Behind what is known as Mana.

The world of Lost from Grace is destined to fall, even in the fleeting moments of its most joyous hours, or in the so-called "happy endings" of its fateful game.

This is the price of the sin committed by the earthlings against their mother.

**

The World Tree stands tall above the heavens, its towering form casting a shadow across the heart of the world—visible from any corner, its presence both eternal and foreboding.

Her kindness births, her wrath consumes. The roots of this ancient being birthed the world into four, each part claiming one of her children, bound by fate and the consequences of their transgressions.

For one of her children to peer upon the stars, the Veilfolks, the Mother bestowed upon them the eternal night. For another, yearning to nourish their young and watch them flourish in their brilliance, the Mother gifted them the day. To guide her children through the ages, the Mother created two elder sisters, bound not by blood, yet forever entwined in destiny. One, Dragonica, and the other—@#512_225… keepers of the forsaken ruins.

(A/N: The numbers and the tags are not mistakes done by me, it is like a censor to the original information. Imagine a distorted voice coming in the place of the censor every time you read. Yes, it is going to come in the future soon. Enjoy reading.)

Bloodshed, inevitable as the cycle of time, was foretold between day and night, yet only one of the elder sisters tasted death. The one who held dominion over the ruins. In mourning, and to prevent further carnage, the Mother shattered her realm into four, weaving the lands of the fallen sister into the fabric of grief. Her roots, vast and unyielding, would never allow the siblings to pass beyond, no matter how mighty their strength.

But the children, sun, and moon were deaf to the lessons of the past. Already they crossed the boundary of each other's dominion, seeking 'co-existence' as an excuse to sever the tree that reached beyond the heavens.

For as the Mother's memory faded into the silence of her slumber, so too did her sacred authority. And so, the siblings, driven by ambition, sought to rise above the branches, above all, above one another.

Through the 'coexistence' of the sun and the moon had also invaded their last elder sister dragging them to their 'coexistence.'

Through the so-called 'coexistence' of sun and moon, the final elder sister was pulled into the depths of their twisted union, dragged unwillingly into their bound fate.

The Sun—ruler of the Empire of Humankind, a realm forged in the fires of ambition. The Empire of Sun, with its four dukedoms, each ruling the northern, eastern, western, and southern reaches of the empire.

From these powerful lands, their Emperor rose, leading his people to the pinnacle of the world. Their brilliance—ruthless, unyielding—spread far and wide as they ascended, blind to the cost of their rise. And thus, the world that we know today had been created.

***

'Truly a sickening place to stay…,'

True. Who would want to live in an apartment that could collapse at any moment? That was my situation, except I had no choice but to stay until the inevitable crash. Trapped here, with no way out, I could only endure.

My body trembled as I pushed myself up once more, the cold wooden floor beneath my palms grounding me, steadying me amidst the strain. The count was high, but I knew the mark I had to reach. One more. Just one more.

"…sixty-nine… seventy… and huff! I'm done."

I rose, chest heaving, muscles protesting, yet I felt a whisper of restraint within me. It was a weakness, plain and simple. If I pushed beyond this point, I knew I'd be crying in pain.

But I had met my goal. And in that, I found a small sense of accomplishment.

'I've completed my first day of exercising in this body! If I were in my original body, I could've done more, but surprisingly, this twig's body is tougher than I expected.'

It was true. Even in my original body, I couldn't have managed basic calisthenics like this on my first day at the gym. I had to give Vanitas some credit for that.

Exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed beside me, shirtless and drenched in sweat. My fatigue slowly ebbed away as I lay there, staring at the dimly lit room. The curtains covering the windows cast a soft glow, and I had quickly grown accustomed to the luxury and aesthetics of Vanitas's spacious room.

My long white hair fell over my eyes like a curtain as I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if I had a UI to track my progress in numbers, just like in the game?'

Of course, that was wishful thinking. Still, I was adjusting well to this new reality.

Before I could plan my next steps, a faint knock echoed at the door. Startled, I quickly pulled on my shirt and opened the wooden door.

Standing there was a girl dressed in a maid's uniform. Her brown eyes widened as they fell on me—a boy drenched in sweat, trembling from fatigue.

