A few weeks had passed, and it was now publicly announced that Ayumu would soon be appointed as the Emperor's royal advisor.
Whispers spread quickly among the people. Some spoke of bias—having overheard the emperor calling Ayumu his sister.
Though it was known they were not related by blood, and that the emperor had been unofficially adopted by the late Lord Eomer, suspicion still lingered.
Yet, as days went by, those whispers were slowly drowned out by something stronger—hope.
The older generation, especially, rejoiced. They remembered the histories—of eras when a White Magis stood beside the throne. Those were times of prosperity, of balance.
And now, once again, such a figure had appeared.
But not all shared in that joy.
"The position of royal advisor should have been mine!"
Medea, the vilemancer, raged within her lavish chamber—now in complete disarray from her fury.
Elsewhere, Maverick, the young necromancer, sat among his peers in a dimly lit restaurant.
"That damned White Magis made a fool out of me," he muttered bitterly. "That ridiculous sleeping powder… She humiliated me."
His fingers tightened around his cup.
"She will pay… She will pay for this."
His companions exchanged glances. Most did not share his anger—but they remained, if only out of respect for his powerful lineage.
—
All of this remained unknown to Ayumu.
Over the past few weeks, she had devoted herself to recovery—restoring her health, regaining her strength, and immersing herself in knowledge. She studied tirelessly, preparing for the weight of becoming the Emperor's advisor.
Meanwhile, Visil had been trying—rather desperately—to spoil her.
Jewelry, fine fabrics, rare ornaments—everything he believed a lady might like, based entirely on the advice of his nobles.
Yet, Ayumu gently declined most of them.
Instead, she would smile and say how happy she was simply having dinner with her brother each day.
This left Visil utterly perplexed.
White Magis… truly simple beings, he thought. Without vanity… then what does she like?
Until one day, inspiration struck.
—
Visil summoned Ayumu to the palace fields behind the estate.
The moment she arrived, her eyes widened.
Before her stood a magnificent golden horse.
Its coat shimmered under the sunlight, a soft beige-gold that seemed almost radiant. Its mane flowed like silk, perfectly groomed, each strand catching the light.
It was breathtaking.
The horse approached her slowly, as if drawn to her presence.
Ayumu lifted her hand—and the horse nuzzled into it.
"He's beautiful…" she whispered.
"He's yours," Visil said.
Ayumu turned sharply, astonishment written all over her face.
"Oh… brother, really?"
"Of course. It's of the finest breed. It may grow larger still—but at this age, it's perfect for you to learn riding."
Before he could say more, a sudden neigh rang out—
And in the next moment, Ayumu was already on its back.
Visil blinked in shock.
"I was planning to teach you—"
But Ayumu was already riding.
The horse, as if delighted, burst forward with energy, its hooves striking the ground in rhythmic excitement.
Ayumu's laughter echoed through the air.
"Thank you, brother! I love him!"
"W-w-wait, Ayumu! Let's go together!" Visil hurried to mount his own horse, scrambling to catch up.
As he rode, his gaze flickered briefly toward a distant tree.
A strange feeling lingered—like being watched.
But he dismissed it and pressed forward.
Visils' caution was right as high above, hidden among the branches, Kaiser watched silently.
Lately, he had developed a troublesome habit.
Following Ayumu.
Not intentionally—at least, that was what he told himself. Yet somehow, his feet would move on their own, leading him to wherever she was.
Watching what she did. Understanding… what she was.
At first, that was all Kaiser told himself this was just observation. Analysis and nothing more.
Yet—each time his gaze found her, something felt… off.
Kaiser's brows furrowed slightly as he remained perched atop the branch, his eyes following her figure.
Why…? Why did his attention linger?
Even now, as she laughed so freely atop that horse, something in his chest tightened.
It was unfamiliar and definitely unwelcomed.
And yet… he did not look away.
Dark magis were not creatures of softness. They did not dwell on others. They did not wonder.
And Kaiser had never once questioned himself.
Until now.
"…What are you?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible against the rustling leaves.
But the question lingered. The strange, growing feeling within him.
A feeling he neither understood—nor knew how to control.
Dark Magis were not known for such curiosity—let alone interest.
And yet… it persisted.
—
By the time Visil caught up, Ayumu had slowed her pace.
"Follow me," he said, taking the lead toward a narrow path leading into the forest.
The moment they entered, the world seemed to change.
The forest path was long and winding, carved naturally between towering trees that had stood for decades—perhaps centuries. Their thick canopies intertwined above, filtering the sunlight into soft, shifting patterns that danced along the ground.
The air was cooler here.
Carrying the scent of damp earth, moss, and wild leaves.
Their horses slowed to a gentle trot as the terrain grew uneven. Fallen branches, roots twisting across the path, and patches of soft soil forced a quieter pace.
Ayumu's gaze drifted around her.
Something about this place…
Felt familiar.
The rustling leaves.
The way the wind whispered through the trees.
Even the distant sound of birds.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the reins.
"…This forest…"
Fragments of memory stirred within her.
Soon, the trees began to thin.
Light poured through an opening ahead, revealing a wide stretch of grassland.
At its center stood a cottage.
Ayumu's breath caught.
It was… familiar.
Not exactly the same—but close enough.
The structure had been restored, modernized slightly—but the soul of it remained unchanged.
It was the home she once knew.
The one that had been burned to ashes.
Slowly, Ayumu dismounted.
Her steps were quiet as she approached the house, as though afraid it might disappear if she moved too quickly.
"Brother… did you…"
"Don't think of it as a gift," Visil said gently. "This was our home. I simply restored it… as best as I could."
Ayumu said nothing.
Her eyes traced every detail—the windows, the door, the small imperfections.
Memories flooded in.
"…We can look at it later," Visil added softly. "There's something else I want to show you."
They walked up a nearby hill.
At its peak stood a towering cedar tree, its massive trunk rooted deep into the earth, its branches stretching wide—a silent witness to the passage of time.
Beneath it were two gravestones.
Simple. Well-kept.
Carved with names she would never forget.
Eomer Velmiar.Miriam Laurel.
Wildflowers and clovers surrounded them, carefully tended.
Ayumu stood still.
For a long moment—she said nothing.
Then—drops fell.
Tears slipped silently onto the ground beneath her.
And suddenly—
They wouldn't stop.
She collapsed to her knees before the graves, her body trembling as years of suppressed grief broke free.
"Father… Mother…" her voice cracked. "I miss you so…"
Her sobs echoed softly under the great tree.
Visil's chest tightened painfully.
Tears welled in his own eyes.
The guilt he carried—the failure to protect them, the day he couldn't even bring himself to see Ayumu off—still haunted him.
But now…He was emperor.
Now, he could make things right. He can now protect her.
Be the brother he was meant to be.
As Ayumu clung to her mother's grave, crying as though trying to bridge the years between them, Visil instinctively reached out—
Then stopped.
His hand hovered in the air.
Before slowly lowering.
He chose not to touch her. Not wanting to startle her.
Not wanting to see fear in her eyes again.
So instead—
He stayed beside her. Silently, sharing in her grief.