Long before the two men reached the exit. From the darkness of the alley, Ascella had already been following them.
The movement of her feet was without sound. The distance between them was maintained consistently. In the part of the alley not illuminated by moonlight, from the darkness Ascella moved closer. Focused on finding an opening.
Air was drawn in and exhaled repeatedly slowly, heard from her nose. Every breath Ascella took felt wrong, sensing the air around her mixed with something.
The smell of gas.
Even though the scent had diminished.
But it made me feel suffocated.
This scent comes from the robed man.
Perhaps the gas he used had the effect of putting Sinhart and that woman to sleep
Ascella followed the shadows of the two men for quite a long time. The moonlight was briefly covered by clouds, the sound of rats blended with the footsteps of the two men. Ascella's hand brushed against a cracked wall, passing wooden barrels, stepping over dirty puddles.
After some time, the tall wall of the city of Miosmo could be seen from a distance. Ascella's footsteps stopped. At the same time, the two men in front of her were no longer walking.
From behind a small crate, Ascella's eyes stared at them. The man with the hat began moving his feet, the sound of stone scraping against his shoes, thin dust on the road lifted into the air.
Then the sound of stone breaking was heard loudly. Ascella observed calmly, not moving at all.
What is the tall hat doing?
The man with the hat moved some broken stones, then opened another large stone on the alley road. From there a hole large enough was formed.
"This is a lie right! This is not our escape route right!" the shout came from the man wearing a black robe.
"Be quiet...give me the woman I will jump first. After going down I will catch you below." replied the man with the hat as he extended both his hands to the robed man.
Without thinking the robed man handed the woman from his shoulder. The man with the hat approached the hole, while carrying the unconscious woman.
Before truly jumping, the man with the hat looked briefly behind him.
"Three seconds after I jump...you jump too and do not drop that child."
"A-alright...," replied the robed man.
Without the slightest hesitation he jumped, into that hole, leaving the robed man with Sinhart.
Ascella who had been watching without interfering, realized something.
Where the man with the hat jumped...does not matter.
This is my chance.
Breathing frequency normal, while the heart beat faster. This sudden change of activity caused a reaction in Ascella's body. Anima Eugenes once again covered Ascella's body quickly.
Following the return of Anima Eugenes, Ascella's breathing frequency slightly increased.
Anima Eugenes spread and faded at the same time. Red Anima energy came out from Ascella's body, covering her body with a calm wave.
Leap Transition: Third Sky
The third sky, perfect stability of Anima energy could be seen covering the sorcerer's body.
Ascella slowly stood upright. Part of her head was illuminated by the moonlight. Her left hand lifted upward. The moonlight touched her skin softly. From there her Anima energy gathered, manifesting a form.
A long slender and smooth shape, with one end sharpening. The other end formed three feathers neatly arranged, maintaining balance. Red in color, an Anima technique was formed.
Ascella's left hand swung quickly at the robed man.
Energy Arrows.
But something happened—ruining everything.
"Oi uncle, I'm jumping!" shouted the robed man.
His voice sank into the hole that looked deep. At the same time, his left foot entered the hole. Slowly his body began to fall forward. Followed by the jump of his right foot into the hole. Without interruption that man jumped.
"It hurts...this hurts," Ascella's voice was heard softly.
Ascella bent on the ground. Her hand supported herself on the small crate. Ascella breathed quickly. Irregular, as if a heavy burden had just struck her body. Ascella's Energy Arrows lost its form and began to fade. Her energy cloak rippled like the ocean.
Second sky, an unstable energy cloak could be seen.
"What happened..."
Ascella had not yet understood what had happened to her. But her attention turned again toward the dark hole, even though the moonlight shone brightly.
Slowly Ascella's body rose. Her feet stepped, approaching the hole. Before stopping right at the edge.
"Damn! N-now they e-entered in here...," said Ascella with breath still panting.
Ascella crouched and began observing in detail. The edge of the black hole vibrated slightly, not felt on the feet.
"From inside here...negative Anima energy. It is very clear,"
Ascella extended her hand toward the emptiness in front of her. Without warning something colored bluish green appeared, from the edge and slowly shrinking the hole.
Seeing it—Ascella's calm face seemed to realize something.
The moonlight that was absorbed somewhere inside that hole. Something like a bluish green wall that began to close. All of that felt familiar.
The first Labyrinth Disaster. Grandmother's tale titled Radice. The first floor should have been destroyed. But strangely there is a part connected close to the ground.
The black hole closed further. Before the hole completely closed again by the wall that appeared from nowhere. Ascella's hand fell deeper inside and her body followed.
Deeper and deeper. That darkness swallowed. The hole earlier looked like a point. With her back facing the ground. As her body fell. Quickly Ascella focused all of her Anima energy to one point—her own back.
-When I Open My Eyes: My Journey Begins-