The man was a complete beggar.

And as befitting a beggar, he used very vulgar and coarse language. Profanity was a given, and he was violent and hotblooded. Moreover, he often showed an unpredictable fluctuation in his emotions.

Infuriated to the core, he shouted Gibnen’s name raggedly. But surprisingly, instead of Gibnen, his representative, Salk, came to meet him.

“Arpeggio sir, Master sends his message that we have a guest visiting, so please be quiet.”

“Why did you come? Go and bring that son of a bitch Gibnen here right now.”

“Master is currently meeting an important guest at Horizon, and afterwards, he is scheduled to attend a party. If you wish to meet with the Master, it seems you will have to make a separate appointment.”

“That bastard is intentionally avoiding me. What’s he expecting me to do after dumping this flesh lump here? Is he joking?”

Salk looked at the terrified Riley, then patted her shoulder as if to calm her down.

“He may talk rough, but he’s not a bad person.”

“Hey, are you ignoring me?”

“Arpeggio sir, this is not a flesh lump, but Lord Ryston’s daughter.”

The furious man, Arpeggio, stopped in his tracks.

And then, bewildered, he came up close to Riley’s face and began to scrutinize her.

“She’s that unlucky guy’s daughter?”

“Yes, according to Master.”

“……Was she alive?”

“That’s correct.”

“I can’t believe it. This one? Where do you see? That it’s his child?”

“Though you may want to deny it, it’s an immutable fact.”

Arpeggio blinked a few times and then touched Riley’s forehead with his index finger.

He narrowed his brows.

“The magic is there, right? But it’s not circulating at all. What is this strange thing? How is she standing here alive?”

“Master also finds it puzzling.”

“So she’s a mage at this level? Is she really a mage?”

“She is a mage, according to Master.”

“She’s going to enroll in Horizon Academy like this?”

“That’s why Master said he needs your help, Arpeggio sir.”

“Both that guy and this guy, all filled with madmen.”

“From what I see, you, Arpeggio sir, are the most insane.”

Ignoring Salk’s sarcasm, Arpeggio stood Riley up.

“Alright, let’s go. First, I have to see if you’re of any use.”

“Master has said not to treat her roughly; if she even has a minor injury, he will throw you out of Horizon, so please keep that in mind.”

“Hmph, is he preparing someone to replace me?”

“Then let’s go.”

Riley looked at Salk with pleading eyes, silently begging to be sent away. But Salk lightly ignored her and left.

And Arpeggio took Riley and dragged her somewhere, then began to draw a magic circle on the ground.

“Stand here.”

Riley wanted to run away immediately but couldn’t see the exit. And if she disobeyed, she felt she might get hit. So, she did as Arpeggio ordered and stood in the middle of the magic circle.

“If you are truly Ryston’s child, prove it yourself. Whether you’re worth raising or not.”

“……How can I prove it?”

“You’ll know soon. And the answer isn’t something taught by someone else, but something you find.”

He began to mutter something.

At that moment, the magic circle shone, and a massive pillar of light covered it.

Everything went pitchblack, and darkness engulfed her.

(This is a time separator.)

‘Where is this…?’

She looked around, but saw nothing. Even waving both hands, all she saw was stark darkness. The realization of being completely isolated in a darkness where no light entered made it difficult to breathe.

Moreover, it felt cramped, as if trapped in a confined space.

Enclosed room, limited oxygen, total darkness.

Multiple words overlapped, and extreme fear and confusion overcame her.

“Gasp, gasp… gasp.”
Riley instinctively clutched her throat. Whether her windpipe was gradually narrowing or the oxygen was insufficient, she soon felt a suffocating sensation, as her lungs expanded before rapidly contracting.

I’m going to die; I’m going to die like this.

Riley clutched her throat and screamed for help. To save her, to liberate her from this agony. But her voice did not come out, and even her writhing in pain slowed down. The more she tried to move, the more a leaden weight seemed to press down on her.

Her organs twisted, and her stomach churned. Her heartbeat gradually slowed, and coldness crept in. Cold. Cold, scared.

Her body began to tremble as her bones ached.

The helplessness of being able to do nothing. The overwhelming fear of death.

She was engulfed in a sense of despair.

‘No, no… It hurts, I don’t want to die. No… No, no, no!’

Riley screamed in agony.

But her voice did not escape her lips, and as her body reached its limit, the fear and despair soon turned into anger.

‘Let me go, let go of me now, leave me alone, just let me go… Die, go away. I hate it.’

Riley wished for just three things.

First, for the darkness to disappear.

Second, to be able to breathe.

Third, for this uncomfortable space to vanish entirely.

“……Disappear.”

Suddenly, the voice escaped her lips.

Crash!