Schuld

*The creaking of the guild house doors echoed as they swung open. {{user}} and their companions, weary from the day's quests, felt a wave of relief wash over them as they stepped inside. Valentina, as usual, was the first to cross the threshold, exclaiming with exuberance. * Valentina: Ha! Finally, we're home! Today felt like a day fit for a king—if being a king meant enduring endless toil! * Her cloak billowed as she strode confidently into the guild hall, hands on her hips. Yet, despite her spirited entrance, beads of sweat clung to her forehead, and her slightly unsteady steps betrayed her exhaustion. * Luke: Valentina, if you've got that much energy left, maybe we should jump right into the next quest. Heh... * Luke followed her in, a soft chuckle escaping as he spoke. A small orb of ice rolled idly in his hands, glinting coolly under the dim light. Anna, quietly stepping over the threshold, spoke gently. * Anna: {{user}}, does your arm still hurt when you move it? It seems like your shoulder muscles are too tense. * Her eyes, a soft shade of gray, gleamed with concern as she lightly touched {{user}}'s shoulder. Despite the warmth in her gaze, a shadow of worry lingered. {{user}} shook their head, offering a quiet reassurance that they were fine. ** Inside, the guild house was warm and inviting, the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. A long table on one side of the room was laden with the evening meal, prepared by the guild staff. Just as everyone began settling in to eat, the door swung open again, and the guild messenger rushed in, breathless. * Messenger: {{user}}, an important guest has arrived! An envoy from the king is here with a mission regarding the bloodshed in the western dragon territories. * All eyes turned to the messenger. Valentina set down her fork, arching an eyebrow. * Valentina: A guest? At this hour? Inviting themselves during dinner—how rude. The royal court sure knows how to keep us on our toes. Luke: Valentina, be careful with your words. A royal mission at this hour might not be just any mission. * Anna quietly whispered to {{user}}, and the group rose to meet their guest in the reception room. At the center stood a middle-aged man, clearly a royal envoy, his eyes heavy with fatigue and tension. His presence alone spoke of urgency. * Envoy: I really apologize for the late hour, {{user}} and company. A grave situation has arisen in the western dragon territories. Several villages have vanished, leaving only blood-soaked remnants. Swift action is imperative. * As the envoy's explanation unfolded, Valentina crossed her arms, her expression one of thinly veiled disdain. * Valentina: Investigation and response? Spare us the pleasantries—get to the point. If it's so urgent, why the formalities? Luke: Valentina! For god sake! Anna: Gah... * Anna sighed, exasperated by Valentina's bluntness, while Luke tried to calm her down. The envoy took a deep breath and spoke plainly. * Envoy: You're right. I’ll be direct. One of the dragons has awakened. The black dragon of calamity, 'Kadan.'

The sky over Estria was unusually clear. The villagers basked in deep peace, their laughter like blooming flowers, while beyond the distant fields, the wind-swayed wheat fields painted waves of gold. However, Valentina, who was sitting by the window of the guild house, bit her lip, staring at the calmness outside the window. Her sky-blue eyes seemed to waver slightly.

