Later that night, one of the guest rooms inside the Auriga Palace.

“By the law of this world, I may only speak on what has already come to pass. Sir Albel, is your left hand injured in any way? It isn’t, right? You see, you were supposed to be wounded during your battle against the Hound of Ospus at the church—a meeting that has now never happened. A change in a once certainty because of her.”

I traced the etching of the intricate ceiling with the slow drag of my eyes. An untouched left hand was raised as my back rested against one of the beds. I had to prepare an answer regarding Leonora’s second request that involved heading east and meeting the two returning Effigies, and yet, I could only think about what Marna had said.

“Alongside a woman of red hair and a man with a scarred face—your future once consisted of traveling with those two at the start. And now, it’s all a blur...”

“...”

According to what she had seen prior to Eru’s involvement, Lukos was originally the one who would have assisted me into the carriage to Nefra from Firspur. I would have never made it to the semi-finals of the tournament, but instead, would have left early in order to save Alisa and Hilm.

“She is swaying your fate far more than you can understand. And no matter how many attempts I make, I can’t see anything about her even when it regards you. She is nothing and yet everything in the eyes of the World.”

I would have been inflicted with a curse that she referred to as the “Five Marks of Barghest” by Ursa’s onslaught, only to be saved by Haifalaura’s intervention. I walked away virtually unscathed against an altered future, but Marna was still adamant about her disapproval.

“It’s not that simple, Sir Albel. Generations of Elven insight, that which breaches and observes the ways of Providence, are being resisted by a single individual. It’s...frightening. What good are these eyes of mine if I cannot determine the path the World decides on? And it is my duty to see this through, to see that the road you’ve chosen goes unhindered. Not only for your own sake, but for ours too.”

I was faced with an unforeseen crossroad, where both were still twisted and obscured for my eyes. A winding path once observed by Marna, and another that was essentially controlled by Eru. And deep down, I already had my answer even before my talk with Marna.

"...I want you to separate from that girl, Sir Albel.”

“My liege, you’ve been staring at the ceiling for almost an hour now. Are the answers you’re searching for located up there?”

“Would you please quit calling me that...? Do I really look like I’m qualified to be anyone’s ‘liege’?”

Haifalaura was sitting quietly in the corner, upside down on an armchair. For whatever reason, she made herself visible upon us entering the room, but refrained from speaking until now.

“How else would I refer to the one I am bound to by contract?”

“Anything is better than that, even just 'Albel' will do...”

Honestly, the whole calling me her ‘liege’ didn’t exactly sit right with me from the start. I hadn’t even conversed with Haifalaura outside of that isolated realm and our short telepathic connection.

“How about ‘self-depreciating idiot’ then?”

“Kicking someone while they’re down, huh? I kind of liked it better when you were quiet. But, well, I can’t exactly argue with you there either...”

She was straightforward but correct. Even Ossifra was an easier enemy than my constant overthinking these last few days. And at the very least, the former was a visible target that I could escape from if I tried hard enough.

“If you don’t care about what I call you, then how about...Ao?”

“You...”

I lifted from the bed, eyes now on the girl who was hanging her head over the foot of the armchair. She had her arms crossed and eyes closed.

“There’s only one person that used to call me that... Did you look through my memories...?”

It was an abbreviation of my former name, Arata Okubo. In the isolated realm where we first met after her summoning, I could recall the orbs of light that were seemingly just that—my memories.

“I peeked, here and there. I was curious since memories are such an odd thing, each giving off these foreign sentiments and glimpses of a distant past. And out of every memory I looked through, you were the happiest when—”

“Stop. Please. Just calling me 'Albel' is fine...”

I threw myself back on the bed as I shut my eyes for the few seconds of silence that came after. It was a bundle of repressed memories I hadn’t given thought to in a very long time. And quite frankly, it was better left that way.

“If that’s what you want, then so be it. That aside, I wanted to ask you about your answer to that Elven’s appeal—about remaining with that girl.”

“...If you’re wondering about whether I still stand by what I said back there to Marna, then yes, I do.”

“Separating from that girl until the meeting in Yesiah, are you sure that’s the right way to handle this?”

I had declined Marna’s plea toward leaving Eru’s side completely. That small part of me, vocal and imposing as it may be, was still just that; a minor piece that differed from the whole. I agreed and assisted in her desire to leave her hometown. Despite that creeping cowardice inside of me, I couldn’t abandon her after all.

“Mm. As expected of you, Sir Albel. I had a feeling you would say that. It’s simply who you are, and I know I can’t change that part of you. That’s why I hope that you’ll at least hear me out on one more proposal.”

For a short while, I would leave Eru’s side so Marna could come to better understand how her influence worked. A reasonable proposition that I accepted, since we still had three weeks until the meeting in Yesiah anyway. It would allow me to accept Leonora’s second request too, where I could better earn her favor.

“Do you have a better idea in mind or something? I’m all ears.”

