Several hours earlier.

The servant carefully observed the young girl standing in front of him, smiling innocently. He was supposed to be the one guarding the main entrance of the mansion starting now. Another person was supposed to guard it alongside him, but that person fell ill today, so he was on his own.

’But she only asked me to clean something, it wouldn’t take that long, would it?’

Indeed, it would take only a few minutes at best. What could happen in that short amount of time?

Having convinced himself, the servant turned around and began walking back towards the mansion. But the closer he got to the mansion’s door, the slower his steps became. Until his feet came to a stop.

’It’s suspicious.’

He didn’t know what was suspicious, but he had a strong feeling that something indeed was. Just then, he spotted a maid nearby. She was tending to plants. He hurriedly approached her.

"I need to clean something in the mansion, but I’m supposed to be guarding the main entrance right now. Could you please do it in my stead?"

The maid turned to him, giving him a look of suspicion after she processed his words.

’What? You think I’m lying and trying to slack off?’

In the end, she did not say anything, quietly walking into the mansion as if silently agreeing to help him.

But he had a feeling that rumors about him being a slacker were going to spread the next day.

Turning around, he walked toward the main entrance with haste. Not long after, he saw the young lady moving towards the bushes nearby as she walked carefully on her tiptoes.

She quietly hid in a bush and peeked her head out, cautiously observing the servant standing guard by the gate. He also hid in the bushes a few meters behind her, careful to cover himself properly. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

’As I thought, she’s very suspicious.’

He had his eyes focused on her as he waited patiently. After a while, the servant guarding the door left his post and hurried toward the mansion.

’He’s probably going to look for me.’

But as soon as the servant’s figure disappeared into the distance, the young lady dashed toward the main gate as if she had been waiting. It was so sudden that even he wasn’t able to react in time.

’Wait, what’s that sound?’

A sonorous, jingling sound entered his ears, distracting him for a moment. By the time he regained his focus, the young lady had already escaped outside.

He ran after her in panic.

Where was she even going? He followed her closely for a few moments, ready to take her back, but she only seemed to be looking around. He was supposed to bring her back inside the mansion, but he hesitated.

He wanted to see why she had sneaked out in the first place. He could simply bring her back afterwards.

"–Ugh."

He was so focused on following her that he bumped shoulders with someone. A stranger wearing an old, worn-out robe.

"Oh, forgive me."

He offered a brief apology, which was ignored. But when he turned back, the young lady was gone.

’What...?’

He looked around but couldn’t find her anywhere. A chill ran down his spine as he broke into a sprint, searching desperately.

If something happened to her, he would have to take responsibility. The Count and Countess were kind people, but they were also known to love their daughter dearly. He didn’t want to imagine what would happen to him.

’I should’ve just brought her back to the mansion earlier.’

But of course, it was too late for regrets.

For a long time, he continued searching desperately under the sun’s blazing heat. His entire body was soaked with sweat.

Around the time the sun was about to set, his eyes spotted long, pinkish-purple hair far in the distance. He ran forward desperately.

"Haah... haah..."

’Ah, I’m saved.’

***

After being ’captured’ by the servant, Evangeline was taken back to the mansion. She had tried making excuses, tried to strike a deal, tried to look pitiful. But the servant simply didn’t bat an eye.

He had a smile that stretched a bit too wide. From his expression, it felt as though he bet his entire life on a gamble and somehow won.

Now, she sat on a cushioned chair in the main hall, with her head lowered and her hands on her knees. Both her parents sat across from her, looking at her with a sad, disappointed gaze.

The sun had set, and the night sky was just about to show the first star. The surroundings were illuminated by lamps attached to the walls.

"Why, baby? Why did you do it? Couldn’t you have talked to Mama? I would’ve listened, I promise."

Her mother’s voice finally broke the silence.

Evangeline didn’t answer; she simply lowered her head further as if in shame and remorse.

...Though obviously, it was just an act. After all, she hadn’t committed some sort of crime. She simply sneaked out of her home to have fun. Well, sure, she didn’t tell her parents, and that’s wrong since she was technically only ten.

Still, what other choice did she have?

But even though she didn’t feel any remorse, she needed to pretend that she did, to gain their sympathy. She should be forgiven soon if all went according to plan.

Her father leaned in slightly and followed up with her mother’s words.

"Evangel, your mother asked you a question. If you really wanted to go outside, then why didn’t you talk to us? Why did you do it this way?"

