Nothing Went Right

Time flowed on, and in the blink of an eye, another half month had passed.

As the Month of Spring Sacrifice entered its latter half, Angel finally set down the Holographic Tablet. Though he had not finished reviewing all the recorded materials within, what remained was mostly low-level cantrips or books from apprentice magazines. It was virtually impossible to find a cure among them.

Angel leaned back against his stool, thoughts rising and sinking in his mind. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh.

Did it really seem there was no way to save Jon?

Did he truly have no choice but to seek out his mentor, Sanders? But Sanders had gone to the Abyss, and there was a strong chance he had yet to return.

Then what was he supposed to do? Go find Gloria?

A gray gloom shrouded Angel from head to toe. His original reasons for entering the Wizarding World had been, first, to save Jon, and second, to see more wondrous worlds. Yet now, he could not even accomplish the first. Though his own strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, the sense of defeat still left him unable to muster the slightest enthusiasm.

Just as he struggled to ease his emotions and sank into self-reproach, a knock sounded outside the door.

He knew who was knocking—his personal maid, Aoli.

Aoli knocked once every few days. Even though Angel had said he was entering seclusion, she remained stubbornly persistent. From Aoli's perspective, how could anyone go so long without eating or drinking? So each time she came, she pushed a dining cart with her. Yet she usually returned empty-handed.

Just as Aoli assumed today's effort would be wasted as well, the door suddenly opened from within, and a low, weary voice came from