At first, Lizzy feared that people would stare at her again with that same haunted look — the same fear, the same suspicion that had once chased her through unfamiliar streets. But her worries dissolved the moment she stepped outside.
Everyone welcomed her with warm smiles. No terror. No trembling gazes. Only kindness.
And that kindness made Lizzy realize just how deep the influence of the color black ran in this world. Something must have happened — something old and terrible — for the people of this planet to believe that black was a harbinger of curses and misfortune. Had a great calamity once occurred here? If so… Lizzy would have to uncover the truth someday.
After introducing Lizzy to their neighbors, the family gathered for party — turning the evening into a small celebration to welcome her. Lizzy couldn't understand what they were thinking, hosting such a heartfelt festivity for a stranger with no blood ties to them. But one thing was certain:
One day, she would repay this family's kindness.
"Madame Morgana, has there ever been a great disaster on Planet Laurel Zero Five? Why does everyone believe black is a symbol of curses and catastrophe?" Lizzy finally asked, curiosity nudging her thoughts as they all sat together in the living room, enjoying snacks and warm drinks.
"Oh… so Lizzy is curious about that." Morgana smiled softly, gently stroking Milliane's blonde hair as the child slept peacefully in her lap.
The little girl had exhausted herself helping Lizzy pack since yesterday — and earlier this morning, she had also guided Lizzy to the exit gate. For someone her age, she could already do so much. Lizzy couldn't help but admire the way Morgana raised her.
Lizzy reached for a bowl of berry pie on the table as Morgana began her tale, and the girl sat still — listening with quiet anticipation.
"Long, long ago," Morgana began, "there lived two ancestors in the same region — men known as Arca and Caliga. Arca was skilled — a sharp hunter with broad knowledge, a man who never struggled to provide for his family.
Caliga, on the other hand… was neither talented nor fortunate. He was poor. And to feed his wife and children, he relied only on the wild fruits that grew deep within the forest."
Lizzy listened intently, eyes wide.
"One day," Morgana continued, "Caliga discovered a strange fruit — black, like polished obsidian, shaped like a peach, and fragrant with a sweetness that proved it was ripe. Just as he reached out to pick it, Arca appeared fresh from hunting. Seeing Caliga holding the black fruit, Arca immediately warned him. The fruit was dangerous, he said. Not poisonous — no. But capable of altering a person's physical form."
Lizzy swallowed, her curiosity sharpening. Morgana emphasized gently: "This isn't myth, Lizzy. It's history. Everything I tell you truly happened in the ancient past."
"There was really a fruit like that on Planet Laurel Zero Five?" Lizzy asked again, cheeks stuffed with berry pie.
Before Morgana could answer, Revanio — sitting nearby — sighed. "Swallow before you speak."
Lizzy, luckily in a good mood, obeyed without complaint. After gulping everything down, she wiped her messy mouth with the back of her hand before continuing to listen, earning another silent stare from Revanio that clearly meant:
Is this girl's brain truly filled with clouds?
Lizzy, of course, didn't understand the meaning behind his look. Morgana only chuckled softly. Ever since Lizzy arrived, Revanio had been showing more expressions — and for some reason, that amused her.
"Caliga wasn't a clever man," Morgana resumed, "so he didn't understand Arca's warning. 'A fruit that changes one's body?' He thought perhaps it meant strength, or healing, or some kind of blessing. And he forgot the danger.
What he remembered, instead, was that his family needed to eat. So Caliga picked the black fruit and brought it home. His children, delighted by the feast, devoured everything quickly — so quickly that Caliga never even tasted it."
Lizzy's right hand reached out to take another spoonful of berry pie just as Morgana continued her tale. The girl quieted, her attention fixed entirely on the woman's calm voice.
"At first… nothing happened. For the first time in a long while, they all slept with full stomachs. But the next morning, Caliga found his family burning with fever. A strange fever.
His wife and children trembled, crying that their bodies felt unbearably hot. Their skin began itching. And slowly… black fur sprouted across their arms."
Lizzy gasped. "They turned into ape-humans?"
Revanio frowned. "What is that?"
Lizzy blinked. "You don't have apes here? Animals covered in fur… shaped kind of like people? Some theories even say humans came from them."
"I don't know. No such creature exists here. Though monsters shaped like humans… yes, there are many," Revanio answered simply.
Lizzy made an expression that was hard to describe. The differences between this world and Earth felt endless. To keep her mind from melting, she looked back at Morgana, silently urging the woman to continue.
Understanding Lizzy's silent request, Morgana drew a slow breath and continued, her voice lowering as though retelling a story long buried beneath dust and sorrow.
"The incident threw the entire village into chaos. Rumors spread like wildfire — that Caliga's wife and his three children had transformed into monsters. Fear took root. People panicked. Whispers grew louder each passing hour.
And so… the villagers pleaded with Arca, the strongest man in the settlement, to eliminate them."
Lizzy's breath hitched. Caliga and Arca were childhood friends — a bond forged through years of shared hardship. How could anyone ask Arca to do such a thing? How could a friend even consider it?
