It had all started about a week ago. On the day she made that vow to herself: to become the female lead of this world.
With one hand pressed against the mirror, she studied her reflection, feeling more driven than ever as she looked at the determined expression on her face.
But suddenly, she felt a strange sensation in her body.
It started as a small, tingling feeling in her stomach, but it quickly intensified. It felt as though her body was changing—shifting into something it wasn't.
Like a metamorphosis.
And that sudden change brought a euphoria, as if she were submerged in a lake of pure bliss. It was an addictive feeling so intense that Evangeline felt as though she could lose herself in that euphoric sensation.
The process of that sudden change didn't last long; it continued only for a few moments before the feeling slowly faded.
Her body looked the same, with no visible changes compared to before. But it felt completely different.
The most significant change was that she could now feel her body filled completely with something foreign as it flowed inside her. But for some reason, she felt no discomfort or strangeness from it.
As though it was… natural.
'It feels so strange… that I don't feel strange at all.'
There were other changes that she felt in her body as well. Her mind felt as though it had become clearer and sharper, and her body felt stronger, significantly stronger compared to before.
'I feel like I could beat two of my past selves in a fight… assuming hair-pulling isn't allowed.'
As the euphoria faded and she came to her senses, a cold feeling gripped her heart, and goosebumps rose on her back.
The feeling of losing sensation in her fingers, the hospital room blurring, all of it started resurfacing in her mind.
'C-calm down, it's probably not something bad.'
"Huff… Huff…"
Her breathing grew rougher and uneven.
'It's nothing bad, it's nothing bad, I-it's nothing bad.'
She stood still, trying to control her breathing and her wildly beating heart. After a moment, her breathing steadied, and her heartbeat returned to normal.
She let out a tired sigh.
"Ugh… I feel like puking."
Perhaps it was natural, but Evangeline had become overly sensitive to any changes in her body. Maybe she had developed a paranoia, but every time she fell sick or experienced anything strange about her body, her previous life came back to her, and it was so vivid that she simply couldn't dismiss it.
'But seriously, what even was that?'
That metamorphosis was sudden; it came without any warning, and she knew nothing about why her body had suddenly changed like that.
'Mama must know about it. I have to find her.'
With that thought in mind, Evangeline left her room and went to find her mother.
She checked her mother's room, the dining hall, and the study. After searching the mansion without finding her, she spotted a maid passing by and dashed towards her with her tiny legs.
"Hello, do you know where my mother is? I couldn't find her anywhere."
The maid looked down as she heard Evangeline's voice. Instead of speaking, the maid simply flashed Evangeline a kind smile as she pointed towards the mansion's large door.
'So she is there, huh?'
"Thanks," she smiled brightly in return as she turned. Opening the large door with her small, delicate hands, she went outside.
Within a few steps, she reached a beautiful garden. The entire garden was filled with violet flowers, as though a beautiful violet carpet was covering a patch of land.
A bench stood in a small clearing at the center of the violet expanse, and a woman sat quietly on the bench. Her pinkish-purple hair fluttered lightly in the wind along with her peach-colored clothes.
Evangeline stood still, mesmerised by her mother's beautiful figure.
'I've got a strong feeling that if I could click her picture right now and post it online, then it'll go viral for sure.'
But of course, that was impossible since there was no internet in this fantasy world. Well, it was a pity for the people of this world; they weren't able to behold her mother's beauty at this moment.
A pair of violet eyes turned to her as her mother noticed her.
"My baby, you're here?" A soft smile slowly stretched across her mother's beautiful face. "Did you miss Mama, perhaps?"
"...Huh?" Her mother suddenly tilted her head. "What happened to your presence?"
Evangeline rushed in front of her mother and spoke quickly.
"Mama, I don't know what you're talking about, but I have something important to tell you."
Then she described everything she had experienced a few moments ago. The strange metamorphosis, the addicting euphoria it brought, everything. As she continued speaking, Evangeline noticed her mother's expression twist more and more, turning baffled.
After she finished speaking, her mother looked at her with an incredulous expression.
"My baby, you're completely sure, right?"
Evangeline simply nodded.
Perhaps her mother noticed something in her expression, but she suddenly shook her head slightly and gave Evangeline her signature warm, motherly smile.
"Don't worry, it wasn't something bad. You're completely fine."
Hearing those words, Evangeline felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her chest. Perhaps she was still scared and tense on the inside, but she was now finally able to truly relax.
'But seriously, how can she tell every time?'
Her mother had always been able to read and understand her better than even she herself could. She sometimes even had doubts that perhaps her mother had mind-reading powers.
'But of course, that can't be the case. Or she'll know that I'm not actually a child.'
"But Mama, what actually happened to me? Why am I suddenly feeling like this?"
Her mother lifted her and sat her on her lap. She explained gently.
"Baby, what you experienced was you reaching the first of the Phases, the Origin Phase. You have now gained magical powers."
As she heard that, Evangeline froze, mouth slightly open. Completely dumbfounded.
'I've gained magical powers? This world has… magic?'
Well, of course, it was a fantasy world different from Earth, so it could obviously have magic present, but that had never occurred to her until now, for some reason.
She slowly raised her hand and put it on her chest. She could feel it, her heart beating loudly with excitement.
'This is getting more and more awesome!'
First, she was born as a noble, in a perfectly healthy body. And now she had even awakened her magical powers. It couldn't get any better.
She turned to her mother and hugged her waist excitedly.
"Mama, Mama, I wanna use my magical powers! Show me how!!"
Her mother hugged her back lightly.
"Well, sweetie, it's not that simple. I'm not quite sure why you even reached Phase One; you're still only five." She slowly released her hug. "But since you're so excited, let's at least check your elemental affinity."
'Elemental affinity? Like the type of power I have?'
Hearing that filled her with anticipation. Together, they went back inside the mansion.
Reaching her father's office, her mother gently opened the door and went inside, telling Evangeline to wait at the door.
As Evangeline waited for a while, her mother came back out and gestured for her to enter. But for some reason, her mother's hair was slightly disheveled.
As she entered the office, what she saw could only be described as… a mess. Documents scattered across the ground, trophies strewn about haphazardly, drawers half-open, their contents spilling out.
Evangeline's expression slowly twisted as she observed all the chaos. The room felt even more chaotic since she had just been here searching for her mother.
Her mother suddenly began explaining with a sheepish expression.
"Um, it's not my fault… really. It took a bit of effort because I couldn't find what I was looking for." Her expression slowly turned confident. "It's your Papa's fault, if only he had arranged things better."
Evangeline turned to her mother. She had a dead look in her eyes as she spoke in a flat tone.
"Mama, ask a maid next time. Please."
Her mother lowered her head, trying to hide her face that had turned bright red with embarrassment.
Finally, they arrived in front of the desk, which was also cluttered with scattered documents. But in the middle of the desk, eight crystal orbs were neatly lined up. Every orb had a unique color.
Gesturing towards the colorful crystal orbs, her mother spoke with anticipation.
"With these orbs, we'll be able to figure out your elemental affinity, the kind of power you have. So, my baby, are you ready?"