Shadows and Embers

Seraphina had left her mother's room after hearing her story, and her mind was confused by everything she had just learned.

The original Seraphina had always assumed that her mother was a horrible bastard because her mother refused to even mention her name.

"Only now do I realize that she never really stopped crying..." she thought, exhausted.

It was strange to suddenly see your parents become so vulnerable.

It was even stranger for her because, technically, Selene had only been her mother for a few hours.

And yet, it was undeniable that she cared for her in a way she didn't understand.

"I didn't know reincarnation would require this level of emotional introspection..." she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Deciding not to dwell on it any further, she inspected the new clothes Magnus had prepared for her when he heard that Seraphina and Kaela were going to train.

A form-fitting black long-sleeved shirt with matching black pants.

While she didn't mind the color black—in fact, she preferred it—she suspected that Duke had specifically prepared those clothes for her because he was sure Kaela would leave her sprawled on the ground.

"AAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

"Medic!"

"Monster..."

"Hah! Thirty-nine guards and not a single scratch! I win! Pay up, bitch!"

"Damn bit—"

Seraphina realized she had finally reached her destination upon hearing the anguished wails of the Dark Shadow Elven guards—or Shadrow.

It seemed like this had become quite common in the dusty training fields frequented by the castle guards.

Or at least, it was when Kaela was around.

Despite the "elf" in their name, these knights were closer to ghosts, their only distinguishing features being:

Their ethereal bodies, sometimes fading into dark mist.

Mastery of illusion magic, stealth, and shadow portals.

Completely dark eyes or ones glowing with a shadowy radiance.

Even if they were incomparable to other elves, they were still nothing to scoff at. And seeing Kaela surrounded by their exhausted and battered bodies without showing any signs of fatigue beyond a light layer of sweat, Seraphina began to have doubts about this training session.

In truth, she had never participated in a fair fight before, and every one she had been in had always resulted in an embarrassing total defeat.

Slowly, her feet began to feel heavy, and she wondered if she should turn around and hide for the rest of the day.

"No, no, no. This is a perfect opportunity to bond with Kaela and get some much-needed training." She shook her head firmly, slapping her cheeks to snap herself out of her current weakness.

She couldn't live her life in fear like before.

In this new life, she would be bolder, stronger, and take more risks.

Not just for herself, but also for the young woman whose body she now inhabited.

Both of them deserved to live their lives under the sun, not in the shadows.

Seraphina decided to check her current stats, as it was the only thing she had yet to do since arriving in this world.

< Seraphina Draven >

Race: Shadoni (Hybrid)

< Status: Nervous

< Age: 17

< Evolutions: 0

< Health: 15,000

< Strength: 1,750

< Endurance: 1,800

< Agility: 1,800

< Mana: 2,050

"I think these are good, but I really don't have anything to compare them to..."

Looking once again at Kaela's sexy and muscular body, the system interpreted that as Seraphina wanting to see her stats as well.

< Kaela sune darken >

< Status: Excited

< Race: Hellfox (Kitsune variant)

< Age: 20

< Evolutions: 0

< Health: 15,000

< Strength: 1,650

< Endurance: 1,700

< Agility: 1,500

< Mana: 1,900

"Alright... this seems doable," she thought, nodding.

Even though Kaela completely outmatched her in experience, she hoped her higher stats would help close the gap.

The mana within her began to flow more smoothly than before, reaching every corner of her body and leaving her in a relaxed and positive mental state.

Kaela finally noticed that the one she had been waiting for had arrived and practically leaped over the guards' bodies to come face-to-face with her.

"Heyyyy! Seraphina, are you ready to train?" Kaela said with a wide smile.

In response, Seraphina could only give her a small helpless smile followed by a nod.