Fire Mage

Minutes later, a group of black-robed men arrived at the battlefield and surveyed the scene.

One removed his hood, revealing a scarred face, broad forehead, brown eyes, and black hair. He looked about forty-five and stood 180 centimeters tall.

"She escaped, huh?" he muttered. "I see traces of another person as well."

"Should we pursue?" a younger man in his late twenties asked.

"Of course," the older man said, a ruthless smile curling his lips. "Our goal is to take her head."

The robed men vanished into the woods, following the trail Zephyr had left behind.

…

Cloud City, Mist Province, Azure Federation.

The island city rose ahead, surrounded on three sides by shimmering lake waters and bordered by the endless sea to the north. Ships and boats were the only way to reach this vast city. Though its population was just around one million, Cloud City housed Red Tuna—one of the five great naval forces—and was considered a formidable island fortress.

On the front deck of a ship, a young woman in her twenties with blonde hair stood gazing at the massive island city in the distance. Her eyes glowed crimson as she tracked something far ahead.

She's leaving already? Her gaze shifted toward a particular clipper ship, her brow furrowing.

There, standing on the bow, was a familiar figure — a blue-haired young man.

"Charles?" she whispered, startled.

Her surprise deepened when she spotted Sylvia standing beside him, engaged in quiet conversation.

I thought Charles went into isolation for an eye transplantation. Why is he here? she wondered.

"Where is he going?" she asked aloud.

A middle-aged man beside her, who had overheard, answered with a puff of cigar smoke.

"Oh, that's the Gold Demon merchandise ship. It's headed to Halewick Haven — the main base of the Gold Demon Merchandise Company. They've been gaining power lately."

Jessie's curiosity piqued. "Halewick Haven? Where's that?"

The man exhaled smoke slowly. "An island on the far edge of the Endless Sea, young Miss. Are you interested in going there?"

Jessie hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

She was more intrigued by Sylvia's destination than her own.

I already visited the Tower of Mirrors' 52nd Layer like Anangu told me. There was a massive battle between the Syreni Race and Humanity—on an island, no less. Maybe that's where Sylvia is headed.

The man continued, blowing a ring of smoke into the air.

"A Gold Demon ship sails to Halewick Haven every Sunday. If you book ahead, you can get a private room."

Jessie frowned. "So, I'd have to wait a whole week?"

"That island is dangerous," the man said gravely. "Even pseudo-legendary Mystics have died trying to get there. Only the Gold Demon Merchandise Company can make it safely, thanks to a Legendary powerhouse who serves as their bodyguard."

Jessie's eyes widened. "A legendary powerhouse guarding a merchant ship? Is it him?" She pointed toward the blue-haired young man.

The man laughed in disbelief. "From this distance? I only see the ship, young Miss. How are you seeing a person?"

He shook his head. "I know little else about the company, but that Legendary figure has brought them immense wealth."

Jessie turned to leave, but suddenly froze. Charles seemed to sense her gaze and looked directly at her.

Once he recognized her, he raised his hand and waved.

"Come," his voice whispered directly into her ear.

A smile touched Jessie's lips. "Looks like I don't have to wait a week, Mister." She summoned her wisdom power, lifted off the ship's deck, and flew toward the Gold Demon Merchandise ship.

I need to ask Rhea why Charles is with a merchant company in the Azure Federation. She approached slowly, landing beside Charles.

"It's been a while, Mr. Charles," she said with a smile.

Charles nodded. "You've grown."

Grown? We met just a few weeks ago. Suspicion flickered in her eyes.

"Ahem," Sylvia interrupted suddenly. "Mr. Charles doesn't remember anything about what happened in Miracle City. He doesn't even recognize me."

Jessie spun to face Sylvia, surprise evident on her face.

"Miss Sylvia? What are you doing here?"

Sylvia chuckled softly.

"Don't pretend, Jessie. I knew you'd be following me. Anangu said someone would come after me once I departed from Miracle City. I just didn't expect it to be you. Maybe this is all 'her' plan."

Charles frowned. "Who is Anangu?"

Wait... something's off. Is this really the Charles I know? Jessie's confusion deepened.

Unlike the Charles I know, this one seems calm, almost too normal.

Questions flooded her mind about what Anangu wanted from her.

