In her dream, Eliza found herself in the familiar scene of her childhood home. The soft glow of the sun filtered through the curtains as she woke up early, her determination evident even in her dreams. Eliza quietly moved about, completing her chores before her mother even woke up. Even if Vaos offered his assistance with the chores, Eliza would respectfully decline his help with a bow. She was determined to demonstrate her independence and responsibility to her mother, taking pride in her ability to manage the tasks on her own.
Despite her young age, Eliza had already unlocked her Ornament. With a gentle touch, she would breathe life back into withering plants in the house and garden.
After completing her chores, Eliza would approach her mother's bedside with the softest of whispers, gently calling out her name to wake her up. Each morning filled Eliza with a sense of warmth. Once her mother was awake, Eliza would eagerly approach her with a soft smile, asking if they could bake a cake together. Her mother would return the smile with equal warmth and agree to indulge her daughter's desire.
But these peaceful days wouldn't last forever. Without warning, her mother would suddenly vanish, leaving Eliza confused. The warmth of their shared moments would fade, leaving Eliza to navigate a world suddenly devoid of her mother's comforting presence.
Vaos would gently break the news to Eliza, that her mother had passed away. Eliza would break into tears, her world crumbling around her as she clung tightly to Vaos for comfort. He would hold her close, offering whatever comfort he could offer, determined to be a pillar of strength for her and Eve during those dark days of mourning.
As the years passed by, Eliza found comfort in cherishing those precious memories, her heart gradually healing from the pain of loss. With time, she began to reflect on those moments with fondness rather than sorrow, grateful for the happiness her mother brought into her life. Each memory became a cherished treasure, a reminder of the love and warmth she had shared with her mother.
Vaos assumed the role of caretaker for Eliza and Eve with utmost dedication, his commitment bordering on the robotic at times. Whenever they fell ill and lost their appetites, he would remind them of the importance of eating for their health, causing them to feel more sick. However, over time, he transitioned into a more nurturing figure. In the quiet moments, he would tell them stories from his experiences with the Victorious Ten, their remarkable achievements during the void war, and the strength of each member.
Her mother may have laid the foundation, but Vaos was the sturdy structure that shaped Eliza into the woman she had become. With his guidance and support, Vaos instilled in her the values of perseverance, resilience, and compassion. He provided a steady presence in her life, offering both mentorship and parental love as she navigated the challenges of growing up without her mother.
Eliza observed that Vaos trained Eve with greater intensity than he did with her. Initially, she interpreted it as evidence of Vaos favoring Eve, but she eventually realized that his approach stemmed from a different perspective. Vaos viewed Eliza as inherently pure and delicate, believing that she shouldn't be exposed to the same level of combat training. It wasn't a matter of favoritism, but rather a reflection of Vaos's protective instincts towards Eliza. Over time, Eliza discarded the notion of Vaos loving Eve more and came to understand his intentions, appreciating his efforts to protect her well-being.
However, with the shadow of her prophesied death that Heine had forewarned her about. Eliza had to get stronger not just to evade the grim fate predicted for her, but above all, to shield and defend those she held dear.
Eliza woke up early as always, before anyone else, greeted by the warm embrace of the morning sun. Eliza sighed softly as she washed up and made her way out to the courtyard, a determined gleam in her eyes as she prepared to hone the Siphon magic spells: Blackhole, Expel, Energy Fission, Absorb, and Energy Vacuum. Eliza's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice echoing in her mind, it was Heine calling her over. She headed towards his rooms.
Eliza arrived at Heine's room and took sat down besides the door. "Heine, I'm here," she announced.
"Foolish junior, you're up quite early. Well, it's reassuring that you're taking your training seriously," Heine said.
"Well, I can't take what you told me so lightly, can I?" Eliza sighed.
"Indeed, it's wise of you to heed my warnings," Heine replied, his tone serious. "But remember, fear can be a hindrance to progress."
"I'll be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared, being told you're going to die is quite scary, you know," Eliza said, attempting to inject some humor into the situation.
"I suppose so," Heine grinned, amusement in his tone. "Being part of the White Trial, I never had such fears."
"I suppose with strong teammates and your own strength, fear wouldn't have much room to settle in," Eliza remarked in admiration as she reflected on Heine's past strength.
Eliza's brows furrowed with concern as she addressed Heine. "I understand the importance of my training, but how long do you think I'll need to stay here?"
Heine chuckled softly, "In a hurry, are you? Is old Heine bothering you?" he teased gently. "But don't worry, Eliza. You'll be here for about a week, give or take. That's when your prophesied fate is supposedly set to unfold."
"That's what I want to know as well, but what exactly is meant to 'kill' me?" Eliza asked nervously.
"Given the return of the Forbidden, it's reasonable to assume that one of them might be the threat. However, with your growing strength, it's unlikely that any Forbidden would dare to challenge you," Heine reassured her.
"I-I see. I'd like to thank you again, Heine," Eliza said, respectfully bowing.
"I just remembered, but once we near the end of your training, there's a personal spell of mine that I'd like to share with you," Heine said his expression thoughtful.
"Hmm, what spell might that be, Heine?" Eliza asked.
"It'll be a surprise, Eliza," Heine said with a mysterious smile. "But for now, why don't you continue your training? Sun will be up soon, and there's still so much for you to learn."
Eliza yawned, "Understood, Heine. I'll make the most of my time here," she replied, bowing respectfully before turning to leave.
"It looks like the Forbidden will be here sooner than anticipated..." Heine whispered to himself as Eliza left. "No, I believe Eliza, even with the training she has now will be more than sufficient..."
As the day progressed, Sun, under Heine's orders, continued to train Eliza diligently. He guided her through teaching her three more spells and training her physical capabilities through exercises and combat training.
Desolate Field created a barren area devoid of mana, inhibiting natural mana regeneration. This proved useful against foes reliant on rapid spellcasting. Mana Conversion granted Eliza the ability to transmute pure mana into various elemental energies, including void energy, however that was a more advanced technique. Finally, Null gave Eliza the ability to completely nullify her foes mana, rendering them powerless and reliant solely on their physical capabilities. However, the downside to this spell was that when Eliza activated it, her own mana reserves were also temporarily shut down until she chose to cancel the spell. Despite this drawback, Null served as a support spell, especially when Eliza had allies fighting alongside her, allowing them to take advantage of their opponent's weakened state.
Eliza dedicated herself to mastering the new spells she had been taught, as well as refining those she had learned the day before. With determination, she approached her training with seriousness, driven by the desire to alter her fate.
As Eliza was training, a sudden flash of light came from the direction of the town. Despite the distraction, she remained focused and choose to ignore it and continued with her training. Sun instructed Eliza to continue with her training while he went into town to investigate the source of the mysterious light.
Eliza bowed respectfully as Sun departed, then returned her attention to her training, diligently practicing the spells she had learned. Unknown to her, a malevolent presence watched her from afar with murderous intent. Despite its urge to attack, the entity restrained itself and stealthily infiltrated the building.
"Indeed, it's arrived sooner than expected. Aemanil, Glanvill, Victoria, shall we show this intruder the consequences of trespassing?" Heine's voice echoed.
"These scum," a mysterious voice replied telepathically, "they don't seem to understand the concept of surrender. Despite our age and frailty, as long as I draw breath, they will all meet their demise at my hand."
"That's the spirit, Aemanil," Heine replied with a grin. "We won't even have to get up from our seats to deal with this worthless scum."
The malevolent being sneaked through the corridors with silence. Oblivious to the danger, it ventured further into the heart of the sanctuary, unaware of the imminent danger closing in around it.
"You shall fall like the rest..."