Chapter 393.1
Flora, who had been pondering the old man’s words, let out a wry chuckle. My own ugliness? I’ve seen that countless times.
Despite being one of the rare Anikas—only a few dozen in the world—Flora had never felt a sense of superiority. There were fleeting moments of pride when people gazed at her in awe or when knights treated her with the utmost respect, but these feelings never lasted. Whenever she visited the palace annex, she saw it filled with Anikas of various ages and lifestyles. Though they lived more comfortably than others due to their wealth and fame, they aged, fell ill, and their lives were not so different from ordinary people. Flora, too, was just one of the many Anikas.
Moreover, Jin, to whom she had been compared since birth, was an insurmountable barrier. Despite possessing the most powerful Ramita among the Anikas, Flora could not freely showcase her abilities. She feared displeasing Jin and often felt self-deprecating when Sang-je showed favoritism towards Jin, wondering, “Is Ramita really that special?”
Flora was tormented by her own inferiority complex, her inability to escape Jin’s shadow, and her inner prayers for Jin’s misfortune—something she loathed about herself. For her, there was nothing uglier to see.
“What you said is ambiguous. What does it mean to see one’s worst? How does it affect a sorcerer? Will it drive them mad or lead to death?”
“According to ancient texts on this sorcery, it does not affect the sorcerer’s mind or body. However,” the old man paused briefly, gauging her reaction, before continuing, “it is recorded that all sorcerers met miserable ends.”
Aldrit subtly glanced at Flora, trying to gauge her expression.
“…Was there a reason recorded?” she asked.
“The sorcerer’s desires often bordered on malice. Evil begets evil. They were likely killed by those who held grudges against them.”