"Everything I have is someone's kindness. Everything I've suffered was my weakness. Everything I'll do will be my choice. And you are my choice, Darry. You are my everything!" Sarina thought, staring at the man in front of her.
"What are you thinking about?" Darry asked.
"Nothing. Can I say something?" she asked nervously.
"What happened to you? First, you asked before kissing me, and now you're asking to even speak? Hey… I like cute anime waifus and you look like one, but you don't have to act like one!" Darry teased.
This guy can't be serious, Sarina thought with a sigh.
"Just promise you won't laugh," she said.
"Promise," Darry replied.
"Everything I have is someone's kindness. Everything I've suffered was my weakness. Everything I'll do will be my choice. And you are my choice, Darry. You are my everything," she said.
Surprisingly, Darry went silent.
"What? I know it's cheesy and dramatic, but I wanted to tell you this. I want you to know how much you mean to me. So, I just…" Sarina trailed off.
"I don't care about that," Darry said as he embraced her tightly.
Standing at the edge of the Scarlet Forest, the two of them were lost in each other's arms. The bright orange sun was beginning to melt into the ocean of blood-red leaves.
A few meters away stood the giant walls and large gate of Lucia Kingdom.
"I don't have the right words to reply. So… I love you," Darry said.
After a few moments of silence—
"Hey, lovebirds! You should get in before sunset!" called a beautiful woman standing atop the wall, wearing a white coat like a doctor's.
"What?" Sarina blinked as Darry stared, confused.
They looked up to see a beautiful woman with long brown hair.
Then suddenly, the gate creaked open.
Still puzzled, Darry and Sarina walked through the massive gate.
Waiting for them were nine men in tidy, military-like uniforms.
"Please come with us," one of the men said respectfully.
Wooden buildings flanked both sides of the gate's inner corridor.
These are real soldiers. Respectful and disciplined, Sarina thought. But I still resent them for interrupting our marriage ceremony!
After a short walk, they were brought into a clean, orderly room with a table and three chairs.
Sitting at the table was the same woman who'd called out from the wall—still in her white coat, her long brown hair framing her face.
"Sit down, lovebirds," she said with a playful smile.
Darry and Sarina sat.
"Name's Kiala Heart. Tell me yours—in one word," she said.
"Darius."
"Sarina."
"Which nation?" she asked.
"We're from the United States of America," Darry replied calmly, his expression as aloof as ever—at least on the surface.
"Where's that?" she asked, confusion plain on her face.
"Far in the west," Darry replied.
Both nations here seem limited to this continent. There's no info about other continents in either Thius nation. Still don't get how they made a universal language that just works everywhere. Anyway… this plan should hold, Sarina thought. Darry's aloof face always makes him hard to read—even for me. For others? Impossible. And everything he said is technically true.
"They're telling the truth," someone said from behind.
Sarina turned around—but no one was there.
"Why are you here?" Kiala asked.
"We were abandoned. We just want to build a new life here," Darry replied.
"What will you do after entering the kingdom?" Kiala asked.
"Find a job, earn money, rent a house. The usual," Darry said neutrally.
"What's your relationship?"
"She's my wife."
"Is she mute?" Kiala asked.
"No. I'm not mute," Sarina replied, clearly annoyed.
"That's nice! So then, what are you two? Battle Mage? Healer?"
"We're Nulls," Darry replied.
Nulls are anomalies of the planet—people who can't use magic. Just like Unbounds are anomalies of the universe. And somehow, we're the only two Unbounds left in this entire universe, Sarina thought.
---
Half an hour later, Darry and Sarina were walking through the concrete streets of Emerald City.
The streets were bustling with people.
It was dusk, and the crowds were headed home. All the houses and buildings were made of wood, but the ground was a smooth, stone-like material—no exposed soil anywhere.
After the interrogation, Kiala had offered them jobs.
She wanted them to join the Rangers—essentially the police of the city—if they could fight.
Naturally, Darry and Sarina accepted.
---
Back at the wall station where Sarina and Darius had been interrogated, Kiala now sat across from another woman.
"Why'd you let two random strangers into our city?" Kiala asked.
"Because I know them," the woman replied in a low, soft voice.
"You know them?"
"Yep. Darius is Grey's brother," she said.
"Wait—that aloof guy is your brother-in-law?" Kiala asked, surprised.
"Yep. He is."
"Shouldn't you introduce yourself to them?"
"Grey's busy dealing with his soul core. And Darry doesn't know Grey's married. So what would I say? 'Hello Darry—oh sorry, Darius—my name's Chloe, and I'm your brother's wife! Ha… ha…'" she said, clearly frustrated.
"What's wrong with you today? You're acting off," Kiala observed.
Maybe it's Kiala's "confused day," Chloe thought.
"Nothing. I just don't understand how Darius and Sarina got here. I asked Grey, but even he doesn't know. I just hope they pass the Ranger exam."
"Passing the Ranger exam isn't easy. But with some training, maybe they could," Kiala said.
"I hope so," Chloe replied with a soft smile.
---
Sarina and Darry arrived at the Emerald Ranger Institute.
From now on, they would train here for three months to qualify as Rangers—as Nulls.
I have to be careful. I claimed I can summon shadow minions as a Null ability. But I only have five shadows—and they're nothing like normal minions. Should I erase their minds? Sarina wondered as they stepped into the large wooden building.
After a few formalities, they were given their quarters.
Since they were husband and wife, they got a single room for two.
I don't mind sleeping beside Darry, but his habit of coddling is… is… sweet anyway. I should erase their minds. I don't need lust monsters, she thought.
Sarina smiled and closed her eyes.
In her soul space—an endless, white void—five shadowy men stood trembling in fear.
These were the same vile men who had once tried to violate her. Now, they had been stripped of everything—names, pride, humanity—and enslaved for eternity.
"Let us go! You demoness!" the former lead guard screamed.
Without a word, Sarina whispered coldly:
"Forget everything. You are just mindless shadow minions. Your sole purpose is to serve me and follow my commands."
The five figures fell silent. Their eyes became hollow voids. Their bodies lost all form, turning into swirling, formless shadows.
"I need more Shadows!"