10th May, Prestwich City, at Center Mennork.

At the Sallon University, one of the most renovated women's universities in Conan County, Republic of Steatha, Skyler Hall, a nineteen-year-old woman with long straight black hair braided at the ends, blue eyes radiant with innocence, and thin features, was taking history class.

She rested her head on her right hand, and checked the time with the pocket watch with her left hand. The ticking of the clock echoed in her ears, making her heart beat faster.

“Bless these ladies, I suppose...” Sitting in the third row of the lecture hall, Skyler watched the two students wearing elegant dresses.

Narrowing her eyes, she heard that the students below her were speaking the language of Creria, which was the original language of the Northern Continent before the Genesis Testament Century.

Seeing them whispering cheerfully during history lesson gave her a pang in her chest, a pang very close to jealousy that was growing more and more. Their feeble laughter was like a sharp knife piercing her gut, leaving her with a feeling of indecency.

Although the low murmurs of other students could be heard in the lecture hall, a middle-aged blonde woman turned her gaze towards the desk where Skyler was sitting, “Miss Hall, what art you thinking? Can you explain to the whole class what happened 150 years ago in Steatha?”

“O-of course, Professor Essie!” Skyler stood up from her seat, and picked up the book that was on her desk, “150 years ago, a civil war occurred in what was once the Kingdom of Steatha. After the death of the Sirion Royal Family during the war, Governor Aaron McNamara, along with Benjamin Mar and Freddie Moore, transformed the Steatha Monarchy into a Republic.”

“Excellent, Miss Hall” Professor Essie coughed twice, and picked up her clipboard, “The lesson ends here. Be sure to study today’s topic, as this shall be included in next week’s test.”

Skyler put her history book in her bag, took it with her, and left the classroom.

The east wing was crowded with elegantly dressed female students coming out of class. Their murmurs echoed like music in the hallway adorned with arched white marbles that matched the brown-edged white wall.

Skyler hurriedly walked toward the nearest exit, clutching her bag tightly.

She came out of the east wing, a cold breeze lifted her hair as she reached the main square of the university. It was very active, with students talking to each other, their murmurs mixing with the chirps of the white pigeons, creating a soothing melody.

She rummaged through her bag to make sure she hadn’t left anything in the classroom.

“Nothing seems to be missing…” Skyler closed her bag, and was about to leave the main square when…

“Hello Miss Hall! How is my sweet friend?”A voice rang out.

Hearing the voice, Skyler turned, seeing a familiar woman walking towards her.

She was beautiful. She had long wavy brunette hair that reached her hips. Her soft hourglass physique exuded maturity and beauty. She looked at Skyler with her brown eyes shining with intelligence.

One thing that impressed Skyler was her long, bright brown dress with white sleeves and collar, which exuded charisma and nobility, along with her white embroidered gloves that she wore.

“Oh, it’s you, Lady Throne.” Skyler said, curving her lips upwards. “I’m fine, thanks, I see you’re full of energy as always.”

“As always, I dare say. On the other hand, I was waiting for the literature lesson to end, so I could ride my beloved Ange!” Evelyn exclaimed, closing her distance between her and Skyler.

“Didn’t you have a dance lesson today?” Skyler asked, stunned by what Evelyn said.

Evelyn laughed lightly at Skyler’s expression, and in a soft voice said, “It’s true, but my teacher wasn’t feeling good today, so I’d rather go horse riding.”

Skyler’s eyebrows drew together, forming a crease of concern on her forehead, “How is Ange now? You told me that she was feeling ill these days.”

“Don’t worry,” Evelyn curled her lips and placed her hand on Skyler’s shoulder. “My horse is in great shape now, there’s nothing thou need to worry about.”

She took two steps forward, then turned back, her smile was radiant like a sun, “Come on Miss Hall, let’s take a walk.”

Evelyn’s words made Skyler’s heart skip a beat. Goosebumps ran down her spine, making her tremble as a few female students were watching her strangely.

“B-but aren’t you waiting for the royal carriage? I-I don’t want to disturb you.” Skyler looked at the students who were whispering to each other, her lips trembling.

She was nervous, much more than usual. As a sense of oppression was pressing down hard on her, she heard the students whispering to each other. She looked away, pursing her lips.

She wanted to be by her side, but at the same time, she felt that she was ruining Evelyn’s beautiful image.

