The rural south of the empire is a peaceful place, the quiet and seemingly endless grass fields is a place that people would want to live the rest of their lives on—nothing compares to the fresh breeze of wind here.
'And yet, here I am traveling away from it.'
A girl sitting on a wagon along with tons of products from her village. She was wearing a finely woven tunic, just like the other person besides her.
"I'm hungwie..." The little girl groaned while tugging her sister's clothes.
"We'll take a break soon, Nina." Her sister softly replied, forcing a smile on her face.
They were traveling to the capital along with other wagons from other small villages from the south. A big banquet was going to be held a few days from now so the southern villages decided to travel and deliver goods for a big profit; it has been nine days since they left their villages.
"Big sis, are you not hungry? You look tired too." Nina asked, she has been noticing that her sister always looks tired and lacks proper sleep.
Her sister brushed off her questions. The sun was setting, she couldn't help but be reminded of an unsettling memory that constantly haunts her—her hands couldn't help but tremble.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the young woman is carrying a huge burden that she cannot share with anyone as even she doesn't know how it happened.
"Nina, Sophien, we'll camp here." A voice in front of the wagon was
"Finally," Nina spoke with glee.
The sunset is almost there—and so, the people have decided to camp first as the next city is still far. Many people helped to prepare for the supper including Nina and Sophien.
Later on, the hungry Nina devoured her meal happily. Sophien was beside her eating a light meal while listening to the gossip around her, one particular talk piqued her interest.
"Thieves tried plotting a big heist throughout Port Rucefina?" A skinny man asked while eating his meal.
"Yeah," the pale-looking man beside him replied "It was a planned attack but Crescentia's guild immediately took them down."
"It's Crescentia guild alright, one of my mates is a part of the regulars. He's a renowned warrior back in my village."
The two continued chatting with each other while Sophien listened.
"Attack on Port Rucefina, huh? I recall hearing about it back then..."
"Huh? When?"
"Urk-!" Sophien flinched after realizing that she muttered her thoughts.
It was her aunt, Leah. She was the one that invited the sisters to travel to the capital which they agreed to. It was happily accepted by Nina but she didn't expect Sophien to come along. Nina's older sister was very fond of their village so it was a surprise when she asked to go with them too.
"I, uh... heard it from people chatting." Sophien replied.
"Hehe, since when did our Little Sophien get interested in gossip~" Leah grinned at her nephew.
"I- I'm not, it was a coincidence." Sophien was flustered by Leah's comments.
"I know some things about it, wanna hear it from me, Little Sophien?" Leah sat beside her.
"Don't call me little."
Leah continued chatting with her, Nina joined along as well.
"Haha Sophien, you're too mature for your age."
"That's right, where did my cheerful little sister go!" Nina pouted complaining at Sophien's recent demeanor.
"Maybe it's the juice that Little Nina made that was responsible for that."
The three laughed at each other, they chatted for a while until falling asleep, they had a long journey ahead of them.
Some days have passed. They arrived in Eulas, the city nearest to the capital and the place where the Drostern Spellcaster Academy is located; it truly is a hub for innovation and intellect. Nina, along with many of the people from the south are astonished by the city.
"Big sis, big sis, Look at this!" Nina called her sister who was accompanying her to the market.
They've been checking out the products of the city, although they can't afford any—Leah told them to not go too far in the city and avoid going to the inner sections of the city. Sophien was well aware of her current status as a rural commoner and what could happen if they wander to the city any further.
"Haha, that was so cool— ah!"
Nina however, was ignorant about the truth of this cruel world.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Nina immediately apologized after bumping at the man.
He was wearing an exquisite robe, from the looks of it, he seems to be a spellcaster. His appearance was that of an arrogant young man from a wealthy family, with prideful eyes that discards people he deemed inferior.
"You...!"
"Please forgive her."
Sophien made Nina lower her head and also bowed. She lowered her pride and begged for forgiveness, there's nothing else she could do in this state.
'I probably would've punched this bastard if I wasn't able to control myself.'
"Tsk, how dare you—"
"I'll stop you there." The young man was about to raise his arms.
Just before Sophien could prepare, someone noticed the commotion and interrupted them.
