Chapter 100 - A Strange Girl

Azriel indeed needed the qualification for membership. As the Aurora Disc was the purpose of the society itself, it was not something to be rendered to someone who was not a member. There were two ways; revealing the other half of the disc that she had, or approaching the disc officially by becoming a member. However, Azriel did not want to expose the disc she had recklessly. It would cause turmoil.

‘Besides, if the disc information regarding dragon eye magic. Maybe it shouldn’t be known,’ she thought.

In truth, Rhema had never told her to keep it a secret. Nonetheless, she thought that exposing it at her disposal might be dangerous. There seemed to be a reason for magic to disappear after ancient times, leaving only conjuring. That was the reason she came to join the society.

“The society doesn’t easily give out information to nonmembers. I don’t know which information you came for, but it’d be convenient to become a member, aren’t I right?” Charles asked.

“Right, I came to join Aurora,” Azriel answered.

“Then, I’ll get you a recommendation letter,” he said with a brightened face.

“Are you a member of Aurora?”

“The king is treated as a special member. I’ll introduce you to two people who can write you the other two letters.”

Originally, Azriel had planned to donate mana stones that she made on her own, saying that they were relics. She did not necessarily join by getting recommendation letters, but Charles looked so delighted when offered to write a recommendation letter for her. In fact, he was already writing a recommendation letter with one stroke of a brush after pulling the paper that was on one side of the table as soon as she shared her purpose of coming to Aurora.

“You can tell me if you have anything else you need help with, not just related to this matter,” he added.

Azriel could see Maylie, who protested to her that she would repay her favor for certain, overlapping Charles who was handing over the recommendation letter that was made in an instant. She felt sorry that she kept turning him down. It was also better to join on recommendation than donating a lot of relics. At last, Azriel received the letter of recommendation. “Thank you, Charles.”

“Then, I’ll talk to the other two directly…”

“Ehem, ehem, ehem!”

Ash cleared his throat loudly from one side. Charles’ face turned flustered and continued. “…I won’t be able to introduce them directly, but I will write letters to them for you. If you visit them and show them my letter, they’ll write a recommendation letter right away.”

“Okay,” she replied.

“I should get going now,” he murmured regrettably. Ash delightfully began preparing to leave. But Charles did not get up right away and lingered. “Azriel, are you going to visit this underground tower occasionally from now on?”

“I guess so. I will continue to come until my investigation is over,” she said.

“Around the same time as today?” he asked.

“Probably. This is my most leisurely time of the day.”

“That’s great. I’ll be visiting here around this time for work. Let’s meet here at the same time tomorrow. I’ll give you the letter of introduction then.”

“Very well, then. I’ll see you tomorrow, Charles,” Azriel answered him with a smile. Then Charles paused and stiffened. He vacantly gazed at her and said after covering around his mouth. “Since I should ex, explain about the people who will write you recommendation letters, it might take some time. Wouldn’t that be okay?”

“Sure, if it doesn’t take too long.”

“It won’t take that long. How about having lunch together tomorrow to talk? I’ll treat you. Do you like Robas dishes? There’s a restaurant that makes good Robas food nearby…”

“Your Majesty, Minister of Military must be waiting for you,” not being able to hold on any longer, Charles’ guard spoke.

Charles knitted his brows and sighed. “I’m sure he came to tell on me because he’s been arguing with the Minister of Finance over an unreasonable budget for new weapons, can’t we let him wait a little longer?”

“Your Majesty!” Ash yelled.

“I know, I know. What a nag,” he got up, grumbling.

Azriel said as she held back her laughter. “I like Robas food. I’ll come around noon tomorrow.”

“Okay, then I will see you tomorrow,” Charles responded delightedly and left with Ash.

‘I made a unique friend. A king, it is,’ Azriel thought. It was an unexpected outcome, but she did not hate it. It was a pretty pleasant feeling. Azriel left the room with a smile. And not long after, she was bewildered. “This is… like a complete maze.”

The underground tower of the Aurora Society was like a maze as it was made by remodeling the ruins. It was fine when she entered it because she was guided by Ash, but she was at a loss to come out. She had no choice but to look at the flow of mana with her dragon eye. Since the flow of composition mana was the most compacted in the center of a building, it would be the outer part if it became thinner.

As Azriel was going outside examining mana, she found something. It was a group of light like a nebula that shined exceptionally in the soft night sky. It did not compare to Rhema’s mana which was like the galaxy, but it was the most powerful mana she had ever seen except for his. ‘It’s shining so much. What could it be…?’

The mana was not of an object. Since it was flowing, it must be a living thing. Azriel approached it as if she was being led. The nebula grew closer. Light red stars were swirling like a blast furnace or a whirlwind. ‘It’s very wild.’

She saw a person when she turned the round corner. Azriel relaxed her concentration and identified the person’s figure. In a small underground garden where flowers and trees were planted and a magic lamp was lit, there was a little girl squatting next to a flower bed. ‘It’s a living person… right?’

The girl with long, platinum blond hair was in a white nightgown. Because of her ashen face, she looked like a ghost. She turned her head suddenly as if she felt Azriel’s presence. Their eyes met. She had red eyes.

“…!”

The girl jumped up in fright. Then, she stepped back falteringly, covering her mouth. She looked terrified.

“Hey, I’m…,” Azriel spoke.

“…!” As soon as Azriel opened her mouth, the girl trembled. She turned around and began to run. Azriel saw scars on her arms and legs through her fluttering nightgown and long hair.