I saw a sea of blood from high above, where my body floated like a kite attached to a string.

A single island perched at the center of the chilling sea, the waves hitting the rocky hill and creating a thunderous sound.

’....What is happening?’

My thoughts began to make sense as I found myself unable to move.

It was a dream that was very clear, but why was I aware inside the dream?

My body slowly fell forward like a string attached to it was being pulled.

The island became clearer, and so did the tall dark tower at the center of it all.

’...This place.’

I recognized the tower in that instant. It was the same tower that I had seen before.

My body simply passed through the dense layer of forest as if I were made of nothing.

The thick walls of the tower couldn’t stop me either, and before long I was inside.

’...Dark.’

There was nothing except darkness in this place, but my body kept moving until I saw a light.

In the complete darkness there was a single light under which a girl with long black hair sat silently.

Her head turned towards me, crimson eyes with no emotions in them.

’Siersha?’

She extended her hand towards me.

"Siersha!?"

---

A sudden pain like lightning passing through my arms made me open my eyes.

I blinked slowly, staring at the ceiling of my house.

And the next thing I noticed was the feeling of fate wrapped around my body.

’...Hah.’

I let out a deep sigh and got out of the bed, walking toward the window.

’Is Fate responding to my desire to find her?’

I couldn’t help but wonder as I looked outside while the morning light hit my face.

’And where the hell is that dark tower?’

I had no idea where I could find the tower, and there was no mention of it in the game.

’....Fuck.’

I turned my gaze toward the door that opened a few seconds later.

Nymeria peeked inside, her eyes finding my face.

I waved at her, which she responded to with a smile. "Breakfast is ready."

"Uh. I will not eat anything right now," I said, shaking my head. "You should go eat first."

"Are you alright?"

"I am fine," I replied. "Just don’t have an appetite."

She looked at me for a second before nodding. "Okay."

She closed the door behind her, leaving me alone.

I let out a sigh and leaned on the wall, closing my eyes.

’I should have fucked her last night.’

The longer I postponed our relationship, the harder it would get for both of us.

I rubbed my face slowly and pushed the thought away. Now wasn’t the time to think about that.

"I should get Christina back first."

---

It took me only a few hours to reach the human kingdom of the Pargoina Empire.

The Medonica Dukedom looked small as I glided over it, my wings unfolded all the way.

’...Hmm, there are way too many soldiers.’

I couldn’t help but notice the large number of soldiers stationed all around.

Training grounds had been set up across the open plains.

Wooden dummies lined the fields while groups of men practiced sword drills in formation.

The situation felt more like preparation for war than anything else.

The wind rushed past my ears as I glided lower through the sky.

"...This isn’t normal."

I slowed my descent slightly, circling higher above the clouds to observe without being noticed.

More camps appeared the longer I looked.

’Did something happen?’

I finally lowered myself when I reached the house of my father-in-law.

I let my wings fold back, disappearing behind my back.

I walked toward the door and knocked on it twice.

After waiting for a few seconds, the door snapped open with force.

"—Qais!"

Christina crashed straight into my arms like a storm that had been waiting behind the door.

For a second I nearly lost my balance.

"...Easy," I muttered, steadying her.

I could hear her giggling as she squeezed me tight.

"You’re going to break my ribs like this."

"Someone finally remembers me," she said, pushing me back when she was done.

I walked inside the house after her. "I was going to take you away long ago, but you wanted to—"

"All I am hearing is excuses, mister," she cut me off in the middle. "Don’t tell me you couldn’t fly to my place once in a while."

"Technically, I am still a wanted criminal in this empire."

"So what?" she rebuked. "It’s not like there is someone who can harm you here."

Fair point, there is nothing.

We reached the main hallway which had already been occupied with people.

One of them was Christina’s old man who sat on a sofa.

My gaze however shifted towards the girl who sat opposite him.

She looked like she had just become an adult.

Her long light green hair carried a faint undertone of blue that shimmered whenever the light from the tall windows touched it.

She sat with perfect posture, hands resting calmly on her lap.

