The midday breeze blew gently over the lonely balcony of the palace. It swayed the shoulder-length white hair of a little girl about eleven years old.
The girl sat still, in silence. Her small body was wrapped in a laced gown that seemed to blend with her pale skin.
A pair of rabbit ears rose from her head as a sign that she belonged to the rabbitman race. Unfortunately, her ears always drooped down, never upright like the rabbitman children in general.
Although her face was very sweet, not a trace of a smile ever appeared on her lips. Only silence was clearly reflected in her violet eyes as she stared blankly at the vast blue sky.
"Where are you actually?" she muttered, more to herself.
Her hand clutched tightly the silver necklace with a crescent moon pendant hanging around her neck. A necklace identical to the one that had witnessed her tragic past life.
Memories of that past life filled her. Of herself cooking cheerfully. Of the lights illuminating the entire city. Of the noisy sounds of armored vehicles passing by.
And then, there was the memory of the man she loved deeply. The one who always shared laughter with her, who sacrificed himself to protect her before she was finally reborn as the youngest daughter of a king of the rabbitman race.
The only thing too vague for her was the name. Be it her own name, the name of the man she loved, or even the place she once lived, all of it had vanished without a trace.
"I do not remember your name clearly, but... I miss you so much. I know everything about you. When can we meet again?"
Silence once again ruled the empty balcony. The only sound was the soft rustling of the wind, carrying with it the fragrance of blooming flowers.
The silence enveloping her was broken by the whispers of the maids from the next room, caught by her sensitive rabbit ears.
"Hey, don't you think Princess Elysia is strange? To me... she is too quiet."
"Yes, you are right, newcomer. Lady Elysia is not like other children, she never smiles, never plays. Everyone has already given up persuading her. She is... I do not even know what to call her."
"You are right, Aina. Actually... I feel a little pity for her."
"Huh~ everyone feels the same, Velna. I also wish I could see our little Lady smile, at least once."
Elysia lowered her head. She knew of everyone's concern, yet she chose not to respond.
She was no longer the cheerful girl full of smiles as in her past life. She could no longer pretend to smile. Deep inside her heart... there was only emptiness and an unending longing.
Elysia bit her lip, nearly drawing blood. "I also want to smile... like before."
The heat grew more scorching. The sun was almost at its peak.
As she was about to return to the shade of her room, a knock came from behind the door.
"Ely, are you inside? May I come in?"
Elysia opened the door.
A woman in her mid-thirties stood before her. Her hair, her eye color, even her ears were the exact same as Elysia's. A gentle smile curved on her lips.
Elysia tried hard to smile at her. "What is it, Mother?"
"You need not force yourself to smile." Her voice was full of understanding, soothing the heart of anyone who heard it. "I only came to invite you to lunch together, for your father has something he wishes to tell you."
"Is it about a new tutor?"
Her mother chuckled softly. She stroked her daughter's head with tenderness. "No, dear. You already completed all the royal lessons last year. We have a bigger plan for you."
Elysia tilted her head.
As one who had reincarnated, she possessed the mind of an educated adult. She mastered writing and language by the age of three. Court etiquette was finished two years later. Every new lesson was completed swiftly.
"Very well, I understand."
Her mother extended her hand. "Come, I will take you. It has been a while since we last held hands, has it not?"
Elysia did not smile, yet she accepted her mother's hand. For some reason, a natural respect was deeply rooted toward the one who had given her birth.
The two of them walked away from the silent room. Their footsteps echoed across the palace corridor, carpeted in red silk embroidered with golden threads. The maids who saw them immediately bowed, some with faint smiles.
A white-painted door stood before them. One of the maids quickly turned the jewel-inlaid knob, opening the door that led directly into the family dining room.
At the end of the table, an old rabbitman with green hair awaited with a gentle smile. His red eyes appeared calm, as if holding countless undeniable experiences.
On either side, the eleven siblings with their various distinct features. All of them waiting for the arrival of their youngest sister.
"Sit down, Ely. It is good to see you at the dining table."
"Ah, yes, Irine."
Ely pulled a chair, sitting right beside her twin sister with golden hair. Her ears stood proudly upright, never drooping. Her warm smile, like a sunflower, always adorned her face.
Though they were twins, they were like night and day.
For the rabbitman race, having many children was natural. They could give birth many times throughout their lives. Two or three children would usually be born in a single pregnancy.
