminated the dim interior with an ethereal glow. Unlike typical smithies, this place felt like a vault for prized, carefully crafted pieces.
“So, you’re thinking of a spear?“ Velle asked, her sharp eyes scanning the shelves, seemingly searching for something specific.
“Well, I’m not really good with spears… I just figured they had better reach,” Renn admitted, trailing closely behind her, still processing everything that had happened in the last few days.
As they walked, something strange caught Renn’s eye—a small device resting on one of the lower shelves. It didn’t resemble any weapon she had ever seen.
“Oh, what’s this?“ Renn asked, kneeling down to get a closer look.
Glancing back, Velle gave the device a cursory glance before answering, “That’s a catalyst.“
“A catalyst?“ Renn echoed, her curiosity piqued.
“It’s a new type of weapon—exclusive to mana weapons. They’re harder to come by and trickier to use. You have to register your unique Mana wave with the catalyst, which makes it usable only by you.“
“That sounds... complicated,” Renn said, her brow furrowed as she tried to imagine how it worked.
“My weapons are catalysts, actually. Well, hybrids,” Velle added, almost nonchalantly, as she continued browsing.
“Wait, hybrids?“ Renn asked, more intrigued now.
Velle pulled two beautifully crafted daggers from her belt—one was a deep azure blue, the other a vivid yellow. The craftsmanship was extraordinary, with intricate designs etched into the blades. “This blue one is Zephyr, and the yellow one is Eurus,” she introduced them with a hint of pride.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Renn leaned in to get a closer look, admiring the daggers. They were sleek and elegant, fitting weapons for someone of Velle’s status. “They just look like daggers to me,” Renn said, tilting her head, not quite seeing what made them different.
“They might look like ordinary daggers,” Velle replied with a knowing smile, “but every catalyst has something in common.“
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed both daggers into the air. To Renn’s shock, instead of clattering to the floor, the blades hovered mid-air, rotating smoothly in perfect synchronization before settling just above Velle’s shoulders, as if they were floating guardians.
“Whoa! They float!“ Renn gasped, her eyes wide with amazement.
“Exactly. Catalysts move according to the user’s will,” Velle explained, giving Renn a brief, satisfied glance. “But there’s a trade-off—it can put a real strain on your mind. Directing them isn’t as easy as it looks.“
“So... you used those to kill that beast, huh?“ Renn asked, her gaze shifting from the daggers to Velle. “Maybe I should get a hybrid spear, then...“
“I wouldn’t be so quick to decide,” Velle said, shaking her head as she caught her daggers and slid them back into their sheaths.
“Why not?“
“Hybrids are extremely rare. In fact, the only hybrids I’ve ever come across are catalysts combined with another weapon type. And even then, controlling them is... complicated. Even for me, it took more than half a year of constant practice to master them.“
“Oh, right...“ Renn muttered, feeling a bit deflated. It made sense that someone as gifted as Velle could wield these weapons with ease—but it sounded like a much steeper learning curve for anyone else.
“Catalysts are more like Mana storage units than traditional weapons,” Velle continued, her voice slipping into an almost teacher-like tone. “They can hold a much greater amount of Mana compared to regular weapons, thanks to their construction. But there’s a catch—they’re pretty much useless in direct combat unless you’re channeling the stored Mana. You can’t rely on them for raw physical strikes.“
“I-I think I get it...“ Renn mumbled, feeling a little overwhelmed as she tried to absorb all the information. It was clear she had unwittingly triggered Velle’s personal lecture mode, and there was no stopping it now.
In the end, Renn couldn’t decide on a weapon. Part of her hesitation was because she wasn’t using her own money—spending someone else’s gold always felt awkward. But more than that, she didn’t want to commit to a weapon she didn’t fully understand how to use. Picking something blindly felt... wrong.
----------------------------------------
Back at the alchemist workshop, Velle informed her that her own weapons were custom-made and that Renn could also get a custom weapon—once she had a clearer idea of what she wanted. That gave Renn some relief. She decided to take her time, learn more about mana weapons, and avoid rushing into a decision she might regret.
Mana weapons, she learned, were created by infusing Mana from various sources into the weapon itself. The effects a user could activate depended heavily on how compatible the different types of Mana were with each other. The higher the Mana wave match, the better the weapon’s performance. And naturally, the more expensive it became.
