Hunter froze on the spot, clearly not expecting Anya to refuse so bluntly, so quickly that he couldn’t even react in time.
It took him quite a while before he hesitantly spoke, “Miss Anya, may I ask… why?”
There’s no particular reason.” Anya shook her head lightly, but her gaze shifted to the side. “I was never interested in this match in the first place. I’d rather ask, Miss Amelia, why did you suddenly scare a little girl?”
When Amelia heard her own name, she glanced at Anya too, a hint of reluctance in her icy eyes, her tone stiff.
“I just wanted to ask for directions.”
“See, see, little Anya, I told you not to get so worked up.” Iris hugged the Stuffed Bear triumphantly, looking every bit like “I knew it.”
Iser chimed in from the side, her voice tinged with apology. “Sorry, Anya. Amelia has been terrible with directions since she was a child. She often gets lost, so just now she really only wanted to ask for directions.”
Anya was speechless. If you want to ask for directions, just ask. Why scare a little kid? And such a strange temper, too.
Now that the misunderstanding between the two had been cleared up, Hunter clearly still wanted to persuade her.
“Miss Anya, you really can try to compete for a spot in the Holy Academy. Are you sure you don’t want to give it a try?” Hunter pressed on, unwilling to give up.
“No, thank you for your invitation, Mr. Hunter.” Anya remained firm in her refusal.
With no other way, the two groups could only go their separate ways. As the sky gradually darkened, Anya knew it was time to head home.
“Today really was full of ups and downs, so many things happened.” Iris clicked her tongue and glanced at Anya.
“Little Anya, tell me your story, will you?”
Iris knew in her heart that it was time to truly get to know Anya. After all that had happened today, it was clear this girl was carrying a lot inside—only recently did she start to slowly open up.
Maybe, just like Amy said, Anya now was like a blank piece of paper, feeling her way forward step by step.
“Mm…” Anya opened her mouth, looking as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.
After a brief silence, she finally spoke softly. “I was born into the Auckland Household, as you know, Iris. My father is the General guarding the Northern Border, and the peace of these frozen lands rests on his shoulders. As my father’s only child, I was raised as the Heir from the moment I was born.”
She forced a bitter smile. “Mother died in childbirth when I was born. Father, busy with the Northern Border’s defenses, never remarried. I was born with only a faint sense for Magical Power, so I could only rely on grinding practice day after day to improve my Swordsmanship to the best it could be—just so Father wouldn’t feel I’d disgraced him.”
Iris listened quietly, her heart stirring with a trace of pity.
The girl’s voice carried a faint sob. Maybe years of pretending had left her unable to hide her feelings any longer.
Children of such a family background usually grow up in the discipline of ‘standing on your own,’ and even venting their feelings becomes a luxury.
“But what reason is there for a girl to take up a sword and charge onto the battlefield?” Anya’s voice grew even lower. “In others’ eyes, my persistence is just wasted effort. Besides, because Mother died, many in the family decided I’m a Disaster Star, a punishment sent down by the goddess Oli.”
Anya suddenly looked up at Iris. “I hate that goddess called Oli. That’s why, when you first appeared, I didn’t want anything to do with you.”
Iris was slightly taken aback. She hadn’t expected that the reason Anya had always been so silent at first was actually because of Oli.
“But… I still want to thank you.” Anya’s tone softened. “Iris, you’ve shown me so many happy things and helped me so much.”
“You’re welcome, little Anya~” Iris suddenly grinned, hands on her hips, looking serious. “Honestly, you’re amazing already, but let me tell you, no one is born worthless, and you’re no exception. As your personal Assistant, I have to make that clear to you!”
“I’ve met so many remarkable women—they weren’t born with everything, but carved out their own futures with perseverance and resilience. Your mother was the same. She paid the price of her life to bring you into this world. That courage alone is strength enough.”
She paused, her tone even more direct. “Besides, what do outsiders’ idle gossip matter? Don’t you want to create a miracle and break their prejudice? I don’t know why Oli chose you, but let me ask, do you really like feeling this way?”
Anya thought for a long time before stammering out a few words. “I… I don’t know.”
Iris sighed softly in her heart. This child’s heart was clearly starving for love.
She tried so hard to prove herself, just to get that father, always caught up in military affairs, to spare her a little more attention.
No wonder Anya would choose the Converter—she probably just wanted her father to know she had Magical Power too.
“So now, having gained my help and learned Magic, is it all just for that ridiculous expectation—to put on a show for your father?” Iris pressed.
Anya opened her mouth, but couldn’t utter a single word.
“Little Anya, you have to learn to live for yourself.” Iris’s voice softened. “You’re your father’s daughter, but more than that, you are yourself. Life shouldn’t be lived entirely for others. You can be the Heir, an excellent Swordswoman, a magician, or even a Teacher. But before all that, you have to be yourself first. Think about it—do you truly want these things from the bottom of your heart?”
Anya slowly shook her head, her gaze so empty it tugged at the heart.
She had never considered this question, nor dared to.
“Then do you really want to be the Heir?” Iris pestered. “If you stay ordinary, would your father really abandon you?”
Anya tried hard to recall, and deep in her memory, a vague warmth finally surfaced.
That was the night Father rarely found time to return home to celebrate her Birthday.
His rough hand brushed her head, handing her a Stuffed Bear with fluffy ears.
Even now, that Stuffed Bear still lay quietly on her bedside, keeping her company through countless lonely nights.
“If you can’t meet your father’s expectations, will you just give up on yourself?” Iris didn’t stop.
“Your mother brought you into this world. Even though she’s gone, you are her continuation. She gave you these beautiful eyes. Don’t you think you owe it to her to see more of what this world is like?”
After hearing all this, Anya stood there rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the ball of white fluff before her.
Her mind buzzed, and she was utterly speechless.