Volume 7, Chapter 3 – Intertwined Dreams

Everywhere she looked, the world was cast in a blurred, hazy yellow hue.

The Land of Exile.

Anastasia was all too familiar with this place.

As far as the eye could see, there were only dilapidated stone houses—and even stone houses were considered luxury accommodations here. Most people lived in hovels cobbled together from a few wooden boards and tattered rags. These shacks stood haphazardly upon the earth, making the streets twist and turn, often so narrow that only two people could pass side-by-side. The ground was littered with undrained puddles, the black water within emitting a foul stench. No one knew how long this stagnant water had sat there; it was possible it had existed in the Land of Exile longer than the lifespan of the elves living there.

So hungry.

Before Anastasia could even react, her stomach screamed its presence. She snapped back to reality; it had been a very long time since she had last eaten a proper meal. If not for the survival skills she had learned from her father, she might have already ended up like the beggars by the roadside—those who had more breath leaving them than entering—able only to tighten their belts and curl up in a corner to eke out a meager existence.

At that thought, Anastasia stole a timid glance at the beggars lying by the road. Though these emaciated people, who were little more than skin and bones, remained motionless, she knew they weren’t dead. These beggars were waiting for someone nearby to finally draw their last breath; then, they would swarm forward like starving wolves scenting meat to feast upon the deceased. This was a common sight in the Land of Exile.

The Land of Exile bordered the Netherworld, and its environment was even harsher than that of Cold Night. Even if one managed to plant crops, the harvest was never enough to fill one’s belly—to say nothing of the fact that crops were often stolen under the cover of night by envious eyes before they could even ripen.

The Kingdom’s aid never reached this far, and there was no law to speak of. Theft, robbery, kidnapping, and murder—all sorts of dark, unsightly evils were common occurrences here. Even if they happened in broad daylight, the people living in the mire wouldn’t care. Or rather, most people would cheer and find amusement in it, feeding off the misery of others.

Wishing to avoid any involvement with such people, Anastasia felt eyes watching her. She pulled her cloak tight with her left hand and gripped the longsword at her waist—which was taller than she was—with her right. Children and young girls were a rare commodity here. Male elves could be sold for a good price, but girls could be used as merchandise repeatedly. Anastasia had seen women who had been abducted; their hollow, lifeless eyes were no different from those of the walking dead. Had she not been too young to be considered “merchandise” yet, she would have been targeted the moment she stepped out her door.

If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll run into a lone undead…

If she could just get the head of a Skeleton Soldier, she could exchange it at the center of the Land of Exile for food and daily necessities. In this place, such things were a currency more valuable than Imperial gold coins.

However, taking down a skeleton was incredibly difficult. The Kingdom didn’t issue decent equipment to criminals like them, and the undead usually appeared in groups. Furthermore, they were in a constant state of starvation. For a child like her to defeat a Skeleton Soldier, she had to rely entirely on luck.

“Little sister, where are you going?”

As Anastasia pushed forward with her head down, a tall figure blocked her path. She frowned and took a step back, drawing her longsword slightly from its sheath.

“Move.”

“Ooh, such a temper. It’s dangerous to carry a weapon on the streets at such a young age. Why don’t you sell it to us? We’ll give you whatever you want in exchange.”

The man blocking Anastasia spoke flippantly, his eyes filled with greed as he looked at the longsword. Even though Anastasia had done her best to smear the scabbard with mud to make it look rusty and old, a scabbard was a rarity in itself in the Land of Exile.

“Move.”

There was a growing note of impatience in Anastasia’s voice. Gentleness was a luxury in the Land of Exile; one could only protect themselves by appearing dangerous.

“You really think you’re something, don’t you? Your trashy father didn’t give our boss any face, and now even you dare to look down on us? Who do you think you are!”

“Jack.”

The man raised his foot, preparing to kick Anastasia, but a large hand gripped his shoulder. Subsequently, another even taller man appeared before Anastasia.

Anastasia had seen this man before. He was the local thug of this area. Whenever someone new entered his territory, he would show up to collect a “residency fee.” Unfortunately, her father had been in no mood to deal with him, leading to a dispute. In the end, this man was no match for Clark; he had been beaten so badly his face was black and blue, and he couldn’t get out of bed for several days.