"Good evening, Master… Ah, why are you covered in sweat? Are you ill, Master Vanitas?" she asked, her voice laced with concern yet still elegant and composed.

Before I could respond, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me back into the room. In a flash, I was lying in bed again, my body wrapped tightly in a blanket, with only my head exposed.

"How do you feel? I should fetch you some boiled water to drink…" she said, rising from her seat on the floor beside me.

"Wait," I called out, stopping her. "I'm not sick. This is just fatigue from exercising… um, training."

She turned to me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Master Vanitas, you must be truly ill to be saying such things…"

'She didn't even hear me.'

"Ugh… It's true! I was training—just trust me this once!" I exclaimed.

The young maid still seemed unconvinced, but she relented. "Okay…" she said, though her voice still carried a hint of uncertainty.

She stood by the bed like a statue, her worried gaze fixed on me. I glanced at her, trying to place her face. She was beautiful, with an elegance that surpassed even most nobles. Her brown eyes and short brown hair tied into a ponytail were simple, yet her overall appearance was striking. Despite her youthful looks, her calm demeanor spoke of experience beyond her years.

Yet, for the entire life of me playing this game, I couldn't recall her from any piece of memory.

"Can I ask you a question, if you don't mind?" I asked, still lying in bed.

"Of course, Master Vanitas," she replied, her tone tinged with surprise.

"Who are you?"

Her expression shifted to one of alarm. "You are ill, Master Vanitas."

'Just answer the question, dammit!'

"I am Alice Roosevelt, Master Vanitas's personal maid, assigned by Lord Aleric and Lady Evandra. I am the daughter of the Roosevelt household and the only child of Head Butler Chadwick Roosevelt. Does that satisfy you, Master Vanitas?" she said, her eyes closing briefly as if to steady herself.

She seemed uncomfortable associating herself with the Roosevelt name, but what surprised me most was that I had no memory of her from the game. Not only had I never heard of Chadwick Roosevelt having a daughter, but I also didn't recall Vanitas having a personal maid—let alone one as beautiful as Alice.

"Are you newly assigned?" I asked.

"What has happened to you these past few days, Master Vanitas? You've been acting strangely since your house arrest ended. I've been your personal maid since the day you were born. I was only away this morning to find remedies for your injury scars."

"Hey! Nothing's happened. I was just… testing you for a prank! Yes, a prank!"

"…A prank?" she repeated, her skepticism evident.

Realizing she wasn't buying it, I quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, is Mother free anytime soon?"

Alice seemed to notice the deflection but chose not to press further. "Yes, at 4 p.m. Lord Aleric will be leaving for the Almighty Emperor's Castle for a few months, and Master Ace and Lady Astraea will take over the administrative duties. That will free Lady Evandra from her responsibilities."

Perfect. This was my chance to ask the Duchess—known as the 'Lady of Crescent Shadows', one of the empire's most powerful mages—to teach me magic.

"Before you get any ideas, Master Vanitas, please drink this potion I brought for you," Alice said, extending a small flask filled with a transparent, faintly glowing yellow liquid.

It was holy water infused with healing magic, likely of E to C grade, designed for medicinal use. Trusting her, I took the flask, uncapped it, and drank the potion in one go. It tasted faintly of lime.

'Never thought I'd be drinking a potion in real life…'

Almost instantly, the potion's effects took hold. A soft yellow light enveloped me, soothing my fatigue and completely erasing the scars from my injuries.

"That worked well… How much did it cost?" I asked, curious.

"Two gold coins and sixteen silver. Originally, the cost would have come from your pocket money, but since it's completely exhausted, I requested Lady Evandra for the funds. However…"

"However?" I prompted, sensing there was more.

"Your elder sister, Lady Astraea, paid for it."

I was speechless. Astraea, who always seemed so cold and emotionless, had gone to help me. It was surprising, especially considering the game's forums had pegged one gold coin as equivalent to 100 silver, and one silver as roughly 10 dollars. The value of gold and silver only increased as the game progressed.

'If I were as emotionless as her, I'd never spend a single cent on my foolish younger brother.'

The potion had given me an idea. To execute it, I needed to speak with the Duke.

"I should get going soon. I need to discuss something important with Father," I said, rising from the bed.

