Raven's POV
woke before dawn.
Again.
Ever since I stepped out of that black gate, sleep has not been mercy — it has been a battlefield.
The nightmares no longer leave me alone.
Screams swallowed by darkness.
The sensation of falling endlessly.
My own voice calling a name I can never forget when I wake or a sleep .
I opened my eyes to silence.
Elyra was still asleep. Her breathing steady. Peaceful.
I envied that.
Carefully, I rose from bed, dressed, and slipped outside toward the back courtyard.
Cold air struck my skin immediately, I welcomed it.
If my body aches enough, maybe my mind will quiet.
I drew my sword, And I began, Again, And again.
Hours passed without meaning, Steel cut air in precise arcs, Footwork drilled into muscle memory, Breath controlled.
Strike.
Turn.
Thrust.
Reset.
Harder.
Faster.
Until my arms trembled, Until sweat soaked my clothes, Until the hilt felt heavier than it should, Until my muscles burned and screamed.
Only then did I stop.
I lowered myself beneath a tree, chest rising sharply as the first threads of sunlight touched the horizon.
"You are pushing yourself too hard."
Her voice came before her presence.
Morivane.
She appeared in front of me, then sat beside me as if she belonged to the morning itself.
She looked toward the horizon.
The sun was just beginning to rise.
"This is beautiful," she said softly. "I used to watch the sunrise often."
I remained silent.
She rarely speaks of herself.
So I listened.
"I would wake before everyone else," she continued. "There was a small hill behind my home. I'd climb it alone and wait. The first light breaking through darkness… the warmth touching my face." She smiled faintly. "It gave me strength. No matter how difficult the day would be."
Her voice carried something fragile in it.
Something almost human.
She turned to me suddenly. "Why are you staring at me like that? And so quietly?"
I looked ahead at the rising sun.
"Because you rarely spoken about yourself. I didn't want to interrupt."
She let out a soft, pained laugh.
"You ridiculous child."
She reached over and patted my head.
Like I was small.
I frowned immediately. "Don't treat me like a child."
She laughed again.
"You are eighteen," she corrected calmly. "It doesn't matter how old your soul feels. It doesn't matter who you were before. Your body is eighteen." Her fingers ruffled my hair again. "Accept reality, little one."
She even pinched my cheek — with a smirk.
Her touch burned slightly, but I didn't mind, I closed my eyes and clenched my fists.
Patience.
Patience.
Patience—
Failed.
I stood abruptly.
"I am not a child . And I'm older than you ,Please Show some respect."
Morivane rose slowly.
Her movements were effortless, Her feet no longer touched the ground, She floated slightly above it.
Her black wings unfolded behind her, vast and elegant, feathers shifting in the morning light.
Her red horns and Her red eyes burned like embers under the sun.
She stopped in front of me.
Placed a finger beneath my chin.
Lifted my face upward.
Too close.
With a grin that revealed faint fangs, she said,
"Who told you I am younger than you.?"
Her voice lowered.
"I am thirty-five, and I'm The strongest witch in existence. You will never see one stronger than me in your life ." Her smile widened. "I am Morivane. The Red Witch, The witch, whose mere mention caused everyone to tremble with fear."
Her eyes glowed deeper.
"So you are the one who should show respect, little puppy ."
I stared at her quietly.
Then said calmly,
"You're too young to be thirty-five."
She blinked.
Then burst into laughter.
"I try to look terrifying and powerful," she said between laughs, "and all you care about is how young I look?"
She patted my head again.
"I'll take that as a compliment." She tilted her head slightly. "Your master is coming."
And then—
She vanished.
Like smoke dissolving into my chest.
At that exact moment, I heard a door open behind me.
I turned.
Elyra stood at the courtyard entrance.
"Raven," she said gently. "What are you doing up so early?"
I sheathed my sword and smiled.
"Good morning, master . I woke up early and decided to train."
She walked closer.
"Good morning."
