A massive spacecraft descended upon Sevoria, a small, lush green planet not far from where Kai and his companions had been. On its surface stood a single grand mansion, towering above the empty landscape.
Rumble… rumble… The colossal ship touched down heavily on the planet's soil.
Mas stepped forward, clasping his hands together, his face lit with a sycophantic smile as he addressed Meyrin.
"Miss Meyrin, may I ask if this place has any facilities for healing? My little cat friend is gravely injured. I need urgent treatment for him."
Meyrin, walking with a cold, indifferent expression, halted and turned her gaze upon them.
"There is. I'll take you there. We have proper facilities… but there's a condition. Both of you must come with me."
Kai frowned.
"Me too? Then… what exactly do you want us to do in exchange for treating our friend?"
"Nothing complicated," Meyrin replied calmly. "You only need to meet someone."
She turned to her soldiers.
"Take the cat in the capsule and see that it's treated."
"Yes, Lady Meyrin!" the guards responded.
With that, Mas and Kai followed Meyrin into the towering mansion. As they walked, Kai glanced around at the vast, silent scenery.
This mansion is ridiculously huge… Who would build something like this in the middle of a planet that feels abandoned? There's not a single living creature around. It's as though this world was left to rot.
They soon entered a grand hall, where a lone figure sat waiting.
It was Ezev, the Ruler of the North.
Meyrin bowed low, her expression tight with fear.
"Before this one, mind your manners. Your fates rest entirely in her hands."
On the throne sat a young girl with golden hair, clad in a pure white dress. Despite her youthful appearance, the vastness of her aura made the grand chamber feel heavy.
Meyrin dropped to her knees in reverence, trembling as she spoke.
"I, Meyrin, have encountered these travelers, my lord Ezev."
Mas and Kai also knelt behind her.
Mas swallowed hard, his face pale, thoughts racing in disbelief.
So this is Ezev, the Ruler of the North? She looks like a tiny little girl… Is this really the same being who they say can shatter planets with just a finger? Sounds like nonsense to me…
But Kai raised his voice, steady and earnest.
"You must be the great ruler… Please, I beg of you, save our friend. Ruby is gravely wounded. Can you truly help her?"
Ezev's brows furrowed slightly as she leaned upon her throne.
"Do you even understand who I am, child? You, who have lived not even a hundred years? Healing a wound like that… it is far too trivial for beings such as us."
Kai's eyes widened in thought.
Not even a hundred years? Does that mean people on other planets live far longer than those on Earth?
He asked, almost timidly, "Great one… may I ask—how old are you, Lord Ezev?"
Meyrin turned her head sharply, cursing him silently.
You fool! Do you have no fear of death?!
Ezev, resting her chin in her palm, smiled faintly.
"No one has dared ask me such a question in nearly seven hundred thousand years. If I were to answer… I'd say I've long forgotten my own age. Would that suffice, young adventurer?"
Relief washed over Kai's face.
"I see… To live so long that your age is forgotten. Seven hundred thousand years… For us humans, even reaching one hundred is already beyond most."
Ezev's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Meyrin, take them to their quarters. Tonight, they are my guests. I am pleased."
"Yes, my lord," Meyrin replied, bowing. "I shall escort them at once."
As Mas and Kai followed her deeper into the mansion, Ruby suddenly darted down the corridor and leapt into Mas's arms, purring with joy.
"Mas! Mas! Mas! I missed you so much, meow, meow!"
Mas's face lit up in relief.
"Ruby! You're okay? You're not hurt anymore?"
"Yes," Ruby chirped. "They put me in some kind of capsule here… and just like that, I'm all healed, meow!"
Kai, his expression still lined with worry, sighed in relief.
"Ruby… you're back. Mas and I were so worried about you."
Ruby blinked curiously at Meyrin.
"And who's that, meow?"
"I am Meyrin. Pleased to meet you."
"I'm Ruby! Ruby, meow!"
Meyrin's face remained stoic, her voice cool.
"Ruby, is it? Very well."
"Not just Ruby," Ruby corrected proudly. "Ruby, Ruby! Meow!"
They walked on, passing through corridor after corridor until they reached their chambers.
"This is where you will stay," Meyrin said. "Whenever you're ready to depart, your ship awaits in the courtyard."
Mas bowed his head slightly.
"Thank you, for helping us—and our friend."
Meyrin turned, already walking away.
"It was nothing."
That night, under Sevoria's starry skies, the three finally rested.
Yet Kai awoke in the middle of the night. Drawn outside the mansion, he marveled at the heavens above.
"Wow… The stars here are even more beautiful than Earth's. And the view… it's breathtaking."
From above, a golden-haired figure slowly descended from the sky.
Kai froze.
"Ezev… What are you doing here?"
She landed lightly, her presence calm yet overwhelming.
"The same as you. Watching the stars." Her gaze turned to him. "You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Yes," Kai admitted. "Mas is eager to continue, now that Ruby's recovered."
"You seek the Ruler of the East, do you not?"
"That's right," Kai replied.
"Then know this," Ezev said quietly. "The Ruler of the East may become your enemy one day. But do not fear—I harm no one unless necessity demands it."
Sweat trickled down Kai's pale face. His chest tightened with unease, yet he forced himself to listen.
"I'll tell you something," Ezev continued, her eyes distant. "Long ago—three million years past—there was a great war. The War of the Cosmos. Rulers from every direction led countless armies into battle. The conflict lasted over a million years. But in the end… it was the Ruler of the East who brought it to an end."
Her voice grew softer.
"So if you seek the Ruler of the East, I support your journey. Better that than to let history repeat itself… and see the universe drowned in blood again."
Kai absorbed her words in silence, then returned to his chamber. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the bed, and soon drifted into slumber.