I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

A FEW DAYS AGO.

Darkness had always been a friend.

A stillness that overtook my world.

Flowing and eternal, a ghastly quiet that absorbed the essence of what I once was.

The tranquillity that came with the shadows… and the peace of a world thought evil by the rest of it.

The world may hide from it. Run from it. Abandon it, but I would never.

Because while the greatness of the light blinds those who walk in blindly, the solace of darkness embraces all, fully.

•

•

•

Eyes snapped to life, lilac and vibrant with a flicker of something pure that dissipated within them.

It glanced up at the old Victorian ceiling, a faded art canvas. The once-brilliant plasterwork had yellowed with age, yet dark roses, curling thorns, and swirling motifs still sprawled across its surface with quiet majesty. Dust softened the edges of the carvings, while cobwebs clung in the corners like delicate lace.

From those corners, magic lamps glowed faintly, casting a crimson hue across the ancient room.

Their light bled over the draped furniture and shrouded bedding, painting the decay in a sombre elegance.

Within that elegance, and the sheets of black, was a petite violet-haired.

Her expression was masked between slight discomfort and annoyance.

And her gaze had long since snapped from tiredness.

Sharp and aware, she sat up on her bed and glanced around.

A yawn escaped her lips as she did so, and her head reeled in with thoughts that lay unspoken.

'Hah… I'm back home.'

An amused chuckle escaped her lips.

'I nearly questioned my surroundings.'

The old innards of a once Beautiful Castle stood as a stark reminder to her of the contrast that came with their name.

A Great Family with a history long forgotten by the public, and hidden by the higher-ups.

And within their grasp, it was clouded under a sheath of dust that was long overdue.

'But what can be done…'

Her expression suddenly hardened.

There was, in fact, something that could be done.

At that moment, a knock resounded on her door and echoed through the walls of the room.

A slight disturbance to her morning, but far from familiar to be considered a nuisance.

"What is it, Tacha?"

She muttered as she slowly climbed to the edge of her bed.

"Good Morning, Lady Sophia." A voice greeted.

Elegant and respectful in all the right ways.

"I suppose you had a good sleep."

Sophie froze at the edge of her bed at the question as a flash of memory came to mind.

Her gaze narrowed and a sigh escaped her lips.

"Did mother ask you to say that?"

A tense silence hung in the air, but soon, Tacha, the Maid's voice rang again.

"We are worried, My Lady."

She stated.

Sophie shook her head.

"I am fine, Tacha. Neither of you needs to worry."

She slid off her bed with a light thump as her feet touched the cold tiled floor.

For a moment, her body seemed to recoil from the cold, but her senses stopped her from moving an inch.

Instead, her fingers coiled tightly and pressed against her palm.

'Wha– What is this feeling?'

Ever since she had returned home, she had acted differently.

Funnily enough, it wasn't worth the attention.

After all, changes existed in growing adults.

But this was different… and it had begun deep within her.

Something everyone in the house had noticed.

"Alright then, Miss. Shall I help you prepare your bath or–

"I'll be fine myself, Tacha. Handle other matters. I'll be hungry once I'm out for instance."

The Maid sighed slightly in dejection.

But soon, her footsteps echoed and began to recede from the door.

Sophie waited for a few seconds for the footsteps to disappear, before pulling herself away to begin her day.

'What does mother wish to speak about that she would wake me this early, anyway?'

A yawn escaped her lips as she walked towards a mirror which stood at the foot of her bed.

There, she stood and inspected, as she always did.

Some moments passed in silence.

W

'Still nothing.'

She thought as she glanced at the marker placed at the corner of the wall next to the mirror.

A marker… that coincidentally aligned with her current height.

'Well… it's bound to shoot up, eventually.'

As she lost herself in her thoughts, her expression began to grow serious.

In the mirror stood a girl who was just like her.

Petite, cute and with purple hair and eyes that shimmered with brilliance even within the Darkness.

But something seemed… amiss within her.

A part of her that had always been key.

'The Darkness.'

Darkness had never simply meant shadow or the obscurity of light to her.

No. For Sophia Arcanus, Darkness was eternal, inevitable. It meant everything hidden in the midst of plain sight.

The remnants of chaos… a diabolical, twisted peace that bore far more hatred than war and pure chaos ever could.

That Darkness had haunted the Arcanus Household for years.