Her eyes examined me carefully — my sweat-soaked clothes, dirt on my arms, the strain in my posture.
"How long have you been awake?"
I shrugged lightly. "An hour. Maybe two. I lost track."
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Was it the nightmares again?"
I laughed.
Too quickly.
"No. I rested for two days without moving much. My body felt stiff. I couldn't sleep."
The lie tasted familiar.
She looked at me, Sadness flickered in her eyes,
She did not believe me, But she did not press.
"And you?" I asked. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry if I was too loud."
She sighed. "No. I woke to drink water. I heard movement and came to check."
"I'll try to be quieter," I said lightly.
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning to train more? Judging by your condition, you've trained long enough."
"I was training with my sword," I said. "Now I want to work on my ability."
"Which one?"
I extended my hand.
Mana gathered instantly.
A dagger formed from condensed energy.
"The weapons I create from my mana disappear the moment I stop touching them. I want to change that."
I threw the dagger toward a tree trunk.
Halfway through the air—
It dissolved into mist.
Returned to me.
Elyra tilted her head. "Why throw daggers? Is there a specific goal?"
"Not daggers," I said quietly.
"Spears. Arrows."
Mana surged again.
This time I formed a spear.
"Step back."
She did.
I drove the spear into the ground without releasing it.
Closed my eyes, Pushed more mana into it, Harder, Deeper.
Suddenly—
Long, razor-sharp spikes erupted outward from the spear in all directions, extending nearly a meter around me.
Elyra's eyes widened.
"In a battle against large monsters," I said steadily, "this would be perfect. Imagine throwing it into a massive beast. The spear would bloom inside it." My voice remained calm. "It would take seconds."
She whispered, "That's incredible."
I lowered the mana slowly until the spikes dissolved.
"But it's difficult," I admitted. "Controlling it without direct contact. First, I need to stabilize the weapons so they don't vanish when thrown."
Elyra smiled.
"I know you'll achieve it."
I felt heat rise to my face slightly.
"You have more natural talent than anyone I've ever seen."
I looked away briefly.
"Thank you. For believing in me."
She lightly struck my shoulder.
"I knew from the first moment we met that you were extraordinary. Even if you were slightly annoying."
I allowed myself a faint smile.
The sun had fully risen now.
Golden light spilled across the courtyard.
Elyra crossed her arms, watching the faint mist of dissipating mana in the air.
"What about Black Void?" she asked curiously. "You were working on improving it. Any progress?"
I nodded once.
"There's progress. Not a lot. But enough."
I stepped back and raised my hand.
Mana gathered instantly — colder than usual, heavier.
Dark circles began to open around me.
One.
Three.
Five.
Ten.
Ten black voids hovered in the air like silent eclipses, their edges shimmering faintly, swallowing light around them.
"In the beginning," I said calmly, "I could only control two. Now I can maintain ten. They consume a large amount of mana. but The more I create, the better."
Elyra's eyes widened slightly.
"This is remarkable. But what's the purpose? Storage? Transportation? I can see it being useful to store an unlimited number of objects… but in combat?"
I smiled faintly.
"Are you sure it's not useful in combat?"
I turned toward a tree roughly twenty meters away.
With a subtle motion of my fingers—
From each void, a sword emerged.
Ten blades shot forward at once.
They weren't fast enough.
Not precise enough.
Several struck the trunk. Others scattered around it, embedding into dirt and bark.
I exhaled.
"I still need to improve accuracy," I admitted. "Increase launch speed. Increase the number of voids."
Then I looked at her, a spark of excitement rising in my chest.
"But imagine hundreds. Thousands."
The voids pulsed darker.
"No army of monsters would be able to stand against that."
Elyra stared at me — not with fear.
With pride.
"Raven… I don't even know what to say. You grow stronger every single day. I've never seen — or even heard of — an ability like this." She stepped closer and gently placed her hand on my head. "I am truly proud of you."
I felt warmth in my chest at her words.
