His eyes darted around at the suspicious onlookers circling us like vultures. If this had been a normal situation, I probably would’ve been executed on the spot—for tackling a noble.

There are quite a bit of nosey people here. And why do they make the stares so obvious?

“We can’t speak much longer here,” he muttered, low and clipped. “Where did you come from? How did you get here?”

I pointed in the direction I came from—the forest trail hidden in the corner of the park.

His brows knitted. “That makes no sense. There shouldn't be nothing beyond those trees”

“But I did leave out of there”, I motioned for him to follow. We slipped through the opening in the trees and returned to the dense quiet of the woods.

Where did mom have us living? Nothing beyond the trees, I came beyond the trees. 

Halfway down the path, he paused, scanning the ground as if something was out of place or unfamiliar. I too started to look out of curiosity.Something glittered in the dirt. He bent over and picked up a palm-sized object—round, smooth, embedded with a cluster of small colored gems. His fingers brushed over it. Slowly, he brought it to his face, pressing it against his skin.

Was that there when I came past the first time? 

Realization hit him like a slap. Pride shimmered in his expression… then quickly drowned beneath in sorrow. He masked it. Quickly. Efficiently. He doesn’t like to show emotion. Who am I to judge? I’m the same way.

“I know your mother had this made,” he said.

I stayed quiet. I wanted to hear every word.

“You don’t know what this is, do you?” he asked softly. “Only mages can craft magical items like this. And yet…” He shook his head.

It's magic sir, better yet based on memories that's either a tool or an item. Im still a bit confused on which is which since rena was only giving a rough course years ago.

“Your mother was a genius. She created a magical formula that combined transportation magic with spatial displacement and made it more stable, less risk, less injuries.She found the stones, studied the resonance, sourced the gems herself—and high chance taught some idiot how to forge the enchantment for her. I should’ve realized sooner. This place… this entire area… it’s outside of the Empire’s magical detection range.”

So we were living outside the empire? Unable to be detected? Who was Mom trying to hide from? What was her goal of running away?

I stared at him, slack-jawed. 

Mixing two magic types? Mother always says how controlling and mastering one magic type was difficult to do. Even seasoned mages struggled with fusion spells, and crafting magical artifacts required intense mana precision, for the first few years if not decades of their magic journey. 

She did it all without magic. Just knowledge. Just willpower. Her own talents, own merits. And convincing someone with magic to put it all together.

I knew… Rena knew our mother was an manaless genius. Her as a person was undervalued. Yet still, that sounds impossible to do for a person with no mana.

He returned the enchanted item to where he found it, reverently, as if placing a relic back on its altar. I led him the rest of the way in silence, through the wild untamed greenery to the cabin where I had lived my entire life.

His expression shifted again—disgust this time. His eyes scanned the warped roof, the patched walls, the collapsing front steps. I said nothing.

It's a lot ragged mostly because of time, no real supplies, and little to no man power to fix the whole cabin. It need demolition to be rebuilt. But this is where we lived for years. Grew up, learned to walk, talk, craft, etc. with my mom. Gentle, sweet and loving.

Words would only stir up emotion, and we were both running low on strength. He stepped carefully through the cabin, inspecting everything with a calculating stare. Eventually, he pushed open the back door and stepped outside.

I should stop him before he gets back there. Before he sees.. before the question comes out. Before the memory completely surfaces.

I knew what was back there. I ran, feet slipping in the wet grass, I don’t want to talk about what's back there. But I was too late.

He stood frozen, eyes locked on the small patch of fresh dirt in the corner of the backyard. A ring of wildflowers had been carefully planted around the grave. A wooden plaque stood at its head, beautifully carved despite the lack of tools:

Beloved Mother. Kind. brilliant. resilient.

“Did you bury her?” he asked.

I said nothing. Couldn’t. The silence stretched long enough to hurt. When he turned to look at me, his eyes glistened. Grief met mine. We didn’t need words. My tears answered for me, trailing quietly down my cheeks.

I too am lost in a sea of unspoken heartbreak. Rena pain of having a deceased mother. The only parent she had the chance to be around. To hug her, hold her, raise her. The only human being rena has ever been around. Gone. 

Lost. so very lost.

Then I asked, voice trembling but firm, “Are you going to get me in?” Switching the conversation.  from the expression on his face neither does he not right now. Not the talk of when and how she died. My stomach is starting to get a bit queasy. I take in a deep breath before I slowly let it out.

We need to cut this depressing tension. I can’t handle Rena's memories. It is not only stirring her depression but mines as well. I don’t want to vomit.

His jaw flexed. “Can I get you in?” he repeated. “Yes.” A pause. “Should I? No.”

That cut the tension. 

His voice was sharper now, protective. “Acreon isn’t a safe place for people without money or power. It’s not a school—it’s a battlefield in disguise. And you—” He took a step forward. “—do you even know if you can use magic?”

I clenched my fists. “No. But I can learn. And if you won’t help me—then I’ll find another way.”What else will I do? Will he let me live a magicless spoiled life? Do I want to?

His expression was unreadable. But I saw it again—that flicker of emotion. Regret. Something more. Maybe he wouldn’t say it out loud. But he knew. He owed us this. My mom. Rena; Me.

"I know I have mana within me. Mom told me—since I am your daughter, since I came from a strong, fantastically talented Magic Knight—she had no doubt that you blessed me with the great bloodline that you have. If you can wholeheartedly believe I’m your daughter based on her words… So can I. I believe her words too." I mumbled through gritted teeth.

Rena never once showed doubt in her mother’s words. So I took will trust in her words. But her intentions for one are not sure.