Hilna looked at Lofna, who seemed so earnest before her, and something stirred in her memory.

She studied the girl carefully and let out an "Ah!"

She remembered.

Last year, farms across Ipoli had a bountiful harvest.

During the Winter Solstice ceremony, Ipoli's king cordoned off a large area outside the city.

He set up an outdoor celebration.

He invited performers in comical costumes to put on various acts.

They celebrated heartily.

The king also hired many chefs.

They prepared enough food to fill seven or eight long tables.

All the king's children and prominent nobles of Ipoli attended the feast.

This included her father's dozen wives and twenty or thirty children.

They all received casual rewards of money from the king.

After the priest offered prayers to the Eternal Sovereign, completing the Mass, everyone happily grabbed food.

They ate, chatted, watched shows, sang, and danced.

Nobles and commoners set aside their pretensions on the snow-cleared grass.

They sang and danced together.

Hilna recalled seeing many children her age excitedly gorging themselves at the tables.

She wanted to make friends then.

But her mother sternly admonished her not to act like "those ill-mannered children."

She shouldn't grab food with her hands or fool around with them.

So she just sat drinking juice.

Among those playing children, one left the deepest impression.

A little red-haired girl wore a glossy cotton coat and oversized leather shoes.

Her outfit looked comical.

At the feast, she kept eating nonstop while dashing around the venue.

Hilna heard people say that girl was "Prince Lauren's daughter with a village girl."

Prince Lauren was her father.

She knew he had many unfavored daughters with whom she had little contact.

So that girl must be her sister.

"Oh, I remember now—you're that Lofna. Hello, sister."

"Hello to you too, Hilna."

The sisters exchanged greetings.

Lofna felt happy seeing a familiar face.

Then she recalled an important question.

"Huh? Hilna, how did you become like this?"

"I don't know..." Hilna sadly crouched down, hugging her knees with a lost look.

"My mom hit me that day. I was so scared. Then I don't remember anything. I think I did bad things, hurt people... but I truly recall nothing. Only Teacher Charles throwing a fork at me at the city gate. And then... I fled here."

"Oh—so you're not a Fiend from Hell?"

"No. I live in the palace. I'm just an ordinary human."

"Then how do you spew flames and lift big rocks without hands? I can't do that when scared—is it magic?"

"It's magic. Teacher Charles taught me. My mom forbade it, but he was kind. He cut pages from his magic book and secretly gave them to me. I read and memorized them. I couldn't use magic before—but that day, in an instant, I could."

"I see..."

Lofna felt envious.

Teacher Charles must be modest. He clearly could teach Mages.

If she obeyed him more and begged often, he might teach her too.

"Anyway, I caused a big disaster. Afraid of beatings, I fled to the Great Swamp. Adults say no one dares come here. Hiding here, I won't be found."

Lofna seemed to understand but not quite. "What's so bad about mom's beatings? Mine hits me often—I'm never afraid."

"You're tough. I'm terrified." Hilna held out her hands, showing bloodstains on her knuckles. "See? After hits, my hands ache for ages. I fear that most."

"So you won't return? Will you live in the Great Swamp forever?"

"Mm, I don't dare." She shook her head. "Teacher Charles said: magic must be used for good. Abusers harming others face Church punishment. Upright Mages despise them. I did so many wrongs, nearly harming the whole city. Now, not only will Mom beat me and Dad scold me—Teacher Charles will see me as bad too... I can't go back."

"But you're here in the Great Swamp—it's terrifying. You have no food."

"Food's everywhere. The swamp has fish and birds. I can't cook, though. So I catch live fish, toss them to passersby, and swap for their bread."

"Do they agree?"

"Mm... they should. After swaps, they run off dancing with joy. Never come back. Besides, you brought me food today."

"Okay... but where do you live?"

"Anywhere I want." Hilna gained confidence, pointing at the Great Swamp behind her. "I can build a house anywhere! Just chant a spell, and I'll have shelter."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then she gently waved at the silent swamp.

An ancient presence seemed awakened. Lofna felt her sister's aura shift. She couldn't describe it—only a chill in her heart, urging her to run.

But she suppressed the fear, forcing her eyes wide to watch.

Hilna slowly opened her eyes. Her downcast gaze held maturity beyond her years. She parted her lips, chanting an ancient hymn praising a great deity. She prayed to the eternal being in the highest heavens.

When the incantation ended, nature heeded the call.

Mud deep in the swamp churned and piled up. From the drying lake, an earthen mound rose. Water separated out; soil compacted.

A small island formed.

Stones rose from all directions, gathering on the mound.

They split into fragments with interlocking shapes. Orderly, they stacked row by row like a craftsman's brick wall.

The fragments formed a circular stone wall. Mud filled its gaps, creating a compacted barrier.

Finally, a bird dropped an acorn into the center. It took root at astonishing speed, bursting through soil. A sturdy trunk grew above the wall, branching into dense twigs with lush leaves. This became a canopy shielding wind and rain.

A strange house appeared—on the swamp island, stone-walled, tree-crowned.

From afar, it looked like a giant mushroom with a green canopy.

"See?" Hilna turned proudly, beaming at her sister. "Just chant a spell, and I create a house!"

"Wow..." Lofna finally breathed, dumbfounded.

"Come on, let's go in!"

Hilna took Lofna's hand. Stepping onto the island, they realized no door existed.

"No problem. We'll climb over."

Hilna held her breath, chanting again. A gentle wind, like a giant hand, lifted them lightly into the air. It set them softly on the oak's treetop.

They climbed down the trunk into the house.

The earthen floor bloomed with flowers. Dappled sunlight filtered through leaves above. Lying on soft grass, they smelled rich fragrances of blooms and fruit trees—so intense it felt like soaking in juice.

"Wow..." Lofna was speechless. She'd never dreamed of such power.

"Just close my eyes, focus, and spells flow out. I shape whatever I imagine with natural elements!" Hilna's voice brimmed with pride.

She was happy—finally having a friend to talk to, her own sister. Lofna's envious, astonished face made her prouder.

"Did Teacher Charles teach you all this?" Lofna asked.

"Mm!" Hilna nodded vigorously. But excitement faded into dejection.

"What's wrong?"

"I said—he'll be furious seeing me. I disappointed him." Hilna covered her head, not looking up. "Teacher Charles and Dad search the Great Swamp daily. I can't be found. So after building houses and sleeping once, I must destroy them."

"That's such a waste."

"I can't help it. If caught, I'll be handed to the Church. Holy Knights will put me on trial, lock me in a dungeon forever. Dad will scold me. Mom will beat me... It's terrifying."

"Teacher Charles wouldn't..." Lofna doubted it. "He's kind. I lost his money—he bought me cake. I followed him home secretly—he wasn't angry. That night, he even used his coat to shield me from falling ice... Even if you err unintentionally, sincerely apologizing will make him forgive you."

"Really?" Hilna hesitated.

"Absolutely. I'll go with you to find Teacher Charles."