The scenery before Deveralna vanished, turning into pure white.

  Then, slowly, her vision shifted into a grand expanse scattered with blinking stars across a vast darkness.

  The air, the silence, the feeling of that place—it all reminded her of someone. A very important, missing piece of her life.

  An unending space, forever expanding. The very signature of the man she loved.

  Orion… Orion! Her eyes darted left and right, scanning, searching for the man himself.

  Where are you? Deveralna reached forward, hoping to find him within the confines of space.

  Nothing answered. At least, not until a long silence passed.

  “The one you are looking for is not with us.”

  A calm and serene voice echoed from behind the lamia.

  Turning at once, Deveralna tensed, coiling her tail slightly.

  “Who are you? How can I feel a stranger’s presence within my bond with Orion?” she demanded, ready to strike at the figure.

  But the person she hoped to see was nowhere in sight. Once again, the same voice came from behind her.

  “This is a difficult question I cannot truly answer.” The voice carried a trace of sorrow.

  Deveralna turned abruptly once more—and finally saw her.

  A woman with dignified, exquisite features stood there, her bearing reminiscent of a sheltered princess. Her garments were strange to Deveralna, but the warmth in her smile disarmed her confusion.

  “Actually,” the woman continued, “it wouldn’t be fair to remain nameless. In this situation, I admit it might be difficult to converse freely.”

  The smile on her face refused to fade as she bent slightly in greeting.

  “My name is Carmillya. Formerly a Valkyrie—now a fleeting ghost.” She inclined her head gracefully, looking at Deveralna with quiet expectation.

  “A… Valkyrie?” The word echoed through Deveralna’s thoughts until realization dawned. “I see.”

  Her shoulders eased, releasing the tension building within her.

  “That’s why you’re within him,” she murmured softly. “He managed to save one. That’s just like him.”

  A bright smile replaced the tension on her face, surprising Carmillya.

  “I am Deveralna, Queen of the Lamias and Orion’s spouse. Since you already seem to know me, I suppose we can go straight to the point.”

  A shadow crossed her eyes.

  “I’m in the middle of a battle. I can’t stay here for long.”

  “I can see it in your eyes,” Carmillya said as she approached, her footsteps rippling through the fabric of space. “There is a wonder—present, eager. I can also see fear.”

  She nodded to herself, her expression thoughtful.

  “Not fear of your foe, but for the well-being of your family.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Sadness from missing Orion, but hope for the coming reunion.”

  “Fierce determination to battle the Devourer, yet apprehension toward your own powers.”

  Each word struck like a thorn. Deveralna’s heart lay bare before the Valkyrie, who refused to obscure her warm smile.

  “…” The lamia’s eyes drifted aside before she sighed. “I seem unable to hide anything from you.”

  The former Valkyrie chuckled gently, tilting her head and covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “I have seen many like you. Royalty carries the heaviest burdens—but rare are those with such a splendid soul.” Her gaze steadied on Deveralna again.

  Then her smile faded, replaced by solemn grace.

  “Deveralna Feales. Queen of the Lamias, and Remnant of Power.”

  Hearing her name and titles, Deveralna straightened proudly, facing Carmillya as an equal.

  “I can bestow upon you my sigil.”

  She lifted her left hand, her movements fluid as water. Her fingers opened like a blooming flower, revealing a white sphere no larger than her palm.

  It glowed brightly, then dimmed to a gentle shimmer.

  “Your soul beacons with splendor. Your heart is filled with devotion. Your heritage brims with power.”

  Carmillya approached, the circling sigil emerging from the sphere, its roots spreading outward like branches.

  “This sigil will help you nurture the Remnant energy swirling within you. It will bind its boundless flow to your will—never spiraling out of control.”

  “Like the roots of a tree, it will support you, empower you, and remain with you until the end—until the day your offspring require it.”

  Deveralna wanted to agree, but unease lingered.

  “There is no catch to this proposition.” Carmillya halted, her hand hovering inches from Deveralna’s chest. If she lowered her fingers, the sphere would roll directly into her heart.

  “We Valkyries may choose the next bearer of our title. In truth, it isn’t supposed to happen like this.”

  “The choice is yours alone. If you refuse, no offense will be taken, and I will return with the sigil until someone, in a distant future, must again protect their loved ones.”

  Looking down at the sphere pulsing like a living heart, Deveralna hesitated.

  “I wasn’t doubting your words. It just feels… too convenient.” Her eyes met Carmillya’s. “Why now, of all times?”

  “Do I need this to win against the Devourer?” she asked bitterly, biting her lower lip.

  Carmillya shook her head.

  “No. That is not the reason for my appearance.” Her tone softened. “While I trust his judgment, it isn’t easy to give something as precious as this to anyone.”

  “I needed time to observe you—to understand your heart, to feel your soul echo through mine.”

  She took a shallow breath and spoke her final words.

  “You have the makings of a Valkyrie. Please, use this to aid your endeavor.”

  A deep silence followed.

  Deveralna reflected, weighed her thoughts, and finally decided.

  “I…” She lifted her hands, cupping the sphere gently. “accept.”

  Carmillya’s figure dissolved into light, her last smile lingering in Deveralna’s sight.

  A loud, vibrating hum erupted from Deveralna’s body.

  The sound—like a ringing ear—rose into a storm of crackling energy, lightning zapping in every direction.

  “Fuuuuu~” She inhaled sharply, a spiraling gust of air flooding her lungs.

  Her wings opened wide—wider than ever before.

  “I’ve never used this since then,” she muttered. “Honestly… I think I never understood what you truly were.”

  Her white pupils shifted toward Ophion, who, for the first time since bonding with her, moved away—hovering beside her shoulder.

  “But I was a fool. Only an immature lamia like myself could misinterpret everything.”

  She booped his nose with a smile and tilted her head.

  “Right, little one?”

  A massive shadow loomed above her before a colossal body part crashed down.

  “Ease up, Devourer.” Deveralna appeared a hundred meters higher, looking down at Var’Lathen. “I’ll deal with you in a minute.”

  Lightning coursed through her veins. Something stirred within her—something she had long contained.

  The Blood of the Remnant. Velridar’s legacy.

  A power she had used once—a magic that nearly cost her everything.

  Lifting one hand toward the heavens, a gigantic sphere of plasma burst through the storm above.

  It was the same devastating image as before—her fury incarnate.

  Ophion expanded to his full size, still dwarfed by the storm she summoned. He began spinning upward, almost biting his own tail.

  Without warning, Deveralna clenched her hand.

  A beam of pure power—neither lightning nor magic, but Deveralna's raw essence—shot skyward, piercing through Ophion's spinning form and into the immense sphere.

  Var’Lathen shuddered beneath the crushing pressure, unable to comprehend the terror rising above.

  “It’s time to wake up, my children.” Deveralna’s voice echoed through the roaring storm. “Ophireans—come to me.”

  The sphere burst apart into particles, releasing three gigantic plasma pythons—slightly smaller than Ophion.

  Smiling, the new Valkyrie lowered her hand, pointed at the Devourer, and gave her command.

  “Devour it.”

  Hissing in unison, the three plasma serpents—her Ophireans—descended from the heavens to feast upon the flesh of their Progenitor’s enemy.