There was a lone girl wandering on a stray path, she walked and walked without stopping. Her petite feet were dirty and had cuts on it, she walked without destination. She didn’t know where to, how and why.

‘Why…Mother…. Father….why did you have to go?’, the lone girl thought over and over. The road she walked on was filled with blood to the brim. Her eyes were hollow almost dead you could say.

Everything happened a day ago, it was peaceful, quiet, and tranquil. But everything changed in just a couple of moments.

 

 

 

“Hey Mother, can I go to that village nearby? Can I?”, a little girl asked. The girl was around fifteen years old, she has white hair or rather silver hair, and silver eyes. Her body was small and thus she still looked like a child.

“It is fine, but please do not forget that you are a noble, so please act as one.”, the mother of the girl said. “Yeah.”

“Please come back before sun set, we have to go to a party of a noble, we were invited to.”, the mother warned. “Yeah, I know I’ll be back soon.”, the girl said leaving the mansion.

She left the mansion and took the fastest route towards a small village, she hummed a tune the whole way.

She arrived at the village and the villagers recognized her instantly. “Oh, you’re here again Miss Athena, what brings you here again?”, asked an old man with a on his smile. “I came here to visit the village again. Where are the children? I would like to play with them again.”, the girl, Athena asked.

“You sure do love to play with them, they’re in the plaza.”, the old man answered.

She went to the plaza, to find the children playing hide and seek. “Hey! Everyone, big sis Athena is back!”, one of the children announced. “She’s here again! Yay!”, the children exclaimed.

Athena spent the day having fun with the children and villagers, there were laughs, and cries as well as excitement everywhere in the village.

One of the people who lived in the village came up to Athena. “You really are different from any normal noble.”, a man said with a proud expression. “Is that so, I really don’t feel like it though.”, Athena said bashfully.

The man shook his head. “No, you are different. Any normal noble wouldn’t want to spend time with us lowly commoners.”, the man said. “But you don’t seem to mind it at all.”

Athena stood still, silent for a moment and thought through what the man said. ‘I’m different… huh? I guess I am.’, Athena accepted the fact that she was different than other nobles.

Most nobles are known for thinking highly of themselves. They think they are greater than normal people that’s why society is different for commoners. Nobles treat commoners like trash and think they can’t do anything because they are ‘commoners’. It is also a well-known fact that most of the nobles were corrupt.

However, Athena was different she spent time with commoners for fun, some might think it was a noble kink or a way of pitying their existence, but reality was different. She did not think lowly of them, she thought of them as equals to her.

“Yeah, that’s true… Oh no! It’s time, I have to go now mister have a nice evening.”, Athena said her goodbyes and rushed out of the village as she looked at the sun starting to go down. “Have a nice day Miss Athena.”

Athena waved at the villagers sending her off, she had to hurry up and go home to ready herself up for the nobles’ party.

 

 

 

The party was going to be in the capital of Dawnwell, the King himself will appear as well as his daughter, the princess. There were also going to be some other nobles there as well.

Athena was going in a silver dress that matches her silver hair and eyes. Her mother was going in a blue dress, and her father was going in a black vest.

“Now, Athena remember. Be well behaved.”, Athena’s mother said.

Athena nodded as they entered the mansion that the nobles party was going to be in, it was luxurious. The walls looked like they were made from golden quartz and the floor we were walking on was nice and flat unlike stone or wood.

They arrived at the dining hall, it was full of nobles chatting and discussing with each other, there was a little group of nobles who were younger. The group was between the age of ten to sixteen. Even though in this country the age to be an adult is fifteen, in this party only parents spoke to each other and the younger ones spoke among themselves because they get along with each other better.

“Now dear, go to the other nobles’ sons and daughter and introduce yourself.”, Athena’s mother said as she went to greet the nobles.

Athena went to the small group and heard them gossip about her. “Hey look, that’s the girl I was telling you about. It’s the girl who spends time with those dirty commoners.”, one girl whispered in the group. “Erk. I hope she doesn’t come near us, she might spread some commoner disease.”, another said.

Athena listened from a short distance, she didn’t mind people talking about her like that. She was used to it ever since she was a child, but it did not bother her at all. She knew that those villagers would be there to cheer her up.

“Are you sure she’s even a noble, she might as well as leave while she still can.”, one of the boys smirked. “Ha-ha! Right, she’s probably not even the daughter of Sylvia.”, one girl smirked.

Athena’s expression changed in an instant, she closed the distance between her and the group. “Don’t you dare say that about my mother!”, Athene snapped at the noble girl in the group.

Athena didn’t mind people mocking her, however she cannot tolerate people who mock her mother.

Sylvia is Athenas mother, she was well known for making a lot of achievements in the kingdom. She acquired the title of ‘Sword Saint’ back when she was an adventurer. She had evolved the ‘Swordsmanship’ Skill into the Unique Skill ‘Sword Saint Technique’. She fought in a war this country had against Glarita and came out victorious.

“Wow. Calm down Athena, we were just talking. We didn’t mean to offend you.”, the noble girl tried excusing with a mischievous smile.

Athena didn’t believe a single thing she said, they hated each other since they were children.

The noble girls name was Lucina, she was a daughter of a noble who was known for being quite corrupt, but he has a high standing since he is the duke. The duke was mischievous, he was able to get away with any crime no matter what the situation, despite most people believing in the victim, he always came on top.

“Drop it Lucina. Or would you like me to consult my father.”, A girl appeared out of nowhere. She had a small crown around her head and a golden frilled dress.

