Volya opens his eyes and notices that he is already sleeping on the bed. He looks around and sees Romain reading a report from the patrol group at the desk near their bed.

Romain immediately notices Volya and says,

"You are finally awake."

"Ummm... How long did I sleep?" ask Volya

"Only one day and everyone panicked when they saw you unconscious... Especially Sir Albert and Sir Villias."

"Even though they already saw that magic and the aftermath before yesterday's incident, they still surprised huh..."

Volya then sighs and then looks outside the window. He could see the Village Elder is holding a funeral for his daughter and everyone is gathered there. He also sees Albert, Villias, Helena and Ludmila stand among the villagers.

Romain stands up from his seat and looks at the crowd. He then says,

"The Village Elder confesses everything that happens to his daughter to his villager after you are unconscious."

"Did any of them..."

"Some of the villagers have sympathy for him, but some not..." answered Romain without looking away from the window.

Volya only could smile weakly and then notices Romain is looking at him now. He then asks Volya,

"Then, do you want me to make some food for you?"

"Anything without sugar, please... Or I will be unconscious forever," answer Volya

"Ahahahaha... Good to hear that. Give me a moment."

Volya smiles at Romain and then stands up from his bed. He walks towards the desk. There he could see a report and a mail on the desk. He then proceeds to read the report from the patrol group and leaves the mail alone. He then mumbles,

"Still no sign of the mage? It concerns me..."

Volya then continues to read all the reports until Romain comes back with sandwiches. He looks at Volya and then says,

"Most of the patrol group didn't see any undead around here. And even none of the patrol groups outside this perimeter find any undead there."

"It is as if everything is already calming down," says Volya as he eats the sandwich.

"Indeed..."

"Is this mage magic already run out? Or this mage already moves to another region... We never know..." continues Volya as he stands up and stretches his body.

"That's still no good as the mage continues to wreak havoc on this island..."

"But at least it becomes a little bit calmer, no?"

Romain looks at Volya and then at the gathering crowds outside. He smiles and says,

"Indeed, it's become calmer."

Volya smiles and then leans on the window as he observes all of the villagers. He then notices Maria and her lover at the crowds as they are mourning together with another villager. Romain notices Volya and then says,

"Are you missing the girl that you mentioned before?"

Volya was surprised to hear that and looked at Romain that sits down on one of the chairs. He then says,

"I could see that from your face, Volya. The same face that you made when Maria gives that flower crown to you."

"Hahahaha... You are right," answer Volya

"Hmmm... If you have something in your mind, you could tell it to me or maybe Lucia," says Romain as he laughs at Volya

"Maybe..."

Volya then walks to the chair and sits across Romain. Romain then asks him,

"Then, could you tell me about that girl and why it feels like you will never meet them again..."

"About that..."

"Well, if you don't want to..."

Volya then sighs and then says,

"Alright... I will tell you."

Romain smiles at Volya and then prepares himself to hear Volya's story. Volya looks at the window and then start to tell the story,

"I once met a girl when I was still young. That girl has fine chocolate bisque hair and clear blue eyes. We meet in the middle of a flower field and play there while my father is talking with her mother."

Volya paused for a while and then looked at the flower crown that was already withers at the desk. He then continues,

"That time, we made a lot of flower crowns and had a nice chat."

Romain could see that Volya enjoys that moment, so he then asks him,

"Then, what made you think that you couldn't meet her again?"

"Oh... About that.."

"Yes?"

Volya takes a deep breath and says,

"Did you know some of the magic artefacts?"

"Hmmm... Not really... Is that the reason why you can't meet them?"

"That's one of them... Because her mother is creating a philosopher's stone... an omnipotent stone that could heal anything and gives the bearer almost unlimited mana, but the process is gruesome."

"Huh?"

"You know... I'm still a child back then, of course, I didn't know anything. But it seems my father is scolding her mother about that."

"Why do you say gruesome?"

Volya looks at Romain with a serious face and says,

"From one book that I read while I am still at Wildespring, to make one philosopher stone, you need a lot of sacrifices."

