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Whispers of Tomorrow - FULL MOVIES ENGLISH SUB 2026
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00:00I have three brothers. One is a dragon-slaying paladin, the other is the High Major of the Citadel.
00:04The last one, he sits on the Obstian throne.
00:07To this day, they still thank the heavens for the day I was abandoned,
00:10for leaving them the only light in their dark worlds.
00:12But before that, I was born in a dirt-poor magic town.
00:15My father was obsessed with having a son to inherit his magic.
00:18The third daughter.
00:20When the witch announced I was the third daughter, there was no joy, only bitter disappointment.
00:25He refused to even look at me.
00:26He wrapped my newborn body in burrap and dragged me into the black forest to feed the wolves.
00:31But Priest Allen caught him red-handed, forcing him to spare my life with a compromise.
00:34I could at least be kept as free labor to tend herbs.
00:37Two months later, my mother was pregnant again.
00:39They spent their last pennies on bloodline potions,
00:42leaving me to survive on watered-fitted goat milk and kitchen scraps.
00:45My seven-year-old sister, Leah, looked after me with her tired little body.
00:48You could eat solid food at six months and we're as tough as a rabbit.
00:50Years later, she joked,
00:51Leah, I wasn't tough. I was starving.
00:54Finally, the boy was born.
00:55My mother was so overjoyed you'd think she'd given birth to a prince.
00:58She ran to the markets, bragging to everyone about her son,
01:01especially in front of women who didn't have one.
01:03For the first time in her miserable life, she felt like she finally had status and glory.
01:07Nobody paid attention to me anymore.
01:09Most days, I huddled in the furthest corner of the stone path,
01:13terrified of getting in my brother's way.
01:15It's a miracle from the gods that I even survived.
01:18When I turned five, I was supposed to go to the church school to learn to read and pray,
01:22but my parents refused to pay for my books or magic candles.
01:26Pointless.
01:26They thought spending resources on a girl was pointless.
01:29I caught a terrible plague.
01:31I coughed all night long until I couldn't breathe.
01:33Before long, my brother started coughing too, and my parents panicked.
01:37Dark power!
01:38Not because of me, but because they were terrified the strange sickness would touch their precious son.
01:42They finally took us both to the village healer.
01:44The plague.
01:46Evil power has reached her lungs.
01:48She has to go to the hospital, or she won't make it.
01:50You must isolate her, or she will kill your son.
01:52On the way home, my mother held my coughing brother tight,
01:55walking so fast she was almost running.
01:56When we got back, I couldn't breathe, and my chest was in agonizing pain.
02:00I kept crying out for Mama, but she didn't even look back.
02:03She completely abandoned me.
02:04The freezing cold, the blurred vision, the gnawing hunger in my gut,
02:09and then the world went black.
02:12I woke up on a thick, warm wool blanket.
02:15Three boys were gathered around me, whispering,
02:18looking at me like I was some rare magic creature they'd found in the woods.
02:22A kind, strong woman named Isalette Brune walked in with a bowl of chicken barley soup.
02:26Drink this.
02:27I gulped it down, but the moment I finished, she said she had to take you home.
02:32In a border town like this, you can't hide who belongs to which family.
02:36Her sons followed us the whole way, calling my name and trying to make me laugh.
02:41Halfway there, a blizzard hit.
02:43The oldest, Elias, took off his oversized leather gloves and slid them onto my frozen hands.
02:48When we reached my door, I heard my sister Leah inside.
02:52Where's Ella?
02:53She's been gone all night.
02:54I hope the snow and the plague took her.
02:57At least then she wouldn't infect your brother.
03:01I let out a painful cough.
03:03When my mother opened the door and saw me, there was no relief, only pure disappointment.
03:08My father growled from his chair.
03:11Gods above, she's actually still alive.
03:13I felt completely alone in the ice.
03:17Later, my father dragged me out to help sell the livestock.
03:21When I moved too slow, he swung a heavy wooden pitchfork at me.
03:24Just then, Mrs. Brune's carriage screeched to a halt.
03:27She had come back.
