My mother sits on a chair beneath the awning of my home, rocking back and forth as she sips a cup of tea. She gazes at the night stars and smooth snowflakes raining. The moonlight puts her heart to peace. She thinks about how my father and I are doing right now.
As if her thoughts materialised, she sees me walking towards the cabin from afar.
!?
"Loi? You are back! Uhm...but aren't you on the expedition with your father?" My mother asks.
...
"Are my siblings asleep?"
My mother nods. She gasps when the light from the lantern enters my expression. "L-Loi, what's wrong? Did...something happen?"
"Can we talk inside?"
My mother nods frantically and opens the door for me. She brings me a blanket for the cold but I don't respond.
The sight of the mirror grazes my sight, and a familiar dosage of despair paints my face, eyes devoid of light, It's like I'm looking at my future self when I first lost my father. How cruel this world is...Fucking hell...
Everything was going decently well and I thought I managed variables. Yet, for such an unexpected twist to jam my plans as if god is punishing me.
Mina is strong. That's why I used her as a protection for my father. But she lost to SOMETHING!! I don't even know what the fuck happened?!!
Masoc lost his arm. His dream is over. He did not have much talent and with that handicap, it's now near impossible for him to make a living.
Fuck fuck fuck!!
"Loi."
My mother's voice snaps me out of the trance.
I walk to the table and sit opposite my mother.
"This...reminds me of the time when you opened up about your regression." My mother says. She tries to hide her anxiety.
I avoid looking into her eyes, averting my gaze down. "I'm sorry."
...
"About what?" She asks.
"I made a mistake...a miscalculation...and failed. Now dad is...a convict awaiting execution."
!!!
My mother widens her eyes and her mouth drops slightly, frozen from the emotional blow.
"He didn't do anything wrong! He was...looking out for my safety. But some bastards..."
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I couldn't force myself to speak further.
My mother says nothing and closes her eyes.
...
"And you plan to break him out."
"...Yes."
"You and your father are the same...reckless and stupid."
She rests her head on the table.
"Your father insisted on chivalry and justice as a soldier...a warrior...look at where it got him. In this cruel world, strength is justice. Had he turned a blind eye to everything, we would still be living a normal life...a while longer before the war came." My mother says.
"...But that's what I love about him," She mumbles. "Damn it all..."
If I tell my mother of my sins committed in both of my lives, will she be disappointed?
My mother looks at me and we lock eye contact. I see a hint of regret and sadness.
"Did you know I met your father on the battlefield? I was a mere villager girl when your father saved me from a monster wave. In that incident, my parents died to protect me. Loi...don't go. I'm sure your father wants the same. Please."
...
The table is trembling. My mother is holding in her emotions, gripping the furniture as hard as possible. She loves my father and telling me to abandon him is never easy; She wants to save him too.
Alas, this is the destiny of the weak in a strength-oppressed world.
I lean forward and hold my mother's shaky hands. "Mom, just like how you want to protect your children, I want to protect this family. Otherwise, for what reason do I risk my life and grow stronger?"
"LOI! LISTEN-"
"I WISH FOR A HAPPY ENDING, even if it's a mere hopeless dream for peasants. But I will fight to reach that regardless if I have to make the world my enemy."
Tears shimmer in her eyes and she turns her gaze aside, her lips pursed. She never gave her approval in the end but she didn't stop me. I help my mother pack whatever is important and head out on a suicide mission.
==============
The dead silence of the night engulfs the Royal Prison, amplifying the serene force of wind flying across the mountains. Biting the grip of my sword, my claws dig into the rocks, climbing my way up the steep walls. I've not slept a wink for a week but I'm more alert than ever.
When I reach my way to the top, tall walls erected prevent unauthorized entry or escape enchanted with several barriers of magic; I can see many particles of mana moving in a pattern around the walls.
...Is it just my imagination?
I don't know anything about magic but I have a feeling that I might be able to sneak past these barriers if I can find the gap between the countless structures of mana. Nevertheless, it looks like messy scribbles of mana covering every inch, I can't possibly sneak past magic cast by the best mages in the kingdom.
Hmm...
Let's say disrupting the flow of magic triggers the barriers, can I simply allow the flow of mana through my body? Although that is just a hypothesis of the conditions.
Morja, do you know anything about this?
"I'm an assassin, not a magic scholar," Morja says. "However, you may have caught on to something because of your magic talent. Still, too risky to do that. You have my memories, try other methods of infiltration."
...
The prison is located on the highest mountain with high surveillance. There are sentinels for every corner so flight is not not an option. Piercing the skies with towering jagged walls and several stories high, the barren hell boasts impenetrability, guarded with multiple layers of security.
Climbing up the mountains was more troublesome than expected. Countless summoned creatures roam the slopes killing anything in sight; Additional surveillance magic and traps are sprinkled around the mountains.
I tap into the memories of Morja. He sent his clone into this prison for reconnaissance and acquired valuable information on the layout and security measures. Unfortunately, after analyzing his memories, I don't think I can infiltrate without alerting security forces at my current abilities.
Unless...I use the same method as Morja.
A sudden wave of mana rushes through the sky, emitting from one point near the prison. At the direction of origin is the warp gate.
Many people wearing ragged tunics and trousers chained from limb to limb emerge from the ethereal blue lump of mana. Knights lead the group without much attention to the captives.