This side story took place two months after Ina’s official adoption of the girls.

 

It’s been exactly two months since I adopted the girls and became their Mom. I’d be lying if I said I nailed it immediately. In my past life, I was so focused on providing for Ella financially that I missed giving her the attention and motherly love she really needed. This is my second shot at redemption. I just hope I can do better this time.

 

It hasn’t been easy, but thankfully, I have a guide. Amalia, who raised Keith and runs this whole orphanage, is helping me figure out the things I never learned, especially cooking. That's her area of expertise, and I’m trying my best to soak up every piece of knowledge she shares.

 

Amalia and I woke up early to clean the house and prepare breakfast. Today’s menu was fried rice topped with egg and vegetables, with a side of fresh fruit.

 

Clang! Clang!

 

Amalia rang the bell to signal the kids. “Time for breakfast! Don’t forget to make your beds and wash your faces,” she instructed, her voice warm but firm.

 

The orphans and my girls followed Amalia’s lead, heading to the dining area. After we ate, Amalia taught the kids to be responsible by washing their own plates.

 

Once breakfast and clean-up were done, the kids were free to do their own thing. Some of the older orphans stayed to help Amalia and Miguel with chores, while most of the younger ones were outside playing in the backyard.

 

Komraad and Astrid, on the other hand, were busy sparring. It’s their form of bonding, two people who only truly speak the language of fighting. Sometimes Miguel even joins them when he has a free moment.

 

Rein and I usually train our magic together, trying to learn new and flexible spells we might need later. It’s fun learning alongside Rein, and Amalia occasionally joins our sessions to share some knowledge. She was a head knight alongside Miguel, after all.

 

Fae usually hangs out with us, but lately, she’s been heading to the forest to study wild plants and herbs. I only allowed it because the forest is just meters away from the orphanage. Still, I started to worry. Every time I offered to go with her, she gently refused.

 

It’s been a week since Fae started going alone, and I began spiraling. What if she’s keeping a secret from me? I was losing my mind, so I decided to secretly follow her the next time she went out. I’ve only been her Mom for a couple of months. I couldn’t stand the thought of us growing apart already.

 

The next day, Fae ate breakfast and finished her chores, then immediately grabbed her medical book. “Mom, I’m going to the forest now,” she announced.

 

“Okay, sweetie, don’t forget the lunch I made you. Take care and have fun,” I responded, trying to sound completely casual.

 

“I will, Mom, tee-hee.”

 

As soon as Fae was out of sight, I quickly changed into clothes that would make me look unrecognizable. I was just about to follow her when Amalia caught me.

 

“What in the world are you wearing, Ina? You look like you’re about to rob someone,” Amalia observed, raising a brow.

 

“Uh… I just wanted to follow Fae into the forest secretly. I’m worried she might be hiding something from me,” I confessed sheepishly.

 

Amalia sighed, rubbing her temples. “You know you can just turn into a cat, right?”

 

“R-right, I forgot,” I stammered, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. I was so wound up in my own overthinking I forgot the most obvious solution.

 

I shifted, slipped out the door, and began following Fae’s tracks. I kept as much distance as possible, wanting to avoid getting caught. Thankfully, my sight allowed me to see her clearly even from afar. As I watched her, I realized she had been telling the truth the whole time. She was carefully studying plants and herbs, recording notes in her book. I breathed a massive sigh of relief. I had just been overthinking. Being a mother is hard, but watching my daughters grow into people they’re proud of makes it all worth it.

 

My doubts were finally cleared, and I was ready to leave, but then I felt an unknown presence approaching Fae. I sped up, rushing to her side to protect her in case it was a monster. The moment the presence came into view, I was surprised, because it was worse than I thought.

 

The presence belonged to a little boy, probably the same age as Fae.

 

He looked humble and kind-hearted, with soft, innocent features. His deep purple eyes held a gentle light, and his violet hair fell in silky strands around his face. Though small and slender, he carried himself with calm politeness. 

 

He was holding a single flower, and he walked right up to my daughter and handed it to her.

 

My whole world shattered. My daughter is too young for a love interest. I was not mentally or emotionally ready for this plot twist.