03:28She jumped out and stepped right between us, staring my father down with eyes like steel.
03:32She looked at my bruised face and told him,
03:34Fine. Give the girl to me.
03:36I have three sons and no daughter.
03:37Since you clearly don't want her, let's settle this by the law.
03:40I'll pay whatever I can.
03:42Mrs. Brune took them straight to the village deacon's office and made them sign a contract,
03:46giving up their parental rights.
03:48Just like that, for fifty silver coins, the deal was done.
03:51I became Mrs. Brune's daughter.
03:53As I left, my birth mother, Cassandra, leaned against the porch, chewing on wild fruit.
03:59She's nothing but a plague-ridden curse.
04:02She's your problem now.
04:04Don't come back in a month asking for a refund.
04:06We aren't taking her back.
04:07My new mom, Mrs. Brune, dressed me in her youngest son's old robes
04:11and bought me wool socks and sturdy boots.
04:13For the first time in my life, I had a hot breakfast, every day.
04:17At night, she tucked me in and held me until I fell asleep.
04:19She smelled like soap and campfire.
04:21I tried so hard to hold back my coughs because I didn't want to be a bother,
04:25but she just rubbed my back, using a little bit of warm healing magic to help me breathe.
04:29My three new brothers treated me like a fragile treasure,
04:32always saving the last bite of dessert or the best spot by the fireplace for me.
04:36It all felt like a dream that was too good to be true.
04:39Every day, I waited for someone to wake me up.
04:41When the deep winter hit, Mr. Brune came home.
04:43He had been working as a stonemason at a faraway castle and only came back for the holidays.
04:47He was a big man, worn out from hard labor, and silent as a brown bear.
04:51When Mom introduced me, he just stared deep into my eyes.
04:54I could tell right away he didn't want me in this house.
04:57That night, they argued in the next room while I pretended to be asleep.
05:01Isolad, we're barely getting by.
05:04We can hardly feed our own sons.
05:06What were you thinking?
05:08Another mouth to feed?
05:09She barely eats anything.
05:11It's not just about the food, Isolad.
05:15Adopting a kid means being responsible for her forever.
05:18We can't afford that.
05:19I'm out of money, and she needs a doctor.
05:22Her cough is getting worse.
05:24Is there anything left from your wages?
05:27After a long, heavy silence, all I heard was his frustrated sigh.
05:32The next morning, before sunrise, he headed out to work.
05:36Mom woke me up.
05:37In this town, most people can't afford church healing insurance, especially day laborers.
05:42Going to a hospital is a fortune.
05:44Usually people just pray they don't get sick.
05:46I grabbed the doorframe, refusing to move.
05:48I was terrified they'd spend too much on me, decide she wasn't worth it, and send me back to Cassandra.
05:53We were stuck there until Dad walked over.
05:55Without a word, he tossed me over his shoulder and carried me into the freezing wind.
05:59Maybe the gods were finally looking out for me.
06:03Halfway there, we ran into an old healer visiting relatives.
06:06He took one look, used a glimmer of magic to check my chest, and told my parents it wasn't a
06:10plague, just severe malnutrition and exhaustion.
06:13He gave me a basic healing spell for free, and didn't charge for the visit.
06:18Three days later, I could finally breathe without pain.
06:22By late December, the town was busy preparing for Christmas.
06:26There was a huge Christmas market in the square.
06:28Mom insisted on taking me since I'd never been.
06:34Meanwhile, Dad had to fix a roof for free.
06:36He hated working for nothing, but the owner owed him two months' wages.
06:40He hoped that by helping out, he might actually get paid.
06:43That's just how life is on the border.
06:45You work yourself to death all year and might still end up with nothing.
06:49Despite the struggle, the market was packed with people looking for some holiday warmth.
06:54Mom bought me a roasted honey oat cake.
06:56My brothers didn't get one, but they didn't complain.
06:59I watched the lights and the crowds, trying to memorize everything.
07:04That's when I saw him.
07:05In the middle of all the laughter, there was a little boy.
07:07Two adults were gripping his arms tightly.
07:10He was struggling, tears streaming down his face, his mouth wide open, gasping for air.