This isn't going anywhere. Charles recognizes me, but has no memory of Miracle City or after. I thought he was supposed to be at Rebirth Tower for some eye transplantation. Something's wrong—this feels like a different person. Her eyes widened.

Could it be another consciousness of his?

She sighed deeply, turning to Sylvia.

"So, what are you doing? Where are you going?"

Sylvia's eyes drifted toward the endless sea.

"I'm chasing the clues Anangu gave me. She said to go to the last island in the Endless Sea. That's where the problem began."

"Problem?" Jessie asked.

"There's a tale about that island," Sylvia explained. "Anangu told me it's where the Queen of the Syreni, Asher, met my father for the first time. It's also where the battle between the Syrenis and Humans happened."

"Asher? Battle?" Jessie's breath caught, memories of the dying Asher flooding back.

Asher told me not to trust anyone before she died... and Demigod Rafael caused her death. They were involved, too — a tragic love story. She frowned.

So Sylvia's heading to that last island after all.

Charles, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

"I've heard a rumor, too—those who enter that island in despair often find a change for the better."

"But for me," Charles said softly, "it only brought loss." His voice darkened with a hint of sorrow.

Jessie's heart quickened, sensing the pain beneath his words.

In truth, Charles never wanted to return.

Yet something within him pulled toward that island.

I'm not the naïve person I once was. Even if Natalia appears before me, I won't lose my calm. He muttered inwardly and exhaled deeply.

...I've never seen this side of Charles before, Jessie thought, stunned.

Sylvia closed her eyes briefly, troubled, before furrowing her brow. Then she opened her eyes with resolve.

"The last island may hold the key to finding my real mother. And I sense there's more hidden there."

At that moment, the threads of fate that connected the three wove together, binding their destinies in a strange, intertwined pattern.

Though unaware of what lay ahead, the trio sailed onward aboard the golden-plated merchant ship.

…

Savage Forest, Twilight Land, Morris Fire Elemental Plane.

A young night goblin stood on a dirt path leading to the Miners' Den, her gaze fixed coldly on the distant town gate. A black hooded robe masked her feminine features, and a bow hung in her left hand.

It had been over a year since Myl arrived in the Fire Elemental Plane, dedicating herself to strength and skill.

At that moment, she had already comprehended all Rank-4 spell models and became Rank-5 [Pyromancer]!

But my archery has stagnated. Yet she knew reaching Rank-4 Archer at thirty-three, with only an 'Average' affinity, was a small miracle.

Mostly, I got here thanks to skilled teachers and artifacts.

She shook her head and strode toward the Miners' Den.

Suddenly, a monstrous bird descended from the sky—a red dragon!

But as she focused on its scarlet eyes, she realized it moved as if controlled.

Is the fire dragon being controlled? Her attention snapped to the rider atop the beast.

A four-eyed Orc clutched a staff embedded with black crystals, riding the dragon with ease.

In seconds, the dragon landed on the dirt path, blocking her way, lowering its body so the Orc could dismount.

"Good job, Isla. What do we have here? A young night goblin," the Orc said, licking his lips as he jumped down.

"But how did you break your slave collar?"

Instead of responding, Myl touched her 'Keeper's Watch' and cast analysis skills on the staff.

She could tell that the Orc's strength was only around Rank-4, and she felt confused from the very start.

'There is no way a dragon would submit to anyone weaker than itself. Unless it was done forcefully.'

…

[Name: Staff of Obedience

Rank: Rare

Description: A bone staff made through the tempering of cursed fire and has the power to make anyone affected by the slave rune obedient.]

…

Although the description was short, she could tell that the dragon's submission was due to this bone staff!

Myl quietly touched her bracelet, took out a silver arrow from the storage space, and cast a spell called 'Inferno Enchantment' on it.

Before the Orc could understand what was happening, she placed the arrow on the bowstring, pulled it while aiming at the staff, and released it.

Before even the Orc could respond, the silver arrow enchanted with fierce infernal fire collided with the crystal-embedded staff and destroyed it.

As soon as the staff was destroyed, the Fire Dragon seemed to have gone completely berserk and started roaring while flapping its wings. It even staggered here and there and started destroying the nearby trees and even rocks.

On the other hand, the four-eyed Orc was completely dumbfounded.