Years of constant warfare have left this country riddled with refugees and warlords, with continuous military conflicts and endless battles.
Even the savage Sargon pales in comparison to this nation—after all, no matter if it's a Pasha or a King Chief, they ultimately still have to listen to the Sargon Royal Court. But in Kazdel, many people believe they are the emperor.
Ruin and decay pervade this land, and the poor, unable to escape, can only struggle to survive here.
However, what is somewhat unusual is that in this area, the temporary civilian houses and tents are remarkably neat.
Farmers have returned home with the sunset, and occasionally a few Sarkaz children run through the streets, laughing and playing, neither worrying about what to eat the next day nor fearing passing bandits or deserters.
"Ifrit is coming! Everyone run!"
Behind them, a short-haired, blonde Sarkaz girl—Ifrit—held two small, shining fireballs in her hands.
"Gah-woo—I'll burn you all!"
Currently, she is healthy and full of vitality. After being guided by Goki to accept the purest Originium energy, her control over Originium Arts has advanced by leaps and bounds.
But even so, in a nearby tent, her silver-haired Vouivre / Wyvern guardian was still constantly watching her.
Not far away, a white-haired Nona Feline, wrapped in a warm, freshly dried windbreaker, smiled as she watched these older children play. She was a bit eager to join in, but after much thought, she still didn't muster the courage.
It had been over ten days since Rosmontis arrived in Kazdel, and she had grown accustomed to waiting here for a while every day.
Waiting for the older brother who saved her.
"Kal'tsit... does she miss Brother Goki?"
The small cat ears on her head twitched twice. The little Feline turned her head and looked in a certain direction—recently, her guardian, Kal'tsit, had always been over there.
Under the night sky, in the center of this small settlement, stood the largest tent, and in front of the tent was an expensive-looking astronomical telescope.
A Feline woman with short white hair stood before the telescope, facing west, continuously observing the stars in the firmament.
"It's getting closer..."
Kal'tsit stared intently at the magnified starscape, comparing it with the star charts she had memorized completely over a millennium in her mind.
There, five faint planetary lights were gradually approaching, seemingly about to form a straight line pointing towards the Shadow Moon.
Kal'tsit was watching with extreme focus, her cat ears relaxed and drooping to the sides. She didn't notice a pair of slender hands, covered in black smoke and adorned with ten rings, reaching towards her from behind.
"Wow! Kal'tsit!"
Accompanied by a gentle female voice, those small hands reached for Kal'tsit's cat ears, but before she could grasp those adorable, longed-for cat ears, they were seized by two black crystalline limbs—it was Mon3tr.
"Theresa... you know, this Spell can't fool me."
Kal'tsit turned her head and looked at the pink-haired woman with black long horns. She wore a pure white long dress and had an extremely approachable smile, beautiful and gentle.
Upon realizing she had been discovered, a clear sense of disappointment welled up in her pink bright eyes.
It's hard to imagine that such a woman, as innocent and playful as a young girl, is actually one of Kazdel's greatest heroes, the legitimate heir to the Sarkaz royal family, and the leader of this small migratory settlement and countless mobile cities.
Of course, she is also Kal'tsit's friend—and her friends are few.
"Hmph, one day I'll touch your ears! Of course, Cloud Mist Spell can't fool you. Who told you to forbid me from using high-level Spells? If it were an Invisibility Spell, you definitely wouldn't have found me."
Pouting, she withdrew her small hands, placed them on her slender waist, and her face was full of smiles.
Most Originium Arts users can often only use Originium Arts of a single attribute, but many sub-races among the Sarkaz possess extremely strong Spell talents. Ancient Sarkaz Originium Arts are numerous and complex, but the Sarkaz people are never short of Spell Geniuses.
Theresa is just one of them.
"Because the stronger the Spell effect, the more Originium energy the body requires. Even with a staff, the Originium in an Infected person's body will slowly grow, unlike an explosion turning into dust. So just be good and use fewer Spells."
Kal'tsit rolled her eyes at Theresa, picked up a nearby notepad, and recorded the data she had just observed.
Although it doesn't show on the surface, Theresa's clothes hide many Originium crystals.
As a Sarkaz, it was only natural for her to contract oripathy, and years of warfare had advanced her oripathy to a moderate stage.
If Kal'tsit hadn't been watching her regular routine, adjusting her physical condition, and using targeted medication to suppress it from very early on, coupled with the Sarkaz people's inherent physical strength, Theresa's oripathy would have already progressed to severe.
"Not everyone is like the Aegir, who can specifically suppress Originium energy erosion. There are only a handful of people in the world like Goki, who have concentrated liquid Originium flowing in their veins and can still be so lively. You're not as tough as him, so just take your medicine obediently—did you take your medicine tonight?"