Since every Mana source was unique, it could only be converted into a limited number of effects. Some types of Mana were better suited for elemental attacks—like fire, water, or lightning—while others were more effective for enhancing the user’s physical abilities, like speed or strength.
Standard mana weapons usually had a trigger mechanism—a button or switch the user could activate to unleash the weapon’s effects. But catalyst-based weapons were different. They were controlled directly by the user’s mind, with no need for manual activation. Instead, the wielder used their mental focus to direct the weapon’s movements and powers in real-time.
Once activated, the Mana stored within the weapon was drawn out to be used. And when no longer needed, it would return to the weapon, ensuring none was wasted. This allowed mana weapons to remain functional as long as the structure of the weapon could hold up under repeated use and strain.
Later that evening, Mint entered their shared bedroom, her steps light and her mood as cheerful as ever. Renn was sitting on her bed, furrowed in concentration as she studied a book Velle had given her on the subject of mana weapons. Pages filled with intricate diagrams and descriptions of Mana properties and weapon mechanics stared back at her.
“Hey, Renn~ What’s on your mind?“ Mint asked, her voice cutting through the quiet of the room as she plopped down on the lower bunk.
Renn glanced up briefly, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Ah… hey, Mint.”
Mint’s eyes caught the title of the book, and she grinned. “Ooh, studying mana weapons, huh?”
“Yeah, sort of,” Renn replied, tapping the edge of the page. “I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of it. Mana weapons are way more powerful than I thought. Way stronger than regular weapons.”
Mint nodded energetically. “Definitely! They can be pretty scary, can’t they?”
Renn’s gaze hardened, the resolve behind her words unmistakable. “But if I want to fight those guys—those monsters that are still out there—I’ll need one too.”
Mint blinked, surprised by the sudden seriousness in Renn’s tone. For a moment, she saw something different in her friend’s eyes—determination that hadn’t been there before. “You’re thinking of requesting a custom weapon from the headquarters, right?”
“Y-yeah…” Renn stammered, her confidence wavering for a moment.
Mint clapped her hands together, eyes sparkling. “Let me help! It’ll be fun!” She grabbed a nearby notebook and pencil, ready to dive in.
That night, the two of them brainstormed ideas for Renn’s custom weapon, throwing around wild designs and concepts. Sketches piled up as they debated the merits of different weapons: a hybrid spear, a dual-bladed staff, or even a catalyst that could shapeshift.
Velle, quietly observing from the top bunk, listened with interest as they bounced ideas off each other. Though she didn’t speak up, she made mental notes of their discussions, already thinking ahead about how to improve their designs before submitting the final request to the Alchemist Corp. It was clear that Renn wasn’t just thinking of an ordinary weapon—she wanted something that could stand up to whatever came next.
Over the next week, Renn’s training intensified. She ventured out with the local hunters, exploring the wilderness surrounding Alma and facing tougher monsters in increasingly dangerous regions. Her progress was nothing short of remarkable. The seasoned hunters she trained with couldn’t believe how quickly she adapted. Some speculated that her near-death experience with the Gray Bear had toughened her up, while others whispered that she was a natural-born hunter, perhaps even gifted.
Whatever the reason, Renn’s growth was undeniable. She quickly surpassed many who had been hunting near Alma for far longer—achieving all this using only a basic spear, not even a mana weapon.
Finally, the long-awaited weapon arrived at Alma’s workshop.
“Velle~!” Mint’s voice rang out as she hurried down from the bedroom to the second floor, her footsteps rapid on the wooden stairs. “The delivery’s here! Renn’s weapon just arrived! And... there’s a bunch of other stuff too!”
Velle looked up from her desk, where notes and sketches of various alchemical projects were scattered. “I know,” she replied calmly, not as easily caught up in Mint’s excitement. “But Renn already left with the hunters this morning. She won’t be back for a while.”
“Eh? So... should I wait until she comes back?”
Velle shook her head, stacking her papers in a neat pile. “No need. Take the weapon to her. The hunters have been moving in groups ever since the Gray Bear incident, so it’s unlikely you’ll run into trouble.”
Mint pouted slightly, her hands on her hips. “A-are you sending me on an errand right now?”
Velle smirked, leaning back in her chair. “Of course not. Just think of it as delivering a special gift to your friend. I’m sure Renn will be thrilled to get her new weapon while she’s out training.”
