Perhaps because they shared some profound memories, or perhaps because they had not seen each other for two months, the fruit wine loosened everyone up. Aside from Ivette, who was as quiet as ever, Lucia, Anya, and Parea all opened up and chatted endlessly about their summer experiences.
Their vivid storytelling mingled with the laughter and conversation of the other diners. Silverware reflected the chandelier light, and the overlapping glow made the entire restaurant feel cheerful, warm, and bright.
Throughout it all, Ivette sat at the table, eating with bamboo chopsticks and speaking little as usual. Anya used the same utensils. To the residents of Truth City, knowing how to use chopsticks had always been a source of local pride and a symbol of being native-born. That was why Anya cared so much that Ivette could use them—and so skillfully at that. She had always suspected that the mysterious Witch had once been a local too.
And if that was the case, then it explained why the Witch had saved her that night. Because she was a good person.
Anyone who could use chopsticks was a good person. Anya firmly believed that in her heart.
Later, Ivette saw again the Elemental Sanctum Academy's vice principal, Hills Heller, a Sacred Realm powerhouse who liked dining on the second floor of Sapphire Wellness Restaurant.
Of course, judging by the Rune Siphon Effect, he still appeared to be merely an Archmage with 10,000 standard mana units.
This often left Ivette curious: after reaching the Sacred Realm, would the Mana Core continue to grow?
She had not known before, but now she roughly understood that the main difference between an Archmage and the Sacred Realm was the Sacred Domain.
Was it possible that only her Mana Core would keep growing, while other Sacred Realm