"But," she added softly, her tone shifting, "don't reveal everything to others. Hide as much as you can. I say this for your safety."
"I know," I replied. "You're the only one who knows the full extent of my power."
She smiled. "Good."
After a pause, she said, "I'll leave you to finish training. Since I'm already awake, I'll head to the bakery and bring fresh bread."
I said to her. "I'll prepare breakfast."
She left.
Silence returned.
Then—
Morivane's voice echoed in my mind.
"Black Voids…" she said thoughtfully. "I'm genuinely impressed. Where did you get the idea to use them like that? If perfected, this could become one of the strongest abilities imaginable."
I answered honestly.
"I read a lot of fantasy comics when I was a student. I borrowed the concept from them."
She chuckled.
"So your terrifying power is inspired by illustrated stories."
I shrugged slightly.
"Inspiration doesn't matter. Results do."
She went quiet for a moment.
"It will take time," she said finally. "And many swords."
"Swords aren't a problem," I replied. "I can collect them from dungeons. Or buy them. The real difficulty is mana control. Endurance. Time."
I closed my eyes briefly.
" time isn't an issue."I have all the time in the world.
Morivane hummed softly.
"I look forward to seeing Black Void completed."
I resumed training for a while longer.
By the time I finished, my muscles trembled again.
I took a cold shower.
The water shocked my skin, but it helped silence the echoes in my head.
When Elyra returned, the smell of fresh bread filled the house, We sat across from each other at the table, For a moment, it felt normal.
Simple.
Warm.
"I'll continue training Princess Lyria today," I said between bites. "I'll head to the palace around eleven. When are you going to train the soldiers?"
"Also at eleven."
Then her expression shifted.
"What about your injuries? Will you really be fine?"
I smiled.
"I'm fine, I have fully recovered."
"You healed in only two days."
I lifted my bangs and revealed my forehead, Smooth skin, No scar, No mark.
"There's not even a trace left."
She stared.
"You have extraordinary regenerative ability."
I simply smiled, There are things I do not explain.
After a short silence, I said quietly,
"I'll return to the orphanage today . Thank you for letting me stay here."
Elyra looked at me for a long moment. "You know you can stay here. Live with me."
For a second—
I almost said yes.
It would be easier.
Quieter.
Safer.
But I shook my head gently.
"I can't leave Mother Mary alone. She can't manage the orphanage by herself. There are too many children. She needs help."
Elyra sighed softly.
"You're always welcome here. This is your second home."
I looked at her sincerely.
"Thank you. For standing by me. For supporting me. For trusting me." My voice lowered slightly. "I'll never forget your kindness."
She laughed lightly.
"What is this sudden emotional speech? It sounds like you're leaving forever."
"I'm not," I said. "I just want you to know that I respect you. I see you as a role model."
She smiled warmly.
"I already know that. You don't need to thank me." She reached across and squeezed my shoulder gently. "And I see you as a younger sister. It's my duty to look after you."
A younger sister.
The words felt… fragile.
"Now," she said firmly, "finish your breakfast. You need to restore your energy after that reckless training."
I nodded and continued eating.
After we finished, I helped her clean the house, Ordinary movements, Ordinary life.
But beneath it—
The Black Void pulsed quietly inside me.
The nightmares lingered.
And something darker still waited.
When the time came, I stepped outside and began walking toward the palace.
The sun was high now, The city alive.
When I arrived at the palace, the air already carried the warmth of late morning.
The training courtyard was alive with distant clashing steel and disciplined commands from other units. I walked toward our usual section and saw Kara waiting, wooden sword resting on her shoulder.
When she noticed me, she smiled.
"Good morning, Raven."
"Good morning."
My eyes scanned the yard instinctively.
The princess wasn't there.
"It seems Her Highness won't be attending today," I said calmly.
Kara shook her head. "The king summoned her earlier. Don't worry — she should be here any moment."
I nodded.
