《Amelia》 The Cursed Child Chapter One: The Cursed Child Amelia knew she was unwanted before she even understood what the word meant. Born into the illustrious House of Everwyn, her arrival was met not with joy, but with disappointment. She was too small, too weak, too plain. Where her sisters had golden hair and porcelain skin, she had dull brown locks and a complexion that made her look sickly. Her father, Lord Everwyn, had taken one look at her and declared, ¡°The gods mock me with this one.¡± Her mother never contradicted him. Amelia learned quickly that the world had no place for girls who did not shine. Her sisters, Celeste, Isolde, Seraphina, and Livia, were the embodiment of beauty and grace, each more stunning than the last. They were adored, doted on, and dressed in the finest silks. She, however, was given servants'' scraps and forgotten in dark hallways. But it was not the lack of love that hurt Amelia the most¡ªit was the whispers. ¡°She is cursed,¡± the maids would murmur when they thought she wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°A child of misfortune. The gods must have turned their faces from her.¡± ¡°Or worse,¡± an old governess had once muttered, ¡°perhaps they are watching her with amusement.¡± The only refuge Amelia had was the library. She spent hours hidden between the towering shelves, losing herself in stories of heroes who defied the gods and rose above their fates. But no matter how much she read, she knew she was no hero. She was a girl meant to be forgotten. Until the night the voice came. It was after another miserable dinner, where her father praised Celeste¡¯s flawless embroidery and Isolde¡¯s perfect posture while Amelia sat in silence, unnoticed. As she lay curled in her cold, narrow bed, staring at the wooden beams above, a whisper drifted through the room. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Do you wish to be more? She bolted upright, heart pounding. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Silence. Shaking, she clutched her blankets and forced herself to lie down. It must have been her imagination. Too many nights spent reading tales of magic and gods had made her mind play tricks on her. Do you wish to be more? The voice came again, deep and ancient, carrying the weight of centuries. This time, she did not answer. She only clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. Because the truth was, yes. Yes, she did. The voice returned the next night. And the next. It came in dreams, in whispers that curled around her thoughts like shadows. At first, it only asked the same question, over and over. Do you wish to be more? Then, one night, it changed. Will you take the first step? Amelia hesitated. Was she going mad? Perhaps the gods had finally decided to break what little remained of her mind. Yet, something in the voice called to her. It was not mocking, nor cruel. It was patient, waiting. She swallowed hard, then whispered, ¡°Yes.¡± Pain shot through her body like fire. She gasped, clutching her chest as an invisible force coiled around her. It burned, twisted, reshaped. Every nerve screamed as if she were being remade from the inside out. She wanted to cry out, to beg for it to stop, but she couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t breathe. And then¡ª [System Initialized.] A screen flickered to life in her vision. Glowing letters hovered in the air, their light casting strange shadows across her small, dark room. Name: Amelia Everwyn Class: Healer Level: 1 Attributes: Strength: 2 Agility: 3 Endurance: 4 Mana: 10 Faith: ??? Abilities Unlocked: Amelia stared, her breath shallow. A system? Like in the old legends? Then, before she could fully comprehend what was happening, another line appeared. Hidden Bloodline Detected. A sharp pain lanced through her skull, and visions flooded her mind. Memories that were not hers. A battlefield drenched in crimson. A god with sorrow in his eyes. A golden throne, shattered into dust. The whispers of a name, spoken by a thousand voices¡ª Barium. Then, silence. Amelia gasped as she came back to herself. Sweat dripped from her brow, her hands trembling. She had no idea what she had just seen, but one thing was clear. She was no longer powerless. She had a system. A path to strength. For the first time in her life, Amelia was free. The First Step Chapter Two: The First Step Amelia¡¯s breath was uneven as she sat on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling in her lap. The glowing text still hovered before her eyes, waiting, expectant. She reached out instinctively, but her fingers brushed against nothing. The words remained, flickering slightly as if responding to her thoughts. She took a slow, shuddering breath. ¡°This¡­ this isn¡¯t real,¡± she whispered, but her heart knew otherwise. A system. A blessing¡ªor a curse? It didn¡¯t matter. It was hers. She swallowed, willing herself to focus. The first thing she needed to do was