Chrono Stasis

"How is she, Professor?"

Dignitas stared apathetically at the unconscious Lorelai floating lifelessly in the glass chamber in front of him. The chamber was filled with some kind of green liquid that kept her afloat and prevented her from waking up.

This was a Chrono Stasis chamber, a device that invoked the spell it was named after. As its moniker implied, it locked anything inside within a fixed point in time.

"It's bad. Our technology is more than enough to perform surgery on Miss Seraph here, but the problem lies with getting another set of All-Seeing Eyes." Professor Shib replied.

The two of them were currently in a room somewhere below the school. This was the secret "emergency" room that was capable of providing life support to patients who were about to die.

"Normally, losing your eyes in this world isn't fatal." Dignitas said to himself. "But in Lorelai's case, it's akin to the end of the world."

Not having the All-Seeing Eyes took away from her what made her a Seraph. Those beautiful, emerald green eyes… Dignitas simply couldn't understand why the demon invaded just to steal Lorelai's eyes.

Indeed, that was all the demon came out here to do. Instead of going on a murderous rampage, the demon simply killed the ones who were in his way while going to the rooftop.

It didn't help that for some reason, all of the professors were stricken with mana exhaustion at roughly the same time. This, too, was most likely caused by the demon. This was why the school was so helplessly invaded by one demon. It wasn't the natural mana exhaustion, either. The professors simply felt as if their energy was being drained. And before they knew it, they could no longer move.

"What should we do, Shib? I can't just leave her like this."

"We have two options in this case. The first would be to transplant two, weaker eyes to Lorelai so that her eyesight will be restored. The second… is to find someone or something that can help replicate the ability the Seraphs have."

"The second is especially difficult, since even in her own family, Miss Seraph's eyes are special. Unlike the rest of her family members, she sees things at a different level. Even if we were to find someone who would willingly give their eyes to her, they would need to be perfectly attuned to her body."

Professor Shib could see the guilt starting to accumulate in Dignitas' face. He sighed momentarily, before placing his hand on his student's shoulder.

"I know normally such a decision would be entrusted to her family, but there's a reason why I'm telling you this. We all know how differently the girl has been acting four days ago. But even so, I could still see in her eyes just how much she really cared for you."

"Even when Andrea gave me the application form requesting an urgent mission be held, I almost couldn't bring myself to sign it."

"But you got it, didn't you? Andrea didn't bother changing the mission's objectives this time. There's only one of them from what I've heard, but that should be enough for now."

"You knew the whole time, didn't you?"

"I did. But I kept quiet. However, what has happened today undeniably affects you as well. So think well, and tell me your decision. I'll be in the faculty room, so just call me via your smartwatch."

Dignitas could then hear the faint sound of Shib's footsteps gradually nearing the exit. He silently pulled the door open, before closing it after reminding his student to choose wisely.

His decision wouldn't affect only Lorelai, but also himself.

"This whole time… I know I have the capability to fix this… but I can't do it."

Dignitas lamented in his suffering as he pulled out the All-Seeing Eye Implant from his pockets. Indeed, he currently had the means at hand to at least somewhat restore Lorelai's vision.

But not having her other eye would cause problems in the long run. There would be times when having both eyes must simply be required for her as an archer, and as a swordswoman.

Just then, the door swung open. Dignitas didn't even need to look to see who it was.

"Andrea."

"Leader. Welcome back. Were you successful in your mission?" She asked with a stoic tone as she stood beside him and stared at the glass chamber.

"Yeah. But I don't think… I can fulfill my end of the contract despite that."

"Are you sure about this? This could be your only chance at finding out how she became like this."

"I… I'll come to get used to her new self. Now that I think about it, this Lorelai isn't so bad either." Dignitas smiled, but couldn't help but shed a single tear.

"I see. Well, I respect your decision. This is goodbye, then."

"Yeah. You can go ahead and void the contract. I'll see you at school."

Without another word, Andrea simply bid farewell to Dignitas, before exiting the room from the same place she came in. Deep inside, she was happy that he was able to retrieve the Implant.

But not even a few seconds after her departure, the door once again opened, this time the figure belonging to someone else entirely.

"This isn't a drive through, you know… you guys can't just come in and lea–oh, hey, John."

"Hello, Dignitas." The protagonist approached him. "How is Lorelai?"

Of course, he too was present in that chaos. He had followed Dignitas to the rooftop and saw what happened to Lorelai. His heart couldn't bear how she had just lost her eyes.

"Fine. What about Curie? Was she injured?"

"No, not really. Other than a few scratches, she wasn't hurt. It's weird… It's like the demon purposely went only for Lorelai."

Based on the scenes they saw, it truly did seem like that. Most of the students who died were killed due to sheer pressure, something a demon could choose when to emit.

On the other hand, Lorelai was the only one who had something taken from her.

"Hey, John. This may sound stupid, especially since the entire reason we went to Mislokur was to get the All-Seeing Eye Implant for Andrea."

"If we completed the mission, The Unseen would put my commission to the very top and get to looking for a way to cure Lorelai."

"But with what's happened… I think I'm just going to give the eye to her instead."

"I will respect your decision, no matter what it is, Dignitas. After all, it is only you who wanted her to return to how she was. Curie told me she has learned to understand the current Lorelai more than the one before. She doesn't think she can go back to how she was before."

"But how are you going to get her other eye back? Lorelai will have problems with only one All-Seeing Eye."

"That's easy," Dignitas replied. "I'll just… give her my eye."

Dignitas knew his eyes, too, were special. He couldn't count how many times they had saved him from being hit by so many attacks.

It wasn't as exceptional in terms of ability as the All-Seeing Eye, but it would at least keep Lorelai's perception of depth the same way it was before she lost them.

He was also curious as to whether she, too, would receive Death's Vision.

"Oh, right. I forgot to ask. What happened to Eva?"

The Lunalite had, starting from when they rescued her in Mislokur, followed the two all the way to the Hero Academy.

"She's currently going through the process of enrollment. Professor Shib seemed to have no issues with taking in someone who wasn't invited, but the higher-ups do. We're still waiting for an answer, so she's staying at a hotel in the Academy District for now."

"That's cool. I hope we get her as a classmate."

"I do as well, Dignitas."