Morgana nodded as though hearing Lizzy's heart. "Arca, too, struggled with it. Instead of killing them, he chose to watch over Caliga's family for a time, hoping to find a cure or at least understand the illness. But the black fur continued to grow, thick and untamed. And the fevers worsened."
Morgana's voice softened, yet carried weight. "Despite all the herbs, all the remedies the villagers offered… their condition did not improve. Their minds began slipping away. They stopped speaking coherently. Stopped recognizing familiar faces.
Their teeth grew sharp, saliva dripping constantly from their mouths. Their eyes shifted —
wild, feral, no longer human."
Lizzy swallowed hard, her chest tightening. Arca had no choice.
"And so," Morgana whispered, "Arca deemed them dangerous. And with a heart heavier than any blade he had ever carried… he killed all four of them before Caliga's very eyes — while the man knelt, begging for mercy that could not be granted."
Lizzy's hands trembled slightly. "M-Murder? Was this story really told in front of a child?" She glanced at Milliane who, thankfully, remained asleep, shifting only slightly in Morgana's arms.
Morgana gave a rueful smile.
"It's basic knowledge for children around seven years old. When they begin learning how to pray at the temple, this story is told to them as well," Revanio added casually. "This year, Milliane will turn seven. When we visit the temple, you should come with her to learn how to pray."
Lizzy's shoulders slumped, the spark in her eyes dimming. So people here were this religious…?
"W-Why should I go too…?" she muttered weakly. She had never followed any belief system before, and the idea of participating in religious rituals felt foreign.
After gently placing a blanket over Milliane, Morgana returned to her seat beside Lizzy. "All right, now… let's continue the story."
Her tone softened, yet carried the weight of tragedy. "The death of Caliga's wife and children drove him into despair. He became unstable, wandering the village like a madman. Because of that, the villagers exiled him."
Lizzy listened in silence, a heaviness coiling in her chest.
"One day," Morgana continued, "Caliga's grief finally overflowed. When he saw his home — the place filled with memories of his family — destroyed by the angry villagers, light left his eyes. From that moment, he plotted revenge."
"He disguised himself, becoming someone unrecognizable. Then he crafted food using the black fruit — the same fruit that had changed his family — and distributed it to the villagers."
Lizzy let out a slow breath. "Caliga wasn't intelligent, but he was manipulative enough. His hatred and despair must've blinded him."
Morgana nodded solemnly and continued. "No one suspected a thing. The food he made smelled wonderful — sweet, warm, tempting. Everyone ate it eagerly… except Arca and his family. Because for Arca, Caliga had prepared something else."
Lizzy felt a chill crawl along her spine.
"The amount of black fruit in the food was small, so the effects took time to appear. But after a week… the signs became clear. Fever swept through the village. Black fur sprouted across people's skin.
Two days later, they turned into monsters — feral and unstoppable."
Morgana's voice grew heavier. "Arca fled with his family, trying desperately to find help. But when he confronted Caliga… Caliga stabbed him again and again until Arca breathed his last."
Lizzy covered her mouth in shock.
"That night, the villagers — now monsters — swarmed the surrounding areas, devouring anyone they encountered. Nearby settlements were wiped out. The moon shone red, and the ground was drenched in blood."
Lizzy froze. Her pancake sat untouched, the sweetness now meaningless. "What happened after that?" she whispered.
Morgana leaned back, eyes distant. "Many villages were destroyed. Then, one day — a colossal White Dragon descended from the sky. It tore through the clouds, its presence alone shaking the world. Seeing the terror in people's faces, the White Dragon eradicated the black monsters in a single sweep of its power."
The room fell silent.
Morgana continued, "The White Dragon granted sacred artifacts to the surviving ancestors, telling them to learn magic so they could protect themselves from future evil."
Lizzy listened with wide eyes, her heart swelling with awe.
"That is why our ancestors began worshipping the White Dragon — whom they later named the Lustrous Dragon — and built the Altar of the Sky to house the sacred artifacts.
And because the black fruit caused such devastation… people began believing that
the color black brings calamity." Morgana finally ended the tale, taking a sip of her now-lukewarm tea.
Lizzy remained quiet, trying to digest everything she had heard.T Morgana's warm voice broke the tension. "It's only history, dear. It has nothing to do with your black hair."
Lizzy blinked — then smiled faintly. "Of course. Besides, I'm from another planet. Back on Earth, people thought I was a good kid," she said softly, remembering the praise she once received.
Morgana's expression brightened with pride. "Anyone who sees you will know you are a good child."
A warmth spread through Lizzy's chest— something like a forgotten comfort. She had not felt motherly affection in a very long time.
For now, she felt lucky to be surrounded by kind people.
⊱⋅ ────◇✦◇──── ⋅⊰
"Is it all right if I keep using this disguise?" Lizzy asked the next morning while helping Morgana clean the shop. The sunlight was gentle, the perfect start to a quiet day.
"It's perfectly fine, Lizzy. 'Hawthorn' is the name of a distant relative — you may use it as long as you stay here." While dusting the shelves, Morgana answered with her usual warmth.
This was part of her morning routine — cleaning everything before opening her magic-item shop. Lizzy had learned yesterday that she could help manage the store. After the little celebration they held last night, she had even practiced serving customers.
