Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 124

To Teacher, From Vanessa (1)

The two of them stiffened, overwhelmed by the sight before them. Their bodies felt weak, like grains of sand in the face of nature’s immense power.

Evan fought to control his trembling and spoke steadily.

“It’s a tsunami. We need to evacuate the city.”

“If we head to the plains, there’s higher ground. We just need to get there. Otherwise, the highest building…”

Even as he tried to project calm, his voice wavered. Innis was a sizable city. While some coastal cliffs offered protection, other areas were vulnerable to the incoming water. If even one section was breached, the sheer volume of water would generate tremendous force and destroy everything.

“Let’s go.”

Evan spoke firmly, turning to run back and alert the people. He needed to use magic to amplify his voice, issue an evacuation order, and erect a protective barrier. The foundation might crumble, but the people must be kept safe.

However, Vanessa hesitated, stopping instead of running alongside him. Evan’s figure receded into the distance as she remained at the edge of the beach.

She looked back.

The waves were approaching too quickly, and Innis had few tall buildings. Directly connected to the coast, it lacked proper seawalls, so the highest building was the only viable option.

But the high cliffs to the side could withstand the massive waves.

*Just block the areas where they’re coming in.*

The thought struck her. She believed she could hold out for a few minutes, buying time for others to reach safety. If she had to give up, she could use spatial magic.

Vanessa released her magic widely, disregarding the range she usually tried to control. Even after facing Zaparos earlier, she was amazed by the overflowing power. Like a spring bursting forth, her magic was replenishing itself.

Based on her past experiences, she didn’t think it was impossible.

She watched the approaching waves. The concept was simple. The sense of crisis heightened her desperation, and the desire to protect people pushed aside any doubts.

A burst of light briefly obscured her vision. Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut….

Evan, noticing Vanessa’s absence, shouted from afar.

“Vanessa!”

Just as the approaching wave was about to crash, a shimmering light formed a barrier, enveloping the beach.

She opened her eyes. Fortunately, the magic hadn’t failed her and had responded to her will. The barrier completely covered the vast beach, blocking the waves. However, as if a mage dared to challenge the power of nature, the crushing weight of the water was terrifying.

She quickly realized she couldn’t sustain this for long.

Subtle cracks were forming on the barrier. The seemingly endless magic was draining away like a receding tide as it worked to maintain the massive shield.

“I can’t hold it for long, so evacuate people quickly! You’ll be safe if you go to the end of the plains.”

As Vanessa shouted, Evan stood frozen, his face pale. He squeezed his eyes shut. *When had she grown so much?* This was magic of a different caliber. He’d never felt so frustrated.

“I know spatial magic, so don’t worry.”

*I’ll be the safest.* Vanessa smiled.

“If, if you get hurt, I’ll tell everyone! I’ll tell Lina and Chevati and… all your lovers!”

Evan shouted and turned to run. Vanessa couldn’t help but smile, even as her strength waned.

*What a scary threat.* Well, if Gideon or Lina found out, they really would tie her up somewhere. Chevati… would probably cry. Then she’d have to apologize.

Despite her lighthearted thoughts, nausea began to rise. In the distance, she saw another wave approaching. Smaller than the first, but still massive.

*Could she withstand the second wave?*

Cracks repeatedly appeared and disappeared on the barrier’s surface.

Then she heard footsteps behind her. The sound of sand scattering underfoot.

“Please evacuate quickly!”

Vanessa turned around, annoyed, only to see a familiar face.

“A very touching sight, indeed.”

A slow, affected voice.

She had definitely met him before. Under the walls of Phydom, wearing a cloak more extravagant than the king’s and gold rings dangling from his long fingers. The man who had given her the impression of a flamboyant spider.

“Aberdeen Chara… ?”

The Boundary Mage. The one who protects the East from disasters.

“With the magical power to protect all this with a barrier, it would have been more efficient to freeze the wave. It requires less magic, and you only need to do it once. But I suppose that’s something you learn from experience; young mages often default to barriers.”

Hearing the man’s condescending words, Vanessa snapped.

