Echidna was found at an orphanage doorstep 12 years ago. There were no details about her family except for a bracelet on her wrist engraved on it was the name Echidna.

She grew up in the orphanage up till the age of three. Then one day a crowd of hooded figures burnt the place down, killed the orphanage s mother. The hooded people killed everybody except for her and a 5-year-old girl named Edna.

There were no mentions on why they spared only the two of them. It was mortifying sight. Edna was older than Echidna, so she always protected her from the bad treatment from the guards.

There were many people in the organization. The organization was illegal and was located in an unknown forest. They ruthlessly killed people.

Most of the test subjects were called by their numbers given by the organization. But Echidna was called 'fragment one' and Edna was called 'fragment two' and there was this core at the possession of the organization which was called 'fragment three'.

Nobody knew what that meant except for the three founding masters of the organization. The organization was named drag grave.

The organization had two branches in hidden locations. One was the main branch. The year Echidna turned 7. Edna was taken away from her, and Echidna was left alone.

Echidna was specially talented magic. But during the ritual which killed Edna , her mana was taken away from her.

Echidna was pretty dangerous for her age.

This year Echidna turned twelve , she heard some guards around her cell talkin',"tch, we just have to bear with this brat only for a few weeks only. And after that she would be sent off to the main branch." Echidna thought of this as a chance for her escape . Since they would have to travel to the other end of the continent to reach the main branch.

The day she was about to be transferred to the main branch, she carefully prepared her plan to escape. There were some other test subjects who were also being transferred with her. They were taken away in a dark carriage. For a couple of weeks they travelled.

During the third week of their journey,the carriage stopped at the borders of a nation called Zchtad . That night ,the carriage was captured by the knights of that nation.

The man leading them was dressed like a noble, he had black hair, there was a section at the back of his hair which was up to his waist's length. He had red eyes, and he had an unapproachable aura. He wore an earring which had a resemblance to Echidna s bracelet.

The knights arrested the men away. The commander of the knights approached Echidna and the other test subjects. Echidna glared at him and thought,"what are they going to do with us, we neither belong to this nation, and we aren't normal people."

And then suddenly Echidna s bracelet resonated with the man's bracelet. The man took a look at her hand , and ordered his knights to capture all the people for investigation and send them to the capital for investigation, except for Echidna.

She found it fishy.But chose to keep calm, "what are you going to do with me?" asked Echidna. The man looked at her and said , "where did you find the bracelet ". "It's mine, it has been with me as long as I can remember and it belongs to my parents."said Echidna firmly.

The man's eyes widened, "she does look like my wife" said the man. Echidna just stared at him, "who is he? What business does he have with me? He looks like a noble man of high post."

"You are coming with me " said the man. He ordered the knights to prepare for the journey to the capital. Echidna was given proper clothes of a Noble . And they set off for the capital.

The other test subjects were taken away in ordinary carriages . But Echidna was taken away in the same carriage as the man.

"Sir who are you ? how about you explain to me why am I being taken away separately and why does my bracelet resonate with your earring?".

"I am Gabriel Chaolix,the Grand Duke of Zchtad and our encounter was planned." "I see and I am Echidna your highness , may I ask how our encounter was planned?" asked Echidna with suspicion.

"If what you told about the bracelet being yours, then you are my daughter and the message left by my wife says that we are supposed to meet today."

"So you are saying your wife is my mother. Then why was I abandoned your highness? And how does your wife know we are supposed to meet today and how did you find me now?" asked Echidna.

"My wife is long dead and I had no idea you were born and my wife says that you are indeed my blood and my wife had the ability to predict the future. And about why she left you, even I had no idea. "said Gabriel.

Echidna found it hard to believe but what he says does seem possible. "What he says does make sense" thought Echidna.

"She is my daughter, there's no doubt but my wife said that she was left at an orphanage ,then why is it that she is found among with the test subjects of drag grave?" thought Grand Duke.

After two days ,they finally reached the grand Duke s manor.

At the grand Duke's manor,

They reached the manor at evening, Echidna was taken to a secluded section of the manor, which was well maintained, but it was lonely. It was separated from the main building.

The head maid of the manor, Eden. Led her in to the hall. "I am the head maid Eden Hearthray my lady. We'll do our best to serve you my lady." "Hmm... The grand duke is generous, he let me stay in such a properly maintained place." thought Echidna.

Echidna senses no malicious intent in her face but saw a look of distrust in the maid's face

"I hope we get along Eden hearthray and no need for any suspicion because what can a harmless child like me do?." said Echidna with a forced smile." " I-I, forgive me my lady." said Eden. "H-How does she know, am I that easy to read" thought Eden.

She led Echidna to the bath, the maids offered to help her wash up, but Echidna refused. "Please leave, You won't like what you'll see next "said Echidna with a glare. "What is it, that's on her body that she is so much unwilling to show?" thought the maid.

"It's our duty to serve you my lady, what we feel doesn't matter."said one of the maid. "She is peculiar one, unwavering commitment of service, huh? These nobles sure have it easy." thought Echidna.

"Please leave." said Echidna in a scary way. The maids had no choice but to leave. Echidna took the bath herself. She even wanted to refuse the maids request to let them allow her to dress, but she wasn't a noble, so she needed their help to dress like nobles do.

