Without realizing it, two years had passed. Too many things had happened during that time. Yet, despite all the changes and events that came and went, she found her heart growing calmer—content with the life she was living now.
Eldern, now five years old, often came to Elyra's room to read her storybooks. Elyra had just turned two. This was partly because Eldern had been moved to his own room, while Elyra still slept with their parents. For Ryudien—now living as Elyra—the sight always stirred a deep curiosity within him.
In his previous life, Ryudien had been illiterate. The desire to attend school had once burned strongly in his heart, but fate never gave him the chance. Because of that, books became something fascinating to him. The neatly arranged letters on each page seemed to contain another world—one he had never been allowed to enter.
Since Elyra still could not read, Eldern had faithfully read stories to her for the past three months. From the perspective of Elina Solv, now twenty-five years old, Elyra looked incredibly adorable—especially because of her curiosity toward almost everything.
Damnern, noticing Elyra's love for listening to stories, even volunteered to read to her himself. However, his offer was rejected without hesitation.
"Let Papa read for you, Elyra," Damnern said gently.
"No! Eyya only wants Eden to read!" Elyra protested firmly.
Hearing this, Damnern immediately became gloomy, while Eldern puffed out his chest proudly.
Why are you the one feeling proud? Elyra thought silently.
Her memories drifted back to an event three months earlier.
On a quiet afternoon, Eldern had come again, carrying a brand-new book.
"Elyra! I brought a new book today," Eldern said cheerfully.
"Wahhh," Elyra's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"If you want Eldern to read it, you have to ask nicely first, hehe," Eldern teased.
"Eden! Eden! Please read it for Eyya," Elyra replied, as usual.
"Hehe, what can I do? If it's my beloved little sister asking, Eldern can't refuse," Eldern said proudly.
As Eldern opened the book, Elyra suddenly noticed something.
"Eden, what happened to your hand?" Elyra asked, staring at the bandage wrapped around it.
"Oh, it's nothing. Eldern was training with Papa earlier. Just a small injury," Eldern answered casually.
I knew it. The thing I feared most has happened. So you're the same after all, Damnern Solv. Even a five-year-old child isn't spared. No different from the Noxes organization, Ryudien thought bitterly from within Elyra's body.
Eldern, don't worry. In my second life, I won't let you experience what I went through in my first, he vowed silently.
"Mama! Tonight Eyya wants to sleep with Eden," Elyra asked for permission.
"That's fine, but don't be naughty, okay?" Elina replied with a smile.
"Come on, Eden," Elyra said as she brought along a teddy bear—a gift from their maid, Sasha. For Ryudien, who had never received a sincere gift from anyone before, the stuffed toy was incredibly precious.
Damnern, freshly bathed, stepped into the room.
"Elyra, where are you going, my dear?" Damnern asked.
Still feeling resentful, Elyra ignored him completely and walked past without even glancing at him.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Damnern wondered, confused.
"Darling~ Why does Elyra look upset?" Damnern asked his wife.
"I don't know. You probably did something she doesn't like, hihi," Elina replied with a small laugh.
Yet deep within Elyra's mind, old memories resurfaced.
It all began twelve years ago in the Willoreach region, when Ryudien was only six years old. His father, Blanco Rontow, twenty-five at the time, was a drunkard who often beat Ryudien's mother whenever he came home intoxicated. Ryudien's daily life was hell. Worse still, his mother frequently vented her anger on him.
One day, his mother, Siana Rontow—twenty-four years old at the time—chose to end her life, unable to endure the suffering any longer. Before doing so, she apologized to Ryudien… and then took her own life right in front of him.
At first, his father, Blanco, was filled with regret. He promised Ryudien that he would change. But two weeks later, he returned to his old ways—this time making Ryudien his main target.
Every day, Ryudien was beaten without mercy. His life sank into darkness until he turned seven years old. In the end, Blanco decided to sell Ryudien to the Willoreach Welfare House.
Strangely, Ryudien did not feel sad. Instead, he felt as if a faint light had entered his life. However, that light was extinguished the moment he stepped into the welfare house.
The place exploited children as unpaid labor. Every day, they were treated like slaves. Those who refused to work were beaten and left to starve.
Two years later, when Ryudien was nine years old, he was purchased by a man named Ferwel Noxes. Once again, Ryudien saw a glimmer of hope.
But after arriving at a mysterious location, that hope turned into a nightmare. Inside a vast hall, many children had already been gathered.
"There are no rules. No mercy. Kill each other until only one remains. Only then will you be granted honor and the title of Noxes," Ferwel Noxes said coldly.
"Huh?"
"Why do we have to do this?" some asked, their faces filled with fear.
"Arghhhh!" someone screamed. His body collapsed—his chest had been stabbed.
"All we need to do is survive, right?" the attacker said calmly.
In an instant, the place became a battlefield. They fought for their lives throughout the day. Out of one hundred children, only ten survived—Ryudien among them.
Yet Ryudien did not kill a single person. He awakened the skill Clone Manifestation and used it solely to escape and confuse those trying to kill him.
"Excellent!" Ferwel shouted. "That desire to survive is exactly what I want. I acknowledge the ten of you."
But it did not end there. Ferwel trained them mercilessly and without rest, until Ryudien reached the age of fourteen and officially became a member of Noxes. He was the last among the ten survivors to be acknowledged by Ferwel.
Because of the deep trauma and fear Ferwel instilled in him, Ryudien obeyed every order—even when it meant killing.
The next day, as Elyra was playing with Eldern, Damnern approached them.
"Eldern, it's time for training," Damnern said sternly.
"No! Eden can't train today!" Elyra snapped immediately.
Don't worry, Eldern. I'll protect you from this bastard, Ryudien whispered to himself.
End of Chapter 3