"It is important to analyze all people regardless of your personal opinion and status." Dae's finger slides along the wall, leaving clean white markings in its wake. Although she is self-taught, her diagrams and inscriptions hold a complexity beyond that of most mages. "Spiritual magic, despite being classified as magic, the method of usage is entirely different. In fact, the man responsible for classifying it as magic is rotting in hell." With a calm exhale, several distinct circles hover mid-air, rotating slowly.
The room is cold, filled with damp moss and the scent of age. Leena tilts her head, wearing a fluffy pink wunzy that covers her from head to toe. Its oversized hood droops slightly over her face, small red horns on top pulsing with a faint glow. The fabric was crafted by the Fairy Prince himself after watching from afar and concluding—accurately—that Dae had no idea how to raise a child, leaving her daughter in rags within these freezing caves. The gift was made after Leena stared too long at the real creature the outfit was based on: a ten-foot-tall monster tearing through a wild hog, blood spraying across the rocks as it fed. She hadn't looked away once.
"The two main factors that differentiate spiritual energy from magic are quite obvious. While mana is both all around and can be collected over time via mana circulation techniques, those who use spiritual powers do not use mana. Spiritual energy can be drawn by one's soul, and they can pull energy from the endless river of souls."
Her finger stops after completing a layered series of diagrams. Her eyes meet Leena's as she continues.
"Understand, there are different ranks in spiritual masters. Those at the peak are highly dangerous. Without proper safeguards, spiritual attacks can easily kill someone."
Dae turns around and erases the entire diagram with a single wave.
"There is another method to using spiritual power. Apart from the river, there is also the spirit realm, where most spirits and fairies dwell. Forming contracts with spirits allows instantaneous use of their power—but it's limited to the spirit's own growth. A low-ranking spirit is useless, and a high-ranking one is cocky. I predict the number of spiritual masters will fall over time as magic technology progresses."
She turns to Leena, expression flat. "Do you understand?"
Leena blinks, blankly. Not a single thought behind her eyes. Her mind is saving—trying to process, sort, and store the information—but none of it will stick until her intellect improves.
She lifts a finger and points at the sword driven through Dae's stomach, her face twisted in confusion.
In one of her picture books, there was a family. Clean faces. No black lines. No swords. She had smeared dirt across her own skin after noticing no one else in the book had markings like hers. Now she's stuck again—unable to categorize what she sees. No one in the book had a sword piercing through them.
Dae follows her gaze, exhales, and answers plainly. "It holds no importance. Focus on your studies."
-
"Wooow…"
Leena's eyes glow under the fading light as she stares at the sunset. Standing at the highest peak of the mountain, the entire world stretches beneath her. The forest below has turned black—its trees and plants shifting unnaturally in the dark—but further out, it's beautiful. The border where the black forest meets the vibrant, flowing grass feels almost unreal.
She holds a piece of paper and begins scribbling. Far beyond the twisted woods, she sees insects bouncing in the grass, glowing softly as some drift into the air. Past the greenery, tall trees rise in the distance, and animals sprint across the open fields. Her eyes twinkle as she draws, trying to capture the shapes of the creatures she sees.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Mirelith walks up behind her, eyes on the sunset.
"The world we live in is vast—full of dangers and mysteries." He pats her fluffy hood before stepping beside her. "Of all the worlds I've experienced, this one is by far the most painful. Yet even so, it's the most beautiful."
His golden eyes linger on the horizon before turning to her confused expression. A faint smile forms.
"Is there something on your mind?"
It's been six months since her birth, and her understanding has grown.
"Mom says beauty is a social construct with no real value. Strength is what matters," she mumbles, continuing to scribble. Her head tilts slightly as she focuses on drawing a little lizard skittering between the rocks.
With a calm sigh, Mirelith scratches his head.
"Your mother has some strong opinions. Everyone's allowed their own—including you."
"I agree with Mom," Leena mumbles, watching the sun slowly disappear. She folds her drawings and slips them into her bag.
"You say that, but you're here every night." He taps her shoulder before she turns to leave and gestures behind him. "Let me show you something interesting."
Behind him, a rift forms. Leena blinks, peering into it—seeing the edge of the black forest and the grassy fields beyond. Before she can even think to decline, her feet are already moving forward.
"Why is it that you always leave before the sun fully sets?" Mirelith asks, standing beside her.
"It gets dark... everything becomes black like this. Night is bad—unlike the day when I can see," she says, poking at a strange black bush beside her.
"Hmm... it is always cloudy here. You must think the night sucks, huh?" Mirelith smirks and looks up. "Very well then. Let me show you that beauty truly exists."
As the sun vanishes behind the horizon, darkness settles in. The clouds thicken above, swallowing what little light remains. Only the faint glow of insects flickers here and there.
'Mom said I shouldn't be this far out.'
Leena's thoughts are cut off as Mirelith raises his arm. A golden light erupts from it, shooting into the sky.
In an instant, the clouds ripple outward—shoved away as if the sky itself flinched.
Leena stares. Her eyes shimmer against the night.
Three moons shine above—red, white, and blue—casting a soft purple hue across the world. Bright stars scatter like dust across the heavens. Below, glowing red flowers light the field, and wild cats play in the grass, chasing each other between the glowing stalks.
