The village of Aurora lay to the west of the Town of Beginnings, and to get there, I first needed to pass through a place called Flora.
It was a small, impoverished settlement nestled between the Town of Beginnings and Aurora — the kind of place where even hope seemed to avoid settling.
The Guild Master, whose name was Elsra Virelin, was — according to her own words — an elf. Or so she claimed. But according to Blue, she didn't seem like an ordinary elf. There was something... different about her.
Oh! I also asked her why the town seemed so empty. She told me there was a rumor — a strange one — about a goddess far to the west, a being said to have the power to bring back the dead.
That rumor caught my attention. If it was true… then maybe my earlier thoughts weren't just wishful thinking.
Maybe I wasn't the only one brought here.
But which mythical god or goddess could it be? There's more than one with power like that.
Well, thinking about it won't get me answers now. Let's focus on the task at hand.
It took me two days to reach the outskirts of Flora, and just as I was crossing a small stream over a narrow wooden bridge, I ran into a man from the village.
I asked him a few questions about the current state of Flora. His response was... unsettling.
"Missy, I suggest you turn back. That village will only bring you misfortune."
"And what do you mean by misfortune?"
His expression darkened, lips curling into something between fear and regret.
"Everyone with high magical energy vanishes. That place is cursed. If you value your life, turn back."
"I see... Well, thank you for your time. But I want to see this cursed village with my own eyes."
The man gave me a look of pity.
"Do what you want, but remember — I warned you."
He tipped his head and started walking away. As I waved, he glanced back at me, shook his head, and continued down the path. I could practically hear his thoughts: "Young folks these days never listen to their elders."
Or maybe that was just my imagination.
Anyway, I crossed the bridge and stood just outside the cursed village of Flora.
"Blue, do you sense anything strange?"
"I can sense a strong presence somewhere within the village. I suggest my master be cautious."
Red chimed in as well, her voice carrying a tinge of concern.
"Yes… If something were to happen to Master…"
"Stop worrying so much. Aren't you two with me?"
Oh, and if you're wondering where my two little foxes are right now... let's just say they're in a lady's spot. Not down there! Just somewhere cozy and close.
Anyway, I could sense it too — something strange. A presence, faint but undeniably strong.
Was this the curse that man mentioned?
I suddenly felt something.
"Master!"
Both Blue and Red shouted at once.
I leapt backward, but my dress still got scratched.
I looked ahead.
A woman had appeared out of thin air, her blade aimed exactly where I had stood just moments ago.
She had dark brown hair and striking violet eyes. Her voice was sharp.
"Tch. Who the hell are you?! And what are you doing here?!"
"Master! Are you okay?" Red asked, worry thick in her tone.
"Yes."
The woman's voice rose.
"Stop mumbling! Speak up! Who the hell are you?!"
I frowned. "First, you attack me, and now you demand answers? Don't you think you're the one being rude?"
Her gaze narrowed like a blade. She was preparing to strike again.
And so—
"Blue, bring out my sword."
A small portal opened beside me. A black sword slowly slid out, and I caught it. Just as I was about to tie it around my waist—
She vanished and reappeared in front of me, slashing her sword downward toward my head.
It would've split my skull — if I hadn't blocked it with the sheathed blade in one swift motion.
"Impatient, aren't we?"
Her eyes sharpened. She pressed her weight down, her strength forcing my feet into the dirt. But I flexed my arm and pushed her back, the force creating a gust of wind.
She gritted her teeth and pointed her sword at me.
"How did you do that?! Who even are you?!"
I gave her an elegant smirk, unsheathing my sword and sliding the scabbard back into Blue's portal.
"A Kenjutsu prodigy."
"What the hell is tha—"
Before she could finish, I vanished and reappeared right before her. My sword sliced through the air in a piercing arc toward her head.
She ducked — her back bending low — and I swung down again, not giving her time to breathe.
But I struck only an afterimage.
My eyes widened. She was behind me now, sword already swinging down.
It was too fast to dodge.
"Blue!"
A portal appeared where her blade would land — and it exited behind her. Her own sword cut into her back, blood gushing from the wound.
I spun and shouted—
"Blue!"
The portal vanished. My blade was now headed straight for her face — but she disappeared again, appearing some distance away.
All of it happened in seconds.
She glared, her voice trembling between rage and disbelief.
"How?! How can someone like you injure me?!"
She must've never been injured before.
And like any proper lady, I offered a gentle smile.
"Because you're weak. Extremely so."
It was true. I could feel magical energy pouring off her, and yet—I hadn't even unleashed mine. And she was already struggling.
She clenched her jaw.
"Weak?! You dare call me weak?!"
She raised her sword into the air. Magic gathered around the blade in an intense vortex.
"Sword Style: Dragon Strike!"
She lowered her sword slowly — deliberately. The entire world seemed to revolve around that one motion.
And then—
An invisible force struck my chest like a lightning bolt.
If I hadn't infused my blade with magic, I'd have been cut clean in half.
Still, blood trickled from a thin gash on my cheek.
Her eyes widened.
"H-How?! How are you still standing after that? How?!"
I understood her frustration. That technique would've killed anyone else.
But I wasn't "anyone else."
And I still hadn't shown her the full extent of my power.
But… her technique — it was beautiful. It felt like time itself slowed down.
"What was that technique called again…" I asked softly.
"What are you…"
I raised my sword into the air, focused the tiniest sliver of magic into its blade, and lowered it — gently.
"Don't tell me…?!"
"Sword Style: Dragon Strike."
For a heartbeat, time stopped.
Then—
A single cut down the middle.
The woman fell, split in two.
Dead.
"I didn't want to kill her but she tried to kill me first..."
That was my second kill. The first had been in my previous life. This time... it didn't feel as heavy.
I just hoped I wouldn't grow used to it.
But who was she? And why did she attack me?
Something about her didn't feel human.
"Blue."
She opened a portal. I retrieved my sheath and tied it around my waist.
"Thank you, Blue. You helped a lot during that battle."
"Yes, Master! I only did what was expected of me."
"Master! What about me?" Red asked with a pout in her voice.
Huh? Did she help?
"Well… I suppose you did cheer me on adorably. Good job, Red."
She radiated happiness, and I could feel the heat of her tail on my chest.
I turned away from the gruesome scene and walked into the village. The sun was beginning to set, but the eerie presence I felt earlier still lingered.
Blue confirmed it.
"Master… please be careful. Something powerful is inside the village."
My hand rested on my sword's hilt.
"Yes. And it feels much stronger than that woman."
And so, I stepped through the village gates.
***
Meanwhile…
Lint knew she was strong. But the girl she faced? She was on a completely different level. She had copied a technique that took Lint years to master… and perfected it instantly.
How could such a person exist?
But Lint had died.
Or so Yuki thought.
What he didn't realize was that Lint's body, lying behind him, had already begun the process of revival.
{Last Revival} — a skill that brought her back to life… but at a cost.
A piece of her body had to be sacrificed.
And as her body repaired itself, one thought dominated her mind:
The person who killed me… I have to find them… and...