How Long Has It Been Since You've Experienced Combat, Father?

At midnight, inside the Pedrol mansion, continuous explosions and roars echoed from outside. Evina, leaning against the corner wall, seemed not to hear them. The cowhide ropes that had cut her were scattered nearby, her fair jade fingers trembling slightly as she flipped through the yellowed diary in her hands.

[Holy Calendar Year 708, November. Pedrol has a new addition to the family. He looks so small and fair-skinned. His name is... Evina? Am I a big brother now?]

[Another day of training. As the eldest son of the Pedrols, I must work even harder. Are you watching me practice my sword, Evina? Then I need to perform even better...]

[Sparring... I really miss it. The way I was when I first picked up a sword. This time, it's my turn to be the teacher...]

[Ten moves. I'll go easy on you... But you don't have to cry if you lose, right? So cute, Evina...]

[Thirty-seven moves. It's only been four months. No, I definitely didn't use my full strength. I should be more serious next time...]

[I lost. I actually lost. How is this possible? I'm so ashamed in front of you. As a brother, I must work harder to win next time...]

[Evina, why can you learn techniques I can't master so easily? Am I not trying hard enough?]

[Holy Calendar Year 722, July. The first Knight Assessment... If I can pass, I'll become a Priest, right? The Pedrol Family can also see some improvement...]

[Failure... Failure... Failure!]

[Second Knight Selection, third round. Is this my limit?]

[From morning till night, it's nothing but training. It's meaningless. I'm afraid I'll never be able to pass the Knight Assessment...]

[Father, why do you look at me with such expectant eyes? Why are you unwilling to give up on me?]

[This look again. Do you hate me, Evina? I understand how you feel. A Useless Person stole an opportunity that rightfully belonged to you... If it were you, you would definitely succeed, my sister...]

[Perhaps without me, everything will be alright... Evina, I will give you everything you desire. This is the only way...]

The brown-haired girl turned the pages of the diary in her hands, one by one. Through the cold words, she came to understand the brother she envied so much, the one who held her father's expectations, yet couldn't do anything right...

She had once resented such unfairness. All her efforts, her proud swordsmanship, were merely tools in her father's eyes to attract the attention of Duke Nordland's son.

If she had the chance, she could definitely pass the Knight Assessment, definitely revitalize the Pedrol Family, definitely make her father see her clearly...

Therefore, towards her brother, who possessed all the family's resources and could receive formal Knight training at any time, yet failed again and again... Evina felt immense dislike, even hatred...

[So cute, Evina...]

Her finger traced the creased pages, and as she read the words, the girl's body trembled. Crystal tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto the pages.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Evina murmured to herself, her mind blank. Tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes, her heart filled with intense regret... Evina had never hated herself so much.

She thought she had forgotten how to cry. That was supposed to be a privilege for those who received attention...

Outside the mansion, continuous flames erupted, while the room fell into deathly silence. Only the suppressed, intermittent sobs echoed incessantly.

It wasn't until the room's door was violently kicked open that the girl dazedly turned her head.

Baron Pedrol, who rushed in, surveyed the messy scene in the room. Upon seeing Evina, who was 'frightened and could only hide in a corner and cry,' his anger flared. He asked irritably, "Do you know how much chaos is happening outside, Evina? Why are you still sitting here foolishly? Where is Lott? Where is he now?"

As he spoke, another explosion sounded from outside the mansion.

"Did something happen outside?" Evina asked, holding the diary wet with tears in her arms, her head bowed.

"Those damned Wizards are wreaking havoc in Harbor Town. They used some terrifying Witchcraft to blow up the entire dock. Priest Adrian is dead, Priest Danny is dead, Sir Sick is dead, and even Archbishop Antioch couldn't escape..." Baron Pedrol said, his voice filled with panic.

He had previously suggested participating in this witch hunt before the Archbishop of Nordland Territory to boost his resume. Now, he realized that if Antioch had agreed, he would have died at the Harbor Town dock.

Listening to one insurmountable name after another being declared dead, the brown-haired girl's heart trembled. She couldn't help but recall the words that echoed in her ears as Lott left.

"So insignificant, Evina..."

To become a Wizard, was that your choice, brother?

Legend had it that one could become a Wizard with forbidden power by sacrificing their soul to a Demon. But as a price, the person's personality would often change drastically, and their soul would gradually fall into the abyss...

And all of this was for her.

"Where is your brother? You still haven't answered me, where is Lott? We need to leave here immediately!" Baron Pedrol frantically squeezed the girl's wrist and questioned her loudly.

"He's dead!" Evina said softly. She knew very well that if the information about her brother becoming a Wizard were revealed, the entire Pedrol Family would be annihilated instantly.

Baron Pedrol paused, a terrifying expression appearing on his face.

"You'd better not play any tricks on me, Evina!"

"I'm telling you, even if your brother is truly dead, the Baron's title will never fall to you! Never fantasize about things you can't have!"

Baron Pedrol said furiously. Under no circumstances would he allow an outsider to take over the Pedrol Family, no matter how outstanding they were!

"In that case, I will leave..." Evina broke free from the hand restraining her, placed the diary in her arms, and turned to walk towards the door without hesitation.

"Stop! Explain yourself!" Baron Pedrol had never expected that Evina, who had never dared to resist him before, would dare to defy him like this. Intense anger surged in his heart. He drew the long sword at his waist, still in its sheath, and swung it fiercely towards Evina.

Clang~

The sheathed long sword flew out of his hand, spinning as it landed on the ground with a low thud.

Baron Pedrol froze in place. A three-finger-long, extremely sharp wooden spike was now held at his throat.

"How long has it been since you last fought, Father?" Evina looked at Pedrol with a complicated expression and asked.

Baron Pedrol broke out in a cold sweat and sat down on the ground. Only then did he realize that Evina's swordsmanship was far more advanced than he had known, even completely surpassing his own.

Evina dropped the wooden spike in her hand and stepped out of the room without looking back.

"Where are you going, Evina? Where's Lott? Tell me where he is!" Baron Pedrol finally came to his senses and roared loudly.

"My brother is already dead. You can just pretend I killed him... Father." Evina said softly. "And I'm leaving Harbor Town to see the world..."