07:14But he couldn't make a sound.
07:16I pulled on Mom's sleeve.
07:18Mom, look at that boy. Something's wrong.
07:20The boy was wearing fancy noble robes, but he was barefoot.
07:23Even worse, his feet were torn up and bleeding from being dragged.
07:27My mom's face changed instantly.
07:29She locked onto those two people like a hawk.
07:31The couple looked panicked and were trying to shove the boy into a beat-up carriage.
07:35But my mom isn't the type to back down.
07:37She grabbed us and stepped right in front of the horses.
07:40The man shouted with a heavy foreign accent.
07:43This is my son! It's a family matter!
07:45But Mom looked at the boy and whispered a gentle prayer to calm him down.
07:49When she asked if he knew them, he just shook his head and sobbed.
07:53A crowd started to gather.
07:56Show us your noble documents.
07:58Or custody papers.
08:02Show them now or we're calling the town gods.
08:05They panicked.
08:07Realizing they were about to get caught,
08:09they shoved the boy to the ground,
08:11jumped onto the carriage and sped away in a cloud of dust.
08:14Mom was just about to take us to the guard station when someone screamed,
08:17Isolette! Come quick!
08:19Your husband fell off the roof at the castle site!
08:21You have to get to the hospital now!
08:23Mom turned pale as a ghost.
08:25She was just a part-time teacher at the church school,
08:28barely making a few coins.
08:29Dad was the only one supporting the family.
08:32If something happened to him,
08:33we were all doomed.
08:35My brothers were spiraling,
08:36but Mom didn't break.
08:38She gave a quick report about the boy to the guards,
08:40then turned to eleven-year-old Laius,
08:43looking at him like he was a grown man.
08:45She gripped his shoulders hard.
08:47Elias, you're in charge now.
08:49Take care of your brothers and Ella.
08:53The snow started falling wildly,
08:55blurring everything in sight.
08:57Elias led us home,
08:59but the holiday joy was gone.
09:00I looked at my honey oat cake.
09:02It was already covered in frost.
09:04Elias made some oatmeal for dinner,
09:06but we were too heartbroken to eat.
09:09Only the boy we rescued finished his bowl.
09:12An old neighbor stayed the night,
09:13stroking my hair and sighing at our bad luck.
09:15The wind battered our house all night.
09:17I didn't sleep at all.
09:19At dawn, Mom returned,
09:20looking like she'd aged ten years.
09:22She grabbed everything of value,
09:23the chickens, the tools,
09:25the last bags of grain.
09:26Then, she headed back out
09:27into the freezing storm to beg for help.
09:30Dad was dying.
09:31He needed high-level healing magic,
09:32which cost 8,000 silver coins.
09:35Dad only made 60 coins a day,
09:36but the foreman refused to pay,
09:38claiming Dad just tripped.
09:39He only tossed us two coins and lied.
09:41The rest was already paid.
09:43He knew Dad was unconscious
09:44and couldn't fight back.
09:45Mom managed to collect about 1,000 coins.
09:48As she packed for the city hospital,
09:49I ran to her with some small silver trinkets.
09:52Maybe you can sell these.
09:53That was the first time I called her Mom.
09:55I was scared that if the money ran out,
09:57the love would end too.
09:58Keep them, Ella.
09:59No matter what happens,
10:01you are our daughter.
10:01Tears were filled her eyes
10:02as she touched my hair.
10:04Protect Ella and the boy.
10:05I'll find a way for your father.
10:06She gripped Elias' hand.
10:08I watched her vanish into the white wall of snow.
10:10Later, I followed Elias to the well.
10:12A group of women were gossiping,
10:14with my birth mother, Cassandra, in the middle.
10:16If the broons go broke,
10:18they'll dump that girl.
10:19She's a jinx.
10:21Everything was fine before she showed up.
10:22That brat is never coming back to my house.
10:24I won't let her bad luck touch my son.
10:26Elias squeezed my hand so hard it hurt.
10:28He stood tall in front of me.
10:30Ella is my sister.
10:31As long as I have bread,
10:32half is hers.
