"Hello everyone!" Seth greeted lively as the children turned at his sudden entrance. Their eyes glimmered with familiarity as they hurriedly rushed towards him.

"It's the candy man!” A young boy squealed.

“Candyman?” A little girl asked, confused by the excitement of the others.

“Ah, it's sir Seth, you dummy!" The children quickly crowded the entrance, eager to taste whatever tasty treats Seth had brought for them. The young merchant eagerly smiled as he rummaged through his sling bag.

"Hi kids, were you good this day as well?" Seth asked as the children furiously nodded their heads.

"Yes, yes we are!" They replied eagerly.

"Oh, is that so? Then I have no other choice but to reward you then!" Seth smiled as he finally grabbed what he was searching for. "Tada! It is chocolate chip cookies!"

The little one's eyes widened in joy and excitement when they saw the bag. "Hooray! Sir Seth is the best!" Like a pack of starving wolves, the children eagerly waited for Seth to hand over their long-awaited sugary delight as their mouths watered.

All was fine and dandy until the shadow of despair loomed over. A hand suddenly snatched the sugary bag and the children's eyes widened into outrage. "H-hey! That is ours! We share it fair and square! Give it back you- eep!" The children fell silent when they saw who it was.

Their anger twisted into fear as their eyes landed on the unknown perpetrator. "Ah, it's sister Lucy!" The children cry in disbelief as Lucy crosses her arms.

"What did I say about sugars little ones?" Lucy's tone was controlled and tempered, but it terrified the rest of the children.

There was something eerie, something unsettling about Lucy's tone as she never raised her voice but commanded an equal, perhaps more measure of respect and discipline to the children. "B-but it's cookies!" One of the brave souls dared question her authority as Lucy turned to face the child.

"We have talked about this Arthur, no sweets until you finish your veggies." The little boy flinches but remains defiant.

"B-but it's cookies!" Arthur said.

"Arthur." Lucy replied patiently, but the boy remained stubborn.

"C-can't we have it just this once?"

"Arthur." Lucy emphasizes again as the little boy begins to tear up.

"It's just a cookie! Just one cookie!" Arthur begins to throw a tantrum as he stomps his feet and begins to cry. The others would have joined as well when Seth intervened.

"Hey hey, no need to cry. Sister Lucy here only said you can have one after you eat your veggies." Seth quickly soothed the boy when he saw Lucy paling.

No matter how hard she tried, Lucy was still weak against children. After knowing nothing but destruction for a lifetime, taking care of the children was a monumental task. Lucy did not know what exactly to do, but the chance of a new life was something she clung to desperately.

Still, she was unbelievably weak against their cries. Seth would have waited to enjoy her suffering more, but the coming retribution was something he liked to avoid.

"No! I don't want to eat veggies! It's always just veggies and veggies!" Arthur cried as Seth chuckled at his childish remark.

"But veggies make you strong." Seth said, but the boy was not having it.

"No! I don't care!" Arthur cried as Lucy stood rigidly, her inexperience as clear as daylight.

Thankfully, Seth knew exactly what to do. "Really? Well, I can't force you if you don't want to."

"Really??" The boy beamed up as Lucy shot a glare at Seth.

"Yes, but I guess that means Arthur here will be weaker than the girls." Arthur blinked before he shook his head.

"N-no! Arthur is stronger than any girl!" Arthur protested as Seth smiled.

"Really? But Arthur did not finish his veggies."

"S-so does everyone!"

"Hmm? But older sister Iva finishes hers! Didn’t you Iva?" All eyes turned to the slightly older child who was dragged into the crossfire.

"Y-yes? Ah! Yes... I did finish mine." Iva meekly whispered as she avoided their gaze.

"See? I guess older sister Iva here would be stronger than baby Arthur."

"I-I'm not a baby!"

"Oh? But baby hates veggies, unlike strong older sister Iva here." Arthur blinked as tears formed up.