"Wooow…"
Leena's hand trembles as she reaches up toward a star. A light smile appears on her face.
-
1 Year later
"No."
Dae's arm flicks her sword, sending Leena crashing through the forest.
"Your grip is admirable; however, you lack form."
Appearing beside her in a blink, she drives her foot into Leena's side. Leena barely manages to block, but the force sends blood from her mouth as she's launched again.
"If you weren't so distracted with the delusion of leaving," Dae exhales calmly, walking toward her, "you'd be strong enough to block these minimal attacks."
"Uuugh…"
Leena groans, forcing herself to her feet, legs shaking.
"Mom… but you're not a sword user. You said it yourself. Why are you teaching me swordsmanship?"
Gritting her teeth, she lifts her sword again, breathing hard.
With a blink, Dae drives a wooden bat into her stomach. Before Leena's body can crash into the trees, Dae casually swings again—sending her flying into the sky.
"Foolish child. I'm not teaching you swordsmanship. I'm teaching you how to fight. You'll learn magic when the time comes."
She walks to a clear patch and glances up, waiting a second.
Leena's body crashes down nearby.
"Understand?"
Dae turns, flipping through some papers as she walks away.
"And stop talking to Mirelith. Focus on your future instead of these pointless desires."
With that, her body disappears.
"Ughhhh…"
Leena groans from the ground, limbs twitching. Her body slowly starts to regenerate.
"I'm weak," she mumbles, rolling onto her back.
"I wouldn't call you weak. It's more appropriate to say your mother is too strong," Mirelith says, forming beside her and helping her up. "Your training is going to change soon. Enjoy your free time—you won't have it for much longer."
Leena walks past him with her arms crossed. "Stop bothering me. You're a bad influence," she says in her usual childish tone as she grabs her sword. "If you'll excuse me, I need to train to help Mom."
With a heavy exhale, Mirelith rubs his forehead. "Fine, fine. Just remember to prepare yourself. And don't forget to feed the creatures—that's your job now."
-
"I wonder if the world is like this story," Leena mumbles, tilting her head as she looks down at a book while sitting at the peak of the mountain. "Ohhh, I wonder if this is true. Can the demons really have towering buildings?"
As she flips through the pages, her eyes stop on the image of a distant sea. She recalls what her mother once told her about the Mist at the end of the world—a place where anyone who enters might be gone for seconds or years. No matter who it is, everyone who enters always ends up right back where they started.
'Mom said no one knows what's on the other side.'
"Hehehehe..." Leena giggles, holding the book close as she lies back against the stone. "I want to explore it myself."
She exhales slowly, her smile fading just a little as her eyes linger on the stars overhead.
"I should train," she says, staring at the book. The title reads: The First Hero, by Evon Ley. She closes it and stands up, 'As cool as it would be... Mom comes first.'
-
"U-Um... M-Mom, what is this?"
The cave is vast, filled with dozens of tanks and a lab scattered with sheets and materials. Leena stands on a raised platform, staring down at the top of the main unit.
"T-This is training?"
She's scared. She doesn't know why or what she's feeling. This is her first time seeing a place like this, but something inside her churns—something instinctual. A deep sense of dread grows the longer she looks at the liquid inside the chamber.
Dae says nothing. She moves calmly from console to console, double-checking data sheets, adjusting cables and valves.
"This is where you'll sleep," she says with a flat tone. "Although you are alive and well now, that won't be for long."
She taps a button on the panel, flipping a screen.
"You are tied directly to the dungeon. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue. However, the dungeon core was damaged when I got ahold of it. This dungeon operates in cycles of 20 years. When I die and begin my reconstruction process, it will require a large sum of mana. So, it will likely need close to 150 years to recover before it can reopen."
Walking over to Leena, she begins a physical inspection—hands cold and methodical, checking joints, breathing, skin elasticity.
"Since you are connected, it will draw mana from you. But because the dungeon is damaged, it won't stop. It'll continue draining until it tears you apart."
After confirming her notes, she walks back down the steps without pause.
"I made a rational decision. Jump in."
She gestures toward the glass.
Leena hesitates. Her heart races. But she doesn't question it. Not once has she ever gone against her mother—and she never will. Even the thought gives her a headache.
She jumps.
"Oooouog-gh!"
The moment she hits the liquid, her body convulses. She chokes violently, arms flailing as the fluid fills her lungs and pours into every pore. Panic takes over immediately—but she forces herself not to climb out.
[Connection successful. Initiating mana transfer.]
With a flick of a switch, the chamber activates.
Leena's body begins to tremble, then shake uncontrollably. Her teeth clench as she tries to hold herself together, but the pain is unbearable. Mana is ripped out of her, and her body begins to break down—skin first, then muscle, then bone.
Until only a twitching strand of nerves remains.
Then—regeneration kicks in. Her body starts rebuilding at the same rate it's breaking down. It happens over and over, faster each time. A brutal, perfect cycle.
Dae sips tea calmly.
"Perfect," she mumbles, watching the data stream.
"Your body is unique. It stores mana in your flesh. With this, you'll reduce the waiting period from 150 years... to 80."
She looks up and stares through the glass, her voice as even as ever.
"It's unfortunate you can't numb the pain."