On the continent of Ateria, elves were an exceedingly rare race.
They lived long lives, but their temperaments were aloof, their desires few, and their reproductive rate extremely low.
As human civilization thrived, advancing in martial arts, magic, and technology, the natural advantages of elves were rendered meaningless.
Their settlements were destroyed one by one, and their numbers steadily dwindled.
Worse still, some nobles began treating elves as exotic pets, hunting and capturing any they found, further deteriorating their already fragile living conditions.
For Kathy, the tragedy had always started on that summer evening.
Her family had lived quietly, cautiously, never bothering anyone—just trying to survive in peace.
Why, then, did humans intrude?
Why did they kill her parents?
Why was she forced into a contract?
It was all because of him—that adventurer named Sersis.
He had cast magic on her, trying to make her forget everything.
But unfortunately for him, she never forgot.
Over time, Kathy had once been moved by his gentleness, thinking perhaps he wasn’t such a bad person after all.
But no matter how she begged, Sersis never agreed to break the contract or set her free.
Lies—everything was a lie.
If he wouldn’t even return her freedom, then how could any of his so-called love be real?
If he wouldn’t give it to her—then she’d take it for herself.
When she saw the light fade from his eyes, watched them slowly close, Kathy had felt nothing but unending satisfaction.
All she had ever wanted was freedom.
If he wouldn’t give it, then he could die for it.
With the blood contract severed, the long-eared elf stretched out her arms to embrace the distant wind—for the first time in her life, she tasted freedom.
A smile rose to her lips, and for once, Kathy’s usually cold face showed a trace of delight.
Then, suddenly, her expression froze.
“What is this…?”
Her heart pounded wildly.
Some oppressive force, no longer restrained, began spreading from deep within her body, uncontrollably seizing her limbs and bones.
“Ah—ah—!”
Kathy clutched her face in agony.
Dark blotches bloomed across her skin, starting from her cheeks and spreading everywhere.
Her long, sharp nails dug into her flesh, but it was as if she felt nothing.
She scratched her face over and over.
Blood poured from the wounds, smearing her once-cold, delicate features.
Her skin split open, flesh curling outward—white, black, and red twisted together in a gruesome display.
“Help me, Kristin!!”
Kathy turned to Kristin—the very person she had just collaborated with—desperately pleading for aid.
But Kristin only stared at her in terror, stumbling back several steps in panic.
“Liar! You promised me! You said if anything went wrong, you’d help me!!”
Kathy screamed, her emerald eyes filled with fury and fear.
She reached out with blood-soaked hands and staggered toward Kristin.
A strange energy surged in the air. Behind her, the space twisted into a pitch-black rift, cloaking her in its dark grasp.
Kathy’s steps faltered.
She trembled all over, using every ounce of strength to resist the unknown suction pulling from behind her.
But it was all in vain.
First went her pale blue hair, then her clothes, her arms—and at last, her entire body was swallowed into the black hole.
After devouring the elf, the rift let out a satisfied burp and slowly faded without a trace.
Everyone on the battlefield—ally or enemy—was stunned by the sudden anomaly.
No one knew where Kathy had gone.
Not even Kathy herself.
All she could sense was complete darkness.
She couldn’t see anything.
Her body felt as if it were being torn apart, gnawed by countless invisible teeth—a pain like ten thousand ants devouring her heart.
And yet… there was still a faint trace of clarity.
It was the blood contract that had not entirely dissolved—the fragile thread still linking her to her master.
Somehow, some part of their bond remained.
Gripping tightly to that sliver of connection and driven by her will to survive, Kathy began to crawl toward the only light in that endless blackness.
Suddenly, her body felt light—as if falling.
A sudden burst of brightness stung her eyes, making it impossible to open them.
She didn’t know who the figure in front of her was, but something about them stirred a strange sense of familiarity.
“…Master… Master…”
She dragged herself forward, trying to grab hold of those feet—wanting to kiss the toes that were just inches away, begging for help.
“…Save me… I’m begging you…”
Hearing the elf’s pained pleas at her feet, Selitia held her broom and took an indifferent step back.
Her gaze lowered slightly, long lashes casting a faint shadow on her pale face, hiding the complicated look in her eyes.
Selitia knew—there were indeed things she had kept from Kathy.
But her original intention had been to spare Kathy from the shadows of the past, so she could live happily in the days to come.
Who could have predicted that her well-meaning silence would become the very poison festering in Kathy’s heart?
That Kathy could even find her now, and might even recognize her—that did surprise Selitia a bit.
But she wasn’t a fool.
When sincere devotion was repaid with a blade in the back, no one would be naïve enough to offer it again.
The fact she hadn’t smashed Kathy’s head in with her broom was already Selitia’s last shred of mercy.
“…Save me… Master…”
Kathy couldn’t really tell who the girl in front of her was.
She only had a feeling—the closer she got to this girl, the lighter the pain in her body became.
Somehow, she found the strength to push herself forward and threw her arms around Selitia’s leg, clutching it tightly.
“…Nngh!”
Selitia let out a muffled grunt as a wave of pain surged through her, causing her entire body to tremble.
She had thought that after being reborn, her contract with Kathy was completely severed—that she would no longer bear the burden of the curse.
But she hadn’t expected that the force binding them could still affect her.
“Let go of me!” Selitia began to struggle.
The disturbance had drawn the attention of nearby townsfolk.
After the black hole disappeared, more and more people gathered, curiously watching the scene unfold.
Just as Selitia, drenched in cold sweat and on the verge of yanking Kathy’s hair, bent forward.
A figure leapt over the garden fence and landed right in front of her.
It was a girl about Selitia’s age, with long wavy golden hair, a fancy blue-and-white dress, and a stylish hat—clearly someone of wealth and status.
She lifted her skirt slightly, revealing small black lace-up boots, and kicked Kathy square in the chest, sending the elf flying.
“Hmph.”
The girl lifted her chin proudly, her tone full of disdain.
“So many people watching, and not a single one thought to help.”
“No need to thank me—I was just passing by—wait, what’s wrong with you?”
She spoke nonchalantly, but then noticed Selitia’s pale face and cold sweat.
Something was clearly wrong, and she panicked a little.
She quickly reached out to grab Selitia’s shoulder to examine her more closely.
But before she could touch her, Selitia smacked her hand away.
A crisp slap echoed through the air.
The girl’s pale, jade-like hand turned bright red from the sudden strike.
“Don’t touch me!”
Selitia clutched her chest, forcing the words through clenched teeth.