Half a Year Ago...

It had been three years, since my mother taught me elemental magic. As a part of training, we’ve been playing hide and seek.

“Emily, Emily, where are you?” mother shouted.

I need to be careful. I’ve never won in this game, her detection skills are amazing. She would always find me no matter how well I hide.

Waiting for a chance to strike; I hid underwater while using to help me breathe, to camouflage my presence, to monitor the land and to detect anything floating.

Once her guard is down, I’ll attack her.

“Yep, I guess this would be your plan, huh, Emily?” Hearing a voice, I looked behind, and saw mother smiling. “Gotcha~.”

We got out of the swamp and used fire magic to dry ourselves.

“Haha. You need to do more than that you know.” Mother patted my head. “Your plans are too obvious.”

“Geez. Mother, you're too skilled,” I complained as I pouted. “Can you, at least give me a handicap?”

“Maybe next time. Haha,” she laughed.

“Geez.”

“Well then, since it’s already late, let’s have our lunch,” she suggested. “I made your favorite.”

“Yay!” We then went inside the house.

Mother’s cooking are the best.

While we were having our lunch, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

“I’ll go check.” However, when mother opened the door, she backed off a little.

“Why are you here?” she whispered.

In front of her, I saw an unfamiliar face; it was a man.

“Emily, stay inside. I’ll just talk with this person for a bit.” She then went out; I continued eating.

A few minutes later, mother went inside and talked to me, “Emily, I’m going outside for a bit. Whatever happens, do not go out the house.”

“Okay.”

Hours passed, mother was taking so long so I went up. Near the bed, I saw mother’s scepter.

“Come to think of it, she was not bringing her scepter earlier.”

“Geez... Mother, you forgot your scepte---” As I was about to grab the scepter, I heard an explosion. It was so strong that it shook the house.

“What is that?!” Then, I realized that her life might be in danger, she forgot her scepter. Quickly, I grabbed both of our scepters and went out. “Mother, please be safe.”

Outside, I felt a barrier surrounding the house.

“Why is there a barrier here?”

It seems weak in the inside though.

After I broke the barrier, I went looking for her in the forest. “Mother, mother, where are you?”

Where am I? I-I’m lost.”

I never went out of the house without mother before.

“I need to find her quick.”

Suddenly, I heard another explosion. As I looked up, I saw smoke coming from the north. Hurriedly, I ran as cold wind blew unto my skin.

“Please, mother, be safe!”

Finally, I reached the source of the smoke. There, I saw a village, engulfed by fire. The cold wind was then replaced by searing heat. As I went inside the village, I saw mother, fighting alone, surrounded by enemies.

“Mother!!!” I shouted.

“Emily! Why are you here?!” She looked at me in horror as I dashed towards her.

While I was running, I saw a giant rod flying towards my direction. My mind froze; fear paralyzed my body.

I don’t want to die.

“Emily!!!” Mother ran towards me. She cast a barrier then hugged me. However, the spell was too strong, the shield was shattered by the explosion.

Smoke cleared, I saw mother lying on the ground, badly wounded, her bleeding wouldn't stop.

“Mother! Mother! Please be okay. Please, don't die.” My tears were everywhere, crying like a baby, creating a small pond on the ground. “Please, please, don’t leave me. Mother!”

“Emily,” she muttered as she caressed my face. “I-I’m glad you're okay.”

“Mother...”

“I'm so happy... to be your mother. I-I’ll never regret everything I did.” Her eyes closed; she stopped breathing.

“Mother, mother, wake up. You said we'll play hide and seek again. You said you will give me handicap. Mother!!!” Fear, sorrow, anger, negative emotions came surging from deep within me. It released my magic; I couldn't contain nor control it.

“Ahhhhhhh!!!” Empowered by emotions, an explosion occurred.

The amount of magic I’ve released was too much, I blacked out.

Waking up in an unfamiliar room, I was lying in a wooden bed.

“Where am I? How did I get here? Mother? Where are you?”

Looking at a door, I got up the bed, then walked towards it. As I opened, I saw a stranger, a man. It was the same man whom my mother talked to at our house.

It’s the one who visited us before.

“Good morning, Emily. How’s your body?”

“U-Uhmm-” As I moved back, I raised my hands in front of my face. “H-How did you know my name?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” the man apologized. “My name is Oliver, Oliver Silvermoon. I am a friend of Marina, your mother.”

