After bidding farewell to the Blood Clan's territory, Sylutia led the personnel sent to provide support back home. However, they were not returning to the Woodland Alliance, but heading to the epidemic-stricken region of the Mage Alliance.
Although the Mage Alliance's Flesh Plague had been broadly brought under control, conditions in certain areas remained dire. Faced with enormous numbers of infected people, they needed dozens of times more medical personnel than usual. Even after the Mage Alliance mobilized people from all over, it was still difficult to fill such a huge gap.
The team led by Sylutia was heading to Anste District. Located northeast of the Mage Alliance and close to the Harp Flower Union, it had a large population and was also famous throughout the Alliance as the home of the Snow Lemon. The area was rich in Snow Lemons, a fruit that was sour with a touch of sweetness and highly suitable as a beverage additive. It also naturally possessed a faint Winter Slumber Aspect Power, allowing it to lower the temperature of wine and other drinks without additional chilling.
Under the dusky sky, one Wind-Feather Great Falcon after another carried the accompanying personnel slowly downward. Their beating wings kicked up clouds of dust, and stray grains scraped across the weathered faces of the group. By the time Sylutia reached the outskirts of Anste's urban district, evening had already fallen.
The person who welcomed Sylutia and the others was Master Hulun, the mage guarding Anste District. He had a long, thick white beard. Although his face was old, that beard was maintained exceptionally well.
"Welcome, Miss Sylutia, and friends from the Woodland. Thank you for your assistance." He wore a loose mage's robe and bowed slightly.
Seeing the master act so solemnly, everyone hurried to help him up.