For a moment, Evelyn looked at Skyler perplexed, but then she formed a sincere smile, her voice was like a melodious bell, “Disturb me? Miss Hall, thou don’t disturb me at all, I dare say. Since we started university, we haven't had the opportunity to walk together, and so I'd like to talk to thou. I also told my aunt to wait for me at the nearby library, I dare say.”

There was nothing she could do. Skyler was mesmerized by Evelyn’s words, it was as if her bewitching smile was trying to shine through the darkness that surrounded her.

She didn’t want to bother her, yet Skyler couldn’t push away those words, she couldn’t push away her friend.

“Alright… if you say so, then I will follow you.” Skyler said, comforted by Evelyn's demeanor.

Taking a deep breath, Skyler reached her friend with a few steps, leaving the university building with her.

Walking next to Evelyn at Center Mennork, she noticed that the streets were choked with crowds of people, the deafening noise of their heavy footsteps constantly mixed with those of the horse-drawn carriages.

There was a constant stream of carriages with different floors going back and forth on the gray cobblestone main street, and Skyler could hear the wheels creaking and the horses neighing in the street.

Evelyn turned her gaze to Skyler, her eyebrows knitting together. “Skyly, could you take me to the cemetery next week?”

“Of course,” Skyler answered quickly. Her expression abruptly changed, and worry settled into her chest like a heavy stone. “It’s their anniversary… right?”

“Yes… This is the 14th anniversary of their deaths. Even though I don’t have many memories of them, I miss them so much.” A wistful smile formed on Evelyn’s face.

As soon as Skyler saw the worry etched on Evelyn’s face, her heart clenched. Evelyn’s usual bright smile vanished, replaced by a worried frown, her eyes clouded with anxiety. Without a second thought, Skyler wrapped her arms around her friend, pulling her into a tight hug.

Evelyn’s body was tense at first, but then she melted into the embrace, her shoulders shaking as she let out a shuddering breath. “Skyly, there’s no need to cry, someone will see us.”

“But… I can’t help it…” Skyler’s voice wavered as she held on, hoping that her warmth could ease Evelyn’s fears. Her sobs were short, desperate gasps, her whole body shaking as the worry came over her in waves.

Evelyn gently pulled back, cupping Skyler’s face in her hands. “I’m very pleased that thou care about me, but… I don’t want thou to suffer for me, otherwise I would feel very bad.”

Skyler nodded, blinking back the tears that stung at the corners of her eyes. She took the handkerchief that Evelyn offered her and wiped her face, trying to compose herself. “I’m sorry… I don’t know why I’m like this.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Evelyn said softly. “We all have our moments.”

As they continued walking, a comfortable silence fell between them, but Skyler’s thoughts kept churning. She could feel the weight of something unsaid, something she had buried deep within herself for so long.

Evelyn’s voice broke the silence, her tone reassuring but curious.“Skyly… I was wondering what your father was like.”

“My father?” Skyler put the handkerchief inside her bag. She felt a familiar pang of sadness at the mention of him.

“Yea, since we met, thou’ve never told me much about your father, I dare say.”

Skyler gazed up at the gray sky, watching clouds drift lazily and birds fly in graceful arcs. The wind brushed her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

A melancholy air settled over her. “You know, it’s been many years since my father died, but sometimes it feels like it was only yesterday.”

Skyler paused, her voice catching slightly. “I don’t cry that much anymore, but the loneliness still haunts me. There are days when I’m fine, busy with life, but then something small, like a song, hits me, and I start to miss him even more. My father was a kind and caring person, even though I always ignored him. He took great care of me, and taught me to be myself… regardless… of everything.”

Skyler’s chest ached with a dull, persistent pain, and still looking up at the gray sky, “When he died… the world collapsed on me.” She paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “Sometimes I feel so alone in this situation. I know that people care about me, and I’m grateful, but it’s difficult to explain this emptiness I feel…”

“I’m sorry…” Evelyn whispered, her own eyes shining with unshed tears. “I didn’t mean to bring up something painful.”

Skyler looked at her friend Evelyn, her eyes softening despite the pain. She forced a small smile and waved both her hands dismissively, “You don’t have to apologize… I’m the one who should apologize, I’m very pathetic.”

Evelyn wrapped her arms around Skyler again, holding her close. “Thou art not pathetic, Skyly. don’t carry that pain alone. I’m here, always.”

As Skyler was struggling to allow herself to believe that. As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s warmth, a thought grew in her mind.

