Shadow dreamed a long dream, yet in that dream it was not her own story, but Mai's—the true owner of this body. In the final moment, as she forced herself past her limits and reloaded at an inhuman speed, their souls resonated as one. Now, Mai's memories came flooding into Shadow.
A girl named Mai grew up in the Outer Wall, the dusty slums at the edge of Lost Angel City. Orphaned at birth, she had been discovered still in swaddling cloth and taken in by old Nite, a former military medic who now scraped by treating the poor with crude remedies and bandages.
He healed others, yet his own body was ravaged by Vorn Rot—the fate of ordinary men exposed to Vorn for too long, forced to undergo lifelong [Purification] to stay alive. People mocked him as "Quack Nite," though his skills were far from poor.
Despite his veteran's insurance, [Purification] wasn't entirely free. Refusing to burden anyone else, he settled in the Outer Wall district after discharge—alone, with no wife or children—until the day he found Mai.
Treating the poor didn't bring in much money, so life was tough. Still, Nite poured everything into raising Mai, ensuring she was educated.
Even when, at her coming-of-age ceremony at twelve, she was deemed a "Defective Raiser"—someone with the potential for superpowers but unable to advance due to low Vorn compatibility—Nite showed no disappointment. He comforted her, saying her above-average health and freedom from dangerous jobs were blessings compared to many.
His favorite saying to her was, "Knowledge is the only wealth you can carry to the end of your life."
Mai didn't let him down. With sharp intellect and unyielding resolve, she topped the city-wide high school entrance exam in Lost Angel, earning direct admission to Highcrest Academy, the city's most prestigious school—a feat that even the elite couldn't ignore.
But fate would not leave her in peace. One morning, as the pale sunlight spilled into the narrow alley outside their shabby home, a man in a black suit stepped from a luxury car, claiming to be the butler of House Goldvale. He handed over a DNA test, declaring Mai the long-lost daughter of the powerful Goldvale family.
Mai held the paper, her eyes scanning the maze of numbers and charts. She couldn't make sense of it, but when she glanced at old Nite, he gave a faint nod—proof enough that the test was genuine.
Yet she felt no joy. If a powerful family like the Goldvales truly saw her as their daughter, why had none of them come in person? Instead, she turned her gaze on the butler, and through him, on the family he represented: the smooth voice, the cold eyes, the absence of any emotion beyond stiff professionalism.
Mai sat in silence, clutching the paper. Old Nite, from his worn chair, watched her for a long time before speaking, voice deep but gentle: "Mai, you should go and see."
She looked at him. He did not say it outright, but in his half-loving, half-reluctant gaze, she understood—he wanted her to have a chance to rise beyond the Outer Wall, to a life his love alone could never give.
She didn't share her doubts with Nite, knowing he saw through the Goldvales' treatment of their "lost daughter." "But what if they don't treat me well, Grandpa?"
Nite smiled, a smile full of trust. "If you're not happy, come back. This house will always be your home."
Mai nodded, a fleeting curiosity about why she was abandoned stirring within her. She stood, looking at Nite. "I'll go, Grandpa. But I'll be back soon."
Nite paused, not meeting her eyes, and said, "If things aren't too bad, stay there."
Mai knew what he meant, but instead she said with a faint smile, "Save me some dinner." Then she stepped out into the waiting black car. When the door shut, she did not look back—because she meant her words.
The car glided smoothly toward central Lost Angel, morning sunlight glinting off the glass towers and scattering across the windows in pale, shifting streaks. Mai sat upright in the leather seat, hands resting lightly on her lap, her gaze fixed outside.
"During your absence," the butler said softly, as though the words had been rehearsed many times, "Madam Eleanor—your mother—suffered greatly. The loss of her child drove her into a long depression. To ease her grief, the family adopted Lady Lilith. She… has been the light of House Goldvale, and everyone dotes on her."