"Then let's begin until she arrives."
Kara raised her wooden sword immediately. "I'm ready."
We began.
Controlled strikes.
Measured counters.
Footwork drills.
Kara had improved — her balance more stable, her reactions sharper. Fifteen minutes passed quickly.
Then I heard hurried footsteps behind us.
"I'm truly sorry for being late!"
Princess Lyria approached, slightly out of breath, silver hair catching the sunlight.
"I had paperwork to finish."
"There's no need to apologize," I replied with a small smile. "We just started."
I glanced at Kara. "Twenty -minute break."
Kara dropped her arms dramatically. "Finally. I can't feel my arms anymore."
Lyria laughed softly. "Good. I was worried I delayed too much."
I turned to her.
"Your turn. Are you ready?"
She nodded, then stepped closer.
"But Raven… are you really alright? Won't too much movement worsen your injury?"
"I'm fine," I answered. "I've healed completely."
Her brows drew together.
"Completely? In only three days? I hope you're not lying to me."
She stepped even closer.
Before I could react, she gently brushed my hair away from my forehead to inspect the place where I had been injured.
I flinched.
It was subtle.
But I felt it.
My body almost stepped back on instinct.
I forced myself to stay still.
Her fingers were warm.
She stared at my skin in disbelief.
"It's gone… There's no scar. Not even a mark."
Her fingertip traced slowly over the place where the wound had once split open.
My heartbeat shifted — not faster.
Sharper.
"This is impossible," she whispered. Then she looked up at me. "What about the wound on your side? That one was deep."
"It healed as well."
She held my gaze, searching.
"You're not lying, are you? That wound should have taken far longer."
I lightly held the hem of my shirt and tilted my head slightly.
"Do you want me to show you?"
Her eyes widened instantly.
She stepped back, face flushing faintly as she looked down.
"What? No— I believe you."
I allowed a small smile.
"That's good. Shall we begin?"
She nodded quickly and lifted her wooden sword.
"I'll attack as before," I said. "You defend. Let's see how much you've improved."
I moved first, A diagonal strike, She blocked, Faster than before, A low sweep.
She anticipated it.
Her breathing was steadier now. Her stance more grounded.
We continued for twenty minutes.
When I finally lowered my sword, she was sweating — but still standing firm.
"You may rest," I said. "You've improved significantly. You can endure longer now. And you're beginning to predict my movements."
Her face brightened despite exhaustion.
"Thank you. That's because you're a good teacher."
I shook my head slightly.
"No. It's because you work hard and refuse to give up."
Hours passed.
Under the sun.
Under discipline.
Until finally, I stepped back.
"That's enough for today. You both did well. Tomorrow will be harder."
Kara handed me water and narrowed her eyes.
"Why don't you look tired? You've been training us for hours. I can barely move. Look at Lyria — she's exhausted."
"I'm fine," Lyria insisted softly, though her shoulders betrayed her.
I smiled faintly.
"I train daily. This is nothing."
I placed the wooden sword aside and secured my real blade at my waist.
"I'll take my leave."
Lyria looked at me.
"So soon? Why don't you come inside? We could have coffee… or tea."
For a moment—
I hesitated, The offer was simple. Innocent, Warm
"Thank you," I replied gently. "I'd like that. But I truly must go. Maybe Another time."
She smiled — but there was something restrained in it.
"Of course. You must be very busy. I won't bother you."
"You're not bothering me, but I need to take care of something ," I said softly. "Rest well. Tomorrow will be more demanding."
I turned to leave.
"See you tomorrow."
As I walked away across the courtyard, I could feel her gaze lingering on my back.
I didn't turn around.
Before returning to the orphanage, I stopped by the market.
The streets were crowded, loud, alive.
Vendors called out their prices. The scent of baked sugar and roasted nuts drifted through the air.
I stood in front of a sweets stall longer than I should have.
This is a peace offering, I told myself.
They've been asking me to play with them for weeks.
