The double moons hung low in the sky, washing the world in pale silver and soft violet light.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
For a few quiet moments, I simply stared out the tall window beside my bed, watching the faint glow spill across the forests surrounding Lakeway. The night was beginning to fade, though dawn was still several hours away.
My gaze drifted toward the old clock hanging on the wall.
One of the last surviving inventions from the Ancient Civilization.
Unlike the floating cities or impossible machines buried beneath forgotten ruins, clocks were one of the few relics humanity had successfully recreated. Simple. Reliable. Eternal.
The black hands ticked softly.
Seven.
According to the Gregas Calendar, that meant only a few hours remained before the low sun rose.
Thirty-six hours in a day.
Nine days in a week.
Forty-two days in a month.
Eighteen months in a year.
Year 176.
A strange world.
But mine nonetheless.
I pushed myself upright slowly before slipping into the bright pink robe folded beside my bed. The soft fabric wrapped around me comfortably as I approached the large mirror resting against the far wall.
Curly pink hair.
Light pink eyes.
Confident smile.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Naturally.
I tied my hair into a high ponytail before placing both hands against the dresser.
"It's time to start my day."
My reflection smiled back with the same confidence.
Good.
I hated looking uncertain.
After changing into my training clothes, I paused briefly to admire today's outfit.
Purple.
Not intentionally chosen because it reminded me of Shiro's magic.
Absolutely not.
…Probably.
I quickly grabbed my wooden training sword before lifting the sacred blade resting beside it.
Gurter.
A divine weapon passed through generations of heroes.
The sword capable of cutting nearly anything in existence when wielded properly.
Most people struggled to even lift it.
I mastered it at thirteen.
Grandfather always called me prideful for that.
He wasn't wrong.
Still—
even with all my talent, I had never beaten him.
Not once.
No matter how perfect my technique became, he always found flaws so microscopic they bordered on absurdity.
A shifted foot.
An uneven breath.
A delayed blink.
Every mistake became a loss.
Annoying old monster.
I stepped outside into the cool air and immediately began my morning routine.
Swordsmanship first.
Five thousand swings.
Every stance.
Every variation.
Every transition.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Without magic first.
Then with reinforcement.
The forest trembled around each strike while purple mana wrapped around my body rhythmically. My speed increased naturally as the hours passed until eventually the wooden sword became nothing more than a blur.
By the time the low sun finally began peeking over the horizon—
I finished.
Sweat rolled down my neck.
Perfect.
I immediately took off running through the forest afterward, refusing to use enhancement magic.
Pure physical training mattered too.
Eventually, the sound of rushing water reached me.
And finally—
the waterfall.
The most beautiful place in the world.
At least to me.
Massive crystal-blue water cascaded down towering cliffs while sunlight refracted through the mist like shattered rainbow glass.
This place mattered.
Mother used to bring me here before she died.
And more importantly—
this was where my powers first awakened.
I stepped beneath the freezing water without hesitation.
The shock cleared my mind instantly.
Good.
I needed clarity today.
Especially today.
After washing off, I teleported home using space magic and arrived directly inside the dining hall.
Breakfast waited.
Breakfast pie.
Eggs.
Juice.
Simple.
Comforting.
"…Going dragon hunting today, Satre?"
A deep voice interrupted my thoughts.
I looked up immediately.
Grandfather sat quietly across the table, sipping tea calmly.
Small.
Relaxed.
Terrifying.
Medium-length black-and-gray hair rested over his shoulders while sharp golden eyes studied me carefully.
Despite his appearance, this man was considered one of the strongest beings alive.
Mostly because he cheated.
High Elves possessed blessings from the Arch Spirits.
And Grandfather's blessing—
the ability to sense lies—
was unbelievably irritating.
"Oh," I replied carefully, "maybe."
That was technically not a lie.
Mostly.
Grandmother appeared beside him moments later.
And instantly my confidence dropped by half.
Long blue hair.
Elegant dress.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Far more dangerous than Grandfather honestly.
"You are not challenging a dragon," she stated immediately.
No greeting.
No hesitation.
Just judgment.
"Buuuut Grandma Hika," I pleaded dramatically, "I've prepared properly this time!"
"No."
"I have enchanted armor."
"No."
"I made countermeasures."
"No."
"I've never tasted dragon meat before."
"…Still no."
I immediately activated my ultimate technique.
Puppy eyes.
Grandfather snorted into his tea while trying not to laugh.
"She surpasses me in swordsmanship already," he admitted casually. "And her magic talent rivals yours."
Grandmother glared at him.
"Stop encouraging her."
"She'll learn eventually."
"That is exactly what worries me."
I quickly leaned across the table dramatically.
"I'm not fighting a Senior-Rank True Dragon," I promised. "Just maybe an offspring!"
Grandmother sighed heavily.
"You are not allowed beyond the waterfall."
Victory.
I practically launched myself across the table and hugged her immediately.
"You're the best!"
"You inherited your mother's stubbornness," she muttered while patting my head softly.
Perfect.
Permission acquired.
After breakfast, I immediately headed back into the forest for the second half of my training.
Magic Gate cultivation.
My favorite.
Everyone possessed Mental Gates.
Internal limiters tied directly to magical growth.
Unlocking them multiplied your magical output dramatically.
Most people never unlocked even one.
I had six.
And I'd already unlocked two.
First Gate: Threefold Amplification.
Second Gate: Twelvefold Amplification.
Right now—
I was attempting the Third Gate.
The pressure alone nearly ruptured my mana circuits every attempt.
Worth it.
As I walked deeper into the forest, I slowly began gathering mana around myself.
Then suddenly—
WHISSHHHH!
The sky darkened.
Arrows.
Hundreds of them.
"What?!"
I instantly thrust my hand forward.
"Spatial Sphere!"
A barrier of warped space formed around me as the arrows collided against it violently.
But halfway through—
the arrows changed direction.
My eyes widened.
Tracking arrows?!
One sliced across my cheek before I teleported backward immediately.
Blood dripped lightly down my skin.
"What kind of arrows are these…?"
Then I felt it.
Darkness.
Oppressive.
Heavy.
Wrong.
A figure appeared behind me instantly.
Dark purple aura.
Black silhouette.
Monstrous pressure.
I teleported away again instinctively, heart pounding violently.
The figure laughed softly.
"Ara… so you're the chosen girl."
Its smile stretched unnaturally wide beneath a half-black, half-purple mask.
"You should meet my dependent."
Cold sweat rolled down my neck.
"Who are you?" I demanded while gripping Gurter tightly. "And how do you know my plans?"
The figure tilted its head slightly.
"You're the first girl chosen as a Sin."
Its voice softened strangely.
"I suppose you'll suffer alongside him."
My stomach dropped.
Him?
"…What are you talking about?"
But the figure was already fading away.
Its shadow dissolved into black mist completely.
Only the voice remained.
"Good luck, little Pride."
Then silence.
The forest became still again.
I stood frozen.
Shaking slightly.
How did it know?
How did it know today was the day I intended to confront Shiro?
The day I planned to test him.
The day I planned to see whether the future I witnessed could truly exist.
I touched the blood on my cheek quietly.
Then slowly smiled.
"…Interesting."
Fear slowly faded.
Excitement replaced it.
I tightened my grip around Gurter before turning deeper into the forest.
First—
I'd warm up.
A dragon should suffice.
After all—
I was Satre.
Granddaughter of the Hero.
Future wielder of Pride.
And soon—
the girl destined to stand beside the boy wrapped in darkness.