It had been five days since Eric left the orphanage.
Lyria and Livy had never imagined Eric's value in their lives would feel as important as these torturous days.
They never even imagined it was possible to feel this much sorrow over not seeing or hearing from Eric for just a few days. This was far more painful and unforgiving than when they were kicked out of their homes or when they had failed to become Mana Wielders. No, it was, in fact, even more stinging than when their mothers died, as they were only seven years old then, they don't even properly remember many things.
Since the first day Eric left, they managed to stay 'normal' for three days, as Lyria had 'demanded' earlier.
But after that, Livy could no longer hold on and cried all day, imagining Eric had left them forever or probably died.
Even Lyria lost all calmness and sat in the same place in a daze, as if she had lost her soul.
For the first three days, they did some exercises in case Eric returned and laughed at them for not training while he was gone. But from the fourth day onward, they were no longer able to hold back their sadness in their hearts and had no strength to even walk to the training ground. They didn't even come out of their rooms for the entire day, didn't eat any meals, and starved.
When Bella Noll heard of this from Hannah, she immediately commanded her to bring Lyria and Livy to her room early the next morning.
Bella Noll couldn't accept that Lyria or Livy were starving! They were just children in her eyes, no matter how 'giant' they had grown. No one should ever starve—not to mention, they were still Mortals, not Mana Wielders. Mana Wielders don't necessarily need to eat every single day, and the higher the Ranks, the less they need to eat or sleep, as their Mana Body began to become more complete and fulfilled a large part of their physical body maintenance requirements.
On the fifth morning, Hannah brought Lyria and Livy before Bella Noll like criminals.
Bella Noll glanced at their swollen red eyes and newly formed dark circles and was utterly speechless.
At this rate, Lyria and Livy might not even survive if Eric left them alone in the future and traveled outside. Of course, Eric might not be bothered by it and still leave, and Bella Noll could completely understand and wouldn't blame him for that, but she doesn't want Lyria and Livy to suffer. They were like her own daughters; she wishes for their happiness. She doesn't care how they decide to live their lives, but they must live well! As a 'parent,' how could she see her children living this way?
Initially, Bella Noll thought she would request Eric to find some good Mana Doctor and take Lyria and Livy to their location. But not all Mana Doctors should be trusted easily, as they could do harm without even the patient knowing it. So the next best option was to seek out Elendo and request him to search or suggest a good Mana Doctor.
With Elendo's reference, even a vile Mana Doctor—man or woman—would do their best.
Eric could even sell one of his 'coins' to Elendo for extra money.
Elendo was a very trusted man on this. Even if he didn't know Eric had something to do with her—Bella Noll—he would still be honest with the price, as he was very wealthy and an honest person.
Of course, successfully meeting with Elendo would become equally difficult if Eric didn't disclose their relationship, as Elendo was a big celebrity for being one of the greatest artisans in the whole world. This was something she would leave to Eric's discretion, as he was smart enough to choose the best option.
Bella Noll planned to suggest this to Eric before she died so he could decide. In fact, he wouldn't even need to spend money on a Mana Doctor if he had Elendo's reference, as Lyria and Livy are just mortal girls. Their Mana Veins' fixing shouldn't cost too much. But the problem was Elendo and 'Satyrstane United' were way too far from Ringwood Town or Silvia Kingdom. If they didn't use Space Gateways, they might take dozens of years to arrive there, and that was if they didn't get killed along the way.
Bella Noll was planning to inform Eric, Lyria, and Livy of these things on her deathbed to give them some hope, and she could also go with a relieved heart. But currently, glancing at Lyria and Livy's terrible condition, even she was starting to feel heavy-hearted.
Bella Noll stayed quiet for some time, gazing at Lyria and Livy's figures. Both of them had lost weight just within a few days of Eric leaving. She could tell it wasn't because of not eating for a day or two but due to their depression.
Hannah, who brought Lyria and Livy to Bella Noll, was equally sad seeing both girls' condition. To her, both of them were like her little sisters, with whom she had spent years together, and seeing them in such a poor state broke her heart.
She promised she would personally teach Eric a tough lesson when he returned!
Hannah also didn't know what to feel seeing Lyria and Livy as a fellow woman. Jealousy? Perhaps, as even she wouldn't miss Wilburn so much if she couldn't see him for a week or a month. So, she also couldn't understand how both Lyria and Livy actually missed Eric so much that they could become so depressed.
