Chapter 3 - The Price of Sins
"Rachel! You're awake! Thank goodness!"
The door burst open, and her mother rushed to her bedside. When her mother's cool hand touched her cheek, Rachel's eyes welled with tears. She had prepared herself never to see her again.
"Mother..."
"Rachel, you're still so pale. Come, let the doctor examine you."
Her mother wore her black hair in a neat chignon. Her sharp eyes, a trait Rachel had inherited, made her look quite severe, but she was actually a woman overflowing with love and gentleness.
"Now then, let us see. I shall begin with a general examination and check the flow of your mana."
In the whirlwind of her mother's entrance, Rachel hadn't noticed Dr. Donald, the royal physician with a long white beard, standing behind her. Sarah hovered anxiously in the rear.
Rachel felt sluggish and weak. She remained passive as Dr. Donald's warm mana circulated through her body.
"This is..."
"Doctor, what is it? Rachel is recovering, isn't she?"
Her mother grew frantic as Dr. Donald's expression turned grim. Rachel, however, already had an inkling of what he was about to say.
My mana is gone.
The magic that had always surged within her was nowhere to be found. Even in her confusion, she noticed the absence of something that had been there since birth.
"It can't be."
"Madam, please, stay calm!"
"But I've never heard of mana simply withering away!"
Her mother swayed, clutching her head in shock. Sarah quickly moved to support her.
"It is rare indeed. I have only read of it in ancient texts; this is my first time witnessing it in person."
"What can we do? How do we bring it back?"
Her mother gripped the doctor's arm, her voice rising, but the physician only shook his head solemnly.
Rachel watched the scene blankly. Her mother's distress seemed to sharpen her own clarity. In this world, no one was without mana. Nobles typically possessed vast reserves, while commoners had less. It was often compared to the size of a vessel—a washbasin for some, a well for others. Rachel had always been exceptionally powerful, possessing a reservoir the size of a lake. To have that wither away meant the vessel itself was gone. Without mana to bolster her immune system, she would be prone to illness and constant fatigue. Even walking would become a chore.
Ah, I see. This isn't a dream or a simple second chance. This is my punishment for the people I hurt and the lives I ruined. In my previous life, I used this magic to try and harm the Saint. This must be the price.
If so, what a blessing. Only she would have to suffer. She wouldn't have to hurt anyone else. Sarah and the coachman wouldn't have to die. The Saint wouldn't have to suffer her jealousy.
Perhaps I really can start over.
A single tear of pure relief escaped her eye.