He paused, his gaze flicking to Mai in the rearview mirror. His tone remained even, yet carried a subtle weight. "It would be wiser for you to befriend Lady Lilith rather than set yourself against her."
The driver coughed softly. Both Mai and the butler knew he had said too much. Tilting her head, Mai glimpsed pity beneath his mask of professionalism.
"Thank you, sir," she said softly.
The butler didn't reply. The car fell silent, save for the low hum of the engine.
At last, the car stopped before a grand mansion. White marble columns gleamed beneath the lamps.
Mai stepped down, her worn shoes touching the cold stone. She raised her eyes to the ornate iron gate, feeling as though she had crossed into another world.
The butler led her through manicured gardens fragrant with blossoms, though they brought no comfort.
Heavy wooden doors opened to a vast, dazzling parlor: crystal chandeliers, red velvet walls, massive oil paintings.
At the center sat a stern blond man in a gray suit—the butler named him Richard Goldvale, her "father." Beside him, a dark-haired lady, Eleanor Goldvale, jewels glittering on her hands, regarded Mai with displeasure.
Nearby, a tall, handsome blond young man held a sobbing blond girl, likely Victor Goldvale, the eldest son, and Lilith Goldvale, the adopted daughter. Lastly, Andy Goldvale, also blond, stood near the door, glaring at Mai with burning hostility.
The room's tension was palpable. Her "father," Richard, spoke first, his voice low and commanding: "Now that you're back, conduct yourself properly and don't cause trouble."
Her "mother," Eleanor, huffed, her eyes sliding over Mai's worn clothes. "So, you're the top student of the city. Not bad—for what it's worth. But don't let that make you conceited—such titles mean nothing among the nobility. A proper lady needs grace and manners. Learn from Lilith if you must, though do try not to trouble her too much. I will hire you a tutor in etiquette. You'll start from the beginning, and until your lessons are complete, you are not to go out and disgrace the Goldvale name."
Her "elder brother" Victor spoke up, his voice dripping with contempt: "Be grateful and remember your place. We're offering you a life you could never have imagined, but don't go reaching for what doesn't belong to you. And don't think being the blood daughter gives you the right to bully Lilith. In this house, we value family bonds above blood."
Her "younger brother," Andy, suddenly shouted, eyes blazing: "Lilith will always be my only sister! I'll never see you as one. If you don't know your place and make her upset, I'll throw you out of this house myself!"
Lilith gently pushed Victor away, dabbing at her tears. Her voice trembled, soft and honeyed: "Andy, don't say that. Mai is your true sister—your sister by blood."
Then she turned to Mai, eyes shimmering as though brimming with compassion. "Sister Mai, please don't take it to heart. I truly am sorry—because I suddenly fell ill, everyone panicked and couldn't come to fetch you themselves. Please don't be upset with them."
Lilith dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, her voice softening as she looked at Mai.
"If they spoke harshly, it was only out of worry for you. They really are wonderful parents and siblings. Once you've lived here for a while, you'll see it for yourself."
Mai stood still, her gaze calm. To the Goldvales, Lilith might seem kind, but Mai saw her words as a blatant display of favoritism. When Mai only stared, Lilith's eyes grew misty. "Perhaps you don't like me… I can understand. Still, I've always loved our parents and brothers. If my being here makes things harder for you, I wouldn't mind stepping aside."
Victor pulled Lilith close, his glare cutting toward Mai. "Lilith is already heartbroken after learning she isn't of our blood. Don't make it worse with your selfishness!"
Andy's voice cracked as he shouted, his rage spilling over: "You're wicked! Get out—right now!"
Mai's eyes swept across them all. Calmly, she asked: "You don't seem to welcome me. So let's not pretend—what is it you really want from me?"
Eleanor frowned, her tone sharp as a blade. "Is that how you address your parents? Raised among the Outer Wall rabble, even the fine blood of our lineage has been spoiled."
Mai shrugged. "Thanks for the compliment. I suppose I owe it all to you—for leaving me to grow up free of your… refinements."