10:33We are never giving up on her.
10:34I cried.
10:35For the first time,
10:36I had a real home.
10:37Cassandra just rolled her eyes.
10:38You're a kid.
10:39You don't get a say.
10:40Mrs. Molly finally snapped.
10:41Shut up, Cassandra!
10:43That's your daughter.
10:43Have you no shame?
10:44I gave birth to her,
10:45but trust me,
10:46she was born for a bad ending.
10:47At lunch that day,
10:49I only took a tiny scoop of mashed potatoes.
10:51I wanted to eat less,
10:53thinking I could save money for Das treatment.
10:55But Elias saw right through me.
10:56He took my bowl,
10:58gave me a massive second scoop,
10:59and pushed the last of the scrambled eggs onto my plate.
11:02Then he gave an extra scoop to the boy we rescued.
11:05You kids need your strength.
11:06The boy struggled for a long time,
11:08his mouth moving as if he'd forgotten how to speak.
11:12So, he wasn't mute after all.
11:13His voice was raspy like grinding gravel,
11:16probably from trauma or the sickness he caught while running away.
11:19In the evening,
11:20Leah sneaked onto our porch.
11:21She stared at my clean, warm wool clothes and asked,
11:24Did Mrs. Bruin buy those for you?
11:26Yes.
11:26My mom bought them for me.
11:28Listen,
11:28Cassandra says if the Bruins go broke and send you back,
11:31she won't take you.
11:32She's already talking to a slave trader from the next town.
11:34She's going to sell you for cash.
11:36Ella,
11:36I'm only telling you this because we share the same blood.
11:39Mom stayed at the hospital for another night.
11:41Our neighbor, Mrs. Gwen,
11:43came to stay with us.
11:44But without mom's voice,
11:45the house felt empty,
11:46like it was covered in shadows.
11:48I had a terrible nightmare.
11:49I dreamed I was back at my birth mother's house,
11:51locked in a stealthy cage,
11:53with them standing over me,
11:55holding a leather belt.
11:56I woke up denched in cold sweat,
11:59my heart pounding.
12:01Suddenly,
12:02there was a violent pounding on the front door.
12:04Isolette!
12:05Elias!
12:06Open up!
12:07It was the priest voice,
12:08and he sounded panicked.
12:09My first thought,
12:10Dad is gone.
12:13Elias bolted awake and rushed to open the door.
12:15It turned out to be the parents of the boy we rescued.
12:18They were dressed in rich velvet robes,
12:20looking incredibly anxious.
12:20As soon as they saw the sleepy little boy,
12:23the lady rushed forward,
12:24pulled him into a tight hug,
12:25and burst into tears.
12:26The boy struggled for a moment
12:28before finally letting out a raspy whisper.
12:30Mother!
12:30She cried even harder at the sound of his voice.
12:33Through trembling gestures and broken words,
12:35the boy explained everything that had happened.
12:36The lady kept weeping as she held him.
12:38Then she grabbed my hands,
12:40thanking me over and over again.
12:42Ella, tell me what you want,
12:43and I'll get it for you.
12:45I just want my dad to be okay.
12:47She looked at me and asked.
12:48The priest sighed and told them
12:49about my parents' situation.
12:50They even adopted little Ella.
12:52It's just a tragedy
12:53that bad things happen to good people.
12:54The noble man who had been standing growlently.
12:57Good people deserve a good ending.
13:01Your father is going to be just fine.
13:04He patted my head.
13:05That night, the guests stayed at our house.
13:07The next morning,
13:08Count Lossant and Lady Evelyn
13:09prayed their magic carriage,
13:10decorated,
13:11and took us all to the hospital in the main city.
13:13It was my first time in such a fancy carriage.
13:15We kids huddled together in the back,
13:16curious and nervous all at once.
13:18When we arrived,
13:19we saw Mom from a distance,
13:21kneed on the ground.
13:22Please.
13:22I'm sorry, but without silver,
13:23him, I can't do anything.
13:24But the cost was tway.
13:25And due valens,
13:26the dishera couldn't do anon.