 

I was so shocked I didn’t notice I’d closed the distance, and Fae immediately sensed my presence. “Mom? What are you doing here?” She asked.

 

I wanted to lie, but knowing how observant Fae is, I knew she’d see right through it. I had to tell her the truth. After I finished my confession, I apologized right away. “I’m really sorry, Fae. My head was a mess, and I didn’t know what to do. We just became a real family, and the thought of us growing apart was just… too much,” I said, genuinely regretting my actions.

 

“I appreciate the concern, Mom, but I can’t ignore the fact that you did this because you didn’t trust me,” Fae replied softly, hurt shining in her eyes.

 

“I know, and I hate myself for it. Can you ever forgive your foolish Mom?” I begged with all my heart.

 

Fae was clearly hurt, but she still forgave me. “You’ve done so much for me, Mom. If anyone needs to apologize, it should be me. I only told you I came here to study herbs, but I didn’t mention I had a companion all along. I know it’s late, but let me introduce him to you, Mom,” Fae said, taking a breath.

 

I braced myself. I promised I’d always support her, and I resolved to accept whatever truth was about to unfold.

 

“Mom, this is Jacob. He’s my friend. We both aspire to become doctors someday, that’s why we’re here studying plants and herbs together,” Fae revealed.

 

Phew, thank goodness! 

 

I sighed in massive relief. The worst-case scenario I imagined didn’t happen.

 

After Fae’s introduction, Jacob immediately approached me, his eyes wide with excitement. He looked like a fan meeting his idol. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ms. Ina. Fae always talks about the adventures you all have, and I love listening to them,” he said, beaming.

 

I didn’t expect him to be so polite and genuinely kind. I was so glad someone like him had befriended my daughter.

 

“It’s nice to meet you too, Jacob. I’m glad you enjoyed my daughter’s stories. I hope you continue being her friend,” I responded sincerely.

 

“When I learned Fae wants to be a doctor too, I knew right away we’d be good friends,” Jacob chirped.

 

“I’m happy you made a friend, Fae, but I wish you had told me sooner. I wouldn’t have worried enough to follow you here if you’d mentioned you had a companion,” I said, gently pulling her into a hug.

 

After clearing up the misunderstanding, I thought everything was resolved, but Fae wasn’t her usual cheerful self. She was still hiding something, and the guilt showed on her face. She decided to confess her real feelings.

 

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away, Mom. No one in our family really likes the things I like, so I felt left out,” Fae responded, a hint of jealousy creeping into her voice. “But you looked so happy studying magic with Big Sis Rein, and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

 

It broke my heart that Fae felt excluded, and I hadn’t even noticed. “I’m sorry, sweetie, I didn’t know. I should have been more invested and supportive of your dream instead of just focusing on what benefits me,” I said.

 

“You haven’t done anything wrong, Mom. I just wanted you to like what I like, but I knew that was wrong, so I distanced myself instead. I’m sorry. If only I were honest about my feelings, then I wouldn’t have made you worried,” Fae said, tears welling up in her eyes.

 

“Don’t be sorry, you have every right to feel that way. This time, I’ll try to be more considerate. Will you give me another chance to make it up to you? I’ll try to learn a thing or two by watching you two work, would that be okay?” I asked.

 

“That would be lovely, Mom,” Fae responded with a genuine smile.

 

After we made up, Fae and Jacob continued their research. I tried my best to get involved by asking questions that could help me in my journey to become the best Mom I aspire to be.

 

I was overjoyed to finally hang out with my daughter again alongside her new friend. We enjoyed each other’s company so much that we didn’t notice it was already late afternoon. Jacob had a curfew, so he had to leave right away. After Fae and I said our farewells, we also headed back to the orphanage.

 

“Today was so much fun, Mom,” Fae said contentedly.

 

“It was, and tomorrow will be too,” I responded, squeezing her hand.

 

As soon as we arrived, we took baths and helped prepare dinner. After eating, the girls immediately went to their beds. Astrid and Rein told me about their day, and I listened until they fell asleep. I went to bed myself afterward.

