I was finally able to calm down after we left the dining hall, I'd rather not meet the king again after such an encounter, nor do I want to oppose him.

My breathing and heartbeat went back to normal, my sweat stopped pouring and my shivering finally stopped.

It wasn't the first time I felt fear, but our difference was as clear as night and day, there just wasn't any hope.

There are several types of skilled magicians in this world.

The hereditary ones, whom acquire their strong magical powers from their ancestry.

The blessed ones, who are gifted with great power from either the fruit of their efforts or just because the particular god took a liking to the person.

And the devoted ones, who spend all their efforts in strengthening their magic.

Even if we're all called magicians, that is only a racial term.

People who are born capable of using magic are all called magicians.

Only by increasing their power can they raise their rank.

Having seven tiers, the strength of the magicians determine their rank.

Magician, Mage, Battlemage, Wizard, Grand Wizard, Magi, and Transcedent Magi.

Those who exceed wizard rank are no longer considered human.

I was part of the hereditary ones, the strongest ones at that.

But in the game, I only got to kill the king by using an underhanded trick, leaving only Lydia as the most powerful one in the kingdom.

But the reason why Lydia was beaten in the game was simple.

Stella, the protagonist of the game, was not only powerful in nature, she was loved by many gods, being the only person having multiple kinds of unique magic, and also known as the most blessed person in the game.

She had different kinds of unique magic, but only few were disclosed in the game, I thought it'd appear in the sequel, but apparently this was the last game its company made before disappearing.

Disappearing...?

...

After a couple minutes of walking, we finally arrived at the garrison.

The smell was obviously bad, filled with the stench of sweaty men that can be seen practicing in the background.

All of us had disgusted expressions, with the attendant being the only one unfazed.

She's probably used to it.

There were also magicians at the target range practicing their magic on dummies at a distance.

The first thought that occurred to me was why aren't the dummies breaking but after seeing the magicians standing behind it, I immediately found out.

"Why aren't the dummies breaking?"(Aur)

I just said it! oh wait I didn't...

"Can you see the mages behind those blue dummies?"(Attendant)

"Yeah"(Aur)

Just explain it already!

"Isn't that dangerous?"(Aur)

The attendant then smiled and pointed towards the blue dummies, stop prolonging it and just explain it already!

It's like learning something good and hearing someone teach it in front of you.

They're just supplying magic to the dummies to absorb the attacks dammit!

Wait.

How did I know that...?

The attendant explained with pride as I listened in frustration.

When suddenly, a girl ran towards one of the dummies.

"Wait that's dangerous!"(Attendant)

"Brother said not to listen to peasants!"(Noble girl)

"That wasn't what I meant! Ria!"(Aur)

She jumped in delight as she clung towards one of the blue dummies.

The magician stationed there already launch his fireball before noticing the girl.

This is why I hate kids...

As I turned towards the opposite direction of the spectacle that's currently happening, my hand suddenly pointed itself towards the direction of the girl named Ria.

"Look out!"(Attendant)

The attendant screamed as the fireball flying towards the girl grew closer.

That was when it happened.

I felt my entire body losing its power as the dummy behind the girl went from a blue color to the brownish color normal dummies have.

The magician behind the dummy suddenly went flying as the fireball hit the girl.

Or almost hit her.

Something like a force field blocked the fireball and prevented the damage it could've done.

That was the last thing I remembered before I lost consciousness...

Only to wake up in what seemed to be the world of dreams.

My mouth was wide agape.

In this dream like world, I was in the same palace I was in.

But it was different, the palace was in ruins.

After looking around, I realized the only thing that made this ruins similar to the palace was the kingdom's symbol.

Confused, I wandered around the ominous ruins as I reached what seemed to be the throne room.

Broken gems, pillars, and the eerie feeling of malice could be felt from this place.

But what disturbed me the most was the feeling that's been in my chest ever since I came here.

Loneliness, sadness, grief, regret, and envy, and many more.

I couldn't explain it, but all these feelings disappeared as I saw the person sitting on the mighty chair, which wasn't even fazed by the destruction in its surroundings.

With a dark expression on her face, she stood up and drew near me.

I was stunned by the person right in front of me.

She would look just like me if I were an adult, no, she might actually be me if I were an adult.

But what's with this weird feeling?

"I know what you're thinking"(???)

"Wha!?"(Lydia)

I suddenly stepped back, surprised by the unexpected voice that came out of her mouth.

"I look just like you, I have the same thoughts as you, basically, I am you."(???)

"W-what are you trying to say?"(Lydia)

She drew closer as I hit my back on a broken pillar.

"But I am also not you"(???)

"Then who are you?"(Lydia)

She came nearer as she spoke to me, I was confused and tried running away, but my body couldn't move.

Her voice was familiar, it was at the tip of my tongue, I just couldn't remember.

"Lydia Arima, who died at the age of 16."(???)

"Then you're-"(Lydia)

"Came here by the use of my unique magic."(???)

...

What...?

"You still don't get it? No, you already realized from the start."(???)

"No way..."(Lydia)

She stopped walking.

"That's right, it's me-

Smiling as if ridiculing me, she spoke.

-Stella."

...

...what?

(Author note-this would've been posted earlier if not for the on-screen keyboard.

-am I improving or not? cuz' I'm still having a hard time here lol

-this child arc is nearing its end that's for sure

-fast paced? yeah I'm having an issue with that

-about the chapter I'm supposed to post yesterday...let's just say I'm quite the liar huehuehue)

-apparently someone ranked this series, atleast it's not a review since those are only done when you've actually finished the series [which is really weird about the people in this website, you don't make a review if you've only watched half a movie you know? well except if it sucks, and that's still not a valid review]), meh, this series isn't my official one so it doesn't really matter.)