"I'm not a baby! I'll show you, you meanie!" Arthur cried out as he ran back to the kitchen.

"M-me too! I'm not a baby!" The rest of the children begin to race back to the kitchen to finish their meals as only Iva and Adam remain.

"Well, I guess that worked out pretty well!" Seth laughed before halting midway as Lucy's glare stabbed him.

"Adam dear, share this with the rest when they are done will you? Iva..." Lucy trailed off as Iva was already gone.

"D-don't worry sister Lucy you can count on me!" Lucy snaps out of her daze as she gives a smile to the young boy.

"Thank you Adam, you've been a great help to me." the young lady said as she gently ruffled his head.

"Un!" Adam said before disappearing back into the kitchen.

"The young lad sure does like you huh? Well, I guess he would be considering being saved by you and all..." Seth trailed off once more as only a glaring gaze emitted from Lucy.

"C-come on now, no need to frown all day!" Seth tried to rile a laugh but failed miserably as Lucy did not look amused in the slightest. "A-are you really that angry?" Seth chuckled uncomfortably as Lucy finally spoke.

"Angry? I'm not angry, I am absolutely livid."

"That's even worse!" Seth dramatically backs away in fear as Lucy's frown deepens.

"And who's fault is it?" Lucy said as Seth gave an awkward smile.

"But the children sure do like-"

"Do you have any idea how bad these sweets are for their teeth? I assure you gobs, it is not pleasant." Lucy growled as Seth tried to smile as he scratched at the back of his head.

"W-well they can just clean their teeth-"

"And are you the one who has to make them every day? Do you have any idea how hard it is to make them clean their teeth?" Lucy was beginning to grow annoyed by the second when Seth suddenly blinked and smiled.

"You think this is funny??" Lucy could feel a vein bulging in her forehead when Seth answered.

"N-no! No of course, not... I'm just happy... for you I mean." Seth's usual playful smile was gone, replaced by a genuine one instead. It was... warm?

Lucy was caught off guard but surprisingly did not feel unpleasant. She instead feels... giddy? Lucy quickly regathers her composure as Seth gives off a fake cough. "You sure are creative with your words gobs..."

"But of course! I am a merchant after all hehe..." An awkward silence befell the two as Seth quickly stirs back on course.

"A-anyways, can we go now? There are things I wish to discuss." Lucy seemed to agree as well as she simply nodded back and led the way.

The two made their way easily back to the guest room as they'd done previously. As usual, Lucy prepared tea as Seth revealed their snack of the day. "...You really should stop bringing all these sweets. Are you not sick of it already?" Lucy whispers as pours a cup.

"Ah, but a tasty treat is a shortcut in earning one's trust!" Seth happily replied as Lucy sighed.

"And just where have you heard that saying?" Lucy said as she poured a cup for Seth.

"No one! I made it myself!" Seth proudly proclaimed as Lucy raised a brow. "What? It clearly is effective!"

"I do not count gobz."

"Is it now? Then why is it your nibbling a bite right now?" Seth said as Lucy shrugs off.

"You'll learn to appreciate anything when you are starving." Lucy said as a flash of memory slipped in.

It was not as bad compared to her older self, but Lucy could still recall the dreaded hunger when she escaped. Armed with nothing but her knife, she wondered for who knows how long across unfamiliar lands.

Drowning her hunger in a tidal wave of water while sleeping with one eye closed, the gnawing madness chipping away at her sanity as hunger and paranoia degraded her senses, it was something Lucy did not want to recall as she took in another bite.

"...Did they ever…” Lucy paused midway when she saw Seth staring blankly, eyes pulsing in bright amber. It was subtle, but Lucy could see the disgust and sadness in his eyes no matter how hard he tried to hide it. Lucy found herself laughing bitterly before shaking her head.

"Thankfully they were not that heartless. Fed me three times a day if you can believe it..." Lucy said in a melancholy tone as she whispered very softly that only she could hear it. "...though I wished they had, would have made it easier to hate them then..." Lucy said Seth's face darkened even further.

