I woke up when the sky was still gray.
The pillow was soft, the scent of herbs lingered, and the gentle sound of birds chirping outside the window.
The first thing I noticed was that this new body… was still weak.
I tried to lift a cup of tea. My fingers trembled slightly.
Mabel could lift a thirty-kilogram greatsword with one hand before, but now… I could only hold a small porcelain cup.
"This is bad…"
But it was okay.
Physical strength could be trained.
The most precious thing I had right now… was my wisdom, experience, and the White Blood Seal flowing through my veins.
I put down the cup and gently gathered my strength.
A faint pink light flashed in the middle of my palm – small, just like a spark.
But that light… was as vivid as someone's heart beating.
This girl… was not weak. She just didn't know how to use her strength yet.
I smiled slightly.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Tok tok.
"Deuwyn? Are you awake?"
Aunt Lethia's voice.
I quickly adjusted my sitting position.
"I'm awake, come in."
The door opened, and she walked in with a breakfast tray.
Her gentle gaze brightened the room.
"You look better than yesterday."
"Can you sleep?"
I nodded slightly.
She let out a breath, seemingly much more relieved.
But there was something in her eyes—
A little hesitant.
A little something… like she was hiding something important from me.
I noticed right away.
"Auntie… is something wrong?"
Aunt Lethia was startled slightly, then put down the tray.
"Deuwyn… I think you're well enough to hear some news now."
News?
It was definitely not bad news, because her face did not carry any pain.
But it was not normal news either, because she was sitting down next to me, holding my hand as if preparing me for something big.
I calmed down.
"Auntie, tell me."
She took a deep breath, then smiled—
a smile that was both proud and worried.
"You were accepted directly into the Ax Academy of the Nazoax Kingdom, Deuwyn."
…
For a second, I thought I had misheard.
Ax… Academy?
Ax Academy.
One of the four most prestigious magic-martial-arts universities on the Runas continent, only accepting the strongest, the best, or… nobles with special talents.
Training Place:
— Royal Knight
— High-ranking Mage
— Future Town Chief
— Successor of the Great Clans
— Those Who Will Rule the Next Generation
And I—or rather, Deuwyn…
a "waste" discarded by the clan itself—
was recruited directly?
I looked at my aunt.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes. There was no need for an entrance exam."
"A gold-stamped invitation letter was sent two weeks ago."
Two weeks ago.
That is… before Deuwyn was killed.
I raised my eyebrows.
"So… they sent it before I 'fell down the stairs'?"
My aunt bit her lip, clearly understanding what I meant.
"That's right."
What I mean is…
Deuwyn was recruited directly because of her Soul Seal talent.
And immediately someone wanted to kill her.
It seems like I just entered the Endias family's internal war without even knowing it.
Fine.
I've never been afraid of the battlefield.
She took out a thick, gold-rimmed envelope from her pocket, stamped with a sword-shaped seal that cut across the moon.
The seal of Ax Academy.
My hand trembled slightly as I received it.
Not because of fear.
But because this… opened up a whole new future.
A portal for me to leave the cage called "Endias".
I carefully opened the letter.
Inside was a piece of ivory-colored parchment, black ink, and a beautiful, sharp, italicized handwriting:
"Dear Deuwyn Alyane Endias,
The Ax Academy Council respectfully announces:
Through the evaluation of your Soul Seal and your natural ability reaction level, you are qualified to become a first-year student of the special program.
No entrance exam is required.
We will be waiting for you at the Royal Capital Nazoax before April 20th.
— Headmaster Ax: Asterion Vaer."
I read slowly.
A ray of light ran through my eyes.
"Special program…"
Aunt Lethia nodded.
"It's a class for those with strong natural talents and the chance to succeed to important positions in the continent."
"Those chosen… are all people who will change the balance of power in the future."
I laughed.
I folded the letter.
"Auntie… looks worried."
She slowly sat down, holding my hand.
"I'm not worried because you're not good enough."
"You have the ability to outshine everyone… I believe so."
Her gaze was gentle but firm.
"I'm worried because… once you enter Ax Academy, the Endias clan won't be able to control you anymore."
I was silent.
Yes.
And whoever wants Deuwyn dead won't let me live in peace easily.
"So that means… someone in the clan doesn't want you to leave?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Stupid girl… The Endias clan doesn't want to lose their precious 'sacrificial object'."
"Once you become an Ax Academy student, the academy will have the right to protect you. They won't be able to force you to do what they want anymore."
I grew cold.
So they want to kill her…
because if Deuwyn enters Ax, they will lose the right to use her Soul Seal as they please.
Despicable.
Cruel.
Dirtier than the corrupt royal family I once served.
I put my hands on my knees and smiled faintly:
"Auntie. To be honest… I really want to go to Ax Academy."
Auntie smiled gently.
"I know."
"Then… I will go."
As soon as I said that, my aunt leaned forward and gave me a quick hug.
It was so unexpected that I was a little taken aback.
"I'm so happy… You don't know how worried I was, Deuwyn."
"…I just feel strange. You're the only one happy that I left the clan."
"Yeah."
"Because this place… was never worthy of me."
My chest warmed.
Someone like my aunt… was something that neither Mabel nor Deuwyn had ever had.