I want to say we swiftly moved to the library, but even though he was adamant on being fine, Jacob was slowing us down considerably. To the point where I wanted to ditch them all and just run straight for it.

I don’t know why, but I felt uneasy.

For the first time in a long while my head was my own, and instead of being happy about it I was stressed like you can’t imagine. Hell, I guess I got attached.

-I swear Jacob, can’t you just eat some mana fruit or something? I didn’t even drain you that much…

-I did! But I think the ones I had were a bit old.

-So what? Not as good?

-I don’t know? Maybe? Fuck, I just didn’t feel any difference.

-Maybe they work slower…? - muttered to herself Eise, still with us, carrying my “baggage”. - That’s interesting…

-Eise, why are you even carrying those? - asked For. - Do we really need those?

-I…

-I have no idea - I said quickly - but I’d rather not leave parts of myself all over the place.

-You’re so worried about your hands while I am more terrified about the prospect of leaving Caleb… er, I mean ILMA alone. What if she…

-If you’re going to talk about her escaping again…

-But it’s possible! I still don’t…

-Yeah, yeah, unstable person, whatever. Even if she is, there is literally nowhere to escape. And we can track her in multiple ways.

-True…

-Besides, didn’t you lock her in the cell again?

-Well, yes, but I still don’t really trust this new security…

-I can’t use magic and yet you don’t trust it?

-I can’t help it! Today is a bit hectic!

I was not going to argue with that.

After we reached the library, Jacob was in a bit better shape. He maybe didn’t recover much mana, or at all, really, but was able to walk on his own. I guess he was more resilient than he looked. After all, he was the Black Knight.

I immediately realized that something was different.

Even without us entering the room, I knew that inside there was someone and that someone was definitely not unconscious. Actually, a good handful of people were inside.

I thought about warning the rest of the group, but one good look was enough for me to realize what I was looking at.

Noone bothered knocking at the door. We just barged inside without a second thought, with me leading the charge.

First thing I noticed was something flying right at me.

It was a book. It hit me straight in the eye.

Good thing I was the first person to walk in.

-Fuck, stop it! Not again! I am here to help!

In front of me there were a bunch of scared children, huddled in the corner, with a bunch of boys having random stuff in their hands, ready to throw right at my face.

They were shielding Kon, unconscious on the floor.

Another book flew right at me, but this time I caught it.

-Stop!

For stepped out from behind me.

-I know he looks scary, but he’s with me.

-They don’t know you either, why would…

But, despite that, kids for some reason instantly recognized her and some of them ran straight to her.

-What the…

-For? Is that your name, Miss?

-Err… Yes?

She was almost as confused as I was.

-Kon told us about you! He told us to go find you if something happens, but…

-But he didn’t tell us where to find you! And now…

-And then he screamed!

-And he’s fainted!

-Others too!

Kids were shouting over each other, everything was hardly in order.

No wonder. If I was correct in my assumptions and it looked like it was the case, those three had gotten knocked out just like Jacob and For.

-Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Now, please move aside.

They were quite obedient.

-Hm, he had time to mention you, but not me… - I muttered, stepping forward.

-Doesn’t matter. Can you wake him up like you did with us?

-I certainly hope so.

-Move, kids.

They gave us some space, but kept watching closely.

Just as with Jacob, I kneeled next to him and For placed his hand on my shoulder. This time the effect was different…

Or rather non-existent at all.

It was just like when I touched Caleb, or ILMA. I felt the mana inside, but it straight up did not even budge.

-That’s not good…

-What’s that supposed to mean!?

-I can’t do shit to him.

But why though?

Was it really just because he was now partially made out of Origin Crystal?

But that didn’t make any sense. Last time I was able to touch and easily drain him without even realizing that.

I focused and tried once more, but that did not help at all.

-He’s somehow resistant… - I muttered. - Well, we need to move him anyway. Is that all of you? - I asked the kids out loud.

At first they did not answer, probably a bit intimidated by my appearance, but after a moment someone answered.

-Yes. Kon told us to go with him here.

I actually recognized the one who answered. It was the same boy who tossed the book at me, and also the same one who, when I first arrived at the orphanage, managed to hit me with a spell.

