Promise

Terra's first snowfall and two front guards

"Learn, creating... let alone destroying an antimatter shield is an impossibility for wizards in our time. Even today, very little is known about the antimatter magic we possess. Thus, instead of attempting to destroy the crystal, I would suggest that you stay away from it. Instead of attempting to destroy the amethyst crystal,” Anthonius advised the members of the investigating team to stay away from it.

"Moreover, we still do not know the specific side effects caused by the miasma produced by antimatter crystals. Therefore, for the time being, it would be wiser to concentrate on locating the individuals on the list and, if still feasible, helping them rather than wasting time on something that is impossible for us to accomplish. If it is still feasible,” Anthonius requested that the main investigating team concentrate only on locating and aiding the victims. In order to learn more about the murder case they are working on, they will also perform a preliminary examination of the scene and the victim.

Vanity gave Dima a quick look. Only Vanity Fair seems to understand why their party has two tanks or front guards. Perhaps this is a scheme that has been carefully thought out in advance, according to Vanity. While Dima's presence appears to be emphasized in tracking the victims' locations, Alex or Alyosha, who will possess an absolute defensive system comparable to Meuz, are more likely to be the most ideal front guards.

Vanity Fair said, "You must already be aware of the locations of some of them, don't you?"

Dima simply grinned, realizing that the comments were aimed at him.

"A party should not have 2 front guards unless they are going to face a certain boss. In addition to that, it appears that there is a precise reason why this study was postponed for a few days: the crew was waiting for the first snowfall. Am I correct?" Vanity Fair! exclaimed.

Antonius gave Vanity's assumption a nod of agreement. "Dima will direct us to the location of each nearest victim who is most likely to receive help quickly. Alyosha will be this team's front guard in the interim. Omar will be the close-range attacker who will be with me in the front guard, and Javier will be the damager," Anthonius clarified.

"My body is connected to every crystal of ice that falls to the earth, and we can communicate with each other, even exchange information, even after they melt and then evaporate into water particles in the air." After that, Dima's body gradually changed into ice crystal grains until it vanished entirely.

"Follow my voice as a guide, in case you have difficulty seeing my body!" asked Dima to all members of the main investigating team.

As he was getting ready with his one-handed sword, Anthonius said, "Dima…, have you found them yet?"

"I can only detect victims who have come into contact with the snow. You can be sure I won't be able to locate them precisely when they're not in contact with snow. At least I can still pinpoint their whereabouts with up to 30% accuracy as long as their bodies are in contact with water, melting snow, or a moist area. As of this moment, I am only able to locate four individuals who appear to have passed away two days ago. In the remains of the City of Ein, their bodies lay frozen. Two other bodies are a long way off in the Mother River.”

After receiving instructions from Dima, Anthoni divided the main investigative team into two small squads. Anthonius and Omar went towards the ruins of Winnei City, while Javier, Vany, and Alyosha went towards the Mother River.

"We... shall meet at Fort Solfini 3 days from now. Be careful with the presence of crystals on the bodies of each victim, and avoid fighting if possible!" stated Anthonius before leaving.

"Alright…!" answered Alyosha, who was assigned as the commander of the group that would proceed towards the Mother River.

…

It took a day of travel until finally, Antonius's team arrived at the lake near the ruins of the city of Winnei. Antonius plans to rent a raft from the fishermen who live around the lake. Unfortunately, after almost 2 hours of searching, Anthonius still hadn't found a single fisherman or even anyone in the settlement.

"Nihil?" asked Omar, who had just returned from the market to buy some necessities for them in the city of Winnei later.

Anthonius just stood in silence, staring far ahead at the edge of the lake and the ruins of the city gate that were nearly completely destroyed.

"What about that?" Omar asked while pointing at an old man who was mending a fishing net. "He looks like really needs money. Maybe he will do anything to get it. Let's try offering double the original price. That... might give us a better chance of getting the ship?!" Omar suggested to Anthonius to raise the rental price of the ship he was offering.

Anthonius was silent for a moment. It seems he is contemplating Omar's suggestion. "Alright. Let's give it a try," Anthonius said then, agreeing with Omar's suggestion.

They both then approached the old man who was mending a net, but unexpectedly, they did not receive a good response.

"I suggest you return to the city!" said the old man while gesturing for Anthonius and Omar to leave his house.

"Sir… Can't you help us?! Right now we have to go to the city of Winnei. There is a friend of ours who needs help," said Antonius, but it seemed that this did not change the old man's decision.

