Aria Melina—that was the name she heard after opening her eyes. She didn't even know what was going on. Hadn't she just been shot dead?
"Bring the child here. I want to see her…" a woman spoke, and she was immediately carried over and laid beside the woman. Her mind was full of confusion. These tiny hands weren't hers, and who were these two people? Had she just come out of this woman's belly?
Inside this small body, her head was a mess of thoughts. But then a warm hand touched her stomach. She could feel the effort behind that touch, as if it was using every bit of strength just to be gentle.
"Aria, my love," the woman's voice was faint and broken, but to her ears, it was a whisper full of tenderness and love. A strange feeling stirred in the chest of that tiny body—one she had never felt before. She looked up with wide eyes at the woman trying to turn toward her. Beautiful. Though the woman's face was pale, lips cracked and colorless, it couldn't hide her beauty. Her golden blonde hair stuck to her skin with sweat, long curled eyelashes, a high-bridged nose, and especially those ash-gray eyes, with a black dot in the center.
"I'm sorry, my child. I don't think I can stay with you… I'm so sorry, Aria…" The woman's eyes reddened, and tears fell silently onto the pillow.
"My lady, the young mistress hasn't cried or made a sound since birth. Surely she will grow up strong," said the middle-aged woman, her wrinkled face now soaked with tears.
"Yes… she will be strong, won't she? She'll make it through even without me, won't she?" the woman gently caressed her cheek with a soft smile. To her, the woman radiated an indescribable warmth. A smile like spring sunshine, a voice as calm as still water, and touches warmer than anything she'd ever felt. Why did someone so gentle feel like they were about to leave?
"Aria, always keep a smile on your face. Go wherever your heart leads, walk confidently on your path, and happiness will come to you…" The woman's breath grew weaker. She could no longer hear her voice, but she could still see her pale lips moving, and a soft finger gently brushed the tip of her nose. That trembling hand, trying with all its might to touch her, finally stilled.
"Love… you… so…" The woman's gray eyes slowly closed. Now, the only sound left was the sobbing of the middle-aged woman beside the bed.
"Oe oe oe oe!" A sharp cry echoed. Was that… her? Was she crying? Why? Because of that woman? But why? Tears kept falling, blurring her vision. She could no longer see the beautiful woman's face. She couldn't stop the sound from her throat, even though she didn't understand it herself.
. . .
"Aria, where have you been?" The middle-aged woman stood with her hands on her hips, slightly tilting as she looked at the girl before her.
"Hehe, Granny Dally, look what I just found!" She raised the object in her hands—it looked like a potato, but it was ocean-blue. She had come to accept the truth: she had been reborn into a new world, completely different from the one she used to know. A place where things she once thought impossible—like magic—existed.
Dally looked at her dirt-covered hands and the filthy dress on the three-year-old in front of her and sighed.
"You dug up a Chirum root again? Don't you know it could explode if mishandled?" Dally muttered some incantation, and the thing in Aria's hands floated into the air and disappeared. Black smoke surrounded Aria's body, and when it cleared, she was completely clean.
"As long as it doesn't touch water, it's fine, Granny Dally. No need to worry." Aria smiled cheekily. Since she was born into this world, Dally had raised her like her own, and Aria had come to see her as family.
She recalled her past life—no one had ever cared for her like this. Her previous life had been full of decay and neglect.
"Granny Dally, I'm hungry~" Aria clung to the older woman's dress. She knew how to act like a child, so Dally wouldn't suspect a thing.
Looking down at the little girl she had raised from infancy, Dally couldn't help but feel overflowing love. Aria had always been odd—unusually quiet and smart. Most kids her age were barely babbling, but Aria had shown understanding from birth, walked at two, spoke fluently by three, read books, and showed knowledge beyond her years. Though Dally sometimes suspected something was strange, Aria's behavior remained childlike, so she let it go.
"Let me get you some breakfast." Dally picked her up, kissed her cheek, and carried her into the wooden cottage.
Hmm… I can smell Dally's Hakam soup.
Aria sniffed. Aside from that moment when her "mother" passed away, this had been the happiest time of her entire existence—including her past life.
Dally sat her at the table, then turned to ladle soup into a bowl and placed it before her.
"Thank you, Granny. I'll enjoy it." Aria scooped a small spoonful, blew gently, and took a sip. The soup tasted creamy but bland—so bland she was sick of it already.
"Dally, next time can we—" Before she finished, a loud stomping noise grew louder outside. Aria looked up at Dally, whose face had turned grim. She muttered, "They're here already?"
They? Aria was confused. She glanced out the window and saw soldiers in armor surrounding the house, swords pointed at the cottage.
Dally quickly grabbed Aria, letting the soup bowl crash onto the floor. "G-Granny Dally, w-what's going on?" Aria clutched her sleeve, scanning the wrinkled face for answers.
"Aria, hold on tight!" Dally began chanting. Her voice deepened, more chilling. A dark circle appeared at her feet, filled with strange symbols. Black smoke billowed from the circle, swallowing them both.
The smoke grew into the shape of a terrifying beast that burst through the house, too massive for the small cabin.
"A witch!" the lead soldier gasped. The beast was cloaked in darkness, with razor-sharp teeth, blood-red eyes, and looked like a massive panther.
"GRRRR!" The beast growled as Dally rode on its back with Aria in her arms. Aria's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe Dally could summon such a creature.
"Bam, clear a path!" Their hidden forest home was now revealed. Bam shrieked, then charged in the direction Dally pointed. The soldiers tried to block it, but the massive beast easily knocked them aside or trampled them underfoot.
Aria turned pale. No matter how strong her heart was, this scene was insane. Then, without warning, a man in white armor and black cloak appeared beside them, leaping through the air. She recognized him—the commander of the soldiers.
A knight? Did he just fly? No, he jumped!
He raised his sword to strike Aria.
"Ugh!" Aria quickly cast a spell. A black shield appeared in midair, blocking the blow. The impact nearly knocked Dally off Bam's back.
He didn't stop. His second swing was stronger. That slash could cut them both in half.
"Damn it!!!" Dally shouted, casting a new magic circle to block it. But it shattered instantly.
Impossible! Dally's magic is strong!
The knight raised his sword again. His cold blue eyes behind the helmet looked at her like she was trash. Why?
Aria's heart clenched. Would she die again? If it were her old life, she wouldn't regret it. But now she had Dally. Dally was her everything. She couldn't let go!
Was this her punishment for the sins of her past life?
A spray of crimson splattered her pale face.
"D-Dally?" Aria stammered. Just as the sword was about to strike her, Dally had turned to shield her.
Was this… an illusion?