Countless fireflies lit up an area spanning one kiloter, their soft glow so abundant that even without any light from the celestial bodies, everything was clearly visible.
The entire area, roughly one square kiloter in size, was covered in lush greenery. Tall and small trees stood scattered throughout, while the ground was blanketed with grass and dotted with thick bushes, creating a serene and vibrant natural setting.
(Central Park, NYC: Central Park is approximately 3.41 km2, aning 1 km2 is less than one-third of the park.)
There were even tiny animals, such as rabbits and wolves, living in this area.
There was a natural balance among all the animals in the area. This balance ensured that the rabbit population never grew out of control, just as the number of hunters never rose so high that it left everyone struggling for food. Each group depended on the other to maintain this fragile harmony.
At the center of this place, there was a tiny pond and a wooden house next to it.
The water of the pond ca from a spring. The water was so clear that everything on the pond could be easily seen. Countless fireflies were flying above the pond water.
The wooden house was very tiny, just big enough for one person to live in it.
Inside the house, there was a beautiful woman.
She was sitting on the bed with her eyes closed.
She had an uncomfortable expression. From ti to ti, she bit her lower lips while looking very frustrated.
After a long ti, she finally opened her eyes.
"My connection with my other half is rapidly weakening."
"Before, I was able to sense the emotions that my other half experienced on a regular basis, but now that connection has grown so weak that I cannot feel anything." Especially in the last few months, her connection with her other half rapidly deteriorated to the point where now she cannot even tell where her other half was.
Before, through their connection, even while being in this pocket dinsion, it was still possible for her to tell exactly where her other half was living. But now it's no longer possible. "Fortunately, after being here for nearly a century, I have managed to recover my powers."
"But.......!" She looked down. There was still a long vertical scar between her breasts. Regardless of how much ti passed, this scar showed no sign of fading. No alchemy, potions, or pills could remove this scar.
What happened a century ago forever left its mark on her body.
"But this ti, I am prepared." She stood up and began walking out of the wooden shed.
"Before I walk on my quest to kill those beings from the sky, I have to reunite with my missing half to regain so of my lost abilities."
"It's ti to leave!!" She has stayed in this pocket dinsion for so many decades.
"The last ti I left this place was when the young Prince of the Celestial Dragon Empire was born."
The only reason she went out was because her parents had a really good relationship with the Royal Family. And she also wanted to keep that relationship strong.
"I wonder how he is doing now." That little boy is her future husband. But she hasn't seen him since their first eting.
"For now, I have to focus on finding my remaining half.'
'Maybe if I get out of this pocket dinsion, I will be able to sense her location even though our connection has significantly weakened.'
While thinking of her future plans, she arrived before a golden tree.
This tree was very different from other trees. Everything about the tree is golden. Even the roots of this tree were golden.
She took out a golden wooden key from her storage ring.
As soon as the key appeared, she felt a strong pull drawing it toward the tree. The force was noticeable but not strong enough to slip from her gentle grip. It reminded her of the magnetic pull between two opposing poles.
The mont she released the key, it shot toward the tree with incredible speed, moving so fast that it was almost a blur. A normal human would barely have ti to react before the key shot toward the tree, moving so fast that it would seem like a blur as it reached its destination in an instant.
In the final mont, the key shimred and transford into a golden leaf. The leaf glided gracefully through the air before magically attaching itself to the tree, seamlessly blending with the other golden leaves.
She took a step back as a small portal ford. Slowly, it started to enlarge, and once it was large enough, she gracefully stepped into it.
"I am finally back." Stepping outside of the portal, she took a deep breath.
"Sure enough! The air of the Main Continent feels different. Here, the Air is fresh and makes feel like I have returned ho." Athena looked at the sun and smiled.
Athena looked at her surroundings.
After a century, the ruined buildings were now covered in thick layers of green moss, their once-strong walls now crumbling and weathered. Nature had fully claid them, with vines snaking up the walls and roots breaking through the cracks in the stone.
So of these ruins had even beco shelters for wild animals.
Birds nestled in the hollowed remains of windows,
small mammals scurried through the broken doorways,
and the occasional predator road the overgrown corridors.
"This place has completely changed." While looking at the surroundings, her expression changed. She looked sad.
This place used to be her ho.
These buildings were part of her ho, and before that incident, she visited them almost
every day.
It used to be the capital of a Mighty Empire of which she was the Princess of. Yet, one thing led to another, and within months, everything crumbled.
The dynasty that ruled this land for nearly a hundred thousand years suddenly disappeared.
Athena shook her head and started walking. It wasn't ti for her to think about the past. It was ti to think about the future and get her revenge.
"First, I need to find my maid." Athena needs to be inford of all the major changes that have occurred in the world since her absence.
Also, her maid was the last to survive with Athena.
She is a childhood friend of Athena.
After years of staying in that pocket dinsion, the first person whom she wanted to see was her childhood best friend who is also her maid. Athena purposely left her to stay outside so that when the ti ca, her maid would inform her about all the changes that took place
while she was away.
"If I rember correctly, Sara was living in a small village about 41 kiloters (25.47 miles) away from here." Athena did not waste any ti.
She flew towards the small village.
This village was built just after the destruction of the capital. While almost everyone moved away, so folks stayed and created a small village.
The village was made up of farrs, so forr guards and soldiers of her Empire, and
so traveling rchants.
Athena had sent her maid to live in that village. Her background was she was a maid who had run away from her master because her master abused her. Her maid easily blended into the
village with her new identity.
After a few minutes of flying, Athena spotted a clearing in the heart of the dense forest. From above, she could see sprawling farmland stretching out around the village, with neat rows of crops swaying gently in the breeze.
Streams of crystal-clear water ran between the fields. Irrigation channels carefully guide
stream paths before rging and flowing past the settlent.
At first glance, it seed like a village, but as she ca closer, she realized it was far too large
and well-organized to fit that description-this was more of a town.
The entire town was fortified with an ingenious mix of materials. Massive walls of stone, wood, and even salvaged pieces from ruined buildings ford a protective barrier against magical monsters and other threats.
A few crumbling ruins stood in the village scattered among the thriving settlent. These ruins were the remnants of the past. There were so people who built lands outside of
the capital, as the land outside of the capital was cheaper. But now, it was barely recognizable
to Athena.
Only a handful of broken walls and jagged stone fragnts remained, but it was clear the villagers had salvaged much from them.
Wooden beams, stones, and other materials from the ruins had been repurposed and seamlessly integrated into hos, watchtowers, and other structures.
'A part of feels happy that this village is growing. And there is a part of that feels really
sad seeing all these changes.'
'I guess, unlike others, I am still hooked on the past.' She cannot let go of the past. The things that she lost were just too much not to think about the past.
There isn't a single mont that passes without her mind drifting back to her past.
Without any of the villagers noticing, Athena entered the village.
After a few minutes of walking, she stopped in front of a small wooden house next to the wall.
In almost every city, town, or village, the land closest to the outer walls is the least expensive, while the land at the heart of the settlent is the most valuable. This difference in value stems from the level of safety each area offers. In the event of an attack by magical monsters or foreign intruders, those living near the walls face the greatest risk, as they are the first line
of defense.
Residents living closest to the walls must live with the constant fear of being caught in the crossfire during an invasion. The likelihood of destruction, injury, or even death is significantly higher for those near the periter.
The central areas of the settlent are considered the safest. The central district often houses
the wealthiest residents.
Knock!! Knock!!!
Athena knocked on the door.
Really Thank you very much to all those who send support with valuable golden tickets and
gifts. I hope we can keep it up!!
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