understand. Her eyes traced the words again: Name: Amelia Everwyn Class: Healer Level: 1 She hesitated. A healer. Of course, it had to be something gentle. Something passive. She had hoped¡ªfoolishly¡ªthat she might be something else. A warrior, perhaps. A rogue, slipping through the shadows unseen. But no. Attributes: Strength: 2 Agility: 3 Endurance: 4 Mana: 10 Faith: ??? Her fingers curled slightly. The numbers were low¡ªlaughably so. She had always known she was weaker than others, but seeing it so plainly written stung. Still, there was one thing that stood out. Faith: ??? A question mark? What did that mean? The other attributes were given numbers, but this one remained unknown. Why? She exhaled slowly. No use dwelling on that now. There was more to look at. Abilities Unlocked: ? Healing Touch (Basic): Restore minor injuries with a touch. ? Passive Regeneration: Wounds heal slightly faster over time. Healing. The most basic and gentle of skills. It figured. Amelia leaned back against the wooden wall, staring up at the ceiling. A small part of her whispered that this wasn¡¯t a gift¡ªit was just another joke played on her by the gods. They had given her power, but only enough to keep her weak. A healer could mend wounds, but they could not fight. They could not protect themselves. And yet¡­ it was still something. Her hands clenched. She had spent her whole life wishing for more. This was her chance. She refused to let herself wallow in self-pity. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. She needed to understand more. Amelia closed her eyes and focused. If this truly was a system, then there had to be a way to navigate it. The heroes in the old stories always had menus, ways to call up information. If she could just¡ª Status. The text shifted immediately. Status Menu Name: Amelia Everwyn Class: Healer (Basic) Level: 1 Experience: 0/100 Attributes: ? Strength: 2 ? Agility: 3 ? Endurance: 4 ? Mana: 10 ? Faith: ??? Skills: ? Healing Touch (Basic) ¨C Active ? Passive Regeneration ¨C Passive System Notes: ? Experience is gained through healing, aiding others, and personal growth. ? Skills can evolve based on repeated use and understanding. ? Hidden potential detected. Locked until further development. Her pulse quickened. Experience was gained through healing and aiding others. Not through combat. She bit her lip. If she wanted to grow stronger, she would have to embrace this path, whether she liked it or not. But what did it mean by ¡°hidden potential¡±? Was that the strange visions she had seen? That name¡ªBarium¡ªwhy had it felt so important? She pressed a hand to her temple. Thinking about it made her head ache. Another thought struck her. If this was a system, could it track others as well? ¡°Party,¡± she whispered hesitantly, recalling the old legends. Nothing happened. She frowned. ¡°Scan?¡± Still nothing. Perhaps she was thinking too far ahead. If she was alone, it made sense that party mechanics wouldn¡¯t be available to her yet. She sighed, rubbing her temples. Then a new thought emerged. If she was a healer, she needed to understand how her abilities worked. And there was only one way to do that. She had to test them. Amelia sat up, her heart hammering. Was she really about to do this? Would it even work? If she failed, she might be stuck with an injury she couldn¡¯t mend. But if she never tested it, she would never know. She clenched her jaw. No. She refused to be afraid. She had been powerless her whole life. Not anymore. Moving with newfound resolve, she reached for the small knife she had hidden beneath her mattress. It was dull, more of a letter opener than a weapon, but it would do. Her fingers trembled slightly as she turned it in her palm, the metal cool against her skin. She took a deep breath and pressed the blade against the soft flesh of her forearm. A shallow cut. Just enough to draw blood. She hesitated only for a moment. Then, she pressed down. A sharp sting lanced through her skin as crimson welled up. Pain flared, but she gritted her teeth. It wasn¡¯t deep¡ªshe had made sure of that¡ªbut it was real. She let out a shaky breath and focused. Healing Touch. Warmth flooded her fingertips. It was faint at first, a gentle tingling, but then she felt something more. A pull, as though the very essence of life was shifting within her. The wound beneath her touch began to glow softly, the pain fading as the skin slowly knitted itself back together. She watched, transfixed, as the cut sealed completely within seconds, leaving only the faintest trace of where it had been. Amelia gasped. She had done it. She had healed herself. Her hands shook as she stared down at them. She felt drained, as if something inside her had been used up. But at the same time, there was an undeniable thrill coursing through her veins. For the first time in her life, she had power. Real power. Not the kind her sisters wielded with their beauty. Not the kind her father