Though it was hard to catch, Seth was using power on his own discreetly as a habit. 'I wish they did that instead of ignoring me.' Was what Seth could decipher from her words. As much as he wanted to retort, Seth could offer no comfort for a wound he could never reach.

"Hey, lightened up a bit gobs, you look worse than me." Seth blinked then as he raised his gaze slightly to meet with Lucy. "Were you not supposed to help me? Come on stop mopping around." Lucy chuckled as Seth saw once more that smile as a cool breeze blew in.

The gentle breeze blew away the curtains as Lucy's silver-white hair gently swayed from side to side. Though her body was marked with trauma, her cobalt hue eyes still retained a remnant of its former beauty. And that smile... that small fragile small...

Once more his heart skipped a beat. “Ah...” The young man muttered as old thoughts crept back. "Would appreciate it instead if you stop calling me gobs though." Seth smiled back as it was now Lucy's turn to blush. Her sapphire eyes dilated as Seth continued to smile.

"Oh, are you embarrassed?" Seth suddenly remarked as Lucy quickly gathered her composure for a counterattack. "Could it possibly be because of me?" Though Lucy was a leaf green compared to Seth who was a hardened veteran.

In war, Lucy was nothing short but the perfect weapon. A conversation with the opposite sex? She was a hopeless cause. "Are you finally opening up to me sister Lucy? Does my charm finally working on you?" Seth continued to tease Lucy as he found her reactions adorable.

"What about you?" Lucy suddenly snaps back as her gaze meets with his.

"Hmm?" Seth blinked as Lucy boldly stared back and gave a smirking smile.

"Surely there are other women whom you are fond of but why do you keep coming back to me? Could it be that you are also falling for-"

For you? HAHAHA! What a sad deluded fool you must've been! A cruel laughter suddenly echoed from behind Lucy's mind as her eyes widened and her shoulders sunken visibly.

I-I didn't mean it that way-

You think someone would ever love as vile as you? Look at yourself! You are nothing more but a disfigured wretched pretender. Lucy's pupils trembled slightly as the voice continued to mock at her broken form.

You've abandoned your family, abandoned your duty and your purpose for your own greed. What right do you have to be happy?

Those animals are not my family! Lucy lashed out as her rage reignited.

What duty are you spouting off? Duty to die for a cause I never believed in? Duty to suffer in place of that incompetent reprobate?! I have lived and died once for their own selfish greed. Can't I be happy for once?? Have I not earned it?!

Lucy lashed out to the voice inside, renewed by the sense of courage and confidence Seth had accumulated within her for the past couple of weeks. And what of your men? Alas, the confidence shattered almost immediately as the voice seemed to laugh at her façade.

Don't you think they too deserved that chance?

I-I-

Why were you the only one who got to live twice?

S-stop!

Why do their families-

I said stop damn you

Stolen novel; please report.

-have to endure it all over again while you're here eating cookies and tea in the lush comfort of safety?

Weren't you the one-

STOP I SAID STOP!

-who proudly accused the prince-

PLEASE STOP!

-of the very same thing? You self-righteous hypocrite.

...

Perhaps those scars are fitting after all.

stop... just... please...

A price for such a filthy liar as you.

Lucy trembled as she stared at her scars. Those twisted marks seemed dirty now as her eyes stung with tears. Can't I have just something once in my life? Just what more do I have to do?... I've already suffered a lifetime.

And this gives you the right to forget what you've done? Who’ve we killed?

...I never said that... I just-

Just what?

...I just want to live... I just want to have a life of my own. Is it really that bad just to ask for that? Why do I have to bear this disgusting vile scar-

"If I say yes what would you do?" Seth’s voice broke through her thoughts as she blinked.

Eh?

"...Eh?"

Lucy could not help but answer simply as she barely understood what he had just said. Ah right... the tease... he is just being nice... Lucy thought in a somewhat bittersweet tone as she appreciated Seth's kindness... but she longed for something more.

