The Criminal Reliana Million

Running toward the scream, I pushed through the dead trees until I came across a girl flailing in a river, nearly drowning.

“Someone help!” she cried, splashing helplessly.

Without hesitation, I removed my cloak and dove into the freezing water, forcing my body to swim toward her before the current could drag her further downstream.

Grabbing hold of her trembling body, I summoned [Earth Spike], creating a jagged protrusion to latch onto before we were carried away any further.

The strange part wasn’t that the river wasn’t frozen, it was that the water seemed to be pulled somewhere, as if sucked into an unseen maw. And then there was the girl.

“W-Who are you?! Kiyah! Don’t touch me, criminal!”

She writhed in my arms like a cornered cat, her nails scratching my face.

“Stop that! Do you want to die?!” I barked, trying to steady myself. In response, her squirming slowed, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“N-No! I don’t want to die!”

At least she had stilled enough for me to chant.

“Earth, heed my call and raise thine self, Stone Pillar!”

The water trembled, then a massive stone column erupted beneath us, shooting us skyward. As it crumbled moments later, I leapt free, cushioning our landing with [Air Cushion].

Relief washed over me as I released the girl, letting her cry it out while I sat down, waiting patiently.

Eventually, she stopped, wiping her swollen red eyes, her expression oddly void of emotion.

“...Thank you, for saving me,” she whispered.

“My pleasure. But what exactly happened? And what were you doing out here?”

Her answer came not in words, but in action. She pulled up her sleeve, revealing a black mark: ∞ etched just above her wrist, near the pulse.

The brand of a sinner. “Unredeemable.” The mark given to criminals, or their children. A crime so great, forgiveness was denied for all eternity.

I had one too, etched below my right eye.

“I see… so you’re a criminal—”

Her face darkened. “Don’t call me that! I have a name. Reliana Million.” She lifted her chin defiantly, before sneezing, finally realizing the cold.

A noble? Her fine clothes and prideful tone suggested so. Grandma Cassandra had always said nobles embodied arrogance.

But here, in the snow, nobility meant nothing. I ignored the thought and stood.

“Reliana, do you know where I could find a city? A village, anywhere with people?”

Her gaze shifted to the mark below my eye, her voice lowering. “People like us aren’t allowed in major cities. But there’s one place where we can enter.”

She pointed north, toward the towering mountain range. “Gravemorne. The city of chaos.”

“Gravemorne...” I murmured. Even the name sounded like death and disorder. Still, it was my only choice. The kingdom that banished me, though closest, was forever closed to me.

Her eyes narrowed. “Wait, don’t tell me you’re actually going to that disgusting place.” She gnawed her nail anxiously.

“Yes. Crimanals live there, right?”

She glared, her deep blue eyes burning into me. I wondered why she hated the word “criminal” so much. But ignoring her deadly stare, I turned to gather my belongings, until her voice rang out.

“Take me with you!” she demanded. “I promise I won’t be a burden. I can even use magic! Lightning!"

Crackling lightning danced above her palm.

“You… you have a unique attribute?

She nodded proudly. Unique attributes were rare, geniuses, prodigies, born only once in many generations. Lightning was among the fastest elements, second only to light itself.

I couldn’t help my excitement. “I was planning to take you with me anyway,” I admitted.

She eyed me suspiciously. “Mhmm. So it’s not because you realized how useful I am?”

“Bold words for the girl who nearly drowned.”

Flustered, she yanked her hood down over her face, muttering under her breath.

As night fell, our clothes still damp and the cold biting, we set up camp near the withered forest. Seated on tree stumps by a crackling fire, warmth slowly seeped into our bodies. For the first time in weeks, the clouds parted, revealing a sky littered with stars and the pale glow of the moon.

It reminded me of nights sleeping at sea.

The fire crackled softly as Reliana began to break the silence.

“So? What’s your deal?” Reliana asked, poking at the fire. “What crime did you commit?”

“Treason, or so I've heard.”

Her brow arched. “Your parents must’ve been insane. The current king, the Prudent Hound, he doesn’t forgive easily.” She chuckled dryly.

“And you? Why are you a crimi—”

Her glare silenced me. With a sigh, she twirled a lock of hair around her finger, her eyes reflecting the flames.

“Arson. My mother set fire to the queen’s palace. Killed her… and her unborn child.”

Silence. Her tone was light, but her faint smile couldn’t mask the grief beneath.

“Foolish, right?”

“Yeah—Argh!” Pain shot through my skull.

It’s happening again...

“Are you okay?!” Reliana’s voice was panicked, urgent. Strange, for someone I’d just met.

“I’m fine, it’s just...” My words trailed as realization struck.

Mana.

“What exactly is mana?” I asked aloud.

She frowned. “What are you talking abo—”

Her voice vanished. Only my thoughts remained.

Mana... fuel... energy. But why is it called energy? What is energy?

Mana is the soul. The larger the soul, the greater the mana, the stronger the magic. Then what about me? Do I have two souls? One? What composes a soul?

Questions swarmed my mind, unending.

Would dying again reveal the answer?

“Hey! What are you doing?!” Reliana’s cry pulled me back.

My hands were at my throat, squeezing. Was I... trying to kill myself?

“A strange symbol appeared in your eyes. Then you started choking yourself,” she said, clutching my wrists. “What was that?”

Exhaling slowly, clarity returned. “It’s my gift.”

“...So that’s what ‘Endless Realization’ meant,” she whispered.

What? Endless Realization? And she knew?

“How?”

Her eyes glowed faintly. “My gift lets me see a person’s name, age, and gift. Seph Bounded.” She smirked confidently.

“That’s... a really useful gift,” I muttered, but my vision blurred.

Exhaustion hit me hard, two sleepless nights, coupled with the flood of knowledge. Reliana was here. It would be safe to close my eyes. My consciousness sank into darkness, her voice calling my name the last thing I heard.

***

When I awoke, something soft cradled my head. A beautiful girl looked down at me.

“Finally awake? Was my lap really that comfortable?”

“Yeah...” I murmured without thinking.

Her cheeks colored faintly, but she quickly turned stern. “Well, it won’t happen again. Get up.”

I obeyed, feeling strangely lighter, both in mind and body. Sudden Obsession, no, Endless Realization was exacting a greater toll each time. It was as if it wanted to drown me in infinite knowledge.

I needed to find a way to block it or learn to control it.

“Seph, we should move before a blizzard hits,” Reliana said firmly.

She was right.

“Yes. We should reach Gravemorne in about five days,” I replied, shouldering my bag.

And so, we walked toward the looming mountains.

Toward Gravemorne.