...
{Ember's POV}
"Where am I?" — that was the first thought that came to my mind as I slowly opened my eyes.
The first thing I saw was a beautifully decorated ceiling above me, adorned with intricate carvings and delicate crystal ornaments.
For a moment, I was completely lost, unable to recall what exactly I had been doing last.
My mind felt like a blank slate, and the question of who I even was lingered heavily in my head.
That unsettling feeling lasted only a brief moment before my memories came rushing back in a wave of clarity.
I am Ember Ljos Alf, I reminded myself, the prince of the White Elves of the Royal Alf's Forest.
I wasn't just anyone — I was also someone who had reincarnated into this world, and unlike those overpowered protagonists in the stories from my past life, I had done so with absolutely no cheats whatsoever.
Still, I possessed the full memories of my previous human life, which was both a blessing and a burden at times.
A sigh of relief escaped me when I realized that I hadn't lost those memories.
But then another question popped up almost immediately — why was I even so worried about that in the first place?
My mind felt tangled and heavy, my thoughts like a messy knot that refused to loosen.
I pushed myself to sit up, trying to shake off the dizziness.
That's when I felt something soft brush against my cheek — a sensation so unexpected that I froze on the spot.
Then it happened again, this time directly on my lips.
My eyes widened in shock as realization struck me like lightning.
I jerked back instantly, my heart pounding in confusion and alarm.
Sitting up in a hurry,
I turned toward the source — and saw my sister lying beside me, fast asleep.
Her face looked peaceful, yet I could see traces of dried tears on her cheeks.
'Wait... did I just kiss her?' I thought, utterly horrified by the implication.
'Hold on, what is she even doing in my bed in the first place?'
It wasn't like her to invade someone's space without asking.
She could be clingy and overly affectionate sometimes, sure, but she always respected boundaries — especially mine.
A chill ran down my spine as a horrible thought crossed my mind.
'Don't tell me she's turned into some sort of creep?!'
(A/N: This Mtf)
I shuddered at the possibility, imagining my sweet, caring sister acting like one of those disgusting perverts or obsessive types.
The thought alone made me deeply uncomfortable.
"Ember?" I suddenly heard her soft, familiar voice call out to me.
Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes that were still wet from crying.
Before I could even ask her a single question, she suddenly threw herself toward me, wrapping her arms tightly around me.
"You're awake! Finally, you're awake!" she cried out, her voice trembling as fresh tears streamed down her face again.
For a moment, I just stood there, completely stunned by her reaction.
But as her words sank in, my fragmented memories began to piece themselves together.
"Yes… we were fighting against goblins!" I muttered, my mind racing to recall the details.
"I was trying to use concurrent chanting when—"
I stopped mid-sentence, realizing that everything after that point was a blur.
The last thing I could clearly remember was the chaos of battle — the smell of blood, the sound of magic bursting in the air — and then nothing.
Everything after that was just darkness.
"It was Ignis Fatuus, you had an Ignis Fatuus," Riveria said softly, her voice trembling as she spoke.
She pressed herself closer to me, nuzzling gently against my shoulder, as if confirming that I was truly awake and alive.
When I looked at her, I could see it clearly — the relief, the exhaustion, the fear that had finally started to fade from her eyes.
Everything suddenly became much clearer in my head, and the memories started piecing themselves together like fragments of a shattered mirror.
"How long was I unconscious?" I asked, my throat feeling dry and sore as the words came out.
Riveria hesitated for a moment before moving slightly away, biting her lower lip nervously.
"Four days," she finally answered, her tone heavy with worry.
"You were unconscious for four whole days, Ember. We had to feed you potions — special ones, the kind that can quench both hunger and thirst at the same time. It was the only way to keep you alive."
Her words hit me hard.
I stayed silent, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my shoulders.
I had known the risks before attempting that magic — Ignis Fatuus wasn't something to be taken lightly.
But knowing something and experiencing the consequences firsthand were two entirely different things.
For the first time since being reincarnated into this world, I had truly brushed against the edge of death.
Just by looking at Riveria's expression, I could tell how close I had come.
They must have used everything they had to keep me alive — Elixirs, High Potions, probably even rare healing items that only the royal treasury or top-class adventurers could afford.
I could almost imagine the panic and desperation in their faces as they tried to save me.
It made sense, though — I had been attempting to conjure a spell on the level of a peak Level 1 adventurer, something far beyond what my current durability should've been able to handle.
The magic I was trying to perform could have easily turned a weaker person into ashes in mere seconds.
If it hadn't been for my armor and the fact that my Ignis Fatuus was only weaker version as it was a Falnaless spell — I would've been dead on the spot.
And if I had somehow pushed beyond that limit, attempting a spell on the scale of a Level 2, even with half my consciousness, the result would have been the same: death, instant and absolute.
No miracles.
No recovery.
Just the end.
"F–Forgive me," I finally managed to say, my voice shaking uncontrollably.
I could feel guilt clawing at my chest as I realized the pain and fear I must have caused her during those four days.
I lowered my head, unable to look her in the eyes, ashamed of myself.
Riveria didn't hesitate.
She pulled me into her arms again, holding me tightly, almost as if she was afraid that if she let go, I would vanish.
"It wasn't your fault, Ember," she said firmly, her voice filled with emotion — and then, with a hint of fury, she added, "It was theirs. Those damned archers who were daydreaming instead of keeping watch. If they hadn't been so careless, you wouldn't have been forced to take such a risk!"
There was venom in her tone, pure and raw, and though her anger wasn't directed at me, I could feel the intensity behind every word.
Did her words make me feel better?
Maybe… a little.
Maybe not at all.
The truth was, it didn't really matter.
What I had done, what had almost cost me my life — I couldn't undo it.