She opened her mouth, but hesitated. When she spoke, she made sure to make her voice tremble slightly.

"B-because nobody would’ve let me go even if I asked. I know you have forbidden it for a reason, but I just... couldn’t help myself."

She lowered her tone.

"But I know I was wrong, I’m sorry. I will never do something like this again."

She lifted her gaze very slightly and glanced at their expressions. They no longer had disappointment in their eyes, and the sadness had almost faded as well. Evangeline pumped up her fist in her mind.

’It’s working.’

Her father sighed.

"There’s only about a week left before your engagement. After that, you can go wherever you want; we won’t stop you. It’s just... It’s not very safe for you, as things stand."

’Yeah, I know.’

Although she didn’t know the reason, she was sure her parents had a reason for doing the things they did. Still, she was willing to take risks if needed.

Her mother let out an exhausted sigh, then smiled brightly and spoke in a somewhat playful tone, perhaps to lighten ‌the atmosphere.

"Well, since you’ve already returned from your little sneak-out adventure, why don’t you share your experiences? Mama is quite curious, to tell you the truth."

Evangeline had to give her all to keep her expression from crumbling as she heard her mother.

After all, if she really were to share everything she had experienced during her time outside, then she was sure her parents would either faint from shock or lock her up in her room as punishment.

Flint’s face briefly came to her mind.

’I wonder if he’ll be okay.’

Although she was worried, things weren’t looking that bad. That man surely wouldn’t abandon Flint; he felt guilty for his crimes, after all. Besides, she had secretly given Flint her pouch, which should contain a significant amount of money, so he should be fine.

Suddenly, she remembered another detail, something she had almost forgotten because of the chaotic situation back then. She looked at both ‌her parents as she opened her mouth.

"Actually, there was something strange I experienced during that time. My vision had suddenly shifted, and I was in a place of complete darkness. I saw a massive black sun high above me, bound in translucent blue chains. But the next moment it was all gone as if it were an illusion."

She hesitated.

"But... but I’m sure it wasn’t simply an illusion; I had felt everything too clearly. I just don’t know why that happened to me and what that vision meant."

After hearing her explanation, her parents turned and looked at each other quietly as their expressions changed, becoming more serious. The hall suddenly turned silent, and sweat began to form on her forehead.

’Why are they reacting this way? Is it something bad?’

If she thought logically, it should be something bad. The black sun, the darkness, all of it created the perfect image of evil deities or dark forces.

But to her, it didn’t feel like something bad, something that could harm her. In fact, it felt almost the opposite.

Moments later, her parents turned to Evangeline, making her gulp. Then, suddenly, her mother stretched her lips into a wide smile. She raised both her hands in the air as she cheered.

"Congratulations! The vision that you described is a symptom everyone experiences while awakening their Origin ability."

Evangeline suddenly felt a strong sense of déjà vu. She was reminded of the time she did ‌that orb test to find out her elemental affinity.

"Origin ability? What’s that?" She asked in confusion.

"It’s a unique power people can awaken after reaching the Origin Phase. I will explain it in detail later. For now, let’s find out what your Origin ability is."

Her mother stood and left the room, leaving her alone with her father. She looked at her father quietly, and he looked back while smiling softly. Her mother returned after some time, carrying an extremely thick book and something that resembled a shard of a mirror in her hands.

Evangeline noticed her mother’s hair, which was now slightly disheveled, and she let out a tired sigh.

’Looks like another perfectly organised room was sacrificed.’

She was already feeling bad for the maid who would have to clean that room.

Sitting down, her mother handed the thick book to her father. Evangeline was able to take a quick peek at the book’s cover, and she thought she spotted the crest of the Imperial family on it.

Her mother leaned in slightly and handed the mirror shard-looking object in her hands with a delicate, careful motion.

"Sweetie, look at yourself in this mirror shard, let it capture your reflection. It will then show you the name of your Origin ability."

Evangeline carefully examined the shard in her hand, moving her gaze from its surface to the edges. The more she looked, the more it seemed like a shard of a broken mirror.

’Let’s see.’

Holding it with both hands, she turned the shard toward herself as her reflection appeared within it. At first, she simply waited for the shard to reveal the name of her Origin ability. But after a few moments, she forgot all about it as she began admiring her appearance reflected in the mirror shard.

’Have I become even cuter?’

1

But moments later, her reflection grew blurry as grey letters suddenly appeared on the shard’s surface.

⟦A▮▮▮▮r▮▮▮ o▮ Origin: Vox Imperium⟧