commanded with his wealth and influence. This was hers. And it was only the beginning. The Cost of Healing Chapter Three: The Cost of Healing The moment Amelia¡¯s wound closed before her eyes, a jolt of exhilaration rushed through her. The stinging pain was gone, replaced by a dull warmth that spread through her arm. She flexed her fingers, watching in fascination as the smooth, unblemished skin remained untouched, as if the cut had never existed. A soft chime echoed in her mind, and her gaze instinctively snapped to the glowing screen that hovered in her vision. [Healing Touch (Basic) Used ¨C Experience Gained: 5 XP] Her breath caught. It worked. The system rewarded her for healing. For the first time in her life, she had a way to grow stronger. No longer a forgotten shadow lurking in the halls of House Everwyn¡ªshe had power now. Real power. But a darker thought crept into her mind. If healing granted experience¡­ what if she kept healing herself? Would the system continue rewarding her? Could she accelerate her growth by inflicting small wounds and mending them over and over? The logic made sense. Her fingers twitched as she considered it, the dull knife still lying beside her on the bed. She could keep doing this. Small cuts, shallow wounds¡ªnothing dangerous. If she healed enough times, she would level up, and maybe, just maybe, she could carve a path out of this life. Amelia shuddered at her own thoughts. She pressed her palm against her chest, feeling the frantic beat of her heart. This wasn¡¯t right. Hurting herself to grow stronger¡ªit was wrong. A part of her recoiled at the idea. The whispers of the servants came back to her. ¡°She is cursed.¡± ¡°A child of misfortune.¡± Perhaps she was. But even so, she refused to let this path consume her. There were others who suffered more than she did. Servants whose hands bled from endless work, stable boys with broken fingers from angry nobles¡¯ punishments. If she wanted to gain experience, there were plenty of others who truly needed her healing. Not just herself. Yes. That was the answer. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Amelia released a slow breath and tightened her fingers into a fist. She wouldn¡¯t resort to self-mutilation. She would help others. She had to. She focused back on the system, her thoughts shifting to the other notifications. There was something else she needed to understand. Mana: A quick glance at her status revealed that her mana had dropped slightly. If her full mana had been 10, she now had 8. Healing had a cost. It drained her, even if only a little. A fresh wave of excitement mixed with apprehension filled her. This meant she couldn¡¯t heal endlessly. If she ran out of mana, what would happen? Would the system stop her? Or would she suffer consequences for overuse? A new thought settled in her mind, a dangerous one. What if she used all of it? Her fingers hovered over the blade again, her heart pounding. This time, the temptation was stronger. If she wanted to understand her limitations, she needed to push herself. A single cut had taken two points of mana. What would happen if she kept healing? Would the exhaustion be like missing a night of sleep? Or would it be something far worse? A dangerous curiosity burned inside her. What if she exhausted her mana completely? Would she pass out? Would the system punish her? There was only one way to know. Her breathing turned shallow as she slowly, deliberately, pressed the edge of the blade to her forearm. The last cut had been shallow. This one, she made deeper. Not enough to be dangerous¡ªshe wasn¡¯t reckless¡ªbut enough to feel the sharp sting as blood welled up. She winced, but a strange sense of detachment settled over her as she activated Healing Touch once more. The warmth spread, the pain vanishing in an instant. [Healing Touch (Basic) Used ¨C Experience Gained: 5 XP] Her mana dropped to 6. Amelia swallowed. Again. She made another cut, just below the first, watching with growing fascination as the skin split. Another surge of warmth. The wound sealed. Another chime of experience gained. Mana: 4. A dizzy sensation prickled at the edges of her mind. She was starting to feel lightheaded. Her breath came faster, and yet, she couldn¡¯t stop. Just one more. One last cut. She dragged the knife across her palm, the sting sharp and immediate. Healing Touch. The warmth was weaker this time, but still, the wound disappeared. The notification flickered. Mana: 2. Her vision swam. The room seemed to tilt, shadows stretching unnaturally in the dim candlelight. A heavy exhaustion pulled at her limbs, whispering to her, urging her to stop. But she couldn¡¯t. Not yet. A final cut, deeper than the others, ran across the back of her hand. One last heal. As the magic surged one final time, the world darkened. A weight crashed over her, her limbs refusing to obey. The last thing she saw before the void swallowed her was the flickering light of the