More than a week had passed.
Riana had already left Enric's body and returned to her own. The reason was simple—she could not fully control a male body from her core. Staying inside Enric continuously drained an enormous amount of mana, something impossible to sustain. Moreover, that body possessed a weak core to begin with.
And after becoming Enric, Riana realized one thing clearly—
There was no longer any way to live in hiding.
A knock echoed on the door.
"Come in."
Valerina was inside as well.
Rivian entered and glanced between the two before speaking with curiosity,
"So… how exactly did you manage Valerina's mother?"
"Manage?" Riana smirked faintly. "That's Rivian's magic."
Rivian chuckled softly. "Some things are better left unknown."
"Yeah, yeah… I get it."
Then Riana paused, her expression turning serious.
"But have you noticed something? I feel… lighter somehow."
Rivian's eyes narrowed. He had been observing both Riana and Valerina for the past week. He knew more than he let on.
"I have a few questions," he said. "During your duel… did Julius use any unusual spell?"
"Julius?" Riana frowned. "Everything felt normal. Just divine power techniques—nothing extraordinary."
"No… that's not what I meant." Rivian leaned forward. "Did he use something… powerful? Something capable of stopping time?"
Riana fell silent.
Then slowly, she spoke—
"There's something I don't understand."
"Right before our swords clashed… it felt like time stopped."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I couldn't comprehend it. And then—Julius deliberately redirected his full attack… bypassing me, trying to defend against his uncle."
She clenched her fists.
"From what I understand… Julius was several times stronger than me. There's no doubt. If our blades had truly collided… I would have died. My body wouldn't have survived such power."
A pause.
Then her eyes widened.
"…His uncle."
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"He was the one who used—"
"Absolute Zero: Extinction."
Everything froze.
Even time itself seemed to stop.
And then—
"Law of Erasure: Null Existence."
Rivian's face turned pale.
"Don't tell me… that spell hit your body?"
"No!" Riana shook her head quickly. "It didn't strike me directly. But I was inside that force field… I must have been affected. And after that… I was hit again."
Her voice softened.
"Julius took both attacks intentionally."
Rivian closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he spoke in a grave tone—
"I understand now… why your core is empty."
Riana froze.
"You've lost all your power."
"…What?"
"It's like a newborn child," Rivian continued. "Your core… is completely blank."
Silence.
Then—
"Don't tell me… I lost all my power?"
Her voice broke.
"That's impossible… How? Who did this?!"
Her mind replayed the spell—
Absolute Zero.
Extinction.
Erasure.
A piercing scream tore through the room.
Riana collapsed mentally.
Her body had not yet healed, but now her spirit shattered as well. It felt as if she was giving up on everything.
Her hair fluttered wildly as mana fluctuations spiraled around her.
She gestured for Rivian to leave.
Days passed.
Then weeks.
A letter arrived from the King.
No—two letters.
The first declared that she was suspected of being Valkyrie Valerian Verus, and she must undergo a Royal Trial to prove her innocence.
The second—
As compensation for losing her power, the royal family granted her a chance to enroll in the Royal Academy.
Time stopped for Riana.
For an entire month, she never left her room.
Her body had withered—nothing but skin and bones remained.
Yet she no longer reacted to her condition.
Valerina never questioned her. She had accepted it too.
One day, Riana spoke quietly,
"If this continues… I won't last much longer."
A faint smile.
"Thank you for everything, Valerina. But… I don't think I was ever worthy of any of this."
Valerina said nothing.
She had seen everything with her own eyes.
And she had already lost hope.
You cannot save someone…
Who no longer wishes to live.
After many days, Riana finally stood up.
Slowly… she walked toward the balcony.
Her body trembled with every step.
It didn't look like she would make it.
Perhaps today—
Or tomorrow—
Her life would end.
Outside, someone had arrived from the Royal Academy.
Valerina's mother was speaking with them.
A dignified woman… who had gone everywhere, done everything—just to save her daughter.
She didn't care where Valerina stayed—
She only wanted her to live.
Riana stepped onto the balcony.
Sunlight touched her face.
For a moment—
She felt peace.
Then suddenly—
Her body gave out.
The world shook.
She lost control.
And she fell.
In the distance—
Julius stood watching.
He had come to see Riana… at her mother's request.
Because he too—
Had lost all his divine power to the same spell.
Seeing her fall—
He didn't hesitate.
He rushed forward at full speed—
And caught her just in time.
For a brief moment—
He realized something shocking.
The one he dueled—
Enric—
Was actually… a girl?
A faint blush crossed his face.
But it vanished instantly as he saw her condition.
Without wasting a second, he called for the Royal Doctor.
Riana's mother rushed in, holding her tightly.
"I'm here… everything will be alright…"
But her voice trembled.
Tears streamed endlessly down her face.
Because deep down—
She felt it.
She was about to lose her child.