CHAPTER 482: 482. THE GIRL NAMED LANNY

"Our route will lead us toward the Truncheon Islands. After passing through them, if we head east, we’ll eventually reach the Nox Pass," Lily explained as she adjusted the map projected before her.

"That’s good," Tyler replied, nodding. "Serena, tell Tuman to keep an eye out for any pests that might try to stop us."

Though Serena wasn’t physically present, her voice carried clearly, resonating in their minds. "Alright. Consider it done."

With that settled, Tyler and Lily removed their pirate disguises and changed into their usual travel attire. The air around them shifted as they stepped into the ship’s pocket dimension— a hidden world within their vessel, filled with rooms and facilities that made long voyages bearable.

They walked through the gleaming corridor of the medical wing, the faint scent of herbs and alchemical concoctions lingering in the air. After a few turns, they stopped in front of a private room. Tyler gently pushed open the door.

Inside sat a girl dressed in a pale-blue patient’s gown, a mask attached to her face. Despite her frail appearance, her eyes carried a quiet determination. This was the same girl Tyler had pulled from the depths of the Wyvern Nest— a girl from another world.

The moment she saw them, her expression softened with relief. "Thank goodness... you came. Big Brother, Big Sister —thank you for saving me. How can I ever repay such kindness?" Her words tumbled out nervously, as though she feared they might ask her body or something.

"Big brother?" Tyler blinked in surprise before chuckling softly. He moved closer and sat beside her bed.

"Calm down," Lily said gently, pulling up a chair. "How are you feeling?"

The girl gave a weak nod. "I’m... alright now."

"That’s wonderful," Lily smiled. "And I see you’ve managed to pick up our language so quickly."

"Teacher Serena helped me," the girl replied, her voice more confident this time. "In the virtual world, inside that classroom for an year. She’s really amazing."

Tyler leaned back slightly, studying her. "Then let’s make proper introductions. My name is Tyler White, and this is Lily Gomes. We’re... traveling merchants, you could say."

"I know," the girl answered, a faint laugh escaping her lips. "Teacher Serena told me. My name is Lanny." She paused before taking a shaky breath. "I was supposed to marry the sixth prince of the Monrad Kingdom. I was chosen because of my... unusual mana efficiency. It set me apart."

Her expression dimmed as shadows crossed her face. "But I never wanted any of it. That prince— he killed my adoptive parents just to claim me. Not that I feel much pity for them... they sold me to him in the first place. Still, it didn’t make the betrayal hurt any less. They were too greedy and caught themselves killed."

Lily frowned but stayed quiet, letting the girl continue.

Lanny’s hands trembled as she gripped her gown. "When I saw the portal to another world... I thought, what if? What if I just escaped everything? What if I left it all behind? That one desperate thought pushed me through... and somehow, I ended up here, in your world."

The silence that followed was heavy but not uncomfortable. Tyler exhaled softly, breaking it with a reassuring smile. "Well... that’s quite the story. Honestly? That’s pretty cool."

Lanny blinked at him, startled, then covered her mouth with a hand as laughter spilled out—a raw, almost childlike sound that carried more relief than joy. For the first time in what felt like forever, she laughed freely.

Tyler studied the girl carefully, his gaze lingering on the strange mask covering her face. Its surface was a dull gray, etched with faint, vein-like lines that pulsed faintly, as though it were alive. He finally broke the silence.

"Can’t you take off the mask?" he asked, curiosity mixed with concern.

Lanny froze at the question. Her fingers brushed the edge of the mask almost instinctively before she shook her head. "Huh... I can’t. It’s cursed." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "It’s been stuck to my face for as long as I can remember. If I try to forcefully remove it... I’d have to peel away my skin, my flesh... even my skull." A flicker of fear twisted her expression.

Lily’s brows furrowed. "Is there no way to remove the curse?" she asked gently, her usual sharp tone softened by sympathy.

"I don’t know." Lanny’s shoulders slumped. "I had this mask ever since I was a child. Even my adoptive parents found me with it already fused to my face. They tried everything they could, but nothing worked."