The servants served the food on the table. Steam from the soup and roasted vegetables rose in the air, enticing anyone's appetite. Everyone scooped the dishes, enjoying them with delight.
After the meal, her father, the king, gazed intently at Elysia and Irine. "Ely, Irine, we plan to send you both to the magic academy, what do you think?"
"Of course, Father. Why not?" Irine immediately nodded in agreement. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
On the other hand, Elysia remained silent, her brow furrowed. "Magic?"
"Yes. Do you agree? You are very gifted. You may have the potential to become a great mage in the future." His voice sounded enthusiastic, yet behind his calm smile, his eyes dimmed for a moment. "And perhaps... you might find friends there."
Elysia was silent. Her eyes lowered.
Friends? She did not need them. But magic...
"What good is there in becoming a mage? It will only drag me into troublesome things... slaying monsters, foretelling the future, or searching for someone..."
Her voice faltered. Her heart trembled strangely. A vague face flashed in her mind. Someone who always made her laugh. Someone who protected her.
Someone she longed to meet.
"Father... can magic be used to find someone? Even someone I have only met in dreams? Or someone I knew in my past life?"
Her father's eyes widened. "Why do you ask such a thing?"
There was no answer. Only a piercing gaze, filled with sincerity and... hope. For a moment it looked like a faint light rekindled, after long being extinguished from her heart.
Her father fell silent, staring closely at his youngest daughter. Then... he finally smiled broadly. "Of course. What is it that magic cannot do? You can do anything! But of course there are conditions."
"Conditions?" Elysia clutched at her long skirt.
"Hmm..." the King closed his eyes, thinking for a moment. "Such magic may only exist in fairy tales. Or perhaps in ancient legends. But I believe such magic must exist. It simply has not been discovered." His fingers pointed toward Elysia. "And you will be the one to find that magic, Ely. I believe in your potential."
For the first time, Elysia straightened her back. A soft curve formed on her lips, not a pretense, not a courtesy, but a real smile, sincere and full of hope.
The dining room suddenly fell silent. No one spoke. Even the servant carrying tea halted mid-step. All eyes, as if in disbelief, turned to the little girl sitting at the end of the table.
Elysia... smiled.
"In that case... I accept. I will study magic earnestly. I promise."
In her mother's gentle gaze, in the widened eyes of her siblings, and in the King's heavy breath tinged with emotion, a small hope grew.
Perhaps... the girl was slowly rising from her darkest place. Or perhaps, this was the beginning of a long journey to find the one her soul had always sought.
******
Night crept calmly over the kingdom of Elysia. The sky was clear without clouds, adorned with constellations twinkling softly. Among them, a crescent moon hung high. Nature itself seemed to celebrate her smile.
From the open window of her chamber, Elysia gazed outside. The night wind fluttered the thin curtains and brushed her cold cheeks. For the first time, she looked at the sky with a genuine smile on her face.
The little girl sat on the edge of the balcony with her legs dangling. Her nightgown was simple, pale blue, matching her skin as white as the moon. Her hair was left loose, swayed by the night wind.
Her hand rose, holding the crescent moon pendant that always hung around her neck. She clasped it gently, as if holding something fragile and precious.
"You are looking at the same moon as I am, are you not?" she whispered barely audibly, her violet eyes fixed on the moon above. "Or... are you in a darker place? Or a brighter one? Whatever it is, I hope we can see the moon together again, like before."
No answer came, only the whisper of the night wind, carrying the faint fragrance of night flowers from the palace gardens. Elysia closed her eyes, trying to recall that face. That smile. That voice. But all of it was blurred, like a dream that vanishes with the coming of dawn.
"I do not know your name," she continued, "but my heart... knows who you are."
A single tear fell, wetting the surface of the pendant. Yet there was no sob, no cry. Only silence swallowed everything.
Then, for the first time in so long, Elysia lay on her bed without a burden.
"Tonight... I hope to dream of you."
All this time Elysia had never had a sweet dream. Her dreams were always of the same tragic calamity. Or if not, she only dreamed of emptiness, making her afraid to close her eyes.
But tonight, she wrapped her small body in a thick velvet blanket. Her smile still lingered on her lips. Slowly, she closed her eyes without fear of nightmares.
Her only wish that night was to dream sweetly of the reunion her soul had always longed for.