Chapter 33
Dante received the documents from Klazen.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, deep in thought.
Was there a connection between why the records had to be rewritten and the deaths of the previous successor candidates?
The former candidates had become little more than ordinary people. Once a successor was chosen, the others’ powers gradually faded and disappeared. So why would someone go so far as to kill them?
What were they so afraid of?
What did they see in powerless people that made them worth silencing?
It was shocking that he hadn’t heard of this sooner—especially since some of the previous candidates were nobles. The fact that it had been kept secret for so long was suspicious in itself. Someone must’ve covered it up carefully, made the deaths look natural…
Nobles who wouldn’t hesitate to kill their own kind.
Accidents or illnesses—that was the official story. But who would actually believe that?
They must’ve been high-ranking nobles, he thought grimly.
Dante decided to start identifying the people capable of orchestrating such events. And there was one more thing.
If July is the only survivor…
Then surely there had been attempts to kill her too. The reason she’d survived until now was likely due to two things: first, she was technically in a coma, not fully alive. Second, she was under the protection of Wyatt, Dante, and Klazen.
They’d placed the bracelet on her wrist, but… that alone wasn’t enough.
We need more people protecting her.
July would wake up again. Dante couldn’t let anything happen before then.
Just as he was deep in thought, he sensed something tapping gently at the window. A wind not of his own making stirred near the glass.
Sevtina Zeros.
He’d considered the possibility she might be able to use the power of wind.
With a wave of his hand, the window opened. A letter floated in on the breeze. It asked when Dante might next visit Artera, whether he’d discovered anything about people like himself, and if it would be possible to tour the rooms of the past successors.
I should pay her a visit.
Sevtina Zeros had a right to know—she was involved in this now. He also wanted to ask if she’d help protect July. And he could finally explain the bracelet she’d been so curious about.
It wasn’t easy to find people he could trust. Sevtina was one of the few. She currently knew the most about July and could wield elemental powers with ease.
Dante penned a letter asking to meet, offering help and information in return.
I should tell her about the bracelet, too.
The wind-infused bracelet could only be placed on someone without the power of wind. Since Sevtina had wind affinity, the mechanism wouldn’t work on her—but knowing how it worked might be useful.
The letter caught the wind and soared away. Dante left his room, heading to the drawing room where Wyatt was likely waiting.
“They wouldn’t have destroyed the records outright,” Wyatt said the moment Dante entered. His eyes gleamed sharply.
“People place blind faith in the Four Elemental Successors. And because of that, the fear of breaking the rules is deeply ingrained. The records wouldn’t have been erased—they’ve just been moved.”
A flame flickered in Wyatt’s palm.
“We need to find them.”
“Throw more water on it!”
As the flames grew fiercer, Yulia struggled. Sevtina watched her with a grim expression.
Yulia’s face had gone pale, her lips trembling. Her hands, still conjuring water, shook violently. She looked utterly lost.
It wasn’t just the strain of using magic. What Sevtina saw in her eyes was fear.
…Is it because people criticize her for using her powers?
It was nothing like the usual Yulia—who always strutted with pride, or resorted to groveling when it suited her.
Sevtina glanced at the people dashing about, trying to put out the fire, then subtly slipped her hands behind her back. No one was paying attention to her—everyone was panicking.
She couldn’t just stand by and watch.
Disliking Yulia was a separate issue. Letting innocent people suffer wasn’t something Sevtina could ignore.
Water.
Yulia’s power was manifesting as a stream of water—Sevtina could feel it.
Not just sense it. She could understand it. She could gauge Yulia’s strength and how much effort she was pouring in.
Compared to July, Yulia’s raw potential was greater—but her control was clumsy. The water she conjured lacked force. Its color was murky. It was clear she hadn’t put in the work.
If I add my water to hers… it’ll show.
Sevtina could boost Yulia’s magic, but if someone saw water flowing from her hands, it would raise questions.