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It’s over.

Anastasia’s heart sank. Because Clark had been drunk for several days, she had been forced to go out alone to find something to fill her stomach. Now that she had encountered her father’s enemy, she feared she wouldn’t make it through today.

Forcing herself to keep her legs from trembling, Anastasia swallowed hard. She was only an elf in her seventies, and her mana was only at the First Rank. It was impossible for her to defeat these men with their bulging muscles.

The local thug narrowed his eyes, his expression growing increasingly vicious.

“Hand over three gold coins for the residency fee, and I’ll let you pass. Those are the rules.”

“Three gold coins? You could sell all of yourselves and you wouldn’t be worth three gold coins. If you harm me, my father won’t let you get away with it.”

“Let us get away with it? Based on that drunkard father of yours? There are plenty of people in the Land of Exile who could kill him. Besides, he’s just a drunk—you’re nothing but a burden to him.”

Tch.

Anastasia screamed internally. This thug was right. If Clark were even remotely useful, she wouldn’t have to come out alone to hunt undead for bread. The truth was, even if she died here, Clark wouldn’t care. That man was already blinded by hatred.

“I don’t have gold coins. The only thing of value I have is this sword. Take it if you want it.”

“Aren’t you a valuable piece of cargo yourself? Criminals from the Royal Capital are always fair-skinned and tender. Although you’re a bit small, Baron Yarua has plenty of fat pigs who like this sort of thing. If we offer you up to them, the reward will be much more than three gold coins.”

Scanning Anastasia up and down within her cloak, the man stroked his chin as if remembering something, an indecent smile gradually appearing on his face.

“It might be nice to have a taste ourselves before selling you off. Stripping you in front of your father and letting him hear your screams—he’d surely make a fine expression. Just thinking about it gets my blood pumping… interesting.”

“Scum.”

Anastasia’s curse displeased the man. He waved his hand heavily, signaling his subordinates to seize her. Anastasia immediately turned to run, but by the time she regained her bearings, she was already surrounded.

I’ll take a few of them down with me before I die.

With a fierce look in her eyes, Anastasia drew her longsword with a sharp shing . But just then, a voice as clear as a bell rang out through the street—a tone so out of place with the murky air that it sounded like an angel descending upon the mortal world.

“Wait!”

Everyone instinctively looked toward the source of the voice. There, a young girl with flowing light-green hair, exuding an atmosphere of elegance and refinement, appeared before them. It was as if she were surrounded by an elven blessing; simply standing there, she radiated a pure white, shimmering light.

Hope instantly flooded Anastasia’s eyes.

“Erin—”

The underage Erin Slate signaled Anastasia with her eyes, gesturing for her not to speak. She walked toward the local thug alone, then forcefully unfastened the sapphire necklace from her neck and handed it to the man.

“This is a craft from the Royal Capital. The raw material is a Snow Lotus Gem from the northern part of the Kingdom. Normally, a single bead could be exchanged for ten gold coins. A finished piece of this size would easily fetch a hundred gold coins. I’ll use this to buy this girl’s safety. Is it enough?”

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“It’s Grand Duke Herr’s daughter.”

“Grand Duke Herr has a Fourth Rank retainer with him, and it seems like several Third Rank guards too!”

The beggars watching the commotion from afar whispered. The local thug’s face turned various shades of pale and green. He knew Erin Slate was Grand Duke Herr’s eldest daughter, and he was no match for those guards. Furthermore, Grand Duke Herr still possessed many valuables. If the Grand Duke were to give those valuables to the thug’s superior, his superior might just hand his current status and power over to the Grand Duke. Therefore, Grand Duke Herr was someone he could not afford to provoke right now.

On one hand, there was someone he couldn’t provoke; on the other, there was the loss of face. The man gritted his teeth and reluctantly accepted Erin Slate’s jewelry. He shot Anastasia a vicious glare, mouthed the warning “Just you wait,” and led his men away.

“Are you all right? Why are you out here alone? Where is your father?”

