“What could I do?” she asked herself, feeling desperate, sweating coldly. In her mind, she began calculating, running through formulas, thinking logically as if a snap had gone off in her head. She decided to hold a wake (though she wondered if three days would be enough — normally, it lasted two).
During the wake, the moment she placed a flower on the gravestone, she felt an immense weight and sadness. She then resolved to do what she always did: escape into the world of magic, formulas, books, and poisons. She studied relentlessly until she almost collapsed, until she thought…
“I can’t continue like this. I have to think logically. Letícia wouldn’t be happy with this. I must fulfill my promise to her. That’s why… I will become a mage!”
(Witches and wizards are all those who can use magic with mana, but mages are the strongest wizards in the entire country, or even the world.)
“But… no. I need to act. I must make a decision. I was thinking… about that human. Why did he do that? Was it out of pure malice? Perhaps that’s why she didn’t tell me. But… I’m already more disappointed in humans and even more afraid than before. Are they worse than demons? Should I end them as well? I want to clean the world so that when I reach nearly 1,000 years old, I can trust them again. For that… I must act. Yes… I’ll talk to that contact. Letícia’s teachings in combat will help me.”
She thought this with a strange feeling for her: hatred. She felt sorrow for Letícia, for dying without seeing her daughter again.
Akiko’s resolve hardened:— That is why I will become a mage.
---
She packed her books, clothes, food, and diary, gathered her belongings, and returned to her cabin.With the help of her contact, she became an assassin — but with one condition: she would only kill those who had committed crimes.At first, her “boss” wasn’t very pleased with the idea, but she quickly proved exceptional with weapons. She became the most powerful piece on the board, and he had no choice but to accept. (Not to mention that killing criminals earned her more money.)
She had many advantages: the experience of living for so long, intelligence, and speed in calculations. Most importantly, she looked like a 12-year-old girl when she started training. Being so young, no one suspected her.Thus, she became an assassin, training for only four years.
Her contact knew she was an elf because he had known her for a long time. She barely aged and should have been over 40. He was the only person who knew her true nature. She trusted that he wouldn’t tell anyone because, if he did… well, he certainly wouldn’t — he was too clever for that.
After training as an assassin, she began training in magic to become a mage. Every ten years, a person could become a mage by passing a test — which included exams and battles. It was common for no one to pass. Many trained their entire lives for this moment; others trained directly with mages.It would be very difficult for her to succeed, but she didn’t mind. She was determined. Even if she failed, she would try again in ten years.
When she wasn’t killing, she was training and studying. The pressure she placed on herself was enormous, but she believed that one day it would be worth it.Even so, she didn’t understand why Letícia had asked her to become a mage. Was it because Letícia’s daughter wanted to be one but couldn’t? Sadly, she wondered as she went about her work.
All that training was affecting her appearance. She had lost weight. Since Letícia used to cook (and she didn’t know how), she always wore cloaks that covered her from head to toe, hiding her unusual white hair and ears.
But one thing stood out: her red eyes. Like roses beginning to wilt, they were a dark and frightening red.If she lifted the hood of her cloak, even just a little, her unusual eyes — normal for elves but rare for humans — would be visible. At work, she wore dresses, tied her hair back, and left her eyes exposed. Her eyes intimidated people, which made her feel more confident.
Her assassin name became Kaguya. But she liked to call herself Little Kaguya because of her appearance and size.
One year after starting assassin training, it was time to prepare for the mage test — and she was already three years behind, which put her at a disadvantage.
Years passed — seven in total — and the week of tests was approaching.She was a little scared, not because she doubted her abilities, but because she was afraid of seeing people again.
At work, people were just pieces on a chessboard she needed to eliminate. Outside of work, she rarely saw anyone. But the test would force her to face and compete with others. Just thinking about it made her tremble.
One week and five days before the test, she began preparing — sleeping better and eating properly. With only five days left, she packed her bags and had to go to the city.She was afraid of seeing people, but she knew she had to face it, no matter what.
Arriving in the city, the little girl wandering alone began looking for a place to stay during the test, unsure how long it would last.
The city was beautiful, with people flying on brooms through the sky and practicing magic. In this way, she felt that she wasn’t so different from most, after all.
**Final Notes:**The fear she had of people wasn’t just because of Letícia. It came from things in the past — memories that kept returning to haunt her.
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