4: Family Background

NESCA was hesitant to leave but she had to return to the cabin. Agni must have been hell-bent trying to search for her, knowing she might die.

"I will have to leave now to get another batch of herbs since you consumed everything. I'll let you rest."

She returned to the spot where the Moonstalk grew, only a few had left. Nesca knelt beside a cluster of glowing silver-leafed plants and gently cut the blinking stems.

"System, is this enough?" Nesca asked while placing the herbs into her satchel.

[Host has gathered additional seven Moonstalk Herbs. Quest requirement fulfilled.]

[Additional herbs may be collected for future use.]

Nesca smiled with satisfaction and heaved a sigh. "What a good start. Something is going according to plan. For now, my health is the priority. The other things can wait."

Along the way back, Nesca had an idea to test the legitimacy of the system.

"Hmm, let's give it a try…"

She looked around the misty forest before placing her hand against the thick bark of an ancient tree. The rough surface felt cold against her palm, but beneath it, she sensed a faint flow of energy.

"Life Energy Absorption, will it truly work?" she grumbled.

There was a purple glow surrounded her fingers that gave her tickling sensation as she attempted to draw the natural energy from the tree. A small amount of essence entered her body, spreading warmth through her exhausted muscles.

"Hey, system! Will this help me lose weight in an instant?"

The system materialized, blinking red this time.

[Error]

"What? Error?"

[Not possible, Host. Essence Absorption only helps stabilize your weak constitution.]

Nesca frowned. "Fine!"

Although, compared to the massive energy contained within the ancient tree, what she absorbed was nothing but a speck. But it was better than nothing, since gave her instant relief.

"This is disappointing," she let out a sigh. "If I continue at this rate, I might need a hundred years to become strong."

[Host should not underestimate gradual improvement.]

[Every powerful existence begins with a little step.]

Nesca chuckled. "Now, you sound like my old teacher."

[System does not age.]

Nesca heaved another deep sigh. She leaned against the tree and closed her eyes for a moment. The forest breeze brushed against her face, as she tried to meditate and make peace for everything that happens.

But she quickly opened her eyes when a familiar voice echoed from behind her.

"Princess Nesca!"

Nesca immediately turned around and saw Agni hurrying toward her while holding a cloak. As expected, the young maid looked extremely worried.

"Agni, what are you doing here? I was about to go back, how did you find me?" Nesca asked, amused.

"I followed your scent," Agni replied as she approached. "You disappeared in the mist, Princess. Do you know how frightened I was? You could've died!"

Nesca tried to coax her. "Don't worry, Agni. I had to rush and find some herbs."

"The apothecary gave us plenty of herbs, Princess. You don't need to search it for yourself. You could have ordered me to collect them if we don't have it."

Nesca gently tapped her maid's shoulder. "I had to do it myself. Come, let's go home."

"You can depend on me, Princess." Agni looked defeated.

Nesca smiled. "I know. You're the only one I got."

"Don't forget, your body is still weak. You collapsed countless times before. What if something happened to you in this forest and you won't be able to return?" The maid sighed and placed the cloak over her shoulders.

"Then I'll survive another death," she winked trying to take the conversation light.

Agni's expression softened. "Princess, I know you have already experienced a lifetime of pain. I'm sorry for being too useless. I couldn't do anything to lighten your burden."

Nesca smiled warmly. Agni must have suffer a lot, too. Just like the previous owner of this body.

A moment of silence passed as they walked going back to the cabin before Agni spoke again.

"Can I ask you something, Princess?" Agni asked.

Nesca nodded. "Sure, go ahead."

"Do you remember anything about your life before? I'd really like to believe you're not the princess I served. Or did you just lost your memories?"

Nesca hesitated, but chose to answer her honestly. "I remember pieces."

"That is all?" Agni probed

Nesca lightly tiled her head. "Yes."

Agni looked at the ground and breathed out. "Perhaps it is better that way."

"Why?" Nesca's forehead creased.

Agni's shoulder fell. "Because life in Darantha was never kind to you."

"Now that you mentioned it. Can you tell me everything about my family background? Why would an imperial princess is being isolated in this place? Was I born from a lowly concubine?"

Agni hardly shook her head. "No, your mother was a respected general who died in a battle in the border. According to my parents, you were barely a year old when your mother left this world. And your father, the Demon King Regent, fathered four sons and seven daughters from the women of his harem. But among your siblings, you were born sickly, while your siblings possessed strong magic affinities."

"Great, even in this body I can't wield magic," Nesca silently murmured in sarcasm.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this, Princess." Agni sounded truly apologetic.

"Wait, Demon King Regent? What does it mean? Our family is not the actual monarch?" her forehead creased.

"A regent is the high ranking immortal serving the Supreme Emperor, who is currently is seclusion for nearly three thousand years."

Agni continued. "Darantha is a cruel place, especially for those born into the royal family. The strong survive, and the weak is being trampled."

"Does any of my siblings came to visit me?" Nesca asked.

Agni sadly sighed. "No one. Your three older sisters were married off to different demon kingdoms for alliance, while the remaining three stayed in the palace competing for your father's attention and favor."

"What about my brothers?"

"I heard they are still fighting for the title of a Crown Prince. They never cared about you, they might not even know you exist. You were banished from the palace fifty years ago, princess. Someone spread a rumor about you being cursed, that you're suffering a contagious illness. This is why you were contained her in the Cloud Forest for half a century."

"And my father? He never visited me even once?"

Agni shook her head again. "Sorry, Princess. You were severely neglected despite being born noble. For the royal family, you simply do not exist. Besides, you're too young. Demons lifespan are naturally long, probably they'll pay you a visit, who knows, maybe after a hundred years."

Nesca's face darkened.

"Hundred years?" she chuckled and added, "I should really work hard to be strong so I could return to the palace and claim my birth right."

'I can't wait that long, or else, Khaevin and that snake might have been dead due to old age,' she thought.

"I'm glad to hear that, Princess!" Agni's face beamed.

'This body suffered a lot, once I'm strong enough to fight them I will give Nesca justice. Then I will travel back to Lumienar and make everyone pay for my unlawful death…' 

That night, Nesca had a peaceful slumber without worrying whether she'd still wake up the following morning.

'I will plan accordingly and bid my time until I'm ready,' she swore in silence.