Reality itself looked hazy.

  The sun’s rays, bright and warm, passed through the Devourer’s body as though it were made of glass.

  And yet, intermittently, the massive being turned solid, halting the light’s passage and casting vast shadows across the world.

  The hole beneath its flapping appendages twisted and curved unnaturally, like a gaping mouth ready to swallow the desolate remains of the city.

  Yivern’s eyes pierced downward, fixing on the small beings staring up at it.

  As it lifted its gigantic arms, a high-pitched vibration emanated from the red core embedded in its chest, rippling across the land as it seeped into everyone’s minds.

  “What is this sound?!” Alma cried, clapping her hands over her ears.

  “My head!” Kate staggered back, jamming her fingers into her ears.

  One by one, they collapsed to their knees.

  Until a different sound cut through the mind-bending vibration.

  TING

  Keleanos, wearing the gauntlet Rakia had used during her last stand against Yivern, smiled.

  “I have waited for this moment.” He flicked his finger against the segment nearest his wrist, producing a counter-vibration.

  “The moment I could avenge my mother.” He struck the same piece again, his glare never leaving the Devourer. “The day I could use my knowledge against you.”

  Slowly, the maids began to recover, pushing themselves upright, confusion lingering in their eyes. With the pressure inside their heads gone, they felt shielded from the Devourer's influence.

  TING

  The vibration entered their ears, far calmer and more soothing than the one Yivern had unleashed.

  “Olivia.” Keleanos spoke her name without breaking eye contact with Yivern.

  “…” She pretended to be fine, but exhaustion was written plainly across her face.

  “Yivern won’t attack for now. It will try to invade our minds, like it did when it invaded Triazils.”

  His thoughts were steady, precise.

  “I’ll give you ten minutes. That’s as long as Yivern is likely to attempt it.”

  He struck the gauntlet again, reinforcing the peaceful chime against the invasive vibration.

  “That’s more than enough…” Olivia turned away, eyes closed. She took two steps, then collapsed limply into Alice’s and Eden’s arms, who caught her without panic.

  Both struggled to get her steady, Olivia seeming heavier than she should have been.

  “…” Her breathing immediately grew shallow as she slipped into sleep in an instant.

  Gently guiding her to the center of the group, Alice and Eden sat down.

  Alice placed her Master’s head on her lap with care, while Eden held her hand.

  The others formed a loose circle around them, eyes heavy with concern. They knew this was necessary for Olivia to finish the fight.

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  The toll was severe...

  But what they didn’t know…

  Was that her exhaustion wasn’t normal, even for her.

  Something was happening. Something unknown to everyone.

  Other than Olivia.

  —

  Deep, deep within her soul, she opened her eyes.

  “That is a first for me.” She smiled, feeling her existence drift in an endless void.

  “I’d heard stories from Orion and Amelia, but this is definitely stranger than I expected.” She tried to move, only to feel resistance.

  “Oh, come on! I’m in my own soul. Let me do what I want!” she protested with a cute pout—until her feet met solid ground.

  “That’s so much better…” She sighed in relief, took a few steps forward, then stopped.

  “…”

  Silence.

  There was no sound within her soul. The peace of her core startled her.

  “I thought it’d be more chaotic in here. Guess I was wrong.” She shrugged and turned around.

  Her eyes met a figure standing in the darkness—a figure slowly approaching.

  “I was half expecting it. The other half was doubtful.” Her tone stayed soft.

  A light as natural as a streetlamp shone from above, illuminating them.

  “Valkyrie Rakia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Olivia tilted her head as the Valkyrie came into view.

  The two women regarded one another in silence until the Valkyrie finally spoke.

  “Indeed. I am Rakia.” Hesitation could be heard in her voice, a strain from the eternity spent as a broken vessel.

  She looked down at her wrists, where the images of chains were engraved into her soul.

  “Am I to become another shackled soul?” She raised her head, meeting Olivia’s gaze with what could only be described as sorrow.

  “Is an eternity of suffering the only reward for us?” Her voice was flat, stripped of inflection, as though even her emotions had already withered away.

  She no longer had the strength to cry.

  “You look tired.” Olivia took a step forward, speaking in the most respectful tone she could manage before this broken woman.

  “Hah…” A faint smile tugged at the corner of Rakia’s mouth. “I am indeed.”

  The Valkyrie closed her eyes and let out a quiet sigh, still loud enough for Olivia to hear.

  “I may have had the power to defend my home, but against that monster, there was only so much I could do.”

  “My body was slain before my son’s eyes. My soul became its meal. And my memories became its plaything.” Her gaze looked worn, almost hollow.

  “Do whatever you wish with me. I don’t have the will to fight bac—” Rakia stopped as two hands entered her view.

  Olivia took Rakia’s hands in hers and smiled.

  “I heard my darling’s eyes once looked like yours.” Her gaze lowered slightly. “Loneliness wore away at his mind until only an empty shell remained.”

  “If not for that woman’s presence, he would have lost himself completely.” She smiled, though frustration stained the expression.

  Rakia slowly lifted her head, feeling warmth seep from Olivia’s touch.

  Warmth she had long forgotten existed.

  “It’s too early to give up. We can still do something about the one who made you suffer.” Olivia met her gaze, fingers tightening gently around Rakia’s.

  “But…” The Valkyrie hesitated, her hands trembling. “This is a monster.”

  “How can you hope to bring it down?” she asked, a fragile hope clinging to her aching soul.

  “You’re not alone. Not anymore.” Olivia held her gaze, every word sincere.

  Even so, the determination in her eyes was not enough to sway the Valkyrie.

  “Outside…”

  “Keleanos is fighting to bring it down.”

  A sharp reaction crossed Rakia’s face.

  Her hands began to shake, then her shoulders followed.

  Her eyes darted left and right, as though her mind had been forcibly awakened.

  “My… son…?” Memories of her child flooded her vision, dragging long-buried emotions back into the light.

  Olivia smiled softly.

  “Do you know why he’s fighting?” she asked, a hint of mischief in her tone.

  “Because he wants to save the twin he fell in love with.”

  Rakia’s trembling ceased. She drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes, and exhaled slowly.

  “If you stand on my son’s side, can I believe in the good within your heart?”

  Olivia waited until Rakia opened her eyes. Then she answered honestly.

  “I am a demon. Can you trust those born of dark natures?”

  Silence stretched between them.

  “I do not know what a demon is.”

  Olivia grimaced, her gaze falling to the ground.

  “But those dark in nature would not go out of their way to save the remnants of an old woman.”

  Rakia squeezed Olivia’s hands in return, a bright smile breaking through.

  The chains of her soul crumbled into dust in front of her eyes, lifting the curse encroached on her heart.

  “I will support you. I will trust your kind-hearted beliefs.”

  “And I will help you save that child… before it is too late.”

  Energy flowed from Rakia’s hands, her power pouring into Olivia’s soul and filling it with color.

  Olivia's breath grew ragged, matching the consequences of accepting the Valkyrie title.

  As Rakia’s figure began to fade into translucence, she pulled Olivia into a brief embrace.

  Before her eyes, a vision of Keleanos reaching his hand toward her flashed by.

  A satisfied smile drew itself across her face, lifting any fears she previously harbored.

  “I leave everything in your hands, young woman.”

  “Olivia. That’s my name.”

  “A very fine name.”

  The Valkyrie vanished, her voice echoing throughout Olivia’s entire being.