"You"said Echidna to the maid from before." Help me get dressed and don't even think about telling anyone about what you'll see." "Yes, my lady" said the maid.

Echidna didn't trust her, but she had no choice, so she chose to threaten." What will a child like her have to hide, maybe a scar or two."thought the maid.

She helped Echidna dress, and what she saw was bad. Echidna read her expression and said, "No need to rack your brain. It isn't much of a deal, just keep your lips sealed."said Echidna.

Despite Echidna s threatening, the maid told what she saw to

Eden.

The maids showed the room to Echidna. The room was cleaned and prepare for Edna. "Why is this part of the manor maintained even though nobody resides here?" asked Echidna.

"This part was usually used by her highness, the late duchess. After she died in this manor, this area was closed for outsiders."said the maid.

"I see." said Echidna. "My mother, huh?" thought Echidna. "Would you like to see her portrait my lady?" asked the maid. Echidna agreed, and she was taken to the room full of portraits and weird alchemy stuff.

"Wow I look exactly like her." said Echidna in a daze.

In the main manor,

"So what did you find? Anything suspicious Eden?" asked Gabriel to Eden. "Yes my lord, this maid says she saw something . said the head maid.

"Her name is Annette, and she says that she saw something."said Eden. Annette was brought to the front. "What did you find?" asked Gabriel's knight.

"Young Lady's body was covered with scars, burns and bruises and there were many purple spots on her arms, seemed like poison," said the maid.

"I see, you can leave now." said Gabriel. " Well that's cruel" muttered the knight. "It is "replied Gabriel.

In the secluded part of manor,

"I don't know why his highness brought this girl, She looks like her Grace but what if she's a fraud."whispered some maid while passing from outside Echidna s room.

Annette was assigned to take care of Echidna. Annette too heard this, while she was at the door"Well, any kid will be hurt by that." thought Annette.

"Hahahahahahahahaha" Echidna burst out laughing. "Did they seriously think that will be enough to hurt me, I am not even a human in complete sense." said Echidna to herself.

Annette heard this, she stood there for a while and then entered to avoid suspicion.

"Your dinner is prepared my lady "said the maid, the meal was brought to her.

She ate it and slept.

Echidna slept comfortably for the first time in ages.

The next morning,

Echidna got ready and had her breakfast in another room. While Echidna had her breakfast she felt as if someone was watching her.

"Hmm... What is this feeling, it feels like I am being watched."thought Echidna. "Pfft, well that's a given."

"I think it's good for your health to walk outside in the garden my lady." said Annette. "These nobles sure have it easy with all these people attending on them." thought Echidna." The garden? I'll go." said Echidna.

Annette led her to the garden. "You can leave me now said Echidna. "But don't you need me to accompany you my lady."asked Annette.

"No, thank you" said Echidna. Annette thought, "well, young lady is a nice kid."

Echidna was taking a stroll in the garden. "Ah, what nice weather." exhaled Echidna. When suddenly she felt someone's eyes on her. "Who is it?come out." shouted Echidna. "Come out, or I'll poke your eyes out"

She heard a movement in the bushes behind her, she turned around. She saw a little boy coming out of the bushes. He had black hair and red eyes. Echidna walked towards him. The kid got scared." He looks exactly like the Grand Duke." thought Echidna.

"Are you the Grand Duke's son?" asked Echidna. "Ye- yes, I am, so don't you try to poke my eye out." said the boy. "I see, I won't then." replied Echidna.

" I am Ciel ,the second son of The Grand Duke and you are?" asked Ciel. Echidna lent him her hand to help him stand up. " I am Echidna, your sister.I think?" said Echidna. He seems harmless thought Echidna.

"Oh! So she is my sister. Who father was talking about." thought Ciel. " Sister, you look similar to mother!" exclaimed Ciel. " He is an innocent one." thought Echidna. "Thank you" said Echidna.

"Ciel, where are you?" shouted a voice that seemed to be approaching. "Eek! older brother Celphius caught up to me." Said Ciel. A boy approached Ciel and caught him. "Here you are. And who is this...."he stopped suddenly. "You look exactly like…" continued Celphius. "The late duchess." Echidna completed his sentence.

"Yeah, so you are Echidna, right?"asked Celphius. "Yes um... Brother" said Echidna. "Why am I happy to meet her?" thought Celphius.

Ciel said that he was coming to see Echidna. And Echidna played along. "I see, but let's go now." said Celphius. And dragged him away.

"Well, they are a lovely bunch of kids." thought Echidna.

In the grand Duke s office,

"So they have met already, huh?"muttered Gabriel. His knight told him everything.

That evening Echidna was summoned by Gabriel. She was escorted by the maid. "Sit down" said Gabriel. Echidna sat down.

"I have things to discuss with you. So? Tell me how you got involved with Drag grave?" Asked Gabriel. "They burned down the orphanage and took me away with them." said Echidna.

"I see, and most importantly,why is it that I don't sense any mana from you?" asked Gabriel. " I was robbed of it when I was younger." replied Echidna.

"Then how are you alive?" asked Gabriel. "I don't know, guess I am not human anymore." said Echidna.

"Not human,huh?" muttered Gabriel.