"Yes, if Lady Sage Nyau remains unmoved, then I suppose it is my loss. However, this is quite a predicament. It seems I have no more moves left to play. After all, I only possess these two Labyrinth Relics: the Dream-Seeing Incense Burner and the Bewitching Magic Chalice."
Two items appeared, floating in the air before Elsie. One was a weathered incense burner, and the other was a Golden Chalice. These two items were clearly the culprits behind our suffering.
"So, you admit defeat. But there is one more thing I must ask. What did you intend to do with the mana stolen from Nyau?"
Indeed, we hadn’t yet heard the motive behind stealing her mana. I had suspected it was to summon the Demon Beelphegor, though.
"Heheh."
Elsie let out an eerie chuckle, as if something were deeply amusing.
"No, I simply thought I would try to steal Lady Sage Nyau’s mana one last time."
"You wish to try?"
"I have already tried and failed to steal Lady Sage Nyau’s mana many times today. However, looking back, quite a bit of time has passed since my last attempt."
"It is useless regardless of how many times you try. Stealing mana from Nyau is an impossibility."
Nyau informed her of this with a flat, detached tone.
"I am well aware of Lady Sage Nyau’s confidence. Even so, please allow me this one final, futile struggle."
With that, Elsie reached out and gave the Golden Chalice floating before her a small poke. That chalice was clearly the tool used for the theft.
Because I had been listening to Nyau’s confident declarations, I felt a sense of relief. I didn't think it would matter what Elsie tried at this point. After all, Nyau was a Sage; as long as a person of her renown was certain, there was no way she could be wrong.
Or so I thought.
That sense of security was shattered in an instant.
"—Gack!"
With a sickening sound, Nyau doubled over, clutching her stomach as she staggered. The composure she had displayed moments ago vanished, replaced instantly by an expression of pure agony.
"M-Master!?"
Ryune rushed to her side in a panic. I followed reflexively, my mind struggling to process what was happening.
"What’s wrong!? Master!?" Ryune’s voice was thick with desperation.
Nyau opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, a choked, wet sound vibrated deep in her throat.
"Wh... what...? H-How...?"
Her voice was barely a whisper. Her gaze wandered aimlessly as she collapsed, as if she had forgotten how to use her own legs. Ryune tried desperately to catch her, but her slender arms lacked the strength to hold her up. Both of them sank to the floor together.
"Master, stay with me! Please, Master!"
"Nyau!"
I dropped to my knees and peered into Nyau’s face. Her pale golden hair spilled across the floor, and her eyes were unfocused, the light of life seemingly draining out of them. The woman who had just been dominating the room with her arrogance and power was now lying there, utterly broken and fragile.
"Master... she’s going to be okay, right? This is inside the dream, so no matter how much she’s hurt, it isn’t fatal... right?"
Ryune’s voice cracked, bordering on a sob.
She was right. This was a dream. Even if Nyau was in pain, it shouldn't be able to kill her.
"N-No... it is not... that simple. Nyau’s mana... it has been completely stolen. At this rate..."
Nyau managed to force out an explanation through her suffering, but her strength failed her before she could finish.
"I remember now... For a mage, the sudden, total loss of mana causes severe psychological trauma. This... this might be very bad."
Ryune spoke for her, clarifying what Nyau couldn't. Physical damage might be negated inside the dream, but mental damage was another matter entirely. And it seemed the violent theft of mana struck directly at the spirit.
Gasping for breath, I reached out to support Nyau’s shoulder.
"Nyau, get a hold of yourself...!"
Her breathing was shallow and ragged. She seemed to be stifling a scream of agony. Though her eyes wouldn't focus, I could feel her desperately trying to find me.
"What do we do? What can we do...?"
Beside me, Ryune called out to her master again and again, her voice breaking into tears.
"Master, you’re okay, right? Please, say something!"
Nyau’s lips trembled as she tried to form a raspy reply, but no sound came out. Ryune and I leaned in close, calling her name over and over in a desperate bid to keep her with us.
But Nyau’s face grew increasingly ashen, and it looked as though she was about to lose consciousness at any moment.