The sky bore the answers of all. Every star hid the clock of fate whirling in the flow of time. They whisper the ancient secret of life, gifted with the ability to understand the cycle of the universe. Yet, the human carnal eyes and superficial mind can't never fortitude those divine knowledge. That's what the priests said to consolidate the position of being the servant of the Greats, God's right hand, carrying the mission of seeking to enlighten. For Sheritre Wenennefer, things are different. Growing up in myths and tales with only the far-away stars becoming friends, she knows the sun, the moon, and the stars are those celestial beings people are always scared of much more than that. Behind all the divine stories is kindness. If only they were wise enough to feel the warm embraces and the generosity... Rather than treating it in fear, she thought of it as a message to assist those she loved. Perhaps that's why she's always been a lonely child?
Sheritre proceeds to her usual spot, which is a decent-sized room with a telescope sitting nicely on the far side, pointing its eye towards the night. Each side is overloaded with books that only God knows how one could possibly read all. There is also a beautifully crafted carpet featuring several constellations at the heart of the room, as well as a chandelier that lights the room dimly. Altogether, they successfully resembled a Victorian theme, suitable for an astrologer like Sheritre. First and foremost, her ritual begins with lighting candles here and there, pulling several books for reference while humming her favorite tune. Of course, a delightful star-gazing session cannot be completed without a good cup of tea. Sheritre pours herself one, then adjusts her most beloved tool-the silver telescope. "Guide me with your wisdom and goodwill." "Show me what lies ahead, alas stars of the eternal sky." The hidden beauty of the night, without a shadow of a doubt, has the power to mesmerize any individual who dares to cast a glance at it. And yet, no matter how stunning the look, there is always a mystery inside. Sheritre was determined to find a pattern, an underlying meaning that the higher being had delicately chosen the beauty of the night sky to deliver the message. She carefully jotted down her findings into a leather notebook whilst focusing on every possible corner of the frame.
"No, that can't be." Sheritre stumbles upon something odd on the bottom. A type of pattern she had never witnessed before. The stars. They wanted to say something, yet the girl couldn't hear. She now leaves the telescope, rushing to the maniacal collections of astrology books where clues are waiting to be discovered. The fact that what she saw did not necessitate immediate investigation in order to reveal its significance However, there's more.
Something is coming.
That's what her intuition felt and believed, speaking to her in an earnest tone. Minutes then seconds pass, only confusion and anxiety stand still. Sheritre, sadly, can not fathom what it is referring to.
Is it a warning?
The thought of these questions only makes the poor girl's head spin. "There must be another way." The little hands swiftly turned from pages to pages, this book to that book, burying herself in those piles of books with the hope she could eventually come to a conclusion.
An underlying meaning.
Who knew what they would encounter? Who knew what would happen? Who knew that they might dare to harm her beloved? Or which path will they be forced into? Fate. A skillful puppeteer stands above us all. It pulls those strings, manipulating and enforcing its marionettes along a designated route. A ruthless creature. Nevertheless, no living soul desires to be docile and obedient to the supreme commands of Fate, despite potentially being punished for their price. Why? They don't want to decay in the shadows and let fear play the game of cat and mouse. They want to be free, to break free from the chains of destiny that strain their necks, to grab hold of a better path.
...
Just like the wheel of fate had been foreordained, the morning after, Reid came into Theodore's office. Distressed pronounced undeniably clear in each of his heavy footsteps. Reid's hand was uneasy until he was right in front of the double doors, hesitantly placing his hand on the knob. Should he continue and tell Theodore, or let it remain a secret? Reid decides to press further, and the wooden door slowly opens with a creak. What greets his sight is the familiar figure of Theodore standing at the mixing table. Certainly, Theodore does notice the sound of the door, yet he is still focused on the research. "Good morning, Reid." "What is it that you come at this time?" Theodore casually glances at Reid before putting the equipment down. "News from the Imperial Castle." Reid continues, "The king's army has won over cities near the northern boundary pretty smoothly." That also includes Elwood. " The moment Theodore heard that name, he almost slipped the pen he held all the time. Turning his head and settling his gaze on the other man, Reid could see and feel the pure terror coming from the doctor. Even though the young boy does not know much about Theodore himself, it seems like a place that the doctor explicitly understands.