And I've always been "busy."
Busy killing monsters.
Busy getting injured.
Busy growing stronger.
Busy staying alive.
I bought more sweets than necessary.
If I couldn't give them time… at least I could give them something sweet.
When I reached the orphanage, I paused in front of the garden gate.
Children's laughter echoed through the yard.
For a moment, I just stood there.
Listening.
Memorizing the sound.
Then I slipped inside quietly, stepping lightly across the grass, hoping to reach the building unnoticed.
Maybe I could hide the sweets inside first—
"It's Raven!!"
Too late.
They saw me.
And like a coordinated ambush squad, they charged.
"Attack her!"
I blinked once.
Then, in a single swift movement—
I vanished.
Gasps filled the air as I reappeared high above them, perched on a thick tree branch.
They froze, stunned.
Then began spinning around wildly, searching.
I leaned casually against the trunk and called down,
"Hey. Why are you attacking me?"
They all looked up at once.
"You promised you'd play with us!" Emma shouted.
"And you disappeared for days!" Zane added.
"This isn't the first time!" another complained.
"You always promise!"
"You forget us!"
"You don't like us!"
"You don't stay here because you don't like us!"
The accusations overlapped until they became noise.
For a second—
I didn't know what to say.
Before I could respond, the door opened and Mother Mary stepped out.
"What is all this noise?"
She looked up.
Her brows rose.
"Raven. Why are you in a tree?"
"They attacked me," I replied calmly. "I had to retreat."
She looked down at the children. "Why did you attack her?"
Voices erupted again.
"She broke her promise!"
"She vanished!"
"She doesn't like us!"
That one again.
It hit deeper than it should have.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Ren and Lira watching from a distance, barely holding back their laughter.
Traitors.
I sighed quietly.
Then I jumped down from the tree, landing lightly in front of them.
"You know that's not true," I said
They quieted slightly.
"I had work. There were monsters trying to get close to this place." I met their eyes one by one. "If they reached here… they would try to hurt you. So I had to go and stop them."
Silence.
They looked unsure.
Trying to decide if I was telling the truth.
I raised the bag of sweets and gave a small smile.
"And as an apology… I brought you something."
The word sweets might as well have been magic.
Their eyes lit up instantly.
Mother Mary sighed. "Calm down. There's enough for everyone."
I crouched slightly to their level.
"So… will you forgive me?"
"Yes!" they shouted in unison.
Mother Mary crossed her arms. "No sweets until after dinner."
Collective despair.
Small, dramatic faces.
But none dared argue.
"Go back to playing," she instructed.
Before they could scatter, several small hands grabbed mine.
"You're not escaping this time!"
"You're playing with us!"
I gently pulled my hands free and ruffled their hair.
"Go play for now. I need to talk to Mother Mary. I'll join you."
Zane narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"You won't disappear again, right?"
Emma lifted her pinky finger.
"Pinky promise."
I smiled.
"Pinky promise."
We hooked fingers.
A sacred contract.
They finally ran off.
Ren and Lira approached immediately, grinning.
"That was entertaining," Ren said. "I almost died laughing."
I lightly smacked both their shoulders.
"Thank you for your help ."
They laughed harder.
Mother Mary looked at me knowingly. "What did you want to talk about?"
Before I could answer—
I felt it.
A gaze.
Watching.
Sharp.
Quiet.
I turned slightly.
Near one of the trees, half-hidden behind the trunk, stood Faye.
Four years old.
Small enough to be mistaken for a doll.
Black hair falling over her face.
Bright green eyes glowing under the sunlight.
She wasn't playing.
She wasn't smiling.
She was just watching me.
"Mother Mary," I said gently, "why is Faye hiding?"
Mother Mary called her name several times.
No response.
Faye stayed behind the tree.
Still watching.
I looked at Mother Mary. "Let's go inside. I'll make tea. We can talk there."
She nodded.
The four of us — Mother Mary, Ren, Lira, and I — walked toward the building.