With an expression no different from when she parted ways with Goki, Kal'tsit narrowed her pale green eyes, scrutinizing her old friend before her.
"Of course I did, do you think I'm a child! Though it was bitter... But, have you noticed you're talking about Mr. Goki again?"
Upon hearing Kal'tsit's words, Theresa raised an eyebrow, revealing an intrigued smile.
"You've mentioned him quite a bit recently. Oh dear—though it's a few hundred years late, has Kal'tsit finally come to her senses?"
Touching her own cheek, Theresa looked at Kal'tsit with a strange, mother-like sense of relief in her eyes.
She hadn't expected such a significant change in her old friend of a hundred years after their reunion—these past few days, she would occasionally bring up that "hunter."
"Theresa! Stop joking like that. He and I are just in a cooperative relationship—I don't fully trust him yet. He has too many unsolved mysteries, and he walks beyond the boundary of non-humans, encountering dangers beyond imagination. Stop making such jokes!"
Kal'tsit looked at her friend with a hint of complaint. She knew Theresa's gentleness; her kindness and benevolence were not typical traits for a leader, but they had also gained her many supporters.
However, Theresa's easygoing nature also made her particularly fond of gossip in daily life, which greatly troubled Kal'tsit.
"Hm-hm? Then I'm even more curious. It seems Mr. Goki is indeed an interesting man—in fact, Nona Saria and Nona Silence's evaluations of him are quite similar to yours, but their feelings for Mr. Goki..."
Recalling the two girls from Columbia, who were now conducting research and medical work under her command, Theresa's lips curved slightly upward when speaking of Goki, unable to hide their admiration and affection.
"When he arrives in Kazdel, you must properly introduce him to me—however, in a few days, I might have to go to the Blood Demon territory in the north, so I might not have the time."
Except for Kal'tsit, everyone who came with her—all praised the Goki whom Theresa had never met. Kal'tsit's current demeanor, Theresa felt, was just her being tsundere.
"...Tell me honestly, is Rosmontis the little baby you secretly had with him? Her hair and eye color are exactly like yours—I really hope I can be an aunt!"
"Theresa, you're really enough... I need to first be sure that those two can make it out of Kazimierz alive."
To this, Kal'tsit could only sigh and continue to bend over the telescope, resuming her observations.
Kal'tsit couldn't get angry at Theresa at all.
The only way to make her stop her erratic thoughts was to find a new topic.
"Five stars aligning with the moon, do you remember how many years ago you last saw such a sight?"
Sure enough, as soon as she said this, Theresa quickly forgot about the topic of Goki.
"Let me think, I wasn't born yet at that time, but I saw related records in the Imperial Grand Library... 853 years ago, the five-star alignment that used to occur every twenty-three years never appeared again, and it almost caused panic then."
Looking at the brilliant starry sky above, Theresa wasn't intentionally teasing Kal'tsit; it was just that the other party had been worried these past few days, which made her a bit concerned.
"I'm truly glad we live in an enlightened era now. At least I learned from you that Terra is just a continent, and we are merely a speck of dust among the stars. I was quite sad when I first heard it."
Kal'tsit, meanwhile, looked at the five planets re-converging and sighed softly.
"Indeed, it's been nearly a millennium. Then you should also know that 753 years ago—Kazimierz transformed from a theocratic nation into a knightly kingdom, right?"
Her expression grew serious. Kal'tsit looked at Theresa, her tone much more earnest.
"Speaker Theresa, I request that you mobilize the Military Commission, including Theresis's people and the Royal Courts, to conduct a small joint exercise. At the very least, ensure all armies have a moderate level of organization."
Upon hearing Kal'tsit's words, Theresa's expression also became solemn. She knew that her friend was always serious and had a sense of foresight, but she would never worry needlessly.
When Kal'tsit said danger was coming, Theresa had to be fully prepared—Theresa also knew how terrifying the giant, distorted monster from the battle that occurred in Columbia was.
"All forces on standby for war. The old conservatives in the Military Commission will surely see it as a joke, but if it's just a military drill, it might be feasible—however, is the situation really that serious?"
"This is just a worst-case scenario, and it's also what Goki asked me to do—but if you ask me, I still believe he can resolve this incident. If even he can't resolve it... that would be the real disaster."
Straightening up and stretching in a big, Feline way, Kal'tsit's gaze turned towards the distant west, and she couldn't help but click her tongue.
And only in front of her closest friend could she utter the next sentence—
"And, to be honest, I'm a bit thirsty for the coffee Goki makes—I hope his hunt goes smoothly."
The Nona Feline was still silently waiting.
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