 

Morning came, and the orphanage was as lively as ever. We ate breakfast and helped with chores. I was supposed to go with Fae to hang out with Jacob again, but Amalia reminded me it was my turn to do the groceries today.

 

“I’m sorry, Fae, I can’t come today. I promise to make it up to you and Jacob tomorrow,” I said.

 

“I understand, Mom, please take care,” Fae responded sweetly.

 

“You too, sweetie. I made enough lunch for both of you, so don’t forget to share. Have fun!” I reminded her.

 

“Tee hee, we will, Mom.”

 

Fae left to meet up with Jacob in the forest. Miguel and I rode the carriage and went back inside the Vermine Kingdom to do the groceries.

 

It’s been a month since I was last inside the kingdom, but the changes King Zion made were significantly noticeable. In such a short period, he managed to unite his people and lessen the discrimination between the rich and the poor. Tearing down the giant walls surrounding their kingdom was the greatest idea ever, making their place cozier to live in.

 

The list Amalia gave me was long, but we managed to finish before noon. It was tiring, but I was glad to be of service to the orphanage. After we finished, we immediately went back home so Amalia and I could start cooking lunch.

 

When we arrived, the orphans were waiting for us and helped us carry the groceries inside. I thought that if Amalia and I finished cooking early, I might still be able to catch up with Fae and Jacob, but to my surprise, Fae was already back inside. She looked sad. Something must have gone wrong.

 

“Fae, I didn’t expect you back this early. What’s with the long face? Did something happen between you and Jacob?” I asked, full of concern.

 

Fae nodded to confirm my query. “I waited for him all day, but he didn’t show up,” she responded, her face drawn with sadness.

 

“Oh, sweetie, maybe an emergency came up, that’s why he couldn’t make it,” I suggested, trying to be optimistic.

 

“I hope you’re right, Mom. It’s just that this is the first time this has happened. I’m worried he might not want to be my friend anymore,” Fae said.

 

This was her first real friend, so I couldn’t blame her for overthinking. “Sweetie, I know he has a good reason. We can just ask him tomorrow,” I assured her, pulling her close.

 

“What if he doesn’t show up again?” Fae asked, looking up at me.

 

“Then we’ll go and ask him directly. Do you know where he lives?” I responded.

 

“I don’t know exactly, but he told me which direction it is,” Fae answered.

 

“That’s good enough. For now, would you like to help Auntie Amalia and me cook lunch for everyone? It might help cheer you up,” I suggested. She wiped the sad look off her face and nodded. We proceeded to the kitchen to cook, and after everyone ate, we used the remaining time to rest and relax our minds.

 

Morning came. Fae and I went to the forest early to wait for Jacob. We waited until the afternoon, but he didn’t show up again, so we went with our backup plan: we visited him at his house.

 

It only took us an hour of walking to arrive at Jacob’s house. I hadn’t realized there was another dwelling so close to the orphanage, near the forest edge outside the Vermine Kingdom.

 

Upon arriving, we immediately saw Jacob in front of the house, covered in sweat. He was training with a wooden sword against a wooden dummy. Fae and I were shocked to see another side of him besides his dream of becoming a doctor.

 

“Whoa, not only do you know herbs, but you’re also good with swords,” I said in shock as I approached him.

 

Jacob was startled, he almost tripped. “Ms. Ina, Fae? W-what are you doing here?” He asked in surprise.

 

“We got worried because you didn’t show up yesterday, so we decided to visit you instead,” I responded.

 

Fae was shy, but she gathered her courage to ask the important question. “Are we still friends?” She chimed in, her voice small.

 

“Of course, I’m still your friend, but… I can’t study plants and herbs with you anymore,” Jacob answered sadly.

 

“Did something happen? You can tell me anything,” Fae responded with genuine care.

 

Jacob was trying so hard to hide his real feelings, but his face betrayed him. Something was preventing him from telling us the truth behind his sudden change.

 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you. I don’t want you to get involved, so please leave immediately,” Jacob insisted, looking down.

 

Everything was fine the other day, yet now he was pushing us away without an explanation. I wanted to help him if he was in trouble, but it was impossible if he wasn't honest.

 

I was confused at first, but everything suddenly made sense when his mother appeared.

