In the pitch-black darkness, Kalia opened her eyes.

No, it felt like opening her eyes, but it could have been her imagination.

She couldn’t see anything at all, so it wasn’t clear whether her eyes were still closed or open.

With a vague thought, white dots gathered in front of her.

The white dots quickly merged and grew larger, forming a massive surface, which soon turned into a solid wall, revealing its majestic presence before her.

Kalia felt her dim vision brightening due to the towering white wall.

Colors spread over the white wall, gradually taking on a distinct shape.

Within it…

[…Father.]

There stood a young Simon dressed in a jet-black mourning attire.

In the midst of the spring sunlight shining down, dressed in his neat black clothes, the young Simon solemnly performed his father’s funeral.

Only fifteen years old, Simon stood without crying or smiling, conducting his father’s funeral with a composed face.

Kalia looked at the image on the wall with a bewildered expression.

The unfortunate accident that occurred suddenly one day.

The Duke’s carriage, riding on a rainy road, plunged off a cliff, resulting in instant death.

Just a few days ago, the Duke had lived an ordinary life, but in an instant, his fate changed drastically.

Everyone found it hard to believe.

The Duke, with such a promising future, had died so abruptly.

Moreover, people wondered where he had gone, piercing through the rain.

Simon, who lost his father in an instant, stood alone.

Not belonging to any family or nobility, she simply observed the funeral from a distance.

It was clear he would be devastated, but the young Simon, without shedding a single tear, weighed heavily on her heart. Unable to return to the academy even after the funeral ended, she took the opportunity of the night to knock on his door.

Just like that.

Kalia looked at the image floating on the white wall with a bewildered expression.

There she was, standing on the terrace railing, knocking on the window of the room where Simon was.

[…Kalia?]

The surprise on Simon’s face, frozen as he looked through the glass, was evident. He blinked his shining golden eyes in disbelief.

Then, as if belatedly regaining his senses, he quickly opened the window.

[How did you…?]

Surprised, Simon’s face turned towards Kalia, who scratched her head as if unsure and cautiously asked.

[Um, are you okay?]

[Weren’t you supposed to go back to the academy?]

[Oh, well… I went, but then I came back.]

[Why?]

[Um… I… forgot something.]

[What did you forget?]

As Simon questioned her with suspicion, Kalia rolled her eyes for a moment. After hesitating for about a second with a doubtful expression, she opened her arms and embraced Simon.

[…What are you doing?]

As Simon felt his stiff shoulders in her embrace, Kalia tapped his shoulder and back awkwardly, speaking.

[Somebody told me that if someone is sad, you should hug them. That you should share body heat.]

[Who told you that?]

[That… I can’t remember very well. Anyway, somebody said that. To hug them. To share body heat.]

[…]

Simon remained stiff in Kalia’s embrace.

After a while, leaning his forehead against Kalia’s shoulder, Simon mumbled in a soft voice.

[Don’t ever die before me.]

[What?]

In response to her question, Simon replied with a weak voice.

[…Everyone dies before me. Grandma, father, my Larry, and even the nanny.]

Larry, it was a name she hadn’t heard in a long time.

On the day Simon turned three, the elegant and sleek Doberman that the Duke brought.

Kalia had caught glimpses of him a few times as well.

It was unfortunate that he died while hunting a wild boar last year…

Come to think of it, it seemed like unfortunate incidents befell those around Simon every year.

It was even more heartbreaking because each of them had a strong attachment to him.

Why did these unfortunate events only happen to this beautiful and talented young Duke…[So, never die before me. You’re… strong enough, Kalia.]

Although she was not someone to be pitied, Kalia felt sorry for the Duke in that moment.

So, facing him, she retorted in a light voice.

[Don’t worry. I don’t think I’m destined to die so easily.]

Simon laughed as if he was about to cry at Kalia’s words.

[Yeah. Even if it seems like you’re going to die, I’ll do whatever it takes to save you.]

[Well… I feel very reassured.]

[Of course. I’m going to become a great sorcerer. You know I’m an amazing person, right?]

Simon’s eyes, which had been sinking, returned to their usual self-assured gaze.

As always, he stared at Kalia with his self-confident gaze.

At that moment, they heard a presence.

A knocking sound on the door and a chilly voice that accompanied it.

[Simon, may I come in?]

As Simon turned around, the door opened, and the beautiful black-haired lady entered.

It was Helena.

Before Helena could see her, Kalia quickly jumped out from under the window.

In that brief moment as she passed by,

Kalia felt a strange sensation from Helena’s face.

The upright posture, the elegant gaze searching for her son,

A peculiar sense emanating from her appearance.

When she was young, she didn’t know, but now Kalia somehow felt like she knew.

The true nature of that peculiar sensation she felt back then…

Her face was filled with sadness, but her gaze was not soaked in it.

It wasn’t the gaze of someone who had lost their beloved husband in a tragic accident.

In her eyes as she turned towards Simon, there was anticipation rather than sorrow.

A faint flame nestled between her pupils.

But Kalia couldn’t observe her gaze any further.

Her body was already plummeting towards the floor.

As her body fell from Simon’s room, it descended to the floor, deeper and deeper, until it plopped onto a large and beautiful chair.

