Born into this accursed world, alone with my sister, no parent or guardian to help, no memory of a loving embrace or soothing caress.
In this world where only strength mattered, where the strong rule and the weak cower, we managed to survive by stealing food or eating from the dumpster.
The life was hard, but it didn't matter much as long as I could see my sister's smile.
In the world where I didn't even have the memories of my parents. My sister was the world to me.
As the life was going as it was, they appeared and took me away from my only family.
They trained me to become a spy for their secret project, 'The Downfall Of Avalora.'
I was supposed to become a spy, a puppet who only listens to orders.
And so, they began my training for me to become a mindless puppet who only listens to them.
They didn't give me food until I finished what they had assigned me to do.
And threatened me with my sister every time I tried running away.
After ten years, my training was finished, and I was assigned to one last mission. They promised that if I complete this last mission, they would set me free.
But I know that they were lying. They always do. However, I was desperate.
Desperate enough to clutch onto even the faintest glimmer of hope, no matter how false it might be.
The mission was simple on the surface. Infiltrate in the Grand estates of one of the Dukes of Avalora Empire.
There, I had to become a knight and gather information. I was assigned to go to the Caesar's family.
Day One of the mission. Due to my girly looks, I easily disguised myself as a pretty girl and infiltrated the testing place. Successfully passing the tests, I became a newbie knight.
Day Two of the mission. Some Knights started asking me out and trying to impress me. Though, it was weird because I was a guy but nonetheless, I had to politely decline them like a real girl would do.
Day Three, Four, Five and Six were noting out ordinary.
But on the seventh day, the youngest son of the Caesar family entered the training hall.
If someone told me to describe the kind of person he was, I would have told them, he was nothing but a coward and untalented person who hides behind his family.
But he suddenly came to me and asked me to show him my aura.
Before becoming a Knight here, I had done my homework and had gathered as much as information as I could on the whole duchies, and naturally, I also studied Zephyr and found that he wanted to be a mage. So, I was surprised when he asked me to teach him aura.
It was quite odd but thinking nothing would go wrong doing a favor to the son of the Duke, I agreed.
But the world came crashing down on me when he figured out that I was a spy.
At that moment, only two questions were running through my head: How did he find out? Did I get caught?
As I was thinking of a reason, how he figured out, but he asked me to become his subordinate
He even knew about my sister. So I had no choice but to follow him.
But I didn't feel any anger, as I was already used to be ordered around. Though, I was afraid, afraid of him revealing that I was a spy as it could put my sister's life at stake.
And now I am here, being healed by the sacred herb that only existed in legends.
Slowly, tears dropped from my eyes, not because of the pain I felt, but because of the caring that the Young Master showed me.
From the moment of birth till now, no one has ever showed me this much caring.
The Young Master used the sacred herb as it was just another potion on me. He must have had his expectations that he would finally be able to cure his body.
But for him to give the sacred herb to me without any hesitation... H-he must be an Angel.
To think I thought of him as selfish, I must have gone blind.
"Are you feeling alright?"
Yes, he's the right person to devote my life to.
The tears I had held back now flowed freely, and before I could stop myself, I found myself grabbing onto Zephyr's leg.
"Young Master, you're an angel! I'll serve you for the rest of my life!"
"Hey, easy there! I appreciate the sentiment, but there's no need for such dramatics, and you're getting snot all over my pants!"
*
*
*
The moonlight spilled into my room, casting a silvery glow on the polished floor. The cold breeze whispered through the slightly ajar window, bringing a sense of tranquility to the otherwise eventful night.
I sat at the edge of my bed, my legs hanging, barely touching the ground.
"Feufw~ It was a hell of a time getting Arthur off my leg."
My complex expression quickly changed to a grin.
I couldn't stop a chuckle from escaping my lips.
"I wasn't stupid enough to give him all the potion when he could've been healed with just three-quarters of it."
I said as I took out a small glass bottle from my pocket. Inside, a shimmering liquid swirled, the concentrated essence of the sacred herb.
I held the bottle up to the moonlight, watching the ethereal glow dance within.
In the novel, William uses it to cleanse his meridians, making it easy for him to cultivate Aura, and it also helps strengthen his body.
So, I'm hoping for the same result. Though, it'll obviously be less effective.
I opened the lid and slowly brought the bottle to my lips.
*Gulp!*
*Gulp!*
*
*
*
It had a very refreshing and slightly minty flavor, almost like a combination of spearmint and peppermint.
The moment the liquid passed through my throat, I could feel its effects taking place.
'My body feels lighter than before.'
'This is probably the effect of the sacred herb cleansing the impurities in my body. It also makes me more sensitive to magic and aura.'
The novel said, it was similar to taking drugs, but instead of having a temporary effect, the sacred herb would continue cleaning my body.
I could feel the magic particles seeping into my body.
"I can't let the chance go to waste."
I hurriedly lay down on my bed and started meditating.
It was much easier for me to control and absorb the magic particles that way.
As I was concentrating, the particles gradually gathered in the area surrounding my heart.
It was a strange sensation, like having a magnet pulling iron dust toward it.
'This must be where the Mana is stored.'
After a few minutes, the flow of the magic particles slowed down, and the heart seemed to have absorbed them.
With a sigh, I stopped meditating and looked outside.
I could see the moon hanging in the sky, illuminating the darkness.
My eyelids grew heavy, and I fell asleep, with the faint scent of mint lingering in the air.
*
*
*
Somewhere else, far from the planet or the universe where the story is taking place.
A gorgeous lady could be seen sitting, staring at a translucent screen.
Her lips curved into a light grin.
"How amusing. Hehe~"
...