“Sometimes… I wonder if a person like me is worthy of your kindness.”

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

North Mennork, 15 Angel Lane Street.

In a street where brick houses are joined, Skyler Hall entered her home, putting her coat on the coat rack near the entryway. She climbed the yellowish wooden stairs to her bedroom. As soon as she entered her room, she moved the vials, papers, and cosmetics scattered across her desk, and placed her bag on top.

She changed out of her elegant bluish dress, put on her yellowish-brown pajamas, and left the room, closing the door behind her.

She went to the kitchen, where a slender elderly man with short gray hair and blue eyes, wearing yellowish-brown pajamas, was waiting for her sitting at the table. She sat in the seat next to the older man.

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“Do you have any plans tonight?” The elderly man asked, his voice was deep.

“No, Uncle Benson, why do you ask?” Skyler looked at Benson.

Her stomach rumbled when she saw the fish stew that was on her side of the table. She swallowed the accumulated saliva, picked up a knife and fork, and tasted the stew, trying to mask her unease.

On the adjacent side, Benson frowned and clasped his hands tightly, his knuckles turning white. “I’m asking you because some brutal murders happened recently. Luckily, nothing happened to Prestwich City, but be careful from now on when you have to go out.”

“Are you talking about that case where the serial killer kills young ladies?” Skyler asked, her voice barely steady as she ate her stew.

The tension in the air was quite sharp, like a weight pressing on both of them.

“That’s right, my dear. I thought its rampage stopped last year in the Kingdom of Aetheria, but sadly I was wrong. Two ladies were killed, one in Ravenport and another in Blackley.” Benson continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. “What a misfortune… may the Son of Nature watch over us.”

Benson’s shoulders were slightly hunched, and Skyler could see the conflict in his eyes, a rare sight that made her heart race.

“I know you’re worried about me, and I’m so sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on when I go outside in the evening. Thank you, Uncle, for being thoughtful towards me.” Skyler said.

Seeing the sad expression forming on Skyler’s face, Benson stood up from the chair. He gently waved his left hand over Skyler’s head, his touch light and conforming, “What are you saying? It’s obvious that I’m considerate,” he said, his voice warm and reassuring. “After all, I’m your uncle, and it’s normal for me to be so.”

As Benson gently removed his hand, Skyler rose from her chair, and pursing her lips she said, “Thank you so much Uncle Benson, seriously. I’m going back to my room now, and if you need help don’t hesitate to call me.”

“Don’t worry and rest. The day has been long, and I’m sure you’ll want to take refuge under the covers.” Benson smiled as he picked up the plate from the table, his voice soft and calm.

Whilst Benson placed the plate in the sink, Skyler exited the kitchen, walking up the stairs. Her innocent and sweet smile now became a melancholic expression, standing in front of the door of her room.

With a breath she opened the door and it creaked sharply, her room was completely painted crimson red.

She lit the candle holder that was in her desk with a match, turning to her right with remorse plaguing her.

She saw a robust man with short wavy black hair and light gray eyes. He had a short trimmed beard that gave him an adult look. He wore a vest, and a black suit with a long black coat on which blended with his cold gaze, as he was huddled in the corner of Skyler’s room near her bed.

“And you don’t even give me a word today.” Skyler sighed.

Despite her words, the man didn’t even let out a breath. He stared at her, his eyes narrowing in a mixture of anger and something deeper—disgust, perhaps. His lips pressed into a thin line as he looked at her. It was as if every ounce of his fury was tempered by deep disappointment, and resentment towards Skyler.

“Well, at least I tried.” A feeling of sadness made its way into Skyler’s soul.

With her lips curled downwards, she placed the gas lamp on the yellowish desk, opened the curtains, and looked out the window. The crimson moon bathed the dark street and houses in front of her with an eerie red light, mingling with the steady glow of the gas lamps.

A crow perched in a nearby gas lamp, its beady eyes watching Skyler intently.

The sight sent shock down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared back at the crow, its presence unsettling. The wind whispered through the leaves, adding to the sense of unease.

“Why does that crow give me this feeling of danger?” Skyler's heart was pounding.

The crow’s gaze felt almost accusatory, as if knew her deepest fears and doubts, making her tremble.

She could feel the weight of the night pressing in on her, the crimson moon casting long, ominous shadows.

