Re:Crafting in Another World
Chapter 152: Elder sister Manola

Chapter 152: Elder sister Manola

The chamber trembled, the glowing crystal at its center pulsing wildly as runes writhed across the floor like living serpents. Romina clung to Mandira, her heart pounding, while Shennong gripped his dagger, his usual grin replaced by a tense scowl. Lyssara stood frozen, her violet eyes wide with panic as the mana in the air grew thick and oppressive.

"Lyssara, what did you do?" Mandira snapped, her staff glowing as she raised a shimmering shield around the group.

"I-I didn’t mean to!" Lyssara stammered, her hands flailing. "It was just a tiny tweak to make the Threshold more... exciting! I swear it was stable last week! I just made sure anyone with weak mana signature would cause threshold to act funny...I didn’t think it would come to this."

"Stable?" Shennong barked, ducking as a stray bolt of mana crackled past his head. "This is your idea of stable? I’m starting to think you’re trying to kill us!"

Romina’s voice trembled. "Is this... normal for the Sanctuary?"

"No!" Mandira and Veyra shouted in unison, their glares fixed on Lyssara.

Before Lyssara could defend herself, a calm, melodic voice cut through the chaos like a soothing breeze. "Enough, all of you. Cease this chaos at once. There are old people like me here."

The group turned to see a woman gliding into the chamber, her presence commanding yet serene. Her robes were a soft ivory, embroidered with golden threads that shimmered faintly. Her hair, a cascade of chestnut curls, framed a face that radiated warmth, though her amber eyes held a sharp intelligence. The air around her seemed to still, the chaotic mana settling as if bowing to her will.

"Sister Manola," Veyra said, her tone a mix of relief and exasperation. "Your timing is impeccable, as always."

Manola’s lips curved into a gentle smile. "It seems I arrived just in time to prevent Lyssara from turning the Threshold into a fireworks display." She raised a hand, and the writhing runes on the floor froze, their glow dimming. The crystal’s erratic pulsing slowed, and the chamber grew quiet once more.

Lyssara pouted, crossing her arms. "It was just a little spark of chaos!"

"Chaos has no place in the Sanctuary," Manola said, her voice firm but kind. "You’ll be scrubbing runes for a month after this, Lyssara."

Lyssara groaned dramatically, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well I could plant some traps there, so worth it."

Manola’s gaze swept over the group, lingering on Shennong. Her brow arched slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "And you must be the unique skill user Mandira spoke of. Shennong, was it? I got message about you. A unique human."

Shennong flashed his signature grin, though it was a bit strained. "I hope you only heard good things about me from Mandira."

"Interesting, indeed," Manola murmured, stepping closer. She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as if peering through him. "How curious. I sense... no mana in you at all. Yet Mandira claims you possess a rare skill. Fascinating."

Shennong shrugged, unfazed. "What can I say? I’m full of surprises."

Mandira cleared her throat, her tone brisk. "Elder Sister, we need to see the Overseer. Romina has shown signs of mana sensitivity due to a spirit inside her body, and there’s another matter—an otherworldly threat. A genie, to be precise."

Manola’s expression grew serious, but she nodded. "The Overseer will want to hear of this. Follow me. And Lyssara, no more ’tweaks’ along the way."

Lyssara saluted mockingly. "Yes, ma’am!"

The group followed Manola through the crystal-lined halls, their footsteps echoing softly. Romina’s eyes darted around, taking in the floating orbs of mana and the intricate tapestries depicting ancient mages weaving spells. The air buzzed with energy, making her skin tingle.

Shennong leaned close, whispering, "So, what’s the deal with Overseer? Lyssara made her sound like a dragon in a dress."

Mandira looked rather serious while talking about that matter. "You’ll see. She is very important."

"Important’s one word for it," Lyssara chimed in, skipping alongside them. "The Overseer’s tiny, but she’s got a temper like a volcano. You’ll see."

Mandira shot Lyssara a warning look. "Enough. The Overseer is wise and powerful. Show some respect."

Lyssara stuck out her tongue but fell silent as they approached a pair of ornate silver doors. Manola raised a hand, and the doors swung open, revealing a circular chamber bathed in soft, golden light. At its center hovered a figure that made Romina gasp.

The Overseer was no towering mage or stern matriarch. She was a fairy, no taller than a child’s doll, with delicate wings that shimmered like stained glass. Her hair was a cascade of silver, and her eyes glowed with an ancient, knowing light. Despite her small size, the mana radiating from her was overwhelming, filling the room with a weight that made Romina’s knees wobble.

"Welcome," the Overseer said, her voice clear and melodic, yet laced with authority. "I am Elyndra, Keeper of the Sanctuary. Mandira, you’ve brought... an eclectic group."

Mandira bowed deeply. "Overseer Elyndra, thank you for seeing us. This is Romina, my niece, whom I told you about. And Shennong, a... unique individual. We also have an urgent matter to discuss."

