Malaya had swept away in a small boat when that huge squid appeared and destroyed half of the ship. The wind and waves pushed her away further and further until everything became reddish, from the water to the mist, no matter where she looked. The water had the color of blood which made her shivered with fear. That was her first encounter with the red current and she had no idea how dangerous that area was for mages.

She believed, she was going to die for the second time. They did, however, come. Malaya’s eldest brother, Jules, and her father.

“Malaya!” Jules called out to her. He was followed by her father from behind as they were flying in the air using water. But their expression looked like they were in pain.

But then Malaya’s attention shifted to the ocean water when she noticed the small boat gain speed. Her eyes widened when she saw that her boat was nearing a huge whirlpool..

“Ah! Please help me!” Malaya cried. Tears continued to flow from her eyes. ‘I don’t want to die again! At least not now, when I haven’t fulfilled anything again.’

Jules even with a pained expression, flew directly at her. He grabbed her out of the boat as it fell right in the whirlpool.

“Malaya. Live.” Water enveloped Malaya as she flew towards her father as soon as she heard those words from Jules. But Jules was unable to accompany her. He plummeted down in the whirlpool.

Her father swiftly grabbed her and turned around. ‘Wait. Why? Why is Jules falling? “Why isn’t he flying with us?”

“Father! Jules is about to fall!” When Malaya realized she couldn’t see Jules in the swirl, she screamed in panic.

“This is his choice,” Malaya’s father said as they flew away from the Red Current. His voice was deep, firm, yet in pain.

They eventually make it to the shore, but as they land, Malaya’s father’s corpse collapses to the ground, coughing up blood.

“Father!?” Malaya’s eyes widened. Her voice was laced with fear and despair.

“Kakaka. I’ve used Lifa too much.”

Malaya realized what was going on.

Lifa, was the wellspring of magic. However, it fed on the lifeforce of its user. Overuse would mean death…

Magic was a great thing to have in this world, but it could also be extremely terrifying at the same time. That was why there were tests to determine once lifeforce if they have enough lifeforce to use for magic. And mages continuously trained to enhance their Lifa.

“No! Please don’t die!” Malaya cried.

“It’s alright.” Her father cupped her face and wiped her tears with his thumb. “I was able to save you after all.”

‘No. You’re wrong.’ “Why? Why did you save me?” Malaya couldn’t stop crying. ‘I’m not even your daughter.’

“Because you’re my daughter.” He stroked her face and looked tenderly at her.

“No! I’m not!” She confessed, out of frustration.”I’m not worth saving!”

“I’m aware.” This eventually took her by surprise.

“Ho-How?”

“Because Malaya has never shown interest in voyaging more than you did.”

“Th-that’s all?” Tears kept falling from her eyes but confusion built up with that answer.

“Yes.” Her father nodded his head. “And now I will be happy that I will be able to be with my daughter at the origin of life.”

“No, please! Don’t die!”

“It’s fine.” He looked up at the bright starry night heavens. “Don’t blame yourself for this. We choose this.”

“Fulfill your dreams. That is also what my daughter would want for you, I and Jules too, after all,” He stopped, looking carefully into her eyes, and then smiled tenderly. “Since this time, you also become my daughter.”

Hearing this made her surprised. Her chest had a much heavier feeling. ‘Hi-His daughter? Me? Who only caused trouble in her daughter’s body?’

“‘It may not be right now, but I think you will be able to realize your goal eventually. Pass the red current in a way that no one has ever done before.”

‘No, please don’t talk anymore.’ Malaya grabbed the hands in her face. “You could still live, please.”

“Could I ask the real name of my new daughter?”

Malaya clenched her fist as tears continued to stream down her face. “It’s-its Carolle.”

“Carolle, such a lovely name.” The Duke’s gaze shifted to the starry night sky.

“From now on, we will be watching you with your brother and Malaya at the origin of life.” He smiled one final time and closed his eyes.

He finally dissolved into blue light particles. It flew through the wind to the skies leaving Malaya in shambles and tears. Someone called her with her real name once again. But it only left a deep wound on her already broken heart.

—⚓⚓⚓—

Malaya closed her notebook, as a single tear fell from her eyes. “That day the person whose name is Carolle died too. Now I completely embraced being Malaya and accepted this life.” She sighed deeply as she put back the notebook into her drawer. “The last thing I need to do now is to get our warehouse magician.”

Malaya looked at the dark clear skies outside her window. “Kristopher Taleva huh? This is going to be tough,” she chuckled. “That guy hated me to the core but I guess it can’t be avoided.”

She stood up as she went to open her window. She leaned on the windowsill lazily. The gentle breeze of the cold wind caressed her cheeks. Her gaze went up to the starry night skies. “Father, Jules, and even you Malaya. Are you watching now? The day that my dream to be fulfilled is getting nearer. Please keep watching over me.” She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath before opening them once again.

“Now, it’s time for me to visit uncle, and pay them for what they did to Malaya four years ago. The last act I needed to do before my doom and voyage is to see to it that I will not be the only one who will get their fall.”