Ayumu rode her horse—Atlas—along the narrow forest path that led to the cottage.
The night was quiet, the moonlight filtering through the trees in soft silver streaks, guiding her way.
She had come to realize something in the past few days—
She could not sleep in the palace.
The room given to her was vast, luxurious and far too grand.
It felt empty. Isolated and unfamiliar.
For years, she had slept in places far less comfortable such as atop tree branches, in small cabins, roadside huts, even worn-down motels. Yet, somehow, those places had always felt more… natural for her.
And above all else, her home had always been the cottage in the forest.
The small, quiet place where her parents had raised her.
Where memories still lingered in every corner.
Visil had told her she could return anytime she wished.
So she did.
And now, without realizing it, she had begun choosing this place over the palace—night after night.
It had been a long day today for Ayumu and all she wanted now was rest.
Tomorrow was her break day, and the thought alone brought a small smile to her lips.
Perhaps, she would tend to the garden.
Her mother had loved gardening the most—being a Brown Magis, life and growth had always come naturally to her.
Ayumu found herself humming softly at the thought.
Unbeknownst to her—she was not alone.
At a distance, hidden among the shadows of the forest, several figures followed.
They had dismounted their horses before entering the trail, moving now on foot to avoid making noise.
Even in the darkness, they maneuvered skillfully, never losing sight of her.
And Ayumu with her flowing white hair, pale robes, and the gleam of Atlas's coat reflecting the moonlight was impossible to miss.
An easy target.
By the time Ayumu reached the cottage, the forest had grown quieter.
Too quiet.
She dismounted Atlas and gently led him toward the small hut nearby, allowing him to rest.
As she began unloading her belongings—
She heard a sound that was subtle but not natural.
Her body stiffened.
Someone was there. Most likely an intruder.
In an instant, her senses sharpened, her posture shifting into alertness.
Atlas felt it too.
The horse grew restless, huffing and stamping its hooves before stepping in front of her protectively.
A low, anxious neigh escaped it.
Then, a flash could be seen at where the noise was coming from.
A sharp glint cutting through the darkness.
Thud.
An arrow struck.
Deep into Atlas's lower neck.
The horse cried out in agony.
It reared violently, thrashing in pain.
"A-Atlas!" Ayumu rushed forward, trying to calm him—but the force of his movement knocked her back.
It staggered and collapsed. Just a few feet away from her.
Its breathing became heavy. Laboured.
Ayumu scrambled toward him.
"I—I'll heal you, just—just stay—"
But before she could act—they emerged.
Four men stepped out from the darkness.
Behind them, skeletal figures dragged themselves forward, animated by dark magic.
Among them was a familiar necromancer.
Maverick.
They approached slowly.
And Ayumu trembled.
The sight of men closing in on her… the shadows… the presence…
It dragged something from deep within her—memories she had long buried, of her mother on that night when she was still a child, helpless and fading before her eyes, and the terror she had felt in those moments she could do nothing to change.
Everything she had witnessed in the past, all the fear she thought she had overcome, came rushing back at once, overwhelming her.
Her body froze and her thoughts shattered, scattered into fragments she could not gather.
Normally she would have reacted without hesitation, calm and precise, but this time her mind was clouded and unsteady. She wanted to save Atlas, she wanted to fight, she wanted to run—but she could not move.
Maverick stepped closer, a twisted smile spreading across his face as he looked down at her.
"Hahaha… what a sight." His voice dripped with mockery. "The mighty, perfect White Magis… trembling on the ground."
He crouched slightly, amused.
"Where is that pride now? The one who dazzled everyone in the duel?"
Ayumu looked up weakly.
"…You're Maverick."
"Hah. So you do remember me."
His grin widened.
"Good. Because you won't be surviving tonight."
Behind him, two of the men moved toward Atlas.
"Wait—!"
Ayumu's voice cracked.
"Please… leave Atlas alone!"
The horse was more than a gift. More than something given by the emperor. Atlas had become her companion.
Each night, he would escape the stables just to find her—knowing, somehow, that she would return to the cottage.
He had chosen her. And she had come to love him.
Maverick tilted his head.
"You named it?"
A cruel chuckle escaped him.
"That must mean you love it dearly."
He raised a hand, giving out a simple signal.
The men acted and their blades drove down.
"No—!"
The sound was wet.
Ayumu lunged forward, her body moving before her mind could catch up.
They had no idea.
No idea that this horse was a gift from the emperor himself. No idea what it meant to her.
Atlas let out a weak, trembling neigh.
His eyes found hers but they soon dimmed.
"No… no… Atlas…"
Ayumu's voice broke.
Tears streamed down her face as she held onto him, her hands trembling, her mind faltering—she could not conjure any magic in that moment, as if every ounce of strength within her had been sealed away by grief and fear.
She could do nothing. And once again something precious to her was taken away.
Right before her eyes.
She tried to force herself up again, trying to summon Vesta—but before she could, Maverick stepped forward and struck her hard from behind the head.
The blow sent her collapsing to the ground.
A sharp, gashing wound opened at the back of her head.
Her vision blurred instantly. Everything became unfocused, distant, unstable.
Pain surged through her skull, and with it, her ability to gather mana shattered completely.
She could not see properly. She could not think properly.
And she could not fight back.
"Now, we wouldn't want you calling your majestic bird, would we?" Maverick sneered as he approached her. "I just want to settle this personally… you stupid White Mage."
Without hesitation, he drove his foot into her stomach.
Ayumu coughed violently, her body folding from the impact.
Around him, the other men flinched.
They had not agreed to this. They had not wanted to harm a woman.
Much less someone who held the title of Royal Advisor… someone regarded as the emperor's sister.
They told themselves it was fine—as long as they did not directly participate.
As long as it wasn't their hands doing it, they would remain clean.
But they were wrong.
Far away, moving swiftly through the forest, Kaiser and Drobar were closing in.
Kaiser had lost visual contact, but he could still sense the general direction Ayumu had gone. Having been to the cottage before, he knew the path well enough to follow.
"Hey," Drobar called out from atop his warhorse, frustration creeping into his voice. "Are you sure this is even the right way? It's pitch black. There's nothing out here but forest."
"Be quiet and follow," Kaiser replied coldly. "Or turn back."
Drobar clicked his tongue but said nothing more, tightening his grip on the reins as they pressed forward.
They moved quickly.