Why is it dark again?
I finally got out of there...
I feel dizzy. I can't see. I can't move.
What's going on? I don't even feel my body.
Oh—right. Didn't I die?
Didn't Sunflower tear my throat apart?
I hear whispers. Someone's speaking...
It sounds like Sunflower.
I don't recognize the other voice—probably the one who ordered my execution.
Still, I clearly remember dying. So how am I alive?
The whispers grow louder—
And then I hear that old man, Dawn, speaking about the witch.
Something stirred inside me as he told that story.
Something... ancient. Hungry.
It started taking control of my body.
I resisted. God, I tried.
But the force grew stronger—
And I gave in.
THUD!
It slammed my head into the darkness.
OW!
The pain was real. It could hurt me.
I tried to fight back—
But it was too late.
It had full control.
THUD!
It kept hitting the darkness. Over and over.
We started to fall.
But it didn't care.
Blood poured from my forehead. The pain was unbearable.
Then... everything went black.
I slowly opened my eyes.
To my surprise, I was greeted by sunlight.
I didn't know where I was, but the trees around me—massive, towering—they looked like the ones near Tresia.
Now what?
Do I go back?
No. They'll kill me on sight.
I didn't hear the full conversation, but I pieced together enough:
I'm mentally unstable.
I'm cursed.
I'm destined to destroy and burn the village.
I stood up from the grass—
My heart raced.
Sweat dripped from my brow.
The world spun.
In just a few steps, I collapsed.
"Burn the village."
The voice echoed in my head.
My thoughts twisted.
Anger toward Tresia swelled within me.
I tried to resist...
But I couldn't even move.
"Burn the village."
"Burn the village!"
Lost in the forest.
Starving.
The throbbing in my skull never stopped.
I couldn't sleep—couldn't rest.
The voice embedded itself into my mind, like a nail driven deep.
Something inside cracked.
First a faint smile...
Then a wide, terrifying grin.
I began to laugh.
Loudly.
Hysterically.
Twisting my body, laughing in every direction.
My belly ached—
But I couldn't stop.
"Burn the village!"
This time, it wasn't the voice.
I screamed it.
Completely overtaken.
Completely corrupted.
I stood up.
The pain in my neck was gone.
I remembered Sunflower's precise, ruthless strike—
My throat slashed in a single motion.
I touched my neck.
A faint, healed line.
My hands and legs pulsed with strength.
I felt... unstoppable.
Calm.
And utterly unhinged.
Darkness fell.
I searched for firewood and found a sturdy stick.
As I thought about lighting it—
FWOOSH.
The stick erupted into flame in my hands.
To a normal person, it would've been horrifying.
To me?
It was a gift.
I smiled and stepped into the night.
Heading toward Tresia.
How did I know I was going the right way?
Call it a feeling.
Outside the Forest...
Twenty-one men in black hoods approached the dense tree line.
The commander stood in front, issuing quiet orders.
"Commander! Over here!" one of the scouts shouted.
The commander turned and rushed toward him.
As he drew near, he understood the horror on the man's face.
A flock of chickens pecked hungrily at a pair of corpses.
Some tore at the faces—others gnawed at the legs and chest.
The bodies were torn, half the skin missing.
But even in that state...
Anyone who had worked with them for years would know—
Henry and Rose were dead.
...
"Wake up already! How long are you gonna sleep?"
A man's voice rang out, followed by a heavy thud against the door.
Another voice, gentler this time, called from outside.
"Oh dear, stop it. You know how hard her duties have been these past months. She barely gets any sleep."
"I know that! That's why I told her a thousand times to quit. Gosh darn it, I barely see her—and I leave for work in an hour!" the man snapped.
"You expect her to quit protecting the whole village? This is an honor—for her and for us."
As the couple argued, the door slid open—
And out stepped Sunflower.
"Finally," her father huffed, already making his way to the table. He signaled for her to join.
"Just bear with your father's persistence," said her mother, a short woman with blonde hair and matching green eyes. Mary.
"He's only here for an hour. After that, I'll make sure no one disturbs you."
"Disturb her? Family time is important," her father, Fred, shot back. His black hair was speckled with grey, eyes a stormy silver, face lined with age but still full of energy.
Sunflower shuffled down the hallway, half-asleep. She almost tripped, but managed to stay upright and sit at the table.
For two months now, she'd been assigned night duty.
Ever since Lance vanished, Chief Dawn had ordered her on high alert. She had no time for her father—not even a proper meal together.
Fred tried to keep the mood light.
"So... how's work? Got any spicy news for a couple of boring old folks? We promise we won't tell a soul."
He leaned in, lowering his voice dramatically.
Mary smirked and brought the stove pot to the table, brushing Fred's shoulder with its hot base.
"Ow!" Fred yelped.
"That's what you get," Mary scolded.
"You know she can't talk about village matters. Those aren't just secrets—they're punishable by jail time. For all of us."
"It's not like I'd spread it around. I just want to make sure she's not in danger."
Sunflower finally spoke, her voice low and calm.
"It doesn't matter if you tell or not. The officials have ways of finding out. You two have been checked about fifty times already. The fact that we're having breakfast together means you're safe."
Silence.
Mary and Fred exchanged wide-eyed glances, uneasy now.
They didn't ask how it was done.
They didn't want to know.
Mary broke the silence.
"How long is this routine going to continue?"
"Weeks. Months. Maybe even years," Sunflower answered without emotion.
Fred tried again, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"But if you became chief... you wouldn't need to stay up all night, right?"
Sunflower's gaze sharpened.
"No. That would be worse. Chiefs can't stay with their families. It's tradition. To ensure full dedication to the village, every chief lives apart. And I have no intention of changing that."
She looked them both in the eyes.
"But... you'll still visit?" Mary asked, concern in her voice.
"Of course. Once a month."
"Once a month!?" Fred exploded.
"No way, Sunflower. I'm not allowing this."
"Fred—" Mary tried to intervene, unsure if she agreed.
Fred stood, voice raised again.
"This isn't a debate. As the head of this household—your father—I demand you quit that job. Come work with me. You've got raw strength—hell, they'd pay you double! You'd be safe. We'd be together."
Mary stayed silent, her heart torn.
Sunflower lowered her head, eyes hidden.
Then she stood.
"I know this is a lot... so I'll give you time."
Before Fred could say another word, she rushed out the door.
Mary wrapped her arms around her husband.
"It's okay," she whispered.
Fred held his forehead, trembling as a tear fell.
"Is it so hard... just to ask for time with my daughter?"
Outside Chief Dawn's Office
Sunflower stood, dazed from exhaustion.
She knocked.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?" came a voice from inside.
"Sunflower."
She didn't wait—just opened the door.
Inside, Chief Dawn sat at her desk... with a guest.
"Sunflower! You should be resting. But since you're here—let me introduce you to one of the best mages on the continent."
The guest stood up. A tall woman clad in black and gold robes.
Bright red hair flowed behind her like fire.
She turned, revealing pale skin, sharp golden eyes, and a bluish necklace etched with mysterious symbols.
Sunflower didn't hesitate. She stepped forward and extended her hand.
"Sunflower."
The mage gave a mysterious smile and met her hand with a firm grip.
"Reality. Pleasure to finally meet you... Golden Assassin."