"I still can't believe… I'm back here. Back as Elestia."Elestia murmured, staring at the girl reflected in her vanity mirror—the same pale skin, silver hair, and cold eyes that had once been branded as "unholy."
"Huh? Did you say something, my lady?" Mina, her personal maid, turned from the wardrobe with a questioning tilt of her head.
Elestia smiled faintly. "No. Just talking to myself."
Mina only nodded and went back to preparing her mistress's outfit for the day.
When she finished, she turned with a polite bow. "Lady Elestia, your dress is ready."
Elestia stood, still a little awkward with the idea of being attended to. In her past life, she'd done everything herself—dressing, combing her hair, even mending torn sleeves. She used to despise touch, always flinching away whenever Mina offered help. But now… she stayed still.
Some part of her wanted to feel human warmth again.
At breakfast, the grand dining hall shimmered with golden light through tall windows. The scent of buttered toast and honeyed tea drifted through the air, yet Elestia preferred the soldiers' fare—hard buns and simple porridge over uncomfortable silences.
"I'll eat with the knights again today," she told Lucian, the Duchy's head knight, who was already waiting by the door.
He smiled slightly. "As you wish, my lady."
She nodded. Lucian's presence was one of the few that didn't feel suffocating. The knights treated her without the false politeness that filled noble halls. They laughed, argued, lived simply—and Elestia found comfort in that.
"Will you be joining us for training later?" Lucian asked as they walked.
"I will," she said.
"I'll wake you when it's time, then."
Elestia only nodded again, her gaze distant.
It had been three months since she was "brought back" into Duke Ronin's mansion. Though she bore the Duke's blood, her return had stirred more hostility than welcome. The Duchess had spat venom behind sweet smiles, and Carmila—her saintly stepsister—had offered tears that dripped with hidden mockery.
The Duke himself had said coldly, "You may carry my blood, Elestia, but don't ever think you can replace Carmila in this house."
Elestia had only bowed her head and whispered, "Understood."
It wasn't worth fighting over anymore.
Now, lying in a meadow behind the training fields, Elestia closed her eyes as the wind brushed against her face. The soft grass cushioned her body, and for a moment, she could almost forget everything.
"Barrier," she whispered.
A faint shimmer rippled around her—a dome of invisible protection that kept the world away. The breeze could pass through, but no sound, no gaze, no touch could reach her. Inside, it was her sanctuary.
In her past life, she had hidden this talent—her gift for support and defense magic. Because of that, during the demon invasion years ago, countless soldiers had perished under her command. Carmila had turned their deaths into proof of Elestia's "incompetence."
But this time, things would be different.
This time, she wouldn't try to be the hero standing in the light. She would work from the shadows—to protect, not to prove. And most importantly… to survive.
"Sirene," she whispered softly.
A tiny glow appeared beside her—a floating fairy with soft green wings and long, leafy hair. One of the rare dryad-blooded spirits, Sirene had been her companion across both lives.
"Master, you're pushing yourself again," the fairy said, voice like a bell.
Elestia smiled faintly. "If I don't, you'll have to sing twice as long next week."
Sirene pouted but obeyed. Her hum filled the barrier, the magic weaving through the air, strengthening Elestia's body and calming her mind. The song granted her twelve hours of heightened endurance—but when Sirene slept afterward, Elestia would have to rely on her own mana.
That was the danger. If she overused it, her mana depletion would drain her life force. Yet, instead of fear, Elestia felt peace.
She sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and entered meditation. The barrier shimmered faintly as mana pulsed through her veins, flowing like a quiet river.
Ordinary mages recovered mana while sleeping—but Elestia had learned something far rarer: the Mana Meditation Loop, a method that allowed mana growth during sleep through controlled consumption. It was a secret once thought lost to the Magic Tower—a discovery born of accident and genius alike.
And now, it was hers alone.
'Master,' Sirene's voice whispered in her mind, her signal that someone was approaching.
Elestia opened her eyes slowly, the world coming back into focus.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in gold and crimson hues. From the hilltop, she could see the whole Ronin territory—the bustling docks, the merchant ships arriving from the capital, and the faint glimmer of torches along the city walls.
"It's time to go back," she murmured.
The demon invasion was drawing near. Every night, she could feel the shift in the air—the growing unease among beasts, the chill of corrupted mana.
The Duke called it a "test" for Elestia, but she knew the truth. It was a trap. Carmila's idea, of course—disguised as a chance for Elestia to "prove her worth."
Elestia brushed the grass off her dress and looked toward the horizon, her silver eyes steady.
"Fine," she whispered to the wind. "Let's see who the real Saintess is this time."