Five years had passed in a blur, and not a single day had been mundane since the start of her growth.
Fascination had overcome her the moment she discovered "Arcana", this world's strange phenomenon — and the thrill of what she might learn had fostered a deep love for everything around her.
Each day felt like a new adventure.
"What's this, Marri?" Kara asked, eagerly tugging at the woman in black beside her.
"That's a Volcian fruit. The one you ate the other day, remember?"
"The one that exploded?"
Marri's first attempt at opening it ended in a massive splash of juice across both their faces. Slice it down the middle, and the seed inside blows up — even a small cut triggers it. The right way is to cross-cut from the top and peel skin and flesh together, just like Kara's father had done back then while the two of them hid behind him.
'That moment will forever be engraved in my memory.' Kara smiled blankly.
Marri paused, lips parted, cheeks flushing pink. "T-That's right. I'll never look at that abomination the same again. It was such a mess, wasn't it?"
"What's that?"
"Oh! That flower looks pretty, right?"
Marri pointed randomly in her fluster, and Kara turned to look. She thought she heard a soft whisper, but didn't bother asking. Instead, her eyes fixed on the rows of petals in front of her — she'd seen many flowers in her previous life, but none like this.
She moved closer, noticing most petals were closed. 'Strange. I thought the same group would bloom together?'
Tall like a sunflower, its petals were deep violet, almost black — curling inward like a closed fist. A single, luminous silver pistil rose from the center; its faint glow had caught her eye first.
"What's it called?"
"What is? Oh. That's an Icstern." Marri answered, still distracted.
Kara glanced at her.. formal white uniform, long black skirt, apron wrapped around her waist. Her mother's personal attendant was usually so composed, but impossibly cute when Kara found a way to fluster her.
Today, she was just here to tag along on a stroll through their newly renovated garden, and whenever Kara spotted something curious, Marri answered right away.
"These are particularly interesting."
"Wha?!" Kara jumped back as an older man stepped out of the bushes.
She'd seen no one else while they walked, had he been hiding there this whole time? He wore gloves, and in his hand was a tool bigger than his arms.
He smiled at his work, setting the tool down. "They react to a single touch."
His gentle finger tapped the closed petals, like knocking on a door. Slowly, the flower bloomed as if waking from slumber.
"You've worked so hard placing them all by hand. Thank you again for such amazing work." Marri placed a hand on her chest and bowed gracefully.
The man shook his head. "No, no. I love what I do. Even with a garden this big, every moment is a joy." He plucked an Icstern and held it out to Kara. "Here, young miss. One for you, and you can give the other to your mother as a gift."
Kara took it nervously, nodding slowly. "T-Thank you, mister..." She bowed her head, just like she'd been taught.
'This was how you showed respect to the elderly, right? Mama and Papa had said so.'
"Say, child. I rarely see you go outside. Why don't you visit the town and play with other children?"
"Uhh... that's because..." Kara's pulse raced, eyes darting away. Her mind went blank. 'Was it because I don't like going out? That's too suspicious! All kids play outside, right? Stupid brain — how do I answer without raising flags?'
"Is everything okay?" The man's face twisted with confusion at her discomfort.
"N-Nothing's wrong." Her eyes widened under the pressure, cold sweat dripping down her forehead. "T-The sun is so hot! I should go inside — feel free to drink from the fountain, mister!" She blurted out the words, holding up the two flowers. "And thank you so much!"
She waved farewell and dashed off.
"Young miss, careful — you might fal—"
THUD!
"...A step too late." Marri pressed a hand to her face in dismay.
Kara stood up slowly, ignoring the pain, dusted herself off, and hurried home.
The old man chuckled. "Ho ho! I think I scared her. Sir Davel's daughter is so expressive, just like him when he was young. I remember those days like yesterday."
Marri smiled politely. "Please don't mind her. She's never been good with strangers, I was the same on my first day."
"Is that so? She's more withdrawn than he was, it seems. But they share that same quirk, you can never tell what's going on in their heads."
They watched as the girl disappeared into the house.
.
.
.
Kara mentally screamed. 'Ahwaa..! Me and my stupid mouth.. Can't i just hold a simple conversation normally? That was really rude..'
