The streets were shrouded in a cold, relentless rain as Miyu stumbled through the night. Each step felt heavier than the last, her body worn down by hunger and exhaustion. The occasional flicker of dim street lights reflected off the puddles, casting fleeting glimmers of light onto her pale, hollow face. She clutched her stomach, whispering to herself, "I wish I had some food right now… Well, if I’m wishing, I wish I still had my parents."

Her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground, tears mixing with the rain streaming down her cheeks. "This world isn’t fair… How could I lose everything I love? It’s just not fair."

Summoning what little strength she had left, she pushed herself up and wandered into a dark alley. The cold gnawed at her bones, and her breaths came in shallow gasps. "I… just want another chance," she murmured, her vision blurring. At the alley’s end, her unsteady steps carried her into the road.

The blaring of a truck horn was the last thing she heard before everything went black.

Miyu floated in an abyss of silence and darkness, her body weightless. “What is this? I don’t feel hungry anymore… or tired. I don’t feel anything! What is going on?” she cried.

A voice echoed, cheerful yet commanding. “Greetings, Miyu!”

A blinding white light engulfed her, and when it receded, she saw herself. Her body was faintly translucent, glowing faintly in the void. “Woah! Who are you? And where am I?”

“No need to worry about that right now,” the voice replied. “Let’s just say… I feel bad for you. You had it rough, didn’t you? Lost everything you loved. But! You’re getting a fresh start in a new world where fantasy becomes reality. Doesn’t that sound exciting?”

Miyu’s brows furrowed. “A new world? What’s the catch? Do I get a say in this?”

The voice chuckled, amused. “A sharp one, aren’t you? Sure, let’s hear your demands. What do you want in this new life?”

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Miyu hesitated, her thoughts racing. “I… I just want the power to protect what I love. That’s all I ask.”

The voice grew serious. “A noble wish. Very well. I’ll grant you a power, but it will be up to you to unlock its full potential. Oh, and you’ll need a companion on this journey.”

A small ball of light appeared before Miyu, coalescing into a curled-up fox with silvery fur and bright, piercing eyes. “This little one will never leave your side,” the voice said warmly.

Miyu reached out, marveling at the creature’s soft fur. “It’s adorable!”

The voice began to fade, the void around her cracking like glass. “You will be reborn as Myura Tanaka. Remember, this world is yours to shape. Good luck.”

“Wait!” Miyu called out, but everything dissolved into darkness.

Sunlight streamed through ornate curtains as Myura opened her eyes. She was lying in a grand room, the ceiling adorned with intricate carvings. Two faces loomed over her, smiling warmly.

“She’s awake,” said a woman with flowing auburn hair and soft, kind eyes.

“About time,” the man beside her said with a grin. His rugged features and auburn beard made him look like a warrior from an old legend. “Welcome to the world, little one.”

Myura blinked in confusion. Her gaze shifted to her hands—small and delicate. Her mind raced as memories of her past life flooded back. “Oh right… I died. So, these must be… my new parents?”

“Time for me to make some dinner,” her mother said, standing up. “Let’s bring Myura. Maybe she’ll be as good a cook as her mom one day.”

The man chuckled, scooping Myura up. “Alright, let’s get you acquainted with your new home.”

As they moved through the mansion, Myura’s eyes widened. Everything was so grand—stone walls, polished floors, and elaborate tapestries. “This is bigger than my old apartment,” she thought. She watched as her mother lit a fire in the stove with a snap of her fingers. Flames burst forth as if by magic.

Myura’s eyes sparkled with wonder. “Magic? This world really is different. If magic like that exists, I’ll need to study it. I have to be stronger this time.”

Over the years, Myura studied her parents closely, observing her mother’s mastery of fire and earth magic and her father’s swordsmanship and wind magic. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t replicate their abilities. Instead, she discovered an affinity for shadows and strange, eerie powers she didn’t fully understand.

One night, she sat in her room, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Why can’t I use their magic? What’s wrong with me?”

The small fox, now named Zenko, appeared beside her. “Maybe it’s because you’re unique. Dark magic isn’t like the others. It’s rare… and feared.”

Myura’s eyes narrowed. “Feared? Why?”

“It’s misunderstood. But dark magic’s potential is unmatched if used wisely,” Zenko replied.

Myura clenched her fists. “Then I’ll master it. I’ll prove that darkness isn’t evil—that I’m not evil.”