"MARY!!!"
A woman dressed in formal attire runs around the big and wide backside of the palace, which is full of average-sized trees and not-too-tall, green, healthy grass, in the middle of the afternoon. As she runs, her long, blonde, straight hair waves back and forth, revealing the open-back design of the long sleeves she is wearing. She is seeking her runaway child, who is always eager to evade the routine of a meal, dancing in the maze of greenery.
…
In the heart of the forest, a young girl moves like a fleeting specter, her small feet clad in black leather shoes with modest heels, contrasting with the white of her long socks. A crisp white polo shirt, neatly tucked into loose black shorts, adds to her ethereal presence. She darts through the woods with wild abandon, her laughter echoing like a melody among the trees. With the grace of a woodland sprite, she grabs onto branches, performing acrobatic feats with effortless ease. Pausing mid-flight, she swings on a branch, gathering her strength for a daring backflip, landing with a flourish upon another bough.
Her snow-white hair, a cascade of moonlight, is brushed aside as she grins with the pure joy of freedom. Her eyes, a striking shade of cyan, sparkle with mischief as she glances back, searching for any sign of pursuit. But the forest remains still, save for the rustling leaves; no one has caught up. She giggles in triumph, reveling in her escape from her personal guard, once again leaving them lost in her wake.
Marysville Everleigh Grace, a 14-year-old and the fourth daughter of the noble House of Grace, lived a previous life that ended at 35. Reborn into a new world, she discovered that the realm she now inhabits, named Fantasia, is the very game she once played. With newfound superpowers, she unraveled the truth of her existence—living within the borders of a fantastical video game.
Just as in her previous life, Marysville finds herself in a world where technology thrives—cars hum along busy streets, smartphones buzz with endless information, and smart TVs flicker with vivid images. Yet, in this realm, Fantasia, the marvels of technology are entwined with the existence of superpowers, casting a shadow over the land. This world, unlike her former one, bears the scars of dark practices: illegal human experiments and the cruel chains of slavery.
In the midst of these complexities, Marysville navigates the vast, tangled forest, seeking an exit from its leafy labyrinth. Her heart beats with a newfound purpose, driven by the knowledge that she resides within the very game she once adored. Her mind races with thoughts of a man—a figure she was once captivated by, and perhaps still is, even now. Her longing to see him again fuels her steps, a flicker of obsession reignited in this strange and perilous world. As she ventures deeper into the unknown, Marysville clings to the hope of meeting this enigmatic figure, her journey a blend of excitement and nostalgia, framed by the extraordinary and the familiar.
In a month's time, Marysville will depart for the capital to continue her studies. Before then, she yearns to explore beyond the manor's confines. However, her every attempt is thwarted by the ever-present man who shadows her every move, his watchful presence a barrier to the freedom she seeks.
A man wearing a black suit, holding a phone to his ear as if making a call, suddenly appears behind Marysville. Dressed in a black suit and black slacks, paired with black leather shoes, he has an average face—your typical type of man from Marysville's previous world. His dark blue eyes lock onto Marysville as he grabs her wrist, preventing her from escaping.
"Madam, I have apprehended her." The man ended the call and placed his phone back in his pocket.
"That was fast, Reo..." Marysville punched and kicked at Reo, but he managed to block all her attacks. She didn't give up easily; she pivoted to generate force on her left foot, aiming to kick Reo in the gut. However, Reo simply caught her kick, grabbed her foot, and lifted, causing Marysville to flip upside down.
"Let us return home now, Lady Marysville." Reo gently carries Marysville to ensure that she won't run away again.
Marysville gave up and simply got along nonchalantly and let Reo carry her.
"Lady Marysville, I know that you are very eager to leave this place, but you have to wait until the end of the ceremony. It is part of the Family rule, you must live in the estate until that designated day, and all you have to do now is wait for a month. "
Marysville looks at Reo's face.
They make it sound like it's part of the family's tradition, but there's actually a reason why a child born with the Grace bloodline must stay in this place until the age of 15. Similar to the Royal Family, the Grace family also has royal blood. If the Royal Family members die without an heir, the Graces are expected to take over the throne and lead the nation. This is why Grace family members sometimes encounter assassins or bandits. These dangers are the very reason this rule was created: to train the children for the future. Marysville herself learned all this after reading the game's lore, especially since the Grace family plays a significant role in the game's main story.
"I can't help it; it's been so boring around here lately, especially since my brother went off to the academy last year." Said Marysville.
"You are not a convincing liar, Lady Marysville."
"..."
"Since the day you moved here, you have greatly disliked being around your siblings. You consistently avoid or ignore them."
"..."
"You frequently spend time with the knights and sometimes even request to spar with them. Since the day you received the God's Stigma, your behavior has worsened to the point where you now ignore your own mother."
The God's Stigma is a divine power bestowed upon humans, appearing unexpectedly as a mark on the body. This mark allows the bearer to wield the power of the god who granted it.
"If I don't, she'll stop me from practicing my fighting."
"Lady Marysville, that is not a valid reason to ignore the mother who gave birth to you." Reo sighs.
"Still... I'm surprised. Even my father didn't notice the stigma, but you did." Marysville looks at Reo directly in the eyes, piercely looking angry.
"Your acting is poor, young lady. Seeing that your eyes did not even change color, I can tell that you are neither surprised nor angry, as if you were already expecting me to discover your stigma."
One of the peculiar abilities that runs in this family is changing the color of the eyes. It's not a big deal; the eyes simply change from cyan to golden yellow when the person gets excited or angry. However, it's not entirely useless, as this change also enhances physical strength. Out of the four children, only Marysville and the eldest inherited this ability. Having this ability and snow-white hair are already enough to qualify as the next heir of the family, but Marysville could not care less about it.
Marysville looked at Reo and was about to open her mouth to say something, but before she could utter a word, Reo looked at her seriously and said, "At times, you behave as though you possess a deeper understanding of this world than anyone else on this planet."
"How can you say that?." Marysville did not take Reo's word seriously and asked him playfully.
A flurry of snow suddenly falls. This must be a sign of the winter season, but this nation has always experienced cold weather, so snowfall from time to time is already a normal occurrence here.
"We should make haste and return to the palace, Reo."
Reo simply looks at Marysville, then continues to walk.
Finally arriving at the entrance of the palace, Reo gently puts Marysville in the ground. Marysville's mother was there in front crying like a baby.
"Marys!!" Marysville's mother runs at her and hugs Marysville tightly.
"Mother, this is not the first occasion on which I have done this." Marysville gently caresses the back of her mother.
A maid suddenly approaches them and hands them warmer clothes, recommending that they wear them as it is very cold outside.
"Madame Shelley, Miss Marysville, shall we proceed indoors before you catch a chill?" Said the head maid.
'I don't catch a cold though.' Marysville thought, but looking to her mother made her realize something. 'But if we stay here much longer in this weather, I'm sure she'll catch a cold.'
"Shall we head in, mother." Marysville calm and gently utter the words.