“Mother?” Quickly, I put down my hands and walked towards him. “Where is she? Is she alright?” Desperate, I was hoping that she’s still alive. “please, tell me that she’s okay,”

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Oliver replied. “Your mother… didn't make it.”

“Mother….” As I fell down to my knees, I cried like there’s no end. The feelings of depression engulfed my body; I lost someone important.

Seeing this, Oliver walked towards me and calmed me down.

“I’m sorry, Emily. I was too late. I’m sorry.”

Time passed, I calmed down.

“Here.” He then gave me a hat and a robe. “These were your mother’s. Please, take it.”

“My... mother’s?” Seeing it, I hugged it as tight as I can, feeling mother’s warmth still present in the clothes.

“Oliver… Is it… alright if I wear this?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I already washed it while you were sleeping.”

“Thank you. This will be a memento of her.”

Soon, a woman came as she walked with grace towards Oliver; she then stood beside him. Her eyes were like the green leaves of the trees in spring as her black long hair shines like porcelain. She was wearing a black robe, same as my mother’s.

“Aria, good thing you're already here,” Oliver spoke. “Emily, I want to introduce you to my daughter, Aria.”

Present...

“A-Aria, why are you here?”

“I’ll explain later but first we need to get away from here.”

Aria? Did you ran here straight from the village?

Hiiro and I followed her instructions, packed our things then escaped.

“Aria, Where are we going?”

“To -The Castle of Dullahan, The Headless King-.”

“Ahm... Can somebody explain everything?” Hiiro asked. “I’m kinda confused.”

“I’ll explain later but first we need to go far away from the house and the village.” Aria replied. “Your lives might be in danger if we stay here any longer.” Like a deer escaping from rampaging lions, we ran.

Past...

Oliver offered if I want to live with them; I accepted. However, he forbid me to go outside since it was still dangerous. Oliver’s home was located in the burned-down village where some buildings were still intact. Outside, the villagers were rebuilding the damaged houses.

Aria and I became not only friends, but treated each other as sisters. In the same way, Oliver treated me like his own daughter. Oliver once told me that Aria sometimes goes out working as the bodyguard of two nobles.

It sure is amazing to be working as a bodyguard at a young age.

Months Later...

“Oliver, please let me see my mother’s grave,” I pleaded.

“I’m sorry, Emily but it’s still dangerous outside,” Oliver replied. “I can’t let you go out.”

“Why?” I shouted. “Two months had already passed. It should be safe by now. Please, explain why is it still dangerous?”

“I…” He looked down. “I’m sorry.”

"Why won't you let me see her?" I shouted, as I walked away. “Why?”

I just want to see her grave and say goodbye, for one last time.

After I locked the door to my room, I confined myself for the whole day.

Aria then came knocking outside. “Emily, it’s me Aria.” She was persistent. “Please, let me inside. Let’s talk.” But, I paid her no attention.

Morning came, I got hungry after locking myself up for so long. As I opened the door, I saw Aria, sleeping on the floor.

My eyes widened. “A-Aria…” After I walked towards her, I shook her body. “Aria. Wake up. What are you doing sleeping there?” She then woke up.

“Emily. Good morning,” she muttered, still sleepy. “I’m sorry, I’ve slept.”

“Why? Why did you do this? I don’t want you to get sick because of me.”

“Silly,” she smiled, “it’s because we’re sisters.” My tears fell; I hugged her tight. “Emily, if you have a problem let’s talk.”

“Aria... Let’s go inside.” We went in my room and sat on the bed. We then talked about what happened between me and Oliver.

“Please, Aria, I know you knew something,” I begged as I looked her in the eye. “Please tell me where is my mother’s grave?”

I know Oliver told you something or at least had seen it.

“I-I’m sorry, Emily, but I made a promise with father,” Aria replied as she looked down, hesitating to answer.

“Please… Please… Please....” Repeatedly, I pleaded to her.

Please, Aria. Help me.

“I just want to go out just this once. I just want to see my mother’s grave.”

Aria hesitated a little. “Okay. Okay,” she agreed. “But you have to promise me to never tell father what I told you.”

“I promise.” We then made a pinky swear.

Present...

After ensuring that we were far from the village, we stopped for a bit of talk.

“Okay. Emily, could you please explain your relationship with her?” Hiiro scratched the back of his head.

“Aria and I… are sisters.”

