But before they could, a white owl started to circle over their heads.
The wooden table they stood on reached nearly parallel to the sloped roof.
Zenith quickly took notice of it.
She squinted her ember eyes as she whispered, "Is that a spirit?"
Siersha looked at the owl as well.
Suddenly, the owl tilted mid-flight, its body shifting into a steep dive.
Its descent was fast.
"Jump!"
Siersha warned, imdiately leaping toward the roof.
Zenith didn't hesitate, pushing off with all her strength and landing beside her.
A split second later, the owl slamd into the table, shattering it into pieces upon impact.
But it didn't stop.
Siersha tracked the creature with her eyes as it quickly reford.
Only now, it was bigger.
The owl's body stretched and expanded mid-flight, growing into a towering two-ter-tall monstrosity.
Its screeching sound echoed as it rushed towards them once again.
Siersha exhaled, balancing herself on the sloped roof.
"Zenny," she muttered, already preparing to handle the threat. "Let tak—"
"Corvina."
Zenith's soft whisper cut her off.
A brilliant cluster of pure white light blood from her body, swirling and condensing until it took the form of a magnificent Pegasus.
The Pegasus snorted softly as she looked at Zenith.
The owl stopped midway as it looked at the Pegasus warily.
Zenith smiled, reaching out. "Can you help —?"
Corvina turned around, her wings unfolding as she surged up.
"No, wait—!"
Ignoring her words, the Pegasus flew up, and before long, it vanished into the night.
"I hate you!"
Zenith yelled, her chest heaving in anger as she glared at the sky.
Beside her, Siersha let out a tired sigh, rubbing her temple as she muttered, "Why am I not surprised?"
"Shut up."
Zenith grumbled as she played with her staff before she made the rune of 'ice,' followed by the rune of 'air.'
The two runes seamlessly rged together in a bright glow as she raised her staff toward the incoming owl.
A powerful gust of freezing wind surged forward, coating the owl's wings in a thick layer of ice.
The creature let out a sharp, distorted screech as it struggled to keep balance in mid-air.
Before the owl could free itself, Zenith smiled as she played with her staff once again.
She quickly made a rune of 'fire,' followed by 'barrier.'
A hexagonal cage of blazing flas erupted around the owl, enclosing it completely.
Slowly, the barrier started to shrink inward, making it harder for the owl to move.
But just as she readied herself to end it, her instincts scread.
She reacted instantly, shifting her staff to the side.
Clang!
A dagger clashed against the tal of her staff, narrowly missing her ribs.
Siersha calmly shifted her attention while she sneakily summoned sothing.
"Co back." A soft voice echoed on the rooftop.
The owl soon turned into a cluster as it returned to its owner.
Zenith turned to look at Awan, glaring at him.
A dagger was in his hand, while the other lay close to Zenith's feet.
"You'll pay for hurting my spirit." Awan growled, his grip on the dagger tightening.
"Where is Pasithea?" Zenith asked as she fully turned to face him. "Have you already—?"
"Why does it matter?" Awan let out a low chuckle, tilting his head mockingly. "The leader already went to pick her up. She's as good as dead."
Even though he showed a tough deanor, inwardly, Awan was really wary of both of them.
The instinct that he had honed was telling him not to ss with them.
"It's impossible." Siersha replied calmly. "We have already looked around the palace. She isn't anywhere close—."
"Of course she isn't." Awan replied, looking at her. "She wasn't in the palace in the first place."
"Then where is she?" Zenith asked, her brows knitting together.
"That idiot was ssing around with the animals in the backyard—."
His words ca to an abrupt halt as he felt a shadow looming over him.
Awan's body trembled violently as he slowly looked up.
A drop of thick saliva dripped onto his cheek.
His eyes widened in horror.
Before he could react—
A massive, horned serpent lunged.
Its jaws snapped shut around his upper body, silencing his scream before it could leave his throat.
The serpent raised its head, lifting Awan's limp body as it swallowed him whole, inch by inch.
Awan couldn't even fight against it.
Siersha slowly started to walk towards the serpent.
The serpent lowered its head submissively.
Her crimson eyes looked at it calmly.
"Good job." She whispered, with a gentle smile as she patted its scaly head. "Now, go back."
The serpent slowly turned into a cluster.
She then turned to look at Zenith, who had a disturbed look on her face.
"Let's go." She said as she started walking forward.
"That thing eats humans as well?" Zenith asked, hugging her staff.
"That's Basmu." Siersha replied, looking at her. "One of the Fragnt of Tiamat's first child. It can eat anything."
"Right...."
Zenith whispered as she followed behind her.
She sighed as they reached the roof.
Upon reaching the edge, Siersha looked down at the steep drop, then at Zenith.
"How do we get down now?"
Zenith smiled proudly.
A pair of wings started to materialize on either side of her waist. "Leave it to ."
*****
I recognized her imdiately.
...Iffa.
She was my spirit daughter.
Confusion coiled around my mind as I stared blankly at the portrait before .
Why is she here?
"Iffa." I whispered softly.
A soft green glow swirled beside , taking the shape of a small girl with long blonde hair and erald eyes.
"Papa!"
She exclaid, throwing her arms around .
I quickly caught her, making sure she didn't fall.
Adjusting her, I turned to face the portrait.
"Iffa, do you know him?"
She tilted her head, examining the figure—Buinal, the First Child of Mana.
She shook her head. "I don't know."
I let out a relaxed sigh.
Maybe a part of really didn't want to be in any more ruckus.
"But I do know her."
Was I getting happy a little too soon?
Iffa said as she pointed at the woman's portrait.
I looked at the woman with a serene smile on her face, her green hair flowing behind her.
I hesitated a little before I gently asked, ".....Who is she?"
I let out a long, tired sigh.
Fuck my life.
Iffa smiled brightly. "Mama!"
I let out a long, tired sigh.
Fuck my life.
"...Okay." I said as I placed her down.
For my own sanity, I am going to ignore her words like I have been ignoring how I have a third lover.
My fingers absentmindedly brushed against my left hand, where her last ssage was still etched.
I sighed again, shifting my attention to the room.
Most of the treasure remained untouched, everything in its rightful place.
Nothing was moved except—
"What was here?" I mumbled, gazing at the center display.
The glass was shattered, whatever had once been inside now missing.
"Wait, it's them, right?" I mumbled to myself.
Solace Kingdom.
Pretty sure they are the ones behind this.
I chuckled. "So, they really don't have a way to heal Yggrisial, huh?"
Anyway—
What's so special about Aetheria?
I wasn't particularly interested in it before, but if it was this important…
My gaze wandered to the walls lined with weapons—an array of beautifully crafted blades, bows, and other armants, both long- and short-range.
Yet, my eyes lingered on a single weapon.
A katana.
Encased in a sleek black sheath adorned with delicate silver engravings.
'Wish I could have sothing like it.'
I sighed, turning away—
Then froze.
Everything was gone.
I slowly turned to my daughter, watching as she walked around the room with a delighted smile.
Wherever she moved, she reached out and lightly tapped the displays.
One by one, the artifacts flickered, the space around them trembling—
And then vanished.
"Iffa!" I called, startled as I rushed towards her. "What are you doing?"
She turned to innocently, tilting her head.
"Didn't you call to take them away?"
"…What? No—" I started, my voice trailing off.
Hmm.
I rubbed my chin.
It's clear that soone had robbed the main thing from the locker.
....Then isn't it better for to take the rest?
I an—.
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