Interlude: Oakdale village

Within a few days, Seraphine and Anna had assembled an expedition group and embarked on their journey to Anna's hometown, Oakdale. The village lay nestled near a lush green forest and rolling hills, far from the bustling city and seldom receiving visitors.

Meanwhile, on a serene afternoon, Damian and Marcus enjoyed their customary afternoon tea on the balcony of Damian's room. The weather was pleasant, offering a peaceful setting for their conversation.

Marcus poured the milk tea as he observed Damian, who took a sip and glanced out at the beautifully restored garden. Thanks to the wealth generated from Seraphine's ingenious inventions and the treasures they had collected from the dungeon, the estate now radiated opulence and prosperity.

" Young master, this is the first time I've seen Seraphine venture out on her own," Marcus remarked, positioning himself next to Damian.

"Yes, I believe this journey will provide her with some much-needed respite. Working at the mansion day in and day out can be quite monotonous," Damian replied, appreciating Seraphine's dedication to her work.

"It's rather intriguing that it was the newly assigned maid who requested this expedition. You seem to be making exceptions, young master," Marcus teased, knowing Damian's usual disposition. He was curious about the underlying motives behind Damian's decision.

"To be honest, Anna's family situation doesn't concern me. I'm not in the business of involving myself in the affairs of our servants," Damian responded matter-of-factly, his tone firm. While he didn't feel any personal attachment to Anna's plight, he had allowed the expedition because of Seraphine's willingness to help.

Damian has witnessed that most Seraphine actions and decisions always have a good result for themselves. He believes that something must have made Seraphine decide to help Anna. It should bring good fortune to both of them, either due to genuine goodwill or personal benefit.

Eventually, Seraphine and Anna's expedition group finally arrived at Oakdale. She knew this small town was far from the usual grandeur and splendor of the marquis estate, and the villagers were curious to see such a group visiting their humble abode.

As the villagers gathered to catch a glimpse of the visitors, Seraphine and Anna took in the surroundings. The town appeared quiet and peaceful, but the air was filled with worry due to the mysterious illness plaguing the locals.

The group settled into the only inn in town, and Seraphine immediately engaged in conversation with the village chief to gather information about the illness. The chief explained that several people had been afflicted by the same sickness Anna's mother was suffering from. Despite the fact that it hadn't spread from person to person, fear and uncertainty gripped the community.

As the afternoon wore on, Seraphine and Anna decided to visit Anna's home to assess her mother's condition. With trepidation, they approached the modest house. Anna knocked on the door gently before slowly pushing it open. A young child, bearing a striking resemblance to Anna, eagerly rushed toward her with joy.

"Welcome back, sister!" the child exclaimed.

Anna smiled warmly and embraced her sibling. It was evident that the family's struggles had not dimmed their affection for each other. Seraphine observed this touching scene and felt a deep sense of empathy for Anna and her family.

"Hello, little one. I'm Seraphine, an advisor from the Marquis family," Seraphine introduced herself, crouching down to the child's level. "Your sister has told me about you."

The child looked at Seraphine curiously, and then a hint of sadness crossed his face. " Sister Seraphine, are you going to make Mama better ?"

Seraphine's heart sank at the innocent question. She exchanged a glance with Anna, who nodded with determination.

"We'll do everything we can to help Mama," Seraphine assured the child, her voice gentle yet resolute. " with Anna and the others, we'll find a way to make her better."

The child's eyes sparkled with hope, and Seraphine's resolve strengthened. She was determined to do whatever it took to bring relief and healing to the people of Oakdale.

It seems this was genuine goodwill from Seraphine, but there is a reason why Seraphine decided to help Anna to this extent.

When Seraphine first met at the mansion, Alice detected and felt that Anna was highly compatible with mana inside her body. Alice immediately knows this kid has an inner talent that could become a formidable mage.

Getting on her good side will be a better approach for her. If Seraphine helps her, she must feel indebted and loyal to Seraphine. It will make her plan to get an ally to deal with chaos order better. She never knows when they will come back. Even though this is not genuine goodwill, it benefits both sides.

As Seraphine entered Anna's mother's room, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the woman lying in bed. Despite her young age, the mother looked exhausted and frail, her arm muscles visibly weakened. Seraphine smiled warmly in response to the faint greeting.

"I have to apologize for not properly welcoming you miss seraphine. My current strength is not enough to stand up by myself, "Anna's mother said with slight shame.

"There's no need to apologize," Seraphine replied gently. "I'm here to help you get better."

Anna's mother nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you for coming all this way to help us. I know it's not an easy journey."

Seraphine took a seat by the bedside, careful not to startle the woman. " Now, can you tell me about your symptoms and how it all started?"

The mother shared her story, describing how she began feeling weak and fatigued, how her strength had progressively dwindled over time, leaving her bedridden and unable to care for her family properly. The villagers had tried everything, from traditional remedies to seeking assistance from nearby physicians, but nothing had worked.

Seraphine listened attentively, asking questions and jotting down notes to understand the illness better. However, there is one crucial key that both Alice and seraphine notice when she asks her question.

" Can you tell me your usual diet and what you generally eat? " Seraphine asks the mother, who looks confused by the question.

" Well, Our town does not have much money. Our diet only concerns potatoes and some vegetables. The food is very scarce in this area, miss," the mother answered in embarrassment since she did not want to admit that her family was poor to the extent that they could not eat anything aside from potatoes.

Both Alice and Seraphine understood the significance of the mother's diet. A deficiency in essential vitamins could lead to health issues, including the symptoms Anna's mother was experiencing.

"I think I know what caused this disease for you, ma'am," Seraphine said, addressing the mother directly.