In the dark cave south of Stelluna territory, a violet-haired woman lay on the cold ground. Bandages wrapped tightly around her body, and her short, uneven hair looked as if it had been hacked off in desperation. A scar stretched across her beautiful face, closing her amethyst left eye. Her name was Vio.

  Once, she lived in the western slums among other abandoned children. As the eldest, she cared for them every day. Stealing money and sharing scraps of food had been their way of survival.

  A few months ago, after reaching her coming-of-age, she became a mercenary to earn more for them. Life had started to improve… until catastrophe struck. She had watched helplessly as monsters tore through the slums in seconds. Even the noble district was not spared.

  Thankfully, the orphans knew countless hidden paths from years of avoiding people. Vio led them through those secret routes and escaped the west.

  She remembered hearing rumors of a noble in the north who had been hiring many high-ranking mercenaries, as though they had prepared for this disaster. Unlike the others, this lord was said to be benevolent. The north became her only hope of saving the children.

  “Sorry, kids. We got delayed because of me.”

  The eldest boy, Leo, quickly reassured her.

  “What are you saying, Big Sis! We’ve been running for weeks. A few days more won’t matter.”

  They had avoided monsters most of the time, but not always. Vio fought whenever necessary to shield the children. In doing so, she lost her long hair, her left vision, and earned scars all over her body. Now, after endless battles, her stamina was completely drained.

  An apologetic look weighed heavily on her face.

  “Sorry… I couldn’t protect the others…”

  The children’s expressions darkened, but the second eldest, Lily, forced a smile.

  “Don’t worry, Big Sis! I’m sure they’re proud of you!”

  Leo nodded firmly.

  “Without you, none of us would still be alive.”

  Their journey over the weeks had been paid with blood. From nearly fifty people, only fifteen remained, including Vio herself.

  “B-Big Sis!”

  A boy rushed in, his face pale.

  “Lavin! She ran to the nearby village to find a potion for you!”

  ““What?!””

  Vio’s heart clenched. She already blamed herself for not protecting the others, but if something happened to her younger sister, then she would have no reason left to live.

  Forcing herself to stand, she seized her dagger and staff. Her tattered robe fluttered faintly as she moved.

  “Big Sis! We’ll come with you!”

  “No! You stay here! In this condition, I won’t be able to protect you all.”

  The children bit their lips, frustrated they could not share her burden.

  At the cave entrance, Vio gave them one last glance.

  “If we don’t come back by tonight, head north to Stelluna. If you run without meeting monsters, you should arrive by midday.”

  Her words carried the weight of finality.

  —

  Lua village, the once-flourishing border village near Stelluna was nothing but ruins. Homes lay in wreckage, skeletons scattered the ground, and dried blood stained the earth.

  Amidst the silence, a seven-years-old girl moved quietly from house to house. Her long, dark amethyst hair blended with the shadows as she searched for potions. She was Lavin, Vio’s younger sister.

  After rummaging through several houses, she discovered the remains of an apothecary. She picked up health and mana potions with her small hands and hurried out.

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  But as she crept cautiously toward the exit, a low growl froze her in place.

  “Grr…”

  Her amethyst eyes locked onto the massive frame of a wolf. Panic rose in her chest.

  She tried to sidestep toward the wreckage for cover.

  Her foot nudged a skull that rolled loudly across the ground.

  “Grr…!”

  The wolf turned and snarled before lunging at her.

  Her body froze. She gripped the potions tightly, unable to move.

  A violet sphere shot past her, erasing the wolf’s head. Its body collapsed at her feet.

  “Lavin! Are you hurt?!”

  Vio rushed over and embraced her trembling sister.

  “Sis Vio… I’m sorry… Hic… I’m sorry…”

  “It’s okay. As long as you’re safe.”

  Lavin sniffled and wiped her tears.

  “Sis Vio, here. I found these.”

  She showed a health potion and a mana potion.

  “Thank you. You picked the right ones.”

  “Hehe~”

  Lavin giggled as Vio patted her head.

  Vio drank both potions at once. The wounds on her body slowly closed, and a faint current of mana returned to her.

  “Let’s leave before more monsters come.”

  “Un!”

  They turned to go, but a pack of wolves emerged from the shadows.

  “Grrr…!”

  “Lavin, hide behind me.”

  She obeyed at once.

  Vio raised her staff, chanting as the wolves charged. Her staff glowed faintly.

  “O eternal space, from the abyss of stars, vanishes into nothing. Dimensional Ball!”

  Several violet spheres shot out, erasing any part they struck. A handful of wolves fell instantly, but two dodged and leapt toward her.

