Rodolf blinked, like the reminder had finally reached his brain. "Ah! Right—yes. That's what I ca for. Two of the three prisoners we captured... they're dead. They were found lifeless in their cells this morning."
"W–What?" I blurted out.
"They're dead," Rodolf nodded. "Co with . I'll explain on the way."
Before I could respond, Roda stepped forward. "Can I co too?"
Rodolf threw her a quick glance, then cracked a grin. "Yeah, sure. Co along. Nyr—uh, I an Amael—already gave you the rundown, right?"
"Yes… but," She paused, giving a confused look, "just how many nas do you have, Edward?"
I shrugged, not even trying to downplay it. "Five. At this point, I've just accepted it."
Nyr. Amael. Edward.
And in Utopia, they insisted on calling Loki. No matter how many tis I tried to steer them away from it, it was like the na had been seared into their collective mory. I could kind of understand it. After everything I'd done for them while using that na, that identity was more than just a na—it was a symbol. Still, I would've preferred they didn't cling to it so stubbornly but whatever.
Oh, and then there's Samael—another na people started tossing around which was the na that was the most pissing off.
Yeah… Five nas. It's a lot. I'm aware.
"Anyway," I said, steering the conversation back, "you can co, Roda. But Rodolf, I'd rather she didn't run into anyone like Victor or Celeste. They know her, and I'd prefer to avoid unnecessary complications."
Rodolf gave a thoughtful look. "How sure are you about this… tiline rupture thing? The one that might bring danger?"
"A Goddess told ," I said bluntly.
Both Rodolf and Roda froze for a second, sharing a look that was equal parts disbelief. I wasn't joking, though.
"Look, I'm not taking any chances," I continued. "If the tiline gets ssed up any more than it already is. Imagine if your twisted mother or any of your brothers sees Roda here?"
"It's fine, Uncle," Roda spoke up as well. She pulled out her mask and slipped it over her face. "I'll keep a low profile."
"Yeah… that's probably for the best," Rodolf muttered, nodding. "I'll say you're one of Edward's personal guards or sothing. Should give you a bit more freedom to move around. Just make sure to stay away from mother."
"Thank you, Uncle," Roda said, giving him a grateful nod.
I turned and motioned toward the corridor. "Alright, enough talk. Let's move."
Rodolf nodded and took the lead.
As we walked, after a mont of hesitation Rodolf finally turned toward Roda.
"Roda… I know this is painful, but please. Tell —who did it? Who killed us?"
He wasn't just asking about so random tragedy. He ant their family—the entire Moonfang House.
Roda was the only one left.
And now that I really stopped to think about it, the reality of that hit hard. It was almost impossible to believe. What she'd endured… how had she carried that all this ti?
She said nothing at first, and though her mask concealed her expression, the silence said enough.
"It was Ante Eden," she said finally.
Rodolf's brows knit together. "That Leon guy?"
Roda shook her head slightly, her gaze distant. "No… I don't know exactly who it was. But he was one of their Apostles."
Rodolf raised an eyebrow. "Apostle?"
I cut in before she had to explain everything herself. "They're the highest-ranking mbers of Ante Eden. Brandon Delavoic was an Apostle of Nes, wasn't he?"
Roda nodded at .
"Yes. The Apostles are the ones leading Ante Eden. Leon—well, the one you're thinking of—was also an Apostle of Nes. After Brandon Delavoic was killed by Jayden in my world, Leon ended up taking over as their pseudo-leader."
That part I rembered well. It had played out just like in the ga.
"So… it wasn't Leon who killed our family. It was another Apostle?"
She nodded again. "Yes. I never saw his face. He wore a mask. But on his forehead…" Her voice caught as she clenched her fists at her sides, trembling slightly. "He had the mark of Nes."
She drew in a shaky breath, trembling in anger but also seemingly fear?
"He destroyed our castle," she said. "He slaughtered everyone—Grandmother, our knights, our people… All of them died because of ."
Her hands trembled more violently now, and she bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the emotion swelling in her chest.
"They gave their lives to protect … because I was the Prophetess. That was enough reason for him to wipe out the entire Moonfang House. To raze everything we were to the ground…"
All of that—just to get to her?
That was typical of these bastards.
"I—I didn't want to run," she choked out. "They told to, they made leave—but I wanted to stay. I should have stayed—"
"Roda," Rodolf interrupted gently. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything else."
She quieted imdiately.
It was understandable.
Roda wasn't just any princess. She was also the Prophetess—chosen by fate itself. Her existence carried unimaginable weight in the world like the Saintess and the High Priestess. Of course her family would do everything to protect her. Even if it ant dying.
Roda's existence wasn't just precious to her family—it ant everything to the world. Her survival wasn't just about sentint. It was about purpose. If she had fallen into the wrong hands, it would've been catastrophic.
