The snow fell softly, blanketing the ground in a final delicate layer as the seasons prepared to shift.

It was probably the last snowfall of the winter season, the air already carrying hints of the coming spring.

Dorothy stood in silence, watching as a snowflake drifted lazily down, landing gently on the tip of her nose.

She blinked, her eyes briefly crossing as she brushed the snowflake away, feeling its coldness tingle against her skin.

The familiar sensation of snow brushing against her ears tugged at her memories.

It was a cold she had known all too well-a reminder of the harsh winters she had once endured, both in weather and in life.

Her eyes, reflective and distant, captured the weight of her past hardships, pulling her back to the time when she had dreaded the cold, not just for its chill but for what it represented.

‘I wonder if I made the right decisions, Mother…’ she thought quietly, the unspoken words lingering in her mind as the snow continued to fall.

Ever since the day she had first discovered her mana, that question had haunted her.

Was it the right choice to stay with that wretched family?

To carry the weight of that man’s expectations?

She had lived her life striving to fulfill her mother’s wishes, always wondering if that path was truly her own, or if it was something imposed upon her.

It was a question that gnawed at her, one she had never truly received an answer to.

But Dorothy was no longer that uncertain child.

She had grown, evolved, and through it all, she had come to understand one crucial truth: the choices she had made were hers alone.

No matter how much her mother had influenced her, no matter how much the world had shaped her path, deep down she knew that her will-her actions-were her own.

Yet, even with that knowledge, doubt still crept in.

Her life had been a pursuit of recognition, of love, and she had sought those things in the eyes of others.

The approval she craved, the acceptance she longed for, could only be achieved by meeting the expectations of those around her.

It was a harsh reality, one she had learned at a young age, and one she had lived by ever since.

But as she stood there in the quiet snowfall, Dorothy couldn’t help but wonder-had it been worth it?

Had all her sacrifices, all her decisions, truly brought her closer to the love and recognition she sought?

The snow continued to fall, silent and serene, as if the world itself was giving her space to reflect.

Dorothy’s heart remained heavy, the lingering question of her worth and her choices weighing on her, even as she knew that no simple answer would come.

Dorothy chuckled softly to herself, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees as she sat at the very top of the clock tower, overlooking the academy’s commercial district square.

The view from up here was breathtaking, especially now with everything covered in a delicate layer of snow.

The entire world seemed quieter, more peaceful under the blanket of white, and the academy itself looked just as beautiful as it had when she first arrived three years ago.

The memories flooded back to her as she gazed down at the bustling students below. It was funny, really-how quickly time had passed.

She could still remember the excitement and nervousness of her first days here, the friendships she made, the challenges she faced.

So many fun moments, so many frustrating ones. Her smile softened, tinged with a hint of nostalgia.

“I wonder if anything will change once I’m gone…” she mumbled softly, her voice carried away by the cold wind.

The words hung in the air, almost lost to the empty expanse around her. But then, unexpectedly, a voice answered.

“Are you curious?”

Dorothy blinked, momentarily startled. She hadn’t expected a response, especially not up here, alone.

She turned her head just in time to see her familiar materialize out of thin air, a burst of tiny sparks and fireworks announcing his arrival.

The small creature floated near her, a mischievous grin on his face, as the last remnants of his portal faded away.

Looking at his somewhat tired face and the light dust settling on his black suit, Dorothy smiled gently. Her gaze softened as she observed her familiar, who had clearly been through a rough time.

“Thanks for the hard work,” she said, her voice carrying a warmth that contrasted with the cold air around them.

Oz, her tiny, flame-haired familiar, gave her a half-hearted scowl. “Yes, you should thank me. Do you even know how hard it was to be gentle with them?”

A soft laugh escaped Dorothy’s lips. “Fufu- I can only imagine.”

“Theo rampaged after realizing your plan, you know?” Oz continued, his tone still exasperated, though there was an undercurrent of amusement.

“Well, that’s Theo, alright. As impulsive as ever. Fufu… You didn’t hurt him, did you?” Dorothy’s question hung in the air, laced with both concern and a strange sense of

detachment.