13:28Count Lossant didn't say a word.
13:30He simply paid for Dad's entire
13:32high-level treatment on the spot.
13:34By afternoon,
13:35a porty guild manager arrived in a hurry
13:36with that dishonest foreman.
13:38The moment they saw the Count,
13:39they bowed low,
13:40acting with shaking with fear.
13:41He immediately paid back
13:42every cent of the wages
13:42he owed Dad for months,
13:43and trembling,
13:44I'll pay for every cost
13:45of his entire high-level treatment
13:47on the spot.
13:48Mom couldn't stop thanking them,
13:49but Lady Evelyn stepped forward
13:50and gripped her hands,
13:52her voice breaking.
13:53If it weren't for you,
13:54Sasal would have been taken forever.
13:56I finally figured out what happened.
13:58Count Lossant and Lady Evelyn
14:00are high-ranking nobles
14:01from the border.
14:02They were traveling home for Christmas
14:03to visit family and friends.
14:04They were busy people
14:05who didn't have Cecil
14:06until later in life,
14:07so he was usually watched by servants.
14:09Since they were traveling light this time,
14:11Cecil was snatched
14:12by human traffickers
14:13the second they looked away
14:14at the market.
14:14Thanks to my mom stepping up,
14:16she didn't just save Cecil,
14:17she accidentally cured
14:18his long-term silence too.
14:20When Dad finally came out
14:21of the healing room,
14:22the doctor announced
14:22his leg was saved.
14:23That's when it hit me.
14:24It was Christmas Eve.
14:26That night,
14:27we had a feast for a castle,
14:28specially arranged by the Count.
14:30I realized there was food
14:32a thousand times better
14:33than oat cakes
14:34and roasted meat.
14:35After the banquet,
14:36the Count's family prepared
14:37to head back to their castle.
14:38Cesso gripped my hand tightly.
14:40His voice was shaky,
14:41but he meant every word.
14:43Ella,
14:44come with me.
14:45Lady Avalyn whispered
14:46with my mom for a moment,
14:48then knelt down
14:48and asked me gently,
14:50Ella,
14:51would you like to come
14:52live with us at the castle?
14:53That way,
14:54I could be with Cecil
14:55every day.
14:57I looked at my mom,
14:58terrified.
14:59Did she think
15:00I was a jinx too?
15:01Did she want me gone?
15:03Mom's eyes were red
15:04as she touched my head.
15:06Lady Eleven and Cecil
15:07adore you, Ella.
15:08You'd have a much better
15:09life with them.
15:10I gripped her hand tight
15:11and shook my head
15:12as hard as I could.
15:13Lady Evelyn gave me a hug.
15:15You're a good girl, Ella.
15:17We'll see each other again,
15:18I promise.
15:19As I watched them leave,
15:20I reached into my pocket.
15:22I realized that when she hugged me,
15:24Lady Evelyn had slipped
15:25a bag of gold coins inside.
15:27Because his treatment
15:28was delayed,
15:29my dad's leg
15:30never fully healed.
15:31Even with the best doctors,
15:32he still limps
15:33when he tries to run.
15:34But back then,
15:35just saving the leg
15:36felt like a miracle.
15:37Mom tells everyone
15:38that if I hadn't noticed
15:39Cecil that day,
15:41our family would have
15:42fallen apart.
15:43You're my lucky star.
15:44Even dad calls me
15:45his lucky star now.
15:47Everyone praises me,
15:49except for my birth parents.
15:51They just scoff and say,
15:53if it wasn't for her,
15:54maybe her father
15:55wouldn't have fallen
15:56off the roof
15:57in the first place.
15:58They still don't like me,
16:00but it doesn't matter anymore.
16:02Having my mom,
16:03my dad,
16:04and my brothers love me
16:05is more than enough.
16:07Two weeks later,
16:07during the Christmas season,
16:09Count Losanne
16:10and Lady Evelyn
16:10returned with Cecil
16:11to visit us.
16:12They brought high-end gifts
16:13from their carriage-warming crystals,
16:14protective scrawls,
16:15and jars of berry honey.