"They wanted you for the Tree, didn't they?" I asked after a beat of silence.
Rodolf shot a glare, clearly thinking I was being too blunt, but I pressed on. We needed answers—truths to prepare for whatever future lay ahead. And this was the best chance we had to get them.
"Yes," Roda said with a slow nod. "They needed to control the Tree of Eden. After Alicia died… and after they discovered Victor's identity, he disappeared for a while. I was the only one left. I was relatively safe while I stayed in Edenis Raphiel," she continued. "But the mont I stepped out into the world below… things changed. It beca dangerous—too dangerous."
That made sense, Edenis Raphiel must be the safest place in the world.
"So," I asked, "is Ante Eden still alive in your tiline? Or was Leon the last of them?"
Roda shook her head.
"I don't think Leon was the last one…"
Yeah, and the worst part was that she hadn't even t Lucifer—at least not directly. Only through Leon. Which ant Lucifer was still out there, untouched. The sa could be said for the Iris Project.
"What about Maria and the High Priestess?" I asked, hoping—perhaps irrationally—for so kind of hopeful news.
"Maria?" Roda repeated, tilting her head slightly. "Oh… the Saintess. She died too. During the fight against Leon."
Her voice dipped again. Even the mory seed to drain the light from her.
"As for the High Priestess… I don't know for sure. She vanished during the chaos. Ante Eden took her. Probably to seize the Monolith."
So Maria was gone too…
The more I heard, the more the anger inside stirred. Everything Roda endured… everything Leon had done to her, to , to everyone we cared about…
It was unforgivable.
How fucked up did he beco honestly?
"But since you're here now," Rodolf spoke up, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully, "doesn't that an they can't use the Tree of Eden anymore?"
That was a good point. And judging by Roda's surprised expression, even she hadn't thought about it like that.
"Maybe," she said, uncertain. "Yes… possibly."
That made sothing click in my mind.
What if… What if Nevia sent Roda to this tiline on purpose?
I already thought of that yeah but it becos more and more believable.
Maybe Nevia feared what would happen if Ante Eden succeeded—if they gathered all the sacred treasures of Eden and bent them to their will. Maybe Roda being here was the only way to stop that future from unfolding.
I didn't have all the answers, but sothing deep inside whispered that this wasn't coincidence.
Roda didn't just 'end up' here. Not when she and Nevia had been so close.
And I knew Nevia. She didn't talk much, and she certainly didn't reveal her plans. But she wasn't careless—not even a little. She was always ahead of everyone.
So what was her plan?
What was she really trying to prevent?
Honestly, I didn't know anything for sure.
During those long, dragging days I spent training in Nevia's space while I was imprisoned—we talked. A lot. She was always there, always present. But whenever the conversation strayed toward my future, she'd shut down. No hints, no cryptic remarks, not even a vague nudge in the right direction. I'd asked her more than once, hoping she might slip up or give sothing to hold onto—but every ti, she just turned away or flat-out ignored .
Maybe… maybe it was because she saw sothing. My death, perhaps. And she didn't want to know. That'd make sense. It's hard to talk about a future if it ends in tragedy.
Still, the thought of Nevia… it made sothing in my chest tighten.
She was gone now. Just… gone.
Cleenah's presence had helped, a little. She filled part of that hollow space Nevia left behind. But it wasn't the sa. Not really. Nevia had been my light in the darkness, my only spark of hope during my captivity with Cleenah a lot absent. She was the one who kept going, who told —without words—that I still had a purpose. That the Second Ga was coming, and I had to be ready.
But the truth? The real reason her absence didn't crush completely was because of Celes.
Ever since she awakened… being around her felt like being near Nevia again. Like I was catching glimpses of a young Nevia—less burdened, more open, but still wrapped in that sa subtle, knowing aura. It was hard to explain. I wasn't even sure if it made sense. But it was real.
While I was lost in those thoughts, we finally arrived outside the castle, stopping in front of a modest, weathered building. It looked like a storage hut at first glance, but the heavy iron door and reinforced windows gave it away—it was a temporary holding cell.
We stepped inside.
As we turned the corner, my gaze locked instantly with a figure standing ahead.
Jefer.
I froze. Eyes wide. And without thinking, I grabbed Roda's hand and yanked her back with , pressing both of us against the cold wall.
"Ah—!" She let out a soft gasp.
"Shh," I whispered quickly, tightening my grip on her wrist as I peeked cautiously past the corner.
Rodolf caught sight of my sudden move and grimaced, clearly not thrilled with the theatrics. But then his expression shifted. He understood.
Jefer was standing right in front of the cell that held our the now remaining drug addict.
"What are you doing here, Jefer?"
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