 

Jacob’s mother, was sturdy and weathered, with long violet hair braided neatly down her back. Her amber eyes held a sharp, watchful intensity, and her face, lined with hard work, rarely showed emotion. Her demeanor was strict, and her voice was firm.

 

The moment I saw his mother, I knew right away she was the source of Jacob’s sudden shift. She looked about my age, and even though she was smiling, I felt an icy tension radiating from her. “Honey, are these people bothering you?” She asked.

 

“N-no, Mom. They’re about to leave, so you have nothing to worry about,” Jacob responded nervously.

 

“Oh my, that won’t do. I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Edna, his mother,” she introduced.

 

“Nice to meet you, Edna. I’m Ina, and this is my daughter, Fae. She recently became your son’s friend, so we came here to say hi,” I responded politely.

 

“I didn’t know my son had a friend. He never mentioned it once,” Edna said, her smile not reaching her eyes.

 

“Oh, your son and my daughter both dream of becoming doctors someday, that’s why they became good friends right away,” I volunteered.

 

“Oh my, I’m confused. My son told me his dream was to become a knight in the kingdom so he could punish evildoers, isn’t that right, honey?” Edna countered, turning her watch on Jacob.

 

“Y-yes, Mother,” Jacob responded faintly. He was clearly lying because he was afraid his mother would be disappointed if he told the truth.

 

“But you promised we’d cure as many people as possible when we grew up,” Fae chimed in, confused.

 

Fae waited for a response, but Jacob remained silent. Edna’s eyes narrowed, and she finally snapped. “Please leave at once and never show your face to my son again. I don’t want his mind being poisoned by your ideologies,” she commanded coldly.

 

I knew we hadn’t done anything wrong, but arguing would only worsen the situation. “We understand. We’re sorry for the trouble we’ve caused,” I responded, taking Fae’s hand.

 

“B-but, Mom…” Fae muttered, resisting.

 

“Don’t worry, sweetie, everything will be okay,” I assured her. We immediately left to avoid further conflict.

 

Even though our visit ended poorly, I wasn’t going to give up. I knew Jacob regretted not being true to himself.

 

“I wish I could do something, Mom. I don’t want our friendship to end this way,” Fae said as we walked away.

 

“I know, sweetie. I’ll go check on him secretly tomorrow. Maybe he’ll change his mind by then,” I responded.

 

I knew prying into someone’s life wasn’t ideal, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch a kid suffer.

 

I went back to Jacob’s house the next day. I came alone this time because it was easier to sneak in my cat form. I made sure to arrive as early as possible to observe Jacob and Edna. 

 

The sun had just risen, but Jacob was already awake and training with his wooden sword. Edna watched his every move from a window to ensure he wasn’t goofing around. Even though she was strict, she still allowed him small rests between training, which meant she really cared for him, even if her parenting approach was misguided.

 

It pains me to watch a kid being forced to grow up and mature at such a young age instead of enjoying their youth and doing what they want.

 

I waited for hours, my muscles getting stiff, but thankfully, Edna finally decided to stop guarding him temporarily.

 

“Honey, I’m going out to get some ingredients for our dinner. When I come back, you should still be swinging that wooden sword,” Edna said with a demanding voice.

 

“Yes, Mom, take care,” Jacob responded, a hint of sadness in his voice.

 

I had waited so long, and he was finally alone. After his Mom left, he leaned against a nearby tree to rest his body. I used that opportunity to approach him. As I got closer, I immediately noticed the deep frown on his face. When Fae introduced him, his smile had been genuine, but now it was nowhere to be seen.

 

I was about to start the conversation, but I forgot I was still a cat. I tried to hide to change back into my human form, I didn't want to freak him out, but it was already too late.

 

“Hello there, little cat. Are you lost?” Jacob asked softly.

 

I had no choice but to pretend to play along. He wanted to pet me, but as soon as he touched my paw, he noticed my stiff muscles.

 

“You must have walked a long way to get here. Don’t worry, I just happen to have a solution for that,” Jacob said. He went inside his room to get an ointment and immediately applied it to my paws.