-And what about your caretakers? Vendi? Jack?

-On the island. With the two other people, I think they said that they were from here…

-From here? That had to be Eicam and Abes.

-Hm. Well, at least we have all people accounted for… wait, no! Where is Felix?

-Wasn’t he supposed to be here?

-Wasn’t there another person? - asked the kid For. - A bit older than you, same clothes as the other two that stayed on the island?

-Yes - nodded the boy. - He met us here. As soon as we arrived he told us to wait here so he could bring someone in charge…

-In charge? Wouldn’t that mean either of you? - I asked.

-Yeah.

-I mean, there is no one else besides us here… - muttered Jacob.

-You feeling better?

-Been better, been worse. My mana is still not where I’d like it to be, but I’ll manage.

-Good. Then take the kids and get them settled. We’ll manage by ourselves.

He looked at For, a bit worried, but nodded and gestured towards the kids.

-You heard the boss. Come on, I’ll get you settled.

-But what about Kon?!

The boy was apparently the leader after Kon got knocked out of commission.

-We’ll take care of him - said For, picking him up from the ground.

He didn’t look convinced, but seeing as she was actually looking worried about him, he relented.

-Just… Please be careful.

-Don’t worry, we will.

As they were leaving, I approached Eise.

She was hiding behind one of the bookshelves. After seeing who was inside, she carefully hid herself and the “baggage” she had with her. Nice thinking of her: at least that way we didn’t have to worry about scaring them even more.

-Leave those somewhere here and go with Jacob. He’s still weak and needs to regenerate, you’re the best one to keep him in check.

-I… But what about Kon? Don’t you need my help reviving him?

-Well… I do have some ideas, but if you have something…

-I actually do.

She placed my arms on one of the bottom shelves and pulled out something from one of her inside pockets.

-It’s a potion.

-I mean I can see that…

But even without her explanation, I could see that it was a bit unusual. Besides, I wouldn’t ever forget how that stupid concoction looked.

-Why do you even have that with you? - I asked, looking carefully.

-I wanted to give that to you later.

-Uh-uh… If I didn’t know better you wanted to use it on me again.

-I never wanted to do that! - she protested instantly. - I never even intended doing that before! It was an accident!

-Uh-uh…

-I… It was just…

-The “definitely not pyromaniac tendencies”?

-I told you…eh… - she was about to say something, but she just gave up. - Well, yes.

-Okay, sure, let’s say I believe that.

-Whatever. Well, leave it with my arms, just put it a bit further away this time. I don’t need to have another accident…

-Of course… but wait, you think you’d feel that? You think that something like that would happen again?

-I am not sure, but I don’t really want to check it right now.

-Fair. Okay.

-Are you sure that was smart? - For asked me as she left the room and closed the door behind her.

-She may be quite unstable, at least Jacob will then have an opportunity to recover… At least her salves work…

-Well, yes, but I didn’t… how do you even know THAT about her? - she gazed at me, questioningly.

-And you think that my arms just fell off by sheer chance?

-You… Alright, fair enough. But still, don’t you think we need her help to try and awaken him?

She was clearly concerned about him, which I was surprisingly happy about. It was good to know that at least she was thinking about the well-being of her subjects.

Hopefully.

-I have an idea, but you will probably not like it - I said, after a moment of thought.

-Why do I feel like I’ve heard that one before?

-...

-Well then, what is it? It definitely can’t be worse than disabling magic on the whole island, is it?

-Well I certainly hope so.

-The idea is to drain his mana into another crystal than his own - I quickly explained, stepping closer to him and getting another look at his current mana situation.

-Different one? You mean he has one already?

-I told you, he is a revenant, just like me.

-I… well, you did, but I honestly thought that was just a lie to get me to let him join Red Mages…

-Ha. It worked. Well, I mean, he is a revenant, though.

-Okay, that does not sound too bad. But how do you even think we do that? Do you have some kind of a vessel?

-I do… - I pointed towards my arms lying nearby.

Her eyes widened.

-What the fuck?! Are you insane? Do you want to kill him!?

-How would that be killing?