Oz shook his head, floating closer. “No. But why did you even make me remove the runes you placed on them? They would’ve disappeared once you’re gone anyway~” His voice dropped to a softer tone. “The runes you placed on them weren’t exactly charms in the first place.” Dorothy gave a small, almost imperceptible shrug. “Well, charms or not, suggestion runes are still runes, you know? I can’t take the risk of the darkn them.” Her expression briefly darkened, a flicker of something deeper-fear, maybe?-crossing her face.

tying itself

Oz let out a frustrated sigh. “Their fates were already tied to you the moment you saved them. They even acted like dogs before you put the runes on them.”

Dorothy’s smile widened, though it was tinged with a mix of sadness and amusement. “Hey, don’t badmouth my kids like that. If there’s one thing great about them, it’s their loyalty.”

Oz groaned, rubbing the side of his tiny, glowing temple. “They’re not even your kids…” He glanced at Dorothy, noting the subtle change in her expression-the way her once-confident gaze had shifted, now filled with regret and something more vulnerable.

Despite all her careful preparations and seeming acceptance of her fate, there was an undercurrent of sadness that he couldn’t ignore.

“How did Susan react?” Dorothy asked, her voice soft as she gazed up at the cloudy sky. The constant snowfall had blurred the horizon, dimming the world to a muted gray. Not even the golden hue of the supposed sunset could break through, leaving everything in a melancholic

stillness.

Oz floated beside her, his small, fiery form flickering with the cold wind. “She cried… a lot,” The replied, his tone gentler than usual.

Dorothy’s lips pressed into a thin line as she nodded, her expression unreadable. “I see…”

“She even begged me to stop you,” Oz continued, glancing at her. “To make you reconsider… but in the end, she understood. She gave up trying to convince you and helped me calm-no,

lock down Theo.”

Dorothy let out a small, wistful chuckle at the mention of Susan. She could vividly recall how level-headed and responsible Susan had always been, a sharp contrast to Theo’s fiery impulsiveness.

It saddened her deeply, the thought of leaving them both behind after everything they’d been

through together.

But this was inevitable, a path she had chosen long ago. Better to let go now, while she still had control, than to hold onto an impossible future.

“She’s strong,” Dorothy murmured, her eyes closing briefly. “I hope she’ll be alright…”

Oz remained quiet, giving her the space to process her thoughts.

He knew her well enough to understand the weight of this moment-what it meant for her to

sever these bonds, to leave behind the people she cared about, and to embrace her end.

“Is everything ready now?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Yes,” Oz confirmed after a brief pause. He floated closer, watching her intently.

“Everything’s in place.”

With his words, Dorothy exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the cold air.

She stood up with deliberate slowness, her hands moving gracefully as her shadow expanded

beneath her.

The dark shape stretched and swirled like ink on the snow, and from it, her staff materialized

into her hand.

Dorothy gripped the staff tightly, feeling its familiar weight. Her eyes remained closed, as if savoring the quiet before the storm.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips-bittersweet and resigned. “Let’s begin, then…

the beginning of my end.”

Oz gave a solemn nod, his usual mischievous energy subdued. “As you wish.” He floated to

her shoulder, his small hands clapping together in a rhythmic beat, a signal to the forces that

were now set into motion.

The world around them seemed to still as Dorothy opened her eyes.

The air grew heavy, the snow falling slower, the sky darker, as if the very fabric of the world recognized what was about to happen.

Shadows thickened around her, and a palpable tension built, pressing down on the quiet

academy grounds below.

Dorothy’s flaxen eyes gleamed with an eerie calm as she raised her staff, the dark energy

swirling at its tip.

The time had come.

This was the final act of her long and arduous journey, the moment where she would finally

accept her fate.

With a deep breath, Dorothy lowered her staff. “It’s time to set the stage.”

And with that, the snow-covered world around them began to change. Darkness swallowed the entire commercial square like a thick, suffocating dome, and in an

instant, chaos erupted.

Screams of panic filled the air as monstrous creatures emerged from the shadows-twisted, grotesque beings with razor-sharp teeth, snarling and attacking anything in their path.

Students and townspeople alike scrambled to defend themselves, the sounds of clashing blades and explosions echoing across the once peaceful square.

