Meanwhile, next door to the factory, at Seraphine's house.
Ivern paced back and forth in his study, his expression a mix of anxiety and conflict, clutching the article Viktor had given him: *Where Did Zaun Come From?*.
Although he started as an apprentice, he had persevered in his studies and research over the years. He had long since shed his past ignorance and become a technical expert in his field.
He understood this article.
He also clearly saw the 'what' and the 'why' of the issue.
But it was precisely because he saw it so clearly that Ivern was afraid.
Goddess Janna had personally descended to the mortal realm, established an organization, raised funds, and was even propagating this kind of ideology. This... this was going to be something massive!
Ivern felt as though he had unwittingly been swept into the center of a storm.
This storm was bound to sweep across the world.
But as a tiny ant caught in the eye of the storm, he might not live to see that magnificent sight.
'What should I do?'
Ivern continued to pace endlessly, cold sweat quietly seeping from his forehead.
At that moment, a quiet rustling came from his precious daughter's bedroom.
Concerned, he stepped out of the study to look, only to see Seraphine already scurrying to the villa's entrance. With one hand resting on the wall, she kicked off a slipper, lifted her leg, and jammed her toes into her rather difficult-to-wear leather boots.
"Seraphine, are you going out?"
Ivern looked at his daughter, and then at the cute little bluebird perched on her shoulder.
He now knew that this bluebird was actually an avatar of Goddess Janna.
"Where are you going?"
"Just to the factory." Seraphine pointed next door excitedly. "I 'heard' it. Everyone from the Windguides is over there."
"Uh..." Ivern's face twisted in conflict.
His biggest fear right now was his daughter getting too deeply involved with this group calling themselves the Windguides.
Ivern didn't want to know a single thing about what they were doing in the factory. Naturally, he wanted his daughter to participate even less.
"Um, Nini, aren't you still practicing your magic?"
"What's there to see at the factory? You should spend more time on your magic and fully master your abilities before going out to play."
"But I've already been learning all afternoon, Dad." Seraphine stuck her tongue out playfully. "Besides, Big Sister Janna said my comprehension is excellent and I learn fast, so I can take a break today."
"Yes," the bluebird Janna spoke up. "Seraphine's talent and comprehension as a mage are just as outstanding as her musical aptitude. It is no exaggeration to say she is a genius among geniuses."
"After just half a day of study, she can already grasp the basics of releasing and retracting her magic, barely managing to control her talent."
"So you don't need to worry, Mr. Ivern. Your daughter's abilities won't spiral out of control so easily anymore."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Ivern couldn't help but cheer gratefully.
Yet, his face still bore a conflicted look.
"It seems you have understood that booklet, Mr. Ivern," Janna suddenly pointed out, seeing right through him.
"Y-Yes," Ivern stammered nervously.
"No need to be nervous." Janna's tone was eternally gentle. "Mr. Ivern, I want to hear your true thoughts."
Ivern hesitated for a good while.
Thinking of Goddess Janna's reputation for mercy, he finally mustered his courage and spoke frankly, "Lady Janna, I don't know what you are trying to do, and I don't want to know."
"I don't want that thirty percent share anymore. You can take this entire factory. Do whatever you want, I won't interfere, and I certainly won't spout nonsense to outsiders."
"As long as you fulfill your promise and help Seraphine fully master her talent, that's enough—just teach her magic, and don't let her stay with Levi or those Windguides anymore."
Compared to money, his life was far more important.
Ivern would rather give the entire factory to Goddess Janna than stay associated with the Windguides a moment longer.
Not to mention, trading a factory for a mage daughter wasn't a loss at all.
Even Goddess Janna praised Seraphine as a super genius. As long as his daughter could successfully become a mage, why would House Ivern worry about not being able to make a comeback?
"Lady Janna, y-you..."
"Do you agree?" Ivern gulped nervously.
Janna replied, "First, you don't need to call me 'Lady'. Just calling me Janna is fine. Second, I will never force humans to do things they are unwilling to do."
"Therefore, I agree."
"Th-Thank you so much!" Ivern breathed a massive sigh of relief.
