Born into the Royal Family, yet bound by congenital illness, no matter how hard she tries, the Fourteenth Princess is destined for limits; trapped by family legacy and Hunting Knowledge, a grandfather with dreams but accomplishes nothing.
Even father—who grew up amid his grandfather's reckless pursuit of Strength, never straying from the path of power.
Though the time away from home wasn't long, the Hero has since encountered all sorts of people during the journey.
Among them are those restrained by chains from birth, yet continually striving for change; those who had great ambitions but were forced to give up, yet never forget; and those who never doubted themselves, marching forward resolutely but ignoring other things.
They are all striving to live, never giving up on their lives.
But if given a chance, even if just a dream, might they have imagined living a different life, becoming a different self?
Would the Snow Woman, upon seeing human lovers embrace, wish to abandon her innate Icy Chill Magic Power? When facing healthy siblings, might the Fourteenth Princess feel envy? If the father was raised by the grandmother, would he have chosen a different profession?
If I wasn't born in Moon City, would I become gentler, truly able to love others...
Mother, has she ever thought this way?
But no matter if she thought so or not, just like the Snow Woman still desires warmth, the Fourteenth Princess cannot heal herself, and the Moon People cannot rise those emotions.
Again and again, the Hero gently strokes her mother's variegated hair, with Moon Eyes reflecting slightly confused Emerald Eyes.
They cannot become the self they imagine.
But, the Hero thinks.
I can. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI[F]ire.net
"Mother might indeed never become the ideal mother for me," the Hero softly says, but without a hint of blame, "but if, just if I have children in the future, I think I can strive in that direction."
She withdraws her hand from her mother's, showing a serene smile.
"You raised me healthy, gave me what I needed, without imposing many restrictions—they might've been insufficient in some ways..."
To the mother, the Hero's Growth and their nurturing don't seem closely related, and those material provisions were but trivial matters. Yet, the Hero disagrees.
"But now, I can become who I want to be, help friends, heal patients. In the future, I want to become a Knight, aiding strangers, and exterminating Goblins across the nation and world... even Magic—I can learn it now if I try."
The Hero holds her mother's hand, feeling the unique chill of Moon People, with a bright smile upon her lips.
"I can choose my way of life, advance in whatever direction I wish to strive, and all of this is thanks to you, as my mother and father raised such a me.
"—So, you've done well."
"I will fulfill this mission. As a Hero, as my mother's daughter, even without Awakening that power, I still wish to contribute something to that city.
"Though I might not be able to right now, I will keep striving."
The young girl chuckles, blinking, her face devoid of flattery or shadows.
'Humph, sounds good. Just don't get directly swallowed at that time. Remember to release me before you get obliterated.'
'Could you be a bit quieter while I'm chatting heart-to-heart with mother...'
Without seeing the Hero's sudden furrow of her brows, after hearing the Hero's words, the mother closes her eyes, before slowly reopening them after a long while.
"...Is that so, I understand."
Her expression doesn't change much, just that since the Hero's memory, the coldness always present seems to have partly dissipated, as if melted by the warmth of her palm.
Following that, there isn't much exchanged between the Hero and the mother; the mother explains the effects of the Magic Potion to the Hero, sits for a while longer, and then stands up to leave.
After pushing open the hospital room door, before stepping outside, she turns around, her Moon White eyes deeply gazing at the girl on the bed, as if engraving her face into her heart.
This whisper reaches the Hero's ears before she closes the room door.
Footsteps continue unabated, gradually fading away.
1. Demon Blood (Beast Spirit Skill)
2. Sea Heart (Reincarnation Judgment)
3. Magic Origin (Special Experience)
4. Wind Tear (Element Enhance)
8. Abyss Mud (Reverse Reincarnation)
9. Luck Potion (Luck Potion)
10. Great Success/Great Failure
♛: Magic Origin Secret Medicine