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Chapter 18
Sunlight shimmered against the window.
A woman in a light shirt and pants rolled up her sleeves and stood in front of the mirror.
Her black hair glistened in the light, lightly brushing her neck, and her golden eyes looked straight ahead, sharp and clear.
A confident smile curved on her lips, and her posture was perfect.
She finished dressing after putting on a pendant adorned with a red mana stone around her neck.
“Hmm, good.”
Her smile was captivating enough to make anyone passing by turn their head.
Winter Vladimire, eighteen years old. Today was the day she became an adult.
As she descended the stairs, an elderly figure was just entering the house.
White hair as pure as snow and ash-gray eyes sharp as frost—this person was known to the world as the Great Sage.
“Good morning, Grandmother.”
At that, Erquil’s face contorted in annoyance.
“You little brat! Why haven’t you outgrown that habit? And what do you mean, ‘good morning’ at this hour?”
“I just don’t really care about that,” Winter said with a sly grin.
Erquil couldn’t stay mad at her, letting out a small sigh.
“You could at least show some respect to the one who saved your life.”
“Saved my life? We agreed we’d exchange life for life, remember?”
“Tsk, tsk, still never loses an argument, huh?”
“You don’t like people who always lose, either, do you?”
Winter knew perfectly well that Erquil disliked people who constantly fawned over her because of her status as a Great Sage.
No matter what she said, Erquil had nothing left to retort and let out a resigned groan.
“Anyway, you said we’re going to the big island today, right?”
“That’s right. I want to buy some gifts.”
“Already excited about going back, are you?”
“Of course! You have no idea how restless I’ve been here.”
“Restless, and yet doing that?”
Erquil could only mutter in disbelief, while Winter blinked innocently, feigning ignorance.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“I hear the continent now knows nothing of ‘Calista’. Your reputation precedes you!”
“Don’t be too mad, Grandmother,” Winter whispered mischievously, a wicked smile forming on her lips.
“I was born a little naturally evil, after all.”
Erquil could only laugh, dumbfounded.
This kind of exchange was nothing new, so Winter humored it lightly, humming a cheerful tune.
“Alright, I’m off then!”
“Don’t get hurt on the way!”
“Me? Pfft,” Winter chuckled, stepping into the courtyard.
She took a deep breath, her eyes glinting an even more intense gold.
Before her, a massive white bird-shaped mana construct gathered.
Winter climbed atop it as if boarding a small airplane.
Erquil, watching her from the window, shouted:
“You! I told you not to waste mana like that!”
Winter’s method of using mana was something ordinary people couldn’t even dream of.
Despite Erquil’s warning, she waved her hand and laughed.
“This is nothing! Bye, Grandmother!”
With a pleasant breeze, Winter took off.
The Mana Islands, or Manutra, actually consisted of a large island and a smaller one.
The large one was called Manu, the smaller one Nutra.
Winter and Erquil had spent most of their time together on the smaller island, Nutra, a secret land protected by barriers where the Great Sage resided.
Meanwhile, Manu Island was relatively large, housing several people and hosting a small monthly market.
Of course, the market wasn’t always there.
Previously, residents had to spend a week traveling to the mainland for supplies.
But three years ago, thanks to the sudden rise of the information guild Calista, life on Manu Island drastically improved.
Steady jobs appeared, more visitors came from the mainland, and regular transport lines allowed a monthly market to be held.
The guild, which started on this small island, grew rapidly, and now many across the continent knew its name.
“Riat! I’m here!”
Winter landed lightly on Manu Island and stormed into a building.
This was the headquarters of the information guild Calista.
“Riat?”
Winter stepped inside and tilted her head. Normally, no one should have been here at this hour.
Then—
“Good morning, Winter.”
A shadow fell behind her without a sound, and a lazy, husky voice reached her ears.
Reflexively, Winter turned, only to be grabbed from behind by body heat, frowning.
“Too heavy. Let go.”
“Tch, so cold,” the other muttered.
“And it’s hardly morning, anyway,” Winter returned, repeating the words she’d told Erquil earlier.
Riat finally let go.
“Then… good afternoon?”
With a lazy yawn, he muttered nonsense, making Winter laugh and shake her head.
When she first met him, he had been unbearably aloof. Now, he had softened considerably.
This handsome man, with blue-purple hair and deep skin tone, was Riat, vice-head of the information guild Calista and Winter’s partner.
His most notable physical feature was his violet eyes, said to contain mana.
They narrowed under light, a trait of his mixed beast lineage.
“Reports?”
“Here.”
Winter handed him a stack of papers. Riat took them eagerly.
They were last week’s reports on the empire’s situation and the performance of Calista branches across the continent.
Riat, noticing Winter’s slightly furrowed brows as she read, poked her with his finger.
“But hey—”
“Why? Don’t bother me while I read. Go play elsewhere. I’ll join you later.”
Winter casually brushed his hand aside, but he kept talking.
“How about I come with you?”
“Where?”
“The capital.”
Winter finally looked up.
Riat, usually leaning on his elbow and looking indifferent, suddenly brightened at her gaze.
“Why the capital all of a sudden?”
“Well, if our guild head is going, the vice-head can’t be stuck in some backwater, right?”
Winter shook her head gently.
“No. You’re still needed at headquarters. Eventually, we might move to the capital, but not yet. We have bigger hurdles to clear first.”
“Do you have a lover to see?”
At his narrow-eyed comment, Winter smiled faintly, unable to hide her amusement.
She had heard this line more than once before.
“I’m not in a relationship.”
“Just don’t forget the necklace you’ve been wearing for eight years,” he teased.
“This…,” Winter reflexively touched the pendant around her neck.
‘Promise to be someone worthy for her!’
After their last conversation, the experimental communication stones were still functional.
But due to the physical distance from Medilliane’s stone, the connection was no longer possible.
“…I wonder if she’s grown well.”
“See? I told you to contact her in advance.”
Unfortunately, contact with Mei had been completely cut off since eight years ago.
When Winter first met Erquil, her situation was dire.
Daily research failed repeatedly.
The medicine Aisel made kept her alive, but she had faced death several times.
She was highly skeptical about the experiment.
Winter, trapped on the island, could only watch helplessly, waiting for death, unable to do anything for Mei.
She nearly gave up hope.
Fortunately, she survived to adulthood, proving the experiment somewhat successful.
It wasn’t perfect success—just a little time bought.
Still, Winter was satisfied.
During that time, she trained in magic under Erquil and built an information guild capable of helping Medilliane.
Five years passed.
Even while fighting illness and barely catching a breath, Winter refused to give up.
She worked tirelessly, reducing sleep and collapsing from exhaustion, building the framework of Calista.
Finally, after launching Calista, the first thing Winter did was reach out to Medilliane.