Tyler exchanged a glance with Lily. There was so much mystery about this girl, yet something about her voice and presence felt oddly familiar. He leaned forward, curiosity pricking at him.

"Then tell me this— how do you know the Zi World language?" Tyler asked. That was what had truly caught his attention, the one thing that stopped him from ignoring her altogether.

"Zi World?" Lanny tilted her head. "You mean the language you spoke earlier? I don’t remember much... but I think my birth parents taught me when I was little. It’s buried deep in my memory."

The mention of parents tugged at Lily’s heart. "Where are they now?" she asked softly.

Lanny’s smile turned fragile, almost brittle. "I don’t know. They disappeared. And... so did my memories of them. Every time I try to recall, it’s just a blur. Like someone erased them from my mind."

For a moment, the air grew heavy with unspoken grief. Lily reached out and gently patted Lanny’s head, her fingers brushing against her soft hair. "It’s alright," she murmured, trying to offer comfort.

Meanwhile Lily nodded at Tyler, indicating that she wasn’t lying.

A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the hum of the strange dimension around them. Tyler finally cleared his throat. "Alright. Let’s focus on something practical. First, try the Energy Conversion Method. Change your Mana into Prana."

Lanny blinked at him in surprise. "I’m... not sure if I can. I already constructed my Mana Circuits."

Tyler frowned. Mana Circuits? That was terminology unfamiliar to him. Before he could ask, a faint shimmer appeared in the air. A hollow, glowing figure materialized—a girl with flowing green hair that drifted as though carried by a breeze. Her eyes sparkled with tiny green lights, and her entire body was made of translucent projections.

"Teacher Serena..." Lanny’s eyes lit up with relief, her earlier sadness momentarily replaced by warmth.

The holographic girl looked at Lanny, then at Tyler and Lily. Her voice was calm, yet carried the authority of a mentor. "The method he speaks of will work. It will restructure your Mana Circuits into Prana Veins. In your terms, Lanny, the word ’Mage’ here is equivalent to ’Sorcerer’ in your world. If the conversion succeeds, you will become a One-Star Master Mage."

Lanny’s lips parted in awe. "Really?"

Serena nodded, though her tone sharpened in warning. "But listen carefully. Until the conversion is complete, do not step outside this pocket dimension. The density of Prana outside is too overwhelming. Your body, in its current state, would collapse under the pressure."

"Pocket... dimension?" Lanny tilted her head, puzzled.

Tyler chuckled at her reaction. "Yeah. We’re inside a pocket dimension right now. More specifically... inside a ship."

Her eyes widened in wonder, her earlier fears momentarily forgotten. "A ship... that has hidden dimension with in?" She let out a breathless laugh. "Wow. Mystical, advanced... everything here feels like it belongs to a world beyond my own. My world feels so primitive compared to this."

Lily smirked, folding her arms. "You haven’t seen even half of it yet."

Lanny touched her mask again, almost subconsciously, as though grounding herself. Despite her amazement, that shadow of sorrow lingered in her eyes. Tyler noticed it but didn’t comment. Instead, he leaned back, crossing his arms.

"If you’re serious about surviving here, you’ll have to adapt quickly. Learning to control Prana is your first step. Serena can guide you, but the rest depends on you."

The projection of Serena inclined her head. "Indeed. I can assist in the process, but the decision to embrace the transformation must come from within."

Lanny inhaled deeply, her small hands curling into fists. "Then I’ll do it. If this world is so different... I don’t want to be left behind."

Tyler’s lips curled into a faint smile. The girl might be burdened with curses and missing memories, but she had courage— and that, more than anything, meant she had a chance.

"Alright, Lanny. We’ll figure out what kind of curse this is. We have the best alchemists, and Serena will analyze it too. The world is vast—there’s always a solution. So don’t worry." Tyler smiled reassuringly.

"Thank you, Big Brother Tyler." Lanny’s eyes sparkled behind her mask.

"Thank you, Big Brother Tyler." Lanny’s eyes sparkled behind her mask.

For some reason Tyler felt her extremely familiar. Especially her eyes.