Stolen story; please report.
That's impossible. Theodore caresses his forehead. "Thank you for your information. You may now leave. I need some time to gather my thoughts. "
Closing the door behind him, Theodore falls into daydreaming. We were supposed to also lose that town. Advanced weapons were nearly non-existent there. He paced around the office, hands clasped. But how? Not to mention only a little more than 300 soldiers there. There's something wrong. Absolutely wrong. Theodore turned up the gears inside his head. No, the question is not why they win, but how...
What price did the king have to pay?
Or...
Is there anyone behind all of this?
...
"Everyone gathers the essential things, we have new tasks." Later in the afternoon, Cecil busily checked all the kits along with Luke, making sure they were in the best position on the field. The ones joining the team are not too many, only those with decent expertise. The usual cheerfulness is replaced with an intense seriousness as they quickly do as they are told. Lily, who had just gotten out of the patient's room, realized the situation immediately and joined the team. But what she didn't expect was for Theodore to gently stroke her shoulder, the blueness of his eyes dyed in sadness. An overhasty feeling suddenly burned inside her. "I believe it is best for you to stay here and wait for us, Lily." He was devastated. A thousand questions ran through her mind. "Why?" she asked. It's a simple question, but Theodore can't seem to give her an answer. She knows that compared to Cecil or the others, her ability is no match for theirs on the field. But at least all her efforts all those years wouldn't make her an obstacle. Theodore remains silent, and every minute of that deadly silence slowly kills her. For being the person who has stayed by his side the longest, Lily knows he is hiding something for her own sake. Could it be...? Lily takes a step forward, looking directly into Theodore's eyes, saying, "Tell me, Theodore, why I can't go?" Her usual kind self now turns into a drastic image. "It's Elwood, we go." The moment that name slips out, Lily turns into another person. Her eyes go blank, don't know when her throat has gone dry. Elwood...home. That's right, it was her home. A place she can only meet in her old dreams, a place that has soon been covered under dusty memories. In the home where she grew up, a little girl held her hand with a bright smile. Her voice, her existence, is the cure, the meaning of her life. Eva...
She determinedly looks at Theodore, not even spending a split second to follow his words, "Then more than anyone else, I have every right to come." With such spirit present, the doctor's only option was to simply nod in agreement with her.
Their trip set off, carrying the wishes of the mansion inhabitants, they rushed into the dark night. Luke was known for his excellent ability at path-finding and maneuvering. Unsurprisingly, he was given the driver's seat. Next to Luke is Theodore, seemingly lost in the matrix of thoughts. Alderic also joined the trip to assist, anxiety painted on his face despite his hand covering his eyes, hoping to ease the tension. Last but not least are the two, Lily and Cecil, with Lily at the door while the remaining girl resides at the center. The military truck, though quite old, is thankfully sufficient to be used in an emergency. Lily rests her head against the windows with a stoic look. A sensible person like Cecil could not let the atmosphere get any tense, her hand bit by bit moving closer towards Cecil's. A gentle squeeze is all it takes for Lily to recognize Cecil's goodwill. She acknowledged Cecil's efforts and thanked her by accepting them in silence.
"Isn't Elwood near the north boundary?" Alderic's voice breaks the silence, " The most carnaged battlefield in this war?" Theodore glanced at him in surprise for a second. Well, after all, everyone knows how violent that place is. "That's right, it used to be the gem of this country... until all they took from us when the war came." Looking at Lily from the corner of his eyes, Theodore sighed, "For those misfortunately joining the North battle, only hell welcomes them in its loop of suffering." Just like what he said, the war soon drowned the beautiful lands of the North in terror, countless soldiers turning mad just within a few weeks. Starting as young men fighting for their will, the only thing left in their minds will be maniacs.
The trip soon came to an end, in sync with the motion of the truck. The lessen the distance, the greater the acrid smell. A dreadful premonition.
Elwood...Oh, Elwood, the town has gone into rhymes, a diamond cherished in adoration, its beauty enough to draw hundreds kneeling in envy. But oh Elwood, what has happened to the beloved diamond, the gem in the king's crown? For now, in ash and fire, it's tainted.
A bitter tear quietly rolled down her cheek...