"Ugh, why do all the Black Mages belong there------"
The House of Sefra, Arsian's family, was so closed off that they didn't even tolerate interference from the imperial family.
No one objected, as it was all for the sake of the Divine Beast that ruled the darkness.
'That's why I approached Arsian.'
Since it would be too much trouble to go to the Sefra Duchy with a briquette, she decided to approach Arsian, who was the most accessible, with a business proposal.
Of course, she didn't even get to show him a mineral, let alone a business plan.
'By the way, what does it mean to control the darkness?'
She has never seen the power of the Black Wolf with her own eyes, for in all her years of repetition, she has never had any contact with House Sefra or Arsian.
But rumors abounded. People talked of the great power of House Sefra's Divine Beast.
It is said that where the power of the Black Wolf is unleashed, there is only death------
Camilla glanced at King, who was wringing his hands intently. He looked unusually small today as he waddled around.
"Maybe I've named it wrong."
[Kyuu?]
Camilla let out a short sigh as King blinked and tilted his head in confusion.
What 'best of the best'… You'll be lucky if you don't die in a fight.
"Run away."
Don't fight them, just run away.
"Yeah! Not dying is a win. Remember that."
[Kyu?]
Still tilting his head, Camilla gently stroked King's head once more.
* * *
"Look at that!"
"Huh…"
She's gotten a lot more attention today.
'What? Why? It's comfortable and pretty.'
A white shirt and dark brown bugle pants. It was a really comfortable outfit.
Her hair was neatly tied back in a single ponytail, and she wore glasses to accentuate her face.
"What on earth is she wearing?"
"I don't know."
"Are those… pants?"
It was very rare for a woman to wear pants as casual wear. It was also the first time they had seen a noblewoman dress like that, so people's attention was drawn to her.
They were also surprised to see that the pants she was currently wearing were the first they had ever seen.
'But why does it suit her?'
'They're pants, but why are they pretty?'
Click-clack.
As she walked confidently down the aisle, wearing a design they'd never seen before, people gave her strange looks.
Their eyes, especially the women's, were sparkling. Like they've just discovered a new fashionable item.
[Wow, you look great today!]
'I looked great yesterday as well.'
When Camilla walks into the classroom, the first person to speak to her is Amy, the schoolgirl ghost.
'She used to sit in the corner of the classroom, but now she's talking to me.'
I can't believe the first person to talk to me is a ghost, not a living person------
Newfound skepticism crept into her relationships.
Letting out a short sigh, Camilla opened her book to study for her upcoming midterm.
I was hoping to improve my score with this midterm exam.
I've already taken the exam a few times, but you can never be too careful! I decided to reignite my study fever.
Swish-!
Just then, the classroom door opened, and the eyes of those looking at Camilla naturally turned away.
"Huh!"
She heard sharp intakes of breath here and there. She looked up, wondering what was going on, and her mouth dropped open in confusion.
"Oh-"
Why was he here?
It was Arsian. Everyone in the room gasped in horror at his appearance.
'I'm terrified as well.'
As he searched for someone, Arsian suddenly walked forward with a brisk stride.
Camilla swallowed hard as she watched the man get closer and closer.
'I take back what I said!'
I'll never complain about how my relationships are full of ghosts ever again! I don't want to have a murderous person like that in my relationships!
Wham—!
Arsian lightly tapped the desk she was sitting at, just as Camilla had done yesterday. The sound pierced her ears, loudly.
"Come with me."
A pleasant deep voice followed.
Despite her nerves, Camilla forced a smile from her lips, out of habit.
"What will you do for me?"
"What?"
Arsian's brow twitched, as if he hadn't expected such a response.
Her heart skipped a beat, but Camilla maintained her nonchalant expression.
"If you're going to ask for someone's time, you should give something in return."
After all, you're the one who came to me first today.
There was a sharp intake of breath every so often, but Camilla never took her eyes off Arsian.
And then…
"Whatever you want."
"What?"
"I'll do whatever you want."
There was an audible gasp from around the room, including Camilla's.
'What the hell do you want from me?'
I was wary when he said he would do anything for me. There must be a reason he's offering me a chance to talk to him.