16:16They even had
16:17brand new wool robes
16:18and leather boots
16:19made for all four of us.
16:21Lady Evelyn spoke softly
16:22to my parents.
16:23She offered to arrange
16:24a job for dad
16:24as a guard for the castle
16:25with a steady monthly salary.
16:27For mom,
16:27she recommended
16:28a teaching position
16:29at a new church school
16:30near the capital.
16:31If she did well,
16:32she could even become
16:33a formal member of the clergy
16:34with a permanent pension.
16:35As for us four kids,
16:36she offered to help us
16:37get into a magic academy.
16:39My parents were terrified
16:40of being a burden,
16:41but Lady Evelyn just laughed
16:43and said it was
16:44the least she could do.
16:45She only asked
16:46that we visit Cecil often
16:47because since he went home,
16:49he had stopped talking again
16:50until he heard
16:51he was coming to see us.
16:53Then,
16:53he finally started speaking again.
16:55News of this miracle
16:56spread through the small town
16:57like wildfire.
16:58Before the Count
16:59and his wife even left,
17:00my birth parents
17:01showed up at the door.
17:03Cassandra came in
17:04with a fake smile
17:05I'd never seen before.
17:06She grabbed my hand and-
17:07You have no idea
17:07how much I suffered
17:08to give birth to Ella.
17:09I'm her real,
17:10biological mother.
17:13If you want to repay someone,
17:14it should be us.
17:15We've been thinking it over
17:16and we just can't let
17:17our daughter go.
17:18We're taking her back.
17:20My mom panicked
17:21and tried to pry
17:21their hands off.
17:22Bruun.
17:24Easy!
17:25Let go!
17:26You're hurting her!
17:28But they didn't let up.
17:29Not one bit.
17:30Count Lozon frowned
17:31but stayed silent.
17:33Lady Evelyn stepped forward,
17:35knelt down,
17:35and asked me,
17:36Are they really
17:37your biological parents?
17:38I bit my lip
17:39and didn't say a word.
17:40Of course they are!
17:41The whole town knows it!
17:43Lady Evelyn looked conflicted.
17:46Look,
17:47I'm not asking for much.
17:48Just take my son
17:49to the Magic Academy
17:50and find jobs
17:51for me and my husband.
17:53Since you're nobles,
17:54that should be
17:54a piece of cake, right?
17:56Lady Evelyn only looked at me.
18:00They are my parents.
18:01Cassandra's face twisted
18:02and she started cursing.
18:04Hardy even raised his arm
18:05to slap me across the face.
18:06Right then,
18:07Dad stepped in
18:07and gave him a hard shove.
18:09You don't get touched,
18:09my daughter.
18:12He scooped me up
18:13and handed me to Mom.
18:15Take Ella and get back.
18:18Dad was usually
18:19a man of few words,
18:20but now he grabbed
18:21an iron hoe
18:21from the corner.
18:23Since Ella claims me,
18:24you aren't taking her anywhere.
18:26That's when the priest
18:27turned into a chaotic mess.
18:29The whole the priest
18:29stepped out
18:30and scolded them.
18:31You took money
18:32to give Ella to the broons.
18:34Everyone saw it.
18:35There's no taking her back now.
18:36Having lost all face,
18:38Cassandra shrieked,
18:39but she's my own
18:39and flesh and blood.
18:40No one can change that.
18:41Ella helped Savile,
18:42but it was this woman's bravery
18:44that saved him.
18:44We treat Ella well
18:45because we respect
18:46her mother's character.
18:47Don't get it twisted.
18:48She handed a box
18:49of honeyed spirit fruit paste
18:51to Cassandra.
18:52Take this for your kids.
18:54We're just ordinary lords.
18:55We don't have the power
18:56to just hand out jobs
18:57to anyone.
18:58Left with nothing,
19:00Hardy and Cassandra
19:01could only slink away
19:02in shame.
19:03I felt like I had caused
19:04so much trouble
19:05and tears started
19:06rolling down my face.
19:08Lady Evelyn touched my head
19:09and said,
19:10Don't cry.
19:10You did exactly
19:11the right thing.
