Late afternoon sunlight filtered softly through the tall windows of the manor, painting the wooden floor in warm gold while the quiet breeze of early autumn drifted through the gardens outside.
By this time, the lessons had already become a daily routine.
Over the past months, Emelia had taught Xiver the basics of magic. She explained the structure of power in this world and how mages were ranked according to their ability.
She once drew the ranks neatly on a parchment sheet and slid it across the table toward him.
Ranks for Magic Users:
Rank 5 — Deer
Rank 4 — Leopard
Rank 3 — Rhinoceros
Rank 2 — Tiger
Rank 1 — Lion
The higher the rank, the rarer and more powerful the mage.
During those same lessons, Emelia discovered something extremely rare about him.
Xiver possessed two magical attributes.
Manipulation and Divine magic.
It was something said to appear only once in ten thousand people.
For most families, such a discovery would have been a cause for celebration.
But Xiver simply stared at the parchment with little reaction.
Talent meant nothing to someone who had already lost everything.
Emelia, however, was excited for him.
She believed this was proof that he had great potential.
Even though she wasn't a particularly talented swordswoman herself, she still tried to teach him the basics of swordsmanship as well.
She once explained the ranking system for swordsmen while adjusting her glasses.
Ranks for Sword Wielders:
Rank 5 — Boar
Rank 4 — Wolf
Rank 3 — Elephant
Rank 2 — Bear
Rank 1 — Lion
Though Xiver showed little interest in sword fighting, he still listened.
After all, even sword fighters in this world relied on magic to strengthen their bodies.
Knowing the basics could save his life one day.
Still…
Despite having two magical attributes, Xiver struggled to perform even the most basic spell.
Mana flowed through his body.
Emelia confirmed that many times.
But controlling it was another story.
No matter how many times he tried, the mana refused to respond.
Yet Emelia never gave up on him.
Every day they practiced together.
Morning after morning.
Afternoon after afternoon.
She patiently guided him, correcting his posture, explaining mana flow again and again, encouraging him to push past his limits.
Whenever frustration crept into his expression, she would lean slightly closer and speak gently.
One evening, when the sky outside had begun turning orange and the air carried the faint chill of sunset, Xiver sat at the wooden table with a small cup of water placed in front of him.
His task was simple.
Move the water.
Even slightly.
Emelia folded her arms and watched patiently.
Minutes passed.
The room was silent except for the soft rustling of leaves outside the window.
Nothing happened.
Xiver stared at the cup intensely, focusing every ounce of concentration he had.
Still…
The water remained perfectly still.
Emelia stepped closer and rested one hand lightly on his shoulder while placing the other over her chest.
"Remember, Xiver," she said gently.
"Things can be difficult. The difference between winners and losers is that winners try again after falling."
Xiver slowly lifted his eyes toward her.
His expression made her pause.
A quiet awkwardness filled the room.
Emelia quickly waved her hands nervously.
"Ah— not that this is a competition!" she said quickly.
"And I'm obviously not calling you a loser! I mean—"
Her voice trailed off.
But Xiver had already lowered his gaze again.
Both of his hands moved together, hovering above the table.
His fingers trembled slightly as he concentrated.
Mana gathered faintly around his palms.
He focused on the cup.
The water.
The movement.
Everything he had.
Seconds stretched into minutes.
Yet nothing changed.
The water did not move.
Not even a ripple.
Emelia watched quietly for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
"How about we leave that for tomorrow, Xiver?"
Her hand gently touched his shoulder again.
Xiver's face remained blank.
But inside his chest…
Something heavy twisted painfully.
After Emelia left, the manor grew quiet.
He had one hour before his mother returned home.
The silence inside the large house felt suffocating.
Xiver sat alone in his room, staring at the floor.
Then the emotions finally broke loose.
Tears rolled down his face.
His breathing became uneven.
The pain inside him had been building for months.
The memories of his previous life.
His father.
His friends.
Everything he lost.
He clenched his fists tightly.
Why couldn't he do anything right?
