"Oi, are you trying to blow off my head?" Sybil snapped as she dispelled the gust of wind heading straight for her.

The pressure had been strong enough to take her head clean off, and the leftover breeze ruffled her hair as she steadied herself again.

Tinny flapped her tiny wings on Sybil's shoulder, chirping with innocent confusion for causing such chaos in the first place.

"Why… did you get a contract with such a monster?" Sylus asked as his voice strained.

He looked visibly shaken. It hadn't even been that long since the fight, but Sylus was still pale with sweat stuck to his forehead, and his breath was shaking.

Even now, he couldn't properly control his wind. The trauma of having his mana stolen lingered in his bones, and looking directly at a creature capable of the same terrifying ability made his fingers tremble slightly.

"Oh, she looks cute." Sybil replied casually as she stroked the little white bird's head. "Doesn't she?"

She turned to Azel for confirmation. He simply nodded while watching the tiny bird hop in place.

'So she finally met her familiar that she had in the game as well…' Azel thought as he examined Tinny more carefully.

Now that he saw the pure-white feathers, he recognized her. 'But damn… the ability to steal other people's magic sure is scary.'

Tinny chirped happily as if proud of being a magical menace.

"Do you think there are any other kinds available here?" Azel asked.

He wasn't thinking about himself but since he had given the Silverhain furry to Veyra, he needed something equally rare for Anya.

The bird shook its head as if saying no, and Sybil mirrored her. "No, there are no others… Tinny said she woke up hatched from an egg and has been surviving ever since. She's only a week old."

'A week old is crazy…' Azel thought as his brows lifted. 'Wait, does that mean the one we killed could be its mother?'

The thought made him pinch the bridge of his nose.

He massaged his forehead nevertheless.

"We're done here. Let's go home…" Sylus said with a tired sigh as he dusted his clothes.

His voice was calmer now, but he still looked a little sick. Sybil stood up as well, nodding in agreement.

Azel looked at both of them with wide eyes. Something still bothered him.

"The corpses of the soldiers are still down there," he reminded them softly. "Even if they are corpses and some are bruised, it wouldn't hurt to give their bodies back to their families for a proper burial."

He looked between Sylus and Sybil. They exchanged glances and nodded almost immediately.

"Okay, let's do it." Sylus said, exhaling deeply as he collected himself. "Once we get home, I'll talk to Father about sending the bodies home. They really served the Astra Household well."

"Good," Azel replied.

Soon after gathering all the dead bodies at the bottom of the mountain, they all returned to Astra City.

…

Esme wiped the sweat on her forehead with a loud sigh, nearly fanning herself to death.

"Damn, Astra City is quite hot." She muttered under her breath as she fanned her face even faster.

Her cheeks were flushed, and the heavy jacket she wore made her look like a frustrated traveler carrying her own sauna around.

"Well, my lady… I told you not to wear such a heavy jacket." Helena, her older cousin, said dryly.

"Whatever." Esme snapped lightly as she turned back to face Helena.

Her cousin was older, married, and honestly far more experienced at handling noble households.

Esme, meanwhile, just preferred alchemy and peace. As for why they were here in Astra City… some orders for Mana Tripling Potions had been placed by the Astra household, and Esme had wanted to visit Sybil anyway. So she brought Helena along to help with the formalities.

"You already know the reason why," Esme grumbled as she tugged the coat tighter. "I suddenly underwent a growth spurt and now my chest is bigger than before… they'll be looking at me weirdly."

They were currently walking toward the main gate of the Astra estate, which towered over them like a castle fortress.

'I can't believe a single family stays here.' Esme thought as her eyes traveled across the walls, the huge front garden, the elegant glass windows, and the dozens of workers moving around. 'This is overkill… absolutely overkill.'

"Weirdly for having bigger breasts than before?" Helena laughed. "Meh, you just don't want all the attention. Besides, the coat is barely coverin—"

"I don't even know how someone as perverted as you got a husband." Esme shot back immediately as her cheeks redenned with embarrassment.

They arrived at the gates where two guards stood at attention in immaculate Astra uniforms, the clan crest bright on their armor.

The guards recognized Esme instantly.

"Lady Esme… the greatest Alchemist the Empire has to offer. We have been expecting you."

He then looked at Helena.

"…and your assistant."

Esme turned to her cousin with a smug, triumphant smirk while Helena only shrugged her shoulders as if used to this kind of thing.

The massive gates opened and they stepped into the enormous front yard.

It felt like stepping into the palace of a king… it had a beautiful architecture, manicured gardens, ornate trees, and an overwhelming amount of staff.

'I don't even have this many workers in the workshop…' Esme thought, stunned.

Suddenly…

SHRRRIP… BOOM.

A violent splitting sound echoed mid-air. Two figures descended like streaks of green lightning, landing on the grass with effortless elegance.

They both had green hair and similar sharp eyes.

Esme instantly recognized Sybil. The older man beside her was handsome and mature, but serious had to be the her older brother, Sylus Astra..

'Not as handsome as Azel though…' she thought instinctively.

As if the universe wanted to embarrass her further, a third figure dropped from the sky.

Azel.

He was wearing a tracksuit marked with the Astra clan insignia, but she would recognize that silver hair anywhere. His landing was graceful and almost angelic.

Sylus immediately floated inside through the front door, leaving Esme, Helena, Sybil, Azel, and Haji outside.

Azel noticed her almost instantly.

"Esme, you're here?"

The next instant, Esme launched herself at him like a missile and wrapped her arms around him… even though he was quite taller, so her arms ended up around his lower chest.

"Azel… I missed you."

Sybil bit her lip as she watched the scene unfold, her fingers twitched uncontrollably.

'Is… she trying to steal him from me?'

Her eye began to twitch as Tinny chirped innocently from her shoulder.

'What happened to all that talk about finding a reason to love…?'

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