As expected of the legendary gentle Goddess Janna, she was truly easy to talk to.
But...
"I disagree!" Just as he was rejoicing, his daughter dealt him a fatal blow.
"Dad!" Seraphine pouted. "Why won't you let me stay with Levi and everyone from the Windguides?"
"Huh?!" The old father's face darkened.
'Why?'
'She still wanted to stay with everyone?'
"Seraphine! Do you even know what Levi and the others are doing, yet you still want to be with them?"
"I know!" Seraphine said righteously.
"You know?" Ivern couldn't believe it.
'My daughter can understand this?'
"I know Mr. Levi isn't doing anything bad. He wants to lead everyone to create a beautiful world where everyone can live happily... uh, I think it's called Great Harmony or something... Anyway, it's a very, very happy world!"
"..." Ivern was left speechless.
'How the hell is this not doing something bad?'
'This is literally rebelling against the lords of Piltover!'
"Seraphine!" The old father grabbed his daughter with a stern face. "You stay at home and behave!"
"From now on, I forbid you from seeing Levi, and I forbid you from mixing with those Windguides, do you understand? Learn magic properly from Lady Janna, and once you're done, we're moving away from here!"
"I won't!" Seraphine shook her head stubbornly.
She struggled free from her father's grasp, her eyes full of resolve—resolve, not rebellion.
"This..." Ivern felt a headache coming on.
He looked at Janna pleadingly.
Janna merely flapped her wings and replied calmly, "I said, I will not force humans."
"Mr. Ivern, perhaps you should also respect your daughter's own opinion."
"Yeah, Dad! You have to respect my thoughts!"
"Respect my ass!" Ivern cursed in anger. "You don't even understand what they're trying to do, what kind of thoughts could you possibly have!"
"I think you're just blinded by that Levi kid and want to date him!"
"Dad, what nonsense are you saying—" Seraphine could hear the inner voices of others, so naturally, she had a clear understanding of herself.
So she argued her case:
"I only just started liking Mr. Levi, it hasn't reached the point of dating yet!"
"..." Ivern stood dumbfounded.
The old father was about to die of anger.
"No! Absolutely not!"
If it were just simple dating, he would have tolerated it.
But was this about dating right now? This was something that could get them beheaded!
"Seraphine, get serious!"
"I am serious!" Seraphine bit her lip tightly, her gaze firm. "It's not just because of Mr. Levi, but even more so because of everyone, for the things everyone is doing."
"But you don't even understand what they want to do!" Ivern strongly questioned.
"Yes... I don't really understand... I can't understand their words, and I can't understand those theories, but..."
"But I can hear their souls!"
"Their souls are bright, warm, and possess endless heat... As long as I stay with them, I can hear countless beautiful melodies."
'Souls? Melodies?'
'Just because of this, she was going to risk her life?'
Ivern only felt that his daughter was suffering from her artistic syndrome again.
But a light seemed to flash in Seraphine's azure eyes.
She quietly took her father's hand, struggling to channel the magic she had only just barely mastered.
"Dad, I know you can't possibly understand my thoughts."
"So, I hope..."
"You can take a look at my world."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ivern felt a surge of emotion.
He was suddenly pulled into Seraphine's world.
He 'heard' the voices.
Countless painful, dark voices of souls were filling this world.
There was noise and wailing from all directions. It was clearly the mortal realm, yet it felt like hell.
Just facing them was enough to make one nearly collapse.
"Th-This..."
'Was this the world his daughter had been experiencing all these years?'
'His silly, naive daughter who always faced people with a smile, had she been silently enduring all this all along?'
Ivern suddenly widened his eyes.
Darkness, endless darkness.
The few light and joyful soul melodies were completely drowned out amidst this tide of pain.
And within this endless darkness, only one place was bright—
Right next door to his house, in the factory.
Only the souls of these people could stubbornly emit light and heat in the darkness!
And that light...
"Belongs to the Windguides."
Seraphine squeezed her father's hand tightly.
"Dad, let me go—"
"Let's go together!"
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