Prologue
THEY SAY YOUR LIFE flashes before your eyes when you die.
Fifteen years, huh? I thought. It’s a bit on the short side, but I guess…when your time’s up, it’s up. I wonder what’s going to flash before my eyes? What will I remember? What will I…I…huh? Wh—?
Strangely enough, I didn’t see memories of my own lost life at all, but of the life I had before…
Memories belonging to the Great Saint who could heal fatal wounds in the blink of an eye while strengthening her allies to absurd levels of power.
Memories belonging to the Great Saint who could ward off all attacks—be they physical or magical.
Memories belonging to the Great Saint, showing power far beyond anything passed down in nursery tales.
“This is insane, this can’t be true…” I coughed up blood as I cried out. “This kind of power…it would turn the world upside down.”
Bleeding out from the wounds left by a monster’s attack, the memories of my past life rushed back to me in my final moments…
✦ ✦ ✦
“She’ll die if she attempts the coming-of-age ceremony!” My older sister’s exasperated voice echoed throughout the room.
My father and all four of us siblings had gathered in the biggest room of our estate to discuss whether I should attempt the dangerous coming-of-age ceremony that all knights must pass to finish their training.
My older brother looked at me as he spoke: “I hear she’s improved a bit, though. She’s gotta have at least a fifty percent chance of survival, right?”
The veins on my sister’s forehead bulged as she glared at my brother. “Which makes the death of our sister a coin toss. This family already has four knights; we don’t need any more!”
My brother and sister glared at each other while my eldest brother—sitting across from me—polished his sword, completely uninterested.
My father watched quietly with his arms folded before deliberately looking over my way. “What do you want to do, Fia?”
“Huh? O-oh, I-I’ll do ithbfft!” Ack, I’d bit my tongue. I’d just gotten so flustered to hear someone call my name for the first time in forever.
My sister gave me a pleading look. “Fia…you don’t have to become a knight. Father is vice-captain of a knight brigade. Your brothers and I are knights; our family is secure. You can choose any profession you like.”
“If it’s my choice,” I said, looking my sister square in the eyes, “then I still want to become a knight.” It was my decision. It had been my dream since I was little. Surely she could understand that…
My sister fell silent. After a while, she let out a heavy, defeated sigh. “I…I know. Goodness knows, I’ve seen you training enough for it since you were a kid. You admire them so much… Well, fine. Go through with the ceremony. But if you’re not back within the day, I’m coming to look for you!”
And so it was decided: I would perform the coming-of-age ceremony the following day.