  Vio did not flinch. Battle after battle had honed her instincts. She kicked one wolf away, drew her dagger, and severed the other’s head cleanly.

  But before she could recover, the kicked wolf sprang at her.

  And when she was about to raise her dagger, a scream pierced the air.

  “KYAAA!”

  Vio spun around and saw another wolf pouncing on Lavin.

  Without hesitation, she hurled her dagger. It struck perfectly through the wolf’s skull.

  But the wolf she had kicked earlier struck her from behind.

  “Arrghh!”

  Claws raked her back, sending her sprawling forward. Her staff slipped from her grip.

  “Sis Vio!”

  Without delay, the wolf lunged again, ready to kill them both.

  Vio wrapped her arms around Lavin and closed her eyes. She was ready to die if it meant protecting her only family.

  But the strike never landed.

  “GLIMMER CUT!”

  A radiant blade cleaved the beast apart.

  Vio and Lavin opened their eyes and looked up at their savior. His silver armor gleamed in the sun. He wasn’t bulky like a veteran, but at that moment, his presence felt immense. With his glowing sword, he appeared like a holy knight descended from the heavens.

  If only he hadn’t spoken right after.

  “Haha! Did you see that?! I finally used my skill with Advanced mode!”

  “Oh! Thanks for the donation, nocturnyx!”

  “What? She’s calling it dreamshaping? Nice name!”

  To Vio and Lavin, it looked like he was speaking nonsense to himself.

  “Huh? What’s this? Wanderer? World Announcement?! Legendary?!”

  Only after rambling did he finally turn to them, offering a warm smile and extending his hand.

  “Hi ladies. Thank you for surviving this long. You don’t need to be afraid anymore. It’s over.”

  His black hair glistened, and his obsidian eyes shone like hidden jewels amidst the ruins. His words felt like the end of their long nightmare.

  Vio held her breath for a moment, then accepted his hand and rose to her feet. She couldn’t look away from him.

  “Are you okay… Oh, no! You’re bleeding badly! Here, drink this.”

  A vial materialized from thin air. Its clarity surpassed any potion she had ever seen.

  Her eyes widened.

  “T-This is… a medium-rank health potion! I-I can’t accept something so expensive!”

  He pressed it toward her with insistence.

  “This means nothing to me, because you are my quest— I mean, my everything.”

  Her face flared crimson.

  “T-Thank you so much! I will repay you someday, my lord.”

  “Lord…” he murmured faintly as she drank the potion.

  Her wounds closed further, though her eye and scars remained.

  He shook his head with a playful smile.

  “I am merely a speck of dust compared to other playe— I mean, compared to a beauty like you.”

  Her blush deepened. She had long considered herself ugly with her scarred face, yet he called her beautiful.

  Still flustered, she remembered the children in the cave.

  “My lord, forgive me, but… a dozen more orphans are waiting for me in the cave nearby. C-Can you help us reach the nearest settlement?”

  His face brightened instantly.

  “Of course! I will gladly help with anything you ask, my lady.”

  “L-Lady…”

  She looked away, hiding her face in embarrassment. Never in her life had she been treated like this.

  “Let’s go meet them—”

  “Grrr…” A growl cut him off.

  “...Is what I want to say, but it seems I have to take care of the guest first.”

  He turned around and froze.

  Tens of wolves emerged, eyes glinting with hunger.

  “Haha… What shitty luck…” he chuckled.

  Without looking back, he asked.

  “Ladies, can you run?”

  “W-What about you?!”

  “Don’t worry about me. You must live.”

  “I-I won’t leave you! I can still fight!”

  “Then… how about we run together?”

  Before she could respond, he began counting.

  “Three… Two… One… Run!”

  Vio seized Lavin’s hand, sprinting away.

  But Lavin glanced back.

  “S-Sis Vio! He’s not running!”

  “What…?”

  Vio turned and saw the knight smiling warmly, waving his hand as if in farewell.

  “M-My lord…!”

  “Listen!”

  He shouted as the wolves closed in.

  “You must live! We’ll meet again in my next life!”

  Even on death’s door, he thought only of her safety.

  “If you wish to repay me, then remember my name!”

  His final words rang out as the wolves pounced.

  “Hiro!”

  The beasts swarmed him, tearing him apart.

  Vio turned away without waiting for his last breath, clutching Lavin tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she ran without looking back.

  “Lord Hiro…”

  Their meeting was brief, but she would never forget the knight who sacrificed himself so she could live.

  The kind knight who told her to survive in this chaotic world.

  “I will always remember you.”