Ch1

**NALIA**

If I had to state an exact moment my life started going downhill, I would say it was the very moment I was brought into this god forsaken world. I don't believe in any "All-powerful" being or whatever those radicals down at the Sanctuary believe but I know if there was one, then they would have to be sick to build this sort of rigged world.

I sigh as I walk farther away from the little cottage I call my home. It has been eight years since I started living in Rovar, a small quaint town located not too far away from the Capital. It's a peaceful place, calm and beautiful. Due to how close it is to the Capital, the aftermath of the war can barely be felt here. The economy thrives, the environment is a sight to be behold. It would have been perfect if not for the abundance of mages in the town.

Rovar, despite being a small town, is where one of the Empire's largest mage academies, Devaurne's, is located. Students from far and wide troop into the town every season, looking for a chance to attend the academy. You could find them literally anywhere, at the grocery store, at the adults pub past curfew, at the gambling house. I try my best to avoid them but like I said, "All-powerful guy" is sick.

I readjust my bag on my back as I get closer to the herbs store. The owner of the store is an old friend of my mum's so she always gives me a discount. Of course it helps that she also knows a lot about medicinal alchemy and considers me family.

My mother had been a maid at the Atherton house, one of the noble families in the Empire. My father, a count as of then, took a liking to her and raped her while she worked. When my mother found out she was pregnant, she ran away in fear. Four years after I was born, the Count's first daughter died from an unknown sickness and I was brought into their home to serve as a replacement. For a while it was blissful, I ate to my satisfaction and there was finally a roof over my head. Then the Count's wife gave birth to a baby girl, blessed with magic power like none the family had ever seen. I lost my importance after that and my mother was subjected to humiliation on a daily.

When I turned nine, my mother came down with the same illness that had killed the Count's first daughter. My little half sister, Estelle, was only five then but she had already begun to show the sort of person she would become. After crying before her father and screaming, "That woman will infect me!", the Count threw my mother and I out. The store owner, Gaby, took my mother and I and helped us find a new home. To me she is beyond irreplaceable.

"G'morning Aunt Gaby!", I said as I pushed open the store door. There was no one at the counter but I paid no mind to it. I took my bag and went around picking up herbs to brew a tea for my mother. Gaby has been helping us with the dosages. Honestly, she's the only reason my mother's still alive. After filling my bag, I went back to the counter to pay but there was still no one. I waited for a bit then went to find her.

I opened the door leading to the backroom and I was assaulted by the pungent smell of iron. I relled over and immediately covered my nose with my sleeve, the smell was horrible.

"Aunt Gaby, where are you?"

Still no response, so I decided to go deeper into the backroom. The store has a door connecting the backroom to the back yard, so I figured maybe she was behind. The door burst open before I could finish thinking properly and a sweaty Gaby stood before me.

"Pumpkin. What are you doing here?"

"Morning to you too. I couldn't find you so I came behind."

"Well, you've seen me. Leave."

"Well, aren't you just jolly this fine morning? What is that horrendous stench?"

I made an attempt to come closer and Gaby visibly frowns. Her shirt is sticking to her body like it's been glued on, her face is pale and her fingers are shaking. I frown as I take in her appearance, something is terribly wrong somewhere. On closer look I notice the manner in which her fingers are twitching, it's a sign language she taught me when I was young. I remember thinking it was absolutely useless because the language was basically dead.

"Aunt Gaby, I don't have the time for games. Are you alright?"

"Heavens, Nalia, pay attention and leave."

Her fingers are twitching and her face seems even paler than it was a moment ago. The hairs on the back of my neck stand and a strange sense of danger comes over me. I look at her fingers again.

Run. Find Mom. It's not safe here.

"It's not safe here?", the moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

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