'What is this place?'
I scanned the palace around , its walls adorned with countless ornants and marble of varying shades.
It was extravagant—breathtaking, even—yet there was an eerie coldness to it.
Towering pillars stretched toward the ceiling, which was painted, their outlines traced in gold.
Zenith had told this was rely a replica of the original palace, but—
"Is it really a replica?"
The sheer beauty, the impossible level of detail… Could sothing like this even be replicated?
I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.
"And where does this map lead to?"
I grumbled, glancing at my palm, where I had hastily sketched the map from the ceiling.
The path led deeper into the palace, where the light grew dimr with every step.
Tweet!
The little bird sitting on my head chirped loudly.
A soft glow radiated from its body, casting a bluish hue over the walls and floor.
"What are you doing with , Liraz?" I murmured, running a gentle hand over the phoenix's feathers.
Shouldn't he be with Epione?
Tweet!
A sharp peck on my head was his only response.
"..."
What is wrong with him?
Can't he behave like a normal chicken?
Sighing, I gave him a light tap before continuing down the corridor.
I had no idea how the exams were going, and frankly, I didn't care.
The results wouldn't change anything.
Right now, my only priority was figuring out what the fuck was happening to .
[]
Inna's ek voice echoed in my head.
'Yeah?'
[]
'...'
What was there to ask?
I'm already a ss, different mories running in my head.
I don't know who I was, and I don't care.
Right now, I was Himl.
Not so mad lover.
Not a genocidal killer.
Just Himl.
And besides—
'You wouldn't answer even if I did ask.'
[]
'You're not the only one who calls that, Inna.'
Christina used to call that. So did Senara…
Wait.
Why Senara?
[]
'Yeah.'
I had a mory of it. But she never told what it ant.
Ah.
[]
"...Yeah."
A strange bitterness settled in my chest as Senara's innocent face flickered in my mind.
She was such a sweet girl.
I longed to see her again.
But—
'Would you tell if I asked about Qais?'
[]
'I see.'
[]
"...."
What I need to know, huh?
There was a lot I wanted to know, but I wouldn't push her.
If it weren't for her… after Christina left…
That vision might have been my reality.
I exhaled softly.
My steps slowed as I reached a dead end.
"....What the fuck?"
I stepped closer, running a hand along the cold stone.
Hours of walking… and this is where I ended up?
I sighed, looking around carefully.
The place was without light, but Liraz's soft glow gave just enough light to search properly.
And then, my gaze landed on an unlit wall lamp.
It was slightly off-center.
I reached out, gripping it like a handle, and pulled.
A deep creak echoed through the space as the wall trembled.
Then, with a slow, grinding motion, it receded back—revealing a narrow passageway.
I inhaled sharply before stepping forward.
"I really hope there aren't any monsters down here."
---
The descent was long—too long.
Ten minutes of carefully treading downward, every sense on high alert, before I finally reached the bottom.
Eagerly, I looked around.
An empty room.
"What?"
Confusion tightened around my mind.
Nothing.
No artifacts, no symbols—just four bare walls.
What the fuck?
I closed my eyes, taking a slow breath.
"Okay, let's calm down first." I whispered to myself as I rubbed my face.
Lumi hadn't ntioned anything about this place being empty. There had to be sothing here.
There should be sothing that could help—.
"Mana."
I mumbled as I drew in a deep breath.
Coating my hand, I touched the wall.
And.
Instantly, the room ca alive.
Intricate carvings ignited, glowing with a soft golden light.
As the pattern started to take shape, I weirdly looked around.
Why does this feel... familiar?
It's odd.
Really odd.
The symbols completed their design, and I stepped back, studying them.
It took a mont to piece it together.
"It's a story."
Soone had engraved an entire tale into these walls.
I turned to the first panel.
The carvings depicted small humanoid figures kneeling before sothing—
A star.
A thirteen-pointed star.
I reached out, tracing the lines with my fingertips.
"What does this an?"
[]
I observed the engraving once again.
'Was he a star?'
[]
So it's deceptive as a star?
'Wait, is that even possible?'
[]
'...So, does that an every star is a god?'
[]
'And they still died?'
[
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