"Ah, ahaha! You got me good gobs." Lucy laughed as she tried to bury the past. "Y-you got me good! I-I thought that you were serious there for a second..." Lucy tried to laugh off the heavy air, but Seth's expression did not change.

"...Eh?? Y-you're actually-!" Lucy did not dare finish the word as she feared the worst.

"...Let's just say hypothetically..." However, luck did not seem to abandon her just yet. "...that I do, what would you do?" Lucy's breath trembled as she avoided Seth's gaze, fearing his words to be a lie if her augmented eyes would ever lay down upon him.

Unbeknownst to Lucy, while Seth maintained a strong and serious façade, his thoughts could not be further from the truth. Why did you say that you animal?! His heart quickens even further as Lucy refuses to meet his gaze. Apologize! Apologize to her now!

But I want to know... A part of him whispered.

Y-you! Don't you realize what you are doing?! You are pitying her! You are only doing this because she has no one to turn to! You would never have done that if it was anything else but this!

...Is it really that bad?

What???

I-I just want to help her! I-it doesn't need to end that way... though I would be overjoyed if it did.

ARGHH! You imbecile! That line of thinking will hurt her instead! Get a grip before she mistakes your pity for kindnes-

"I-I would like to think about it..." A soft quivering tone broke his thoughts as he blinked back to focus.

"...Eh?" Seth looked up to a seriously redden Lucy as she still avoided his gaze. Her voice was barely a whisper, but his augmented hearing was louder than anything he had ever heard in his life as he stretched to its limits to hear what she had to say.

"I-I cannot answer so soon. I-I don’t even know how this goes, s-so for now... for now we should s-start small..." She whispered so weakly yet Seth could feel his world ringing at the sound of it.

"A-ah! Y-yes!... that would be ideal yes..."

"..."

“…”

The two could not meet one another's gaze as they were too bashful to answer. One was extremely embarrassed while the other did not know what to do.

If there is one thing they have in common, however, were the butterflies in their stomach. Both felt sick but in a nice, good way as they drank in silence. Unbeknownst to them, a spectator who had watched from start to finish was quivering in anger and confusion.

֍

"Why?" Iva cried softly as she stared at Lucy. To see this warm and gentle side of her, her kindness hidden beneath her rough exterior, it felt so unfair. She could have saved her with that smile, yet why did she have to appear in such a brutal fashion?

“…Just why are you like this?” Iva whimpered weakly as she tore her gaze away from the couple, limping far away from the two as her heart felt heavy and bitter.

֍

You should have died! It shouldn’t be me! It should have been you! Iva's eyes snapped open at the howling hateful cries. Tears formed around her glassy eyes as she threw the blanket roughly away. “S-sister Emma?” The little girl called to the older nun, but she was nowhere to be found.

The cold wind bit through Iva as she hurriedly made her way outside the sleeping quarters, in search of the older nun. As she opened the door, the cold empty void greeted her. Iva paused for a moment as her heart quickened before proceeding onwards.

Iva constantly looked back as the looming darkness continued to pierce her shoulders. The urge to cry was beginning to grow stronger as she saw nothing but the pitch-black nothingness. “S-sister Emma?” She called out again, but there was no reply.

Old habits begin to perk right up, ready to jump if the shadows come closer. “S-sister…” Iva stopped abruptly, giving up on finding the older nun for comfort as she did what her instinct told her. Living in the slums offers no sense of protection. The only one you could trust was yourself.

No one would willingly offer you a hand. Iva learned this lesson for as long as she could remember. Sleeping with one eye closed was the norm as you held whatever crumb you had close to you. Iva finally made her way to the cold kitchen below where no one could hear her.

The little girl briefly looked around her, making sure no one was there before she finally let the rising urge escape from her trembling lips. Iva whimpered softly at first as the tears finally escaped from her eyes. I hate you! The voice echoed in her head as her hands trembled.