She winced, replaying the awkward encounter in her mind. A flush crept up her neck, and she quickened her pace, desperate to escape the lingering embarrassment.
"Maybe it wasn't that bad? Uhh..." She whimper, hanging her head low.
Reaching her room, she slammed the door shut, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet house.
She leaned against the door with a sighed. "...Oh, thats right."
'Since I'm inside now.. I can go back watching the series of last year's Grand Tournament on my slate,' she thought, a flicker of excitement momentarily eclipsing her.
"I'm definitely binge-watch those episodes." Pushing away from the door, she trudged towards her bed.
"Seriously, what's with Mom suddenly telling me to go for a walk when I'm in the middle of a movie marathon? And it was just getting good!" She was about to grab her slate from the nightstand, but then paused as a realization flickered in her mind. "Gah! That would have been the perfect excuse to say earlier!"
Kara covered her face from the frustration and embarrassment. Out of all the timing, the idea just appears on her head when the moment passed.
"If possible.. i wished people just couldn't talked. And i don't have this kind of dilemma.." She mattered to herself, letting out a sighed apon her own words.
'Its ridiculous, really. Imagine the chaos if that happens.' Turning her head to the side, her eyes land on the Icstern flower laying beside the bed.
"Oh.. right, i was supposed to give the other one to her." She remembered, moving on to do so.
.
.
.
.
.
Kara asked around the house, which was plenty big but not enough to get lost in. There were enough spaces for necessary things, like a bedroom, living room, and a kitchen, a small office for her father, and the remaining others belong to the helpers in the house.
Finally, she found her mother in her father's study, tending to a vase of flowers while talking to him.
Her thumb brushed the flower's frost-edged petals, their scent veins faintly reaching her nose. 'Just hand it over, say "This reminded me of you," and leave. Three seconds. You can do tha—'
"Do you think Kara's behavior seems a bit.. unusual to you?" Glory asked, her voice low in concern.
The brunette froze, her hand still on the doorframe. Suddenly aware that she might be the topic of their conversation.
The woman watched her husband, meticulously documenting something at his desk, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Davel paused, his pen hovering over the paper. "That came out nowhere?"
Glory hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "It's hard to put my finger on it, but she seems... too mature for her age. She's always been quiet and well-behaved, of course, but... It's almost unsettlingly so."
"Is that really the case?" Davel is confused. He noticed it too, but was it really that strange for a child to be mature?
It's not, there are other children who are like that. But it was due to circumstance that they developed faster than normal.
Kara grow up in a decent house, almost luxurious even. They are never too strict with her, nor neglectful of her needs.
Was it how they raised her? Or maybe the problem was them?
Glory's voice grow more uncertain, "She never fusses over small stuff, never really acts like a typical child. She didn't even cry when she bumped her head against the window, and Kara that time was still a baby no less.."
Davel chuckled, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "That's our little sprout. She's always been a bit different. I remember i'm a headache at her age.." He ruffled his hair, a gesture that spoke of fond memories and perhaps a touch of self-humor.
Glory's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "That's precisely the point, Davel. Logically, children are supposed to be a challenge, a constant source of energy and... well, trouble. Kara... she's not."
Davel close his hands together, taking a deep breath. "I believe you, Glory. But are you sure you're not reading too much into this? Kara is our daughter, you know her too well."
She tapped a finger against the desk, a nervous habit. "I'm just worried. I hope she doesn't kept herself from us in the future.."
Silence settled between them, thick with unspoken words.
The only sound was the gentle scratching of Davel's pen as he resumed his work, his brow still furrowed in concentration. In the corner of the room, a small, framed photo of a laughing, silver-eyed girl sat on a shelf.
While the silent observer lean against the wall, too afraid to move. Cold sweats flow the brunette face as she felt the weight of their conversation.
Her whole body tensed, as if turning into stone and rooting her to the spot. Shock and a rising tide of anxiety choked her into muttering a single breath.
She cover her mouth, seeing through the crack on the door. At that moment, Kara feels an unbearable fear stirring inside her, making her body tremble at the thought of their heads turning her way.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
Davel, engrossed in his work, barely glanced up. "What's wrong?"