system notification. [Mana Depleted ¨C Entering Forced Recovery State] Darkness. Silence. Oblivion. Then, nothing. A New Perspective Chapter Four: A New Perspective A sharp shove to her shoulder yanked Amelia from the depths of unconsciousness. She groaned, her body sluggish and heavy, the remnants of last night¡¯s reckless experiment still weighing her down. Before she could fully come to, another harsh push rocked her. ¡°Wake up, you lazy thing! Mother and Father are calling for you,¡± Celeste¡¯s voice cut through the fog in Amelia¡¯s mind like a shard of ice. Amelia peeled open her eyes and found her eldest sister standing over her with arms crossed, golden hair cascading down in pristine curls. Celeste¡¯s lips curled in distaste as she took in Amelia¡¯s disheveled state. ¡°Why are you so pale? Ugh, never mind. You look awful, as usual,¡± Celeste sneered. ¡°Hurry up, or Father will have your hide. One of the maids is sick, and since you¡¯re so... expendable, you¡¯ll take her place.¡± Amelia blinked the sleep from her eyes and sat up slowly, her body protesting every movement. For once, Celeste¡¯s words did not sting as they once had. She had a secret. And nothing Celeste said could take that away. The realization sent a small thrill through her. The dark bitterness that used to coil in her chest at their treatment was absent today, replaced with something new¡ªanticipation. She had been waiting for a moment to check her system properly, to study what had changed since last night. The pain of her mana depletion had been intense, but she had survived. And now she had information. She suppressed a smile and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, ignoring Celeste¡¯s expectant glare. ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± she said simply, stretching her aching limbs. Celeste frowned, clearly dissatisfied with Amelia¡¯s lack of reaction. Normally, she would have expected Amelia to flinch, sulk, or drag her feet, but today was different. ¡°You seem oddly cheerful,¡± Celeste remarked with narrowed eyes. Amelia only shrugged. ¡°Should I not be?¡± Celeste¡¯s frown deepened, but she had no time to pry further. She flicked her hair and turned on her heel. ¡°Well, don¡¯t dawdle. Unlike you, we have important things to prepare for.¡± With that, she strode off, her silk gown swishing behind her. Amelia exhaled, running a hand over her face before standing. She was still tired, but her excitement kept her moving. As expected, her parents barely acknowledged her as she entered the grand hall. Lord Everwyn stood at the head of the long dining table, discussing something in hushed tones with Lady Everwyn. Both of them barely glanced her way as she approached. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°The guests will be arriving this afternoon,¡± her father said without preamble. ¡°One of the maids is ill, so you¡¯ll take her place preparing the entrance hall and assisting the other staff. Do not embarrass us.¡± Amelia nodded, biting back the urge to ask why she, their daughter, was treated as little more than a servant. It was a question she had asked herself too many times before. Was she truly their child? Had there been some terrible mistake at birth? But she pushed the thoughts away. She had more important things to think about now. ¡°Yes, Father,¡± she said quietly, then turned to leave. Just as she passed her sisters, they giggled amongst themselves. ¡°I hope they brought rare perfumes,¡± Isolde mused, flicking her hair over her shoulder. ¡°The last visitors gifted me one with the scent of white orchids and honey. Simply divine.¡± Seraphina smirked at Amelia. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand, of course. The guests always come to admire beauty, not... well, whatever you are.¡± Their laughter rang in Amelia¡¯s ears, but today, it was nothing more than background noise. She did not rise to their bait. Instead, she simply smiled to herself, much to their confusion. Nothing could ruin her mood today. She threw herself into her work with a strange lightness in her heart. For the first time in her life, she felt as if she had control¡ªsomething no one could take from her. So engrossed was she in dusting the great hall and arranging the entranceway that she forgot to take breakfast. It was only after she finished sweeping the marble floors that she found a quiet moment. Heart racing, she ducked into an unused corridor and focused. The system screen flickered to life before her eyes. [Status] Name: Amelia Everwyn Class: Healer Level: 0 Experience: 88/100 Mana: 14/14 Abilities: ? Healing Touch (Basic) ? Passive Regeneration Her eyes widened. Twelve points away from leveling up. And her mana had increased? Even though she hadn¡¯t gained a level yet? Her mind raced. Did this mean she could train her mana like a muscle? That repeated use would naturally increase her reserves? She needed to test this. Her first thought was self-inflicted