The Author's POV

The aperture in the cell was so small that very little light could pass through it. It was eerily quiet and pitch black. He had no idea how long he had been locked up for. He had long stopped keeping track.

He just felt numb.

Thinking about his wife and daughter, he felt his heart get torn into pieces.

He was innocent. He didn't do anything, but for some reason, he was framed. It wasn't just him; Levisha and Gravar were put in the same circumstances as him.

… They had been wondering why, but the only response they got was a list of charges. Each worse than the other.

The looks of scorn and the contempt he received from the guards were something he'd never experienced in his whole life.

'Why are they doing this to me?'

Toshimoto's head slowly raised as he gazed up at the pitch-black ceiling above him with a blank expression on his face.

He felt so empty…

Rumble!

Suddenly, he heard a muffled rumbling sound coming from a distance, and he lowered his head to look in that direction.

"What's going on?"

He wondered, weakly raising himself and moving toward the door.

Rumble!

Another muffled rumble reverberated. This time, it was a lot closer, and Toshimoto was able to make it out clearly.

'Did something happen in the facility?'

He felt his heart beat quicker.

Rumble!

The rumbling was getting louder and louder with each passing second, and it wasn't long before it reached his direction; he could feel the entire room shaking as it happened.

"This power?"

It felt terrifying and oppressive.

"Mia?"

He was able to instantly recognize it due to the heaviness of it. What was more terrifying was the fact that it was getting weaker and weaker by the second.

'Is she fighting against someone?'

It soon became clear to him that something major was happening. An attack perhaps? He wasn't sure… but for it to require Mia's personal intervention... It had to be extremely serious.

Booom!

The terrifying sound of an explosion came from nowhere, and at the same time, the door of the cell was violently blown open.

Toshimoto had to quickly cover his eyes with his arm in order to protect himself from the sudden influx of light that filled the room.

"Argh!"

He still nonetheless felt his eyes sting.

"W,what is happening?"

the pain, Toshimoto forced himself to open his eyes

of two deep blue eyes staring at him. With a

very nice to meet you…

***

Master? Benefactor?

Technically speaking, he wasn't the same person as the

Or was he not?

this is

thinking of how to address him. In the end, I still came to the decision that it was appropriate

had granted me. Without it, I wouldn't

"Y,you, who are you?"

the

looked much older and more malnourished. The skin on his face was also quite pale, and he appeared to have trouble standing

the questions for later. Let me help you

hand, which he glanced

caution, but you really have no choice but to take my hand. It's either you take my hand or you stay here and go

before he eventually nodded

"You're right."

dealing with the unexpected matter was rather surprising, but how should I put

It was at that point that I directed my mana into his body, and

pale face became flushed with red, his posture began to straighten, and

he looked like a completely different

"This…"

by the sudden changes, but I merely smiled at him and

do for now. Let's

Rumble!

a strong force heading in my direction, and I furrowed

"…How annoying."

forward, a figure slammed into

"Cough… Cough…"

coughs came after that, and I found myself on the other end of two glaring red

"I,impossible."

to get out of the

and turned to look at Grandmaster

"What's wrong?"

looked at me was akin to that of someone looking at

"T,that… How?"

"Don't worry about it."

the shoulder before turning my attention to the other two prison cells. After pointing at them, the doors suddenly blasted open, revealing two

'Grandmaster Levisha, Grandmaster Gravar.'

to them with my finger, and they both sped in my direction. When they

them began to heal very quickly, and

"What's going on?"

"What's happening?"

themselves in disbelief for a moment before turning their attention back to me. As soon as they laid eyes on me, I smiled warmly and offered them

an honor to meet

shifting

how apprehensive the three of them were, I didn't bother saying

been in their situation, I'd have reacted

"Ukh… Cough…"

a series of coughs coming from behind me.

'She's quite tenacious.'

what are you

"Can't you see?"

fairly

Her hair was all over her face, and blood was dripping down

"D,don't you da-pftt"