"But... why?" Iva weakly whispered as she felt her chest collapsing from within. She did not know where it all went wrong. Their life was hard back then. She barely had a meal each day and the hovel always creaked loudly during the howling, but she was content.

She could sleep with an empty stomach or on cold nights for in those days, her father loved her. He would always sing a lullaby before bed and would work all day just to feed her. Life was hard back then, but it was so fulfilling... just where did it go so wrong?

Thousands of unspoken words were forever left unspoken as Iva never had the chance to talk to him again. I should have talked to him then. I should have tried… he’s gone… dad is gone. Iva bitterly thought as a whimper escaped her lips.

Tears of regret poured down from her burning eyes as she sucked in sharply for air before weeping back in silence. All the opportunities to ask why he had done it were now gone. She could never have the chance to speak with her father again, no matter how much she wanted to.

Iva cried a little bit harder as memories began to flood in. Even if he had beaten her, at least he was there. She had someone to rely on in this cruel cold world. Now she has no one. No one to- something warm enveloped her.

Iva turned to where the source was. “S-sister Emma?” The little girl whispered, a tinge of hope in her voice to find the old nun behind her and comfort her just as she did before.

Her eyes widen at the sight of Lucy instead, awkwardly backing away after giving her a blanket. Hope morphed into annoyance as she faced the murderer. The one who had taken everything. "Why are you here?" Iva growled as she glared at the retreating shadow of Lucy.

"I-I thought you were cold, so I brought you this." Lucy whispered sheepishly as Iva roughly discarded the blanket.

"I don’t want it." Iva gruffs out before turning her back, her body trembles slightly at the cold once more but she bitterly buries the regret from within.

"B-but-"

"Go away." Iva pointed at the door as she turned away from Lucy. For a moment, there was silence before Lucy whispered.

"D-do you maybe want a pillow instead?" Lucy softly asked, eyeing warily as she made sure she did not aggravate the little girl further.

"No." However, Iva did not care in the slightest as she replied bluntly.

"W-what about milk? We had some cow milk rather than the usual goat one. F-fresh batch that just arrived today. I could warm you up with some if you want. W-we also have leftover cookie-"

"I said no." Iva replied as the venom in her voice slowly trickled in. Her small fingers slowly curled back up into a fist as the memories from before slowly stirred beneath her lungs.

"T-then is there anything at all you want?" Iva stiffened then as her blood ran cold. It sounded so kind, so gentle that Iva even doubted for a second if she truly was the murderer she perceived her to be.

"Anything?" Iva whispered emptily as Lucy eagerly wanted to know her answer.

"Y-yes! Is there anything you want me to give you? I'll see what I can do..." Lucy replied, eager to help the young lass and make amends as Iva spoke honestly for the first time in a while.

"... I want my dad. Can you give him back to me?" Cold numbing silence fills the air as Iva could feel her eyes burning to the brim once more with tears. The little girl subdued down a cry, refusing to show weakness before her father's murderer.

"I-I'm sorry, but I c-can't do that... is there anything else I could do?" Lucy meekly replied. The cold night breeze washed over the room from an open window as Lucy softly whispered out once more. "...I-is there anything else I could-"

"You said you will do anything." Iva accusingly replied.

"B-but I can't bring back the dead..." She weakly replied as the girl snapped.

"Then stop asking me!" Iva turned sharply as Lucy flinched. Her small brown eyes glared hatefully at Lucy like a great tree burning in the fires of hatred.

"You already knew what I wanted! And we both know that it can't happen, so stop asking me!" Lucy squirmed as her voice trembled.

"I-I'm s-sorry. I-I ju-just want to h-help..." The young lady tried to reason, but it only infuriated the little girl further.

"Help? You want to help me, after all you've done??" Iva incredulously asked as her frame trembled.

"I didn't ask for anyone's 'help' when I was cold. I didn't ask for help when some urchin boy stole my bread! And I clearly didn't ask for your help when I tried to calm dad down!" Iva tried to steel her nerves from shaking, but her ire and woe were simply unbearable.

