On a cold and silent night, there stood a small wooden cabin by the riverside.Inside lived a middle-aged woman and her graceful, captivating cat.
When the woman went out to fetch water, the cat gazed at the night sky filled with countless stars.In her heart, she wondered,
“If I could fly… would I become a star too?”
Her eyes shone with awe, yet a trace of sorrow lingered — because if she did that, the woman would be left alone.
When the woman returned, the cat immediately leaped toward her, meowing softly, asking for the warmth of her gentle touch.
The next night, when the woman went out again to fetch water, the cat, unable to bear being left behind, tried to follow her.But as she wandered further, she lost her way.
She looked around — only trees and tall grass surrounded her.In despair, she whispered,
“Will I be alone out here…? But if I don’t go home, she’ll be alone too…”
Then, she saw a faint light in the distance — coming from the direction of the cabin.She ran toward it with all her strength.But when she arrived…
The cabin was burning.Flames devoured the wooden walls that once sheltered their warmth.The cat cried out, desperate to hear the woman’s voice.But all that answered was the cracking of collapsing wood… and the faint sound of someone’s final cry.
That story was heartbreaking.And I... almost shared the same fate as that cat.
Sometimes, I wonder —if that night’s banquet had never happened,would I still have seen my mother again?
Was freedom truly what I desired?Or was it something simpler —to see the people close to me smile, even for a moment?Maybe that’s when I’ll finally understand what freedom really means.
After Vaskal’s interrogation, my thoughts spiraled back to that night.Why did the masked man attack the servants’ quarters?Why did he blow up that place?What was he searching for?And what was that book he held so tightly in his hands…?
But thinking about it won’t change anything.What I need to do now…is to uncover the truth myself.To find out who he is, what he’s after — and to repay what he’s done.
I’ve already chosen my path.Now, it’s time to defy my fate —to train, to grow stronger,and to walk forward until I can truly protect those who still smile for me.
...
At night, on the rooftop of the building where Yinzu was being treated—he sat quietly, focusing his mind, trying to sense the mana around him.
He began entering the overflow state once again.But this time, what appeared before him was a breathtaking place—a vast space filled with glowing auroras of blue, green, and streaks of violet light.
“Wait… is this my Claim Seal?Why does it look so different from the last time I came here?”
The first time he entered this place, he was struck by violent waves that almost tore him apart.
“Could it be because I’ve chosen my path now…that’s why everything looks so vibrant and beautiful?”
Still, that enormous hole remained.
He knew he had to find a way to absorb mana—and release it—so that he could finally use magic properly.
“Aaaaaah… this is so confusing!”
He stared at the gaping void within his Claim Seal, thinking hard.
“Wait a second… what if I try channeling mana through that hole—sending it directly into my Claim Seal, then flowing it throughout my body?”
Without hesitation, he tried it.Returning to reality, he began focusing on aligning himself with the world around him.He could feel the mana in the air—and with effort after effort, though he failed many times,eventually… he succeeded.
Mana flowed faintly within his body.
“Finally… I did it.”
He wanted to try releasing it right away—but then he realized something.
“If I stay up too long, Mother will wake up.But… why is it so cold out here!?”
His whole body trembled from the chill of the night air.
“I-I need to get down and take a warm bath… before I freeze!”
...
In the morning, the head butler gathered everyone to make an announcement about the recent incident.
“Today, by order of the Head of the Skylark family, the servants’ quarters will be rebuilt.In addition, all workers are permitted to return to their homes.Lord Aelfric has decided to grant everyone within the main residence a temporary leave.You may all rest for a while.”
Go home?
I didn’t even know where “home” was supposed to be.I was born here—within the Skylark estate.
Did Mother… have a hometown we could return to?
I never knew, because every time I asked about it, she always stayed silent.
Maybe… maybe I should just ask her directly this time.
“Mother… where are we supposed to go home to?”
“Ah, Yinzu… well, I need to send a letter first before we leave,”she replied softly. “And we’ll need to buy some supplies too, since most of our belongings were burned.”
“Ah, right. You’re right, Mother.May I go look around for my things? Maybe… something survived the fire.”
“Alright. Why don’t you head back to the house for now?I’ll go into town and buy what we need.”
“Okay.”
...
“Haaaa… the morning breeze feels so refreshing.”
While Mother was away, I decided to train my body again.
Yesterday, I collapsed after just a hundred movements—but today, I’ll push myself to two hundred.
…or at least, that’s what I thought.
“Ha… ha… ha… damn it…”
I gasped for air, lying flat on the ground.
“I’m exhausted.Good thing I didn’t choose the path of Aura, or I’d probably be dead by now.”
Those who followed the path of Aura had to build strong physical endurance,because channeling it required their bodies to act as the core of concentration.The purity of one’s aura depended entirely on their physical strength.
“Seriously… why would anyone choose such a torturous path?They must all be masochists.”
I forced myself up, dusting off my clothes.
“Anyway… I should go inside and see if there’s anything left worth keeping.”