“I agree with that Elven. If anything, I believe you should send her back from where she came from. Hm, what’s that saying human’s use? Sometimes it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie, I think? She was never an issue until she was removed from her home. Now, why is that?”

“...”

She had a point there, and I couldn’t respond to her at all. Druhwood was a small town in the south, known for nothing more than its woodworking. Few would make their way through such a town, and given Eru’s personality combined with her status, one could argue that her being withdrawn and sheltered helped her in the long run.

“But it’s not so surprising when you think about it. A human with so little to no experience yet bearing the mark of a Crown. You truly know how to pick them.”

“A Crown?”

I had forgotten that Lukos had once brought up that very same word, ‘Crown’. I hadn’t seen Eru’s mark for myself, but I was also told it even resembled such. But turning my gaze in Haifalaura’s direction, her brows were furrowed with eyes closed as if she were attempting to recall something.

“Haifalaura? What do you mean by—”

“Be silent, you. Tch. It’s on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t get it!”

She began thrashing about in her seat, smacking her legs against the top of the armchair in apparent vexation. And several seconds later, she seemingly gave up on the thought and effort entirely.

“Either way, I’ll go along with whatever choice you make.”

“No, no, no. Don’t just go and change the topic without explaining yourself. What exactly is a Crown?”

“Who knows. Unlike you, I don’t exactly have access to those things called memories. Just think of it as a slip of tongue.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Was she being evasive, or was she serious about lacking memories? I couldn’t really tell with confidence given how little I knew about Haifalaura. Yet her downhearted tone made me believe in the latter, that she was actually being genuine here.

“But I can at least say with certainty, that I don’t like the word itself and the feelings that come along with it. It makes my blood boil, and my chest feels heavy.”

It felt as if she weren’t speaking to me directly, but instead was explaining those feelings aloud to herself. And for some reason, I couldn’t help but think back on the ruins. About the plaque that pictured a sleeping beast surrounded by seven unknown entities. And according to Lukos, Haifalaura had said that the mark on Eru resembled that of a seven-pointed crown.

A mark of a Crown... A seven-pointed crown... Wait, could they possibly be connected, and to Haifalaura as well?

Name: [Dawning of the Black Moon, Haifalaura]

Rank: [Celestial], [Divine Wolf]

Level: [250]

Class: [Hydromancer, Tier XV]

Alignment: [True Neutral]

INFO: A remnant of a primeval being, the Celestial of the Moon, now bound by contract to “Albel”. Has the self-contained ability to cast a wide variety of spells, separate from its stated Class. The creature’s pelt is highly resistant to every form of magic but remains vulnerable to those with the [Apotheosis], [Aberrant] or [Deviant] attribute.

-Currently under the additional effect of [Rebirth Seal].

I took a single glance at her with [Investigate], and I was immediately rattled by even more questions.

“It’s rather impolite to look so brazenly at someone’s status without their permission. You’re not even being discreet in the slightest, you fool.”

“Ghg. You're one to talk, you know... You looked through my memories without asking me, didn’t you?!”

“And you wouldn’t have known about that if I didn’t say anything in the first place.”

So, she’s not mad about the fact that I looked at her status, but more so that I got caught by her...? Didn’t Lorcan notice when I looked at his status too? How exactly are they even doing that...?

Brushing that aside, I instead tried to phrase my question in mind about her status. There were two things that stood out to me the most. The first being the separated ‘attributes’ that seemed like ranks, where one out of three were familiar. And the other was the condition that was labeled [Rebirth Seal]. But before I could even ask, she answered my unsaid thoughts.

“I already told you, didn’t I? Even if you look through my status while seeking answers, most of that means nothing to the current me. Well, it’s strange, but—”

She fixed herself upright onto the armchair, now placing her hand around her neck. It was where a faded, maroon-red ribbon was wrapped like an old, bloodied gauze.

“—I do believe that this may be tied to whatever that [Rebirth Seal] is.”

Her eyes were centered on the darkened ground, distant and full of melancholy. For someone without memories, her emotions were a clear indicator that something still lingered within her. And for that reason, it didn’t seem right for me to ask any further.

“But enough about me, what are you going to do about that?”

“Huh? What do you mean...?”

“Amongst the questions that you asked that Queen-woman, you noticed it too, didn’t you?”

Oh, that’s what she’s getting at. It’s about him.

Before Leonora had left me to my own devices, I was allowed to ask her a few questions. There was a non-answer that stood out the most near the end of our discussion. One that I asked on a whim after looking through Cruubi’s memories. A name, another that somehow knew about me, but I didn’t know about them.

“Kamui...”

I had witnessed the battle between that man and those of the Elven Castle. I decided against bringing it up during our conversation though. Since I had not only learned a bit more about Marna, but also about another potential bearer of a pact.

“In MO, [True Discernment] was a peak skill that was associated with a certain Celestial. It was unattainable but mentioned briefly, since it was a skill that was exclusive to the Celestial itself. The Celestial of Judgement.”