As we entered—
I glanced back from the corner of my eye.
Faye had left the tree.
She was following us.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Like a shadow trying not to be seen.
We returned to the sitting room.
The afternoon light filtered softly through the windows, casting warm lines across the wooden floor.
I carried a tray — three cups of tea, one cup of coffee.
I placed them carefully on the table in front of Mother Mary, Ren, and Lira, then sat across from her.
I lifted my coffee, Took a slow sip.
Warm.
Strong.
Grounding.
I exhaled quietly.
This is refreshing.
Mother Mary studied me for a long moment before speaking.
"Are you truly alright, Raven? You said you were entering a dangerous dungeon… and then you didn't return home." Her hands tightened around her cup. "I was worried. Terrified, If your teacher hadn't sent word that you would stay with her for a few days, I would have thought something terrible had happened."
I smiled gently.
"I'm fine. Nothing happened. Look at me — not even a scratch." I shrugged lightly. "I had some matters to finish, that's why I didn't return back ."
She didn't look fully convinced.
"There are many dangerous things in this world," she said quietly. "No matter how strong you are, never underestimate them. Be careful. Please."
I nodded.
"I will."
From the corner of my eye, I saw her again.
Faye.
Half-hidden behind the doorframe.
Watching.
Silent.
I pretended not to notice.
Mother Mary placed her cup down. "So. What did you want to talk about?"
Without answering, I extended my hand. Two large bags appeared from the void in my grasp.
I set them on the table, The room fell quiet.
Mother Mary frowned slightly. "What is this?"
She lifted one bag and opened it. The color drained from her face She closed it immediately and set it down.
"Raven… where did you get all of this?"
Ren and Lira exchanged confused looks.
"What happened?" Ren asked.
Lira grabbed the second bag and opened it.
They froze.
"Raven," Ren breathed. "Where did you get this much money?"
Gold coins.
Stacked.
Packed.
Heavy.
I met Mother Mary's eyes calmly.
"This was my share of the job."
"What kind of job gives this much gold?" she demanded softly.
"I told you before," I said evenly. "My former team hired me to help close dungeons. This was my portion."
Lira blinked. "What kind of dungeon pays like this?"
"Two red-ranked," I answered. "One black."
They stared at me.
"There were rare weapons. High-grade mana stones. Even the monsters carried powerful energy cores. Everything sells for a high price."
Mother Mary shook her head slowly.
"I can't accept this. You risked your life for it. I won't take it so easily."
I smiled.
"What would I do with all of it alone? Don't worry. I kept enough for myself. I want you to have the rest." My voice softened. "You've given me more than I can ever repay. This is the least I can do."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, my child… you've grown so much." She reached across the table and placed her hand over mine. "You're thinking like someone responsible for a family."
"You are my family," I said simply. "This is my home. Taking care of you is my duty."
Ren scratched his head awkwardly. "So… what do we do with it?"
Lira's eyes sparkled. "Repairs! There are so many broken things here."
Mother Mary nodded slowly. "And every year we take in more children. This place is becoming too small… perhaps we should move somewhere larger."
Ren and Lira immediately lit up.
"That's perfect!"
"Yes! We really need more space!"
They were already planning out loud.
I raised my hand calmly.
"There's no need."
All three looked at me.
"What do you mean?" Mother Mary asked.
"I already thought about it," I replied. "I asked a friend to look for a suitable, larger property."
Their surprise deepened.
"Where will the money come from?" she asked.
"I've been saving for three years," I said. "Traveling. Working."
Silence.
Then—
Mother Mary looked at the gold again. "Then what should we do with this?"
They all fell into thought.
I spoke after a moment.
"Send the children to school."
They blinked.
"There are many here who are old enough," I continued. "They need education. They need to learn to control their abilities properly."
Mother Mary nodded slowly. "That's… a very good idea."
Lira frowned slightly. "But there aren't schools for commoners."
