Eventually, I opened my eyes and my gaze was captured by a completely unfamiliar room. I lay on a soft, warm surface and couldn't move or speak. My body felt strange, as if it weren't mine. Everything around me seemed large and old-fashioned, as if I were trapped in a long-forgotten time. After some time, I managed to move a little. My arms and legs were tiny and delicate, and I realized I was trapped in a baby's body. An overwhelming shock ran through me: I was a baby! The realization hit me like a blow, and I couldn't help but cry and scream. Desperation and fear filled my small body. But my cries went unanswered. No one came to check on me, which gave me an even greater sense of loneliness and abandonment. Wasn't it customary to care for a crying newborn? I felt lost and frightened.

But suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching the room. A woman with brown hair tied up in a strict bun looked down at me. Her expression revealed no kindness but rather annoyance or even disgust. Although I didn't understand her words, her facial expression clearly reflected that she didn't think anything nice about me. She grabbed me roughly and held me like a sack of rice. A sharp pain ran through my body, and I couldn't help but scream in pain. "That hurts!" I yelled, but only loud wailing and sobbing came out of my mouth.

We left the room, and I dared to look around a bit. The people around me seemed to ignore my presence as if I were invisible. They were wearing clothing that looked like medieval servant attire, and their language was completely foreign to me. My head throbbed with pain, and sudden nausea overcame me. My vision became blurred, and everything around me slowly turned black.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a gloomy, cold environment. The smell of damp masonry and musty wood filled the air. The room was dimly lit, with only a faint light coming through the small narrow window adorned with thick iron bars. It seemed as if centuries had passed since the last sunlight touched this room. The walls of the room were made of gray, peeling plaster, with damp spots evident in some places. The stones underneath were rough and uneven, as if time had gnawed at them. The corners were filled with dark shadows that seemed to take on scary shapes, intensifying the feeling of oppression.

In one corner of the room stood a broken wooden table, its once smooth surface marked with numerous notches and burn marks. A few worn-out chairs with loose seat cushions surrounded the table, their once magnificent upholstery now torn and dusty. On the opposite wall, there was a dilapidated shelf that seemed to be burdened by the weight of the past years. The wooden boards were bent and bowed, some even broken, and the few remaining items on it looked neglected and worthless. Some broken clay pots, rusty tools, and yellowed scrolls and books.

The cold, dusty floor consisted of rough stone slabs, uneven and cracked. The floor seemed to have borne the weight of many steps and the suffering of many prisoners for centuries. It was a place filled with dark memories and sad stories. In this small shabby room, time seemed to stand still, as if it had been forgotten and abandoned.

Hours passed, but no one came to check on me. Cold tears streamed uncontrollably down my cheeks. I couldn't help but cry and sob. My body ached, but what was even worse was the agonizing uncertainty that surrounded me. Why was I here? Would I ever see my beloved family and friends again? As I sank into self-pity, the room gradually became brighter. Small, glowing orbs began to gather around me. I had never seen anything like it before. The pain subsided, and a comforting warmth filled my body.

Several years passed, during which I learned a lot about the world I was trapped in. It was a world full of magic, monsters, and other fascinating magical beings. I was in the Kingdom of Azariel in the south. My father was a respected duke who held a high status both within the church and the royal family. His family was revered as Saints for their healing magic and regarded as messengers of God. On the other hand, my mother was a nun who was subordinate to my father. However, she was killed for giving birth to me. Rumors claimed that she was a demon who enchanted my father. But the truth was quite different. My father had forced himself on my mother, and when the truth threatened to come to light, he concocted this absurd story.

(Haru's Mother)

Furthermore, I learned that my father was already married and had two other children. So, I had an older sister and an older brother. However, they had not even visited me so far. I was isolated and kept confined in a room on our family estate. My white hair and red eyes were considered a bad omen, and the servants were convinced that I was a demon.

Despite everything, I didn't feel alone because I had the lights around me. They turned out to be nature spirits, revealing themselves to me in the form of small glowing orbs. Over time, I managed to communicate with them. They didn't speak words, but I could receive their thoughts and images in my mind. They taught me the language and informed me about the events outside my prison cell. Without them, I would probably have succumbed to death long ago. They brought me fruits, vegetables, and water, and with their magical power, they cleaned me, even though it was initially extremely embarrassing and uncomfortable for me. Every few days or weeks, a servant would come to bring me rotten food and a cup of water. Each time, I would be insulted and called a monster. I noticed that apparently only I could see the nature spirits, as the others showed no reaction to them. They were my only companions in this gloomy world, providing me with comfort and hope.

Years passed, and I grew older, but my situation hardly changed. I remained trapped in my tight captivity, isolated from the outside world and forgotten by my own family. There were moments when I felt desperate, longing for freedom and a normal life. But then I remembered the words of the nature spirits, who encouraged me and reminded me that I was unique and valuable, regardless of the rejection and hatred I encountered.

So, more days went by, and I found solace in the stories and legends the nature spirits told me. They spoke of brave heroes, magical artifacts, and a world beyond my limited existence. I began to dream of adventures and a life full of freedom and possibilities. And in my dreams, I felt alive, strong, and full of hope.

Although I was trapped in a small, dingy room, my mind was free. I was determined to take control of my own destiny and write my own story. The nature spirits were my allies, and with their help, I would find a way to escape this dark captivity and live my life this time without restrictions, without pretending.

By now, I was about eight years old when a servant entered my room once again. But this time, something was different. The food she brought me was fresh and still warm. The enticing aroma filled my nose, and it was the first time in years that I smelled something so delicious. The nature spirits buzzed around the food, trying to take it away from me. The words "danger" and "poisonous" echoed in my head. So, the food was poisoned. As much as I craved it, I knew I couldn't eat it. The nature spirits screamed in my mind, as if warning me of the danger. Disappointed, I lowered my head and whispered to myself, "Is there really no way to enjoy this food?"

In that moment, I heard a loud bang. One of the few books remaining on the shelf fell to the ground. It was barely legible and had a musty smell to it, but I could decipher a few lines. It was about healing magic and the ability of purification. With the help of some nature spirits, I managed to understand the words. However, I had not yet developed the ability to use magic.

The nature spirits can only use elemental magic, including water, fire, earth, and air magic. There are other types of magic like dark or light magic, to which healing magic belongs. So far, I had only tried elemental magic, which the nature spirits patiently tried to teach me but without success. My "family" belongs to the most powerful healers in the country, if not the world. Perhaps it is hereditary, and I possess some healing powers as well, considering that I also have "holy blood" to some extent.

I wondered if I might possess natural healing abilities dormant within me. With the support of the nature spirits, I could only hope to discover and unleash my own magical powers. The pages of the old book rustled in my hands as I immersed myself in it, dreaming of the possibilities that healing magic could offer me.