Glory frowned, stepping towards the ornate wooden door. "I could have sworn I heard someone pass by." She pulled it open, peering into the quiet hallway.
No one was there.
Instead, the corridor bathed in the soft light of the afternoon sun filtering through the stained-glass window. As she was about to close it, her foot brushed against something cool and delicate on the floor.
It was an Icstern flower.
Glory knelt, picking it up with a soft gasp. "Oh my... looks like we have a secret admirer."
Davel, a mischievous glint in his silver eyes, leaned back in his chair. "Is it for me?"
Glory turned, the delicate blossom held aloft. "Depends, Davel, do you even know what to do with an Icstern flower?"
Davel's grin softened into a sheepish smile, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Alright, alright. So, who do you think left it?"
"The house staff, perhaps?" Glory mused, walking towards the small table by the window. "But they always deliver things personally. It's not like them to just leave it on the floor."
The man brushed his chin, "And it's certainly not old man from the gardens, he'd need a full escort just to get up the stairs, let alone sneak a flower here."
"It has to be Kara," Glory decided, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "Who else would be so delightfully sneaky? She always manages to vanish into thin air during our event gatherings."
She picked up a small pair of silver shears from the table, expertly snipping the Icstern's stem to fit perfectly into the crystal vase, already holding a cluster of delicate baby blue blossoms.
Davel's eyes now fully engaged, brightened. "It's beautiful. Old man truly works wonders with his Arcana, keeping them so vibrant."
Glory miles, her gaze fixed on the arrangement. "He certainly does have taste for finding the most unique blooms. Do you know what an Icstern flower symbolizes?"
Davel's eyebrows rose, his curiosity piqued. "Now you've intrigued me.."
"It means.. Awakening."
.
.
.
Later that same time, a frantic footsteps echoed through the hallway, a staccato rhythm against the quiet of the house. Kara's every breath was release in her throat, sweat prickling her skin.
She raced, her small legs pumping, barely registering the presence of the young boy who called out, as she flew past.
"Young Miss..?"
Bursting through the back door, and greeting the fresh air. A constant stepping down what feel like an endless stairs.
A minutes passed, arriving at her destination.
Kara stumbled onto the grass, collapsing onto the soft earth. Gasping for breath, sweat rain down her face, the weight of her parents' conversation pressing down on her.
She'd been planning to seek them out, but the topic had sent her fleeing.
'This is bad! They become suspicious of me now!' The thought clawed at her, a frantic spiral of fear. 'I've been too comfortable, and totally forgot such simple thing! Now they're starting to question everything.'
The brunette her eyes narrowed solemnly, the image of her parents' worried faces seared into her mind.
She almost run away then in there, causing a scene and making everything worse.
'I need to fix this. I have to ease their doubts. I can't let them find out the truth...' Her thoughts race for possible excuses that she could come up with, no matter how bizarre.
"Ghaa..! This is a nightmare!" Kara kick both of her legs around, not knowing what to do.
'They'll throw me out! I have to live on the streets! I'll starve to death!' The worst-case scenario played on her mind, a terrifying movie reel of rejection and abandonment. The cold street, pain of hunger, and cruel people that can take advantage of her lone nature.
Her brain stop working as she started panicking.
'They might even blame me for... replacing their daughter...'
The last thought struck her with the force of a mountain ice water. Her mind went blank as the possible scenario for herself doesn't matter anymore.
It was that realisation the shook her to the core.
The years she'd spent in this body, the life she'd built, felt suddenly fragile, precarious. The ground beneath her felt unsteady, threatening to give way beneath her.
A wave of nausea washed over her, and tears welled in her eyes.
'Did I...? Did I really replace her?'
The question, once a distant possibility, now roared in her mind.
One unshakeable truth remained.
This life wasn't supposed to be hers.
"Young Miss?"
The sound startled the brunette, jolting her from her spiraling thoughts. She saw a grey-haired boy, walking toward her. His expression was one of concern, his gait unhurried yet purposeful.
Kara recognize him immediately, his tone of voice, specially the same familiar set of uniform he wore everyday.
"Lirwen," She whispered, quickly wiping her eyes. "Why are you here?"
"I saw you were running earlier, and followed you here." He said softly, his voice a gentle counterpoint to her frantic heart.