"I-Iva I-"

"I hate you!" Iva shouted as silver traces raced down to her cheeks. "Y-you act so kind to others, but you killed dad! I hate you for hurting me this way, so leave me alone!" Iva begins to cry as anger and sorrow meld into one.

The urge to lash out almost overwhelmed Iva, but her eyes had finally adjusted from the darkness and saw something else she never wanted to see. Something that keeps preventing her from getting angry. Iva tried to look away but failed as she noticed those scars.

Those horrible, mutilated, perverse scars. It was something that made her so ugly. The explosive rage lost its momentum as Iva could only stare. Lucy instinctively felt her gaze as she shamefully tried to cover her scars as if she was naked.

No don't feel bad for her! Hate her! You have to hate her! Iva tried to relight the embers of resentment, to recall the bitter venom that inflicted her heart. She killed dad! She took dad from me! She-

"sorry... I'm... so... sorry..."

But her young heart simply could not follow. The little girl saw once more just how miserable and broken the young lady truly was in front of her. How painful life must have given her and how much she had endured despite that stoic front.

“sorry…sorry…I-I’m so s-sorry…” Her pleas for forgiveness were all too familiar for the little girl. All too hauntingly familiar.

...This is unfair. Tears redoubled as Iva trembled. This is so unfair! Why do you just have to be like me?? Why can't you just be someone! A bad person! Iva could only cry. The conflicting hate and pity intensified within the little girl as she could barely look at Lucy. A fragile balance was formed as both sides could not overwhelm the other.

Rage and apathy burned from one side as it called for justice for her father, while mercy and empathy cried out for reason and understanding. Both sides held into a delicate equilibrium... until it was broken. "I-I r-really was j-just trying t-to help. I-I didn't mean to... I'm s-sorry..."

Iva's eyes widened as the balance suddenly broke. help? heLP?? HELP?! I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOUR HELP!!! "AAAAHHHH!!" Her cries rang louder as she leaped back to her feet. The little girl suddenly pushed back Lucy before running past her.

"!!! I-Iva wait!" Lucy cried out, but Iva did not listen as she continued to run. She has to. Her heart beats chaotically as if she was going to die. Iva was certain if she stayed a second longer in there with her, she would have.

The little girl reached the door faster than Lucy had anticipated as she ran outside barefoot. "I-Iva wait! Please wait, I-"

"Just leave me alone you murderer!" Iva screamed as Lucy seemingly froze before a spell.

She knew she had to reach out to her. To ease her anger before she does anything harmful to herself, but she couldn't. Lucy could not move a muscle, could barely even breathe as she watched the fleeing silhouette grow out further and further.

N-no wait... Lucy thought as she fell to the ground, clutching her chest as if it was on fire. I-I didn't mean to do it. P-please wait... The estate was waking up now to see what the commotion was. I didn't mean to kill him. P-please wait Iva, I-

Liar. Lucy's eyes widened as the voice whispered inside.

I almost pity for the little lass. To have to deal with the most psychotic, maniac, and probably, most insane murderer of them all. Ah, but who am I kidding? I am not that different from you.

N-no, I am not a murderer!

Stop lying to yourself Emma. You know it. She knows it.

N-no! I truly did not-

The lass was right you know? Even if you don those sickly clothes, even if you swore to change, you will never have that life.

N-no... no nO NO! YOU ARE WRONG! YOU ARE WRONG! I can change! I can have the life I always wanted, so stop ruining it!

Ruining it? Since when have I ruined something that you yourself didn't?

No! You are lying! I was never the one who did it! It was you! It was all because of you!

Am I now? Let's be honest here Emma, I know that you have-

No!.

-enjoyed-.

No NO!

every sickening second of it. So, stop lying to yourself,

NO!!

You will always be a murderer.

NO!!!

I know this...

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!

...because I am you.

AAAAAAAHHHH!!!

