Prophecy
"She will save you... Venus of Valdina."
As if she couldn't hear the question, the old woman muttered something unintelligible to herself.
Cesare tried again, his voice steady but edged with desperation.
"I know you once led the Shadeian tribe. Help me, and I will restore your people. Your extinct line will rise again."
Hmph.
The old woman snorted softly, a dry sound like leaves crackling underfoot.
"Is there a way? Of course. The Darkness of the Beginning is vicious once it takes hold—but that doesn't mean there is no cure."
Cesare remained patient, his golden eyes fixed on her.
He waited for the answer he'd been searching for across continents.
"There is nothing more perfect than the Dawn's Droplet to erase what went wrong at the beginning."
Gallo's heart leapt.
There is a way. There really is a way to save him!
It felt as though all the years of wandering—the endless searching across the continent, clinging to a single cryptic phrase from a passing priest—had led to this very moment.
Gallo, his usual bravado gone, knelt carefully before the old woman.
"Dawn's Droplet... What is it, grandmother?"
His voice was reverent, almost pleading.
Despite scouring thousands of ancient texts, he'd never heard that name before.
"When the Goddess first descended upon this world, the continent was drowning in chaos and darkness."
"The merciful Goddess wept—grieving for the lives crushed beneath that endless night."
"Her tears washed away the darkness, purifying the land and creating the world you see now."
Cesare leaned forward.
"Where can I find it?"
The old woman turned her head—slowly, deliberately.
"Ahaha..."
Her laughter was brittle, bitter.
"Unfortunately, Black Star... this cure does not exist within your orbit."
"What do you mean, old woman?!"
Terence shouted, frustration breaking through his composure.
"You... will never find it. Fate has not granted you that privilege."
Cough.
Black blood spilled from her mouth, spattering the ground.
"Oh my... it's time. Haha... already."
Cesare caught her as she collapsed, his arms supporting her frail frame.
"Terence!"
Terence rushed forward, hands already glowing faintly with healing light.
But even as he tried, he could feel it—the shadow of death had already claimed her.
There was nothing he could do.
"But... there is hope."
"Venus of Valdina... hah... she will save you."
Every time the old woman spoke, more blood spilled from her lips, staining Cesare's coat.
"Black Star... don't forget... Valdina's... Venus..."
"Stop. Save your strength."
Cesare said quietly.
But the light was already fading from her clouded eyes.
With the last of her strength, the old woman raised one trembling arm toward the sky.
"Right... the stars finally return... we've gathered... this time... which way will the river flow...?"
Her body stiffened.
She took one final, rattling breath.
Then—stillness.
The hand that had been pointing toward the heavens fell limply to her side.
"Uh... old woman? What? No, right? No—"
Gallo stammered, his voice breaking.
"No! You're not dead!"
He rushed over and shook the woman in Cesare's arms, but her body was already cold.
She didn't move.
"Gallo, stop. She's gone."
Terence said gently.
But his words didn't reach Gallo's devastated ears.
"No, no—you can't do this! How did we find you?! You can't leave like this!"
The cheerful young man who always wore a grin was nowhere to be found.
In his place was someone raw with grief.
Terence was always annoyed by Gallo's loud, boisterous energy.
But this time, he said nothing.
Because he understood Gallo's despair.
Cesare wasn't just their master.
He was the only lord they could serve, a close friend they trusted with their lives, a brother who would die alongside them—even if they weren't born on the same day.
Terence placed a hand on Cesare's shoulder, bracing for the worst.
"Cesare..."
But instead of despair—
He found golden eyes gleaming with sharp clarity.
"What is the Venus of Valdina?"
Instead of breaking down like Gallo, Cesare reflected on the shaman's final words.
She didn't say it was impossible.
She only said I couldn't find it.
So it's too early to give up.
Too early for despair.
"Venus of Valdina... she will save you."
A prophecy delivered by Shadeia's shaman—even as she defied heaven's taboo.
"Contact the homeland. I'll be staying in Valdina longer than planned."
"You really..."
Terence trailed off, shaking his head with something like admiration.
A long time ago, his teacher's voice echoed in Terence's mind:
"Be careful around men like that, Terence. When they encounter an obstacle, they don't avoid it."
"They destroy it."
On the Road from Asilum
After preparing for departure, Medea, Neril, and Saya climbed into the carriage.
The streets of Asilum at sunset—shadows stretched long across cracked cobblestones.
The carriage rolled through a particularly dark stretch of forest.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Armed bandits blocked the road ahead.
"We don't want trouble. If you let us pass peacefully, there won't be any."
The coachman said nervously.
Medea peered through the window—and her breath caught.
"They're Asilum's traffickers!"
Saya gasped, recognizing the tattoos on their arms.
The traffickers grinned when they saw Saya.
"Well, well. She's scrawnier than I heard."
"Still, I'll give two more silver coins. You get what you pay for."
In my past life, Saya lost her life to traffickers on this very day.
That's why Theo was so enraged when he learned of her death—he couldn't even recover her body.
Neril leaned out of the carriage, scanning the bandits surrounding them.
They must have followed us from Asilum.
"Your Highness, what should we do?"
Medea wordlessly handed over a pouch of gold coins.
"It looks like they were chasing the girl. Buy her freedom."
Neril stepped down from the carriage and tossed the pouch at their feet.
"Ten gold coins. Your employer is generous. Take it and leave."
The leader weighed the pouch in his hand, grinning.
"Wow, ten gold. The owner here is very generous indeed."
But even after receiving the gold, they didn't retreat.
Instead, they surrounded the carriage, torches flaring as they demanded more.
"It's getting late. Let's end this."
Medea stepped out of the carriage.
The bandits' eyes lit up.
"Oh, look at this. Anyone can see she's a noble lady, right?"
The leader waved the bag of gold coins, his grin widening.
"I think we could get five times more from you. You're just going to give us this pittance and walk away?"
Even when I try to send them off nicely, some people simply cannot be reasoned with.
Medea sighed briefly.
She stood in front of Neril, gently comforting Saya, who clutched at the hem of her skirt.
"Neril."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Neril had already drawn her sword, ready for battle.
"The pumpkins rolled right onto the vine. Lucky day for us, boys!"
The bandits jeered, pulling blades from their belts.
A frail-looking noblewoman accompanied by a single knight.
They looked so confident—like they'd just won an easy prize.
It was a familiar arrogance.
Neril moved like the wind.
The fight began.
But the bandits were no match for her.
"W-what—?!"
"My arm!"
"My legs, damn it!"
In the blink of an eye, four men fell, screaming and clutching severed tendons.
Even after witnessing this, the remaining bandits didn't flee.
They'd lived long on these roads. They knew numbers could overcome skill.
Twelve against one.
But despite their numerical advantage, the tide had already turned.
The leader took a step back, his mind racing.
This can't go on.
His eyes darted around—then landed on Medea.
If I take that woman hostage, even that flying knight won't be able to use her strength.
The leader turned toward Medea, a wicked smile spreading across his face.
A prophecy spoken.
A Black Star redirected.
And a desperate gambit played.
To Be Continued
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