19:12My parents spent a few days
19:14packing up our lives.
19:15Once the Christmas season ended,
19:16we all piled into a carriage
19:18sent by Lady Evelyn
19:19and headed for the capital.
19:20My dad is tall and honest
19:22and the captor of the castle guards
19:23liked him right away,
19:24so he got the job on the spot.
19:26Mom finally started
19:27at the church school, too.
19:30Lady Evelyn rented
19:30a small house for us
19:31near the Count's estate
19:32so Cecil could visit us
19:33whenever he wanted.
19:34Cecil and I started
19:35at the same church
19:36elementary school together.
19:38He was brilliant,
19:40but because he still
19:40struggled to speak clearly,
19:42the other kids
19:42would pick on him.
19:43I was terrified of the people
19:44in the big city, too,
19:45but I knew I had to
19:46protect him.
19:47Every time someone
19:47tried to bully him,
19:48I stood right in front of him.
19:49With so many kids in our house
19:50and me constantly dragging
19:51him into conversations,
19:53his speech got clearer
19:53and smooth every day.
19:55By the time we moved up
19:56to the high-level academy,
19:57he was at the top
19:58of every class,
19:59answering questions
19:59without a single stubble.
20:00The only catch?
20:01Every time he helped me
20:02with my runes or writing,
20:03he'd tease me
20:04for being a bit slow.
20:04I've never been
20:05the smartest student,
20:06and my grades
20:07were always just average.
20:08But my brothers
20:09were amazing.
20:10They were almost always
20:11at the top of their classes.
20:13Mom was incredibly busy.
20:14She poured her soul
20:15into teaching runes,
20:16never slacking for a moment.
20:17Mrs. Bruin,
20:18look at my rune!
20:18Her students
20:19absolutely adored her.
20:21This is wonderful.
20:22When her first class
20:22graduated with outstanding marts,
20:24she passed the exams.
20:25She officially became
20:26a senior tutor
20:26at the grammar school.
20:27Dad remained
20:28just as dedicated.
20:29While other guards
20:30often napped
20:30during their night shifts,
20:31he patrolled until dawn.
20:33One night,
20:33while covering for a colleague,
20:35two thieves broke
20:35into the workshop.
20:36The other guards
20:37saw their blades
20:38in frozen fear.
20:39But Dad,
20:40despite his old leg injury,
20:41chased them down with a limp.
20:42He refused to let go,
20:43even after being stabbed.
20:44When the city guards
20:45arrived and caught them,
20:46they found stolen blueprints.
20:47It was the core
20:47magic circle design,
20:49a massive secret.
20:49This would have been a disaster.
20:51Losing it
20:51would have been a catastrophe.
20:52Lady Evelyn rushed
20:53to visit him.
20:54She whispered that,
20:55You must never risk
20:57your life like that again.
20:58I only got this job
20:59because of you.
21:00I couldn't let you down.
21:01Dad just gave
21:02a humble smile.
21:02Lady Evelyn stood stunned,
21:04unable to find words
21:05for a long time.
21:06It happened that
21:07the guard captain
21:08was retiring.
21:09The new guard captain,
21:10Hardy Bruin.
21:11It was a promotion
21:12he earned with his own blood,
21:14and no one dared
21:15to breathe a word of protest.
21:17Not long after that,
21:18my grandmother fell ill.
21:19Mom took us all back
21:20to the small town
21:21to visit her.
21:22Grandmother had two sons
21:23and one daughter,
21:24and among her grandchildren,
21:26I was the only girl.
21:27Even though I wasn't
21:28her flesh and blood,
21:29she was very kind to me.
21:32I washed her face and hands,
21:34and she pulled a small cloth bag
21:35from under her pillow,
21:37trying to give me silver coins.
21:38For you.
21:40The second day we arrived,
21:41Cassandra showed up at the door.
21:43She was with a short,
21:44stout, middle-aged man
21:45with a face full of arrogance.
21:47What's the use of a girl
21:48learning so many runes
21:49in writing?
21:49Besides, with your talent,
21:50you'll never become
21:51a high-level mage anyway.
