Prologue: The Weaver's Advice

Hearing the words of Yukina, Pandora did nothing more but released a smile. "Maybe or maybe not... Though, I believe that there is no need for you to even act like this. After all, the Saint Zero Academy has its own dormitory, meaning that no one would be able to return to their families until a couple of years later."

"So pretending to be cold is practically useless in this situation as sooner or later, your real persona would emerge harder than ever before. It's not good to keep one's emotions trapped deep within the heart." Pandora warned and gave a piece of advice to Yukina.

"What you said might be correct, but this is something I must do as a member of the house of Glacies. I have to maintain our image as the youngest. Otherwise, who would I be?" Yukina sighed as she leaned on the monolith of the platform while gazing towards the vast heavens.

Yukina's ice soldiers stood silently, waiting for her commands while she tried to gather the raging thoughts within her head. She wondered what she wanted to do and, to be honest. People rarely called her out for pretending to be a cold person. Perhaps Pandora was the first person to fearlessly call her out despite knowing her identity.

"The responsibility of a bloodline. One must follow what the siblings, parents, and ancestors had done before, or else, one wouldn't be able to call themselves the same name as their family. This problem appears in a multi-generational family. To be honest, it isn't a rare problem."

Pandora responded and gave her thoughts regarding what Yukina had said. "In families like that, there will always be one that would feel left out. Unlike others who would be able to adapt to their ways without a hint of a problem, some find it hard to adapt no matter how much they had done." Pandora continued with a calm tone.

Hearing the words Pandora uttered, Yukina raised an eyebrow and turned her gaze toward Pandora as she quietly questioned. "You sound like you know a lot about that problem. Do you also go through this problem with your family?" It was somewhat of a simple question that only needed one word as an answer.

"Yes... To be honest, I don't know when it started, but a rift emerged between my family and me. I simply don't understand them and dislike how they go through life. Of course, I understood there was nothing I could do about it. They were too stubborn to change."

Pandora sighed to herself as a saddened expression emerged on her face. This was because she remembered why she entered the Atlas Imperium and wanted to join the Saint Zero Academy. Her dream to become a saint emerged during the time of her childhood.

The time when the highest height of the discord between Pandora and her family dwelled.

It wasn't something Pandora was willing to talk about, so she decided to change the subject. "I left my home in exile after determining that I wish to become a saint. I remember that it was at least three years ago that I arrived in this country after my exile."

Yukina was shocked after hearing about the life of a beautiful stranger she had recently met. She determined that Pandora was a straightforward person who would go right straight to a subject without a hint of delay and hesitation. She was someone who wasn't afraid of words.

"That's rough, buddy... I apologize for asking a rude question." Yukina responded as Pandora smiled and shook her head in denial. "It isn't a rude question, to be honest. Some things are needed to be released from one's heart. Otherwise, they would be risked with heavy pressure towards themselves."

This kind of thought process was taught to Pandora by her ideal, and she moved through life with this motto. While it made her insensitive to others' feelings, it gave her a clear view of everything in its true self. So, in all honesty, asking questions wasn't something Pandora hated.

Rude or not, the truth deserves to be given.

"So, do you think you made the best choice from what you had done?" Yukina asked as she wondered if what Pandora had gone through was worth it. Pandora then chuckled upon hearing Yukina and calmly replied. "If you are thinking of seeking confirmation through my experience, I advise you not to."

"People go through feelings differently than others. The word sad will always be nothing more than a single word until you feel it for yourself. If you truly wish to know what I feel, I won't compare it to sadness. Just think of it as being lost in a new world."

"There will be no one you could rely upon, and you would have to live for yourself. No one to tell about your experience, no one to talk to, and nothing to live for other than a long-standing dream. Of course, the internet lessens some of the effects of loneliness." Pandora explained as Yukina nodded in understanding.

Pandora then turned her gaze towards the forest and quietly muttered to herself. "The others have arrived, Yukina. It looks like we will have to continue our talk later." Yukina then turned her eyes toward the direction where Pandora's gaze was looking at.

The bushes ruffled as many other candidates throughout the island emerged one after another. Yukina readied herself as Pandora started to prepare her threads. Even though fighting against a candidate wasn't within the requirements, that doesn't mean a battle would be avoided.

After preparing herself, Pandora looked at Yukina and gave a piece of advice for one last time during the entrance test. "Yukina, if you genuinely wish to act cold, then there is one thing that you should never forget. That is how to act cold and aloof."

"Don't speak too much, don't answer any questions, gaze at them right in the eyes without uttering a single word, and finally, make your facial expressions as emotionless as possible. That is my simple advice."

"I hope you take it well,"

Pandora then smirked after giving her advice to Yukina. She turned her gaze toward the candidates and walked forward. Pandora stood her ground and spoke coldly to the newly arrived individuals.

"Don't take a single step, or all of you will lose your limbs."