"See you next time, Kim."
"Yes, see you soon, Eli."
As the door closed behind her, Eli let out a long sigh, her shoulders slightly slumped.
"This is a total failure," she murmured while walking through the silent hallway of the castle.
She had hoped that revealing information about Kim's brothers would be enough to break the ice and create a stronger bond between them.
This bond would have been beneficial not only for her but also for the Elven kingdom, which saw Kim as a key figure for the future.
Indeed, the Elven kingdom sought to strengthen its relations with Kim, the Child of the Stars, whose powers were essential to the kingdom's political and magical balance.
But...
"He denied to the end that his brothers are present in this world."
Kim hadn't shown any particular emotion, nor provided any useful revelation. He remained just as distant as before, if not more so after her announcement.
As Eli pondered a new strategy to uncover the mystery surrounding Kim and his brothers, a small figure passed by her.
Turning around, she saw a young girl with golden hair, with a blue streak shining under the torchlight.
"Could that be... Charlotte? The king's daughter?"
Charlotte, the princess, was well known in the castle. She was loved by all for her innocence and kindness, a true ray of sunshine within these austere walls.
Eli watched her for a moment, intrigued. Charlotte carried a tray loaded with delicious dishes. She calmly approached Kim's door, knocked gently to inform him that the meal was ready, then placed the tray in front of the door before leaving without waiting for a response.
"I suppose even in front of the princess, Kim remains indifferent..." Eli murmured, resuming her walk down the hallway.
* * *
"Stay here, wait for my return."
After these words, Jess left us in an isolated building, not far from the manor, under the watchful eyes of the knights.
Even in her absence, no one dared take the reckless risk of leaving, the fear of being burned alive looming heavily after the relentless demonstrations of punishment we had witnessed.
Taking advantage of this moment of forced calm, I decided to check my profile through the system Kersas had granted me. Since the trial at the sanctuary, the one where I had to confront my deepest traumas, I had almost forgotten about it.
{Profile}
Name: Luca
Clan: Fari
Age: 8 years
Luck: 5.1/10
Agility: 17
Dexterity: 32
Strength: 15
Mana: 150
Skills: Author
Akasha: Book
Constellation: [Elemental]
[You have been blessed by the Elemental constellation, allowing you to use the five elements of nature.]
[Obtained Mana Core.]
[Your body can now produce and store mana.]
[Passive skill related to the Water element: enhanced regeneration.]
[Passive skill related to the Earth element: increased physical resistance.]
[Passive skill related to the Electric element: improved reflexes.]
[Passive skill related to the Air element: increased speed.]
[Passive skill related to the Fire element: enhanced mental resistance.]
After analyzing this information, I wasn't sure if I should be satisfied or not.
After going through the terrible trials of the sanctuary, I had expected something more impressive, perhaps a constellation related to rare powers like time or space manipulation.
The Elemental constellation, while powerful, was common among the three great races.
Sure, I was the only one blessed with all its elements, but that didn't erase my doubts.
My real issue lay elsewhere, and it was...
Anomaly: The Linked Flame.
Just as I was about to read the description, a voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Hello, my child. May I sit next to you?"
I looked up to see an old man standing in front of me, a kind smile on his face.
"Yes, of course," I replied, slightly wary.
He sat down at a respectable distance, far enough not to invade my personal space, but close enough to engage in conversation. He placed his wrinkled hands on his knees, then turned his gaze towards me.
"I was worried you might have chosen to go with the group of fighters."
I frowned. "Thank you for your concern," I said politely, though the question in my mind was different: What does he really want? Why the sudden interest in a child like me?
"Don't be so suspicious of me, my child. You remind me of my late daughter."
"…"
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jin, and you? How did you end up here?"
I took a deep breath before calmly replying,
"Normally, shouldn't the person asking for information be the one to share theirs first?"
Jin was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha! No wonder you made the right choice. You're right, kid, that's true."
He looked up at the ceiling, as if reminiscing about something. "Believe me, kid, there's nothing very interesting about my past."
Why do I have the feeling he's going to tell me everything anyway?
"It was a long time ago..."
I knew it.
"I lived in a small village, I was a teacher, and my wife specialized in wind magic. Together, we had a daughter. Two years after she was born, her mother died on a mission, killed by a griffon."
A griffon? Half-lion, half-eagle, a formidable creature that dominates both sky and land with its powerful wings and sharp claws. In my writings, I had described it as the natural enemy of wind mages.
"After that, I fell into despair, and I promised myself I would protect my daughter at all costs..."
He told me that he did everything he could to keep her away from the world of magic, even resorting to violence to discourage her from following the same path as her mother.
But she was stubborn, more stubborn than him. She joined a magic academy, where her talent shone despite her father's efforts to stop her.
After that, they didn't speak for decades. Until the day Jin received a letter. His daughter had died, along with her husband, but they had left behind two children, and Jin was now their only living relative.
"I couldn't protect my wife or my daughter," he said, his eyes filled with sadness, "but at least I'm going to protect what I have left."
I felt a strange echo within me. Why did this story feel so familiar, even though I was hearing it for the first time?
"Sorry, I talk too much."
