Chapter 1: Untold Beginning (pt.1)

With her short hair tied up, the young adventurer equipped her daggers and stepped outside, having a clear destination in mind. Before leaving, she made sure to inform the innkeeper of her departure after breakfast.

As she ventured into the chilly air, she couldn't help but notice the coldness surrounding her. It was the first thing that struck her upon examining the body she now inhabited.

Her body was cold.

Her expression was cold.

However, neither the temperature nor her demeanor were a result of the pitying gazes she received from others. Despite wearing a robe, she chose not to don the hoodie, unashamed of the distinctive streaks adorning her head.

Stiriacrus.

It was a rare disease that froze a person's core, leading to the frigidness she experienced.

However, rather than being classified as an illness, Stiriacrus was more akin to a curse, one that would become deeply entrenched within a person until their demise.

To put it simply, this curse hindered mages from controlling mana, swordsmen from wielding their blades with precision, and so on. It was a curse that impeded one's growth regardless of their chosen path.

Moreover, the curse would gradually consume the life force of its victims until they met their demise, their bodies turning as cold and rigid as an ice statue.

‘A few years ago, my condition would have been dismissed as just another mythical disease, something that no one would truly concern themselves with.’

However, its existence began to garner widespread attention after the Queen Regnant of The Amaranth Kingdom collapsed during the grand New Year's party held at the Palace.

Three streaks of platinum hair.

Normally, the Queen Regnant's hair was a delicate shade of light pink, and despite her frail constitution, she had aged gracefully. Therefore, the appearance of silverish-white streaks wouldn't have been deemed unusual for someone who had celebrated her fiftieth birthday the previous year.

That being said, as previously mentioned, Stiriacrus had been regarded as a myth. Consequently, not even her Majesty herself was aware that these streaks were not merely a unique variation of gray hair that emerged with age, until the Pope of the Moonlight Temple came forward to break the news to her.

["Her life would soon come to an end."] The pope solemnly declared that the beloved Queen Regnant of The Amaranth Kingdom had entered the final stage of the affliction.

And just like that, the reason behind her sudden confinement to a wheelchair became painfully clear, not only to the nobility but also to the neighboring kingdoms and the empire.

Months had passed since the uproar first reached the masses, yet there had been no further updates from the palace or any official channels. The princess had assumed her mother's duties, with the assistance of her elder brother, the first prince.

Despite the lack of official confirmation, people began to assume the queen's demise.

Regardless, the young woman with monochromatic hair couldn't help but feel a deep remorse for introducing such an illness to this forgotten world she had created. The soul within her felt a bitter pang as she recalled the motive behind the curse.

[A curse shall befall those who break the oath of the soul.]

In this existence, everyone was destined to form connections and cultivate various relationships, for no being could survive in isolation indefinitely. The Oath of Soul existed to punish those who violated it, inflicting a curse upon the one they loved most rather than themselves.

To witness your most cherished one suffer and slowly wither away was a fate worse than death itself.

[You will be compelled to watch their demise, and the image will haunt you for the remainder of your days.]

Stiriacrus represented one of the cruelest forms of death in this world, for it resembled being targeted by black magic. There were few means to delay the progression, let alone find a cure.

And yet...

"Of all the characters, I became her."

Serein Rowe.

The only daughter of Reynald Rowe, who had grown up with a unique single streak of white-silver hair on her head since she was no older than a toddler.

The one responsible for it had suddenly gone missing, leaving the father-daughter pair in turmoil when the poor girl was barely two years old.

It was particularly devastating for Reynald. Serein became his sole reason for carrying on after the sudden disappearance of his beloved wife.

As Serein grew up, she followed in her father's footsteps, learning swordsmanship at the tender age of three. However, by the time she was five, her fascination with daggers surpassed that of swords, becoming her weapon of choice.

Serein displayed great talent and enjoyed learning from her father. Yet, despite her dedication and natural abilities, she seemed unable to summon her Mili or grasp the concept of magic. It was perplexing for someone as skilled as her.

Moreover, the guild master's attempts to enhance her abilities through potions and various magical items proved fruitless. There seemed to be an insurmountable barrier preventing her from understanding and practicing magic.

Initially, it frustrated her. However, Serein was not one to give up easily. She delved into other sword arts, even learning basic archery and spear techniques.

Even without Mili or magic, she became a formidable opponent, earning the recognition of her father and his colleagues.

Everything seemed to be going well, and they predicted a bright future for their Mercenary Guild under her excellent leadership.

"The problem arose when she turned sixteen, and another streak appeared on her head. She curled up in her bed, as if afflicted by a severe fever, when in reality, she was shivering and feeling unbearably cold."

Recalling the character's backstory, Min Suhyun hummed to herself.

"It took them six months until Reynald discovered that his daughter had been cursed and would likely succumb within the next five years or so."

Serein, who detested being treated like a fragile rose, transformed from the cheerful girl she once was into a cold and indifferent individual.

The change pained Reynald, but he understood the reasons behind it. After all, the gazes directed at her could be suffocating at times.

Pity, sympathy, disdain...

She endured various forms of excessive scrutiny, even from those she knew personally.

In the end, Serein requested permission from her father to embark on a solo adventure, claiming she was seeking a cure or someone who could help her.

With a heavy heart, Reynald granted Serein the permission she sought. He knew that her journey would be fraught with challenges and dangers, but he also understood that she needed to find her own path, away from the suffocating gazes and the burden of her curse. As Serein set out on her solo adventure, her determination burned brighter than ever. She vowed to defy her fate, to unravel the secrets of the curse, and to reclaim her stolen future. 

Unfortunately, her line of fate would be cut shorter than anyone would ever anticipated.

‘But now that I've become her…’

Min Suhyun realized that she couldn't afford to be passive or accept her impending fate of a brutal death as originally planned in the plot. Determined to change her own story, she embraced her role as a beacon of resilience once again. She embarked on a quest to rewrite her destiny, carving her own path to freedom and redemption. 

After all, who would simply sit still, knowing that a grim demise awaited them in the near future, right?