'How uncomfortable.'
Really!
* * *
"You can talk to them, right?"
With all eyes on them, they headed to the least traveled part of the place, the Spirit Lake.
Once there, Arsian started with a question.
'If I said "I have a mouth, of course I can," I'll get punched in the face, right?'
Perhaps the interaction he's referring to is------
"If you mean communicating with the dead, then yes, I can do that."
This must be the answer he was looking for. The look in Arsian's eyes changed.
A wavering gaze, as if filled to the brim with emotion.
"Ask him."
"What?"
"Who he is."
Arsian's head snapped to the side, and Camilla followed suit.
The child, who looked to be about seven years old, was still clutching the hem of Arsian's garment.
'Sheesh.'
He was so cute with his golden hair and dark green eyes. He'd be even prettier if he gained some weight.
Camila took a step toward the child.
[…]
The child flinches and ducks behind Arsian, never letting go of the hem of his shirt.
"Hello."
She waves her hand to greet him, and he recoils even more.
She dug in her pockets, wondering if there was any way to get closer.
Fortunately, she found some candy in her pockets that she'd packed for when she felt hungry.
"Do you want some?"
The child poked his head out from behind Arsian and stared at the candy.
[What's that?]
After a long time, the child spoke for the first time. It was a voice as cute as his face.
Feeling herself smile, Camilla bent her knees a little more to make eye contact with the child.
"It's candy."
[I can eat it?]
"Yes."
Once again, the child's gaunt body came into view.
You don't even know what candy is.
Camilla peeled the wrapper off the candy and held it closer to the child, trying to hide her hardened expression.
Swoosh.
As he cautiously reached out, a faint glow hovered over the candy, which he then popped into his mouth.
"What are you doing?"
Arsian asked in a quizzical tone.
"I thought he might be hungry."
"...Can the dead eat food?"
"That's not possible."
Woosh.
The candy in Camilla's hand crumbled to powder and was carried away by the wind.
"It's not so much as eating... he's absorbing the energy of the food, which is better than nothing."
Unlike Arsian, who was stunned by the suddenness of the situation, her expression was nonchalant.
"Is it delicious?"
[Yes.]
"Do you want more?"
He nods.
When she saw him nod vigorously, Camilla finished unwrapping the rest of the candy and offered it to him.
This time, the child immediately picked up the candy and popped it in his mouth.
As a smile spread across her face, Camilla asked the question she'd been wanting to ask.
"What's your name?"
He could feel Arsian's body stiffen at Camilla's question.
The child glanced at Arsian, then back at Camilla.
[Cierr.]
"Cierr?"
He nods.
Camilla straightened her posture. She didn't have to say the child's name again.
As if he'd already been told exactly what to do, Arsian glanced over to where the child was, his eyes even more exasperated than they had been a moment ago.
He stared at the child for a long moment, then dropped to one knee. He held his hands out in front of him.
"Cierr."
[Brother.]
Then he wrapped his arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
'He's your brother?'
Camilla stared at the two of them in silence.
Chapter. The House of Sefra
"Brother, eat this."
"You eat it."
"I- I'm not hungry."
It's been 10 days since we've been trapped here, in a basement with no light at all.
My eyes were already grown accustomed to the dark, so I didn't have much trouble distinguishing things.
"I'm not hungry either."
He shook his head at the small hand holding out the bread to him.
"Then, do you want to share?"
"Just eat it yourself."
Their daily food consisted of a loaf of bread and a cup of water smaller than a child's fist.
For two people to get through the day with that was like being asked to die.
"Brother, I'm sorry."
His brother, who had been sickly since he was a child, was slowly withering away in the harsh conditions.
'Kill him, if you want to live.'
The man who ended up sending the child to his death because he believed he was the only one who could get out alive…
He gritted his teeth as he remembered what the man had said.
'So you can feel the darkness.'
This nonsense has been practiced for generations. It is a necessary part of gaining power over the darkness.
The nausea crept up.
I have to kill my brother to attain that kind of power? I'm supposed to kill my family?
"Brother."
He stroked his brother's hair as he looked up at him anxiously.
Once you die, you're dead. And I couldn't do that.