“If you have time to criticize, help! You’re the Boundary Mage! I’m going crazy worrying about the barrier breaking—”

“Such an unrefined way of speaking. Well, this *is* my job, so I’ll do as you say.”

Aberdeen Chara twirled his mustache and elegantly flicked his little finger. The jingling of his gold ornaments sounded like music.

Another wave crashed, right before her eyes. Just before the massive wave engulfed the faintly shimmering barrier, his magic took effect.

The approaching tsunami instantly froze, becoming a wall of ice. The transparent, glittering ice crystals diffusely reflected the sunlight, sparkling like jewels.

Vanessa’s strength gave out, and she fell backward. At the same time, the barrier dissolved into fragments of light.

Aberdeen Chara looked down at the still-conscious mage with interest. His long cloak, unsuitable for the season, was adorned with glittering gold ornaments that reflected the light and jingled.

“I saw hundreds of Zaparos scattered over there. Did you do that as well?”

“Why do you ask? Why are you here now?”

Undeterred by Vanessa’s prickly tone, Aberdeen Chara muttered thoughtfully.

“It must have been you…. If so, you must have used large-scale magic over there, yet you had the strength to create such a massive barrier. And you haven’t even fainted yet?”

“Are you telling me to faint?”

Vanessa said sullenly, shielding her face from the sunlight. Evan, having evacuated the people, returned and tried to run to her, but Aberdeen Chara stopped him with an elegant gesture.

As Vanessa looked at him questioningly, Aberdeen Chara stroked his mustache.

“Well, I was just thinking aloud, but now I’m actually tempted.”

“Tempted by what?”

“A disciple. Are you not interested in the position of Boundary Mage? I occasionally go on vacation, and I share some of the gold I receive from the king.”

At his boastful tone, Vanessa lay there, blankly turning her head. *What was this mage saying?* The words went in one ear and out the other.

She wasn’t interested and didn’t fully understand, but the answer came out smoothly.

“I’m already a disciple of another mage.”

“Who is it?”

“Jenian Pokis Polis Stargay. Do you know him?”

Aberdeen Chara stroked his mustache and twisted his thin lips.

“That old personality wreck.”

Vanessa muttered that they seemed similar, but Aberdeen Chara pretended not to hear and picked at his ear. Then he asked, genuinely puzzled.

“The power you possess is immense. Isn’t it a waste to merely belong to the Special Forces with such power? You could accumulate great wealth in exchange for that power.”

“There are many great mages besides me who protect people without expecting anything in return.”

“If you’re in the Special Forces, you must have seen your captain. You’re wrong. There’s no one else like that. I really don’t understand.”

Aberdeen Chara, looking down at Vanessa with a strange expression, seemed to be saying, *’So I don’t understand you either,’* so Vanessa simply laughed.

There was a reason she had joined the Cabinet as a mage.

With the help of her patron teacher and many others, she had built a fulfilling life. She could stand on her own, but there was no way to truly repay them.

So she wanted to do something, even a small thing, that could give back to others. She couldn’t see her teacher, but she wanted her teacher to be able to look at her from afar and be proud.

That was her initial motivation, but thanks to her precious people, she found the work itself satisfying—the fact that she could help someone and protect them from harm.

How could she explain that to this mage? So she had no choice but to laugh.

Aberdeen Chara released the barrier that had stopped Evan. As Evan ran over to support Vanessa, she finally managed to stand up on her trembling legs.

“If you change your mind, contact me anytime. You seem like you’ll develop very quickly with just a little more experience.”

*Even faster than me.*

With those words, Aberdeen Chara instructed the four Special Forces members to leave the East. Everything had started with that massive vibration, so he told them to go to Phydom to investigate the cause.

“Do you know the cause of the vibration?”

Captain Sleiman, who had rescued residents buried in the destroyed houses and rushed over, frowned as he asked. Aberdeen Chara gave a mysterious smile.

“Well, it seems to be related to what you came here to find.”

He took out a pocket watch from his clothes and disappeared, saying he had many places to protect. The remaining four Special Forces members exchanged glances.

The Night Vandalu magic circle?