And honestly, even if I had to go through the same situation again, I knew deep down that I would probably make the same choice.
Because that's what I had to do.
To survive in this brutal world.
To grow stronger.
To reach my goals — the farthest ends of Heaven, the limits of divinity, the places where even Gods themselves might hesitate to tread.
I wanted to explore everything beyond this world, beyond the boundaries that fate had set.
I couldn't allow a single failure, no matter how severe, to chain me down.
But still… I wished my failures didn't have to hurt the people I cared about most.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice breaking as tears began streaming down my face uncontrollably.
I hugged Riveria tightly, clutching her as if doing so would stop the tears from falling.
But they wouldn't stop — no matter how hard I tried, they just kept coming.
My apologies sounded hollow, meaningless even, because deep down I knew the truth: I might end up doing something reckless like that again.
How did it come to this?
How did things reach such a point?
"Ember, sweetie, don't cry," I suddenly heard another voice — soft, familiar, and warm.
It was my mother's voice, and the moment I heard it, my chest tightened.
All the pain, fear, and guilt I had been trying to hold back finally came crashing down like a tidal wave.
I turned my head and saw her — our mother, my mother — standing just behind Riveria.
The moment my eyes landed on her, I could tell that she hadn't slept properly in days.
The faint dark circles under her eyes and the slightly messy strands of her hair made it clear that she had been keeping watch over me the entire time I was unconscious.
Yet, despite her exhaustion, she still carried that distinct, gentle beauty that only a mother could have.
Her warm smile alone made the room feel a little brighter, and for a moment, all my worries seemed to quiet down.
She walked toward us slowly, her movements graceful yet filled with the kind of tiredness that comes from long days of worry.
When she reached us, she placed a soft hand on my head and patted it affectionately before pulling me out of Riveria's arms and into her own.
Her embrace was warm — that kind of warmth that melts away every bit of tension in your heart.
It felt safe, it felt real, and it felt like something I didn't know I needed so desperately until that very moment.
She leaned close and whispered in my ear, her voice calm and soothing, "Ember, never let a single failure dictate your life, and never blame yourself for what can't be controlled."
Those words struck me deep inside, maybe because they were exactly what I needed to hear.
I didn't even try to respond with words — I just nodded slowly, letting out a small hum in acknowledgment.
It was enough.
Her embrace, her words, and her presence made me realize how fortunate I was.
I was lucky — incredibly lucky — to have a kind and loving mother once again in this life, just like I did in my previous one.
But what made this life even more special was having a sister like Riveria, someone who, despite her harsh tone and occasional scolding, truly cared for me with her whole heart.
As I rested in that moment of warmth, I couldn't help but glance behind my mother, my eyes unconsciously searching for another familiar figure.
Maybe it was instinct, or maybe I was just foolishly hoping.
My mother noticed my gaze and tilted her head slightly, a faint knowing smile appearing on her face before she asked quietly, "Ember, are you looking for your father?"
Her voice wavered slightly as she said that, and I immediately understood what it meant.
I didn't even need her to tell me the answer, but I still felt that sting of disappointment deep inside.
"He was busy," she continued after a pause, forcing a small smile, "so he couldn't come. But he… uh, he expressed his worries."
Her hesitation was obvious — she almost said something else before changing her words midway.
I just nodded silently, not wanting to push the subject any further.
A small sigh escaped my lips as I wondered, not for the first time, if I was somehow cursed to always end up with terrible fathers, no matter what world I was born into.
In my previous life, my father had been abusive, cold, and distant — the kind of man no child should have to deal with.
And in this life, while my current father wasn't nearly as bad, he still didn't inspire much confidence either.
Maybe it was just fate's twisted sense of humor.
I decided to drop the topic entirely for now and focus on something else.
Talking with my mother and Riveria was far more comforting anyway, and before long, the conversation began to drift toward lighter topics.
But then, as I pieced together everything that had happened over the past few days, one particular detail hit me like a shock.
My first kiss in this life — my first kiss ever since reincarnating — had been stolen. And by who? My sister.
When that realization settled in, I turned toward Riveria with a dumbfounded look.
She instantly noticed my gaze, and the next thing I knew, her cheeks flared up bright red.
She quickly looked away, refusing to meet my eyes.
"My, my," Mother suddenly said, her voice dripping with teasing amusement.
"Is there something going on between you two? Something perhaps a bit more than what it should be?"
I froze.
Riveria froze.
I could feel my face heating up instantly, but it was nothing compared to Riveria's reaction.
"What are you saying, old hag?!" Riveria shouted, her usual calm and composed demeanor completely shattered.
"It was just an emergency! I had to feed him the potion through my mouth! Don't make something weird out of it!"
Her tone was sharp and defensive, the kind of tone she used only when she was flustered.
Mother, on the other hand, dramatically placed her hand on her forehead and let out a fake sob.
"Sniff… sniff! My daughter doesn't love me anymore," she said in an exaggerated tone, pretending to cry.
"She's always scolding her poor mother! Ember, my dear son, come here! Console your heartbroken mother before she collapses from sadness!"
Before I could even react, she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into another hug, shaking slightly in her overly theatrical crying.
"Oh, Ember," she added with a sly smirk, "did you know it was her first kiss as well?"
That single sentence was enough to turn Riveria into a blushing, stammering mess.
She tried to speak, but only incoherent noises came out.
I could only sigh in response, though I couldn't stop a small smile from creeping onto my lips.
No matter how childish or over-the-top Mother acted, she had this incredible way of changing the atmosphere completely.
A few minutes ago, the room was filled with guilt, sadness, and tension.
But now, all of that was gone — replaced with laughter, warmth, and embarrassment.
She really was something else.
Seriously… she was the best mother anyone could ever ask for.
To be continued...
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