“Oh, okay! Be right back~!” Mint said, her mood instantly brightening as she grabbed the long, carefully wrapped package from the counter. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she dashed down the stairs with her usual boundless energy, eager to see Renn’s reaction.
As Mint left, Velle leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming thoughtfully on her desk. The corners of her mouth turned up into a small, satisfied smile. She knew this weapon was something special—one of the finest she’d ever helped design. Crafted specifically for Renn, it was tailored to her fighting style, built to amplify her strengths and cover her weaknesses.
If the rumors were true—about Renn’s remarkable progress among the hunters—this weapon could turn even more heads. It would definitely stir up excitement in the hunter community, especially once they saw what a girl like Renn could do with it.
----------------------------------------
Somewhere on the plains near Alma, a dozen hunters stood in formation, tension hanging thick in the air. They had tracked a wanted monster that had escaped from another city, its path of destruction leaving little doubt it would end up here. Now, they waited for it to emerge from the dense forest at the edge of the plain.
Renn stood among them, gripping her non-mana spear tightly, her gaze unwavering. The forest trembled violently, the sound of cracking branches and heavy footsteps growing louder as something massive forced its way through the trees.
“Ready your weapons!“ one of the senior hunters barked, raising the alarm.
The group tensed, their weapons at the ready, while Renn remained calm. Despite being the only hunter without a Mana-infused weapon, she held her ground. She’d faced monsters like this before—massive, violent creatures, but not invincible. She wasn’t intimidated. Even with an ordinary spear, she was ready.
With a thunderous crash, a hulking boar burst through the tree line, its monstrous form scarred and bleeding from past battles. Towering above them, its bloodshot eyes scanned the group, fury etched in every inch of its monstrous form.
“It’s here!“ a hunter shouted as the beast let out an ear-splitting roar.
Ranged fighters loosed a volley of arrows and spells, a barrage of Mana-infused attacks lighting up the sky. Renn sprinted ahead of the pack, her focus narrowing in on a weak spot just above the creature’s brow. Her spear struck first, a sharp thunk echoing as it collided with the beast’s skull.
The boar roared in pain, shaking its massive head as it stumbled back. Renn spun around it in a swift arc, driving the spear into its side with precision. The other hunters soon closed in, attacking from all angles, their weapons slicing into the beast’s thick hide. But it was clear that the creature wasn’t going down easily. Its enraged movements were erratic, swiping wildly at the hunters.
Mint, watching from a distance, saw the chaos unfold and sprinted toward the battlefield, clutching Renn’s new weapon, still wrapped in cloth.
The hunters fought valiantly, but their attacks weren’t enough. The boar, despite its mounting injuries, charged wildly, throwing off several hunters with the force of its massive body.
“Tch! We need more firepower!” one of the hunters growled, urging the archers to release another volley of arrows.
Renn, however, remained laser-focused. Unlike the others, she wasn’t just aiming to wound the creature—she was using the blunt end of her spear to target its weak points, aiming to disorient it. Every strike was calculated, exploiting the monster’s sluggish reactions and massive size.
The beast was growing more desperate, thrashing wildly. But Renn saw through its pattern—it was just like any cornered animal. Predictable.
Suddenly, the boar charged, its massive tusks gleaming under the sunlight as it barreled straight at her. The ground shook beneath its weight, the sheer force sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air.
Renn braced herself, her spear raised defensively, but the impact sent her flying. She flipped mid-air, landing on her feet with a grace that surprised the nearby hunters.
“You alright, miss?” one of the hunters asked, clearly impressed by her balance.
“I’m fine,” Renn said, her gaze still locked on the creature. “It’s going to try to run soon. We need to finish this.”
Without waiting for a response, she charged forward again. Her relentless determination shocked the other hunters, who had to catch their breath after the creature’s last attack.
“H-how did she know it would try to run?” one of the hunters muttered, watching in awe as Renn fearlessly charged the monster again.
“Doesn’t matter! Let’s back her up!” another shouted.
Just then, a loud voice rang out from the top of a nearby hill. “Rennnnnn!”
All eyes turned to see Mint standing there, waving frantically. In her hands, she held something long, wrapped in cloth.
“Your new weapon! Catch!”
Mint tossed the weapon into the air. It flew gracefully, not because Mint was strong, but because the weapon itself was incredibly light.
