Is The Super Famous Sorceress The Villain?

"I'm too old for all this, deary…" I sighed.

["Mila, why are you talking like that?"] Gris replied on the other end of the phone, her tone filled with concern.

"I feel like I've aged 60 years, Gris…"

["What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time, Mila?"]

Because of the circumstances and recent events I've been caught up in, it feels like the years have piled onto me all at once. When I look at myself in the small hand mirror I carry, I can't help but notice the deep wrinkles standing out on my skin. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But still… the dangers I've faced lately have left me completely drained.

Oh, by the way, I'm talking on the phone with Gris, and since I'm on my break, I took the opportunity to call her. She's still in the hospital, though she's supposed to be discharged soon… or so I hope, because I feel incredibly lonely without Gris. While I was lost in thought, I continued my conversation with her from the school rooftop.

"By the way, Gris, when are you coming back to school? It's so boring without you! I need you!" I exclaimed dramatically.

["M-Mila, please don't shout…"] Gris pleaded nervously.

"But Gris! I feel so lonely!"

"Well, well…" Gris chuckled softly, as if amused by my childish behavior. She really doesn't understand how I feel! Without her, I feel completely vulnerable.

"By the way, Mila, have you heard about that rumor? The one about what happened on Saturday?"

"Oh yes, yes, that rumor!"

"You don't know anything, do you?"

"No… I don't. What happened? Hehe."

"Good grief, Mila…"

Gris sighed, exasperated, before continuing. Even though we were only talking on the phone, I could practically picture her adjusting her glasses to speak in a more serious tone.

"That day, people reported seeing an object moving at incredible speed. There are even videos all over social media. Hang on, I'll send it to you."

Notification! A small alert popped up on the device attached to my arm. Gris, still in the hospital, had been forced to wear one as well. This device has undoubtedly become a permanent part of our lives, a constant reminder that the authorities are always on high alert.

And honestly, I can't blame them. An attack like that had never happened before. But most importantly, it wasn't caused by an ordinary person... it was a sorceress.

I tapped the device's screen, and a blue light lit up the rooftop around me. The light projected forward like a hologram, displaying an image in shades of blue.

An object or maybe someone, was moving incredibly fast through a crowd, which scattered in panic in all directions.

Gulp! I swallowed hard as I recognized the scene. Someone had recorded me with their phone… Oh no! If Warren finds out about this, he's definitely going to be mad at me. I can already hear him saying, "Mila, look at the mess you've caused!"

I sighed. Why is my life like this?

I glanced at the comments under the video...

["What is that?"]

["This must be fake."]

["It's AI!"]

["No, it's definitely real!"]

Ahh, what a relief. At least some people think it's fake. That's good, right?

The projection faded away, and Gris and I kept chatting until she had to hang up.

By the way, that device—I never learned its name, since I didn't pay much attention... Is incredibly versatile. You can send messages, make calls, project images… it does everything. However, it's still primarily a tool for monitoring potential threats to the state... Sorcerers.

Luckily, by rubbing that black liquid Warren gave me on my arm, I can alter my body temperature, making it impossible for the device to track me… or something like that. That's how Warren explained it.

After finishing my call with Gris, I started eating my lunch: a delicious sub, to be more specific a Philly cheesesteak.

Munch. "I hope Warren doesn't see that video, or I'll be in trouble…" I muttered between bites, sighing.

"What video, Mila? This one?"

"Wa-Warren! When did you get here?"

Warren stood in front of me, wearing the school uniform. However, his tie was loose, and his shirt was untucked, making him look like a typical rebellious teenager. If there were girls around, I could already hear them squealing, "Kyaa!"

"Anyway, Mila, we have a problem," he said.

"A problem? What happened?"

Warren nodded, his face serious and a bit nervous. "Our bos—"

Ring! Ring! At that moment, Warren's phone started ringing, cutting him off before he could explain. He looked at it with a mix of doubt and resignation before answering.

"Yes, yes, I understand," he said.

From where I was sitting, I could hear a high-pitched voice through the phone, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. However, Warren's tense expression didn't change.

"Of course, I understand, but… what? Right now!?"

Warren's voice rose suddenly, clearly alarmed. Who could he be talking to? And more importantly, what are they discussing?

"Yes, it'll be as you say, boss."

When the call ended, he let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair, clearly stressed.

"This is bad…"

"What's wrong, Warren?"

"I wanted to train you before this happened, but…"

"Warren, I don't understand!"

Finally, Warren turned to me with a serious expression. Crossing his arms, he said "The boss wants to meet you today."

"The boss? Today?"

"That's right."

Now that I think about it, on the day of the incident, Warren was talking with that masked girl… What was her name? Lara? They mentioned a boss… Boss Luna?

"Oh… is this the same Luna... Boss Luna you were talking about?"

Warren nodded, still looking worried. "That's right. Luna Van Vestar. That's our boss's name."

Luna Van Vestar… That name sounds familiar.

As I tried to recall why, I accidentally knocked my bag over, spilling everything inside. Among the mess, something caught my eye. The yuri manga I had bought the other day with the money I borrowed from Warren.

On the cover, two girls were cloaked in shadow, their silhouettes standing out against what appeared to be a concert stage. However, the illustration wasn't what grabbed my attention. It was the author's name below. Luna Van Vestar.

"No way… Is this boss Luna… the same Luna who wrote this manga!?"

When I looked up at Warren, his gaze was distant, staring out past the metal fence of the school rooftop. I had a feeling this Luna would be yet another eccentric character I'd have to deal with.