"Sacrifice... Wait, don't say..."

"Yes... The human soul."

"So, that's the reason why she is missing..."

Romain then notices that Volya faces serious and that surprises him. Volya then says,

"That's what I think at first... Until I see my father’s journal that mentions that her family already settled down and doesn't care about that artefact anymore."

"Huh?"

"And from that journal, I know that they still possess the stone... But, even he didn't know where it was."

"Then... Why..."

Volya looks at Romain and says,

"Someone is targeting them and attacking their house..."

"Attack their house... Why are you sure about that?" asks Romain

"The flower field is burned down and the house has become a ruin... I see it with my own eyes... And that happens after someone murdered my father..."

"..."

"When I arrived there, I only saw her mother dying and asked me to find her before her death..."

Volya then slams the table in front of them and says,

"If only... If only I learned these magic faster..."

"Hey..."

"I could stop him from murdering my father and her family..."

"Eh?"

"And I could know his reason..."

Romain tried to calm Volya down and then remembered the time when Volya lost his cool when a band of bandits attacked Maria's village. He knows that it has a connection with a man that he mentions that time.

Volya then takes a deep breath and then continues,

"That's why... I want to meet her again... and apologize to her."

"..."

"Do you think... Could I meet her again?"

Romain looks at Volya for a moment and then says,

"Yes, you could... I believe that. We are talking about you."

"Thank you..."

"And could you tell me her name? Maybe I could ask the patrol unit or any adventurer to tell you when they meet her."

"Of course..."

"Could you tell me?"

Volya looks at Romain and then says,

"Her name is Gracia Ravelli."

"Alright... I will tell Lucia about it. Just hope someone finds her soon."

"Ahahahaha... Hopefully"

Romain then looks at the message on his desk and Volya notices that. He then says,

"When I check the desk, I see one mail there... Is that from your parents?"

"Ah... Did you read the mail?" asks Romain

"No... That's none of my business as the mail is something private for you."

"..."

Volya notices Romain looking down for a while and then hears him ask Volya,

"Volya... Do you remember when you read my future..."

"Your future? Ah... That's when you first introduce yourself, no?"

"Yes..."

"What is it?"

"Well... You know... My father thinks it's a good time for me to find a bride..."

"Hmmm... Let me guess, that message is about your father will introduce some women to you, right?"

"Yes..."

"Isn't that good?"

"No..."

"Eh?"

Romain looks at the crowds and then says,

"As someone with prestigious family blood, I envy everyone else in terms of finding their woman."

"..."

"I hate the custom where I need to marry another prestigious family member... I hate that."

"Don't say that you have someone in your mind..."

"Not yet... But, I want to find my own happiness. And I believe with what you told me back then... And I believe this is one of the branching points in my life."

Volya looks at Romain, smirks, and says,

"Then, why not tell your father what is inside your mind?"

"I'm ready for that," answer Romain

"My... You are really something, Romain. Then good luck with that."

"Yup... I need that. And good luck to you to find that girl."

Volya smiles at Romain and then looks at the gathering crowds. He then notices a knight is approaching the crowds. The knight approaches Helena, Albert, and Villias and after that, the three of them are surprised.

Volya immediately stands up with Romain asks Volya,

"Did something happen?"

"One knight approaching Helena, Sir Villias, and Sir Albert..."

"Huh?"

"And the three of them run away to their hut. Something bad will happen soon..."

Volya walks towards the window and notices the flow of mana in the wind is changed. He then says,

"Romain... Prepare your armour. Sooner or later, Sir Albert or Sir Villias will give us an order."

"If you said so..." answered Romain as he stood up.

It needs around ten minutes for Romain to wear his full armour, while Volya wearing his steel gauntlet, full-body chainmail under his cloth, and preparing several one-time usage magic scroll.

The moment Romain and Volya are ready, someone knocks on the door. Volya walks to the door, opens it, and sees Albert stands there,

"Prepare yourself! The enemy is approaching!"