Erin Slate let out a long sigh. She came before Anastasia; compared to Anastasia, who was covered in soot and mud, the neatly dressed Erin Slate was like the silver moon in the sky. If not for the Sinner’s Mark on Erin Slate’s face, anyone would have taken her for a high-born lady out for a stroll on a whim.

At the mention of Clark, Anastasia’s expression darkened. She wiped the nervous sweat from her forehead and did not answer Erin Slate. This wasn’t the first time she had been helped by Erin Slate. They had been exiled one after the other, and Erin Slate had helped her during the journey. Despite the vast difference in status, she quietly thought of Erin Slate as her big sister.

“Th—Thank you.”

“No need for thanks between us. Why don’t you come to my place for a meal first?”

Erin Slate, who was half a head taller than Anastasia, held out her hand. The palm, as white as jade, made Anastasia hesitate. Her own hands were covered in calluses, mud, and scars. Erin Slate’s splendor made her feel ashamed of her own appearance. However, the food at Erin Slate’s home was incredibly plentiful; not only was there bread, but they could also have a spoonful of potato and meat stew. Just the thought of it made her mouth start to water.

“I haven’t bathed…”

“You’re still worried about that?”

Erin Slate rolled her eyes at Anastasia. Regardless of getting her own hands dirty, she forcibly grabbed Anastasia’s hand, pulling the other’s sleeve up halfway in the process.

Then, Anastasia suddenly froze, her gaze locking onto Erin Slate’s arm.

No…

Anastasia screamed in her heart, yet she continued speaking regardless.

“Lady Erin Slate, your hand…”

“My hand?”

Erin Slate first tilted her head in confusion, then looked down at her arm as Anastasia had indicated.

Don’t look! Don’t look!

Even though Anastasia screamed at the top of her lungs, Erin Slate still pulled back her sleeve. Immediately after, the dark-red patterns symbolizing the Darkborn disease appeared in their vision.

It’s over.

I’ve ruined Erin Slate.

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Regret flooded her mind, and the scene before Anastasia’s eyes rapidly receded. By the time she came to her senses, she was in a different place. She was now on an open plain, beside Fia, who was mounted on a horse and waiting for the battle to begin. In an instant, she understood her duty. The self-reproach from a moment ago vanished without a trace; at this moment, she was Fia’s guard.

Fia, as the Eldest Princess of the Kingdom, had led her elites to penetrate deep into the Holy Kingdom, only to be intercepted by the enemy on the plains. Although they had walked into an ambush, Anastasia didn’t feel the slightest bit nervous as long as Fia was by her side.

Wait…

A sense of unease rose in Anastasia’s heart. She felt as though her memories had been sealed away; she knew exactly what was going to happen next, yet she couldn’t remember it at all. To soothe the agitation in her heart, she looked back at the army. These were all of Silvar’s elites, led by the Eldest Princess—who was a Near Seventh Rank. A grand victory was surely at hand.

Logic says there’s no danger, so why can’t I calm down…

Just as Anastasia thought this, a purple moon suddenly rose from within the Holy Kingdom’s army. In an instant, the unease in Anastasia’s chest rang out like a fire alarm. She didn’t know what it was, but she felt a primal fear. A powerful sense of loss and terror enveloped her from all sides, and even the sky seemed to turn pitch black. She began to tremble, and her chest felt as if it were blocked by a giant boulder, making it impossible to breathe.

This is bad.

Very bad.

I have to take Fia and leave this place immediately. No, not ‘immediately’—now!

She immediately reached out toward Fia, attempting to pull her onto her own horse. However, her premonition was a step too late. A purple spear fired from the Unsinkable Moon had already crossed the distant horizon and reached Fia. Then, she watched with her own eyes as the purple spear pierced Fia’s chest. Fia’s eyes went wide, looking at Anastasia with an expression of disbelief. She opened her mouth as if trying to convey something, but because her lungs had been completely punctured by the massive spear, she could no longer make a sound. Finally, she was carried by the momentum and fell backward off her horse, the thud of her body hitting the ground shattering Anastasia’s heart.

Warm liquid splashed onto her face.

