Maeri stepped outside the hospice and basked in the cold air the early evening emitted. She observed a mix of passersby peering into storefronts and nobles elegantly strolling through the nearby plaza. Before she knew it, her cheeks grew hot, noticing that what she was wearing was too overbearing—too fancy—for the current setting. Sure, she was a noble, one who was born of a high title, but that didn’t mean the young girl was used to environments like this.

As she stepped further out from the clinic's doorway, a striking brown carriage with complex golden designs and polished wooden panels came to a halt right before her. It was drawn by two magnificent silver steeds decorated with ornate masks that added an air of mystique to their already impressive presence.

She couldn't help but fixate on the horses, admiring the way they snorted and shook their heads, their sleek and silken manes billowing and dancing in the gentle breeze. The fascinated girl stares, a little too long for comfort before someone interrupts her idle expression, “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

The mysterious voice behind her made her flinch as she looked back. Turning around, she instinctively prepares to unleash a sharp retort with her quick-witted tongue, but then pauses, realising that she couldn't just lash out at anyone, especially not in this world.

After learning her true identity, she couldn't shake off a sense of unease. In the original story, "Underworld Bounty Hunter," the narrative unfolded in a dystopian world. To her astonishment, the current setting bore no resemblance to a dystopia. Everything, from the way people spoke to their clothing and the architecture, exuded an ancient ambience. Any novel reader would know that this was historical, and if the setting of the tale itself changed Maeri had asked herself what else did.

“Indeed,” she softly replies back to an old man who had also stopped and admired the stunning ponies before coughing and making his way to the entrance of the hospice. When the senior had left, Maeri had learned how hoarse her voice is now that she’s aware of her identity. The girl meant to make this character gravely ill, but now that she’s experiencing it firsthand, it probably wasn’t the best choice.

“Are you interested in horses, Mae?” The familiar tone of a cheeky teenage boy came from in front of her. She immediately turned away from the horses and looked towards her brother, Ezekiel, with happy eyes.

The sudden and delightful sparkle in her eyes rendered the young boy utterly speechless for a moment. He was left dumbfounded and then burst into laughter as he gazed back at his sister; her intense stare held steady almost long enough to drill a hole right into his face.

“Did you miss me already?” his words cut off as he giggled between them.

Maeri's face turned red as her frustration boiled over. The mere thought that he could accuse her of something so untrue filled her with righteous indignation, “…Miss you? Miss you?!”

The small boy quickly shuts his mouth, surprised at his sisters’ unusual tone, “Mae, are you…perhaps…”

She raises her eyebrows, interrupting his words, “Perhaps what?” in a mocking manner.

“Going through puberty?” he whispers, leaning in close.

“P-pubert–” she yells, stopping herself once she realises that Maeri was everything her face made her out to be: soft, soft-spoken and all polite. Yet, that wasn’t who the new occupant was. What was the point of keeping up a people-pleasing facade that could easily break for a short-tempered soul such as hers?

He snorts again, “This isn’t like you Maeri. Did you go through some life-changing journey when you were out cold?”

The situation was rather ambiguous. He wasn’t entirely wrong, but then again, he wasn't entirely right either. Despite this, the mere accusation prompted her to fall silent, consciously avoiding any unnecessary outbursts. Ezekiel observed her with inquisitive eyes, while Maeri gazed tenderly at the young boy she had brought into existence, still struggling to fully comprehend the reality of the situation. She couldn't quite grasp the fact that he was indeed real.

Ezekiel was a character she enjoyed writing. He was everything you’d want in a brother: caring but incredibly annoying, fun but strict when needed to be. He was all an only child could ever ask for, but for the plot, he needed to die.

Once Ezekiel reaches the age of fifteen, he will be eligible to enrol in the prestigious academy and join the ranks of top-performing students. This achievement is hardly surprising, given his lineage as the son of a distinguished Colonel. He was also a sibling to Winifred Finnehart, who attained the esteemed rank of Captain and was also among the academy's top students. He was expected to be the best and so he was.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

After completing his training at the academy, news of daemons drastically increasing in the frontlines had spread and the soldiers' squadron had run thin in those passing months so it was declared that new graduates were to be deployed, particularly those who had excelled in their training. It was no surprise then that Ezekiel, being among the top students, was selected for deployment, despite the increased risk involved.

During his deployment, Ezekiel was so consumed by the escalating threat of monsters that he had no time to write home or communicate with Winifred or his father–who was also stationed in the same area. The situation with the monsters became much worse and at rapid speed did they increase their ferocity. It was a desperate year and not even six months after he was deployed Ezekiel had died of a coordinated attack from daemons and a new threat, dark magic users. The tellings of the ambush had spread, the reveal of dark magic users having a hand in the fight was a game-changer for the entire war with the monsters.

Ezekiel was just a teenager, only seventeen years old when the life-altering event occurred. As Maeri gazed at him, a profound sense of guilt emanated from the bottom of her stomach. She couldn't help but acknowledge that she had orchestrated the entire sequence of events. Yet, a fervent determination surged from her heart.

