Ms. Ana is Not a Doll Maker!

Alex, who was lost in her thoughts, was interrupted by the sound of chewing.

"Oh, she's awake." Said a slightly deep voice.

She turned her head to see a boy about her age, with blond hair and bright blue eyes. She had never seen someone with purely blond hair and blue eyes. She looked at the boy before her gaze drifted off to the woman next to her, who seemed to be taking a nap. She also had an unusual hair color, but it seemed like it was just dye as her hair was fading into a natural black in some places.

"My name's Joshua, but most people call me Josh." Josh said, noticing her silence.

"Oh, uh." She awkwardly said. It seemed like these people had saved her, and although she was wary, she felt the need to trust them. They saved her so they must be decent people at the very least.

It was silent for a while, she simply stared at the boy. He was eating chips in a relaxed manner, as if they were at the safest place on Earth. She looked at the chips, if not for that monster she would have been able to bring some back for her brother.

Josh noticed her staring at the bag, "You're hungry right?" He took a closed bag from next to him and extended it to her, "Here."

Well, she couldn't just refuse it as that would be rude. And she was really hungry.

She accepted the bag and thanked him quietly. But she didn't open it as her curiosity overruled her hunger.

"Who is she?" She pointed at the woman sitting next to her, ever since she woke up she was curious about her. Especially since she was sleeping in such a setting.

"Her? She's Ms. Ana, and someone that's suppose to protect me." He exaggerated his words, and clear annoyance could be heard.

"Oh, but why is she still asleep?" She didn't know how long Ms. Ana had been in that position, but she was sure it was an uncomfortable way to sleep.

"I dunno, probably meditating or something." He shrugged.

He seemed to not really care, but Alex really wanted to distract herself with something.

"How did you two meet?"

"Ah… Well I guess I could tell you to pass the time." He stroked his chin, silently thinking.

"Alright, well I think it began when that old man…"

[(FlashBack)]

Two people could be seen walking through a hallway, one was a man that seemed to be in his 20's, and another was a teenage boy with blonde hair and blue eyes.

It was Donma and Josh, who were currently exchanging information about the situation outside.

"What's the power source that's fueling the gate?"

"The samples we received show that it's mana, so the monsters out there should have mid-ish intelligence."

"Is there a specific element those monster use?" Josh glanced at Donma.

"We think it might be the water element, but there's also some dark mana we picked up." Donma said casually.

"Only dark?" Josh looked at Donma with a questioning gaze.

"Kid I don't know. That's all we've been able to gather, whether it's water, dark or demonic is something you'll find out yourself." He was annoyed at the barrage of questions. They were unprepared for something so sudden, what did he want him to do? Send in his non-existence battle teams to investigate? Everyone here was a noncombatant, except him of course but… If he left, everything would be in chaos.

But if there was demonic mana…

Demonic and dark mana may seem to be in the same category, but in actuality demonic mana is far more sinister.

Dark mana can be used to control shadows, though the abilities of dark mana users varied amongst the different worlds. But in general, dark mana was just like any other element.

Demonic mana on the other hand… Dark mana, though it's called 'dark', if used actually lets off the color purple, but demonic mana is a pure black.

Since there are so few gates in the world, there are almost no records of demonic mana.

But how do they know it's black, or that there's a different between it and dark mana?

The information actually comes from those that originate from those worlds. Just like how gates contain monsters, they can also contain humans! Or those that are human-like. For example, Elves, Beast men… and other beings with similar characteristics.

The way they were able to communicate with one another… is something that will be explained in time.

Demonic mana can be used to suck the life force of living beings. It can completely devastate ecosystems, and farmlands. And while there are many other uses for demonic mana, one thing was said clear about it.

"If any being where to get their hands on it, they are no longer a natural existence, and must immediately be disposed of."

And while demonic mana uses the life force of its user as fuel… there have also been beings capable to replacing that life force with another fuel. Thus giving them free rein over the demonic power.

Scary, isn't it?

The fact that some people will look to such options for power.

Thankfully it's not something that's common, not even demons or demon gods would dare look to such options in an attempt to gain power. It corrupts the mind, the soul and body. It corrupts life and worlds. And it could probably even destroy universes…

But lower beings have nearly zero access to it! So such worries should stay in your head!

Donma finally came to a stop, and opened a door to his right. Josh, who was confused at the delay followed him in.

"When can I leave?" Josh asked, as it seemed like this wasn't a storage room.

It looked to be a meeting room, and someone was sitting at the end of the table with the chair turned around.

"Eager aren't we?" Donma chuckled.

"While I need you to investigate, I also want you to take on the role of being a rescue team!"

"That wasn't mentioned in the contract!" Josh looked to Donma in annoyance, he simply came here because of a debt to pay off, why should he have to waste time by rescuing people!? Wouldn't it be faster to rid the problem at the root, and simply close the gate?

"You might not care because you're not from here, but those people were my responsibility… And I failed them." Donma's eyes turned dark in shame, "So you must save as many lives as possible, even corpses will do."

"And I'll be there to protect you!" The person sitting at the end of the table turned around, it was Ana.

"Who the hell needs protecting?" If they though he was weak, why even bother bringing him?

"Oh and she's Ana, she's quite adept in healing magic and fire magic." Donma turned his head to Ana, introducing her.

"I also went to medical school for 3 years!" Ana proudly proclaimed with her hand raised.

"But dropped out because you said they weren't good enough, and-" Donma snapped back.

"Shhhhhut up!" She interrupted in a hurry, standing up.

"The only good thing about her is that since she's an 'experience doctor' she doesn't need to waste mana all the time using healing magic." Donma huffed.

"I'm also very good at fighting!" She said while looking at Josh, "And you!!!" she picked up a pen and threw it towards Donma's face.

He easily dogged it by moving his head to the side, as if the very fast moving pen was just a paper ball.

The pen flew past him and imbedded itself completely into the wall behind.

Ana's face flushed red with anger, seeing the pen miss its target.

"She has some anger issues but she's serious when it comes to fighting." Donma stood straight, fixing his position. He grinned shakily, as if he was trying his best not to laugh.

"She's also good at making toys…" He tried saying this with a straight face, but bursted out laughing, seconds later.

"YOUU BASTARD!" She immediately hopped up on the table, and rushed towards Donma with the intent to kill.

Donma, the target of her anger, simply patted Josh on the shoulder.

"Since you'll be together for a while, you should get to know each other more."

Donma quickly disappeared from the room, leaving Josh with a very, very, VERY, angry woman.

Since Donma left, she had to find someone to let her anger out on. And the only person in the room… Was Josh.

She hopped off the table and walked slowly to him while grinning and cracking her knuckles.

"It's 'Ms' Ana from now on, now show me whether you're really all you're hyped up to be."

Josh looked at her silently with wide eyes.

Maybe he should just have refused the job offer… Working too much effects your mental health.

And your physical being…