Maybe I can enhance the magic without revealing myself.
The water Yulia failed to control was dispersing into the air. Sevtina narrowed her eyes, focusing. Water had been the first element she’d mastered—it felt like an old friend. And ever since moving here, she’d been honing her skills daily.
Create a stronger stream.
At her command, Yulia’s water stream began to swell. Yulia’s eyes widened. She knew this power didn’t come from her alone.
But Sevtina wasn’t paying attention to her anymore.
Time to use something else too.
She summoned the wind. Unlike water, it didn’t reveal itself when called—and it could guide the growing water flow exactly where it was needed.
Fwoosh. A current formed from thin air, carrying the water deep into the heart of the blaze.
Yulia blinked, startled. Still maintaining her spell, she glanced around.
That was wind magic.
It was clearly elemental wind—but Dante wasn’t here.
Then who?
And the surge in water just now…
…But I’m the successor.
Fear crept into her. She didn’t want to think about it. Clenching her fists, Yulia shook her head. Just a trick of the mind. It had to be.
Meanwhile, Sevtina smiled faintly as she watched the wind at work.
Wind is such a convenient power.
Its invisibility made it easy to use discreetly.
Looks like all that training paid off.
She’d reached the point where she could direct it—tell the wind where to go.
It was the first time she’d seen two elemental powers blend so seamlessly.
The fire finally began to die out. Through the spray of water, a scorched shell of a house came into view. A couple—presumably the owners—stood in shock, staring at the ruins.
Yulia, now finished, looked down at her hands in a daze. But then she approached Sevtina, quickly putting on her usual confident face.
“I’m glad I had a chance to assist you today, Lady Sevtina. As you just saw, my power—”
“Thank you, Lady Yulia,” Sevtina cut in.
“Th-thank you!”
But before Yulia could say more, the grateful citizens surged forward, surrounding her with praise and admiration. She was swept away in the tide of people.
Sevtina offered her a half-hearted wave, then turned to the fire-stricken couple.
“Oh—Lady Sevtina,” the woman stammered, startled from her daze.
“Are you hurt?”
“We’re… alright.”
The woman spoke in a muffled voice, as if swallowing her tears. She hugged her husband, whispering that they’d lost everything. Watching them, Sevtina saw herself.
She remembered losing her title—how utterly hopeless she’d felt. Like her entire life had ended.
Is it selfish to want to help?
She wondered if this was pity—but it didn’t feel like that. It felt closer to empathy.
Because she knew what that kind of despair felt like.
Just as she’d been given a second chance at life—rediscovering her purpose—she wanted these people to have the same.
If I can give them that chance, I want to.
Sevtina had found something she wanted to do.
“I’d like to help you find a new home.”
“What? No, Lady Sevtina, that’s far too—”
“Am I making you uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“This isn’t out of pity.”
She needed them to understand—this wasn’t about appearances or charity. She genuinely understood how they felt. She wanted to help because she understood.
I don’t want to be misunderstood.
Her heart pounded. What if they saw this as hollow sympathy?
Taking a deep breath, she swallowed hard.
“I mean it.”
Her gaze met the man’s.
She hoped her sincerity would reach them.
And it did.
“We’d be honored to accept,” the woman said, bowing.
The man nodded silently, eyes shining.
Watching him pat his wife’s shoulder, Sevtina thought she understood why they were still together. She felt a flicker of envy. To have someone who would stand beside you no matter what…
“Thank you,” the man said, smiling.
A pure, heartfelt smile—one born not of her noble status, but of her actions.
To think that my decisions alone could help someone… could change someone’s life…
It felt like discovering a new world.
A warm excitement blossomed in her chest. Different from the comfort she felt around the Zeros family—this was something else.
It was the quiet joy of doing what she wanted. The pride of having accomplished something meaningful.
I want to help more people.
A small wish took root.
A new dream.
And with it, Sevtina’s world grew just a little bigger.