Ren added, "There are only two major academies in the city. Both for nobles and wealthy families."
I leaned back slightly.
"Don't worry about the money. What matters is their future."
They stared at me.
We discussed it for a while longer — logistics, possibilities, fears.
Eventually, I stood.
"I should go play with them before they attack me again."
I glanced toward the doorway.
Faye was still there.
Watching.
"Hey, Faye," I called gently. "Let's go play outside."
The moment I spoke directly to her—
She ran.
Quick, small footsteps retreating down the hall.
Ren frowned. "What's wrong with her? She's been acting strange."
Mother Mary sighed softly.
"She kept asking about you while you were gone."
I paused.
"About me?"
She nodded.
Was she watching me this whole time?
Why?
What does she want?
Faye is only four.
Small.
Quiet.
But her gaze…
It doesn't feel like a child's curiosity.
I pushed the thought aside.
For now.
I stepped outside into the garden where the other children were waiting.
They spotted me instantly I walked toward them .
Dinner that night felt… peaceful.
Unusually peaceful.
We all sat together at the long wooden table. The children were loud as always — laughing, arguing over portions, telling exaggerated stories about their "battle plans" from earlier.
The noise should have been exhausting.
But it wasn't.
I had cooked, so Ren and Lira insisted on cleaning.
I left them to it and quietly returned to my room.
I opened the window that overlooked the front garden. Cool night air slipped inside, carrying the scent of damp soil and distant flowers. The curtain fluttered gently.
I walked straight to my bed and lay down, placing my hands beneath my head.
I exhaled slowly.
"What a long day…" I murmured. "I'm really tired."
Morivane appeared beside the window, her form faint and elegant in the moonlight. She looked outside, toward the pale silver moon.
"Are you low on mana again?"
I shook my head.
"Mana is no longer a problem. I adjusted my absorption control. Once my mana drop to thirty percent, absorption activates automatically. You could say I remain near full capacity at all times."
She was silent for a moment.
"That is… efficient."
Then, after a pause:
"But why did you give them all that money? Didn't you work hard to earn it?"
I didn't look at her.
"When Captain Sam and Ayla asked me to join them for dungeon raids, I didn't agree for money." My voice was steady. "It was an opportunity. High-level monsters. Real combat. Growth."
I closed my eyes briefly.
"And what would I do with that much gold? I kept what I need. If I want more, there are countless ways I can earn it."
I turned my head slightly toward her.
"They need it more than I do."
Morivane studied me.
"And since when did you begin to care?" she asked quietly. "Didn't you say nothing in your life matters more than revenge? What changed?"
I sat up slowly on the edge of the bed.
My voice cooled.
"I haven't changed. Revenge is still my only goal."
The word only lingered.
"But after everything Mother Mary has done for me… I won't forget her kindness. I'm not the type to deny a debt. I refuse to owe anyone."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"But why are you interrogating me?"
She exhaled softly.
"I only want to ensure you haven't forgotten."
A faint smile touched my lips — but there was no warmth in it.
"The nightmares I see every night make forgetting impossible."
Silence fell.
Morivane's expression became unreadable.
Then she faded back into me.
A knock sounded twice at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly. Lira peeked inside first, smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry if we disturbed you. Were you about to sleep?"
I shook my head.
"You're not disturbing me. It's still early. I was thinking of stepping outside for a bit. Did you need something?"
Ren stepped forward with a smirk.
"That's perfect. We came to challenge you to a friendly duel."
I raised an eyebrow.
"A duel? With me?"
He nodded eagerly. "Yes. With you."
Lira smacked him lightly on the head.
"What he means," she corrected, "is that we want you to test us. See how much we've improved."
Ren rubbed his head. "Yes. That."
A faint smile curved my lips.
"I don't mind. I was curious myself."
We stepped out into the hallway and headed toward the garden door.
Mother Mary called after us, "Where are you three going?"
