Hate me, Miss Witch!

Western Continent, Golden Plains.

Massive dark dragon wings obscured the sky as the towering Black Scales Drake sped through the wastelands, where everything was touched with a hint of golden glow.

The scenery on the plains was monotonous, with powerful or frail pet beasts occasionally poking their heads out from grass as tall as a man, only to be quickly intimidated by the overt Dragon's Might from above and hide away again.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the monotonous scenery of the plains finally began to change.

At the end of the horizon—a majestic tower slowly emerged.

This colossal tower was pure white, its grand form reaching for the skies, appearing to almost pierce through the earth and into the heavens.

Surrounding The Tower were clusters of buildings, along with broad city walls encompassing them.

With The Tower at its core, the clusters of buildings formed a bustling, noisy city.

At the entrance to The Tower stood a massive obelisk.

On the obelisk, two lines of ancient text were inscribed in bright gold:

[Holy Calendar Year 360, Month of Fertility]

["Gray-Silver Witch" Silvia Brunestadt, established White Chalk Tower on the Golden Plains]

High in the sky above, the arrival of the Black Scales Drake caused a small commotion within the city.

Soon, powerful presences rose from within White Tower.

But quickly, as if they sensed something, those probing spiritual powers were all retracted and vanished.

The Black Scales Drake flapped its wings and slowly descended onto the plaza in front of The Tower, maintaining a hovering stance.

"Welcome back to White Tower, Your Excellency Fioran," a nonchalant female voice sounded.

This was a woman dressed in a pure white wizard robe, with a simple and elegant face.

She held a scroll and stood quietly at the entrance to The Tower, watching the hovering Black Scales Drake.

While she might not seem very remarkable, within White Tower, everyone knew the identity of this woman in white robes.

This was Isveytan—The Tower's grand librarian and Deputy Tower Master.

Isveytan was a true Beastmaster with her own title and was considered formidable even among 6-Ring Wizards. Considering her age, she might even have the potential to ascend to the Legendary rank.

Currently, within White Chalk Tower, only Isveytan held enough status and authority to welcome the arriving Fioran at this moment.

However, Fioran, who wore a metal mask, did not spend time exchanging pleasantries.

She alighted from the Black Scales Drake and walked directly towards Isveytan.

Then, in a cold voice, she spoke rapidly, "Isveytan, take me to the Eternal Slumber Plane."

"I want to meet the Tower Master in person."

「Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden, Echo of History.」

Silvia stood amidst the stunning sea of flowers, silently watching the Royal Capital below and the distant sea.

Shiayar also stood quietly beside the girl, accompanying her as she gazed upon the sprawling sea of flowers and the tranquil city and coastline under the sunset.

After a long while, Silvia finally moved slightly and wrote in her diary to show Shiayar, "Such a beautiful view."

Though she had heard of this place, Silvia had never visited it herself.

Now, being here in person, the scenery was far more beautiful and brilliant than she had imagined.

Shiayar nodded, "Indeed, it is."

As they watched, the sun gradually sank, eventually disappearing below the sea's surface.

The sunset's afterglow scattered across the sea, where the half-sunken sun and its reflection joined to form a complete circle.

The mountaintop's sea of flowers, along with the city below, were all shrouded in a pale golden hue.

This was the last brilliance of the setting sun; soon, the silent curtain of night would envelop the entire city.

Just then, flames began to rise at the edge of the Royal Capital below the mountain.

At first, they were just scattered in a few places, but quickly, like an uncontrollable blaze, they spread rapidly, engulfing a vast part of the Royal Capital.

The scorching flames dyed the dimly yellow sky red, illuminating Silvia's eyes as well.

What happened? Was it an alchemy experiment gone awry, setting the city ablaze?

Silvia looked on, somewhat bewildered, at the city that had lit up at the foot of the mountain, as conspicuous as a bonfire in the pitch-black night.

But soon, the words that came to her ears made her heart tremble violently, leaving her no leisure to think about anything else.

"Silvia, there are a few words I want to say to you."

Shiayar's voice was very gentle, making Silvia nervously pinch the corner of her dress.

Her pupils reflected a panic akin to those of a deer caught in headlights, yet it was also mixed with a dose of anticipation and joy. Even the handwriting in her diary became somewhat skewed.

"What words?"

"Silvia, close your eyes first."

Shiayar's voice was as calm as ever, but it carried a hint of something else.

However, Silvia, whose heart was filled with happiness, sweetness, and tension, naturally couldn't detect the underlying meaning.

She nodded obediently and then closed her eyes as instructed.

Is Brother Shiayar about to confess to me? Or does he want to kiss me directly? Will it be my forehead or my lips... When that happens, how should I respond to Brother Shiayar? Although we aren't related by blood—Brother Shiayar is from an outside branch of the family—I don't know if Father and those rigid elders in the family will approve of us. But even if they don't agree, we can just elope. Although doing so would be somewhat unfair to Father, if I could be with Brother Shiayar, giving up my noble status and living anonymously in some place with beautiful mountains and clear waters seems pretty nice too. Come to think of it, if we get married, what should we name our children?

Silvia's heart was brimming with myriad complex thoughts.

She rose slightly onto her tiptoes, simultaneously nervous yet full of anticipation, waiting with longing and hope.

But then, several seconds later, what echoed in Silvia's ears was not the anticipated confession.

It was a long sigh.

"So that's it, Silvia, you still don't understand."

"Longing—is forever the farthest emotion from understanding."

What... What?

Before the voice faded, a surge of intense pain suddenly shot through Silvia's chest.

She forced her eyes open.

What she saw was the crimson blade that had pierced through her chest.

And on the black-haired young man's face, an expression that made Silvia feel utterly alienated.

"Then—Farewell, Silvia."

The cold voice echoed through the vacant mountains.

Scalding hot blood dripped onto the sea of pale purple fragrant telosma, dyeing it a vivid red.

It was just like—a blood-stained rose.