Merle had been trapped in the demon world for weeks, narrowly escaping her captors. The black mist border surrounding the demon realm loomed like an impenetrable wall, barring her way. Without a demonic signature, crossing it was impossible. The black mist fascinated her—a mysterious phenomenon no one truly understood. Under different circumstances, she would love to study it, but her focus remained on finding a way home.
Dark magic intrigued her just as much. Its diversity and vast potential were captivating, but there was no time to explore its depths. Escape was her only priority.
For now, she relied on the help of a servant loyal to the demon general, Grey—the very one who imprisoned her. The situation irked her, yet she couldn't deny the servant's assistance had been invaluable, even if trust didn't come easily.
Her biggest obstacle was figuring out how to leave the demon world. She learned her original entry was only possible because of the shackles used to bind her—devices now too risky to keep due to their tracking capabilities. The shackles were fascinating creations, nullifying her connection to spirits and rendering her magic useless, despite a full mana reserve. As much as she longed to examine them, she discarded them to avoid detection.
Her best chance of escape lay in spatial magic, though creating a gate would drain her mana completely. She hesitated, knowing the risk of vulnerability on the other side, but alternatives didn't exist. As she began the ritual, unease crept in.
"Why isn't it opening properly? It's… finally forming, but something's wrong," she murmured. "I hope the beacon it's connected to isn't far—or worse, dangerous."
As the gate stabilized, a voice behind her broke her concentration.
"Ms. Merle, leaving already?"
She turned to the servant who had helped her. "Yes. Thank you for getting me out of that prison, but I need to return home."
"But—"
"Tell your master we'll meet again," she said firmly before stepping into the gate.
As she entered, encroaching darkness enveloped her. The sensation was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
"This doesn't feel right… Is this gate even functioning properly? How do I get out of here?" she muttered, her voice swallowed by the void.
Suddenly, a beam of red light pierced the darkness, and she found herself standing in what appeared to be a throne room.
"A human? This is unexpected," a smooth, authoritative voice said.
Merle turned to see a regal figure seated on the throne. "Ah, excuse me—"
"How dare you speak while standing and without permission? You're in the presence of Her Majesty!" barked a subordinate.
"Let it be," the figure on the throne said, silencing them with a gesture.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," the subordinate replied, bowing.
The figure addressed Merle. "Human, what brings you here?"
"I don't know. I don't even know where 'here' is," Merle replied cautiously.
"Then why were you in the Sea of Shadows?"
"The Sea of Shadows?" she echoed, confused.
"Yes, I sensed your presence there."
"I was trying to connect my gate to the nearest beacon to return home," she explained.
"A beacon?"
"Yes. Using spatial magic, I link a beacon to create a gate for long-distance travel."
The figure's eyes gleamed with interest. "So, you linked to the Sea of Shadows without dark magic? Fascinating… You're quite powerful for a human. I'll ask you this once: would you like to become a dark sorcerer?"
"A dark sorcerer?" she asked, startled.
"Yes."
"But I thought sorcerers were humans chosen by fairies for their extraordinary gifts."
"Well," the figure replied with a sly smile, "consider me an evolved version of a fairy. You're gifted enough, so making you a sorcerer is no issue."
Merle hesitated, her thoughts racing. Power wasn't always a blessing. She carried her purple magic stone necklace as a reminder of that truth—a painful symbol of the family lost to her unchecked abilities. Her mother, brother, and sister had perished in a magical accident caused by her experiments.
Since that tragedy, she worked tirelessly to create a magic circuit that would limit her power, embedding the circuit into the stone. It served as both a safeguard and a constant reminder of magic's duality.
Her thoughts shifted to Rae, the girl she once mentored. Rae's potential mirrored her own, and Merle dedicated herself to teaching the girl control and restraint, hoping to prevent a tragedy like her own. Somewhere along the way, admiration for Rae deepened into something more—feelings she couldn't fully explain.
The figure's voice interrupted her reverie. "So, what have you decided?"
"I… I'm torn," Merle admitted. "If I accept, what's the catch?"
"There's no catch," the figure said, "but there is a requirement. To activate your sorcerer abilities, you must become one of my anchor's loyal servants."
"A loyal servant? And who is this anchor?"
"Her name is Rae," the figure replied.
Merle's eyes widened. "Rae?"
"Yes. I have chosen her as my anchor."
Without hesitation, Merle responded. "Then I accept. I will become a dark sorcerer under Rae's rule."
"That was fast," the figure remarked. "Very well. I grant you the seed of a dark sorcerer. With it, you have the potential to become one of the most powerful humans in existence. To activate it, you must form a pact with Rae. Now, begone."
Before Merle could respond, her surroundings shifted. She found herself in the dense Forest of Monsters. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself.
"Looks like I'm back in the mortal realm," she muttered. "Time to find my way to Carmine Village."