Renn’s mind flashed back to the nightmare she had after the Gray Bear incident, a haunting memory of watching the beast’s attack over and over. She had sworn to never let herself be powerless again. That drive had shaped the weapon design she and Mint had worked on.
As the weapon flew through the air, the cloth unraveled, revealing a sleek, silver bo staff adorned with four glowing mana cores; two on each end. It was both sturdy and lightweight, crafted from the finest materials the Alchemist Corp had to offer.
The moment Renn caught sight of her new staff, the boar charged at her again. Without hesitation, she hurled her old spear into the beast’s mouth, but it kept coming. She leaped into the air, using the monster’s head as a platform to propel herself higher, grabbing the staff mid-air.
As her fingers wrapped around it, she instantly activated the first mana core: self-enhancement. Mana surged through her body, enhancing her physical abilities.
Next, she activated the second core: physical manifestation. Mana poured out from the staff, forming a massive, translucent hammer at one end of the weapon.
With her newly enhanced strength and the staff’s lightness, Renn swung the giant hammer down with everything she had.
BOOOOM!
The ground quaked as the hammer struck the boar with a devastating blow. The force of the impact created a shockwave that sent dirt and debris flying, knocking several hunters off their feet. The beast, pinned beneath the weight of the hammer, let out one final, pitiful squeal before collapsing, its enormous body still.
Renn landed softly, wide-eyed at the sheer power she now wielded. She had known the weapon would be strong, but this was beyond anything she had imagined.
“Holy shit!” one of the hunters gasped, scrambling to his feet, staring wide-eyed at the fallen monster.
“She… she took it down with one hit!” another exclaimed, rushing forward to inspect the boar’s lifeless form.
The other hunters erupted into cheers, celebrating both the monster’s defeat and Renn’s stunning display of power. As the youngest hunter in their group, she had just taken down one of the most dangerous creatures they had ever faced.
Up on the hill, Mint watched with tears in her eyes, overwhelmed with pride. It was like watching a child of hers achieve something incredible.
----------------------------------------
After sharing the bounty of the “War Boar” with the other hunters at the workshop, Renn and Mint climbed the stairs to the second floor. Renn cradled her new staff with care, while Mint followed, holding her old spear, now wrapped in cloth.
“Those guys sure were loud down there,” Velle remarked without even turning around, clearly aware of the cheering and celebration downstairs over Renn’s impressive feat.
Renn scratched the back of her head, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. “Ahaha, yeah…”
“What’s with that reply, Renn?! You were amazing out there!” Mint exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as she set the wrapped spear aside.
“R-really?” Renn stammered, still processing all the attention she had received.
Velle finally set down her tools, turning to face them. “Of course. You’ve got a weapon with four mana cores. That’s not something you see every day. Most mana weapons have one or two, tops.”
Mint nodded enthusiastically, practically bouncing on her heels. “So… what’s the name?”
“Huh? Name?” Renn blinked, staring at the staff in her hand.
“Yeah, its name,” Velle replied matter-of-factly, gesturing toward the staff. “It’s custom-made, so you get to name it.”
“Oh… I thought it came with one,” Renn admitted, looking a little caught off guard.
Velle smirked slightly. “Nope, that’s up to you. It’s tradition—the requester names the weapon.”
Renn frowned, deep in thought. She hadn’t expected this and felt the pressure mounting. She didn’t want to rush into it, but Velle’s steady gaze and Mint’s encouraging smile reminded her this was her decision.
“We’ll move on with our next steps after you decide,” Velle said, returning her focus to her workbench. “No rush, though.”
“Take your time, Renn!” Mint added, her enthusiasm not waning in the slightest.
Renn closed her eyes for a moment, searching through memories, feelings, and words that might fit. And then, almost instinctively, a name surfaced from deep within her thoughts. A name that carried meaning and strength.
“…Esperanza,” she said softly, testing how it sounded aloud.
Mint’s eyes lit up instantly. “Whoa! That’s such a cool name!” She grabbed Renn’s hands, bouncing in place, her energy contagious.
Velle adjusted her glasses and gave a small nod. “Not bad at all. Esperanza it is.”
And so, Renn’s new staff—the most expensive weapon ever crafted by the Alchemist Corp—earned its name, marking the new chapter in her journey.
----------------------------------------