A New Choice

At the inn in Lakeheart Town, Mariana stared blankly out the window, wondering what was on her mind.

A series of soft knocks sounded at the door.

"Come in."

"Mother."

Nathan carefully pushed the door open and entered.

Mariana looked at him. "How are Odennell and Derson?"

Nathan sighed. "They're still unconscious."

He really couldn't understand what had happened, and besides...

Nathan hesitated again and again, as though he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to say it.

Mariana frowned. "What is it?"

"That day in the church, I saw... you point your hand at Odennell, so... did you do this?"

Mariana smiled faintly. "Are you suspecting that I turned them into this?"

"Er... yes." Nathan nodded.

Mariana shook her head. "Then you've wrongly accused your mother. Odennell and Derson brought this upon themselves."

Nathan said incredulously, "You mean they suffered a backlash from their spell? That might make sense for Derson, but with Odenell Master's cultivation, facing someone so young... No matter how I think about it, it shouldn't be possible."

Mariana fell silent for a while. In truth, she also found it unbelievable. Odennell, who had spent his entire life immersed in mental magic, had actually suffered a setback—and a devastating one at that.

"All I can say is... magic is ultimately a mysterious force worthy of awe. We mustn't become so conceited that we believe we can completely control it." That was what she said.

"But..." Nathan pressed on. "Even if it wasn't because of you, you did make Odennell your target at the time, didn't you?"

"Ah..." Mariana sighed. "Do you remember what I told you in Cape Bay? The Greiman Family of the Northwest Bay once helped us."

"Mother." Nathan frowned. "I don't think personal grudges should be placed above the cause of