While Vicente's women were working to keep the family situation stable, safe and secretive, Nina was with a group of Paragons in that same metal city.

As Vicente had recommended a long time ago, she wore a mask on her face that altered not only the appearance of her face but also of her cyan Magic Gem.

But the group at her side at this moment comprised individuals who had served her since she was a High-level Mage, reliable warriors who knew her real identity.

"Keep training hard. We'll get permission from the family soon, and then we'll go into combat," Nina said to the men training in this area of the local order's altar, where there were several training platforms.

Her men were fighting in different corners of this area, each of them bearing on their chests the symbol of the group they were part of, Sentinels of the Order, the primary guardians of humanity today.

"Yes, Commander!" Several of them shouted simultaneously, while a blonde woman, who could take any man's breath, walked two steps behind Nina.

"Miss, I've heard some rumors about the end of your older sister's seclusion," Prisiche said to Nina.

As much as Newton was talking to Nova and the others about it now, several important members of the Cataclysm Order and the Fuller family were already aware of the news.

Nina stopped when she heard Prisiche, and couldn't help but turn and look at this woman, whom Vicente had left as her advisor.

"What? Is this serious?" A smile shaped itself on Nina's beautiful young face, which, even hidden by a false appearance, was as beautiful as she was naturally.

"She's hunting her sixth pentagram right now. As soon as she gets her sixth essence, Lauren should find a way to us." Prisiche confirmed what she had heard, which she sincerely believed to be solid and true information.

Nina clenched her fists as she stood in the middle of this training area, considering the significance of the end of Lauren's seclusion.

'Nova and the others probably won't let me go. We've just moved and Annie needs somewhere safe for at least a year or two before we risk it. But Lauren's success is also a guarantee that we'll face the strongest enemies left on the continent. I have to prepare myself. When the time comes, I'll join her and sacrifice myself for the continent in the same way that my older brother did.' Nina was determined to fight the monsters and finish what Vicente had started.

She felt indebted to him and didn't blame him for any problems. In fact, she saw him as a hero for the continent and the Fuller family, who should never be blamed for not having completely resolved this crisis.

Now he was on the Supreme Continent working as best he could to help his family and the Polaris Realm, so she didn't want to let herself get carried away by sad thoughts about his departure. She wanted to focus all her time on getting stronger and helping the humanity take back its power, ultimately eliminating the vampires from the continent.

'The continent's forces can't wipe out that damned race, but maybe Lauren and I can. As long as I become an Archmage in the future, I'll certainly help big sister a lot in eliminating those parasites!' Nina formed a determined smile on her face before turning and heading back the way she had come.

As much as one side of her wanted to leave and go hunting and then meet up with her sister, she was going to follow her family's plans, keep Annie safe and prepare herself better before putting herself in the spotlight.

The current Nina was much more mature than the little sister Vicente had throughout most of his journey in Polaris Realm. She was much calmer to act little by little than her explosive speed of cultivation would suggest.

'With the end of the vampires, one day I'll find my way to the Supreme Continent. By then, the family will be stable and Annie will certainly be a powerful magician.'

"It's good to know that Lauren is on the move. For now, stay tuned for more news about my sister. In the meantime, we'll continue with our plans to prepare for the future. Our most important enemies won't be back for another decade, so we have a lot of things to do."

"I'll keep an eye out." Prisiche smiled, enjoying seeing Vicente's sister's current position.

As she looked up at the sky, she couldn't help but think of that formidable man who had defeated her in the past. 'Vicente, you have built an excellent girl... She will become as well known and powerful as you in the future. I'll make sure her name isn't forgotten either.'

They moved on, soon leaving that Cataclysm Order post, dressed in more ordinary clothes and masks disguising their real identities.

When they stopped in front of the academy at the end of the afternoon, they greeted Annie, who was smart enough to know that she shouldn't mention the names of her real family members and should assume the identity of a refugee from the calamity in this city.

But hidden in the shadows, men from the Cataclysm Order kept their presence close enough to Annie to act if necessary and protect the current Altar Master.

Around Annie's neck, beneath her clothes, was the Cataclysm Moon Pendant, an artifact that Nova, Nina and the others made sure Annie wore for at least six hours every day.

In particular, they made sure she wore it mainly when she was at the academy, as they preferred her to have her problems concentrated inside this place under their control.

Her karma had been altered for weeks, but nothing too serious had happened to attract their attention. However, it was in everyone's interest that the sacred item from the Cataclysm Order helped generate the best kind of power and talent possible, so they were following Vicente's recommendations for using it.

"How were your lessons today?" Nina asked as she took Annie in her arms, while the young girl giggled subtly.

"Well, I'd say. Today I learned about what the continent was like before the calamity... It was such a magical and beautiful place. It's a shame things have changed so much." Annie said in her most formal and intelligent language for her age.

But even with good words, she couldn't hide her childish voice and some feelings that children couldn't hide as easily as adults could.

Prisiche smiled at Annie and promised. "Things will still go back to the way they were, little Ann. Perhaps you'll finish the work of you-know-who and bring joy back to these lands."

"Hmm, we'll certainly give you room for that. Just work hard at the academy and one day you'll get your chance." Nina nodded to her niece in agreement with Prisiche.

"I'll do my best!" Said the little girl as she showed a hand sign, swearing her words.

The two adult women laughed back at the simple residence where they lived with Annie and Nova, where, in fact, they only stayed when Annie was at home.

The place still seemed a little unfamiliar to them. With so little time in this city, they still had to get used to this 'home'.