The air around her trembled, as if reality was distorting. Something was being generated, denying the laws of physics, a disturbance in the red sky.

“What… what the hell is that thing?” Skyler’s blue eyes looked at the thing before her in disbelief.

Above the sky, on a crimson moonlit night, a giant eye opened, revealing a golden iris. The pupil of the golden eye, which was the size of the moon, stared deeply at a dwelling—the dwelling of Skyler Hall!

Her body trembled as she continued to stare creepily into the eye. That look was the same as the perched crow like it knew her deepest fear. She felt desecrated as if her privacy was completely exposed to the eye like an open book.

An elderly couple who were walking down the street with their hands joined entered her field of vision, their shadows cast in the stone street by the gas lamps. The man looked at the crimson moon in admiration, and then kissed her partner.

“How did he not see it!? Why can I see the eye and he can’t!?” Skyler’s mind was clouded with confusion as she perplexedly looked at the eye, trying to figure out what was happening.

As the elderly couple disappeared from her vision, she chewed nervously on her right thumbnail. She slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath that inflated her lungs, trying to calm down as she reopened them after a few seconds.

“Huh?” Skyler let out a gasp.

Her eyes were focused on seeing what was outside the window. Her brow widened, surprised by what she saw. The eye, which was hovering in the sky intently watching Skyler as if it wanted to reap her, vanished completely.

She walked to the window, seeing that the crow perched in the gas lamp also vanished, a black feather slowly fell in a zigzag pattern into the stone street.

“I’m daft. Maybe it’s just my imagination.” Skyler tore her gaze away from the gas lamp, her mind was reeling as she convinced herself that what she saw wasn’t real.

She gave herself a light slap, looking for a way to shake off the feeling of unease. Closing the curtains with a swift motion, she shut out the eerie scene of the crow and the giant eye. The room felt colder, the silence more stagnant.

She sat down in the chair, resting her head and arms on the desk, the wood cool against her skin. Exhaustion washed over her, and despite the lingering unease, she blew out the flames of the candle, then drifted into a restless sleep.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Skyler Hall finds herself in an unfamiliar place. A thick gray fog enveloped her completely, spreading infinitely in all directions. She felt like her entire consciousness was fused with the endless gray.

She tried to speak, but couldn’t make a sound, as if her vocal cords had been removed. Fear began to emerge within her. She tried to put her hand on her throat, but only then, she noticed that she couldn’t feel either her hand or her throat.

Her physical form was non-existent, leaving her to observe the infinite gray as nothing more than a mere point of view.

For the disembodied Skyler, not only looking away, but even closing her eyes was forbidden. All she could do was just observe her surroundings.

Slowly her vision shifted to a particular point within this space, seeing the image of a little girl huddled in the corner of her room hugging her knees.

She had long reddish hair almost close to black, to the point that it seemed to blend with the darkness around her. Her hair was divided into two large braids. Her eyes were gray, which gave her a sorrowful look along with the long brown tunic she wore.

The little girl cried and sobbed and cried repeatedly. Her image, mixed with the gray room, was like a dreamlike painting that conveyed melancholy.

Suddenly, a middle-aged woman with long hair wearing a bluish robe entered the room.

She grabbed the little girl by the collar, lifting her off the ground. Her furrowed brow conveyed repudiation, and without waiting she gave the little girl a strong slap, the noise resounding rhythmically.

Again, again, and again. The woman continued to slap the little girl repeatedly, each slap seeming stronger than the previous one.

“Please… stop… please… stop hurting her.” Skyler shrieked a voiceless cry, denying the scene before her.

But, without a throat to raise a sound, the image continued to engrave the outcome in her molten consciousness.

The pale face of the crying and defenseless little girl was slightly swollen with bruises as she looked fearfully at the middle-aged woman.

The woman panted deeply, akin to a predator when it saw its prey as she continued to slap the little girl. She finally stopped, the palm of her pale hand in mid-air was completely red, her breathing was heavy, like a marauder after a nice fresh kill.

“You… are the disgrace of this family. It’s your fault that he left me! It’s all your fault that my life is ruined!!” The middle aged woman shouted, her voice became filthy.

The little girl’s body trembled, blood came out of her nostrils dripping onto the ground, her swollen face was in tears.

With her lips trembling, the little girl spoke, her voice becoming soft and trembling, “I-I’m… sorry… I’m… sorry…”

Despite her repentance and remorse that she felt and put into her words, the middle-aged woman gritted her teeth in disgust in front of the little girl. She raised her hand higher, like a spear ready to pierce her.

