Unauthorized Reincarnation

  Chapter 7: New Faces and New Pillars (Part 2)

  Shuyi adjusted her glasses, her sharp eyes studying Lily with quiet curiosity. Then, with a small smile, she stepped closer.

  “Ahh… you must be Lily. We saw you yesterday, when you were being announced to the city.”

  Lily blinked, a little surprised. Before she could speak, Shuyi continued warmly:

  “I was also introduced to the people when I first came here.” She stepped closer, peering at Lily’s face with open interest.

  Kristina leaned back against the edge of her desk, arms folding across her chest, green eyes glinting.

  “Shuyi has been nagging me since yesterday to introduce you properly, so… here we are.”

  Shuyi gave Kristina a sidelong glance, lips quirking in a faint smile.

  “Nagging, my lady? You call it that, but you know I was right.”

  Kristina chuckled, the sound low and indulgent.

  “Mm. You’re always right, aren’t you?”

  The softness in her tone made Shuyi’s ears flush faintly, though she hid it behind a professional adjustment of her glasses. Then she extended a hand to Lily.

  “My name is Shuyi. As you noticed, I’m not from here either—I’m from Earth. From Guangdong, China.”

  Lily’s eyes widened, her hand shooting out almost instinctively to grasp Shuyi’s.

  “You’re from Earth too?”

  “Yes,” Shuyi said with a small nod. “And I was fortunate enough to meet Lady Kristina early. She gave me a place, purpose, and freedom to use my mind, I’ve always been clever," Shuyi said with a small nod. "But on Earth, that just meant good test scores. Here, cleverness is survival. And Lady Kristina gave me a world where my mind is my greatest weapon."

  ” Her voice softened just slightly. “I owe her everything.”

  Lily glanced between them—their ease together, the unspoken warmth threaded through their words. She could see the bond clearly, even if neither named it outright.

  Her throat tightened. “I… I appreciate your honesty. Both of you. And thank you for today—for helping that demigirl. I’ll never forget it.”

  Kristina tilted her head, smirking faintly.

  “Then accept my offer. Live here, under the Kardelis name. You’ll have resources, allies, safety. Shuyi can attest—it’s better than walking blind into every wolf’s den this world has to offer.”

  For a moment, silence hung in the air. Lily looked down at her hands, then back up—eyes steady, her voice quiet but unwavering.

  “I can’t.”

  Kristina’s smirk faltered, shifting into something sharper. “…Can’t?”

  Lily drew in a breath, her words tumbling out with raw conviction.

  “I don’t want to live in someone’s shadow. I want to become strong myself. Strong enough to help people who can’t fight back—like that demigirl. If I stay here and let myself lean only on you, then I’ll never grow into the kind of person I need to be. I’ll just be safe. And that’s not enough.”

  The air between them grew tense, a current pulling in two directions—Kristina’s flame against Lily’s stubborn will.

  Shuyi remained quiet, though her gaze lingered on Lily with something almost approving, as if she recognized the resolve of someone who would not bend easily.

  Finally, Lily bowed her head, voice quiet.

  “Thank you for your help today. And for saving that girl. But I can’t accept your offer. Not yet.” She turned toward the door, as if ready to walk away.

  “Wait.” Kristina’s gaze burned.

  “Idealism. Dangerous, yet beautiful. But strength without a pillar to stand on crumbles quickly, girl. Do you think you can change this rotten city with bare hands and noble words?”

  Lily turned halfway, her expression unreadable.

  “Back on Earth, I learned something the hard way. If I depend on someone—if I live under their shadow—I lose the right to choose for myself.”

  Before she could finish, Shuyi’s expression shifted. Her brows drew together, and in a sudden motion, she stepped forward and slammed the door shut behind Lily.

  “You think I can’t decide for myself?”

  Her voice was low, but the sting in it was unmistakable.

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  Lily flinched, startled. “No—I didn’t mean—”

  Kristina raised a hand, silencing both with a single gesture. Her tone was cool, but not unkind.

  “Enough. If you insist on walking your own path, then so be it.”

  The tension lingered like smoke. Shuyi’s shoulders were stiff, her gaze averted. Lily stood frozen, caught between apology and pride.

  Kristina stepped away from the desk.

  “But remember this, Lily. The wolves here don’t care about your ideals. They’ll tear you apart whether you stand alone or not. So if you fall—don’t expect the city to mourn.”

  Lily met Kristina’s eyes, steady and unwavering.

  “Even if I fall, I won’t go back on my words.”

  Kristina laughed softly—low, rich, and almost maternal.

  “Beautifully said. I like your resolve.”

  She turned to Shuyi with a teasing smile.

  “You should learn from her.”

  Shuyi blinked, caught off guard, as Kristina reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “I think I may have stunted your growth without realizing it.”

