In an ice cream parlor known for its gigantic sundaes and multiple flavors, three young people were enjoying their frozen treats. Axel had a cone with a scoop of chocolate ice cream, Maxwell was sipping on a vanilla and coffee milkshake, and Lucy was devouring a massive ice cream sundae of over a liter, with seven different flavors.

  —How can you eat so much with such a small body? —Maxwell asked, astonished at Lucy's voracious appetite—. But anyway, changing the subject, if I remember correctly, Lucy, you were a professor at the Magic Academy, shouldn't you be giving classes or something?

  Maxwell, despite knowing Lucy for a long time, never fully understood what she did for a living. She always seemed to be involved in different activities, and she held two official positions: one as a professor at the Magic Academy and another as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Magic Affairs.

  —I'm not strictly a professor —Lucy responded—. My job is as a researcher and engineer for the development of magical artifacts, though I do give occasional lectures on Thursdays for beginners.

  —Then why the Deputy Minister position? —Axel asked.

  —Because of that woman, my biological mother and the current minister —Lucy explained—. She wants to keep me under surveillance and assigns me extremely complex tasks, like the one I'm currently working on. We're developing a magic barrier capable of counteracting teleportation magic. It’s simple to understand: normal barriers block everyone from entering or leaving, they take a long time to break, but if the user has teleportation magic, they’re useless. Creating a barrier that specifically excludes those users has been exhausting.

  Seeing an opportunity to learn more about his "blessing," Axel turned to his sister:

  —That must be a tough job, sis. Can I ask you something related to magic?

  Lucy nodded.

  —I know that people who are born "Gifted" have a unique magic within them that only they can use, like Maxwell and his ability —Axel continued—. And then there are magicians and witches like you, who are born with magic and can imbue objects with it. But… is it possible for a normal human to be imbued with magic and gain something similar to a Gift?

  —It’s impossible —Lucy replied firmly—. I know because I’ve read the records. Many experiments have been conducted, and that possibility has been ruled out. Do you think you're the first person to consider that idea? People born without magic die if magical energy enters them. Even those born with Gifts cannot survive exposure to magic that isn’t their own. If you were thinking this could help you become stronger, then I’m sorry to disappoint you.

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  Axel took a moment to reflect on his sister’s answer before speaking again.

  —In ancient times, there were stories of heroes who received gifts and extraordinary powers from the gods they served. Some were even born as demigods with exceptional abilities. What do you think about that?

  —Brother, those are just legends made up by ignorant people when civilizations were still primitive —Lucy answered—. There’s never been proof that those gods existed, or as some call them, "Superior Spirits." And those legends have never been taken as facts. When people die, they leave behind traces of the magic they possessed in life, like a small, colorful, glowing dust. The colors on their corpses indicate the type of magic they used, whether they were a magician or Gifted. If they were Gifted, very little of that dust remains in the body; if they were magicians, the amount is immense. Archaeologists have found many of these bodies in the past, but never anything related to demigods or divine treasures. That has never happened.

  —Then… what is this "blessing" that Lily says I have? —Axel wondered to himself.

  A week later, at the same ice cream parlor and at the same time, Axel was once again enjoying a chocolate ice cream. However, this time he wasn’t alone. Sitting across from him was a beautiful woman savoring a giant one-liter vanilla sundae.

  —These new ice creams are fantastic —Lily said—. In the past, they would simply shave ice and mix it with flavored syrup. But now, milk cream ice creams have become my favorites.

  Axel was dressed elegantly, wearing a neatly ironed shirt and trousers instead of his military uniform, along with a fragrant cologne. After all, as he had told himself, "How many times can you say you've gone on a date with a five-thousand-year-old princess?"

  —We agreed to meet here, and you promised to tell me how you know so much about me and my friends —Axel said—. So, answer me, Princess, how?

  —In the Elven country bordering the northeastern frontier, there exists a kind of Oracle —Lily replied—. She, the seer, told me to seek you out and gave me a detailed description of you. How she knew that? I have no idea. But she said that after five thousand years of searching for an opportunity, you represent the only chance to defeat her. The "Goddess" has already awakened, and I assure you, very bad things are about to happen.

  —And why haven’t you been able to defeat her in over five thousand years? —Axel asked.

  —You see, boy, I’ve managed to imprison other so-called "False Gods" in the past —Lily responded—. But she is on another level. I had lost hope… until you appeared. I don’t know how, but with you, I finally believe I can win. You just need to come with me to the Elven country.

  Just as Lily finished speaking, a strange sensation ran down her spine—something Axel, to his misfortune, was all too familiar with. And for Lily, it was also unmistakable: an imminent sense of danger!

  A deafening explosion rang out in the sky, and suddenly, a pillar of light appeared just a few meters from where Axel and Lily were seated. Standing before them was a humanoid figure wearing a mask, exuding a chilling bloodlust that was impossible to ignore.