 

“I made this ointment with my friend. This will make the pain go away in an hour,” Jacob explained gently.

 

To him, I was just a random animal, but the fact that he helped me without a second thought was all the proof I needed to keep believing in him. I wasn’t supposed to talk, but I was so happy I forgot.

 

“See? Even if you lie to yourself, being a doctor is in your blood,” I said plainly.

 

Jacob was so surprised he almost stumbled backward. “Y-you can talk?!” He shouted.

 

Dang, I forgot about this part, I thought.

 

“Y-yeah, I’m sorry about that,” I responded. Now that the cat was out of the bag, I changed back to my human form for him to stop freaking out. “Ta-da. It’s me.”

 

“M-Ms. Ina? You’re a cat?” Jacob asked in utter shock.

 

“I guess Fae didn’t tell you,” I assumed.

 

“What are you doing here, Ms. Ina? My Mom will be furious if she sees you,” Jacob whispered frantically.

 

“I’m here to check if you’re doing okay on behalf of my daughter and your friend. You said you want to be a magic knight, but your actions say otherwise. I’ve been watching you all day, and I never saw you smile or enjoy your training. But just now, you treated my muscle pain instantly. You don’t have to deny it anymore, I know being a doctor is what you really want,” I observed, my voice gentle.

 

Jacob was hesitant at first, but with Edna gone, he could finally be honest. “You’re right, Ms. Ina. Being a magic knight is what my Mom wants me to be, but I can’t say no to her. I’m the only one she’s got.”

 

“I know your Mom will understand if you tell her the truth. After all, no mother wants to see their child suffer,” I assured him.

 

“She won’t. She’ll get heartbroken if she learns that I want to become a doctor, just like my father,” Jacob explained, his voice thick with emotion. “The thing is, my father was once the greatest doctor in the kingdom. He always helped everyone, but one day, he just suddenly disappeared. My mother believes he neglected us, and she doesn’t want to be reminded of anything related to him.”

 

I felt heartbroken hearing his explanation. I never thought the reason behind all of it was rooted in his father’s disappearance. Before I could even comfort him, I heard footsteps closing in. I immediately knew it was Edna.

 

“I wish I could talk to you more, but I have to leave now. If you ever change your mind, you know where to find us,” I said quickly. I left immediately to avoid an encounter with Edna, hoping Jacob would consider what I said.

 

I went home and told Fae everything I learned. This sparked a huge light of hope in her heart. The next morning, we went back to the spot where Fae and Jacob used to study. I had high hopes that Jacob would join us this time. We waited patiently, and it paid off. Jacob finally decided to hang out with us again.

 

“I’m sorry for being late. I gave what you said a lot of thought, and I think you’re right. It’s just not the same when I’m not doing what I love with Fae,” Jacob confessed, a real smile finally back on his face.

 

“I’m so glad to hear that,” I responded genuinely.

 

“Tee-hee, welcome back!” Fae chirped, hugging him tightly.

 

Jacob and Fae were back to their usual selves, and the smile on their faces while doing what they loved was priceless. I was glad I was able to get through to Jacob and help him change his mind. I watched the two study and play together all day, and it warmed my heart to see my daughter have her friend back. It had been a long day, and it was time to say goodbye again.

 

“Ms. Ina, I’ve decided to tell my mother the truth. She might disagree at first, but eventually, I know she’ll accept it,” Jacob said with a firm resolve.

 

“I wish you the best of luck,” Fae responded earnestly.

 

“No matter what happens, we’re always on your side,” I chimed in. Jacob smiled genuinely before heading home. Fae and I also went back to the orphanage to rest for the day. Today was satisfactory, and I hoped the upcoming days would be the same for Fae and Jacob.

 

While Jacob was on his way back home, he thought about how he’d approach his mother regarding his real dream. He was very optimistic, but as soon as he opened the door to their house, he was greeted by a group of bandit assassins. Their leader was holding Edna hostage, pressing a cursed, poisoned dagger to her throat.

 

The assassin leader was tall and sickly thin, with skin as pale as bone and long black hair. His face was covered in metal piercings, and heavy, dark eye bags made him look half-dead. He had an unnaturally long tongue that flicked out when he spoke, and his voice was rude and grating. 