Not in his old life.
Not in this one either.
A loud crash echoed through the room.
A chair toppled over.
Another object shattered against the wall.
Xiver's hands struck the edge of the bed again and again, skin splitting as small streaks of blood stained the sheets.
His cries echoed through the empty house.
Anger.
Grief.
Helplessness.
Everything poured out of him.
How could he fail at the one thing this world valued most?
Magic.
Even when it was supposed to be his rare talent.
He collapsed onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably until exhaustion slowly pulled him into sleep.
Meanwhile, far away in the kitchen…
The small cup sitting on the wooden table trembled slightly.
The water inside shifted.
Just a little.
When his mother returned home later that evening, the sky outside had already darkened into deep blue.
The wind rustled through the garden trees as she stepped inside.
The moment she opened the door, she froze.
Furniture was overturned.
Broken pieces scattered across the floor.
Her heart skipped in panic.
Something had happened.
She hurried through the house and rushed toward Xiver's room.
Opening the door quickly—
She found him there.
Curled up on the bed.
Tears dried on his face.
His small body trembling faintly as he slept.
The next morning arrived quietly.
A pale afternoon light slipped through the kitchen window, coloring the wooden table in soft gold. Dust floated lazily in the air, dancing in the stillness of the house.
Not long after Elizabeth left for work, Emelia arrived.
She sat across from Xiver at the small kitchen table.
Neither of them spoke.
The room was silent except for the faint ticking of an old clock and the distant wind brushing against the house walls.
Xiver simply stared at her.
Emelia stared back.
Minutes passed.
She looked like she was thinking very hard about something.
Then suddenly—
She shut her eyes, slammed her hand onto the table beside Xiver, and shouted.
"LET'S GO OUT!"
Xiver froze.
The sudden noise made the cups on the table shake slightly.
He blinked in confusion.
Emelia realized what she had just shouted.
Her face turned bright red in an instant.
She quickly crossed her arms into an X shape in front of her chest.
"T-THAT'S WRONG! I MEAN—"
She struggled to speak.
"Y-YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THE O-OUTSIDE OF THIS HOUSE… right?"
Xiver stared at her for a moment.
Then he understood.
She wanted to sneak him outside.
Emelia kept rambling awkwardly, explaining and explaining until the silence became painful.
Finally—
Xiver interrupted her.
"Yes."
Emelia's eyes suddenly sparkled.
She raised a thumbs-up proudly.
"Alright!"
Xiver's First Step
For the first time since being born in this body…
Xiver stepped outside.
Cold wind brushed against his face.
The smell of dust, old wood, and distant smoke filled the air.
His eyes slowly looked around.
What he saw was nothing like the peaceful world he imagined.
The streets were dark.
Narrow paths ran between broken houses and worn-down buildings.
Some people sitting nearby looked old and exhausted.
Others were missing limbs.
Many wore dirty clothes and stared at the ground like they had long given up on life.
When their eyes landed on Xiver…
Their conversations suddenly stopped.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Some looked frightened.
Some avoided looking at him entirely.
Xiver felt confused.
Why are they looking like that?
Then he remembered something.
He was walking with Emelia.
Maybe they're scared of her, he thought.
She tightened her grip on his hand and continued walking without saying a word.
They passed small shops.
Some looked abandoned.
Others were filled with rough-looking people with cold eyes.
Eventually the streets widened.
The buildings became cleaner.
More people appeared.
They had reached the center of the village.
Only then did Xiver realize something shocking.
So this is where I've been living…
For five years, he had never seen it.
The garden behind his house had been surrounded by tall walls.
All it had was grass and a single tree.
Nothing more.
The world outside felt unbelievably huge.
Emelia noticed the amazement in his eyes.
She smiled and pulled him toward a small café.
The Café
Inside the café, warm air filled the room.
The smell of roasted beans and baked bread floated through the air.
Emelia ordered coffee for herself and milk for Xiver.
They sat at a table near the window.
She leaned forward and asked.
