Chapter 2: The Last Note

I survived, though I wished I hadn’t. The pain is gone now, leaving behind only the echoes of suffering—just a memory, but a painful one. I pulled myself out of bed and made my way to the kitchen. As soon as I entered, memories surged into my mind, overwhelming me. I could almost see Master Lilia standing by the stove, preparing steak for me as she had so many times before. The sensation that welled up in me felt like nostalgia, though I couldn’t fully remember what I used to feel in those moments. It was distant, like a dream.

On the wooden table, a bag sat quietly, waiting for me. I opened it, and inside I found a letter. It was from Master Lilia.

Astra, my dear disciple,

By the time you read this, I will be gone. My time is running out, and I have left to protect you, though I know my absence will be difficult for you. There is something you must know about the curse of “Eternity” that has been placed upon you. Before I explain, I want you to remember that your name—Astra—is the name I gave you with all my heart. Never forget that. You are more than the curse that plagues you.

Your full name is Astra Le Jervual, and you are a princess of the Elven Kingdom of Literia. Your family abandoned you, leaving you to die in the forest because of the curse. I rescued you, but the truth is, the curse runs deep in the royal bloodline. The curse of Eternity passes from one child to the next, always within the royal family. It allows a demon to manifest through you, corrupting you from the inside out. The pain you endured for the past year—it was the beginning of the curse's activation.

I’m sorry, but there is no way to stop it. However, you may be able to slow the process. I don’t know how. I would suggest you search your body for a mark—you should have found it by now.

In the bag, you will find black hair dye. Use it, and venture out into the world of humans while you still can. There is also a necklace that can alter your appearance—your ears, your crimson eyes—but only to a limited extent, as it is a low-grade magical item. I’ve included gloves to help conceal the star-shaped marks on your hands. There is a map and some money in the bag. Your destination is the Royal Academy.

Find an instructor there, an old friend of mine named Collew Hardlinger. Show him the sword I’ve left for you, which is locked in my room’s drawer. That sword will be the proof he needs to trust you.

That is all I can do for you, Astra. My hope is that you find your own path, discover what emotions truly are, and experience them for yourself.

With all my love,
Lilia

Her words hit me like a tidal wave, filling me with an ache I could barely understand. There was no time to waste, though. I followed her instructions without delay. I found the new clothes she had left for me, the gloves to cover the marks, and dyed my hair black to blend in. I stood in front of the broken mirror briefly, observing the transformation as I placed the ring on my finger. My ears no longer looked pointed, and my red eyes faded into an pink tone.

I retrieved the sword from the drawer, just as she had instructed. Its blade shimmered with a deep, night-blue hue, lined with delicate gold highlights. The handle was perfectly balanced, its grip molding comfortably to my hand as if it had been forged just for me.

When I looked at myself one last time, something unexpected happened—tears began streaming down my face. I didn't understand why, but I think it’s called crying. I had never cried before. The water kept falling, but I didn’t stop it.

With that, I was ready. Ready to face the long journey ahead, ready to confront the vast universe that awaited me. Whatever the curse had in store, I would face it. I had to. For Master. For myse