Hannah and everyone in the orphanage knew that both Lyria and Livy liked—or perhaps loved—Eric, while both the girls remained completely oblivious to their own feelings for years.
Everyone giggled and smiled, looking at the three, who always remained glued to each other and always seemed happy. But no one expected both Lyria and Livy to actually become this depressed and heartbroken over not seeing Eric for just a few days.
As a fellow female, Hannah suddenly felt women are too much pain but also blessed to fall so deeply and experience something so intensely.
From Hannah's perspective, both Lyria and Livy were very lucky to be able to experience, and also to find someone for whom they can throw their full hearts and souls into.
But this had gone too far! If Eric didn't return soon, both Lyria and Livy might just starve themselves to death.
Now all hope lay with Bella Noll's old-age wisdom.
So Hannah stared at Bella Noll, hoping to learn some child-manipulation technique from her.
Bella Noll spoke directly, "Both of you, don't starve yourselves, alright? If you girls stay healthy and well, and by the seventh day, if Eric doesn't return, I will inform you of where he went..."
Lyria and Livy's eyes, which always seemed wide due to their swollen eyes, grew even wider.
They immediately took a step forward and inquired with their rough voices, "G-Grandma, you knew where Brother Eric went?!" They were not sure if Bella Noll knew, as she had never mentioned it before, or even if she would be willing to disclose the truth to them.
Before Lyria or Livy could attack her, Bella Noll quickly answered, "Yes, and I only haven't informed you girls because Eric told me not to!"
Yes, she lied!
She lied to protect her remaining lifespan!
She had old-age wisdom!
Bella Noll sighed inwardly. She was in serious trouble this time. If Eric didn't return by the seventh day, she could no longer stop Lyria or Livy from going into the forest. She also couldn't give them fake information, as that would be even more dangerous for them.
'Sigh... Eric, I know it's not your fault, but you are making everyone worry for you by not coming back in time. Even if I am worried for you, just come back... Don't let this old dying lady worry so much...' Bella Noll once again sighed in her heart.
Lyria and Livy hesitated whether to 'kill' the old lady in front of them to obtain the 'truth' on Eric's whereabouts—that's how it looked to Bella Noll.
Of course, that's not how it was, as both Lyria and Livy equally love Bella Noll like their mother and would follow her words 'as much as possible.'
What both Lyria and Livy were doing was 'shaking with excitement,' as they finally had some direction and hope to do something.
Even if they died searching for Eric, it was fine, but they wished to reach out to Eric one more time, see him, and perhaps they could also be of some help to him.
Seeing both Lyria and Livy had their lives returned to their eyes, Bella Noll was relieved. At last, this final 'trump card' that she had saved by not informing them of everything a few days earlier was finally put to good use.
Bella Noll immediately put down her demands: "Lyria, Livy, I want you to be in your best health! In every angle, by the seventh day—or rather, let's push it to the eighth day early in the morning!"
Both Lyria and Livy immediately stepped forward as if they were ready to fight Bella Noll and yelled, "No way! Seventh means seventh! On the seventh day morning, you better tell us where Brother Eric went, otherwise, we will simply run around everywhere searching for Brother Eric outside the town!"
With that, both Lyria and Livy turned around and were about to leave, but at this moment, Bella Noll raised her voice a little and reminded them: "I want to see both of you in the best shape as you were when Eric was around. If I find you are still sleep-deprived or in such poor health, then forget it. Even if you girls beat me up, I won't tell you where he went!"
Lyria and Livy visibly flinched and replied quickly while fleeing: "W-We will t-try our best!"
Bella Noll sighed and addressed the last individual in the room: "Hannah, leave all your not-so-important duties aside and spend time with them, and cheer them up as much as possible."
Bella Noll knew what she just reminded Lyria and Livy wouldn't really be valid. Even if she didn't tell them where Eric had gone by the seventh day, they would still run around everywhere.
So what she could do now was to forcefully bring Lyria and Livy's health into better condition, so they could at least observe their surroundings well and protect themselves better, and only Hannah could do this job within this orphanage, except Eric, of course.
Hannah nodded with a face full of determination: "Don't worry, Madam. Even if I have to sleep together with them from now on, I will do so!"
Bella Noll smiled and nodded at Hannah.