-You want to suck his soul into a random piece of crystal, that might be still a part of you! How is that different from turning someone into food for you?! Or mana, in this case, huh? You’re mad!

-I already told you, what else is a soul other than just an amalgamation of mana? - I sighed. - Even if he were to be turned into pure mana, he’d still be himself. I am a clear example of that exact scenario.

-But isn't that still a piece of you? Wouldn’t then you two be in the same body together? I mean, those are broken off from you, but isn’t there still a connection? Didn’t you want to get them reattached somehow?

He was bringing an interesting point about them being still a piece of me, but that was still not changing my mind.

-I doubt it. But, besides that, he was already a piece of me to begin with.

-That’s what I originally did to bring him back. I used myself as a conduit to transfer him back into that body.

-I know, but he then at least had more of him than you… you know what I mean!

-Not for a while he didn’t.

-Mgh…

-I told you you won’t like it.

-You bet I don’t. And even if I was to agree, how the hell would you do that even!? I thought you weren’t able to use mana to begin with.

-I can’t use MAGIC, not mana, but you are correct, that is a problem - I agreed. - That’s the other reason why you won’t like this one.

-You want me to cast the spell?! - she yelled.

She was clearly not happy.

Even if this was not this crazy of an idea, it was still out there and not anything that she’s done, ever.

-That’s why I said I will help you! - I assured her. - I know, this is new to you, but you’d essentially just need to say the words a couple of times, it’s just a simple incantation, don’t worry!

-I… don’t… what…?!

-I would monitor everything very closely - I continued. - If anything was to go bad, I would tell you instantly and instruct you on how to counteract.

-How!?

-By simply touching you - I said. - I still can manipulate mana. And I had no problems draining you.

-I knew I wouldn’t like the answer - she grumbled.

-I warned you.

-Wait… But if he’s just like you then, wouldn’t I be absorbed by him if I was to touch him?!

-Think. Didn’t you just pick him up and place him here? - I pointed towards the main desk where his body was now placed.

-I guess you’re right…

-The absorption is not the ability of the revenant per se - I explained. - It is the ability of the Origin Crystal. It can absorb any magic. But since Kon is not really made out of the Crystal, not yet at least, he’s still safe to touch.

-But since you’re no longer able to drain him, wouldn’t that mean…

-I guess some of the Crystal properties have already been implanted into him… Apparently that includes resistance to draining.

A bit strange that he managed to manifest that ability just in the worst possible time though…

Now when I think about it, it was not me who was touching him last time: it was the other way, he touched me by himself.

But would that change a thing? Would consent be really a factor in that kind of an exchange?

Or… it was the other way? It was not like I was draining him back then, it was him who was releasing mana towards me? Giving it to me?

That was… actually possible. I was honestly surprised that I was able to come to this kind of a conclusion without Iloa. I always pinned that kind of thought to her, or at least some hint of them.

But, she was not there, annoyingly. At least then she would be able to confirm or deny this theory… I was only left with myself.

-This is annoying… - I mumbled. - Whenever I come here, something annoying happens.

-Well, at least this time you are not being arrested. And I honestly should, it was your “friends” that are at fault in this.

-I… Well, okay. They are not my friends, but sure.

-Acquaintances. Whatever.

She took a deep breath.

-Okay. Fine. How are we going to go about this?

-Eh… Well that’s easy. Just get the arms here and put those somewhere next to him.

She definitely was a bit put off by them, but picked them up nonetheless.

-You feared that he would be able to drain you even while unconscious and not crystal, yet you picked up those with no hesitation.

As soon as I pointed that out she jumped and almost dropped them on the floor.

-Easy! I was just kidding.

-Don’t joke like that!

-I’ll try. By the way, are they really that light?

She took a second look at them.

-Now when you mention it, it seems a bit strange… I expected those to weigh a lot more… Like multiple times more.

-Hm.

-Are you sure that you are not hollow?

-I am not. But I don’t know about those any more.

She raised one of my arms and tried inspecting it under the light.

-It’s hard to tell… but that might be the case actually.

-That’s definitely interesting. Doesn’t change a thing though. Just place them on the desk, okay?