A Household of Generation of Hate passed down in cold blood from Patriarch to the next.

And that darkness… began to elude her.

'But why?'

She bit down on her lower lip as the thought consumed her, and the weight of its consequence began to bear on her.

The Arcanus were driven by one thing… and that was the destruction of the Great Families.

If that were to be taken away, then years of revenge… years of hate, will he squandered and wasted.

'deaths upon deaths will be discarded like it meant nothing…'

Her lips quivered as she bowed her head.

Her fingers clutched onto the hem of her gown and she grabbed it tightly.

That was not the Arcanus way.

But what could be done? She had stayed too long in the light that she had nearly forgotten the embrace of the Darkness.

Her long line of mission.

The Past Hate that was meant to drive her into the same goal as her predecessors was beginning to… quell.

And Sophia Arcanus did not know what to do about it.

So, she did what she had always done since her return from the Academy.

She looked up from the mirror with a straight gaze and a firm expression.

Turned around and walked off.

Her day had just begun, and she would not spend it frolicking over her own actions.

Instead, she would move forward.

The Darkness already called to her, so she simply had to oblige.

•

•

•

A few minutes had passed, and Sophia, now walking on the grand halls in her Victorian-style black gown, was headed to her Mother's study.

Besides her was a Maid with a strict demeanour, blonde hair and dull black eyes. Tacha.

They walked without uttering a word, with Sophia leading the way, but their thoughts were anything but quiet.

With her Mother's sudden summons, Sophie had begun to contemplate the cause of it.

But no matter how much she put her head into it, she couldn't find one.

'Well…'

But then again…

'I had taken a few artefacts without letting her know…

I've been acting strange since my return…

And most especially, I haven't seen her yet.'

She sighed.

'Perhaps there are even more reasons why she wants to see me.'

"My lady."

Sophie glanced behind where their eyes locked onto each other.

"Yes?" She muttered in reply.

Tacha observed the lilac-haired for a moment before shaking her head slightly.

"You do not need to worry about a meeting with your mother."

Sophie arched a brow before a chuckle escaped her lips.

"I agree, but I haven't exactly been a dutiful daughter to her since my return."

Tacha lowered her head slightly.

"When have you ever, My Lady?"

Sophie laughed out lightly at her statement, and the once tense air that had clawed at her had begun to decipher.

"True…"

Sophie muttered as they inched closer to their goal.

She folded her arms and looked up at the ceiling as her thoughts flowed freely.

"How about you, Tacha… is there something you want to find out about me?"

The Maid's gaze flickered wide for a second before it resumed its usual form.

And her lips parted open as she tilted her head.

"There is something that has been bothering me, My Lady."

Sophie turned to her.

"Oh? What is it?"

She asked with curiosity.

Tacha bit down on her lip, as if hesitating to speak, but the look from her Lady's eyes urged her to speak her mind.

And quite frankly, she was just as curious to hear Sophie's response.

"It's usually… well, from what I've read, at least."

Sophie's confusion began.

"From what you've read?"

"Yes… My Lady. The way you've acted so far is different. The Master, too, has noticed it, including the missing Artefacts."

Sophie smiled wryly.

"Of course." She murmured.

"But… but…" Tacha stammered as her cheeks began to grow red.

Sophie, who had instantly noticed this change froze on the spot, and coincidently, right in front of her Mother's study.

She stared intently at Tacha, now.

Focusing on her subtle movements to get what she was about to say.

Tacha took a breathy heave as she calmed herself.

"Lady Sophia… is there, by chance… a man?"

Sophie's brows furrowed and her lips twitched.

"A what?"

Tacha coughed slightly.

"Women tend to change because of love… especially when a man comes into their lives.

I've read it a lot, so I wonder–

"What useless things you read, Tacha."

Tacha froze, mouth hung open and her eyes slightly widened.

"What bullshit is that? Huh? Acting weird because of a man."

Sophie scoffed as she yanked her mother's door open.

"Please focus on things that will better the merit of the Family! Nonsense."

She walked in and slammed it shut.

Tacha remained in place, startled by her Lady's reply, but more so by the response that came from her Lady's body.

'Words lie… but actions, don't.'

This was quite a common observation for the usual person, and that caused a wide grin to spread across her face.

'Was Lady Sophie… blushing?'