At Brave, people in white dresses stood holding roses. Those without blindfolds guided other blindfolded people, helping them place roses on the graves.
Then they all stood straight and sang.
"Guide us, Fate. Show us the path. We can't see it without your guidance, we are mere creatures. Return our vision through your guidance. These eyes are just flesh, your guidance is absolute."
Their voices echoed in the thin air. No fatigue, only the perfection of their synchronization.
"We should head toward the Fate Domain," the blindfolded people said in unison.
They began moving, their movements perfect; every step carried its own rhythm.
In the courtyard of Light's Mansion, Belly stood beside Denu. Three leaders lowered their heads in shame before the Ruler of Light.
"How is this possible?" Denu said, barely breaking his composure.
"We investigated, questioned every prisoner, and took the hard path," the leader in the middle spoke. "But… everyone's answer was the same. They ate medicines." He had a Divine Scar on his neck with green and pink outlines.
"Or uTara is becoming careless," Denu taunted, staring at him intensely.
"That's not the case, My Ruler," the leader on the left lifted his head. "We checked them thoroughly, but we don't know how they obtained the medicines, or why they even consumed them."
"Did Shuyonu speak the truth?" Denu asked, looking at the leader on the right.
"That eye-patched man said the same thing," the leader replied. "But he added a few more details."
"What did he add?" Denu tilted his head.
"That My Ruler and Miss Belly are familiar with each other." He lowered his head again in respect.
"How does he know Belly?" Denu shifted his gaze to her.
Belly lifted her hands halfway and shook them in the air in quiet denial.
Denu turned back to the leader.
"Did he say anything else?" Denu asked.
"He mentioned that Akarum, Kashime, and Flint are the best candidates for the island investigation," the leader in the middle said.
"What…?" Denu was more confused than shocked. "How does he know them?"
"We aren't aware," the leader replied. "We tried every method, but he didn't know anything else about them beyond that."
"Now you can go." Before Denu could finish, a loud sound echoed from inside, as if something had been thrown, drawing everyone's attention.
Denu didn't turn. He already knew who it was.
"Make sure next time nothing like this happens," Denu ordered sharply.
"We will. Thank you for your precious time, My Ruler." They bowed and headed toward the gates.
"Go see what she broke," Denu said to Belly.
"Sure." Belly nodded and began walking inside.
They moved together. Belly glanced at Denu often, while Denu stayed focused on the path.
Meanwhile, at the Village of Queens.
Inside a hut, a couple sat together. The husband sat upright while his wife rested her head on his lap, trying to recover after losing their child. Nothing worked. Her thoughts kept returning to her child's smile, laughter, eyes, and coffin.
The husband stroked her hair, lost in his own mourning. His gaze fixed on the wall before him. He was thinking about his daughter.
"Why did this need to happen?" vulnerability lingered in her voice.
"Perhaps Fate didn't like our family's happiness." His fingers moved gently through her hair. A tear slipped from his left eye and fell onto his wife's chin.
She didn't notice.
"It sounds selfish, but… why did that criminal kill all of them? It wouldn't have been a crime if they had just left Uroru." She shut her eyes tightly and curled into his embrace.
He didn't answer. Inside, he wished the same, no matter how selfish it was.
In another hut,
A woman clenched her teeth, anger swelling through her veins.
"Who was that?" Her eyes looked ready for a hunt.
In yet another hut,
Aeni sat on the floor, anxiety flooding her thoughts.
"Now… I feel like I should have told them," she said, regretting her choice.
"I am scared. Really… I am scared." She repeated it while looking outside, where only dust drifted through the thin air.
"But in both cases, if they found out, I would've been caught. So it's not bad. Unless they fail… which I don't think is possible." Her fists clenched her sleeves tightly. She tried to suppress her fear, but she was genuinely terrified.
Leaders sat together in the center of Village of Queens, their minds racing as they tried to connect the clues.
"Any leads?" asked a leader seated on a chair. He had a Divine Scar on his chin with a honey-brown outline.
"Not yet. And there were no wounds on the children." His gaze stayed on the ground, calculating. "No internal injuries either. That leads to one conclusion. Someone with a white outline did it. The Divine of Peace's related outline is the only one capable of this."
A leader in the corner continued.
"But without proof, we can't capture anyone."
"Then I suppose Aeni, Kashime, and Akarum," the leader on the chair said. "Only they're capable."
"But," another leader interrupted. His Divine Scar was on his lips, outlined in black and damp with saliva. "Kashime doesn't seem capable. Akarum was outside the village. Aeni lost her brother too. It doesn't make sense."
"Who spent the most time with the children, especially in the mornings?" The leader in the corner stood abruptly, his gaze sharp, as if he had found a thread.
Akarum, Kashime and the guard ran through the trees. The guard carried the bags while Kashime and Akarum ran side by side. Akarum kept glancing at Kashime, checking if she was okay. He carried some bags too, likely his clothes or hers.
It feels like my heart isn't inside my chest.
Kashime pressed her hand to her chest, listening for her heartbeat.
The guard stayed beside them, aware of everything, but he didn't interrupt or question her.
Eventually, they reached Heavenly Kaatoumo.
In the courtyard, Flint sat on a chair, lost in thought. His mind snapped back when he heard their footsteps.
"Kashi, you here?" He stood, eyeing the bags.
"I—I'll be living here from now on," she replied, her fingers trembling.
"Okay. Place them inside," Flint said, confused.
The guard and Akarum carried the bags inside. Kashime remained frozen.
"Why all of a sudden?" Flint asked.
"You don't know what happened in the village." Her gaze met his.
"No," he replied. "Did something happen?"
"Someone…" Kashime hesitated.
"I didn't even ask yet," Flint interrupted gently. "Would you like tea, water, or something to eat?"
"Water only," she said quietly.
"Okay, wait." He went inside.
Kashime sat on the chair, her eyes wandering until her mind slipped into memory.
At the Academy's atrium,
Children ran around the fountain, their laughter echoing in the atrium.
Near the fountain, Flint sat, covering his head with both hands like an umbrella. Uncertainty lingered on his face.
Kashime stood before him, holding a small rock in her left hand, tongue touching her philtrum.
She threw the rock upward.
It hit his head, making him sob.
"It didn't work," Kashime signed.
Present.
"Here." Akarum handed Kashime a glass of water.
She drank slowly and handed it back.
The guard stepped forward.
"I'm returning to the village now," he said.
Kashime nodded gently.
As the guard walked away, he looked at the setting sun.
Kashime's mother passed him, walking quickly and deliberately. Red fingerprints marked her swollen neck. She wrapped a red scarf around it.
The guard didn't stop her. He increased his pace.
Back to Akarum and Kashime.
"What happened in the village?" Asami asked, entering the courtyard with Flint.
Kashime was about to explain.
A cold, clear voice cut through.
"Let me explain."
Kashime's mother arrived. Golden leaves adorned her ears. Her Divine Scar's black outline was still motionless on the cheek.
Kashime's eyes widened.