She was unwavering in her commitment to save the young boy. No matter what this life had in store for her, it didn’t matter. She hated her current circumstances, but she would definitely hate letting someone die because of her–for the second time–even more. Maeri knew that time was of the essence, as the relentless disease would soon consume her once she turned eighteen. The young girl was resolute in her resolve to intervene before her inevitable end, knowing that she had to save Ezekiel before it was too late.

“And what if I did?” she puffs her chest, both staring each other down when someone swoops her up in their arms and embraces her in a tight hug

“Oh, my beautiful Mae! Look at you, all happy and healthy now,” he says, releasing her from the tight hug and placing the small girl in front of him, hanging her, as his arms rest on the girl’s armpits,

“You look wonderful in the dress Luci picked out for you.” he admires it before a demanding voice comes from behind the girl.

"Please, Benedict, put our girl down! She has just recovered, and it's still too early to say if the disease has been permanently dispelled. Let's be mindful not to do anything that might endanger her progress," she implores with concern.

His eyes quickly shifted to the woman standing behind her, and then to the small girl. He immediately set her down and apologised for his impulsive display of affection. The elderly man knelt down to meet the girl at eye level, carefully examining her pale face before gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Benedict's mind was consumed with worry, even if his outward appearance was that of a cold and harsh general, he was a father first and foremost. The thought of losing his own life paled in comparison to the idea of losing his beloved daughter. As he weakly smiled down at his small girl, Maeri noticed the dark circles under his eyes as he rose to his feet and gallantly opened the carriage doors for the women and Ezekiel.

Maeri never expected that even the characters she didn’t spend writing about were so complex. Benedict was an extremely minor side character, in the end, he would’ve died of a normal death and be forgotten by the readers. A character that was only made to make a bigger name for one of the main cast. The family name he gave, and all the power that was held within it made Maeri strong even when she was one of the weakest.

As she gazed upon the man, she realised that he encompassed so much more than what meets the eye. Not only was he a loving and devoted father, but he also selflessly served his kingdom with unwavering dedication, ultimately meeting an honourable demise in the line of duty. While readers may have overlooked his contributions, the memory and impact of his life would endure within the very fabric of the country. For Maeri, his legacy would never fade from her heart.

. . .

As they boarded the spacious carriage, Maeri couldn't help but steal a glance at the distinguished older women. The glistening medals adorning Winifred's chest, and the elegant white silk gown worn by Lucinda made them stand out in the group. Their poise and refinement seemed to overshadow even the men in the family. The young girl observed both women with the same curiosity and scrutiny she had shown towards Ezekiel and her father.

Winifred Finnehart, her older sister and just two years older than Maeri’s past age was known to be a formidable and intimidating woman. Renowned for her exceptional combat skills, she was regarded as an extraordinary fighter and was often recognised for her genius abilities. From the ages of eleven to fifteen, she consistently displayed remarkable combat prowess–even amongst her male classmates–and demonstrated exceptional critical thinking. Both of these factors contributed to her academic excellence when she enrolled in, and graduated from the academy.

It wasn’t an easy road ahead for Winifred, as women who knew how to fight in this time and age were looked down upon. Even with her elevated social status, there was talk and gossip about her within the social circles and even amongst the commoners' realm. Her notoriety led to potential marriage proposals from military-oriented families, but she also faced animosity from both men and women, with women especially feeling threatened by her capabilities.

Yet, even with all the arrangements and letters sent, Winifred didn’t care for relationships. She believed that for a woman to rise in power they had to be powerful. Even within her own family, it was survival of the fittest. If she couldn’t achieve more than her brother, he would be the successor–he would be the head of the family–all because he was a man. The rigid standards and expectations within the kingdom incited suppressed anger and bitterness within Winifred. Finding herself unwilling to engage in a competition with her brother, especially when she’s unsure that Ezekiel even wants the title.

She achieved so much, in so little time, rising to the ranks of captain, and even contributing enough to her kingdom to acquire medals from the king himself. Yet, the looming possibility of Ezekiel overshadowing her achievements, perhaps even growing to be more formidable than she could ever be was a shameful fright on her part. This apprehensive sentiment of being potentially outshone by her younger brother weighed heavily on her, that foreboding shadow was a dreadful–maybe even inevitable– future.

Besides all of the things that scared her, she was driven; she admired our father more than Ezekiel and Maeri combined. Her unwavering willpower and fervent passion were directly influenced by him, as he imparted all of his knowledge to her, raising her as though she were a son. She wanted to be the pinnacle of his pride, but he had already been passed over to the other-side before she had made any major achievements.

Maeri's eyes were fixed on her older sibling, who sat by the window with a placid expression. She was filled with an overwhelming sense of awe, as she watched yet another one of her characters come to life, living and breathing right in front of her.

Not focusing on where she was staring made her wonder what exactly she was looking out towards. As Maeri turned her head to the left, moving the curtains of the carriage to make way for the sight outside, she was met with a hive of activity as they braced for the impending harsh winter. The familiar sights of snowdrops peeping through the snow reminded Maeri of the terrible accident that had occurred last night. The snow-draped the city in a serene but disquieting aura, a poignant reminder that she was still not ready to let go of the past.