The damp cloth slapped against the washboard as Mira scrubbed the dirt and grime from her family’s clothes. Her hands moved with mechanical precision, but her mind was a swirling tempest of frustration. Every scrape of fabric against wood felt like an insult, a reminder of how suffocating her life had become.

“I didn’t get a second chance at life for this,” she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the splashing water. “What’s the point of being reborn if it’s just to live like this again? A life of endless chores, servitude, and eventually…” She stopped scrubbing, her fingers gripping the cloth so tightly that her knuckles turned white. “Eventually becoming some man’s wife. Bearing children for someone I’ll probably despise.”

The thought made her stomach churn. Her gaze drifted toward the house, where she knew her father was likely brooding or barking orders at her brothers. Ever since the trip to the market, Richard had been unbearable. His overbearing control had tightened like a noose, binding her to the house and forbidding her from stepping beyond the yard without his approval.

The weight of her confinement pressed on her like a physical burden, and for a fleeting moment, her thoughts turned dark.

What if I just…

“Mira!”

The shout startled her, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. She turned sharply to see Lia jogging toward her. The tomboy’s loose tunic and short hair gave her a carefree, rebellious air, as if she were immune to the constraints Mira felt crushing her. Behind her, Riley followed at a slower pace, his shy demeanor evident in the way his eyes flicked nervously from Mira to the ground. Kael, the quiet elf boy, and Miko, the timid rabbit beastman, lingered further back, their expressions curious but subdued.

“Mira! Why don’t you ever come out and play anymore?” Lia’s voice was casual, but there was a sharpness in her eyes that suggested she knew something was wrong.

“I can’t,” Mira replied bitterly, gesturing toward the house. “My father doesn’t let me leave. I’m stuck here, doing this.” She waved at the damp laundry with a scowl.

“That’s ridiculous,” Lia said, crossing her arms. “You’re not some servant. You’re his daughter!”

“M-maybe you could…” Riley’s soft voice barely rose above a whisper. “S-sneak out? J-just for a little while?”

Mira shook her head, her bitterness deepening. “Not today. But, Lia, I need to talk to you. Alone.”

Lia’s curiosity was immediately piqued. “Oh? Alright. Lead the way.”

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Without another word, Mira guided Lia behind the barn, out of sight of the house and away from prying ears. Once they were safely hidden, she turned to her friend, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“You asked me once what kind of class I’d want,” Mira began, her tone steady despite the storm in her chest. “I’ve decided. I want a class related to magic.”

Lia blinked, surprised, before letting out a low whistle. “Magic, huh? You’re aiming high. But…” She leaned against the barn wall, crossing her arms. “That’s not easy, Mira. Especially for commoners like us. Unlocking a mana-based class isn’t something you just stumble into.”

Mira frowned. “Then how does it happen? There has to be a way.”

Lia scratched her head, her usual tomboyish confidence giving way to a more thoughtful expression. “Well, from what I’ve heard, the first step is sensing mana. It’s…hard. Really hard. It’s like trying to hear a whisper in the middle of a storm or feeling a single drop of rain in a raging river.”

“How do I start?” Mira asked, her voice sharp with determination.

“You’ve gotta quiet your mind,” Lia explained, her tone uncharacteristically serious. “Close your eyes, breathe deep, and focus. Don’t just feel the air—feel everything. The ground beneath you, the sunlight, the air around you. Mana’s supposed to be part of all that. If you can sense it, you’ve taken the first step.”

Mira closed her eyes, following Lia’s instructions. She inhaled deeply, letting the air fill her lungs, then exhaled slowly. She tried to focus on everything—the warmth of the sun on her skin, the breeze brushing her face, the faint sound of leaves rustling in the distance.

But nothing happened.

She shifted her focus, trying harder, straining to feel something—anything. The air around her felt empty, the ground beneath her lifeless. She opened her eyes after what felt like an eternity, frustration bubbling in her chest.

“I don’t feel anything,” she admitted, her voice tight.

Lia shrugged, her expression sympathetic but not surprised. “I told you it’s hard. Most people can’t do it on their first try. Some can’t do it at all. It takes practice—lots of it.”

Mira’s hands curled into fists. “There has to be a trick to it. A shortcut.”

“There isn’t,” Lia said firmly. “At least, not one I know of. My dad only mentioned it when he was training Riley. He said it takes patience and persistence. If you want to unlock a mana-based class, you’ve gotta put in the work. There’s no easy way.”

Mira exhaled sharply, her frustration simmering just below the surface. She didn’t want to admit how much Lia’s words stung. For all her determination, it seemed like every path forward was a steep climb. But she wasn’t going to give up.

“Fine,” Mira said finally. “I’ll keep trying.”

Lia’s expression softened. She placed a hand on Mira’s shoulder, her grin returning. “You’ve got this, Mira. You’re stubborn enough to pull it off. Just don’t let your old man catch you. He’d probably lose his mind if he knew what you were up to.”

Mira smirked despite herself. “He won’t. Trust me.”

“Good,” Lia said, stepping back. “I’d better get going before your father or mother noticed. Keep at it, okay? We’re rooting for you.”

Mira watched as Lia jogged off to rejoin the others, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She glanced toward the laundry line, the wet clothes swaying in the breeze. Her father’s shadow still loomed large, but for the first time in days, Mira felt a flicker of defiance.

She wiped her hands on her apron and stood still, the world around her humming with faint noises. Birds chirped, the wind rustled leaves, and somewhere in the distance, she could hear the faint laughter of her friends.

Once more, she closed her eyes. She didn’t know if she was ready to face the challenge Lia described, but she couldn’t let the frustration consume her.

This time, as she breathed in, Mira pushed herself harder to tune into the world. She focused not just on the sensations she could feel but on those she couldn’t. Somewhere, hidden beneath the noise, there had to be something.

But still, the world around her felt flat and ordinary.

When she opened her eyes again, disappointment weighed heavy in her chest. She didn’t know what she had expected—a spark of light, a tingling sensation, maybe even a whisper of power—but all she felt was the breeze cooling her damp hands.

Yet, as she turned back to the laundry, her frustration began to transform into resolve. The path to magic wasn’t going to be easy. It was going to be long, grueling, and filled with failures.

But Mira wasn’t going to stop.

No matter how hard it was, she wasn’t going to let this life become a shadow of the one she left behind.