I looked at the scroll
The Queen gave i felt strange emotions as i try too comprehend it
I had just taken a bath, trying to wash away the fatigue clinging to my body like grime. The water helped, but not enough. Now, I was in Lucy's room.
She hadn't returned for a few days. Her presence was absent, but her scent still lingered faintly on the pillows. That made me feel... guilty.
I sighed, sitting cross-legged on her bed.
"I've really messed up her plans, haven't I?"
Even though she wasn't here, I could still feel her expectations. Her presence haunted the space in the form of neatly arranged books, a half-finished charm by the windowsill, and the locked drawer I never dared open.
But what's truly troublesome… is the decision looming ahead.
The first competition of the Queen selection is starting soon.
And yet, here I was, tangled in politics, prophecies, and people who could summon tsunamis with a flick of their wrist.
I chuckled dryly.
"Am I really thinking of fighting that person? The one whose spells can sink mountains?"
I shook my head. It sounded so absurd even to myself.
And yet, something inside me whispered: Maybe… just maybe… if I train hard enough this month, I can defeat that 'emotion' she mentioned.
Was it a metaphor? Or something more literal?
I didn't know. But I knew better than to ask.
I sighed again, deeper this time, and held the scroll in my hands. I decided to study it through the night. If nothing else, I could get stronger—even if I couldn't find answers.
---
By the time dawn broke, I hadn't slept at all.
Instead, I had spent hours comprehending the Queen's scroll. The Ten Extreme Healing Techniques weren't just impressive—they were revolutionary. Unlike standard healing spells that patched wounds slowly, these could regrow limbs and restore entire muscle systems mid-battle.
One spell even let you regenerate while taking damage. It was insane.
And it was perfect for me.
By the time the sun crept over the horizon, I felt drained but satisfied. I tucked the scroll away and got dressed.
When I stepped into the garden, I found Evelyn standing there.
She looked radiant as always. Golden eyes shimmered in the light, and her golden hair cascaded down her back like flowing silk. Even from a distance, her perfume reached me—light, floral, and captivating.
As I approached, she turned and smiled gently.
"Hmm… did you sleep well?" she asked. Her voice was warm—like a mother checking on her child.
I smiled wearily. "Well, I comprehended the Ten Extreme Healing Techniques. Isn't that better than sleep?"
I chuckled softly.
She raised her hand to her flawless cheek in an exaggerated manner and sighed dramatically. "You know… rest is more important than you think."
Before I could even respond, she pressed something—a black sphere, hidden within her robe.
And just like that, reality warped around us.
We were back in the training domain.
That familiar black void surrounded us. The Queen's twisted training playground.
She chuckled, her lips curling into a teasing smile.
"Since you grew stronger again in just one day… how about we double your training to ensure continued growth?"
Her voice was sweet.
But I could feel the danger behind her words. It wrapped around me like a vice.
I immediately summoned the white staff—the sentient artifact that had become my reluctant companion.
Its cold, mocking voice echoed in my mind.
"Kid, be careful. Her intent this time is different. She doesn't care if you get injured anymore."
The staff's tone was detached, but its warning was clear. I gulped.
"Wonderful," I muttered under my breath. "Just what I needed…"
Still, what choice did I have?
Until Lucy returned, I had to survive.
---
One week passed.
In the blink of an eye, it was gone—devoured by Evelyn's monstrous training schedule.
Every single day, she pushed me past my limits. Heat spells, lightning chains, endurance tests that Exhausted me again and again.
She wore a gentle smile while doing it, of course.
But I knew better. That smile was more dangerous than any fireball.
By the time the week ended, I had somehow reached 3-Star Early Layer. My body was stronger, my reflexes sharper, and my mind more focused.
But my soul? My soul felt tired.
Now I lay sprawled out on Lucy's bed once more, the softness of the mattress a welcome relief after the torture Evelyn had called "sparring."
Tomorrow, Lucy would be back. At least, I hoped so.
Despite everything, I missed her.
Evelyn's warmth was a beautiful illusion, like sunlight in the middle of a blizzard. But Lucy's presence was different. Calmer. More grounded.
Yet I couldn't sleep.
Something gnawed at the edge of my mind—unspoken dread.
Then I felt it.
A shift in the air.
I opened my eyes slowly.
And there she was.
Izumi.
Her white hair floated gently, carried by winds that didn't exist. She stood near the window, and her blindfold had changed—now shimmering with blue sigils.
She was watching me.
Or… maybe sensing me.
I blinked. I rubbed my eyes.
But she didn't vanish.
She was really there.
Her voice, soft and almost soothing, broke the silence.
"You have one week left," she said. "Tell me—have you made your decision?"
Her words seemed warm on the surface.
But in my heart, they felt like ice.
A deep, hollow coldness seeped into my chest. I couldn't respond.
How had she gotten in here? I hadn't even noticed. No spells, no energy flares, nothing.
Just silence.
Just her.
What was she?
No 2-Star mage could slip past my senses like this. Even Evelyn couldn't appear undetected, and she was an 8-Star monster.
Izumi… was something else.
And her question hung heavy in the air.
A choice.
One week from now.
Either I would sacrifice half the people in Song Kingdom—or someone precious to me.
That's what she had warned before.
And now… the moment was approaching.
I clenched my fists.
"What's happening to me?" I whispered. "Why does this choice even exist? Why me?"
My helplessness screamed louder than my words. For a moment, I felt like I was crumbling—shattered into a thousand pieces.
I didn't know what to do. Didn't even know what I felt anymore.
That's when the staff spoke again.
Its voice cut through my mind, sharp as a blade.
"You really are pathetic," it said. "You can't save anyone. You can't even make a proper choice. My new master… is a disappointment."
The words stabbed deeper than any Words.
I sat there, hollow.
What was the point of comfort? It was just a temporary escape from a cruel reality. Nothing more.
I didn't need warmth. I didn't need soft words.
I needed answers.
And power.
My gaze turned cold.
My breathing slowed.
The light in my eyes dimmed, shadows filling the void left behind.
I've made my decision
No more hesitation.
No more fear.
[idk extra Chapter TvT]