The old woman slowly sat upright on the bed,
then leaned back against the pillow.
Her aged eyes were calm, yet within them
swirled decades of blood, regret, and love.
Her voice broke the silence.
"Twenty six years ago… the Storm Blade Sect contacted me."
The room stilled.
"They sent me on a search-and-destroy mission.
"My task was to wipe out the remnants of
the Dead Ice Prince Lu's descendants."
Her fingers tightened slightly against the
blanket.
"They offered a generous reward… and
promised more once the job was finished."
She closed her eyes.
"I searched for years.
And eventually… I found your father."
Her words slowed, each one heavy.
"I tracked him to his home.
That night, I was ready to complete my
mission."
Then.
"I heard screaming."
Her breath trembled.
"A woman… screaming in labor."
She paused.
"I circled the house and saw her giving birth.
The pain in that room… it hurt me more than
being cut by a blade."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"So that night… I retreated."
The next day, she returned.
"Your father was gone.
Your mother was outside, hanging washed clothes."
Her gaze softened.
"And you… were lying in your cradle."
She let out a faint, humorless laugh.
"So small.
So fragile."
"I didn't realize it then… or perhaps I refused
to admit it."
Her hand trembled.
"But my heart was drawn to that tiny human."
From that day on.
"Whenever your parents weren't paying
attention…
I would sneak in and look at you."
"One day became two.
Two became four."
Her lips curved faintly.
"On the fifth day… I leaned in as usual."
Suddenly.
"You grabbed my cheeks."
Her eyes widened even now at the memory.
"My heart nearly burst out of my chest."
Startled, she pulled away.
"You cried."
Her voice cracked.
"I panicked… and ran when I heard your
mother coming."
For an entire day.
"I couldn't forget the warmth of your tiny
hands."
She wandered the village that day.
"And I heard your mother was looking for a
nanny."
Her eyes sharpened with pride.
"As a master assassin,
I could disguise myself—even from energy detection."
"So I became a forty-year-old woman."
"And I became your nanny."
Five years passed like flowing water.
"I watched your first steps.
Your first words."
Her smile trembled.
"Your laughter… whenever you were in my arms."
Her voice fell.
"I couldn't bring myself to harm your parents."
So she asked for time.
"I sent word to the Storm Blade Sect to meet
me far away, in another city."
Only one man came.
"I told him I couldn't find the remnants… and returned the sack of rewards."
He stared at her silently.
"Then he threw it back."
Her jaw tightened.
Ready for possible battle.
"But he said it was payment for my
wasted time."
"I hesitated."
"Normally, I would've refused.
But—I thought of you."
"Your smile.
Your toys.
Your sweet treats."
"So I took it."
"That— That was my mistake."
Her strength faded as she neared the village.
Her breathing grew ragged.
"He had poisoned the sack."
"When I touched it… it entered my bloodstream."
"And it became a tracker."
And then—Her eyes widened.
"I heard screaming."
She rushed back.
"It was a bloodbath."
Storm Blade assassins were slaughtering everyone.
She ran to your house.
"It wasn't breached yet… but barely."
She urged your parents to flee through the
back.
"I stayed behind… creating the illusion they
were still inside."
She killed anyone who entered.
But.
"The poison was eating me alive."
Each burst of power caused backlash.
Blood spilled from her lips.
"One assassin slipped past me.
He saw everything.
And gave the signal."
Using the snow to track them.
"They chased your parents into the forest.
She followed.
Killing.
Bleeding.
Fading.
She pushed herself beyond her limits.
When she reached them.
"Your father was barely alive."
Wounded.
Surrounded by over two dozen Emperor
Evolves.
"And you… crying in your mother's arms."
Her killing intent exploded.
"In a millisecond—
I slit every assassin's throat."
She appeared before you.
Then.
"The backlash struck me like thunder."
She collapsed.
Blood poured from her mouth.
As her vision darkened
She heard a voice.
"Thank you, Nanny Tiajna Blade."
When she awoke.
"You were beside me.
Wrapped in sheets.
Inside a cave."
On the wall.
Energy-carved words glowed faintly.
Thank you, Nanny Tiajna Blade.
"Your parents had known."
"They explained everything."
The coincidental savings.
The miracles. Of Beast threats vanishing.
The protection.
"It all started when I entered your lives."
They had overheard her one night—Talking
about teaching Glacier the Tiajna Blade.
They laughed.
Accepted her lie.
And entrusted her with everything.
The old woman finished speaking.
The room was silent.
Glacier sat motionless.
Tiajna's heart sank.
Thoughts rand wild.
"She hates me…I deserve it…"
Her voice shook.
"It's okay if you hate me.
I'm used to being hated."
She bowed her head.
"You don't have to hold it in…"
Then.
"I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA TIAJNA BLADE!"
Glacier threw herself into her arms.
Tiajna froze.
Then broke.
Tears poured freely.
"Oh Glacier… I lied."
Her arms wrapped tightly around the girl.
"I could never get used to your hatred."
"I love you… so much."
Behind them—
A sniff.
El-Mond turned.
Nina was crying.
Eldred stared upward, fists clenched,
holding back tears.
The night was quiet.
But their bonds—
Were louder than any blade.
To Be Continued.