The Saintess had already located her parents long ago.
They had been summoned to Wageah.
Since ages ago, Wageah would summon a certain number of humans every year.
It was not just humans from Earth. They would summon countless people from countless worlds.
The summoned people were used as slaves.
Since we — from another world — were not counted as citizens of their world, we had no moral rights.
They could treat us like animals and use us however they wanted.
We were free and cheap labor for them.
The people from major Hidden Clans who go to Wageah on their own were treated differently, though not much.
These humans went there to train, but they were still looked down upon.
’Thinking about past is making sick. Especially that bitch Saintess.’
Instead of reuniting Seris with her parents, the Saintess kept them hidden just so she could use the Golden Conductor as a pawn.
And when the ti ca... she ordered to kill them.
I followed through her plan, and put the bla on the Empire.
The Golden Conductor was told that her parents died fighting a war they didn’t belong in. That all of it was the Empire’s fault.
A heavy, hollow feeling grew in my chest.
Seris.
The girl in front of had bright eyes and a gentle smile.
But the Seris from my past life was different.
She had cried herself hoarse back then, clutching a burned photo of her parents while people whispered behind her back.
I rembered the image of her walking through war-torn cities, offering rewards and promises to anyone who could help find her parents.
Her disheveled state and broken self were completely different from the Seris in front of .
Everything made sense now.
’This is why I never saw Seris’ father in this life.’
I had only ever heard about him in passing. But never t the man.
He had been summoned to Wageah through a random summoning already.
And if things followed the sa course as my previous life...
Seris’ mother—Marianne—would be summoned to Wageah.
I didn’t know when it would happen, and that made things worse.
It could happen tomorrow. Next week.
Or even tonight.
It explained why Seris’ family hadn’t been there at my parents’ funeral in the last life. Why the CEO position at Vonn Gold Dealers had passed on to soone else entirely.
’Dammit.’
The whole summoning system was twisted.
It tore people from their lives, their hos, their families. Sotis for power. Sotis for war.
And most of the ti, it left nothing behind but grief.
It would’ve been easier to accept if they only summoned people who wanted to go. There was no shortage of people like that.
But the Allied Kingdoms who summoned us to Wageah didn’t care about our thoughts.
My hands clenched into fists.
’Bastards. If you want to fight your wars and conquer the Uncharted Lands, use your own damn people.’
’Stop dragging innocents into this ss.’
And at the very least, treat them like people when they arrive.
I was still lost in those thoughts when Seris poked my nose.
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing," I said with a small smile, hiding my thoughts easily. "That was a good song."
Seris bead.
Her eyes lit up, and she looked pleased with herself.
"It’s the song mom sings when she puts to sleep. You should’ve heard it when she sings it to us at night!" she said.
I nodded, and my eyes drifted toward the amber pendant hanging from her neck.
I had given it to her years ago. I had done it without much thought, since I wanted to scam her out of her gold toy.
But she’d worn it ever since, and never took it off.
It showed how much she valued our friendship.
My gaze then shifted to Marianne.
She was talking with my mother, laughing softly about sothing.
They looked relaxed, like any two friends would.
’I have to stop her from being summoned,’ I thought.
Seris, and Marianne’s life would be destroyed if everything went as it did in my past life.
’Their situation affects too.’
’Mom would be sad if sothing happened to Marianne.’
I had to stop Marianne’s summoning.
I couldn’t let history repeat itself.
But... with my current skills, it wouldn’t be easy.
Especially since I didn’t know when she would be summoned.
’No, there is no point in making excuses.’
’I need to stop her summoning, no matter the cost.’
I did have a way.
For it, I would have to visit Seris’ house in secret tonight.
My mom noticed my long silence.
She mistook my silence for sothing else, and said,
"It’s okay, sweetheart. You can tell Seris when you’re ready."
Seris looked at curiously.
"I... we’re leaving. Starting tomorrow, we won’t be able to et."
For a mont, she didn’t react, then her face twisted in confusion.
"Huh?"
She stared at as if she hadn’t heard it correctly.
I didn’t repeat myself. I just waited for her to co to terms with the situation.
Her disbelief turned into panic.
"No," she said quietly. "You’re lying."
I shook my head.
"You can’t go.... Why are you going? Just stay here!"
"I can’t," I said, keeping my voice calm.
Her eyes filled with tears. She stood up and shook her head, fists clenched at her sides.
"I hate you!" she yelled. "You’re just like Papa! You’re leaving too!"
She turned and ran out of the room.
Marianne sighed.
She wasn’t surprised by the news. Mom must’ve told her already we were leaving.
"She doesn’t an to shout at you like that. I’ll talk to her," Marianne said, and stood up to follow behind her daughter.
"It’s okay. I’ll bring her back. Aunty can stay here and rest."
Marianne looked surprised by my words.
"Seris is two years older than you, but you act more mature than her. I wish she could learn from you." She sighed.
My mom chuckled. "I wish he was more like her. He’s so quiet most of the ti, it’s hard to believe he’s Adrian’s son."
While the two moms talked, I slipped out of the room.
I walked down the hallway and ran into Nisha, the overly serious guard who always took her job way too personally.
She was tall, with long black hair down to her waist, wearing tight jeans and an oversized white shirt.
Two twist-blade swords were strapped behind her back. It was her usual look when she wasn’t on patrol.
She folded her arms and looked down at with a frown.
"What did you say to Seris? She ran away crying."
I stayed silent, and scrunched up my face, making it very clear that I didn’t like Nisha and didn’t want to talk to her.
She ignored my blatant dislike as always.
"I’ve told you before. You should treat her properly. She’s your childhood friend." She berated .
My lips twitched.
’What’s with her obsession with childhood friends?’
Her annoying suggestions like this were why I didn’t like her.
The two other guards were a lot easier to deal with. Nisha though... she had her own ideas about everything.
"I need to find Seris. Can you tell where she went?" I asked, trying to move the conversation along.
"She’s in the west side garden. And take so peonies with you. Those are her favorite flowers. It might cheer her up."
"Okay," I muttered.
Internally though, I frowned.
’Why do you even know Seris’ favorite flower? How much ti have you been spending with her?’
If we weren’t leaving tomorrow, I might’ve complained to Dad.
Nisha really needed to spend more ti doing her job.
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