 

“Finally! We were bored out of our minds. We thought you’d never arrive,” the assassin leader sneered with malice.

 

“W-what are you doing to my Mom? What do you want from us?!” Jacob demanded, horrified.

 

“We were paid to collect a debt from your father, and the payment is you,” the assassin responded bluntly.

 

“D-debt?” Jacob confusedly echoed.

 

“Please, I’ll do anything! Just leave my son out of this! Take me instead!” Edna begged desperately.

 

“That won’t do, old lady. The noble who hired us specifically asked for your son,” the assassin leader explained, his voice chillingly calm.

 

“N-no, anything but my son!” Edna shrieked, struggling.

 

The assassin stabbed Edna’s hand as a sharp warning. “Don’t keep me waiting, kid. Next time it’s your mother’s throat.”

 

Jacob was conflicted, but he chose his mother’s safety over his own. “I’ll come with you, just please don’t hurt my Mom any further,” he begged.

 

“Fufu… good kid,” the assassin leader mocked. He shoved Edna to the floor, tied Jacob up, and threw him over his shoulder.

 

“Noooo! Give me back my son!” Edna wailed.

 

“Don’t worry, Mom, I have a feeling everything’s going to be okay,” Jacob said before being carried away.

 

After they were gone, Edna rushed to find us, ignoring her injury. We had just finished eating dinner when she pounded on our front door. She collapsed, weakened and barely conscious, due to the poisoned wound.

 

“E-Edna? What happened to you?” I asked, immediately worried.

 

“P-please help me,” she begged, tears streaming down her face.

 

Miguel immediately carried her inside the house. Edna was on the verge of losing consciousness, but thankfully, Fae was still awake and helped slow down the spread of the poison. “Mom, I only managed to slow the poison from spreading, but Ms. Edna’s life is still in danger. We need to find an antidote if we want to save her,” Fae explained urgently.

 

Instead of focusing on herself, Edna knelt in front of us and pleaded for our help. “I’ll do anything, just please save my son.”

 

“Jacob? Why? What happened to him?” I asked, kneeling beside her.

 

“Someone sent an assassin and took him away,” Edna explained, sobbing.

 

“What do they want from your son?” I pressed.

 

“My husband owes a certain noble a huge sum of money. He used that money to help cure thousands of people without asking anything in return. Because of that, he wasn’t able to pay his debt, and now they took my son as payment,” Edna explained, the truth pouring out.

 

“H-how awful,” I responded, shocked by the doctor’s noble sacrifice and the noble’s cruelty.

 

“They’re planning on transporting my son and selling him as a slave. I’m begging you, please help me save him. I know where they took him. We’ll still make it in time if we go now,” Edna insisted.

 

“No, you stay here with Fae and focus on the poison in your body. We’ll bring you an antidote and your son back safely, I promise,” I responded firmly.

 

“T-thank you,” Edna choked out, crying with relief.

 

After getting the crucial information from Edna, Komraad, Rein, Astrid, and I prepared ourselves to save Jacob. Time was not on our side, so we departed immediately.

 

“Finally, we get to do something fun again!” Komraad cheered, flexing his hands.

 

“I’ll finally be able to put my training into action!” Astrid exclaimed, gripping her sword.

 

“Limit the fighting if possible. Our top priority is getting an antidote for Edna and rescuing her son,” I reminded them seriously.

 

“Mom is right. Life is at stake, so we need to act fast this time,” Rein chimed in, already focusing her energy.

 

We rushed as fast as we could and arrived just in time. The carriage holding Jacob was just starting to move. I asked the three of them to stay on standby, telling them to only fight if necessary, while I tried to secretly free Jacob.

 

The carriage was heavily guarded, but I managed to sneak in using my cat form without them noticing. I looked for a key because Jacob’s hands and feet were shackled. Thankfully, the person holding the key was sleeping, so I managed to take it easily.

 

Jacob recognized me immediately in my cat form. He saw the key I was holding and knew right away I was there to rescue him. I carefully removed the shackles on his hands and feet, but the assassin leader still heard the slightest sound of the key turning due to his keen sense of hearing.