"What do you mean by 'something important,' Master Vanitas?" Alice asked, her curiosity piqued.

Honestly, hearing myself referred to as *Vanitas* was bearable, but being called *Master* over and over again was starting to grate on my nerves. I doubted any other noble felt this way, but it was beginning to feel unnatural to me.

"Can I ask you to call me just 'Vanitas' instead of 'Master Vanitas'? I find it a bit… weird," I requested.

Alice looked at me as if I'd just stolen her job.

"But Master Vani—"

"Just Vanitas. Please," I interrupted firmly.

Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, and she glanced at the floor, clearly upset by the request. But as my maid, she had no choice but to comply.

With that settled, I got out of bed and prepared to change. Without hesitation, Alice moved to the wardrobe and began selecting clothes for me. My sweat had dried, but the faint odor still lingered. It wasn't strong enough to bother anyone, but it would be improper for a noble—let alone the Duke's son—to meet his father unwashed and smelling of sweat.

After requesting a towel, I headed into the bathroom, which was located on the left side of the room, and closed the door behind me.

I found myself in the Duke's office, a room that in modern times would be called a study. Duke Aleric—now my father—sat at his desk, signing documents with practiced efficiency. To his right sat Head Butler Chadwick Roosevelt, at a smaller desk, reviewing and signing documents within his authority. Those beyond his purview were either set aside or handed over to the Duke.

Both men read and processed the paperwork with remarkable speed.

As for me, I sat on a guest chair in the far corner of the room, surrounded by other chairs and a central table. The office was tastefully decorated with plants and bookshelves lining the walls, illuminated by mana-powered artificial light bulbs.

While waiting for them to finish, I picked up a book on noble etiquette. In a nutshell, I learned that every region of the empire had its unique forms of greeting and manners. Given the complexity, I focused solely on the customs of the Syche family.

A simple bow sufficed as a greeting, and the rest of the formalities were similar to those in the real world—with one crucial difference: failing to adhere to them could cost you your head.

When the Duke and Mr. Roosevelt finally finished their work, I approached them, stopping a few feet away. Following what I'd learned, I gave a respectful bow and greeted, "Good evening, Father and Mr. Roosevelt."

The Duke turned to Mr. Roosevelt and chuckled. "As you said, Chadwick, he's changing."

Mr. Roosevelt nodded with a smile. "Indeed, everything happens for the greater good."

'Are they talking about me?' I wondered.

With a gentle smile, Duke Aleric asked, "What is it, Vanitas? Is something bothering you?"

"I wanted to make a request, Father. May I?"

The Duke's expression grew slightly serious. "Go on."

"I'd like to request a monthly allowance to fulfill some personal wishes. Thirty silver coins per month would be more than enough."

The Duke sighed. "Vanitas, I'm afraid I can't grant your request."

My heart sank. I had feared this outcome.

"Even though I can see you're trying to change, and I want to support that, trust, once broken, takes time to rebuild. If you wish to earn thirty silver coins monthly, you'll need to do so through honest hard work."

In other words, he was telling me to earn my own money. I understood his reasoning.

Ever since the incident with Emma, the Syche family had been working tirelessly to quash the rumors about me. It wasn't just about protecting the family's reputation—it was about safeguarding my future. The rumors could erode the trust of the citizens of the Eastern Land of Syche and strain relationships with other nobles, even the royal family.

Though the rumors had been contained, the Duke feared that giving me money again might lead me to misuse it, thinking my status would protect me from consequences. He wasn't wrong—that was exactly what the original Vanitas would have done. But I wasn't him. I knew the future and had a clear plan.

"I understand. I hope I didn't take up too much of your time," I said, bowing before leaving the room.

As I stepped into the hallway, I muttered to myself, "My next destination is Mother's room." With that, I began making my way to the upper floor, guided by another maid.

Back in the Duke's Office

Once I was gone, Mr. Roosevelt turned to Duke Aleric. "I must admit, My Lord, I expected you to grant his request. What's more surprising is that Master Vanitas seemed to understand your reasoning."

The Duke smiled, his youthful face softening. "Using someone else's money makes one carefree, but spending money earned through hard work teaches responsibility. I wanted to impart that lesson to him. It's surprising, indeed, that he tried to understand."