“T-t-the p-princess!”, one of the boys said.

The princess of Dawnwell, Alice had made an appearance. She had golden hair all the way to her waist and golden eyes that shone almost as bright as the sun. She had a more developed body than Athena, her chest was bigger than Athena and her body was slightly taller.

“Tch… Oh no, don’t get me wrong Princess Alice, I was only talking to Athena here. Yes, just a friendly and nice chat.” Lucina tried covering up. However Alice wasn’t fouled by her lies, but she didn’t do anything and just grabbed Athena’s hand and left as Lucina continued smirking in the background.

“You didn’t have to do that Alice!”, Athena rebuked with an annoyed expression. “Had this gone on, this party would’ve turned into a bloodshed.”, Alice scolded her friend.

“Geez, I haven’t seen you in months and you’re already getting into a fight.”, Alice sighed as she talked to Athena.

Athena and Alice were friends since childhood, both of them played a lot when they were together at events like this one.

“Ahhh… I guess you’re right, let us enjoy ourselves then.” Athena said refreshed to see her best friend.

 

 

 

 

“Who does she think she is.”, Lucina cursed Athena, annoyed by the fact she let her pray escape.

The party was almost over and she was angry that the girl Athena was able to get away with her mocking. ‘I’m the only one who can play with her.’ Lucina thought as she decided to execute her plan.

“Hahaha!!!”, Lucina laughed maniacally.

 

 

 

The party was over, and Athena went back home together with her parents. “Did you enjoy the party Athena?”, her mother asked. “Yeah I did I was able to talk to Alice again.”, Athena answered genuinely, happy by meeting her friend again.

They entered their home and went to sleep, Athena however stayed up and went to a little library in her house. She picked up some books and started reading them.

Athena enjoyed gaining knowledge, this world was filled with beings of extraordinary power. Dragons, Evil Gods, Hydras, and monsters alike.

She kept on reading and reading until she fell asleep.

 

 

 

The next morning, she had magic practice, nobles have personal tutors to learn magic and practice swordsmanship.

“Athena, make sure to come back as soon as you are finished with training. Alright?”, Athena’s mother said. “Unfortunately, your actual tutor cannot be present today, that’s why we hired a substitute.”

The tutor told Athena that, today’s practice would be needed to be off campus. Thus, they went to a vast green plain and started practicing.

And after a while Athena started getting tired. “Why am I so tired.”, Athena complained. “Miss, I think you should drink some water it may make you feel better.”, her tutor suggested.

Athena took the water, without any suspicion towards the tutor. “W-what’s… this… feeling… I’m getting… dizzy.” Athena said as she looked at the tutor who was smiling with an evil grin. And then Athena lost consciousness.

 

 

 

Athena woke up in the middle of the plains, her body was unscathed. However, her training sword was gone, and she was left alone in the plains.

“What happened?”. Athena said as soon as she woke up.

She looked around to find her tutor, but she did not find a single clue. “How long was I asleep.”, Athena asked herself.

She stood up from the ground and walked back home, her house was far away from here, but she could see it from where she was.

She walked over to her mansion. “Mother, do you know what happened to the tutor?” Athena asked as her voice echoed through the empty mansion.

Her memory was fuzzy, the last thing she remembered was the new tutor appearing.

She walked through the mansion searching her parents, the first place she thought about was her mother’s office. She walked through the long hallways as she started slowing down as she saw a puddle of blood flowing down through the gaps of the door that connected to her mother’s office.

“W-what i-is that?” Athena shuddered as she slowly opened the door to her mother’s office.

Once she entered the room, she fell to her knees and started crying. Her mother was on the ground bleeding through her stomach.

“KYAAAAA!”, Athena screamed. Her mother whom she thought to be invincible, was dead right in front of her.

If somebody does not keep their body in shape, their skills can get dull and won’t to be able to use them as good as when they were in their prime.

Athena used up her whole strength to stand up, she thought that she had to at least find her father. She left the room and walked trembling with every step, she arrived at her father’s room.

It was empty, there was not a single sound nor soul in there, she left the room and found a trail of blood leading to the living room.

Athena hesitantly walked to over there and she found her father. Her eyes went shot open, she didn’t find her father, but a piece of him. His head.

“Blurgh!”, Athena vomited on the ground holding her stomach. Her mind was swirling, she didn’t know how this happened. Nor what to do, she tried finding somebody in the village.

She left the mansion and then went to the village nearby and found blood everywhere. She continued to walk through the village, her eyes were trembling with fear.

She eventually, found somebody. It was the tutor, he had a metal sword in his hand and it had blood on it.

“Hmm. It seems you are tougher than what I expected. Well, doesn’t matter.”, the tutor said as he moved towards Athena with his sword pointed at her.

Athena didn’t understand what was going on, at first, she started gaining hope by seeing his tutor alive and well but the moment she saw him with his sword bloodied with the villagers blood.

As the tutor tried to attack Athena, she dodged his attack and started running as fast as she could. She didn’t stop to look back not even once, she ran and ran and ran. She eventually ran out of fuel to continue running and fell to the ground

“W-why…”, she muttered as despair filled her heart.

 

 

 

Athena started walking and did not stop, she eventually reached a forest she was unfamiliar with. She just continued walking and walking she got small cuts and bruises on her feet.

“…” Athena didn’t say a thing the whole way, her heart was broken.

As she was walking in the forest, she felt a presence. On people it would instill fear to their hearts. She tried looking for that presence.

And that is where she found ‘him’.