For an instant, guilt flickered deep in Eleanor's eyes—only to harden into fury a heartbeat later, but Richard cut in, frowning yet opting for honesty: "The Goldvales have a betrothal pact with the Ashbournes. You'll fulfill it."
The pieces fit. Mai's voice was steady: "So your darling Lilith has a better match, but you won't throw away the Ashbourne pact. That's why you dragged me back. So I can assume you've known about me all along—just not worth acknowledging until I became useful?"
Victor sneered, eyes full of disdain. "Who knows what that sick old man stuffed into your head—or what diseases from the Outer you're carrying. You should be grateful—you finally have some value. We're dragging you out of that gutter into a life of luxury you could never reach on your own. All that's required of you is simple: obey, marry, and look after that crippled Ashbourne heir."
Mai understood. "So the Ashbourne heir is disabled. Too unworthy for your precious Lilith—so you fetched me, the blood daughter, as a substitute."
Her words cut through the Goldvales' facade like a knife. The room grew tense, the air heavy with unease. Richard looked displeased. "No need to make it sound so ugly. Even crippled, the Ashbourne heir is far beyond your reach."
Mai had understood why they wanted her back. She wasn't disappointed—she had never hoped in the first place. Life in the Outer Wall had its sense of community, but it was also rife with filth and cruelty. Old Nite had always taught her self-reliance, preparing her in mind and spirit to stand alone once he was gone. Because of that, she had never placed her hopes on anyone else, not even when she learned who her parents were. And she had been right: every action they took was out of self-interest, expecting her to be grateful for being exploited.
Suddenly, she felt no trace of attachment to this family. Whatever faint hope lingered deep in her heart was erased. She raised the only question that had brought her here:
"Why was I abandoned in the first place?"
Richard's brow furrowed, his eyes flicking away for an instant under the weight of guilt. Eleanor froze, her gaze distant, as though an old wound had been torn open. Victor clutched at his trousers, avoiding Mai's eyes, his trembling fingers betraying his unease. Lilith kept her mask of innocence intact, while Andy only glared, brimming with hostility.
Victor suddenly snapped, his voice sharp: "Why dig up the past? It's over. Don't think raking it up will win you pity—or stir our guilt!"
The reactions were telling, but Mai decided the exact reason no longer mattered. The Goldvales' attitude was clear: they wanted nothing more than a pawn who would obey. "I understand the situation. My decision is that I won't return to the Goldvales." She turned and walked toward the door.
The Goldvales fell silent, stunned. They had expected tears, pleading, weakness—but never that Mai would reject their wealthy house outright.
Victor scoffed, muttering, "Don't play hard-to-get. No one's got time for your games. You'll come crawling back, humiliated."
Richard's voice rumbled like a threat. "You will fulfill the pact, whether you wish it or not. Either you take the easy way, or you'll be forced down the hard one. Without House Goldvale, you are nothing."
Mai didn't pause or look back. She pushed open the heavy wooden door and left the mansion without hesitation.
Shadow, observing Mai's memories directly, watched in silence. An orphan herself, Shadow didn't know what blood ties felt like, but she never imagined parents could be so cruel to their own child.
The Goldvales not only abandoned Mai as an infant but, after finding her, turned their backs again, using their power to ruin their own daughter's future.
Right after she left, Mai's hard-earned scholarship was revoked with a single order, along with her place at Lost Angel's top academy, Highcrest Academy. Nite's veteran insurance was cut, leaving him to waste away from Vorn Rot without funds for the costly [Purification]. Mai tried taking odd jobs, but the Goldvales' influence saw to it that she lost each one. Every door she tried to open, they slammed shut in her face.
In that despair, a glimmer of hope appeared: a reality show titled One Day as a Sidekick. The promised payment was enough to cover Nite's next [Purification]. For Mai, it was her only chance to save him—and she seized it without hesitation.