Mr. Roosevelt nodded. "Change is indeed upon us."

***

'Help me, this is harder than facing the Duke with a straight face.'

I sat on the edge of the bed, my mother, Lady Evandra, beside me. Her deep blue eyes and flowing white hair, which cascaded past her waist, felt almost surreal. She was alive, well, and breathing—right here with me.

She was sewing a piece of cloth, her fair skin glowing ethereally under the soft light. Her hands moved with practiced ease, but her attention soon shifted to me as she caught me stealing glances.

"Is something wrong, Vanitas? Are you feeling unwell? Or are you hungry?" Her voice, warm and motherly, instantly put me at ease.

"No, Mother, I'm fine. I've been eating well. But… I have a request," I said, hesitating slightly.

Mother's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You were this anxious over a small request? Ask me anything, and I'll do my best to provide it."

I knew better than to ask for money directly. Noblewomen, even those as powerful as my mother, didn't have the authority to handle financial matters without their husband's consent. No, I had come here with a different goal in mind.

"Mother… I want to learn magic. From you," I said, my voice tinged with nervousness.

There was a brief pause, and then her face lit up with pure joy. She clapped her hands together, her excitement palpable. "This is the last thing I expected to hear from you, but I'm so happy! Your elder sister and brother only wanted to learn swordsmanship. I thought my legacy would end with me. This is wonderful!"

She pulled me into a tight hug, her happiness overflowing. 'She's brutally honest,' I thought, slightly overwhelmed by her enthusiasm.

"So… when do we start?" I asked once she released me.

Without missing a beat, she tossed the piece of cloth she'd been sewing aside and declared, "Right away!"

With a snap of her fingers, a glowing orb of pure mana materialized in her palm, drawn from the natural mana in the air around us. "Tell me, Vanitas, what do you know about mana? Whether it's right or wrong, we'll start from there."

I had a wealth of knowledge about mana, thanks to the game's future events. I even knew how to theoretically create a nuclear bomb using mana—though I had no idea how to execute it. But since I couldn't even use mana yet, I decided to trust the *Lady of the Crescent Shadows*, the woman who had taught Emma and Ehan, the future saints.

"As far as I know," I began, "mana is an energy that originates from the roots of the World Tree. It's a force that maintains the balance of the world. Some individuals—humans or other species—can command and manipulate mana at will. These individuals are called mages. They do this by inhaling the natural mana in the air, channeling it into their cores, and amplifying it according to their needs. 

"Everyone has some amount of mana within them, whether it's a tiny amount or a vast reserve. However, only a few can actually command it. A lack of mana can cause diseases or, in rare cases, even death."

Mother looked at me with surprise. "Wow, Vanitas. That's… perfect. Did you read this from a book or something?"

I shook my head. "No, Mother. This is just what I know about mana."

She seemed impressed, though she probably hadn't expected such a detailed answer. "Well, things are going to be simpler than I thought. You have my blood and your father's in you, as evident by your eyes and hair. I assume you'll be able to use mana."

She was right. The ability to use mana, known as *Arcanery*, was typically inherited from one's parents. In rare cases, it was a result of pure genius. Vanitas's white hair came from his mother, while his amethyst eyes were a hallmark of the Syche bloodline. Though I didn't know what the crescent-shaped ring in his eyes signified, Mother's assumption was correct. According to the game, Vanitas had a mana capacity comparable to hers.

'Poor Astraea,' I thought. 'She's a carbon copy of Mother but in a cold, swordsman version. This might hinder her chances of becoming Duchess after Father.'

"Why don't you try to use mana?" Mother asked, unaware of my predicament.

"That's the problem, Mother. I can't gather mana, not even in its purest form. I think my core hasn't developed yet."

In the game, Vanitas had a developed core even during the tutorial stage. But that wasn't the case for me. Had my possession of his body caused his core to regress?

Mother rubbed her chin thoughtfully before coming to a conclusion. "Do as I say."

I nodded and followed her instructions.

"Close your eyes, sit in a lotus position, and relax your mind. Focus entirely on your core."

It took a few minutes to get into the position to her satisfaction, but once I did, something incredible happened.

"I can see, feel, and hear everything in the room! It's like… Mother, why are you holding up a victory sign and smiling so widely?"

