Mage Manual-Chapter 648 - 514: Hanna Extra (Part 2)

In Ash’s suitcase, there were several beautifully wrapped gift boxes.

Hanna took them out and quickly realized these were gifts meant for others—the black box with a skull on it was for Harvey, the deep blue box was for Banjee, the silver-edged golden box for Igula, and the box tied with a purple ribbon was undoubtedly hers.

What about Liss’s gift?

When Hanna unveiled these gifts, she knew why there wasn’t one for Liss.

"Harvey, you’ll be digging graves and conducting burials so often that you definitely won’t have time to bask in the sun, so I think this ’Blazing Anklet’ suits you well. It can help you prevent osteoporosis by getting some sunlight, and it can serve as a searchlight when you go down into the graves. Plus, it matches the Ghost King Chains on your hands, doesn’t it look nice?"

Hanna looked at the anklet in the box, and although she didn’t find it aesthetically pleasing, Harvey’s taste had always been unusual, he might actually like this gift.

"Banjee, I didn’t know what to get you, since you’re so good at taking care of people and probably have already bought anything you want. So I went to a store to make dolls of all of us. You can place these dolls in the game room, and it’ll be like we’re there with you playing those old games. Next time, I’ll definitely beat you at ’Mage Duel 14’!"

Hanna glanced at the six dolls in the gift box. Although the dolls themselves were cute with big eyes, their appearances—decked with distinct decorations—clearly showed who was who: Banjee with blue hair and housekeeper uniform, Igula with blonde hair and a skirted robe, Harvey with black skin and Ghost King Chains, Liss with white hair, Hanna in purple attire with an amethyst earring, and Ash in a dark red coat with a twisted mask.

To be honest, this was not a very thoughtful gift, after all, how could Banjee, who’s over sixty years old, possibly still like dolls? But now that Banjee had turned back into a baby, this gift was perfect for his age. Ash had somehow blundered into giving the right present.

"Igula, I haven’t forgotten to return the favor! The mask was your gift to me, and I’ve always remembered it! But, after racking my brain, I couldn’t figure out what you might like. I can’t just gift you a bathtub... I remember you once said you actually hate society and what you really want to do is adventure into mysterious ruins, which is completely the opposite of me. I love to mooch around in society, doing nothing, and I hate going on adventures. So I’m giving you a ’Team-Up Ticket.’ If you really find a mysterious ruin and have no friends to go with, come and team up with me."

Hanna picked up the light piece of paper and saw a line of crooked text (him being a mage and still unable to write properly)—

"Team-Up Ticket: Invite Ash to team up, must notify thirty working days in advance, limited to one-time use."

This had to be the most perfunctory and thoughtless gift, but Hanna felt Igula would definitely be very satisfied with it.

There was only one gift box left. Hanna tore off the purple ribbon and suddenly felt a bit nervous.

Then she saw inside a... an amethyst earring.

"Miss, although I really wanted to buy an original genuine Mag crystal, it was just too expensive and there was no way to buy one, so I could only get something that looked similar."

"By the time you receive this gift, I should have already eloped with Liss. Even though the time limit of the Contract hasn’t arrived yet, I hope you won’t ask me to return."

"Our relationship is too strange—we are reluctant slave and slave owner, comrades and friends sharing hardships, and we almost became entwined lovers... If I were to stay, I’m certain you would tame me, and I never doubt my own willpower."

"That’s why I have to leave. Although I won’t seek revenge on you for my experience under your control, I also won’t allow myself to submit to you. I’m not a little cat or dog that can be taken away and tamed after a few days of captivity, not to mention that this experience is a thorn constantly reminding me that our meeting was filled with calculation and use."

"Moreover, in your feelings for me, how much is the venting of fear facing death, and how much is the dependency that comes from your complete control over me?"

"You could easily find me if you wanted, but I’m determined to end this unequal relationship. So, if you want to see me, I hope that after the Contract is over, you’ll find a sunny afternoon and appear before me saying—"

"’Nice to meet you, I am Hanna Doran.’"

Although she had finished reading the letter, Hanna’s gaze still lingered on the last period, as if the letter hadn’t ended.

No wonder there was no gift for Liss.

Because this was Ash’s farewell gift to everyone; he had planned to take Liss and leave after everything was over, long before the action.

Hanna folded the letter neatly and put it away, then picked up the earring from the gift box and couldn’t help but snicker—similar? This was too far off; the original earring sparkled, clear and bright, while this knockoff that Ash bought looked dull and murky, clearly a cheap imitation.

She helplessly shook her head and put on the cheap earring on her other earlobe.

*

Hanna, having finished her bath and preparing for bed, heard a knock at the door.

It was Liss.

Dressed in a robe, Liss stood at the door with an expression of hesitation, but she finally made up her mind and asked, "Can I sleep with you?"

Hanna was a little taken aback but quickly replied, "Of course, you can."

She paused, "But you have to call me Sister Hanna."

"No problem, Hanna... Sister."

Seeing Liss’s awkward demeanor, Hanna realized that the Flute Empress was still just a little girl.

Perhaps Liss’s effortless poise in the court during the day had led Hanna to misunderstand, thinking she had quickly recovered from their separation. But it seemed she just didn’t want to reveal her feelings in front of others.

Honestly, Hanna’s relationship with Liss was far from good, and they rarely spoke, but now, Liss was the only one Hanna could turn to for comfort—they were both sympathetically abandoned.

As Hanna and Liss lay in bed, Liss suddenly asked, "Can we read a fairy tale picture book?"

"We can... But I have a better option."

Hanna picked up Banjee’s notebook and, letting Liss lie in her arms, said, "Banjee has been writing a novel for a long time but never publishes it. I’ve always been curious about what he’s writing. Let’s read it together."

"Okay!"

Hanna opened the first page of the notebook and was immediately bewildered.

Only when Liss urged her, she managed to say with a suppressed laugh, "A long, long time ago, there was a boy named Banjee. He had the power of chaos lurking in his blood and so was always cursed by the Void Realm. He carried two hand cannons, one called Light’s Sanction and the other Dark Judgment, and he embarked on a rebellious path against the whole world. In this journey, he met the Fate Mage Wenna and challenged the endless future with this cool girl in a trench coat..."

*

Hanna stopped reading and looked at Liss’s sleeping face, gently covering the Empress with a blanket.

The Empress who controlled the Gospel needed a bedtime story to fall asleep; had Hanna not witnessed it herself, she would have never believed it.

The old era was ending, Hanna thought.

She went to check on little Banjee, ensuring he was sound asleep, and then the Purple Moth felt at ease returning to bed.

Traversing the Gate of Truth, connecting souls to the Void Realm, stepping onto the Time Continent.

However, when Hanna opened her eyes to see the reverse golden rain, she heard two screams from above.

The Purple Moth looked up and saw two girls passing through the falling golden rain, holding hands with Silver Wings unfolded on each side. They looked like a pair of falling birds with joined wings, tumbling down from the sky.

A new era was about to begin, she thought.

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