"I'll save you, Cellia... No matter what the cost. Even if I have to destroy this world!"

"What are you daydreaming about!? Get to work!"

I was abruptly jolted back to the harsh reality of the mine.The deafening clanks and echoes of metal reverberated through the narrow tunnel. There, under the relentless weight of dirt and sweat, miners strained to push a heavy cart brimming with the precious Magicore toward the distant surface. In the dim, struggling light of flickering torches, only a fraction of the cavern's expanse was revealed, shrouding the majority in an oppressive, unyielding darkness. It was akin to the eyes of those once imprisoned, now reduced to lives of cruel servitude, condemned to toil in this infernal abyss until their final breath.

Hexagon.

"Listen up!" the guard's voice thundered through the cavern,"Were it not for the benevolence of Our Lady, you, wretched cultists, would be dead now!"

As sweat poured down my brow, I paused for a brief moment, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. Suddenly, The guard's voice cut through the air like a whip. "Move that damned hand, you ungrateful cultist!" he barked, his anger seething.

In that split second, I witnessed a scene that filled me with righteous anger—a young boy, defenseless and vulnerable, about to become the target of the guard's wrath. Instinct overcame me, and without a second thought, I placed myself between the boy and the descending lash. "Ouch! That stings!" I exclaimed, gritting my teeth at the searing pain.

"B-Big Sis, why did you...?" the boy stammered.

"It's okay," I whispered.

The guard, taken aback by my defiance, clenched his fist and yanked my hair forcefully. "What's this? You dare to stand against me?" he shouted, "That's it! Confinement room for you!"

My heart raced as the guard forcefully dragged me through the cold, dimly lit corridors. Desperate to break free, I winced and tugged against his unyielding grip, but my efforts were in vain. The other miners averted their eyes, their silence spoke of the pervasive fear that gripped them. In this pit of suffering, they had learned the bitter truth – that it was easier to live when they turned a blind eye to the overt tyranny that engulfed them. Yet, it was futile, for the specter of death still hung heavily in the air, ever ready to claim its next victim.

With a forceful shove, the guard thrust me into the room, closing the heavy door that loomed before me. "You better behave yourself this time, Cultist!" He locked the door behind me with a loud clank, leaving me alone in the suffocating darkness.

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I let out a weary sigh, “… how the hell I ended up here?”

Leaning against the cold, unforgiving stone wall, I sought solace in the familiar ache that had settled in my bones. Elysia's words echoed in my mind, recounting the tales of those imprisoned within Hexagon's walls. These prisoners, stripped of their freedom, endured life of unimaginable hardship and suffering. Their spirits were crushed, their hopes extinguished, leaving them trapped in an unending cycle of torment.

... And because of me, many innocent children were sent here. If only I wasn't so naive, leaving the fate of the children to The Black Company… The weight of my actions pressed heavily on my shoulders, the image of innocent children suffering in this hellish place because of me haunted my every thought.

My hands trembling, realizing how powerless I had become. I thought with me here, I could save the children… but now there was a powerful seal inside my heart, locking my Divinity. I took the human in this era too lightly. I forgot that in every era, Hero had always be born and sacrificed by the mass for their own salvation. Human… are nothing but clump of wicked ego, capable of doing anything, even killing the Gods.

“What have I done…?” I regretted my action.

"Psst, can you hear me? Oiii."

A voice pierced through the suffocating silence, echoing in my ears. Was it a figment of my imagination? Or was the darkness finally playing tricks on my sanity?

"Hey, you musclehead Princess. Over here!"

Startled, I turned my head toward the direction of the voice, straining my eyes to see through the darkness. "Who's there?" I whispered cautiously, unsure if I could trust this unexpected presence.

Crackles of lightning filled the air as a small portal materialized before me. Emerging from its depths was a red-haired fairy, waving at me with a smug expression plastered across her tiny face.

"Huh, finally. Quina's barrier was really complex. It took me a while to breach it," she chimed, her voice carrying a familiar annoyance.

I... I was baffled and jumped back from the shock."T-That proudful tone... It's that you, Bianca? I-Is that really you?"

"The one and only," Bianca confirmed, flitting over to my shoulder and perching there. "Ah, yes. this is the first time you've seen my fairy form. Hmph, it's not your fault to fall in my cuteness," she boasted, her voice dripping with narcissistic pride.

The flood of emotions overwhelmed me. "I can't believe it. Y-You're still alive?" I exclaimed, my voice filled with equal parts joy and disbelief. "But how? I-I thought The Mahamagi executed you just like Elysia."

Bianca chuckled, "Is that what surprises you? What about my form?" She twirled in the air, her wings fluttering with grace. "I'm a fairy now. Could you at least say I'm cute or something?" she pouted, pinching my cheek playfully.

"You're more than cute, Bianca. You're extraordinary, exquisite, marvelous! I would like to turn you into my personal figurine!"

Her mischievous grin widened. "That's more like it!... Wait, what?"

Bianca shook her head and started explaining, "I don't know exactly. When I woke up, finding the orphanage in ruin, suddenly something awakened inside me. Perhaps this power awakened because I consumed your blood," Bianca demonstrated, manipulating a tiny thread of blood in front of me.

"This weird power is similar to you, right? It allows me to manipulate my body freely. Even though The Black Company did hang me, one little cell in my body survived. It quickly proliferates and constructs my body completely. Well, it's kind of practical, but I lost half of my own power in the process."

“W-Wait… I never thought I was that amazing,” I marveled at the revelation.

“Is that a way to flatter yourself? Well, suit yourself,” Bianca squinted her eyes, but then smiled warmly, "Now it's my turn to help you, Blood Witch. The others are waiting for you!"