Elyndra’s wings fluttered as she hovered closer, her gaze locking onto Romina. "Mana sensitivity at your age is rare, child. The Threshold confirmed your potential, but your mana feels... unstable. As if it’s not entirely yours. Well, let’s just allow Agni to stay dormant for now."

Romina swallowed, her hands twisting in her cloak. "I-I don’t understand it myself, Overseer. It just... started happening."

Elyndra nodded, her expression unreadable. "We will explore this further. But first, Mandira, tell me of this otherworldly threat."

Mandira straightened, her voice steady. "A genie has emerged in Shennong’s dungeon, to be more specific in Sturgon It’s disrupting the mana flows and summoning creatures from beyond our realm. We believe it’s tied to the matter of Sir Juno, the human knight of Sturgon. All of us mages were worried about him and it looks like our fears were not for vain."

"I know the reason you’re here, my child. You’re here to ask me about Succubus Queen," Elyndra said, as if she could predict the future, which is why she is called Overseer in the first place.

"I guess there’s no point in tiptoeing around when she knows the future," Shennong thought to himself, wondering what the limitations of her future predictions were.

The Overseer’s wings stilled, her eyes narrowing. "The Succubus Queen? That is troubling. Her influence has been dormant for centuries, but a genie could be her awakening call. Genies are cunning, bound by their own rules but dangerous if unbound."

Shennong raised a hand, his tone casual. "So, how do we deal with this genie? Stab it? Trap it? None of that worked and when we summoned it, our only remaning choice is bringing something more powerful or equally powerful that genie to get rid of it."

Elyndra’s lips twitched, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Your bravado is refreshing, Shennong, but a genie requires more than steel. They are bound by contracts and wishes. To banish it, we must either fulfill its contract or do what you said just now. But can you gurantee that new entity won’t cause problems.."

She then looked at Shennong with interest and muttered something that everyone in the room found intriguing—because it was something that had never happened before.

"I can’t read your future. I can’t see it through others either. You are truly a unique entity in this world... even more than that genie."

"To receive such high praise, I’m grateful," Shennong muttered. But he didn’t actually find the idea of her being unable to read his future interesting or useful. In truth, he wished she could—so he might know what he was supposed to do.

Elyndra hovered a little higher, her glow dimming slightly as she gave a weary sigh.

"I am the Overseer, not a mage," she said gently, her voice like a wind chime in the breeze. "I hold no power to fight. I do not command elements or bend mana. My gift is foresight—glimpses of futures yet to come. But that, too, is limited. I do not control the future, nor can I see all of it."

Shennong folded his arms. "Then what do you see now?"

Elyndra’s gaze turned solemn as she looked over the group. "A treacherous path. One filled with fire, betrayal, and broken truths. I see kingdoms trembling. I see the veil between realms wearing thin. I see choices that will scar the soul and forge new legends."

She paused, then turned her glowing eyes on Shennong again.

"But you... I see nothing. Not a thread of fate, not a shadow of a possibility. You are absent from every outcome I peer into."

Mandira’s eyes narrowed. "That’s impossible. Everyone has a thread. Even those cursed."

"Even the dead," Manola murmured beside her.

"And yet," Elyndra said softly, "his thread is severed from the loom of fate itself. It is as though he walks beside the tapestry of the world rather than within it."

Lyssara let out a low whistle. "Well, that’s creepy."

Veyra added, "And potentially very dangerous."

Romina looked between them all, confused. "So... does that mean he can’t die? Or that nothing he does matters?"

Shennong gave a crooked smile. "Hopefully the former. But more likely the latter."

"No," Elyndra replied. "What it means... is that he will be the wildest variable in what is to come. He is free. Too free, perhaps."

There was a heavy silence. Even Lyssara didn’t speak this time.

Then Elyndra’s wings fluttered again as she lowered slightly, her tone becoming soft but firm. "This path you all walk—it is not something I can guide you through. I see the beginning, and I see the ripples it creates. But the center of the storm... is murky."

She turned away, her tiny form slowly hovering back toward the golden center of the chamber.

"Go now. Prepare as best you can. Decisions must be made by your own hearts, not through the comfort of prophecy. The world will not wait."

The group instinctively bowed.

"Thank you, Overseer," Mandira said, lowering her head respectfully.

Elyndra nodded but didn’t return the gesture. Her eyes lingered on Romina.

"Romina. Stay."

Romina froze mid-bow, eyes wide. "M-Me?"

"Yes. The spirit inside you... it stirs. And it is not content to sleep forever. There is more you must understand before you take another step."

Romina looked nervously at the others. Mandira gave her an encouraging nod. "Go on. We’ll wait for you outside."

Shennong flashed her a thumbs up. "Don’t let the fairy boss you around too hard."

"Out," Elyndra said firmly, though her tone held a smile.

The silver doors closed behind them, leaving Romina alone with the Overseer, heart pounding louder than ever.