 

“Tch! Trying to escape? Not on my watch!” The assassin leader said fiercely.

 

Oh shoot, we’ve been caught!

 

“W-what do we do now, Ms. Ina?” Jacob nervously asked.

 

“Don’t worry, we already expected this,” I assured him. “Now!” I shouted to signal Rein.

 

Hearing my voice, Rein immediately cast a spell, creating a dense mist inside and around the carriage to hide us from the enemy’s sight. We used that opportunity to get off the carriage and distance ourselves from the assassins.

 

We thought our plan would work, but the assassins managed to find us easily. “You think that’s enough to get away from us? What a joke!” The assassin leader scoffed. 

 

He then threw mini daggers coated in poison at us, but Astrid managed to deflect them instantly using her sword. “You can have your daggers back!”

 

Komraad had been itching for a fight. “It’s finally my turn!” He roared, jumping into the ongoing chaos.

 

“Mom, we’ll handle them! You take Fae’s friend away from here,” Rein instructed, her voice full of determination.

 

“Got it!” I responded. I accompanied Jacob and ran as far away as possible from the assassins.

 

“Will they be okay, Ms. Ina?” Jacob asked worriedly.

 

“Don’t worry, they can handle themselves,” I responded confidently.

 

We managed to gain a fair distance, thinking we were finally out of danger, but the assassin leader was stealthy and managed to slip away to follow us. I felt a faint, hot bloodlust directed at us, and I instantly transformed back into my human form to push Jacob out of the path of danger. “Dodge!” I yelled, shoving him aside.

 

We avoided the worst of it, but the dagger still left a small cut on my shoulder. Thankfully, the poison didn't affect me because it was a type of curse, but I still had to be careful since physical attacks definitely worked.

 

“Are you okay, Ms. Ina?” Jacob asked, his face etched with worry.

 

“It’s just a scratch, don’t worry about it,” I responded, quickly assessing the wound.

 

Even from a distance, I could feel the assassin leader’s cold, hateful intent. “I’ll chase you to the end of the world if I have to! That kid is coming back with me!” He screamed, advancing toward us.

 

“What right do you have to decide that? His life is his own to live,” I countered, stepping in front of Jacob.

 

“Shut up! That kid’s life belongs to my boss! He decides how that kid will live and die! That’s how little his value is!” The assassin spat, his voice pure poison.

 

Hearing his words hit me like a physical blow. It instantly triggered a bad memory from my past life, my parents deciding my future without ever asking what I wanted. For them, my life was just an investment for their broken dreams, and it led to nothing but resentment. 

 

I remembered the look they gave me when I got pregnant with Ella, failing their expectations. They were the reason I struggled to find confidence, and I vowed that no child should ever feel like they owe their life to someone else. This time, I’d make sure Jacob, and every kid I cared about, would live their lives exactly the way they wanted, without regret.

 

I tried to be as calm as possible, even though the assassin’s words had infuriated me. “Jacob, wait for me here. I’ll finish this once and for all,” I assured him, giving him a quick nod.

 

“Please be careful, Ms. Ina,” Jacob pleaded.

 

I approached the assassin leader slowly, letting my menacing presence wash over the area. “You are exactly the type of person I despise the most. I’ll make sure you won’t bother anyone ever again,” I warned him.

 

The assassin started sweating profusely. This was the first time he'd ever felt genuine fear. “D-don’t get any closer!”

 

He threw another dagger at me, but instead of dodging, I intentionally caught it. My hand started bleeding badly, but I kept moving forward. “W-why isn’t my poison working?! Just who the hell are you?!” He asked, his voice shaking with panic.

 

“I’m just an angry Mom looking to punish a bad boy like you,” I responded, channeling all my rage. I intended to just scare him with a simple dark energy beam, but I had no idea the spell I cast had condensed into something massive, far more powerful than the one I used to defeat the demon in Fae’s village. I truly believed this spell was even stronger than the last.

 

The magical pressure I was emitting was so overwhelming that the assassin leader couldn't run, he was frozen stiff. The moment I got too close to him, he ended up foaming at the mouth and lost consciousness. “O-oh crap, this is bad! I can’t stop the spell anymore!” I worriedly gasped.

