Another year has passed since Luna and Farkas joined Tarrin, the village where Rohan and I reside. While nothing significant has occurred, I can't help but feel a tinge of nostalgia for the old days of adventure and unrestricted freedom. Nevertheless, life here with Akio is also fulfilling. Although Akio initially seemed apprehensive around Ilya, it appears they are gradually building a bond. Well, at least I hope so.

Rohan and Farkas engage in friendly competition, constantly vying to outdo each other. Their rivalry often results in an abundance of goods and resources circulating throughout the village. At times, they resemble mischievous children, and I wonder when they will finally grow up.

In just one year, Akio has grown by leaps and bounds. It's evident that he will become a tall and sturdy individual in the future. He even attempts to form complete sentences, albeit consisting mostly of gibberish. Nonetheless, he manages to pronounce certain words correctly. Recently, we celebrated his second birthday. With winter fast approaching, preparations for the cold season are underway, primarily focused on ensuring Akio's well-being, as our elven and human bodies possess greater resilience to disease and the chill.

Rohan, my husband, is an elf, while I am human. Although my lifespan extends far beyond the current moment—I have a couple of centuries left—I still can't match the longevity of an elf's bloodline. It saddens me to think that I won't be able to accompany Rohan until his last days. Nevertheless, we have shared a joyous life thus far, and I have no regrets.

The human bloodline comprises two distinct power systems. One resembles that of a Mage, granting the ability to manipulate the energy corresponding to their affinity and cast spells without cooldown, essentially spamming attacks. However, there is a limit to the number of spells that can be cast, with a personal threshold of around 150 before depletion, which can only be replenished over time. Initially, a novice of this bloodline can only cast one or two spells. My affinity happens to be darkness. The other path a human can take is emotion-based, where the strength gained is proportional to the intensity of the emotions experienced. Thomas, for instance, harnessed anger and various emotions to enhance different aspects of his abilities: anger increased his physical strength, while calmness heightened his mental acuity and response time. Yet, no individual has achieved complete mastery of a single emotion. The highest-ranked human in the world has only reached 95% intensity of a specific emotion, and even then, it was a one-time occurrence. Thomas also possessed a spear, a weapon inherent to the bloodline. Once a human reaches 60% intensity in any emotion, they are bestowed with a weapon crafted from emotions themselves—a devastating force capable of decimating entire cities if unleashed.

Elven bloodlines, on the other hand, diverge significantly. Elves do not select their affinities; instead, they must venture to affluent regions saturated with the desired energy and spend years absorbing and manipulating that energy. Naturally, rarer energies prove more challenging to locate, such as time and space, while elements like wind and water are relatively more accessible. Elves possess the ability to acquire multiple affinities by visiting different energy-rich areas, with the duration of attaining each affinity dependent on the scarcity of the energy. Even after obtaining affinities, they must master the manipulation of their chosen elements and expand their manipulation zone to increase the range and effectiveness of their spells.

Despite these disparities, Rohan and I continue to love each other deeply. However, I worry that our son may face discrimination as a half-breed, as society tends to view them less favorably than pure-blooded humans