Her clothes were elegant but not overly decorated, yet still beautiful.

I hadn’t seen her in a while and she had grown a lot.

The [Oracle of Past]....

"Inës?"

I called her and the girl turned to look at me.

Her eyes were first confused, then slowly turned into realization.

"Sir Azariah!!"

She shrieked, making everyone look at her.

"Ah, I am sorry for screaming."

I smiled and walked towards her. "It’s fine," I said. "It’s been a while."

The girl smiled warmly as her eyes met mine. "It’s so nice to see you again," she replied. "You have changed a lot."

"I can say the same for you."

She laughed softly and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I suppose we both grew up."

Christina looked between us with narrowed eyes. "Stop fucking flirting."

The once little girl quickly sat back in her seat, her face blushing. "I am sorry, sister Christina."

Christina didn’t look at her but at me. She reached for my waist and pinched lightly.

"...."

The fuck did I do?

"I will bring some snacks," she said, walking toward the kitchen.

The old man David glared at me when I sat down on the sofa. "Why are you here, brat?"

"To take my wife away," I replied with a smile.

"She isn’t your wife," he barked, gritting his teeth. "Don’t you dare think I would give you my child."

I opened my mouth before closing it.

’Did he forget I was the one who brought her back?’

"If you don’t then I will get pregnant with his child."

Christina’s voice came from the kitchen that almost made her father choke.

"Daughter!" the old man yelled, walking toward the kitchen. "You can’t do this to me!"

I chuckled as my gaze shifted to Inës who sat rather uncomfortably.

"How come you are here?" I asked, making her flinch.

"Ah, well. I was here with my father for a meeting with the emperor," she replied. "I planned to meet Uncle David, but when I came here I found sister Christina."

"Meeting for what exactly?" I asked, tilting my head.

"A three-way marriage pact," she replied softly. "The two empires and one kingdom of the human race are planning to unite."

"...."

What the fuck?

"...Say that again." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Inës shifted slightly in her seat, clearly unsure if she had said something wrong.

"A three-way marriage pact," she repeated softly.

I leaned back into the sofa and stared at the ceiling.

Was this supposed to happen?

As far as I knew there was nothing like this in the game.

’What the hell is happening?’

Christina returned from the kitchen at that moment with a tray of snacks.

She placed it on the table and immediately noticed the expression on my face.

"What happened?"

"The thing with the marriage," I mumbled. "Are they planning to unite the human race?"

"Yes," David said, walking back inside. "They say all three leaders had the same dream where they saw Moshel, the child of mana."

".....What?"

The old man seemed to find it as absurd as me.

"That’s what they say," he replied gruffly. "And they are following his words in order to bring him back."

"And how is that?"

"....I don’t know."

"Um, Sir Azariah," Inës said softly. "Can I talk with you for a few minutes?"

I turned to look at Christina who nodded her head.

"Sure," I replied, standing up. "Let’s go outside."

The girl nodded and walked toward the front garden with me.

As the wind hit my face, I turned fully towards her.

"So...." I said. "What is it?"

The girl looked concerned but after a few seconds of hesitation she finally spoke.

"As you already know, I have been seeing events of the past from the eyes of previous oracles."

She kept her eyes on me.

"Um, but my visions have been random for a long while until I saw a person."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Who?"

"They called him Azrael," she replied, looking at my face. "You should know him, right?"

I nodded slowly, unable to understand where she was going with this.

She held her breath, her eyes still on me.

"It looks like the Oracle of his time was really close with him," she replied softly. "And every time I see him in my vision, he always says one thing."

A sense of uneasiness crept under my skin as I heard her words.

"Which is?" I asked.

"To find her," she replied softly. "Sir Azrael told me to find Zenith."

"....What?"

For a moment I thought I had heard her wrong.

"...Zenith?"

Inës nodded slowly. "Yes."

I stared at her face, searching for any sign that she was joking.

’...How did Azrael know Zenith?’

Inës hesitated for a long second before she added.

"He also said one more thing."

She looked up into my eyes.

"...To keep me safe from Elohim."