injury. She bit her lip. It had worked before, hadn¡¯t it? But no. She shook her head. That was dangerous. If she pushed too far again, she could pass out at the wrong time¡ªor worse. Besides, there were plenty of people who actually needed healing. She would simply find someone who required help. Determined, she turned back toward the hall, intent on finishing her duties. If she worked quickly, she might have time to sneak into the servants¡¯ quarters to find someone who was hurt. But fate had other plans. As she hurried down the corridor, her mind still spinning with possibilities, she collided headfirst with another maid. The impact sent Amelia staggering back, and the other girl let out a yelp as she stumbled. Pain flared across Amelia¡¯s face. Something warm dripped from her nose. She raised her fingers and winced at the sight of blood. The maid gasped. ¡°Oh no! I¡ªI didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± Amelia barely heard her. Instead of anger, a thrill of excitement ran through her. An injury. An excuse to use her healing. An excuse to get those final twelve points. Ignoring the sting, she turned and dashed back toward her room, leaving the maid staring after her in shock. ¡°I hope she doesn¡¯t spread the curse to me,¡± the girl muttered under her breath. But Amelia didn¡¯t care. For the first time in her life, she felt truly alive. Level-Up Chapter 5: Level-Up Ameli stumbled into her room, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her front was already soaked in crimson, the warm trickle of blood still seeping from her nose. She barely registered the mess as she slammed the door shut behind her. Heart pounding in anticipation, she pressed her fingers against her nose and whispered, ¡°Healing Touch.¡± A soothing warmth spread from her fingertips, sinking deep into her skin. The bleeding stopped instantly, the pain dulling to a faint throb. Encouraged, she cast it again. Another wave of relief washed over her, and the lingering discomfort faded. A third time, and it was as if she had never been hurt at all. DING! The chime rang in her mind, making her breath hitch. She scrambled to open her status screen, her hands trembling. The glowing text appeared before her eyes: [Level Up!] She had done it! She had reached Level 1! Her eyes eagerly scanned the screen. The experience bar now read: 24/200 She needed 200 points to reach Level 2, and she already had 24. Her mana pool had also changed. [Mana: 16/16] A rush of realization hit her. Her mana had been refilled and even increased. This truly means that she could train it like a muscle and she could even expand her limits with practice. Amazing. DING! Another notification popped up, and her pulse quickened. A new skill? [New Skill Acquired: Cleanse] Cleanse? She tapped the description. [Cleanse: Instantly removes all dirt, grime, and impurities from your body and clothing within a 30cm radius.] Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Amelia blinked. That meant her clothes were included! She could stay spotless no matter how much she worked or sweated. This was better than she could have imagined! DING! Her excitement doubled as yet another message appeared. [All attributes increased by +2] Her body tingled as a warmth coursed through her, like sunlight filling every inch of her being. Her stats had increased! She quickly checked her status. [Strength: 4] [Agility: 5] [Endurance: 6] [Mana: 18] Faith, however, still remained blank. DING! [Skill Points +2 Earned!] She could now improve any of her abilities. The possibilities thrilled her. She could enhance Healing Touch, making it more potent. Or perhaps invest in Cleanse? She had so much to consider. But first¡ª A wicked grin tugged at her lips. She cast Cleanse. Warmth surged through her again, but this time, it was accompanied by an odd sensation, like a cool breeze wiping across her skin. A moment later, she felt as if she had just stepped out of a refreshing bath. Her clothes, once stained and rumpled, were now pristine. The sweat and grime from her hard labor were gone, leaving her feeling brand new. She stared at herself, awestruck. ¡°This is amazing.¡± A sharp knock on her door shattered her moment of triumph. The door burst open before she could react. Celeste stood there, her golden locks shimmering in the morning light, her expression twisted in annoyance. ¡°You lazy bum!¡± she snapped. ¡°The guests are almost here, and you¡¯re lounging in bed?!¡± Amelia turned slowly, her good mood still bubbling inside her. Normally, such words would sting. But today? Today, she had power. Celeste marched into the room, thrusting a pair of embroidered shoes at her. ¡°Shine these. Now.¡± Amelia looked at her sister, then at the shoes. She had spent years obeying without question. But now? Something had shifted inside her. Something strong. Something unbreakable. She straightened her spine. ¡°Go away and shine them yourself.