The relationship between humans and dark beings was one-way. This was a matter of fate, a concept not difficult to understand.
‘Humans can become dark beings, but dark beings cannot become human.’
This was a very simple and clear axiom as well as an unchanging law.
In this context, the term human included most of the intelligent races in the world.
Elves, beastmen, dwarves, and any intelligent being capable of using magic. Those who possessed emotions and rational thought.
Any being capable of using magic, whether it was a squirrel or a dog, could make a contract with the otherworld, offering their heart and turning their mana to black.
In exchange for offering their heart, the mage transcended their natural abilities and gained extraordinary power and knowledge, and became attuned to the mysteries of the otherworld.
There was even a famous story about a certain mage who, in his curiosity while researching the Persona Gate, made a contract with a powerful Persona, but couldn't withstand it and lost all of his knowledge and rationality.
However, obtaining great power required mages to sacrifice more than just their heart.
In many cases, they also sacrificed their emotions and even their rationality, losing the ability to live as humans.
They must consume the hearts of their original species before becoming dark beings in order to survive.
For instance, a dark being born from an elf must consume the hearts of elves, and one born from a human must consume the hearts of humans.
There was an extremely rare exception.
With an abysmal 0.000001% probability, a child born between a dark being and a different species did not need to consume hearts to survive and was said to be born with both the dark being’s and human’s powers, and potentially stronger than both.
However, this story was nothing but a legend since no one had actually witnessed such a case.
Because dark beings were incapable of reproduction.
Even if such offspring were born, they would likely be killed at birth.
Dark beings did not wish to accept into their society those who were weak enough to breed with mere humans.
‘This covers the traits of the species.’
The Witch King.
Or the Sorcerer of Seasons.
Or the Worst Witch.
Or the mentor of the Green Tower Master.
Or... ‘Scarlet Maiden.’
Her milky white hair and golden eyes formed a stark contrast to her fierce name, Scarlet. She slowly processed and researched the knowledge stored in her mind.
Every race has its inherent racial traits. Elves were known to prefer vegetarianism, dwarves were skilled with their hands, and humans tended to form social groups.
However, these traits were not absolute and could vary depending on the individual.
For example, in the past century, thanks to a peculiar elf who enjoyed meat, many young elves started to enjoy eating meat.
There have also been dwarves who neglected their craftsmanship and focused solely on magic, as well as humans who completely shut themselves off from society.
Depending on personal tendencies and external circumstances, these racial traits could change at any time.
But there was one thing that didn’t change.
The Fate of the Race.
The Mauro tribe, for instance, was born with an extraordinary trait—every individual was born with magic power at or above class 3.
However, this trait came with a fatal flaw: they could never reach beyond class 8, and if they didn’t reach class 7 by the time they turned 50, they would disintegrate into mana and scatter into the air.
While the Mauro tribe thrived for a time due to their natural strength, over time fewer individuals were able to reach the seventh class. As a result, the tribe went extinct 500 years ago, leaving only remnants of their civilization.
That was the fate of a race—an unchangeable, absolute law that no earthly being can alter.
Scarlet stared at Anella. She didn’t even bother to settle the fine hairs that stood on end.
Thud!
"What, what is this...!"
“Wait, wait a minute...!"
The first-year students from Stella, who were disguised as the village people, dropped their staff and started to back away.
Were they scared?
Half of it was right, and half was wrong.
“I... Am human...”
The grotesque, black, liquid-like form that had enveloped Anella began to peel away, revealing the small and innocent appearance of a young girl hidden inside.
The magic used by Scarlet on them wasn’t particularly special.
She had cast a suggestion on Anella’s eyes to make the Stella students appear as villagers, and had inserted Yu-Seol’s talisman into her heart, forcing her true appearance to be revealed.
[Currently, the ‘Dark Mage's energy' has been completely removed from 'Anella.']
[Species: Human.]
[Confirmed to be 99% human.]
Her appearance hadn't changed at all; it was just that the dark mana had disappeared, leaving Anella fully human.
It wasn’t supposed to be this time yet.
The process of turning Anella back into a human was supposed to be arduous, requiring a significant investment of time and preparation.
He had been too busy to pay any attention to her, and now, without him doing anything, Anella had returned to being human on her own.
'Could this also be a butterfly effect?'
As he absentmindedly brushed her cheek, Anella's eyebrows trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"... Ah."
A faint smile appeared on Anella’s lips.
"Hello..."
"Wait. Don’t talk just yet."
As Baek Yu-Seol searched for a healing potion, Anella lost consciousness again. Someone behind him lightly tapped his arm.
"Step aside, commoner."
"Huh? Why..."
"Emergency treatment kit."
"Ah..."
As Hong Bi-Yeon lifted the pure white first aid kit, Baek Yu-Seol spread out a care blanket with recovery functions on the ground and gently laid Anella on it.
Once Hong Bi-Yeon started treating her, even the other students, including Ban Di-Yeon who had been silently watching from behind, rushed over to help with Anella's treatment.
Fortunately, although Anella had lost a lot of blood, her injuries weren't fatal, and with enough care, she could recover.
After the students finished treating her, wiping the sweat from their brows, a Persona Gate guideline message appeared in the air.
[The girl who wanted to become human spent many lonely nights in the forest, crying because of her hideous appearance.]
[She yearned for the love of the villagers, but what she received in return was abuse and hatred.]
[In the end, the girl passed away on a cold winter night, buried under fallen leaves and snow in a place unknown to anyone...]
That was the original story.
[Congratulations!]
[You have successfully rewritten the 'Shadow Cast by the Wind' into a beautiful story!]
[May the girl who achieved her dream of becoming human find happiness in that world.]
[The world is now closing.]
The sky darkened, and the space around them began to fade.
The Persona Gate was fully closing.
They had successfully conquered the Danger Level 3 Persona perfectly.
Baek Yu-Seol exchanged glances with Hong Bi-Yeon and awkwardly smiled.
"In the end, we took our time and didn’t do much, huh?"
"... Sorry."
"No need to apologize. We still had a fun time, right?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Baek Yu-Seol smiled as if it was no big deal, and Hong Bi-Yeon nodded, smiling along with him.
In the end, she couldn't bring herself to say ‘me too,’ and swallowed the words back down her throat.
Not yet... She didn't have the courage to say it just yet.
"Let’s head back."
As Baek Yu-Seol carried Anella and started leaving the Persona Gate, the witch, who was watching her own figure fade along with the world, sighed in regret.
Since her true body couldn't move, the witch had summoned an illusionary clone to act in her stead.
However, after creating a small Persona Gate and toying with the talisman, she ended up exhausting too much mana, leaving her completely drained of energy.
Smiling faintly, the witch took one last look at Baek Yu-Seol who was carrying Anella in his arms.
If he’s able to change not just small fates, but even grand destinies...
With that, the witch's figure fully vanished along with the Persona Gate.