"Enough."
The man was about to refuse until he recognized the girl that was speaking. One of the famous students of the Drostern Spellcaster Academy—Jennifer Sequoia. The elegance of her presence could be sensed. Sophien stiffened, her fine maroon robe and golden curls complimented her stern expression.
"Apologize, Ford of Thylea"
"L-Lady Sequoia I—"
"Now."
"Tsk." He wasn't about to throw off his potential admission to the academy later on so he muttered an apology and backed off.
Sophien was glad that she didn't have to fight; it will be huge trouble if she tried to. She looked at the woman that saved them—she was a familiar face to her.
Jennifer approached Nina, who was still confused about what happened.
"Hello," Jennifer softened her expression. The girl's voice and pretty face made her approachable.
Nina tried to smile even after being intimidated, she was now being reassured by the friendly stranger.
"You don't have to worry anymore, you could call me Jennifer." She introduced herself "I protect people from bad guys like that, I'll make sure."
"T-thank you." Nina replied.
After Jennifer comforted Nina, she stared at the person besides the girl, her short pink hair contrasts Sophien's long black hair. She stretched her arm forward.
"Jennifer Sequoia."
"Sophien, and this is Nina." They shook hands.
Jennifer ignored other people who was staring at them, she just focused her thoughts on the two and smiled.
"You two have pretty hair, where are you from?" She asked both of them.
"We live in Saint Rose Village down south." Sophien doesn't expect Jennifer to know their hometown since the south was an obscure region of the empire.
"That's pretty far away, where do you plan to go?"
"We're just passing by and delivering goods to the capital." Sophien was blunt in her responses.
After chatting with each other for a while, they got to know each other. It was now time for both parties to go.
"Miss Jennifer, will we meet again after this?" Before parting ways, Nina asked her if they could meet again; It looked like she was about to tear up.
"If you're a good girl, maybe we will!" Jennifer tried to cheer her up "here, I'll give this to you."
Jennifer summoned a cube on her hand—she took out two pieces of a strange glimmering stone then handed the sisters each.
"Um, what does this pink stone do?" Nina asked.
"Essence stone. If bad guys tried to hurt you," Jennifer smiled at her "this will protect you."
"Like magic?"
"Like justice!" Jennifer enthusiastically replied.
Nina thanked her as they bid farewell to Jennifer.
Sophien wasn't supposed to meet her at this time, she thought that it would be best to make allies early on.
'...and take out enemies.'
She pinched her cheeks and came to her senses.
'What are you thinking, dumbass.'
Sophien held the stone Jennifer gifted her, she needed all the strength she could gather before going to the capital.
Nina was sleeping beside her while she stared at the night sky.
"The past mistakes I made. I'll make sure to save everyone this time." She whispered to herself while admiring the stars.
"Having trouble sleeping?" Leah, who was in front of the wagon, noticed her.
"Yeah," Sophien quietly replied to not wake Nina up.
"The stars are beautiful, isn't it?" Leah looked up and admired the night's beauty.
"Yeah"
"You know that the stars are the gods and saints watching us right?"
"You already told me that countless times."
Legends say that after the gods won the battle against the evil ones, they vanished and turned into pure essence—they're not walking on this land anymore but guiding and watching humans in the night.
"The stars are also a mark of humanity's achievements. They are a reminder that we never gave up, Saint Minerva Crescentia and Saint Rose hope to guide the next generation to pursue their dreams."
"Is that so?" Sophien listened with wonder.
"Listen, Little Sophien. Your mother said that one day, you'll become one of those stars, I also believe in her words."
Sophien was silent. Reflecting on her aunt's words, someone that would lead humanity? What a childish dream.
She had a dream, that is to see the people she love smile and live happily. That's what drove her this far, that's what drove her to try again and save everyone despite failing.
Sophien the Virtuous, the girl who rose to the top by being stubborn. The girl that has a dream—a dream to be a beacon of light in this damned world.
'I promise. This time, I would save everyone.'
On that day, she swore an oath. An oath that caught the attention of the gods, the stars seemed to become brighter that night.
Tomorrow morning, they arrived at the capital. Unbeknownst to her, lady fate has a little surprise for her.