The grey-haired boy smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck, a nervous gesture that made him seem even younger than her.
Kara looked away, hastily rubbing her eyes out. "Y-You could've just called me."
"I did, but it seems like you didn't hear me... Wait, why are you crying?"
The brunette hesitated, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
"I-Im not! My nose is just.. runny! See?" She tried for a casual tone. Pointing at her reddened nose, but the stain of tears betrayed her.
Lirwen approached, kneeling beside her, his expression thoughtful. "You're totally crying! Are you in pain?" He reached out a hand, then paused, as if remembering something. "Don't rub your eyes like that, it'll harm your skin."
"Woah–hands off! I said I'm alright," Kara insisted, her voice a bit too sharp. She quickly wiped at her eyes again, wincing when she felt how puffy they were. "I'm fine. Just... allergies."
A sudden shiver ran down her spine, and then–
"Achoo!"
Lirwen blinked, then a small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. "Allergies, huh? I didn't bring a napkin for you — sorry." He started to turn, like he was going to run get one, but Kara reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"It's okay," she said, a little breathlessly. The contact made her pull back quickly. "Really. I just... needed some air."
They sat in silence for a beat, the sun warming their faces, maple leaves rustling above them like soft whispers. Lirwen's uniform was crisp — collar straight, no wrinkles, even after running after her. Of course it was.
"You're really well-kept," she said, more to fill the quiet than anything.
His cheeks pinked. "Everyone says that. I just... don't like mess. Makes me feel twitchy." He settled down beside her, crossing his legs neatly in the grass, not a single blade stuck to his pants.
Kara stared out at the field, grateful for the calm weight of his presence. It had only been a month since he'd joined the house staff as her helper. Assigned to keep up with her studying and chores, though most days he just tagged along wherever she went. They'd clicked right away, him being so easy to be around, so calm.
But still... every request she made, he did without a second thought.
Never asked for anything back. She'd tried to get him to pick what they did once, go to the stream or the garden, and he'd just smiled and said "whatever you want, Miss Kara."
'Compared to me... maybe he's an odd one too,' she thought, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. He was watching a butterfly dance over the grass, his expression soft and peaceful.
Time passed, his presence making it hard to focus..
'Why isn't he bored yet? It's been at least ten minutes.'
She glanced at him — calm, patient, like a little lamb waiting for... well, whatever she wanted. A silly thought popped into her head, unbidden.
Without thinking, she held out her hand, wiggling her fingers. "Paw."
Lirwen stared at her hand, then at her face, his eyes going wide with confusion. "Paw?"
"Yeah, like a puppy," she said, trying to keep a straight face but already feeling a tiny smile tug at her lips. "C'mon, give me your paw."
He blinked a few times, then slowly, carefully placed his hand in hers — palm up, like he was offering it rather than "giving a paw." His hand was small and warm, and when his fingers curled slightly around hers, it made her chest feel soft.
Kara burst out laughing — quiet, breathy laughter that cut through the tension in her shoulders. "That's not a paw! You're supposed to put it on top, like this."
She flipped his hand over gently, patting it once. "There. Good puppy."
Lirwen's cheeks turned pink, but he was grinning too. "I don't think puppies shake hands like this, Miss Kara."
"Sure they do," she said, pulling her hand back with a grin.
"Is there anything you'd like to do?" He asked innocently.
"No, i think that's enough.. I want to ask you something else instead."
"What is it?"
"..What do you think about an outsider possessing someone else's body?"
Lirwen tilted his head, confusion painting his face. "Like... a ghost in mythology?"
Kara didn't answer immediately, her thoughts hesitating. "No... well, kind of close," she said, crossing her arms. "How about I tell you a short story then?"
Lirwen's eyes lit up, both curious and surprised. He leaned forward, his attention completely captivated.
"Once upon a time," Kara begins, trying her best to keep her voice from wavering, "There was a girl who didn't know who she was. Lost and alone, she drifted through life like a ghost, each day a hollow echo. She wished desperately for escape, for a different choice, a chance to find herself."
"Then, as when she awoke, the girl found herself in a new world, living in another's body. She found a family, a life that was both beautiful and precious..."