"No human can survive in that city for more than 2 days," the old man warned Antonius and Omar. "Just like your friend here. Even if he is an S-rank wizard, even with magical armor covering his entire body, the same will still apply. Likewise... for elves like you!" said the old man while pointing at Anthonius.

Anthonius and Omar remained silent. Not giving an answer to what the old man conveyed to them.

"The city and the temple within it have long been shrouded by a miasma originating from the scales on the body of the dark dragon residing in the innermost main temple. Specifically, the main temple is located to the west of the city. Once... that place was an ordinary temple, like any other place of worship. The place where the residents of Winnei City used to worship the gods, but since the dark dragon attacked during the great disaster and then settled in the temple, Winnei City has turned into a dead city. No creature can survive for long, except for a few orbs that migrated from the Breeze Marsh and some small goblin-like monsters that once inhabited the Ares Desert. Meuz couldn't do much about the dragon's presence and only created a protective barrier to confine the dragon forever within the temple. Gratefully... all of Meuz's efforts succeeded, and the City of Winnei has survived until today," explained the old man.

The old man's expression suddenly changed. Realizing this, Omar then asked. Although at first he felt quite doubtful. "Your knowledge of Winnei City seems very good, but... what makes you anxious when it seems like you know everything?" Omar felt curious.

"For the first time in 90 years of living in the village, the miasma has completely disappeared. This will only happen if the dark dragon is no longer in the temple, or even in the ruins of the City of Winnei. There are only two possibilities: the dragon is dead, or it left because the protective barrier that imprisoned the dark dragon has been destroyed!” The old man bowed his head again. At the same time, his face once again showed an expression of fear.

"What?!" Anthonius interrupted the old man's speech. As if he couldn't believe what the old man had just said. "What do you mean?! How could you say that the shield is destroyed?! Do you want to defy Meizu?!" Antonius almost drew his sword to the old man's neck, but fortunately, Omar managed to stop him.

"Ugh.., control your emotions. You are a leader, you know...?!" said Omar, as if mocking Anthonius.

"I would rather the dragon leave or the protective barrier be destroyed. Because if the dark dragon dies, then there is only one thing left that is free to roam the world. Something even the Meuz can't cope with!" The elderly man approached his boat, where he was getting ready for Antonius and Omar's journey to the city's edge.

"I understand your concern. But let's hope that nothing happens in the city of Winnei!" replied Omar.

…

The air feels significantly colder in the morning than it does at night. The chilly air temperature at the lake's surface is met by the thin mist created by the temperature differential of the lake's surface, which still retains heat from the afternoon of the day before. Now visibility is diminished by the fog that has developed. Omar was prepared with general magic, while Anthonius used basic magic that attracted fireflies and illuminated the area around the raft. He made little fireballs that lit up the pitch-black water as well.

"I will pick you up tomorrow afternoon at exactly 3 o'clock. Make sure you enter the ruins of the city after sunrise and exit as soon as possible after sunset. If you do not return immediately tomorrow after 3 o'clock, I will consider you dead!” The old man insisted.

That was too short a period, they said. In order to uncover evidence that the old man's statements are true, they search the area surrounding the city and temple ruins, but they are gloomy about their chances of finding the witch's body.

Curious, Omar inquired, "Do you still think the dragon escaped?"

The old man snorted in annoyance while staring at Omar with a sharp gaze. "Child.., I may not be an S-rank sorcerer like you, but I understand quite well how the mechanism of manna works within a sorcerer's body," said the old man. "I know, and I am sure that Meuz is the owner of the best defensive magic in Terra, but now he is no longer young. You all surely understand what I mean, right?!”

A witch's manna is comparable to a cell phone's battery. A manna point cost is the amount of manna required to create a certain kind of magic. In one condition, if a person uses magic constantly and does not balance it with the ability to use good manna reagents, their body's manna may run out. If this occurs, the body's manna reagent ability may need to be restored by using specific potions or just by refraining from using magic for a predetermined amount of time. The ability of one witch's manna reagent to affect another varies; this is influenced by various factors.

A magician's maximum manna points will rise with age, knowledge, emotional maturity, and skilled physical skills—unlike a cellphone's battery. Unfortunately, attack damage does not counterbalance this. The attack damage, which is heavily impacted by the user's physical and mental state and abilities, will continue to decrease with age even while the amount of manna will increase.