Chapter 7: Rua’s Turbulent Day

Three days had passed, and the Starborn Kingdom was in turmoil. The king had declared war on the demonic continent—not a large-scale conflict, but one potent enough to crush smaller nations. Enraged by the attack on his master, the hero vowed to make the demons pay dearly.

Within the opulent walls of the Starborn royal castle, Princess Angelica awoke from a three-day slumber. The maids immediately summoned a physician.

"There are no major injuries," the physician reported, his tone carefully measured. "But Her Highness's mental state has been affected by the recent ordeal. She will require daily comfort and care."

The head maid nodded, gesturing for the butler to inform the king. She turned back to the princess, her expression softening.

"Princess Angelica, your mother, the queen, has been informed of your condition. Please, stay strong and recover swiftly to ease Her Majesty's worries."

Left alone, Princess Angelica sat in silence, her gaze distant as she drifted into deep contemplation.

Back in Glade Village, Rua was absent from her usual training grounds. Instead, she sat quietly in her home, observing her newborn sister, Leina, nestled in their mother's arms.

"Mother," Rua spoke, her voice calm and steady. "Leina is so cute. May I hold her?"

Her words, though seemingly affectionate, carried a hint of detachment. Yet, as Leina reached out to her, Rua felt a flicker of warmth—a gentle sensation that softened her indifferent gaze. The tiny hand grasping hers stirred something within her, a quiet emotion she hadn't anticipated.

"So small," Rua murmured, her voice uncharacteristically tender. For a fleeting moment, the heaviness in her heart lessened, a subtle thawing of the coldness that often enveloped her.

Kayna, noticing Rua's softened expression, felt a wave of relief. Perhaps her daughter was just a normal girl after all.

Months passed peacefully, with Rua spending her days immersed in the familial warmth of her mother and sister. She neglected her training for five months, her focus consumed entirely by Leina. The baby's white hair grew longer each day, deepening Rua's attachment. Yet, the weight of reality soon pressed upon her.

"This is bad," Rua muttered, realization dawning. "I've ignored my training for too long. Am I rusty?" But she quickly dismissed the thought, shifting her attention to more pressing matters. "If I learn to harness mana, my combat prowess will increase tenfold."

Determined, Rua returned to the old hut, resuming her rigorous training. She enlisted the help of the local boys, who eagerly sought knowledge of mana from their parents and village elders. The days that followed were filled with her gathering every piece of information she could find.

As the boys approached the hut, their conversation turned to Rua.

"Valric, who do you think Rua will marry when she's grown up?" a scrawny boy asked curiously.

Valric, with his long hair and confident smirk, scoffed. "Hmph, don't kid yourself. I'll be the one to marry her." He glanced at his friends, his eyes narrowing. "So stay away from her. When I'm an adult and a knight, I'll propose right away. None of you should dare confess to my future wife."

His friends nodded, their respect for Valric apparent. As the strongest child in the village and son of the village head, his words carried weight.

"You're the village prodigy, after all," one of them added, admiration evident in his tone.

Valric basked in their praise, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Exactly."

But one of his friends hesitated before speaking. "What about your fiancée, Valric? Isn't she your childhood sweetheart?"

Valric dismissed the thought with a laugh. "That brat can't compare to Rua. It was my father's foolish decision to engage me to her." His friends exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent.

Arriving at the hut, Valric signaled for his friends to stay outside. He wanted this moment with Rua to himself.

"Rua, it's Valric. May I come in?" he called, attempting to soften his voice.

Inside, Rua, already aware of their arrival, responded coolly. "Come in."

As Valric entered, his eyes fell on Rua, who sat with a grace that stole his breath. Her elegant posture only heightened his admiration, and he felt his heart race uncontrollably.

"I've gathered the information you requested," he began, his voice shaky. "Would you like to hear it now?"

Rua yawned, her indifference palpable. "Go ahead."

Swallowing his nerves, Valric continued. "I couldn't find much, but here's what I learned. The elder says mana is a natural energy present in all living beings. If someone has no mana, it's incredibly rare—perhaps impossible. To absorb mana, there isn't a specific method; it naturally accumulates if one's body has an affinity or compatibility with it."

Rua's expression darkened as she absorbed the information. She whispered, "Impossible… Mother said mana can be absorbed or stored. Why is it different for me?"

The revelation gnawed at her. Understanding mana's essence didn't change the fact she couldn't harness it.

"That's enough," Rua said abruptly, dismissing Valric. "Thank you for the information. I'll repay you next time."

Valric, flustered by her calm demeanor, nodded, his face flushed. As he exited the hut, his mind lingered on her every word and gesture.

"Alright, let's go," Valric told his friends, his voice a mix of relief and excitement. His heart pounded as he walked away, his thoughts consumed by Rua.

Inside the hut, Rua remained motionless, the weight of the revelation settling in. "This is frustrating. Is it because I was reincarnated?" she wondered aloud, questioning whether her lack of mana was tied to her previous life.

An hour passed before she managed to regain her composure. Dwelling on mana was pointless if she couldn't wield it. Her only option was to fortify her body through relentless training.

"Enough of these useless thoughts," she muttered. "Time to focus on my body. I've lost too much time."

Dressed in her training clothes, Rua moved to the backyard, resuming her intense regimen. She practiced her assassination techniques, refining them to suit her small frame. Hours of core exercises followed—running, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups—each rep pushing her limits further.

As dusk fell, Rua finally paused, her muscles burning with fatigue. Returning to the hut, she used the water the boys had fetched earlier, cleansing herself of the day's grime before heading home.

Upon arrival, she found Leo cradling Leina in his arms. His eyes met hers, concern flickering within.

"You're back, Rua," Leo noted. "You look clean, but there's a hint of dirt. Were you playing too roughly?"

Rua nodded absentmindedly, brushing past him toward the small washroom. After a quick rinse, she joined them at the dining table.

"Uncle Leo, is this monster meat?" she inquired, recognizing its texture immediately.

Leo hesitated, avoiding her gaze. "No, it's just boar meat, Rua."

Unimpressed, Rua kept her thoughts to herself. She had grown tired of the taste, and Leo's cooking left much to be desired.

"It's disgusting," Rua declared bluntly. "Mother's cooking is ten times better."

Leo's face fell, but Kayna chuckled, unable to hide her amusement.

"So, my daughter agrees it's terrible?" Kayna teased.

Leo's shoulders slumped. "It's a delicacy in my clan!"

Kayna's eyes narrowed. "Clan? You said you were an orphan and a mercenary. Have you been lying to me?"

Leo's face paled, panic setting in. Before he could respond, Leina's cries pierced the tense atmosphere.

"Waaah! Waaah!"

Kayna scooped Leina into her arms, shooting Leo a sharp look.

"We'll discuss this later, Leo," she stated coldly.

Leo's face crumpled with dread as he nodded.