Prologue

— Prologue —

Hey, do you know the sweetest lie we believe in? It is love.

The trees passed in a blur around me as I ran for my life. Holding a tiny infant in my bosom, I desperately tried to keep her warm with my body. But as blood kept gushing out from my wound, my body gradually became colder and colder. Even so, for her safety, I couldn’t stop here.

Behind me, a group of knights charged through the forest, their armor clanking loudly as they pursued me. I could hear their shouts and angry cries as they approached me.

"She's over there! Catch her!"

I whispered as the Animata inside my body burned hot, “Kai… lend me your strength. Ignition.” An enormous magical energy burst to strengthen my leg for just a few precious moments of speed. I rushed from one tree branch to another, trying to get away from the chaser.

But …!

Suddenly, I tripped and fell off, the wind whipped past me as I fell, from the tree. I embraced my daughter, miraculously protecting her from the fall. Fortunately, the ground was soft that we fell without any serious injury. But then, my eyes widened as I saw my left foot turn into red crystals.

“D-Dammit, why must now…?!”

As I frantically crawled away, the men effortlessly caught up to me and overpowered me. One of them yanked my hair and pressed a knife against my neck, while another crossed his arms and sneered at me. I screamed and thrashed wildly, trying to break free from their grip, but the final knight snatched Milli from my hand.

"N-no, give her back!" I shouted.

"... And what would you do, Witch of Calamity? " the Knight laughed at me.

"I'll kill you!" I shouted and released a mist of blood, however, they laughed at me.

They smiled, "It’s useless! Did you think we didn't know how your tricks work? Your magic only works if we fear you. Hahaha!”

As their laughter grew louder and more derisive, their expressions suddenly changed. Smiles transformed into twisted, horrified looks of disgust. One of the men abruptly released my arm and took off running, shouting, "No way! Stay away from me!"

The other, using his dagger, drove it deep into his comrade's chest, screaming, "You can’t run from me, you witch! AAkkkh!" But before he could do more damage, another assassin slashed him with his sword, shouting in agony,

"Stop! This voice in my head... Aaargh!” He then threw his sword and clawed his head in agony.

Their voices echoed eerily in my ears as I reached for their sword and stood up. Finally, the one who snatched Milli looked at me in fear, "What have you done? W-Why everything around me turned into monsters?"

I took back Milli from his hand and glared at him, "You made a grave mistake. I can’t use magic, fool.”

His body convulsed violently, "Aaahhhhhh!!" He collapsed onto the ground with his heart stopped beating. Mist of blood gushing from the orifices of the body of the Knights, they colluded together as a spear that rushed back to me. My head was wracked with a storm of pain as the backlash of my power continued torturing me, threatening to pull me unconscious.

“Smile of my beloved mother,” said the voice in my head.

My vision grew dim, "No... I have to find a safe place for Milli," I said while walking slowly, fighting the red crystals that slowly consumed my body.

Ironically, we crave love, having lost the warmth we used to feel… only to realize how cold our heart truly is.

The sound of my ragged breaths echoed through the trees, a haunting reminder of my desperation. I knew that I couldn't keep running forever; other knights were closing in, their footsteps growing louder with each passing moment. But then, just when I thought all hope was lost, a glimmer of light appeared in the distance. The end of this cursed forest is near.

Desperately trying to reach the light, I muttered, “Finally… we can be free, Milli.”

Suddenly I found myself at the cliff, where the largest river on the continent, Arisia, flew to the sea. I smiled wryly realizing what just happened,

“So, you decided to betray me too,” I whispered, my gaze fixed on the sunrise just beyond the horizon.

I was teleported against my will by someone… that I loved so much in this life.

I hugged Milli tightly, trying to soothe her as the angel of death approached me. She knew that she didn't need to rush because my death was imminent. I squared my shoulders, ready to face The Angel of Death with as much bravery as I could muster, knowing that I was surrounded by her entire Knights.

“It’s over, Sister. Give the Devil to me," Arielle said. Ironically, the light of sunrise turned my blonde sister into the most beautiful being in the world… hiding the blood trails behind her.

Milli's cry calmed down, as I let out a deep sigh. I formed a floating blood cocoon that cushioned Milli as I went to my final battle. With determination, I glared back at my sister and slit my neck with my claw, "In your dream!”

Yet the more we search for love, the more world hides it from us. 

Javelins of blood gushed from my carotid arteries, rushing to impale the knights. However, they easily dodged all of my attacks and even deliver the counterstrike. One of them pulled his hammer to crack the cliff and took my footing, but I easily jumped and locked his neck with my thighs before slamming his head to the ground.

I raised my arm, trying to control my blood forming a giant spike, however, a searing wind blade cut my right arm away before I finished it. As I staggered, the bravest Knight lunged his spear at me, but in desperation, I bite back his neck and tore his flesh. Forming a giant blade with the blood gushing through my severed arm, I rush to the remaining knights while shouting,

"I'll never let you have her, never!!"

But the truth is, what we yearn for is a family, having lost the bond that we had once.

Suddenly, Arielle commanded her knights to retreat as she unsheathed her black sword. She gazed at me with contempt before executing her swordplay with breathtaking elegance. With ease, she deftly deflected my frantic strikes and delivered a decisive blow to my stomach. I stumbled backward and made another attempt to attack, but Arielle countered each one effortlessly. She didn't even resort to using magic, as if to highlight the vast difference in our powers.

“It's useless. You’d never bested me in our duel, Sister,” Arielle said while approaching the cocoon.

I grabbed her leg and said, “No, don't touch my Daughter!”

Arielle let out a disappointed sigh, “…" I couldn't understand. Why are you always becoming a nuisance? With Ideal White, all of the world's sufferings would end. We just need to use that replaceable piece of meat as a sacrifice to the gods,” she said, looking at me painfully,

“This Devil isn’t a human. It’s just a chalice to Ideal White,” she continued.

“No! I’ll never let you use her like a tool, you monster!”

"Monster? Hahahaha! That’s rich, coming from you. My dear sister, we’re BOTH monsters. Don't you pretend to be human in front of me!" Arielle laughed before turning a disgusted face, “Or… Do you honestly believe in a mother's unconditional love, even after everything that happened to us?” she said.

After letting me go, Arielle snatched Milli from her cocoon and smiled at me.

"Don't worry, I'll take really good care of Milli for you, Big Sis.”

I stood up and sharpened my claw with every ounce of strength I had left. With the red crystals now covering every inch of my body, I knew instinctively that I couldn’t defeat Arielle. However, I had to no matter the cost. I’ll never let Milli suffer the same fate as me!

With a primal scream, I charged toward her, my claws glinting in the light. But Arielle's smile only grew wider, as if she was relishing in my agony. And then suddenly, I felt a searing pain as twelve spears pierced through my flesh, pinning me to the ground.

As life slips away from my heart, I desperately try to reach Milli. But then I could only watch in horror as the crystal consumed my arm. It was… too late. My vision faded to black, and the only sound left was the haunting echo of Milli's cries.

"Someday... I will... save you, Milli."

Thus, we covet the White Ideal, in the hope to change the sweetest lie in the world into the truth.

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