On the dazzling white table, adorned with fancy tea cups, sweet desserts, and cakes.

Kalia blankly stared at the suddenly changed scene.

An elegantly dressed, ‘she’ in a glamorous dress called out to young Kalia.

[Kalia.]

Startled, Kalia stiffly raised her neck, and Helena smiled at her.

[It was always nice to see you getting along with Simon. Thank you for always taking care of the young Duke.]

When was that… Right, was it when she was about to embark on her first expedition?

When the expedition order came out earlier than expected, and she was busy preparing, Helena called her from the Duke’s residence.

It was Helena’s call, not Simon’s.

She provided various items necessary for the battle, supporting her with things she might need.

And those were the words she conveyed.

At that time, Kalia couldn’t feel the thorns in those words at all.

It was like bidding farewell to Kalia, who was about to die.

[Simon will be very sad. It’s the first time you’ve been away for so long, isn’t it?]

As she said that, Helena lightly smiled at the corner of her mouth.

At that moment, Kalia didn’t know what to say and could only gaze silently at her.

Helena, who was savoring the aroma of the hot tea, suddenly looked at Kalia.

[No, Kalia?]

[What are you talking about?]

[Tragedy… dramatically elevates human potential. It stimulates a sense of helplessness within oneself. Especially for geniuses who cannot control their talents, even more so.]

…Did she say such words?

Kalia couldn’t recall them well.

Suddenly, Helena placed something on the table.

The purple gem looked like a magical item at a glance.As Helena’s fingertips touched the gem, a faint light flowed from it.

When Kalia looked at the gem, Helena pushed it between herself and Kalia as if showing it off.

The light grew stronger and stronger.

[So, I pushed him into sadness several times, and every time, you comforted that child. How strange.]

At those words, Kalia raised her head and stared directly at Helena.

[What are you talking about, madam?]

[You should have shown loyalty, Kalia.]

Sugar poured into Helena’s tea.

She stirred it with a golden teaspoon and spoke in a light tone.

[You dared to try to ruin ‘my Simon.’ I’m truly annoyed. Do you know how much effort I’ve put into that child…? How dare someone like you. Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused?]

Her smiling smile was as sweet as the dessert in front of her.

[According to the magician’s words, someone touched your memories when you were young. Thanks to that, it was convenient for me to suggest things to you… But come to think of it, I don’t know when my successor, Archmage, will find out.]

Helena, sipping her black tea, spoke absentmindedly.

[So I just hope you die.]

[Now… do you know what you’re saying, madam?]

[I do. I’ve always been clear about what I want. Well, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, you’ll forget this moment as soon as you leave this room. And you’ll perish gloriously on the battlefield.]

Kalia calmly listened to Helena’s words that pierced like a dagger.

It was somewhat surprising, but not shocking.

Perhaps instinctively, she had already sensed Helena’s animosity towards her.

That’s why her thorny words didn’t hurt or torment her.

It was just that the boy who always hovered by her side caught her attention.

Stubborn, arrogant, and yet incredibly beautiful, the sadness of the boy caught Kalia’s eyes.

[I won’t die easily, madam. I promised so.]

[…A promise? With whom?]

In response to her sharp question, Kalia smiled and spoke.

[With Simon.]

The cup Helena was holding fell to the ground.

Casually gazing at it, Kalia continued her words.

[I promised that I would never die easily.]

[…Well, endure it then. Anyone I tried to kill me has surely perished by now.]

Helena’s cruel laughter briefly revealed a glimpse of Simon on her face.

Sadly, the boy’s beauty resembled his mother a lot.

Perhaps that’s why Kalia felt even angrier.

Observing that scene beyond the screen, Kalia approached the white wall closely.

Standing right in front of it, as if pressing against it, her body suddenly seeped into the image, resonating with the young Kalia.

She wasn’t startled or confused.

What filled her more than anything was anger.

Kalia stared at Helena, who was right in front of her, with cold eyes.

Helena raised an eyebrow in annoyance at that gaze.

Looking straight into Helena’s eyes, Kalia spoke in a calm voice.

“When I return to the capital, you won’t be able to come near ‘my Simon’ anymore.”

[What did you say?]

“You’re using Simon’s sadness for your own purposes… I’m restraining myself from kicking you.”

[Arrogant!]

“When I return, I will make it clear. He is no longer your son, but my man, my family. And I… ”

Kalia stood up.

Brushing off her clothes as if getting rid of dust, she faced Helena and spoke.

“I will never use my family as a tool, Helena.”

In that moment, the surroundings enveloping Kalia began to crumble.

Helena, with a pale face and eyes reddened with anger, opened her mouth.

[Kalia, you…]

Before she could finish her sentence, Kalia firmly planted her feet on the ground.

And then, the illusion of Helena’s face shattered like sand, pouring down.

A beam of white light descended from the pitch-black sky.

The light contained a voice, calling out to her.

As Kalia reached out her hand with all her strength to grab it, a large, firm hand clasped hers.

And in that moment, a very small, very soft baby’s hand covered the backs of their hands.

The darkness completely shattered, and light filled the surroundings.

“…!”

Kalia woke up from her dream.