"But one that felt borrowed, a constant memory of the emptiness she'd left behind. The happiness she felt, the love she received, it all felt like a fragile gift, one she feared she didn't deserve. The joy was a borrowed sunlight, warming her but never truly hers."
"Could she ever truly claim this life? Or would this girl remain a stranger in the fragile happiness she'd found?" Kara finished, her eyes wondering the distance.
She looked at Lirwen, her heart pounding nervously, unsure of his reaction.
The grey-haired was silent for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Then, a slow smile spread across his lips. "That's.. amazing, you know." he breathed, "Reminds me of those old fairytale books Grandma likes to read. The lost princess, the secret identity, the whole borrowed life.. Where did you read that story?"
Kara subtly scratch her cheek, "I just come up with it.."
Lirwen's eyes widen, "Wow, that's even more amazing! You're really talented miss!"
"I wouldn't go that far.."
The brunette blinked, surprised by his response. She hadn't expected a praise, especially not framed as a fictional story.
"You... you liked it?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Of course!" Lirwen grinned. "You're a really good storyteller, Miss Kara. You made me feel it, you know? The fear, the uncertainty of the girl... even the borrowed sunlight bit was pretty poetic."
He paused, his posture shifting subtly. "But there was something there, though I can't explain it much. It made me wonder... how much of that story is true? Because, honestly, it felt awfully close to something... real?"
Kara's smile faded slightly. The question, though gently phrased, hit its mark. She fiddled with a blade of grass, avoiding his gaze.
"Well..." She began, her voice barely a breath, "..story books are mostly made-up, aren't they? Even the best ones. You take a little bit of inspiration, mix it with some imagination, and... you get something more."
"So, a bit of artistic talent?" Lirwen chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "But isn't that just a kind of lie? A carefully made up words, designed to make people believe something that isn't quite true? And isn't that what your story was about? Living a lie, pretending to be someone you're not?"
Kara considered this, chewing on her lip. "I suppose it is," she admitted.
Lirwen nodded slowly. "My Grampa would say things like, lying's a necessary acted. There are little white lies, the ones you tell to be polite, or to avoid hurting feelings. Then there are the big, ugly ones, the ones meant to cause pain, whether you intend to or not. And then... there are the ones meant to protect. Because sometimes the truth isn't an angel. "
"Like in your story. The girl needed to protect herself, to protect the life she had found. But what happens when the lie becomes too big to manage?" He paused, looking back in curiosity.
"That's what I'm wondering, Young miss. What happens when the lie reached the line?"
Kara's stomach dropped, the grey-haired boy's words were an unexpected depth. She stared, a cold dread settling at her back.
'Is this kid really eight years old..?' Lirwen's understanding, wasn't normal. Impossible for someone so young...
His gasp of such complexity made the brunette almost fear the boy infront of her.
'Its weird.. don't tell me he's..' She become weary, but quickly shake off the idea. 'There's no way he's a reincarnation too.. if he is, i should have noticed..'
There should be a sign, an accidental slip up of his true mother-tongue, old habits that is foreign in this world.
Or he's just too good at hiding it.
'Still.. what he said just now.. feels like a punch to the gut..'
Kara's eyes turn solemn at the thought, her grip at the grass tightening as she pluck them out. Her mind were in motion, and the pung of anxiety entered. As if piercing the guilt inside her.
'Now that it's fresh in my mind.. I don't think i could look at them in the eyes anymore..'
The image of her parents' faces, etched with worry and disappointment, flashed in her thoughts. Such expression, left her terrified, like walking on edge.
'Why... Why was i able to be reborn again? I don't even know the real reason of this reincarnation, was this life even mine?'
Kara clutch her chest, the heartbeats was like a drum ringing into her ears. She took a deep breath, everything around her feels suddenly afloat.
"Hey? Young miss, are you okay?"
"...I don't know... it feels hot all of sudden.." She rest a hand on her forehead, the other reached out at the boy's sleeve, tugging it. "I think you should call mama... i don't feel so good.."
Lewren nodded, "I'm on it. Please stay still, Young miss." He stood up and run back at the house.
The only thing that the brunette remembered after falling unconscious was the the grey-haired boy's echoed steps after departing.