¡± Silence. Celeste¡¯s mouth fell open. For a moment, she seemed unable to process what had just been said. Amelia continued, her voice firm. ¡°Mother and Father may command me. But not you.¡± Celeste¡¯s shock quickly morphed into rage. Without warning, she raised her hand and slapped Amelia across the face. A sharp sting bloomed on Amelia¡¯s cheek. But¡ªthat was all. Celeste pulled back, shaking out her hand as though she had struck stone. Her expression turned from fury to bewilderment. ¡°W-What?¡± Amelia simply met her sister¡¯s gaze, unfazed. ¡°Get out.¡± Her voice was quiet, but the command in it was undeniable. Celeste took a shaky step back, her face pale with disbelief. This wasn¡¯t how things were supposed to go. Amelia was supposed to cower. To cry. To obey. Instead, she stood firm, her gaze unwavering. Celeste¡¯s face twisted with frustration. ¡°I¡¯m telling Mother!¡± she spat before storming out, her heels clicking against the floor. Amelia exhaled slowly, her hand brushing against her cheek where the sting was already fading. For the first time in her life, she had defied them. And it felt incredible. Memories Chapter 6: Memories Amelia sat on the edge of her bed, her body still humming with the rush of defying Celeste. But as the adrenaline faded, something else crept in¡ªsomething heavier. Her past loomed over her like a dark shadow, the memories clawing their way back into her mind. She had spent her entire life as an outsider in her own home. Her sisters had always been the shining stars. Celeste and Vivian, beautiful, charming, and adored. Their parents showered them with gifts, praised their accomplishments, and ensured they received the finest education. Meanwhile, Amelia had been left in the dark, unnoticed, a mere shadow in the corner. While her sisters attended prestigious academies with private tutors, she had been given books¡ªnothing more. No teacher, no mentor. Just books, piled high in a dusty corner of the estate¡¯s library. If she wanted to learn, she had to do it alone. She had tried so hard to prove her worth. When she was younger, she had run to her mother, beaming with pride, holding a book she had painstakingly taught herself to read. ¡°Look, Mother! I read this all by myself!¡± But her mother¡¯s response had been cold. ¡°Why must you always beg for attention, Amelia? Be quiet.¡± It had stung. But it had been worse when she saw the same woman fawn over Celeste¡¯s artwork the very next day. ¡°Such talent, my darling! You truly are gifted,¡± her mother had cooed, kissing Celeste¡¯s golden curls. Amelia had stood there, invisible, while jealousy and pain twisted inside her. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. She had endured years of neglect, of being treated like a mistake. And then came the whispers. The servants thought she didn¡¯t hear them, but she did. ¡°She¡¯s cursed.¡± ¡°She was born under a bad omen. That¡¯s why her parents ignore her.¡± ¡°Have you noticed how Lord and Lady Everhart never take her to social events? She¡¯s never been introduced to the noble society.¡± It was true. While her sisters attended grand galas, smiling in their sparkling dresses, Amelia remained locked away. She had never set foot in a ballroom, never been introduced to potential suitors or noble allies. She was a ghost. She had once dared to ask her father about it. She had stood before his imposing desk, trembling but determined. ¡°Father, why do you keep me hidden? Why do you treat me differently?¡± His sharp eyes had barely glanced at her before he returned to his paperwork. ¡°Do not ask such foolish questions, Amelia.¡± That had been the end of it. He refused to speak of it again. And so, she had learned to stop asking. At some point, she had accepted her miserable existence. There was no changing it. No one loved her. She had no place in this world. The only thing she could do was survive. But even that had been a struggle. She had spent years battling self-doubt, sinking into the depths of depression. The constant belittlement, the loneliness¡ªit had eroded her confidence until there was nothing left. She had spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, wondering if she truly was cursed. If something was wrong with her. If she was unworthy of love. Sometimes, she had thought about disappearing. Maybe then, they would notice her. Maybe then, they would feel something. But no. They wouldn¡¯t. They wouldn¡¯t care. The thought made her laugh bitterly. And yet, now, something was different. The system had changed everything. For the first time, she had something that was hers. Something powerful. Something that made her feel like she wasn¡¯t worthless. Was this why she had been born different? Was this the answer to her suffering? She clenched her fists. No. She wasn¡¯t going to drown in those thoughts again. She wasn¡¯t going to let herself spiral into self-hatred. She had power now. And for the first time in her life, she had hope.