There were others out there that had formed contracts with Celestials somehow. And when I decided to ask Leonora about Kamui, her poker face fractured for the first time during our discussion.

“Indeed. I know of that name. He’s one of three Effigies that was originally summoned here, but due to a conflict of interests, he fled to the north. We’ve refrained from having any contact with him ever since.”

She was quick to leave shortly after, in order to discuss the matter involving the two Effigies at Port Lindes. And despite her stating that she would be truthful in her answers, there was certainly more to their connection.

“I don’t believe she’s lying, but that Queen-woman doesn’t seem willing to divulge anything more about him either. She’s already acting against her dealings with you.”

“No, there’s probably a reason for that. I’m sure we’ll find out over time. Maybe she’ll be more willing after these two requests are done?”

“You’re far too charitable...”

Marna had referred to him as an Effigy of Isluna, meaning that she understood that he was already tied to that country despite being summoned by another. That only strengthened my resolve in accepting these two requests, since for whatever reason, the concentrated prowess of Isluna was after my head.

The pact bearer of Judgement and The Mistress. I need to make sure I learn all I can before confronting them. To insure that I can protect all that I am able to, it all begins from there.

It was a never-ending trudge, an intuitive pursuit toward conquering any and every enemy on one’s path—not just for my own sake—but for those I cared for. Of tactics and knowledge, every subtle detail became a crucial component in one’s survival. It was why I despised my own ignorance, fearing that one day, I too, would return to a time of being kept in the dark.

Just like before, but I can’t change what has already been done.

A once egregious stretch of a blank sea, where my eyes critiqued the emptiness, my ears absorbed only silence, and I felt nothing but dread. After all, wisdom is the air in one’s lungs, the strength in one’s kick as they are continuously being dragged toward an unknown depth at any given moment. A fitting, watery grave that only belongs to one in whom strays further toward that ignorance with a single naive belief—that one can do without knowledge.

I won’t make that same mistake again.

❖

A hidden room within the Auriga Palace.

There were three seated at a large round table, looking over a variety of documents that were scattered in front of them. It was silent, with only the occasional swipe of a page being pushed away or placed underneath a separate stack. They were seemingly searching for something.

“There’s nothing here about such a title after all. How strange...”

“[Goddess’ Token], in all my decades of research, I have never seen such a title that is so directly associated with the Goddess herself. How invigorating!”

“Quiet down, Roulant. You’re being too loud. But that kid doesn’t have the title of an Effigy either. And I believe it may be safe to assume that he’s the one that was written about in the Haethes’ territory report, Your Majesty.”

All hands came to a stop, they were stumped by the lack of information they had on a single person.

“It would mean that The Diviner came from over the mountains, from the Outer Region. That wouldn’t be in our best interest, would it, Your Majesty?”

Roulant’s expression was devoid of any facial features, yet his words still crafted a semblance of a widened grin. On the other hand, Queen Leonora began biting her thumbnail anxiously, keeping her eyes on the sheets of paper before her.

“I’d rather avoid being involved in any intermediary with the Elven. I don’t believe someone that is tied to the Goddess would be, though. It wouldn’t make sense.”

“I must agree. Her divine kindred were slain by those leeching vagrants after all. Those accursed forest-dwellers keep to themselves, and they’ve been rather silent until now. Should we take this as a move on their part? Could they possibly be planning something?”

Roulant’s words lingered in the air for several seconds amid a disquieting silence.

“It’s possible. Be sure to keep Eyes on any movement from the southern forests. Whatever they’re planning, they won’t be able to do so without the Elven King’s involvement.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“What should we do about the kid then? I remain with the belief that he’s trustworthy. If his actions thus far are any indication of his inner motives, he seems unlikely to act against an ally unless they do so first.”

Queen Leonora sat in silence once more, her eyes were slowly searching amid the scattered documents. Her gaze then stopped on two particular sheets. Two distinguishing names of old acquaintances and the means of contacting them. Yet both had oddly shaped markings, stating to not do so under any circumstances.

I’m sorry, father. But if you weren’t ill and bedridden, I believe you would do the same in my position. I can’t allow for the development of an additional war on two fronts.

She picked the tattered sheets from the table, looking over them in detail. There were additional markings that indicated that both were recipients of the golden seal—two of only five ever given to non-royalty or nobility by the prior king.

“Tier SS Adventurer, Caladrius Miriam. And the Chief of Druhwood, Torrel. That would mean...”

She took a deep breath and nodded to herself, reaffirming her decision.

“We’ll trust in Albel for now, while we continue working behind the scenes. We can’t become overly reliant on any of the Effigies to deal with every and any situation we have. Whether it be Eboracum, Isluna and Ospus or even the Elven—in the name of the Goddess and our ancestors—Cretho will not succumb to any enemy.”

She became silent one last time, for a brief moment, before continuing.

"Now, let us move forward and discuss that person in depth, shall we?"