Prologue
'So cold...'
'My body is freezing...'
Ludger (Renneshia) feel freezing or he (she) is frozen.
'Is...Is this how I gonna die this time?'
'Why?'
'Why can't I run away!?'
'Please... Please someone tell me the truth... Am I really fated to die?'
'It's unfair! Just because I am 'Renneshia'... But...maybe I should be satisfied because I can save my mother and my friends in this life...'
Ludger's current appearance becomes tattered in the large hall, lamenting his current situation. He was inside a strange underground structure that was similar to a church or medieval religious building. With tall pillars on both sides surrounded by cold air and dim light making an eerie feel to it.
Ludger is tied by ice vines in a crucified position in the innermost part of that place. Part of his clothes was ripped and showed his (her) smooth and soft white skin. His usual tied neatly hair becomes a mess. And without his usual magic and potions to hide his identity, his real appearance as Renneshia could be seen.
Renneshia's eyes looked at the monster that stood in front of her with despair.
'How could I get away from this crazy ancient monster? I am really powerless...I don't want to die...'
Renneshia looks at the horrifying appearance of the monster that is coming closer to her. The horrible stench from that monster makes her feel nauseous. The monster's appearance reminds her of her past life trauma and her nightmare.
She didn't know if her body trembled because of the cold or because she was terrified by that monster. Because it was terrifying or because she didn't want to die. Everything happened too quickly, so she couldn't make any preparations for her current condition.
The monster reached out its skeleton right hand and traced Renneshia's smooth, bare skin on the base of her neck. The monster skeleton's index finger slowly traced down. The sharp tip of the finger tore Renneshia's clothes and started to show her bare chest. The tears revealed the bulging parts of her chest and showed her body curves.
It didn't stop, and slowly, her finger moved to her left chest. The eerie smile of the monster became more ominous than before. The monster seemed to enjoying Renneshia's despairing expression and getting closer to her.
The monster stops its finger on the black tattoo-like mark that Renneshia has never seen before on her chest. "Look! I put the curse mark here so you can see it too. It was something I created just for you, my dear Shia."
Renneshia could only feel the terror and unbearable despair as she could only see her death (bad end) in everything she said or did.
'If only I never come to this place...' Renneshia could only blame herself for what caused her current predicament.
***
A week after meeting the Magic Tower Master and the other 'Nameless', Ludger finally regained consciousness. It was the worst thing he ever felt as everyone came and scolded him. Although he understood their anger and worried because of what he did, he couldn't let himself put them in danger.
The most troublesome thing is that his mother knows about Duke Kadaklan, Kismet, who is hiding his identity as Darius.
"How long have you found out about his real identity? Why didn't you tell me about it? Do both of you think it was funny tricking me like that? I..." Ludger's mother, Katarina, feels betrayed by the two people she loves the most.
"Did you hear his explanation, Mom?" Ludger timidly asked.
"Of course, I didn't want to listen to his excuses! He already lied to me before, how could I trust him that he will tell me the truth this time?" Katarina angrily answered.
"Haa. Then, would you believe me if I told you that he was afraid to tell you the truth because he didn't want to be hated by you? I know the nobles from that place are mostly thrash-like people, but I think Duke Kadaklan is different from them. It was the truth that he hid his identity from you, but didn't he do that because you always said you hate nobles?" Ludger tries to defend Kismet because he knows how much the Duke loves his mother.
"Why are you helping him to make excuses? Did he threaten you or did something to you, so you are helping him like this!?" Katarina denied the answer, she didn't want to accept it.
"Mom, do you know that he already knows about my real hair colour?" Ludger changed his answer to the question.
"...Did you just say he already knows about it?!" Katarina has a terrified expression.
"He knows about it. But do you know, he only told me he is really glad it's black and he is really glad if you have the same colour as well. You might want to believe it, but you also never see how happy he was at that time. I know you won't believe whatever I told you right now. How about we all have some time to think about it more clearly rather than making a hasty conclusion? I'm saying this because I don't want you to regret it later." Ludger decides to end their conversation and pretend to sleep.
"Right. You still need some rest...And I'm really glad that you're able to come back home." Katarina said in a small voice before she left Ludger's temporary room.
His room hasn't finished the reparation after the Magic Tower Master's attack. That's why he is using the small spare room right now. This room only has a bed, a small table, and a chair that reminded him of the room he was staying in when he was still in that hell-like place.
Knock, knock.
"Come in." Ludger wonders who is coming in the middle of the night.
As the door opened, he saw Winslow coming in with an expression he never thought he would see on his face.
"Brother Winslow!? Why do you make such an expression?!" Ludger couldn't hide his surprise and shock.
"My Lady, How long have you known about the dangers of those terrorist groups? When did you realize that they were aiming for you? Why do you never say anything about it to us?... Do you know how much we have been worried about you?" Tears started to drop from Winslow's eyes.
"I...I'm sorry to hide it from you all...I know that they are such a dangerous group of people...But I couldn't say anything about it because I didn't want everyone to be in danger. Especially now after I know what they were able and dare to do to take me with them. I...I just don't want to see those illusions become reality." Ludger (Renneshia) truthfully answer his question.
Winslow is the person who knows almost everything about Ludger (Renneshia) after his mother, Katarina. That's why there's no use to hide the truth from him.
"My Lady..., your mother, me and Ancelina might not be able to help you to fight them. But still, we might be able to help you to find out some possible plans to defeat them or to flee from them. At least won't you feel better if you have someone you can talk about it? Besides we won't feel this kind of unknown worries and might be able to think more clearly to be able to help you." Winslow feels useless when he doesn't know what he has to do when Ludger suddenly disappears, and he keeps blaming himself for being weak because of this.
Winslow and his family were saved by Renneshia in the East. She was the one who gave him the chance and his current life. Winslow always feels grateful for her and treats her like his own family while also giving her respect as she is his young lady.
He always knows that Renneshia have a lot of secrets, and she has more secrets after becoming Ludger. But he never knows it will cause him to feel such indescribable feelings. As if he lost everything from his life when he saw that messy and broken room and no one knew Ludger's whereabouts. When he saw Ludger's tattered condition, he felt he couldn't breathe.
How could he imagine his life without his young lady? From the first time they met in that hell-like place, he already decided to always serve her as his master. Because it was how he could repay her kindness and help.
"Bro-Brother Winslow...I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just...I...I was scared..." Ludger (Renneshia) feel panic and wants to explain, but he doesn't know what he should tell him.
Winslow could only look at his (her) and wait until he (she) was ready to explain it.
"...Do you know about my mother's race?" Ludger started with a question.
Winslow didn't say anything and only nodded his head.
"Do you know about our race's unique ability?" Ludger continues with another question.
Winslow nodded his head again.
"Then... what do you think if I told you I saw a glimpse of the future?" Ludger asked with a serious expression.
Winslow silently looked at his face and frowned.