“Sisters?” he replied. “I thought you only live alone?”

“We... We’re not blood related, but we treat each other as sisters. After my mother died, I lived together with Aria and her father.”

“I don't get it. Why are you living in the house then?” Hiiro added.

“I…”

“If you girls are sisters, then why didn’t she helped you when we first came to the village?” Hiiro asked.

“I...” There was a bit of silence.

“You’re scaring Emily,” Aria shouted.

Aria... I’m okay.

“I… I’m sorry,” Hiiro apologized. “Please, forgive me. I didn’t mean anything. I’m just confused.”

“It’s okay Hiiro. I understand. Aria… is working as the bodyguard of those two noble necromancers,” I replied. “She can’t go against any of them. She couldn't do anything.”

When I saw Aria at the village, I was happy, but the circumstances wouldn't allow us to have a happy reunion. Yet, I was so glad to meet her again.

“I… Ah… I see. Uhh.. Hello.” Hiiro looked down as he scratched his head. “My name is Hiiro.” He then faced Aria. “Hiiro Akira, Emily reanimated me from the dead.” He then offered a handshake. “I’m sorry for doubting you.”

“It’s okay,” Aria replied. “I’m actually glad because it means you care for Emily.” Aria’s words made me blushed.

“I am Aria.” She then shook hands with Hiiro. “Aria Silvermoon.”

“Silvermoon-san”

“You can call me Aria,” she replied.

“Nice to meet you, Aria.”

After that, I explained the reason I returned to my mother’s house.

Past...

“Finally, I’m outside the house.”

On the way, we passed a lot of places like the plaza and the park.

“The village is very beautiful.”

We then arrived to my mother’s grave. The moment I saw it, I knelt for I couldn’t control my feelings, my heart was hurting like it was being squeezed.

“Mother, I’m sorry. I’m sorry... because of me… because of me...” My tears kept flowing, this was the saddest moment in my life. Aria hugged me, comforting me; I cried until my eyes couldn't produce anymore tears. “Goodbye, mother. I love you so much.” We stayed for about an hour. As my tear kept falling, I told my mother everything I wanted to tell her.

After that, we went home. On the way, we met two girls, one was short and had a blonde curly hair accompanied by another short girl who had a blue hair in twintails. The two were wearing a black robe with a pointy hat, each of them had a scepter with a crystal on top.

“There you are, Aria. We’ve been looking for you since yesterday!” The blonde girl shouted.

“I-I’m sorry, lady Thea. There was an emergency at our house.” Aria bowed to her like a knight in front of her queen.

Aria? What’s happening??

“Hoh, tell me, Aria, what could be more important than guarding the daughter of the village chieftain?” she continued to scold her, her hands already on her hips and about to scream in her face.

“Ahm. W-who are you people?” It was the first time I saw them.

“Hoh. I can’t believe there’s someone who doesn’t know me. Hear me commoner, I am Thea Skyheart, daughter of the village chieftain,” the blonde girl replied.

“I am Sophia Skyheart, Thea’s twin sister.”

These two appears to be important people.

“Now, Aria, tell me. What could be more important than guarding us? You’re such a useless bodyguard.” Aria was still bowing, recognizing her grave mistake. “Good thing Alfred came yesterday.”

Yesterday? It was the day I confined myself. Then it only means Aria didn't go to work because of me?

“I-I’m sorry lady Thea,” Aria kept apologizing.

“Shut up, you useless bodyguard. I don’t need your apologies,” the blonde girl created a rune.

What is that rune? I’ve never seen it in my entire life.

“!!!” Suddenly, a green beam of light hit Aria, blasting her away.

“Aria!” The villagers saw what happened; they then surrounded us. As I checked Aria, she could barely got up; she was hurt, having light wounds. “Aria, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Emily. Please, don’t mind me.”

“Emily?” Thea whispered. “Where did I hear this name before?”

“Stop this. You’re hurting her!”

“Shut up, commoner. Know your place!” She created the same rune again.

“!!!” As she released the spell, I instantly cast , blocking her spell.

“!!!” The spell then grabbed and disarmed her scepter.

“Y-You. You’re not a necromancer?!” The crowd then looked at us and murmured.

“E-Emily, why are you here?” Hearing a voice, I looked behind me. It was Oliver.

“Oliver. Do you know this girl?” Thea asked.

“Emily, come with me, quick!” Oliver then carried Aria, I followed him. We went back home.