Ren answered excitedly, "Outside! Raven's going to test our strength!"
The moment the children heard that, they swarmed us.
"Can we watch?!"
"We promise we'll behave!"
Mother Mary sighed deeply.
"Fine. But if you misbehave, you go straight to bed."
They ran outside cheering.
The night air was cool. The moon hung high above us, bathing the garden in silver light.
I stood at the center of the yard.
Ren and Lira stood before me.
I picked up a wooden sword.
"First, Lira. Attack me with full strength."
She nodded and charged.
Her movements were stronger than before.
Her strikes carried weight.
I deflected easily — but I felt the improvement.
Then Ren's turn.
Faster.
More fluid.
Less hesitation.
After a while, I lowered my sword.
"You've both improved significantly," I said. "Ren, your speed and footwork are smoother. Lira, your strength has increased — I can feel the force behind your strikes."
Their faces lit up instantly.
"But," I continued calmly, "this doesn't mean you stop. There's still much room to grow."
They nodded seriously.
"We won't stop," Ren said firmly. "But this time… train us harder."
"Don't hold back," Lira added.
I looked at them for a long moment.
"Very well. I won't teach you techniques. I will simply attack at full force. Defend yourselves. Endure. If you manage to strike me — that will be your achievement."
They both grinned and raised their swords.
We began again.
This time, I didn't soften my movements.
I pushed them.
Pressed their defenses.
Forced them to react faster.
Adapt.
Think.
The children watched silently — unusually quiet — as wood clashed against wood under moonlight.
Hours passed.
Until—
Ren collapsed first.
Lira followed shortly after, barely able to stand.
We returned inside, exhausted.
They went straight to their rooms without protest.
I returned to mine, I lay down again, Physically tired, But sleep didn't come, The house was quiet, The children asleep , The moon high, Yet my mind refused to rest.
Every time I closed my eyes , Nightmares, endless dreams, A voice calling my name.
I turned toward the open window, The cool air brushed against my skin.
I don't know what time it was when I finally fell asleep.
But like every night—
Sleep did not last.
The nightmare tore me awake.
I couldn't breathe.
My lungs burned as if smoke had filled them. My heart pounded violently against my ribs — too fast, too hard — like it was trying to escape my chest.
I pressed my hand over it, gripping tightly.
Stop.
Slow down.
It felt as though it might explode. I forced myself to inhale through my nose.
Exhale slowly.
Again.
Again.
It took several minutes before my breathing steadied.
Before the shaking eased.
Before the images faded.
Crying .
Screams.
I looked down.
My shirt was soaked with sweat.
I stood up quietly and changed into a clean one, then went to the washroom to rinse the cold sweat from my skin. The water helped.
It always helped.
Cold.
Sharp.
Real.
Unlike dreams.
I had just finished when Mother Mary approached me in the hallway. Her expression was uneasy.
"Raven," she said softly, "there is a strange man at the front gate. He asked to see you."
A strange man.
I already knew.
I smiled gently. "Thank you. I'll go now."
Before I could walk away, she caught my wrist.
Her grip was firmer than usual.
"Be careful," she whispered. "There is… something wrong about him. I can feel an evil presence."
I nodded.
"I'll be careful."
I stepped outside the orphanage.
The morning air was still cool. Mist lingered faintly over the garden.
And before I even saw him—
I felt him.
That mana.
Refined.
Heavy.
Corrupted at its core.
I walked toward the gate.
He stood there calmly, dressed immaculately, posture elegant.
Before I could see his face clearly—
I already knew.
When I stepped close enough, he turned toward me with a pleasant smile.
"Good morning," he said smoothly. "Forgive me for disturbing you so early. I was hoping you might spare me a little of your time to talk."
I looked at him without emotion.
"It's not as if I have the option to refuse, do I?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"Isn't that right… Supreme Mage Seraphiel Valenne?"
He looked at me in silence for a long moment.
That smile remained on his lips.
Perfect.
Polite.
False.