21:52This is Horn,
21:53the owner of the biggest
21:53meat shop in town.
21:54He has hundreds of cattle
21:55and several apprentices.
21:56He's a bit older than you,
21:58but he's wealthy.
21:58If you marry him,
21:59you'll be the mistress
22:00of the shop.
22:01You won't have to suffer
22:01with the brunes anymore.
22:03Horn looked me up and down,
22:04looking very satisfied.
22:05He held up two fingers,
22:07acting like a big spender.
22:08I'm willing to pay
22:0850 silver coins to buy you.
22:10Cassandra pulled my mother aside
22:12and whispered,
22:13Of these 50 silver coins,
22:14I'll take 35 and give you 15.
22:16That way you didn't raise
22:16this daughter for nothing.
22:18Mom nearly fainted
22:19from pure rage.
22:20Ella isn't even 16 yet!
22:22That's exactly,
22:23could Tassanen skip a beat?
22:25That's exactly why
22:26she's worth so much.
22:27Grandmother sat straight up in bed,
22:29trembling as she reached
22:30for a broom.
22:31My uncles,
22:31known for their tempers,
22:33grabbed their hoes and axes.
22:34My brothers started
22:35picking up weapons too.
22:37With that fat face of yours,
22:38you think you're good enough
22:39for Ella?
22:41This is the only girl
22:42in our family
22:43and we treasure her!
22:44You have no right
22:44to treat her like her trash!
22:46Mom shielded me firmly
22:47behind her back,
22:48her eyes cold and unwavering.
22:50Ella is my daughter.
22:51Her future is mine to decide.
22:53If you ever try this again,
22:55don't blame me
22:55for what happens next!
22:56Horn was scared
22:57half to death.
22:59Cassandra kept arguing,
23:01saying I had to get married
23:02eventually
23:02and no one else
23:03would pay for me.
23:04Just then,
23:05Dad ran over with news.
23:06Ella passed the Academy's
23:08Junior Magic and Rune exams!
23:10Mom was incredibly moved.
23:11She straightened her back
23:12and looked Cassandra in the eye.
23:14Her voice was loud and proud.
23:15Who said my Ella
23:16would never amount to anything?
23:17She passed her exams
23:18and is moving
23:19to the Intermediate Academy.
23:20One day she will study
23:21High Magic
23:21and become a respected maid!
23:23Cassandra's face
23:24turned deathly pale.
23:25She couldn't find
23:26a single word to say.
23:27My uncles,
23:28aunt,
23:28and brothers
23:29saw their chance.
23:30They shoved Horn
23:31and dragged Cassandra
23:32toward the gate.
23:34They kicked them out
23:35of the house
23:35without a shred of mercy.
23:37The two of them
23:38scrambled away
23:39in utter humiliation.
23:40That night,
23:41Mom held my hand.
23:42Her voice was gentle
23:44yet heavy.
23:45Ella,
23:45life is harder
23:46for us as women
23:46in this world.
23:47You must work twice as hard
23:49at your runes and magic.
23:51Only then will you have
23:52the strength
23:52to stand on your own.
23:54Cecil and I both attended
23:55the Intermediate Magic Academy.
23:57However,
23:58he passed with honors
23:59while I barely made the grade.
24:01His classes were
24:03on the first floor
24:03and mine were on the fourth.
24:05But every day after school,
24:07he would wait for me
24:07on the ground floor.
24:08He was brilliant at magic
24:10and incredibly handsome.
24:11Everyone's eyes
24:12were always on him
24:13and by extension on me,
24:15the pressure was getting to me.
24:16On our way home,
24:17I finally spoke up.
24:19Cecil,
24:19maybe we should walk
24:20separately from now on.
24:21Why?
24:22We draw too much attention.
24:24He looked at me calmly.
24:25Did you master
24:26the spells
24:27the teacher taught today?
24:29Huh?
24:30No.
24:31Not yet.
24:33Then how do you have time
24:35to listen to gossip?
24:36I had no answer to that.
24:39So,
24:40just like always,
24:41he continued
24:42to wait for me.
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