"What do you think, Xiver?"
He tilted his head.
"Hm?"
"The outside world."
Xiver looked outside again.
People walked through the street.
Merchants shouted.
Children ran past each other laughing.
He quietly answered.
"…It looks nice."
Emelia sighed.
"You really don't talk much."
It was ironic.
In his previous life, Xiver had been extremely social.
Now he barely spoke to anyone.
Not even his parents.
Emelia tapped the table.
"So… do you want to go to school?"
Xiver responded instantly.
"What good would that get me?"
Emelia leaned back dramatically.
"Wow. What a way to talk to a lady."
She crossed one leg over the other and pointed a finger at him.
"Do you think you'll get yourself a woman someday if you talk like that?"
"Yes."
Emelia's eyebrow twitched.
"Wow. Talking big for someone who only makes women mad."
"Huh?"
"Hello?" she said, pointing at herself.
"I'm a woman. You made me mad."
"Bad start, buddy."
Xiver looked at her calmly.
"Why should I care? I'm not going to hit on you anyway."
Silence fell over the café.
A very long silence.
Five entire minutes passed.
Finally Emelia paid the cashier and dragged Xiver outside.
While she paid, Xiver noticed something.
The coins were gold, and the writing on them looked unfamiliar.
Interesting…
The Swing
Emelia brought him to a large tree where a wooden swing hung from a thick branch.
She pushed the swing gently while Xiver sat on it.
"So about school…" she said.
"I could send a recommendation letter if you ask for it ."
"Hm. Okay."
Emelia groaned.
"You have no idea how important that is."
"I doubt they'd accept me anyway. My magic is bad."
She kept pushing the swing slowly.
"Maybe."
Then she said something unexpected.
"But I'll always stay with you, Xiver."
"I won't leave until you learn."
Xiver looked back at her.
"You say strange things."
Emelia suddenly stopped the swing.
Then she hugged him from behind.
"It's true."
"I'll always support you until you succeed."
Xiver asked quietly,
"Why are you so interested in me?"
Emelia thought for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"I don't know."
"But I think I like you as my little brother."
"I feel like we're connected somehow."
Her arms tightened slightly around him.
Xiver didn't respond.
In his previous life, he had been an only child.
He never had siblings.
He wondered…
Could Emelia really be like an older sister?
The Hill
The sun slowly began to set.
Orange light covered the sky.
Emelia grabbed his hand.
"Come on."
They climbed a long staircase leading up a hill.
Xiver grew tired halfway through.
Noticing this, Emelia bent down.
"Get on."
She carried him on her back.
When they finally reached the top…
Xiver looked forward.
And frowned.
"…A cliff?"
"All that walking for a cliff?"
Emelia laughed.
"It's not about the cliff."
"It's about what's after it."
They sat down at the edge.
Xiver looked forward again.
His eyes widened.
Below them stretched a breathtaking view.
The entire village glowed in golden sunset light.
Roofs reflected the fading sun.
Smoke rose gently from chimneys.
People moved like tiny dots in the streets.
Then his eyes lifted higher.
Beyond the village stood a massive city.
At its center…
A gigantic castle.
The Kingdom of Holmes.
Xiver's heart stopped.
He recognized it immediately.
That castle.
It was the place he had been born before.
A terrifying realization struck him.
His breathing became unstable.
I didn't move to another world…
I never escaped.
I'm still in the same world.
Sweat rolled down his face.
Fear wrapped around his heart.
Emelia noticed.
She pulled him closer and hugged him gently.
"It's okay, Xiver."
"No one is here."
"Just us."
Those words broke something inside him.
Tears poured out of his eyes.
He buried his face into her chest and cried.
Cried for his old world.
Cried for his father.
Cried for his friends.
Cried for the life he lost.
Here…
His father barely looked at him.
His mother only returned home to sleep.
The only person who stayed with him…
Was the girl hugging him right now.
His babysitter.
His teacher.
His only comfort.
For the first time in his life…
Xiver understood what it meant to have a sibling.