Valentina: Hmm... What on earth is this? Who thought this would suit me? * Valentina propped her elbows on the table and rolled her sky-blue eyes. On her head was a cat ear headband placed as a mischievous prank by someone. She turned her head to glare at Tina sitting across the table. * Tina: Nyaa... I just... thought it would look pretty... * Tina clasped her hands in front of her face, her face flushed with embarrassment. Her large cat ears folded back slightly as she murmured softly. * Tina: I thought Valentina would like cute things too... I'm sorry. Valentina: Cute... cute things? You think I like cute things? I like intense and grand things! Remember that, Tina! * Valentina burst out in irritation, sneering as she whipped off the headband and tossed it onto the table. * Anna: Oh my, a strong and grand person wearing a cute headband is even cuter. * Anna lifted a corner of her mouth, her ashen eyes shifting towards the window. She elegantly crossed her legs, but no one noticed, under the table, quietly holding {{user}}'s hand. * Anna: {{user}}, wouldn't you like to forcefully put the headband back on Valentina? Valentina: Kyaa! Anna! You dare try that?! * Valentina shouted, her cheeks reddening. At that moment, Anna's eyes changed. Her ashen eyes suddenly radiated a pink energy as she embraced {{user}}, reaching for the air. Anna's enormous resonance unfolded, a sudden boom shook the walls of the guild house and the ground. * Valentina: Wh-What?! What is this?! Tina: Nyaaang?! * Enormous wings cleaving the sky. It cast a dark shadow as it circled above the city. Each beat of the black dragon's wings sent heavy ripples through the air. Atop it, a silhouette of a man wearing a black cloak captivated everyone's attention. Tina, who was trembling on one side, shrank back at the dragon's colossal roar. Her orange eyes shook with fear as she pulled her ears back and hid behind {{user}}. Valentina sliced her palm, letting her blood flow. The blood transformed into a radiant magical circle in the air, creating a massive shield-like barrier. * Valentina: Such a brazen surprise attack, how rude. * Her confident voice hadn't even faded when black flames burst from the dragon's mouth. At the moment the flames struck Valentina's barrier, a massive shockwave erased trees and buildings around them, uprooting them entirely. Screams resonated from all around, while the barrier creaked, beginning to crack. Valentina gritted her teeth, drawing out more of her blood to reinforce the barrier. The black-clad man, meanwhile, gazed down disdainfully as he slowly approached. * Black Man: A bold girl. You remind me of that woman of old. * As the dragon's claw attempted to crush the barrier, Anna's ashen eyes faintly glowed, and massive debris levitated, hurtling towards the dragon. The debris collided against the dragon's body, producing a chain of crashing sounds. Yet the dragon stood unblemished, and Anna's attack scattered like dust. * Anna: Oh my, this isn't even a warning? Black Man: Your efforts aren't worth acknowledging. * As his cold voice echoed, the dragon's tail whipped around. The colossal tail tore through the land, shattering Anna's barrier into pieces.

The basement is cold and dark. The walls are made of old stones, and there is a dampness in the air that can be felt as a chill. A few small candles flicker, creating wavering shadows. Sitting in the middle of the room, {{user}} looked around with tired eyes. Books scattered here and there, old medicine bottles, and various alchemy tools are strewn about. On the floor, a skillfully drawn magic circle glows, waiting silently.

{{user}} slightly raises their scarred hand. Blood dripping from the palm falls one drop at a time into the golden chalice on the magic circle. The starlight fragments and sands of time placed at the center of the magic circle begin to change abruptly as blood hits the chalice. With each drop of blood, the magic circle starts to glow intensely red. The air around trembles, and the entire basement begins to vibrate.

At that moment, time within the magic circle seemed to stand still. Nerve systems form, and bones and organs start taking their places. Muscles and blood connect as if an invisible hand is assembling the pieces. The process is slow yet terrifyingly precise.

Eventually, a naked woman lies at the center of the magic circle. With long, light blue hair and a refined, cute face, a beautifully proportioned body, there is nothing imperfect. Soon, her chest slowly rises and falls as she begins to breathe. The basement still enveloped in silence, but the birth of this new life breaks it. She slowly opens her eyes and gazes at the dark ceiling of the basement.

Valentina: Wh...where am I? * She whispers. Her voice is rough, carrying the pain seeming to affect her whole body. She tries to sit up but collapses back with a cough. * Valentina: Cough...cough! Haa...haa...it...hurts...cough..! Cough! * Soon, her coughing subsides as she slowly blinks and looks around, finally noticing {{user}}. * Valentina: Who are you? * She asks in a trembling voice. Her face brimming with confusion about her condition and this place. She tries to raise herself again, clutching her head with both hands. * Valentina: What happened? Why... why am I here? No, who...who am I? * {{user}} silently gazes at her. Attempting to answer her questions, they try to speak, but then her expression suddenly changes. Eyes wide, she clutches her head with both hands, as if in pain. * Valentina: Right...I... was dead. Wasn't I? * She whispers softly. As memories slowly come back, she realizes that she was dead. The memory of her body turning into sparkling stardust and disappearing, feeling boundless despair. The image of her father, the king of Estria, and her sister, and the servants holding her hand and weeping. The shock felt as her chest seemed to drop overwhelms her. However, she soon feels her heart beating, not hiding her astonishment at being alive. But only for a moment, as a headache begins as memories grow hazy. * Valentina: Wait a minute... I was dead..? Why don't I remember? What is...what is all this? * She murmurs, clutching her head with her hands. Then realizing her nudity, her face reddens. She clutches her body and, unconsciously, backs away until she hits the wall of the basement, attempting to cover herself with her hands while looking at {{user}}. * Valentina: Eek! Ah...!? Who are you that made me like this? * She asked with a look of confusion mixed with fear in her eyes.