Chapter 29, Mana and Selene City

When I open my eyes, I'm underneath a tree, Luna-san and Hera are by my side. Helios stands above me and when I try to get up I feel my body is heavy.

"Your awake?" A young woman, around my age, with emerald hair, a golden right eye and azure left eye. She has elf ears and white skin. She isn't the one that I saw before I blacked out.

"Ugh... yeah." I answered as I tried to get up.

"You exhuasted a lot of magical energy when you casted Sfragída." Hera said as she patted my shoulder.

"This young lady is?" I asked.

"Oh right. My name is Mana Pristine. I saw you passed out and panicked." She bowed her head. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Did you see anyone besides us?" I asked.

"No. There wasn't anyone here except you who passed out." She answered.

"I see. Thanks for helping us out." I thanked her.

"No. It's the right thing to do." She smiled.

"How's everyone?" I asked.

"We're fine." Luna-san said. "What about you?"

"I'll live." I answered jokingly and finally managed to get up. I circulated some magical energy throughout my body and began to float.

"Haruka, where are you going next?" Hera asked.

"Poseidon City, I'll stop by Athena City on my way there. What about you?" I asked.

"I think it's safer if we left Luna in your hands, Hades and I need to head back and help with the seal." Hera bowed her head.

"Sure." I said.

"Ah! If your headed to Athena City, then please allow me to accompany you. I'm headed there myself so I can help you." She smiled and we thanked her.

After receiving blessings of the Guardians we left. While we walked I realized Mana-san didn't ask a thing about why we collapsed there and why we were with Guardians or our identities. After a while, I bring it up and ask her.

"My eyes are Magical Eyes, the Eyes of Perception. My eyes allow me to perceive the heart of a person, allowing me to tell what kind of person they are." She answered as she smiled. "I didn't see a hint of darkness in either of your hearts so I knew you weren't evil."

"Thank you for helping us. When I get my real body back, I'll be sure to repay you." Luna said as she panted.

"There's no need. It's what a normal person would do." She answered. "But, I have to ask, why were you with Guardians?"

"They saved me from my fate." Luna-san answered without further explanation and Mana-san smiled.

"Mana-san, may I ask how old you are?" I asked.

"Haruka, it's rather rude to ask a girl her age you know." Luna-san stated.

"Oh, it's fine. I'm only eighteen." She answered and I was surprised. "Surprised right? I'm only eighteen but since I'm a half-elf I was driven out of my village and I had nowhere to go so I travelled the world."

"I was afraid about it. So I was right. Are you from the Forest of Artemis or Demeter's Garden?" Luna-san asked.

"Demeter's Garden." She answered. "Lady Demeter saved me so I was able to travel without problem."

"Demeter's Garden? Where's that? A nation?" I asked.

"Not quite." Luna-san stated.

"Haruka are you not from the West?" Mana-san asked.

"Yes. I'm from the North." I answered. "So I'm not familiar with this place."

"Then we'll tell you. The West has four major kingdoms, our Escutcheon Empire, the Unified States, the Nation of the Sages and the Kingdom of Ancients. besides that there are three more nations beside it." She said. "White Sanctuary, Asteria and Sacred Grounds Unified Nation."

"The Forest of Artemis and Demeter's Garden are micro-nations that serve as homes for Elves, Fairies, Dwarves, Beastmen and more." Luna-san said. "Demihumans aren't exactly treated kindly despite there being laws that state anyone who is unkind towards them will be severely punished, no matter their rank in society. Royals are no exception since this was a joint agreement."

"I see. So prejudice towards demihumans are present here as well. It's the same for north but I guess it's more severe here than there." I said. "In the north, not many are disrespectful towards demihumans races since there are not many of them and often we welcome them but there are still a few who don't accept them or at the very least don't trust them."

"Oh? At leats they aren't being treated poorly like here. That must be nice." Mana-san said with a sigh.

"If you like, I can help you go there. To the Northern Continent." I offered.

"Ahahaha, that'd be too much. The cost for crossing the ocean is pretty high. I can't possibly ask you that." She said. "But thank you."

"It's fine. My brother is bringing a ship here." I answered. "You can join us when we head back."

"If it's not too much trouble then." She smiled.

"Ah! I see Selene City." Luna-san said and we looked to see a city surrounded by walls and I felt something, a peesemce calling me to the city.

"Is something wrong?" Mana-san asked noticing the change in me.

"Luna-san, can you please tell me about Selene City?" I asked.

"Yes. It's known as the City of the Silver Moon. It's the only city to house an undamaged structure from the Guardians Era." She said. "The Silver Moon Castle. We don't know what it is because no one has ever entered it."

"Is there anything strange about it?" I asked.

"Yes. There are strange writings on the gate. Here. I'll draw it on the ground. At least what I recall." She said and drew characters on the ground and I realized these were Aerial Language. "Haruka?"

"These are characters from my homeland. Is this how they were arranged?" I asked.

"Some of them. Why?" She asked.

"When read these roughly say 'Oh one who guards the West, the strength of the earth, I call upon you, grant me entrance into your domain'." I answered her.

"What does that mean?" Mana-san asked.

"It's a reference to the fourth great elements of magic. Earth Magic." I answered her. "If I had to guess, there's something inside the castle that might be worth our time."

"Then shall we go there?" Mana-san asked.

"If I can." I answered.

We headed for the city and I immediately see the castle. The walls are tall and make a square with a guard tower at each corner. You can see the castle inside the walls and a tall tower towering at the center. On the wall, a crest hangs and I recognize it immediately. The Tsuki Family crest. Whatever is inside this castle, it belongs to my family and mostly likely either created by Tohru-jii-sama or Gou-jii-sama.