"Final gift?"
I stiffened. "What are you…"
But before I could finish, I looked straight at her.
Those calm, unwavering eyes, green like morning dew, clear and steady.
There was no softness in them. She was dead serious. I could feel it in my chest, like a silent weight pressing down.
And just like that, the words died in my throat.
Then her voice cut through the stillness, soft but resolute, like it had always known this moment would come.
"Luci… you once asked me who I really was. Where I came from."
The words struck something deep.
A forgotten memory stirred, rising from the depths.
---
"Sister, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Luci."
"Who are you? Really?"
"If… if you don't mind."
She had only smiled then, her gaze fixed on the stars.
"One day, I'll tell you. When the time comes."
---
And now...
'This again…'
'Why do these memories always come back at moments like this?'
I clenched my jaw. 'All this time, what I wanted most was to know who she really was. I was so damn frustrated not knowing.'
I let out a slow breath.
'At last...'
My gaze softened, yet burned with longing as it met hers. 'Finally... I'll know the truth.'
Selena stood before me, framed in starlight like a dream caught between myth and reality.
"I am Selena Zyphar."
But the name hit me like a gunshot. In the blink of a moment, those shining emotions vanished.
'Zyphar.'
I didn't even breathe. My face froze, like lightning had struck me straight through the soul. My mind reeled.
'No. It couldn't be…'
'How is that possible'
My eyes widened, pupils trembling.
I didn't even realize I was stepping back, not until I felt the cold stone at my heel.
My expression twisted shock, disbelief, a thousand things I couldn't mask. It was written all over my face.
Selena saw it.
A faint smirk tugged at her lips. "Oh? Looks like you recognize the name, huh? But what's with that look, Luci?" she teased, her voice light but her eyes sharp.
I forced myself to steady my breathing, hands clenched at my sides. "You said... Zyphar. As in the Zyphar family from Valora?"
She nodded, slow and solemn.
I nearly stumbled.
'Zyphar...? They were once the sixth-ranked noble house.'
'Everyone knew that…'
'Even someone like my previous one.'
Although he wasn't exactly the well-informed type, this was common knowledge.
Not knowing it? That'd be downright embarrassing.
A one-way ticket to becoming a laughingstock.
My thoughts blurred, then sharpened like a blade.
'Why is she—Selena—claiming Zyphar?'
'No, no… she must be a relative or something, right?'
And then,
as if to shatter every last shred of doubt, she told:
"To tell you the truth, Luci… I am the daughter of Duke Aldric Zyphar."
My heart plummeted.
'that's impossible. That can't be right.'
'Selena... his sister? Of all people—'
'But in the game's story, she was supposed to be dead. She died long ago before the academy arc even began. It was just a brief mention in the lore.'
My gaze locked on her, trembling slightly.
She stepped forward, her presence unshaken.
"Don't look at me like that, Luci." Her voice was soft now, almost tender.
"I know I'm a noble. But I'll always be your sister."
I swallowed hard, lips parting—then closing again.
She misunderstood.
I wasn't shaken because of her status.
I was shaken because everything I thought I knew about the game's story… wasn't just changing.
No—it had already changed, in the blink of an eye.
'This is a major plot deviation.'
'A butterfly that should've died… is standing right in front of me.'
'But how... how is this possible...?'
I hadn't even done a single thing—
and yet...
A shocking realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.
'Is this really because of me? Am I alive now... and somehow, that's connected to Selena's life as well?'
Emotion surged in my chest confusion, dread.
'Right... Crimson Resilience Art. She said I nearly died from practicing it without a pill.'
And in that moment, all the confusion cleared.
'That means... Lucion's death + my arrival ≥ catastrophic plot shift.'
Selena tilted her head. "Still in shock? You're slower than I thought."
I didn't respond.
She sighed, brushing a strand of red hair behind her ear.
"The night we met... you helped me fight those wolves. You were just a mortal back then, trembling like a scared kitten… yet you still stood up. Reminded me of someone."
She paused, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
"My little brother. He was just like you. Stupidly brave. Always trying to act tough."
'Your brother... the protagonist...'
She continued, lips curling into a teasing smile.
"So, I decided to help you. Though, that pathetic look on your face that night—gods, it was so pitiful I couldn't help myself."
My eye twitched.
'Is she mocking me now…?'
But I kept my face blank.
"Oh? No snarky comeback? Are you afraid of nobles now?" she teased again, grinning.
I sighed internally. 'Can't be helped.'
"Si—Sel… I mean, Miss Sel—"
"Don't." Her voice cut me off sharply.
She stepped in, gaze steady, unwavering. "You don't need to be formal with me. Just… call me sister. Or 'Sis,"
"…. okay. Sis…"
'What's her deal?'
"Alright, Sis… then let me ask. You said you're here to help me, right? But this 'help'… it's lasted too long. Why? What's really going on?"
Her smile faded.
Just then, the wind picked up, a gust sweeping through the air.
She stepped in front of me instinctively, shielding me as if by habit.
Her gaze turned serious again. "There are things I can't say yet, Luci. But I do have business here. Important business."
I stared at her back. That familiar presence. That unwavering confidence.
"That's the whole story… for now," she murmured.
"Oh, and… my younger brother? He's applying to…"
A soft sigh escaped her lips before she continued,
"Vortex too."
I glanced at her face.
'Yeah… I already knew that.'
But as she spoke of him, her expression darkened slightly.
I noticed the subtle shift, the way her shoulders sank, how her voice lost its spark.
I didn't push.
Instead, I offered a smile. "Don't worry, Sis."
She looked at me, blinking.
"He'll be fine too… because he's your brother."
She sighed and murmured, "Yeah, I know…"
'I couldn't say much to her about this. Not when it came to him.'
'The protagonist… and Selena. Their relationship was strained even the game before begin.'
'The story was like After their mother died, he misunderstood her actions. Resented her. '
'But when he regressed back to life, he learned the truth…unfortunately it was too late because she was already died by then.'
But now… she's alive.
'I wonder how their relationship will develop.'
'And I have no idea what the hell will happen next.'
A quiet thrill rippled down my spine.
'Man, I can't wait to see that damn lucky guy shows up at Vortex.'
'My poor piggy bank's as good as gone now...'
'Oh—right, the scroll she gave me.'
I looked at it, eyes brightening just a little.
'At least there's that. I should start preparing.'