Insurmountable terror seized Anastasia’s heart. She felt as if magic had exploded inside her brain, instantly losing the ability to think—she couldn’t even hear the sounds around her. She touched her cheek; Fia’s blood was flowing from her fingertips into her palm. Against her fair skin, the red of the blood was exceptionally piercing.

Fia was dead.

No… how is that possible…

Impossible impossible impossible impossible impossible impossible impossible…

Her heart constricted violently, and blood rushed to her brain. At the moment she understood the situation, countless emotions surged from the corners of her eyes, accompanied by a sharp, heart-wrenching scream.

Almost crawling, Anastasia scrambled to the front of the breathless Fia. She didn’t know what she should do; she could only reach out her fingers, tremblingly stroking Fia’s cheek. But the blood drenching the ground had already foretold the end. The girl she viewed as the sun had died before her eyes, while she—as the guard—remained unscathed.

How could this happen!

The one who died should have been me!

“—Dofilia!!!”

“Huh?”

Faced with Anastasia’s cry full of pain and regret, Fia—who had been sitting beside Anastasia and feeling drowsy—suddenly jolted. In her memory, Anastasia should have been leaning against the carriage and sleeping. She hadn’t expected Anastasia to suddenly scream her name like a madwoman—and her full name at that.

A familiar scene.

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The swaying wooden ceiling, the carriage interior floating with the scent of young girls, and the creaking of the carriage wheels over the ground—everything indicated that this was reality.

Yet even so, the terror lingering from the dream did not dissipate from Anastasia’s heart. She panted heavily, her clothes soaked with sweat, as she aimlessly searched for Fia. Even though everyone in the carriage was looking at her with bewildered expressions, she didn’t care in the slightest.

Her gaze quickly locked onto Fia. Then, her panicked face was instantly filled with ecstasy. Ignoring Fia’s confused expression, she lunged forward and hugged Fia tightly. Only after feeling Fia’s warmth and the heartbeat from her chest did she finally feel at ease. Tears the size of beans flowed down her cheeks as her arms tightly squeezed Fia’s back.

“Thank goodness… thank goodness…”

In her voice, besides the sobbing, there was also relief and wild joy. Fia could feel Anastasia’s entire body trembling with fear, like someone who had fallen into the sea and was about to drown.

She had only seen this side of Anastasia once before—back when she first met her. Right now, Anastasia was exactly the same as she had been then.

Helplessly raising her hands, the tightly hugged Fia didn’t know what to do. She looked awkwardly at everyone else in the carriage. Liti was making faces, signaling her to hurry up and offer some comfort, while Milu started pouring water to give to Anastasia.

“Must have been a nightmare, right?”

Claire tilted her head slightly and spoke softly. She poked Fia’s waist, signaling her to say something. Only then did Fia snap out of it and stammer.

“An—Anastasia… did you have a nightmare?”

“It’s enough that you’re alive… just as long as you’re alive…”

“I am alive and well…”

Why does it feel like she’s saying I’m dead?

Wait, could Anastasia have dreamed of the moment the Eldest Princess was pierced by the Unsinkable Moon?

Thinking carefully, to Anastasia, that experience must be a lingering psychological shadow, just as the experience of escaping the fire was to Nola.

So that’s it.

Her awkward gaze gradually softened. Fia reached back and stroked Anastasia’s slender back. Back then, if Anastasia hadn’t insisted on keeping her and constantly emphasized that she was the true Eldest Princess, she wouldn’t be sitting in this carriage now, enjoying the journey with everyone. However, despite saying she had lost her memory, she still hadn’t been able to recall anything from the past.

If she wasn’t the real Eldest Princess, but a complete outsider’s soul, she really wouldn’t know how to face Anastasia.

Realizing this, Fia’s hand stroking Anastasia’s slender back stiffened. If the one Anastasia accepted was the Eldest Princess and not the current her, then she was essentially taking advantage of Anastasia—something truly despicable.

“Princess, what happened?”

Chinatsu’s coarse voice came from outside the carriage. Fia answered while maintaining her embrace with Anastasia.

“It’s nothing. Keep leading the way.”

“You have to tell us if anything happens. Our tribe is still counting on Baron Yarua for our livelihoods. If anything happens to you, it won’t just be us; Baron Yarua will be in trouble too.”