From atop the clock tower, Dorothy watched the mayhem with an unsettling calmness.

Her flaxen eyes scanned the battlefield below, her expression neutral despite the destruction

she had orchestrated.

Amidst the chaos, her gaze settled on a young woman who stood out from the rest-a woman with golden hair and fierce golden eyes, radiating power and determination. Dorothy’s lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. “It seems she got my letter. Good~”

The woman below was Rose Brilliance, and she had arrived just as Dorothy had planned. Blades of light whirled around Rose, cutting through the darkness with ease. Every swing of the swords of light around her dispelled the shadowy creatures, her mana flaring in bright waves that lit up the darkened square like a beacon of hope.

Dorothy could feel the steady, overwhelming rise of Rose’s mana, a force so strong that it began to shake the very foundation of the square.

The air crackled with energy, and for the first time, a trickle of cold sweat slid down Dorothy’s

spine.

She had always known Rose was powerful, but seeing her like this-radiating pure, unbridled strength-made her momentarily doubt her decision.

Had she underestimated Rose?

But there was no turning back now. Dorothy’s resolve hardened, and she chuckled under her breath, a bittersweet sound that barely reached her own ears.

“Now that our dear light has arrived… take everything from me, Oz. Don’t hold back.”

Oz, perched on her shoulder, narrowed his eyes, the familiar flicker of doubt flashing in his gaze. “You don’t have to tell me twice…”

They both knew that if Oz didn’t go all out, if they didn’t use every ounce of their power, they

would be obliterated by Rose’s wrath before they even had a chance to realize their plan.

But this was the end Dorothy had chosen-the end she had meticulously prepared for.

“Maybe our chosen heroine worked a little too well~?”

“That might be the case….”

“Damn it!”

BANG!

A loud explosion echoed through the confined space as Theo’s mana-coated fist collided with

the corrupted, metallic walls that pulsated with dark energy.

His knuckles bled profusely, skin torn and raw, exposing glimpses of bone beneath.

But he didn’t care he was too consumed by his rage, by the sheer hopelessness of their

situation.

“Fuck! Fuck! Susan, help me out here, will you?!” Theo shouted, his voice a mix of desperation and fury. He threw another punch, wincing as his already damaged hand cracked

painfully against the unyielding wall.

Susan, who had been silent until now, spoke in a voice barely above a whisper. “Just stop,

Theo…”

“Hah!? What the fuck are you talking about, Susan? Are you just going to “

“Yes!” she snapped, louder than Theo had ever heard her before. “It’s boss’s decision, so just

shut up and accept it.”

Theo froze, disbelief and frustration warring on his face.

He had never seen Susan like this-never seen her lose her composure.

His wild eyes darted to her as she stood there, trembling with a mixture of anger and sadness.

For a moment, the room fell into a suffocating silence, only broken by Theo’s labored

breathing.

His fists tightened, and his teeth ground together audibly as he looked away from Susan, muttering curses under his breath.

“Fuck!”

With one final roar of frustration, Theo punched the wall beside him, blood splattering

against the cold, corrupted surface.

His body shook, muscles twitching from the sheer force of his emotion.

Susan, who had been standing her ground moments before, now slowly sank to the floor, her

legs giving way as tears welled up in her eyes.

She wasn’t crying because of Theo’s outburst-she understood his frustration better than

anyone.

She had always been the calm, collected one, the voice of reason when things spiraled out of

control.

But now, in this situation, even her resolve was crumbling.

She hugged her knees to her chest, the tears finally spilling over as she quietly sobbed in the

corner.

Her gaze, blurred by tears, flickered briefly toward me before she quickly looked away,

refusing to acknowledge my presence.

She couldn’t bear to face me, not like this. I could see the pain etched into her features, the

weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her shoulders.

And as I watched them-Theo furiously pounding the walls in vain, Susan silently breaking down-I couldn’t help but sigh in frustration.

My entire body was bound by chains of darkness, the cold, unrelenting tendrils wrapping

tightly around me, making even the simplest movement impossible.

Even though I expected the unexpected….

‘How the hell did I end up here?’

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