Dark Fantasy Normalized

"Maybe, just maybe~ there’s someone out there who admires Lisir’s magical talent enough to pass on a Vision without expecting anything in return~"

"You’re so mean~"

***

“Miss?”

“Huh...? Oh—”

Katria, who had been staring blankly, snapped out of her daze at Kairen's call.

But only for a moment.

She soon turned her gaze back to the void, muttering absentmindedly.

“Kairen. How many days has it been now?”

Katria glanced down at the bracelet on her wrist.

The Hand of Verdandes.

Ever since using the demon’s power to delay Lisir’s demise, Katria had been plagued by intense self-reproach.

Was this truly the right thing to do?

It felt as though every step she took to fix the situation only tangled things further, a cascade of errors stemming from a single misstep.

But now...

Now, her choice seemed to be proving itself correct.

“...It’s been three days,” Kairen answered.

“Three days...”

On the third day of their investigation, Katria and Kairen had yet to find the mysterious object that had purified Clouded Truth.

If not for Verdandes’ power, Lisir would have long since succumbed to the poison, reduced to an empty husk.

“Thank goodn—”

Katria stopped herself mid-sentence.

“...What nonsense am I spouting?”

“Miss...?”

A bitter self-mockery laced her voice.

“What am I even doing...?”

After three grueling days of fruitless investigation, Katria had reached a single conclusion.

To uncover the hidden artifact in the mage tower, she needed the help of someone familiar with its workings.

But Katria couldn’t ask for help.

Here, in the mage tower, she was nothing more than a lowly Dark Elf slave.

Even if she revealed her identity as a noble of the Sahila family, it wouldn’t change anything.

What could she possibly say to convince them?

That she had fed one of their mages Clouded Truth and now needed their help to cure him?

They wouldn’t listen.

The situation could be summarized in one word:

Hopeless.

And it was all her fault for misstepping at the very beginning.

Her foolish resolve to return the hatred she had received in kind had led her here.

“Miss...?”

“...”

In the depths of her turmoil, Katria forced a cheerful smile onto her face.

“Ah! It’s nothing. I was just feeling a bit tired and spaced out for a moment. Kairen! Let’s resume the investigation!”

Because, right now, she didn’t even deserve the luxury of sadness.

***

Day 6 of the Investigation – Early Morning

Maid Katria was in the kitchen, busy preparing breakfast for her master.

“...”

She stared into the pot of simmering soup, a single herb held in her hand.

The herb, known as Saebaekryeon, was a rare plant found only in the southern deserts.

Its most well-known use was as the primary ingredient for the Dark Elf elixir Tears of the Desert.

In other words, it was a medicinal herb—when used properly, that is.

The sprouts of Saebaekryeon grew atop sun-drenched cliffs, absorbing the sun’s energy for years before finally blooming into a plant.

The energy contained within it was so vast that, without refinement, it could act as poison.

In Katria’s personal storage, a single sprig of Saebaekryeon had been preserved.

It was meant for a distant future when all the necessary ingredients could be gathered to craft Tears of the Desert.

Yesterday, Katria had retrieved the herb using an artifact.

Following the Witch of the Western Forest’s advice, she intended to feed the unrefined Saebaekryeon to Lisir.

To delay his impending end once more, just as she had done before.

“Is this really the right thing to do?”

Katria questioned herself, and the answer came immediately.

“Of course not...”

She had poisoned Lisir with Clouded Truth, turning him into a ticking time bomb.

She had forcibly infused him with a demon’s power, and now she was about to feed him a toxic herb.

The more she tried to save him, the more harm she caused.

But what choice did she have?

This was all she could do.

Plop.

The Saebaekryeon slowly dissolved into the soup.

“That smells great. Tia, is that today’s breakfast?”

“...Yes! You’re going to love it!”

Katria forced a cheerful smile.

But there was something unsettling about it.

“I’m nothing but a hopeless wretch who keeps hurting him.”

──────────

[You have resisted!]

[The radiant energy of the sun imbues you!]

[You have gained a new trait!]

──────────

Whoosh!

“?”

“?”

Lisir was baffled.

And so was Meltas.

In the middle of their sparring session, Lisir’s signature wind magic suddenly became infused with the essence of flame.

“When did you learn fire magic?”

“Oh, this is fire magic?”

“?”

“?”

***

Day 7 of the Investigation – Late Night

The large topaz embedded in the bracelet shimmered under the moonlight, its murky brilliance on full display.

Katria issued a command to The Hand of Verdandes.

“Verdandes. This is my final order. Transfer all your existence and power to the owner of this hair.”

-No, you can’t!!! Sahila!!! Rescind that command!!!

“...I know. I know how foolish this decision is. But I have no other choice. I’ve come too far to turn back now.”

-No!!!

Crack.

The topaz shattered into pieces.

Thus, Lisir not only inherited the immense power of the desert demon but also ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) its very essence.

“...Kya-ha-ha-ha!”

Katria forced a cheerful—too cheerful—smile.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Lisir. Please, just a little more. Please endure just a little longer...”

──────────

[You have resisted!]

[The Desert’s Forgotten Memories have been imprinted!]

▶ A new system has been unlocked.

System: Unique Skills

[You have gained a Unique Skill.]

▶ Unique Skill: Scream of the Desert (Grade C)

[The Unique Skill reacts to your customized traits!]

[The radiant sun shines upon the desolate desert!]

[The Unique Skill has been enhanced.]

▶ Unique Skill: Song of the Desert (Grade B)

──────────

“...!”

Meltas couldn’t conceal his astonishment.

A swirling sandstorm imbued with a mysterious and unexplainable energy surged forward, shattering his barrier.

Today, for the first time, Lisir’s magic reached Meltas.

And it wasn’t just any magic—it was Vision Magic, a monumental feat.

“Lisir, you...! When did you learn Vision Magic?!”

“Oh, so this is Vision Magic?”

“For the love of—stop messing with me.”

Day 8 of the Investigation – Early Morning

Katria pondered as she prepared breakfast.

“Tia, do we have any more of that white, flower-like vegetable? I don’t know what it is, but it smells great.”

What.

The man who had been poisoned with Clouded Truth, who was being consumed by the power and essence of a demon, and who had even ingested a toxic herb, was acting... strange.