Marina let her arm hang loosely as the watering can tilted in her grasp, spilling a steady stream over the flowers below.
Droplets soaked into the soil, darkening it, while the petals trembled under the gentle weight of the water.
She glanced to the side.
Lira was not far off, tending to another row of plants. Despite her age, she moved with ease, her motions steady and practiced, as though the years had done nothing to dull her body.
Marina, meanwhile, wiped a bead of sweat from her brow.
It had been a few months since she had been secluded in this cottage, far from everything she once knew.
I haven't really done much here... but I feel more active than before. Even with the work, I've almost adjusted to this life completely.
When her pail ran dry, Marina stepped out of the garden. As she passed the fence, she lifted her hand slightly, letting a faint green spark flicker across her palm.
A thin vine sprouted from her skin, curling softly around her fingers as she twirled it absentmindedly.
The grass around her dulled just slightly, its color fading for the briefest moment. Yet the change was so subtle that, to an untrained eye, nothing had happened at all.
Over these past months, my control has improved... Before, even something this small would have taken nearly four times the life energy.
The vine dissolved into nothingness, its energy dispersing back into the surrounding greenery.
Marina thought back to the times she had seen Lira use magic.
Compared to her, I'm not even close. Not even a fraction...
I wonder how many people in the world even have this kind of magic. I still know so little about everything...
But for some reason, my abilities have improved drastically while staying here. Is it because I'm constantly working with plants? Does it really make that much of a difference?
I need to gain as much as I can while I'm here. Otherwise, this would all be for nothing... What are the chances I'll ever meet someone like her again?
Her gaze drifted briefly toward Lira.
Still... why is she so kind to me? It's almost like she's taken me in as a student... as though our first meeting never even happened.
Marina walked over to the well and tied a pail to the rope. The wood creaked softly as she lowered it into the darkness below.
As she waited, her thoughts wandered once more.
It's already been so long since I left that place...
Are you still alive, Cecilus?
A memory surfaced in her mind.
Cecilus had been furious when she first arrived at the burning mansion. Yet even after everything, after Trey had knocked her unconscious, he had still come back for her.
Marina had been nothing to him.
Even during their time together, she had never once felt she owed him anything. Cecilus was a noble, someone with power and wealth beyond her understanding. If he wished to help someone, there were countless ways to do so.
Because of that, she had almost resented him.
Any good that had come her way after meeting him had never felt genuine. It felt distant, like something done out of convenience rather than care.
But then... he saved her.
When she had been barely conscious, her body aching and unable to move, he carried her to safety.
And when she awoke...
He was gone.
He had left her behind without asking for anything in return.
Free.
But that freedom had left her with nothing.
When she was younger, she had dreamed of owning a grand home, of building a family of her own. Those dreams had faded over time, worn down by reality. A slave could hope for freedom, but what came after that?
To rise in society, to become wealthy... it was nearly impossible. Even escaping meant living in fear of being captured again.
At best, one could hope to disappear.
Marina looked toward Lira's cottage.
"It's nice..."
This... is probably the closest thing to a peaceful life I could ever have.
Yet a quiet unease lingered in her chest.
Even now, I'm one of the few who knows what happened that day. I won't be able to live peacefully forever. If my identity is discovered... my brother will come for me.
She lowered her gaze.
But... I still need to repay him.
When she had first woken up, she had no idea what to do. Freedom was vast, limitless. Too vast.
If she settled somewhere quietly, would she truly be safe?
Cecilus had simply left her to choose her own path. But strangely, that had not comforted her. If he had told her to follow him, to repay him, she would have felt more at ease.
There was comfort in having a purpose.
So without thinking too deeply, she chose one.
Find Cecilus.
Repay him.
It was not something she truly desired. It was simply a reason to keep moving forward.
But now...
Is there even a reason to keep searching for him?
I have a place here. It's peaceful... I can grow stronger. I couldn't ask for much more...
Marina returned to the garden, only to find that Lira had already finished watering everything.
"You took quite a while getting water," Lira said with a light chuckle. "Did you get lost in your thoughts again?"
"My fault... I was thinking about something."
"Excuses," Lira replied dryly. "Perhaps I should take food off your plate as punishment."
"I'd prefer if you didn't... I won't take so long again."
Lira waved a hand dismissively. "I'm joking. You're no fun to talk to. Did you not have any friends growing up? I certainly wouldn't have wanted to speak with you."
Marina paused.
She thought back on her life.
There was no one she could truly call a friend. Perhaps Efrain... and if she stretched the definition, maybe Cecilus.
"Well," Marina said quietly, "I thought someone your age would be more direct."
Lira raised a brow. "So you're rude as well. I wonder what sort of parents you had to end up like this."
She then smirked faintly. "Don't worry, child. Think of me as a goddess sent from above to discipline you."
I'm not that young...
Lira handed her the pail.
"Lunch is ready. Put everything away while I set the table."
Marina nodded and walked toward the shed behind the cottage. She stored the tools quickly before heading inside.
The interior was alive with motion.
Roots and vines twisted through the air, moving with precision as they carried plates, utensils, and steaming food across the room. Some coiled around pots, stirring gently, while others arranged dishes neatly on the table.
Lira, meanwhile, sat comfortably at the table, reading a document as though none of it required her attention.
Marina said nothing and took her seat as a vine placed a bowl in front of her. It appeared to be rabbit stew, accompanied by mashed potatoes.
When she had first seen this, she had been shocked.
Now, it felt almost normal.
The food, despite being prepared by vines, was better than anything she had eaten in years.
How can I become like that?
She looked at Lira.
The moment everything was set, the vines dissolved into a faint green glow.
Most would only see them vanish.
But Marina saw more.
She saw the life energy itself, drifting back toward Lira and sinking into her body. As it did, Lira's expression seemed to brighten ever so slightly.
She's using her own life energy...
Unlike Marina, who drew energy from other living things, Lira seemed to sustain her magic from within herself.
Marina had tried to replicate it many times.
She had failed every time.
She began eating quickly, almost instinctively stuffing her mouth. It was a habit she had never been able to break, born from years of starvation where every scrap of food mattered.
Knock!
Marina flinched violently and bit her tongue, letting out a small, pained sound.
The knock had been loud. Too loud.
Who's there?
We're in the middle of nowhere... why would anyone be knocking?
Wait...
Are they looking for Lira?
Lira's expression shifted. The boredom faded instantly, replaced by something far more serious.
She stood and walked to the door, peering through the small opening.
Marina remained frozen in her seat.
Without a word, Lira opened the door.
A tall, tanned man stood outside, breathing heavily.
"Why are you here?" Lira asked immediately, her voice unsteady.
Marina's eyes widened slightly.
She had never seen Lira lose composure before.
"I... it's all gone..." the man said between breaths.
"What?"
Lira quickly pulled him inside and helped him onto the couch.
"All of the sanctuaries are gone," he said. "They were wiped out."
"What do you mean?" There was a clear trace of fear in Lira's voice now.
"Every single one. Everyone's gathered outside the barrier around your home. I was sent because I'm the only one who can pass through it. This was the only place left..."
He swallowed hard.
"They're coming for us next."
Lira froze. "Wait... you're saying this was planned? They knew where everything was?"
"Yes," he replied. "And now they're coming here."
Marina stood up and rushed over.
"Wait, what's happening?"
Lira glanced at her but said nothing.
The man spoke instead.
"We need to leave. Now."
His voice trembled.
"We've become targets of Valter Ascension."