Silvia: I Do

"I need you, Servia."

The wizard world was shrouded in dark clouds.

There was no trace of brilliance left.

A black sun hung high in the sky, twisted and grotesque, casting deeper despair upon all things.

Awakening from a thousand-year slumber, the hero had grown accustomed to such a sight—yet a newfound warmth emerged, urging her to step out of the darkness.

A counterfeit hero.

A flawed hero.

A hero plagued by self-doubt.

Those words were torn apart by sheer conviction, leaving behind nothing but pure acknowledgment.

"...Lord Wizard, c-can I really do it?"

The impostor hero asked timidly.

She lacked confidence in herself.

"Yes, Servia. Your condition is unique. My future research depends on you. If we cannot leave together, I would be deeply troubled."

The young wizard voiced his concerns.

He dedicated himself to the study of life and death, and Servia's peculiar physique was the perfect subject for his research.

And so,

he invited the girl to depart with him.

He needed her help.

Yes—someone was now asking for the impostor hero's aid.

"I... I..." Her emerald eyes trembled violently, shimmering with unshed tears, flickering between silence and turmoil.

In that moment, countless memories surged through her mind.

Her parents' expectations, her family's honor, the cheers of her people... In the end, all those cherished fragments of the past coalesced into an invisible force.

A gentle push against Servia's back.

Urging her toward the future.

Rather than being shackled by the wretched past.

"I'm willing..."

"To help you..."

The hero named Servia Clawphire was needed once more.

She was a coward who fled from reality, a weakling who dared not face the truth. But this time, Servia wanted to try—to step beyond this land steeped in memories.

Because someone had told her they believed she was the true hero.

Servia did not want to betray that trust.

An almost comical scene unfolded.

The hero fumbled over herself,

flustered as she retrieved a tarnished silver coin, offering it to Xu Xi. "Lord Wizard, thank you..."

Even though it was Xu Xi who had requested her aid,

the hero acted as though the roles were reversed.

She tried to give him payment, as if he were the one owed.

Her movements were cautious, nervous, and uncertain—enough to leave Xu Xi silent.

"There's no need for this, Servia."

Xu Xi gently pushed the coin away.

His voice was soft.

The one who should be giving compensation was him, not the girl who had already given so much.

"Come with me, Servia."

The wizard extended his invitation once more.

"Yes..."

This time, the hero did not refuse.

She lightly grasped Xu Xi's hand, letting him pull her to her feet.

The prologue of the hero had ended.

Now, the hero would embark on an adventure—side by side with the wizard.

...

[The Netherworld's corruption of the wizard world deepens.]

[You survived a tide of ten thousand vengeful spirits.]

[You gained much and rescued Servia Clawphire in time.]

[The lonely, pitiable girl had lost everything—her lands, the people she once protected. From now on, she would be trapped in eternal solitude.]

[You extended an invitation, claiming your future experiments required her.]

[You spoke no lies—every word was true.]

[Though you had already gathered more than enough information.]

[Gazing at the blackened sun, you found this world unbearably tragic. You disliked such a story.]

[Hero Servia has decided to join your party.]

[Hero Servia has accepted your request.]

[Hero Servia is preparing for the journey ahead.]

...

At the mountaintop where her parents' remains were buried,

the girl placed a small bouquet before each gravestone.

The flowers, dulled by the world's decay, still carried a faint fragrance.

"Father."

"Mother."

"I'm leaving now..."

Her whisper dissolved into the wind.

Servia stared at the tombstones, her sorrowful gaze lingering for a long time.

As if in silent reply,

a gust of wind lifted one of the flowers, sending it spiraling through the air.

Instinctively, the girl reached out—

and caught it perfectly in her palm.

Whoosh—

The sound of the wind.

Pushed forward by its force, Servia reunited with Xu Xi, ready to depart at last.

...

[The Netherworld sends forth a deathly gale—the wizard world is on the verge of collapse.]

[Before the world's end, you wish to complete your research on death and uncover its origins.]

[You and Hero Servia have formed a two-person team.]

[Servia bids farewell to her parents.]

[Servia closes the gates of her estate.]

[She takes one last look at her homeland—though bleak and ruined, her eyes shimmer with an unplaceable light.]

[You think perhaps the girl isn’t seeing reality, but the Clawphire of a thousand years ago—a past where her parents still lived, where her people cheered, where the lands flourished with abundance, birdsong, and blossoms.]

A nether-raven beat its elongated wings,

carrying Xu Xi and Servia toward a distant, unfamiliar horizon.

Servia still wasn’t used to flying at such heights.

Her fingers clung desperately to the gaps between the raven’s bones, terrified of slipping. The biting winds only heightened her tension.

"It's alright, Servia. I’ve already set up defensive spells. Even if something happens, we’ll be protected."

"B-but... I'm scared..."

Hero Servia hesitated, unable to finish.

Xu Xi couldn’t help but chuckle.

Time was the best teacher. After seven or eight hours in flight, Servia gradually grew accustomed to the weightlessness, even daring to glance at the world below.

From such heights,

everything seemed infinitely small.

An absolute silence.

An absolute loneliness.

Servia disliked the feeling—but seeing Xu Xi beside her brought an inexplicable calm.

Then, she remembered something.

"Lord Wizard."

"What is it, Servia?"

"Will... will I still need to remove my armor in the future?"

"Hmm, most likely," Xu Xi replied.

Hero Servia flushed slightly.

She realized that traveling with Xu Xi might truly make stripping her armor a habit.

That… probably went against the Clawphire family’s traditions.

Unaware of her inner conflict, Xu Xi was busy mapping out her future.

Since he had chosen to bring Servia along,

he would take full responsibility.

"Hmm... First, we should test if she has any aptitude for wizardry."

"Her armor and weapons also need replacing—the current set is too damaged."

"Fortunately, I studied magical equipment crafting at the White Crow Tower. I can forge lighter, more flexible gear to enhance Servia’s combat ability."

A memory surfaced—two years ago,

the girl had once asked if her body could be restored to normal.

Xu Xi paused briefly before adding that to his plans.