Lilith's Diary: That day, I saw the end

   It all began when I was six years old.

   Back then, I was what everyone called a doll princess. Always neat, always well-behaved, always with a little bow in my hair or a ribbon on my dress. I listened to everything my parents told me, especially my mother, since Father was so often away with work. His responsibilities to the clan kept him busy from dawn until late into the night, and I only saw him in passing.

   Mother was different. She was always there. She spoiled me relentlessly, showering me with affection and gifts. She never even let the maids take proper care of me. She would brush my hair herself, pick out my clothes, feed me sweets, and tuck me into bed at night. Every little thing about me had to pass through her hands. It was as though she wanted to keep me entirely to herself. That was also the reason why, unlike every other high-born child, I never had my own personal maid. 

   My life was very peaceful. I never had to worry about anything... 

   But everything changed one day.

   One quiet afternoon, I was sitting out on the balcony of our estate with my mum. The sun was warm against my skin, and the gentle breeze carried the fragrance of the flowers blooming in the gardens below. My mum was reading me a novel. I remember the cover was deep blue, its spine gilded with gold letters. She had just turned a page when it struck.

   A sharp pain in my head, sudden and merciless.

   At first, it was just a dull throb at the base of my skull. But within moments, it grew unbearable—like knives being driven into my temples, like fire crawling through my veins. I clutched at my head, gasping for air. My vision blurred, and the last thing I heard was my mum's panicked voice.

   And then the world vanished.

   What replaced it was something I’ll never forget.

   The capital, our proud city, lay in ruins. Flames devoured every building, choking smoke turned the sky black. The screams of thousands echoed in my ears—men, women, children—cut short by the clash of steel and the roar of fire. Blood pooled in the streets, so much blood that the cobblestones themselves seemed to drown in red.

   I felt it. The searing heat of the flames. The sting of smoke in my eyes. The metallic taste of blood in my mouth. It wasn’t just a vision—it was as if I were there, standing amidst the carnage.

   And then—darkness swallowed everything. That was the day, when I awakened my Sacred Eyes for the first time.

   When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a bed in a white room. The soft sheets beneath me smelled faintly of disinfectant. A doctor stood at the foot of the bed, murmuring notes as he scribbled into a chart.

   But it was my mother’s face that I saw first. She was sitting right next to me, her hands gripping mine as if she feared I would disappear. The instant my eyelids fluttered, she lunged forward and pulled me into a desperate embrace.

   “Lilith!” Her voice shook with panic. “Are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere? Do you feel dizzy? Maybe you want to drink something?”

   Her warmth, her trembling, her desperate tears… it was almost too much.

   I managed a weak, “I’m okay, Mother.”

   But I wasn’t.

   Not really.

   That vision was still burned into me, vivid and merciless. I could still hear the screams in my ears, still see the flames dancing behind my eyelids. And I knew—I just knew—that it wasn’t some random dream. It meant something.

   My little hands clenched the blanket. My face hardened in a way a child’s shouldn’t.

   “Mother…” I said, meeting her eyes. “I want to learn more about our territory. About everything.”

   The words came out firmer than I expected. For a moment, Mother just stared, startled by the sudden change in me.

   That was the moment.

   The moment I decided I wouldn’t let that vision become reality.

* * *

   At first, my Mother resisted. She wanted me to stay her sweet little princess, a baby she could cradle and shield from the world. But she also couldn’t resist me when I pleaded with everything I had.

   The doctor insisted I remain in the hospital for several more days for observation. He spoke of tests and mana readings, though in the end, nothing unusual was found. They said my body was stable, that everything looked normal. I was discharged not long after.

   When we returned home, Mother finally gave in. She began to teach me about the world—our land, our people, the history of the clan, the intricacies of trade and politics. At first it was just small lessons, meant to entertain a child’s curiosity, but I devoured them. The more I learned, the hungrier I became. Every book, every story, every lecture only made me crave more.

   My mother’s pride was obvious. Her smile when I recited facts, her laughter when I answered her questions correctly—it was all so warm. She adored my progress. But every time she asked me why I suddenly wanted to study so seriously, I brushed it off. I gave her silly excuses, like: “I just want to be smart.”, “Books are fun.”, “I want to impress Father.”

   Of course, the truth was different.

   Because in that hospital, when the doctors examined me, they found nothing. No unusual mana patterns, no mutations, nothing to explain that dream. So I told myself it was just… a vision. I didn't know it was my ability, at that point. I thought, if I told anyone, they might think I’d lost my mind. And I didn’t want to worry Mother. I couldn’t stand the thought of her worrying because of me.

* * *

   One day, not long after, I asked my mother if she could take me to the city.

   Her expression darkened immediately. “Lilith, it’s too soon. You’re still too young, and besides—it’s dangerous for you out there.”

   Understandable, of course. I was still only six, almost seven in a week.

   But I didn’t give up.

   I begged, pleaded, bargained. She refused, scolded, tried to distract me. The negotiations lasted for nearly an hour. Finally—with use of cat ears and many, many photos—we reached a compromise.

   Don’t ask about the details.

   The point is that in the end, I won.

   For my seventh birthday, Mother promised me a full-day “date” in the city. For the two of us.

   I was looking forward to it.

   Without even knowing the consequences of that decision...