It was surreal, like seeing the world from a third-person perspective with all my senses intact. It felt as though my soul had left my body.

"Haha! I just wanted to test if my method worked. I came up with it on the spot," she said, her grin widening.

'Is she just that much of a genius, or am I witnessing the true power of the *Lady of the Crescent Shadows*?'

"Anyway," she continued, "tell me how far your senses can reach. Are they limited to this room, or can you sense the entire manor?"

Curious, I let my awareness drift beyond the room. I could sense the entire manor.

"I can sense the whole manor. Now I'm curious—can I go further?"

"Go as far as you can until you feel yourself being stopped."

I nodded and let my consciousness drift upward. The manor grew smaller and smaller beneath me until it was no larger than an ant. I could see the surrounding forests, rivers, and even the distant ocean.

But then I hit a barrier—an invisible force that stopped me from going any further.

"I can see our mansion, the rivers to the north, the massive root of the World Tree to the west, the ocean to the south, and even the neighboring dukedom. It's like I can sense the entire Eastern Land of Syche."

Mother's voice was filled with excitement. "Wurrah! You did it! You have the potential to be as strong as me."

"I'm honored, Mother. But what does this mean for my mana core capacity? And how does it relate to building my core?" I asked, still uncertain.

"Focus on the mana where you're stuck. Let it flow into you, or create a 'path' to guide those yellow orbs of mana inside you."

I closed my eyes and focused on the warm yellow orbs of mana surrounding me. As I opened my eyes, I saw them flowing into me through what looked like a neural network.

For a moment, my senses shut off. But when I felt a surge of energy fill my sternum, I opened my eyes to the real world—though not for long.

Slowly, I felt my consciousness fading. Before I completely slipped away, I managed to ask, "Mother… you were trying this too, right? I sensed you for a moment, but then you disappeared…"

She chuckled softly, her arms cradling me as her fingers gently played with my hair. "You can see the entire Eastern Land, Vanitas. For a boy of just thirteen, that's the greatest achievement one could hope for. But my little one, while you were seeing the world from above, I was watching you from beyond. I could see the entire earth, bathed in the light of one sun and two moons, while I stood above the sky."

"The… entire earth?" I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. "That's insane… You could absorb all the mana in one go…"

She laughed softly, her voice tinged with both pride and exhaustion. "Even hearing about it tires me…"

My eyes fluttered shut, and I slipped into the comforting embrace of darkness.

I woke up in my mother's bed, the soft glow of sunrise filtering through the curtains. The room was bathed in a warm, golden light, and I felt… different. Healthier. Refreshed. More alive than I had in the morning. I lay there for a moment, savoring the sensation, my body humming with a newfound energy.

Mother was gone, likely off to catch up with my siblings. The room felt emptier without her presence, but the lingering warmth of her mana still filled the air, like a comforting embrace.

As I stretched, I noticed something extraordinary. I could feel mana now—truly feel it. It was warm, almost like sunlight pooling in my palms. I focused, and there they were: the glowing yellow orbs of mana, connected like a vast neural network. They responded to my will, swirling and shifting in my hands. But as I commanded them, their properties changed. The warm yellow light transformed into a cool, blue flame—pure, unamplified mana, harmless yet brimming with potential.

It was incredible. Mother must have done this. She had somehow created a core for me, using her divine powers, and devised a method to artificially gather and amplify mana within me. The sheer magnitude of what she had accomplished was staggering. How had she done it? This wasn't in the original game. She wasn't supposed to be this strong. Her titles and feats were legendary, but this… this was beyond anything I had imagined.

I shook my head, pushing the thought aside. There was no point in dwelling on it now. What mattered was that I had mana—real, controllable mana. And with it, I could finally move forward with my plan.

The Syche family was struggling financially, and while I couldn't fix everything overnight, I could at least help in my own way. My potion idea might just be the first step toward easing their burdens. It was my way of saying thank you, even if I couldn't say it out loud.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood, absorbing the pure mana that danced in my palm. It flowed into me, filling me with a quiet strength. I took a deep breath, feeling the energy course through my veins.

"Let's earn some bread," I said to myself, a determined smile tugging at my lips. The day was just beginning, and I had work to do.

***