So today, Lizzy woke up early to sweep and mop, earning Morgana's cheerful approval. Milliane had already left for magic academy with Revanio, who then headed straight to work. That left only Morgana, Lizzy, and Moriga — who lazed at the counter since morning.
"Is the Kingdom of Zarvan really real?" Lizzy asked, curiosity blooming. Planet Laurel Zero Five seemed enormous. Surely Glorious Kingdom didn't rule all of it.
"Of course there is. We wouldn't give you a random identity," Morgana replied casually, her tone warm yet assured. "If you want to know, this planet is divided into four great nations — each ruling over one continent. All four continents encircle the Sacred Tree, which is why every nation uses a different part of the tree as its emblem."
Lizzy, who was wringing out her cleaning cloth, widened her eyes in quiet amazement.
"Eh… that sounds interesting," she murmured.
Morgana smiled, drifting toward another display shelf just as she finished dusting the previous one. "Interesting, isn't it? The Southern Continent belongs to the Maberich Federation — their emblem represents the roots. To the West lies the Zarvan Kingdom, symbolized by the trunk. Our own kingdom — Glorious — rules over the Eastern Continent, where the emblem is a leaf, the heart of our beloved homeland. And lastly, the Northern Continent is ruled by the Randall Kingdom, whose emblem is a flower.
All four nations coexist peacefully, all bound by the Sacred Tree at the center of the world."
Clink…
The soft chime of the door interrupted their conversation. Both Lizzy and Morgana turned toward the front of the shop, where the door had been pushed open just slightly. An elderly man peeked in through the gap, his wrinkled face framed by curiosity.
"Good morning. Is the shop open yet?"
Lizzy was just about to answer "not yet," when Morgana stepped forward with practiced ease, her expression instantly shifting into a bright business smile. "We've just opened, actually. How may we assist you today?"
Lizzy finished putting away the last of the cleaning tools, then walked over to the entrance to flip the sign from 'Close' to 'Open.' The old man squinted, clearly unable to read the sign well — but it didn't matter. Their cleaning was complete, and it was indeed time to open the shop.
"Pileno Worms are attacking my garden! Their powder is unbearably itchy! Do you have a potion to get rid of them?" The old man sounded genuinely distressed as he explained his predicament.
Morgana nodded sympathetically as she moved toward a shelf filled with dozens of potion bottles.
After scanning the labels, she retrieved one and handed it to him. "Here you go. This potion is guaranteed to drive away every Pileno Worm in your garden. They won't dare come near again."
The old man's face brightened instantly. "Oh, wonderful! Do you perhaps have a magic item that can repel birds too? They're no longer afraid of scarecrows. My wife and I are far too old to chase them off all day."
With gentle concern, Morgana placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, then pointed to a life-sized scarecrow-like doll nearby. "How about this one, Sir? This is the Scarecrow Net Shooter, developed by the Magic Tower. It can detect any approaching bird and shoot a binding net at them."
"Is the net accurate?" the old man asked, stroking his long beard thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, Lizzy watched the two of them from behind the counter, struggling to resist the urge to pet the chubby Moriga sprawled lazily across the tabletop. She had to focus — Morgana was teaching her how to run a business.
"This item is quite popular among farmers," Morgana continued smoothly.
"It took the Magic Tower three years to perfect the product. It can now shoot nets with precision from fifty meters away — no bird can escape."
Lizzy couldn't help admiring Morgana's ability to speak so confidently and clearly. She truly was impressive.
After listening carefully, the old man finally nodded. He agreed to purchase the Scarecrow Net Shooter Morgana recommended. The two items floated softly onto the counter.
"I'll take these two," he told Lizzy.
Lizzy brightened, remembering everything Morgana had taught her. "Certainly! The total is twenty-five thousand Kyris. But since you've spent over twenty thousand, you receive a ten percent discount. So your final total comes to twenty-two thousand five hundred Kyris."
The old man paused, studying Lizzy's enthusiastic smile. "…Is the discount perhaps… negotiable?" he asked hopefully.
Lizzy's grin widened even more as she gestured toward the shelves full of magical tools. "Of course! If you spend thirty thousand more, you'll receive a twenty percent discount. It's our best deal!"
A small frown formed on the old man's forehead. He pulled out a few notes and sighed. "Maybe next time. For now, I only need these two."
Lizzy nodded politely before counting the payment. This was her first time handling currency here. She already knew how the monetary system worked, but seeing the Kyris notes and coins felt oddly surreal.
"Here's your change. We'll package your items now — please wait just a moment."
Following Morgana's instructions, Lizzy placed the two items atop a black stone etched with spell circles. The symbols glowed, and within seconds the items shrank into tiny miniatures.
Lizzy then attached a release seal and slipped them into a paper pouch.
Efficient, she thought. Large items became smaller, and liquids would never spill during travel. Once the seal was removed, everything would return to normal size.
"Thank you for shopping with us," Lizzy said warmly as she handed over the pouch.
"Please come again if you need more potions or magic item."
The old man waved before leaving. From behind him, Lizzy caught Morgana giving her two raised thumbs.
Her first day assisting in the shop… was a success.