Lucy howled madly across the night as she clutched her head in pain. "GET OUT GET OUT GET OOOUUUTTTT!!!"

"Lucy stop! What are you doing?!" Emma and Rose arrived to their horror as the young lady violently banged the floor over and over again. The night went on as they tried to subdue the broken young lady.

֍

Iva ran as she howled into the night. Her tiny lungs screamed with pain and misery as she ran blindly into the world. Away from the pain and hate it had caused her, away from her who had taken so much but also given just as much.

Just why did she have to do it?! Just why it must be her who killed dad! Iva cried as memories began to slip in. For all the time she had spent in the orphanage, Iva was there studying every move her enemy made. Anything that would prove beneficial to her downfall.

What she discovered however was something else entirely. Lucy was kind. She was not the insane, barbaric murderer who had taken her father's life. She was just a very traumatized girl who wanted nothing more but to help and forget her past.

What the hell? Iva thought in denial as she continued to look for clues. There was none, what she found instead was completely opposite to what she was searching for. Lucy would sneak in a few extra portions of her meal for everyone at the cost of hers, she worked tirelessly without complaint.

She would play with the others while safeguarding them simultaneously from harm... and threw her life for theirs. Lucy was simply there for them, protecting, guiding, or helping if they ever needed it without asking for anything.

Iva had never met someone as kind and as selfless as Lucy was. She was the perfect elder sister Iva always wanted to have... which is why it was so hard to accept for her to be the one who murdered her father.

Iva collapsed to the ground as she hit a snag. The fall scraped her skin, but Iva continued to cry, not from the pain, but from the crushing betrayal Lucy had done to her. Iva would rather be abused and hated by Lucy, at least then she can justify her as an evil being.

At least then she wouldn't have to be so conflicted whenever she was there. Iva continued to weep into the night when a bestial growl broke her mourning. Iva looked up to see a dire wolf sneering at her as if she was prey.

Iva felt the fear creeping into her throat. She did not know what to do. She could not scream for help or even run away as her body was frozen in fear... and anger. Iva was furious at the monster, to herself as she let this vile thing frighten her.

Iva glared at the monster just as much as it scared her. She wanted to run away. She wanted to fight. She wanted to scream for help! She wanted to kill it with her own hands. A turmoil of emotions flooded through Iva as the monster leaped into the air.

For a moment, Iva was terrified as her muscles did not move... and for a moment, Iva was vehement to destroy this thing no matter the cost. Iva stared directly into the being's eyes. She did not tear her gaze away from filth as she glared at the thing sailing towards her.

Iva stared as its jaw snapped open, razor teeth hunger for flesh. The shadow of death loomed... and then, something else happened. Deep inside, Iva felt something within her snap. Like a twig being crushed underfoot mercilessly.

Iva glared at the monster as her eyes burned into molten gold. In a fraction of a second, Iva's world exploded into a multitude of emotions and sensations as she was overwhelmed by everything. Touch, taste, feeling, everything exploded into a myriad of sensations as Iva's delirium intensified.

Her hate magnified to a thousandfold like magma erupting from its thousand-year slumber as her fear amplified to the verge of breaking point. Iva was terrified and enraged at the same time as her heart struggled to compensate.

The inputs were so overwhelming that Iva was forcibly returned to reality as her mind could not handle everything and reverted back to normalcy once more. "Ah…" Iva whispered to her horror as the delirium finally dissipated. Her golden eyes reverted back to their original brown hue.

Iva tried to run away then, but it was too late. The monster was already in front of her, to end her miserable life. She could do nothing but wait for death as it- the dire wolf's head suddenly falls.

Iva blinked to her surprise and horror as a cold voice whispered from behind. "What is a child doing in this hour?" Iva turned back to her relief and horror as a young man stared down coldly at her. His hair was as dark as obsidian as his eyes reflected back to a color Iva had been so familiar with. It was Elias. Heir of the Larum dukedom and Lucy's elder brother.