But the truth struck the moment she reached the rally point. Out in the open, Lilith was already waiting—smiling like an angel, yet making it clear the game was rigged. Mai needed no explanation; she knew this wasn't an opportunity but a trap.
The show was an established series that had already run for many episodes, so Mai hadn't thought much when she signed the contract. She assumed they only wanted to play up the angle of a Defective Raiser to stir interest.
But the moment she saw Lilith waiting out in the open, she understood: the Goldvales meant to use this episode as their propaganda stunt—subtly revealing her as the lost daughter. That way, they could justify pushing Lilith out of the Ashbourne marriage and forcing Mai into it.
The pact had always been vague, a promise made by the previous generation. It only stipulated "a daughter of House Goldvale" and "a son of House Ashbourne," without naming who.
For Lilith, it was a golden opportunity to crush Mai on live TV, proving to the Goldvales that even as an adopted daughter, she was superior in every way—beauty, talent, grace, refinement—and, above all, in public favor, the kind of favor that brought prestige and honor to House Goldvale, unlike the 'crude' biological daughter.
As the episode unfolded, Mai noticed something else. Solstice, the youngest of the Pendragon line, had appeared, and Lilith kept introducing him as her childhood fiancé.
The Pendragons were not merely renowned in Lost Angel but held power across the entire world. It became clear to Mai that Solstice was the one Lilith truly wished to marry, and the broadcast itself was being used to promote that claim.
And from the disdain etched on Solstice's face whenever his eyes fell on her, Mai could tell Lilith had already poisoned his thoughts with something about her. Yet that was not a matter Mai cared to waste attention on.
Mai saw through it all but couldn't back out. The contract's penalty was beyond an Outer Wall kid's means. Fleeing would doom Nite and bury her future under the Goldvales' power.
So, despite her heavy heart, Mai pressed on. A sixteen-year-old girl, alone, stepped onto a stage set by a powerful family.
She wasn't naive. Mai had a plan: secure the payment to save Nite, maintain a minimal public image, and, if possible, leave a mark. She knew the Goldvales controlled the game—any cries or pleas would be edited out. The gap between the "livestream" and reality was always a few minutes—just enough for the directors to cut, edit, and twist anything they wanted.
So Mai chose another path—she would gain enough attention to have a voice. She knew speaking up during the show would be useless, but once it was over, there might be other places willing to listen, provided she had drawn enough interest. The trap, in her eyes, was also an opportunity.
Though only a Level 1 Raiser with Vorn compatibility so low no one believed she could advance, Mai never gave up. Beyond her studies, she trained relentlessly in basic combat, harder than anyone else. Not dreaming of leveling up or awakening, she held to a simple truth: in this world, every bit of knowledge and skill could be an edge for her and Nite.
Even as a Defective Raiser, she still retained the privileges of her kind—access to free combat drills and training weapons. That was enough for her to believe she could fight, armed with the high-grade firearm supplied by the program, even without wielding Vorn.
But she had thought too simply.
On her first day at the Gate, a monster tore through the void, appearing beside her without warning—no spatial ripple, no alert. It lunged like lightning.
Before Mai could react, it struck, the blow like a hammer sending her flying, leaving a fatal wound. Blood gushed, the world spun, then faded to black.
In that darkness, her consciousness clung to desperation. At that moment, she pulled in a wandering soul: Shadow.
In the realm of consciousness, Shadow watched Mai's life flicker past like a film on fast-forward. She lifted her head, turning toward the young girl who stood beside her—her mirror image—smiling with a calmness born of surrender.
"This body is all I have left to give… Just—please—take care of Nite. I know you're strong. If it were you, Nite would not have to suffer for my weakness."
Her soul began to unravel into the dark, threads of light scattering—until, all at once, they condensed again. Mai gasped faintly, realizing her essence was being pulled back together. Shadow's presence pressed in, cold but steady, pouring fragments of her own soul to keep Mai from vanishing entirely.
Then came a calm, cutting voice: "Oi, where do you think you're going?"