“Don’t do it, please… don’t do it.” Skyler begged and begged so that the woman wouldn’t do what she was thinking.

The woman panted heavily, as if channeling all her energy into one shot, and then…

“Nooooooooo!!” Skyler’s voiceless voice rang out. She wanted to look away, but failed, and she could do nothing but watch the horrible outcome against her will.

The little girl hit her head on the wall after the slap she received, a front tooth fell into the woody floor of the room with a sharp clink as she fell to the floor. The woman left the room, slamming the door behind her with a heavy, sharp noise.

Skyler looked sadly at the little girl’s epilogue. She could only feel sorry for her, while harboring a grudge for the person behind this monstrosity.

If hate could kill a person, Skyler Hall could have killed the woman millions of times before her hate faded. Such was the depth of the act committed by the woman. And she couldn’t forgive her for any reason in the world.

While her mind was in turmoil with negative emotions, Skyler saw something that stunned her. A strange and small black-purple discrepancy formed in the gloomy room, as if the room itself was shattering like glass.

“But… what is happening now?” Skyler felt a strange sensation, like something was sucking her in. The discrepancy gradually became larger and larger, throwing uneasiness at every second.

She desperately tried to resist that uncontrollable force, but her consciousness, fused with the gray world, left her defenseless. She could only watch the discrepancy sucked her in, surrendering helplessly.

Everything was collapsing, everything was becoming hollow, the gray world was on the verge of vanishing completely, and then—

Everything went black.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Skyler blinked slowly a couple of times, finding herself in a familiar space this time. It was a dark void that stretched endlessly in all directions, an endless expanse of nothingness that defied comprehension like the gray world.

“Why… am I here?” She murmured faintly.

She touched her throat several times, realizing that not only could she speak, but that her entire body was back to normal.

Suddenly, she heard a childish female voice. “Daughter of the devil!”

A pang pierced her chest. Cold terror seeped into her bones, paralyzing her with fear. The voice she heard was a harsh whisper that echoed.

She heard another voice, but it wasn’t the same one as before. This time the voice was a childish male voice. “Disgusting, the monster is staring at us.”

The sharp words slipped into Skyler’s ears, wrapping around her mind as if to torment her.

Skyler’s breathing quickened, her lips were trembling, “You’re wrong! I… I’m not a monster!”

“It’s so terrifying that her mother committed suicide after she was born.” The insult pierced her like a blade, sharp and cold.

She covered her ears with her hands, but the multiple voices she heard became louder, more insistent.

She heard another female voice whisper to her, in a now mocking tone, as if savoring her torment, “Abomination.”

The word hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, filling her with a deep and oppressive shame.

Skyler, with her eyes and face wet with her tears, succumbed to the desperation that had crept into her skull.

“Why… Why are you all treating me like this!?… Why do you act like I’m different from you!?… What did I do wrong!?.. Why do you hate me so much!?…” Skyler shouted.

Her words echoed in the infinite void as she sobbed and despaired helplessly.

“Please.” Skyler whimpered, her voice now a mere whisper, choked with fear and desperation. “Please leave me alone.”

But the voices only laughed—a joyless and childish sound that sent a shiver down her spine.

“You can hide as much as you want… you can run away as many times as you want, but you can never escape from your sins.” A deep voice chimed.

“Huh?” Skyler heard a hoarse voice, looked around and saw a completely black figure wrapped in a purple-black cloak walking towards her with echoing footsteps, giving off a tremendously hostile aura.

“W-Who are you?” Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, so loud it rumbled. She could feel the slimy tendrils of panic envelop her, tightening in their grip with every step the black figure took.

“What does he want to do to me? What will he do to me as soon as he gets close? What will happen to me?” As she processed her thoughts wandering through her mind, Skyler tried hard to ignore the fact that her body was shaking.

But no matter how many times she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t alone in this endless dark void.

As the black figure closed the distance, Skyler froze, her blood turning to ice. She wanted to run, to scream, to do anything but stand there in front of that presence like a statue, but her legs refused to move. Fear held her still, a prisoner of her own terror.

The figure put his hand in her face. “Skyler Hall, your birth is the greatest sin committed by humanity!”

The end grew closer. After witnessing domestic violence, after all the harsh words against her, Skyler Hall crumbled out before the black figure.