There was a faint groan. It was soft, like she was afraid of anyone hearing her.

“Um…Urgh…” Her eyes rolled underneath her eyelids for a while before she opened them. She looked unsettled for a moment before her gaze gained focus, and she let out a long sigh.

“It’s the same…dream again…” The sweat soaking her armpits and back suggested she had suffered from nightmares the entire night. Her body felt heavy, and her head felt dizzy like the worst kind of hangover. Above all, her dream had been very unpleasant.

‘…It’s the worst.’ It was a bad sign. Having the proper state of mind was very important for Apoline. Her ‘Mana Ring’ adjusted her physical condition to its peak, but it had no influence on her mind. And her mental condition depended on her state of mind. Furthermore, today was the beginning of their mission. She knew she wouldn’t be able to do anything in her current state and needed to pull herself together.

Knock, knock. Apoline forcefully pushed herself up and said, “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and five native women quietly entered her room with their heads bowed. Four of them were carrying a large wooden tub big enough to fit a person, which was half-filled with water. The remaining one approached Apoline and placed her hand on her shoulder. Slid. Her light gown slipped down and revealed her soft skin. And while supported on both sides, Apoline dipped her small feet into the water and immediately pulled them out.

“Fire.”The...