  Then, without waiting for a reply, Kristina strode to the door and opened it wide.

  “Come. Follow me.”

  The two girls exchanged a glance, then silently followed her down the corridor, footsteps echoing in the quiet.

  Kristina spoke as they walked, her voice calm but deliberate.

  “I have another idea. I won’t offer you shelter under my name—but I will become your patron. What do you say?”

  She glanced back at Lily.

  “I’ll provide what you need—resources, protection, space to grow. Because I believe you can become strong. Strong enough to shape this world. It’s like investing in the future.”

  She chuckled, amused by her own metaphor.

  Lily walked behind her, lost in thought. The offer wasn’t safety—it was belief. A wager on her potential.

  “…I guess it’s not a bad idea.”

  Kristina led them to a tall, iron-framed door at the end of the corridor. With a quiet creak, it opened into Kardelis’s treasure room—a vast chamber bathed in soft golden light, its walls lined with priceless art, ancient scrolls, and statues that seemed to watch in silence. The air was thick with history, every object whispering of lives once lived and legacies long buried.

  Without a word, Kristina stepped toward a grand oil painting—its gilded frame depicting a storm-tossed sea—and pressed her palm against the canvas. A soft click echoed, and the painting slid aside, revealing a hidden passage.

  Inside was a smaller, dimly lit chamber. Unlike the opulence of the outer room, this space held only personal relics—belongings of Kardelis family members who had passed. The atmosphere shifted, reverent and still.

  Kristina walked forward, her steps slow, deliberate. She stopped before two identical sets of armor, mounted neatly on stands.

  The design was simple yet well-crafted: light steel plates shaped close to the body, with enough space to allow full movement. The cuirass was plain except for the single mark at its center—the burning rose, etched shallowly into the metal and filled with faint traces of faded red enamel. The emblem was small, not ostentatious, as though meant more for the sisters themselves than for display.

  The pauldrons and vambraces were narrow, built for mobility over intimidation. A short skirt of overlapping plates hung at the waist, light enough not to hinder running or climbing, but sturdy enough to guard against a blade’s edge. The helmets, set beside the armor, were unadorned sallets with open visors—practical, breathable, offering clear sight at the cost of fuller protection.

  There was no gilding, no decoration beyond the roses. Just steel, leather straps, and careful work by the smith who forged them. One set bore faint dents along the right side of its breastplate, and the leather understraps had darkened with age. The other was cleaner, almost untouched, suggesting it had seen fewer battles—or perhaps been kept in reserve.

  “These belonged to my two great twin grandmothers, Mariel Kardelis and Sariel Kardelis,” Kristina said quietly, her voice tinged with memory. “They died young, believing Kardelis could be more than just power and politics.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Lily said softly.

  Beside her, Shuyi lowered her gaze in quiet respect.

  “They must’ve meant a great deal to your family.”

  Kristina’s expression remained calm, almost wistful.

  “Don’t worry too much. They died before I was born. But their names still echo in these halls. There are many who remember them—not as warriors, but as visionaries.”

  She turned to face them fully.

  “And I want you two to have their armor. To carry out their legacy.”

  Shuyi’s head snapped up. “What? No. I can’t accept that.”

  Kristina raised a brow. “Why not?”

  “It’s too much,” Shuyi said, voice tight. “I’m not a Kardelis. I haven’t earned this. These belonged to your bloodline—your heroes. I’m just someone who got lucky enough to be useful.”

  Kristina stepped closer, her tone firm but not harsh.

  “Don’t diminish yourself. You’re not just useful—you’re worthy. Mariel and Sariel believed in building something greater than themselves. That belief doesn’t belong to blood. It belongs to those who act.”

  Shuyi hesitated, her fingers curling slightly.

  “Still… I’m not sure I can live up to them.”

  Kristina smiled, and for a moment, her fire softened.

  “Then grow into it. That’s what legacy is—it’s not a weight, it’s a challenge. And I trust you to rise.”

  Shuyi looked at the armor again, her eyes lingering on the faded rose. Slowly, she nodded.

  “Alright. I’ll try.”

  Kristina turned to Lily.

  “And you?”

  Lily stepped forward, her fingers gently brushing a faint dent on the breastplate. Her voice was quiet but resolute. “I’ll wear it. Not because I deserve it yet—but because I want to earn the right to.”

  Kristina’s smile widened.

  “Good. Then from this day forward, you two are a party. Not just allies, but sisters-in-arms. You’ll fight together, grow together, and protect each other.”

  Shuyi glanced at Lily, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

  “You sure about this?”

  Lily nodded. “I am. We’re stronger together.”

  Kristina stepped back, her gaze proud.

  “Then let the city watch. The Kardelis legacy lives on—in new faces, with new pillars.”