 

Rein and the others, having finished off the other assassins, rushed toward my side because they felt the incredibly powerful magical pressure I was emitting. My arm was numb, and I was at my wits' end. Thankfully, Rein arrived just in time and shouted instructions. “Mom! Release the spell above the sky! You’ll end up destroying the whole kingdom if you don’t do it now!”

 

As soon as I heard her voice, I managed to regain my composure. I followed her advice and released the spell high above the sky. It was so powerful that the pressure could be felt all over the kingdom. Everyone who was still awake witnessed the starry night turn into daylight for a few seconds due to the immense burst of dark energy.

 

“P-phew, that was close. I… I almost destroyed the whole kingdom,” I said nervously, trying to catch my breath.

 

After witnessing what I did, Jacob immediately approached me in awe. “What was that, Ms. Ina? It was so cool!”

 

“Mom, good news! I found an antidote on one of the assassins we fought,” Astrid chimed in excitedly.

 

“R-right, we can still make it in time if we head back right away,” I responded, snapping back to the urgent mission.

 

Before leaving, we quickly tied the unconscious assassins to a nearby tree and sent a message to Head Knight Keith about everything that happened so he could put them in prison. We rushed back to the orphanage as fast as we could so Fae could administer the antidote to Edna. 

 

Thankfully, upon arriving, Edna was still fighting for her life, and we managed to save her just in time. We waited for hours until she had fully recovered.

 

“How are you feeling, Mom?” Jacob asked, his deep worry written all over his face.

 

“Now that you’re here, I’m even better than ever,” Edna responded, a genuine warmth in her voice. She shifted her attention to us, her face full of gratitude. “Thank you for bringing my son back.”

 

“Tee hee, it’s nothing. I only kept my promise to you,” I responded with a small smile.

 

Now that everything was resolved, Jacob finally decided to stop lying to himself and reveal his true feelings. “Mom, I’m sorry, but the truth is, I don’t want to be a Knight. I want to be a doctor, just like Dad. I want to cure people, not hurt them.” He braced himself for anger, but instead, she hugged him tightly.

 

“I already know, son. I’m sorry for putting too much pressure on you. The only reason I pushed you to train with the sword was so you could protect yourself from any danger coming your way, but now I realize that what I was doing was putting you at a greater risk,” Edna said, tears escaping her eyes. “I’m sorry for preventing you from pursuing what you love. Now that you’re safe, I’ll do whatever I can to support you and your dream.”

 

“Thank you, Mom. That means the world to me,” Jacob responded happily, hugging her back.

 

“If only your father were alive, he’d be so proud of you,” Edna added softly.

 

“Speaking of Dad, could you tell me more about him?” Jacob asked, curiosity overcoming his sadness.

 

“Your father was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. He prioritized other people’s lives over his own. The truth is, I lied about him abandoning us,” Edna revealed, her voice cracking. 

 

“Your father cured people for free, and he needed a huge sum of money to do that, so he borrowed some from a nobleman. Your father wasn’t able to pay it back, so they eliminated him. I knew that the nobleman would eventually come after us, so I hid you as far away as possible. I’m sorry for hiding the truth from you for so long.”

 

Jacob cried after learning the full story, but he was able to come to terms with it in the end. “I understand, Mom. I miss Dad so much, but I’m glad he was able to do what he loved before he died.”

 

After the two finished their heartwarming conversation, Jacob wiped his tears, stood up, and bowed his head to our group. “Everyone, thank you for what you did for us. We will never forget your kindness.”

 

“Tee hee, a friend of my sister is a friend of ours,” Rein said sweetly. Astrid nodded her firm agreement beside her.

 

“Hey now, if you’re ever in trouble, don’t hesitate to call for our help,” I said, giving him a warm smile.

 

Fae approached Jacob and made a pinky promise. “Let’s do our best in the future, okay?”

 

“I’ll give it my all,” Jacob responded confidently, his smile genuine and bright.

 

A lot had happened, but in the end, everything went well. We even made new friends along the way.