Many months came and went, but nothing remarkable happened. Riona, Leoni, and Zane played together, survived together—they laughed, cried, and lived as a family. One day, Riona sat quietly while Leoni and Zane played in front of her. She couldn't stop wondering if everything was truly worth it. Everywhere she looked, there was suffering, hunger, and angry people. Yes, she had good times with Leoni and Zane, but at the end of each day, she saw Leoni crying because she was hungry, and Zane giving up his last bit of food to her. He only allowed himself to cry when everyone else was asleep because he had to be "the big brother."
Riona loved them, but it hurt so much to see them suffer. Wouldn't it be better to never have known them at all? she thought. But just as that dark thought crossed her mind, she saw them laughing and playing again. She smiled to herself, thinking, I really have to stop thinking like that. It was worth it. Our future will be bright.
Then, noticing Zane touch his belly, she became worried. She knew he hadn't eaten again. Leaving the two of them to their play, she got up and decided to search for food. At the market, Riona begged for some bread or money, but under the influence of the evil god, a man grew angry and began yelling at her. Just then, a carriage passed by, with a beautiful woman inside. The woman heard the commotion and saw the man shouting at the child. She ordered her knights to intervene, but when she saw Riona's eyes, she abruptly told the carriage to stop.
The carriage halted, and the woman stepped out at once. She hurried over to Riona and asked, "What's your name?" Riona, confused and unsure if this was the right time for introductions, hesitated. "R-Riona, my lady," she stammered.
The woman looked at the man and said, "This girl is a friend of mine. Do you have any business with her?" The man, still angry, began to shout, "Are you messing w—" but stopped abruptly when he noticed the Marquis's crest on the carriage. "M-Marquess?" he stammered, bowing quickly. "N-No, my lady, just a small misunderstanding." He fled as if his life depended on it.
The woman turned back to Riona and knelt in front of her. "Hello, little lady. My name is Mairy." As she spoke, Mairy seemed to get lost in Riona's eyes, until Riona's voice snapped her out of it. "M-My lady?"
"Oh my, forgive me," Mairy said with a soft smile. "I just haven't seen such a spark in someone's eyes in a long time."
Riona thought to herself, Spark? She glanced into Mairy's eyes, but only saw darkness. Suddenly, someone yelled from the carriage, "Lady, we must leave!" Annoyed, Mairy turned back to Riona and asked, "Would you like to come with me? I will take care of you."
Riona hesitated, unsure. Sensing this, Mairy smiled gently and said, "You will never be hungry again, and no one will hurt you."
At those words, a flash of Zane clutching his empty stomach and Leoni crying from hunger filled Riona's mind. "I will come with you," she said, "but please, let me get my family too." Riona stood to leave, but another man shouted from the carriage, "We have to go!" Mairy grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Wait, come with me now, and when we reach the mansion, I will send someone to get your family."
Riona looked into Mairy's eyes, then glanced back at where her family was. After a moment, she clenched her fists and said, "…Fine, but don't lie to me. They are important to me." Mairy smiled and said, "Don't worry." They both climbed into the carriage.
Meanwhile, Leoni, still playing, suddenly heard a black mist form beside her ear, whispering, "Where did Riona go? Is she in danger?" Without control over her own body, Leoni began running, driven by the mist. Zane shouted after her, asking where she was going.
Leoni then saw Riona getting into the carriage, and again, the mist whispered, "They are taking her away. Your sister needs help."
Leoni froze, unsure of what to do. The mist grew more insistent, mimicking Riona's voice, "Help me! Help me, Leoni!" Just as Zane arrived and was about to grab her, Leoni bolted, running without a second thought, screaming for Riona. In the moment Leoni realized what was happening as she saw a carriage infront of her , she whispered, "Leoni? She doesn't call me Leoni..." And then everything went black, with only the sound of Zane's scream echoing in the air.