Chapter 27 – Ridiculous fears
Thornspire Estate—
Inside a plain white room, bare except for a bed and a side table, a girl who looked no older than fifteen tossed and turned in her sleep.
Rea Thornspire.
But her sleep wasn't peaceful. Sweat clung to her skin, her brows furrowed, and her body shifted constantly, like she couldn't find comfort in any position.
The frown deepened. Her body started trembling—subtly at first, then hard enough that the bed beneath her creaked and cracked.
Then—snap.
Her eyes flew open.
She shot upright, breath ragged and chest rising fast.
"Ah... ah... again..." she whispered, her voice low and trembling with something close to fear.
"Why am I still having these dreams?"
It was the same question she kept asking herself since she awakened her Origin. Because ever since that day, the same nightmare kept haunting her.
A blurred woman. A face she couldn't quite make out. And those black tears... dripping down, shimmering like oil, tainting everything.
Just seeing them made her skin crawl. Made her want to rip her own eyes out.
But the worst part?
She didn't even know why.
All she knew was that the dreams began the moment she awakened her Origin. So they had to be connected.
But knowing that didn't help her at all.
"What the hell am I supposed to do with that?" she muttered, voice sharp with irritation.
She didn't have answers. No clues. No guidance. Just that vague, overwhelming nightmare that made her feel like a stranger in her own body. Like she was watching through someone else's eyes. Not living it—just trapped inside it.
And that was the most terrifying part.
Rea sighed hard and collapsed back onto the bed, her breath still shaky.
It was messing with her. Badly.
And when you added that to everything else—
Knock knock.
A knock at the door. Then it opened.
A young maid stepped inside and bowed respectfully.
"My lady, we have received a letter for you."
Rea didn't respond immediately. She was staring at the maid—but not really looking at her.
No.
She was looking into her.
At her fear.
That's what Rea could do. Her awakened skill let her see people's fears. Not guess them. See them—laid bare, raw and exposed. And she couldn't even control it. That meant every time she met someone, their fear bloomed in front of her like a grotesque flower.
Of course, powerful people could suppress it. But this girl?
Her fear was plain and pathetic.
Still, it made Rea tired. Exhausted. She was so fucking done with it all.
But outwardly, she stayed composed—the same well-mannered Thornspire daughter everyone knew.
She forced a small smile. "What letter, Amie?"
Amie stepped forward and handed her the envelope. "It's from the Cerveau family, my lady. They've invited you to a meeting between the heirs of the other three families. And..."
She hesitated.
"...your fiancé, young master Kaden Warborn, will be there as well. Your father expects you to be at your best."
Rea nodded quietly. "Understood."
Amie bowed again and stepped out, leaving Rea alone with her thoughts.
The moment she left, Rea sighed—relieved to no longer see her ridiculous fear.
Fear of rejection from her crush. Fear of being caught drinking her master's tea. Fear of the head maid.
Kind of funny, really.
But overwhelming all the same.
Still, Rea's focus shifted. The meeting. Her fiancé.
Kaden... child of blood.
Strangely, a question surfaced in her mind.
"...What are your fears?"
For the first time, she was curious.
And she couldn't wait to find out.
...
Elamin Estate—
Meris read through the letter Nuke had sent, then clicked her tongue sharply.
"What are those scheming bastards planning now?" she muttered, freezing the letter midair before letting it dissolve into snowflakes.
"I don't know, my lady," a voice echoed in her head. "But the Matriarch advised caution."
Meris nodded, her eyes thoughtful.
"I know... but tell me. Will that child of blood be there?"
"Yes."
A smile curled across her lips.
"Perfect. I'll finally get to meet him."
And honestly?
She couldn't wait.
...
Back to the Warborns—
After the meeting with his parents, Kaden sat alone in his room, thinking.
His supposed fiancée. The meeting. The Cerveau family.
Especially them.
He didn't know much—just that every generation, without fail, they awakened some form of mind-type Origin.
All of them.
That was why they were the strategists during war. The planners. The thinkers behind every move in the Beast Campaigns.
He had asked his parents once about the Cerveau family.
They both grimaced.
And with perfect synchronization, said, "They're snakes."
"Snakes, huh..." Kaden muttered, a little more intrigued than before.
That alone made him want to meet them.
As if on cue—
[DING!]
[You have received a quest.]
[Quest: First Step in the Real World]
[Description:You are about to take your first step into your rightful circle.
You cannot show weakness.
You are the child of blood, born in war.
Show them who you are—in a perfect way.]
[Rewards]: Based on performance
[Penalty]: Your name and family name will be tarnished
Kaden stared at the prompt, then sighed.
He was getting used to Death's ridiculous sense of drama.
But the penalty...that's something he couldn't let happen.
He was a Warborn, honor and respect were something they will never neglect.
"...What do you mean by in a perfect way?"
[Do it with power if power is required.
Do it with words if words are required.
Do it with silence if it's required.
Do it with presence if that's enough.
Just do it—in the perfect way.]
Kaden's lips twitched.
"...And how am I supposed to know what that is?"
[That's on you.]
Of course. He should've guessed.
Still, he chuckled.
"Fine."
His tone shifted. Face calm, but resolve sharp.
"I'll handle it."
And along the way, he'd meet her.
"Rea Thornspire, huh..."
He leaned back.
For some reason—
He was curious.
—End of Chapter 27—