"No, it's fine, honestly I find your story interesting and—"
Before I could introduce myself, the door suddenly opened, and Jess entered, accompanied by others.
"Good," she said sharply, "now that everyone is here, it's time to begin."
Ever since Jess had beheaded that man, no one dared to say a word. Every word that came out of her mouth was listened to with almost religious attention. The oppressive silence in the room made it feel as if even breathing too loudly would be a risk.
Satisfied with the tense atmosphere, Jess continued her speech.
"Rest assured, unlike the fighters, you will live. We need hands to maintain the estate."
At this announcement, a slight sense of relief spread through the room. You could feel the tension ease, though no one dared to rejoice completely yet.
"But..." she added in a chilling tone, "you will work twenty hours a day."
A shiver ran through the crowd. Distress and despair were written on every face. Murmurs of panic started to rise.
"Twenty hours?"
"I'll never last that long!"
"How will we survive that?"
The room was in turmoil. I discreetly turned my head to observe Jin's reaction. Unlike the others, he remained impassive, his eyes closed as if meditating.
Annoyed by the growing noise, Jess raised her hand to bring back calm. "Now, now... settle down, however, there is a way to lighten your burden."
An intrigued silence immediately fell.
"I have brought in experts in various fields. If any of you manage to defeat one, you will take their place, and the expert will take yours..."
A sadistic smile appeared on her face.
"But know that the loser will die. I hate wasting my time."
The faces of the people in the room froze. Those who had considered volunteering immediately stepped back.
"I see... no one feels up to the challenge?"
"I do."
A voice suddenly rose from the back of the room. It was Jin.
"What are you doing, Jin?"
"Kid, watch closely. My body will never withstand twenty hours of work a day. I must find my grandchildren at all costs."
Jess raised an eyebrow.
"Step forward, sir. What is your field?"
"I'm an alchemist."
"Interesting. In that case, you will face one of our best alchemists."
At those words, a man stepped forward. He wore a thick leather jacket, gloves, and protective goggles, typical of seasoned alchemists. He walked slowly, with chilling confidence.
"The trial is simple," Jess began.
"You will craft a potion capable of multiple healing, using the tools and ingredients available in the house. The winner will be the one whose potion is the most effective. Do you understand?"
"Yes." "Yes."
"Very well, then, let's begin."
She clapped her hands, a sharp gesture that echoed through the room, marking the start of the challenge.
From that moment, the atmosphere changed. Jin and his opponent moved towards their workstations, each equipped with vials, beakers, and an assortment of herbs and glowing crystals.
Entire shelves were filled with exotic ingredients, some recognizable like lavender or ginseng, others more bizarre with vibrant colors or unusual textures.
Despite his age, Jin moved with calculated precision. He scrutinized the ingredients, his eyes narrowed in concentration, while his opponent worked at a dizzying speed, as if he had practiced this exercise hundreds of times.
The professional alchemist grabbed flasks and powders, mixing, heating, and stirring his concoctions with remarkable skill.
But Jin was not intimidated. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and began mixing his ingredients with unexpected calm.
His hands barely trembled, as if recalling ancient knowledge buried deep within him.
The alchemist across from him already had a potion bubbling gently, emitting a faint silver steam.
Jin, on the other hand, was handling a strange root, which he ground delicately in a mortar.
Jess, watching the scene with growing interest, showed no signs of impatience.
Her sharp eyes followed every movement of the two alchemists. The tension in the room was palpable. The other slaves, frightened and silent, also watched, unable to look away.
Minutes passed, and the air became thick with the smell of chemical and herbal mixtures.
Jin carefully poured a greenish liquid into his main vial, which emitted a soft blue glow. His opponent, on the other hand, had already finished, proudly raising his potion, glowing gold, seemingly promising miraculous healing.
Jin was the last to place his flask on the table. His potion, a deep blue, gave off a soothing scent, reminiscent of the sea and salty breeze. He looked up at Jess, ready to accept his fate.
Jess slowly approached the two potions, first taking Jin's. She examined it, smelled the contents, and applied it to a small artificial wound on her arm. The wound healed almost instantly, leaving the skin perfectly intact.
"Impressive," she murmured, placing the potion down with a smile.
Then, she picked up the professional alchemist's potion, sniffed it cautiously before applying it in the same way.
To everyone's surprise, the alchemist's potion not only healed the wound but seemed to revitalize Jess's entire arm, which glowed slightly under the potion's effect. She blinked in surprise, then smiled softly.
"It seems we have a winner," she declared, turning to the alchemist.
Jin, seeing the situation turn against him, turned pale. He knew the outcome was fatal if he lost this challenge.
"Wait!..."
Without Jin being able to react, a gleaming blade pierced his back. His eyes widened, open-mouthed, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Blood spilled around him, forming a red puddle beneath his lifeless body.
"Well, who else wants to join in?
A heavy silence settled over the room. Everyone held their breath, terrified of suffering the same fate as Jin. You could almost hear the rapid beating of panicked hearts, so palpable was the tension.
But despite this...
"Me!"
All eyes turned in my direction, stunned. No one expected a child to dare volunteer after what had just happened.
Jess slowly turned her head toward me,
"You? Interesting. Come here."