Scottia returned to the Student Council office and sat at her desk, one hand propping up her chin, eyes fixed ahead.

Her thoughts drifted back to the lonely silhouette she’d seen as a child...

"Scottia, today Mom will take you to meet your grandfather."

"Grandfather? Why have you never mentioned him, Mom?"

"Scottia, there’s a reason. Mom didn’t mean to hide it. You’ll understand when you’re older."

"Okay, I understand, Mom!"

Back then, Scottia hadn’t touched clan affairs yet, appearing innocent and childlike. Her golden hair, usually loose over her shoulders, was tied into two ponytails.

Led by her mother, Scottia passed through checkpoint after checkpoint. They reached a basement lit only by a few lamps. The damp air reeked of decay. No light seeped through the cracks. Every wall was covered in dense, dizzying Magic Arrays.

There, Scottia saw the man she was to call grandfather.

He looked young, but his hair was streaked with white. His eyes were dull and lifeless, a void of stillness. Only when he heard them and saw Scottia did a flicker of joy light them up.

"Is it... Scottia?"

The man’s voice trembled slightly as he looked at Scottia’s mother.

Surprisingly, the space around him was empty. Dust rose from the floor with his shifting emotions.

"Yes, Father."

Scottia’s mother was unexpectedly cold, all business-like. In her eyes lingered a trace of hatred and sorrow.

Scottia had never heard her mother speak like this. Even to a servant, her tone held more warmth. Scottia watched her mother, confused.

"Scottia... Scottia, come here, my granddaughter. Let Grandpa hold you..."

His voice wavered, his outstretched arm shaking.

"No. Do you want to harm your granddaughter too?" Scottia shivered at the icy words—she’d never heard her mother so cold.

"Mom..."

Scottia wanted to ask why, but her mother’s frozen expression silenced her.

The man sighed. "You still won’t forgive me? But you’re right. I killed my wife. I hurt my daughter. How could I harm my granddaughter too?"

Sorrow crossed his face. Scottia’s mother remained unmoved, her gaze even icier.

"I shouldn’t have agreed to that decision. It was my fault. All my fault. How could I accept the clan alliance then? You lost your mother so soon after birth..."

His expression twisted in grief. Space around him began collapsing with his turmoil, radiating destruction.

"Ah!" Scottia couldn’t lift her head under that aura. Just a trace of it showed her death’s face. Then a figure blocked it—her mother.

"All my fault! I regret it! I hate it! Such a good girl, and I... aaaaaaah!"

"Why am I alive? She’s dead—why am I alive? Why... why... I can’t accept it! My path was wrong from the start! I can’t accept it!"

He clutched his head, wailing hysterically, madness in his eyes.

"Scottia, go!"

"Huh? But..." Scottia stared at the man, worried.

"Go!"

Her mother’s tone hardened as she yanked Scottia away.

"Quick! He’s lost control!"

"Prepare the hypnosis linkage spell!"

...

After that day, Scottia never saw the man called her grandfather again. But the memory carved deep into her heart.

Only when she was named next clan leader and took over duties did she learn fragments of the truth.

*Sigh.*

Scottia stood, walked to the window, and leaned on the sill, gazing outside.

A closer look showed she stared straight at Lilina’s bedroom.

Why did she want to help that man so badly? They’d met just once.

Perhaps his regret, pain, and defiance had shaken her soul that day.

Soon. Soon!

She pictured Lilina’s magic-saturated state after her promotion.

Soon, everyone would see—the path you chose was the right one.

Grandfather...