The snap's energy detonated, throwing Lavanya several meters away. Tree roots tore free from the ground, the force strong enough to hurl them aside.
Lavanya's eardrums burst. Blood streamed from her ears.
Yet the cat and Bluesy stood unmoved, untouched. Even the wind seemed afraid to approach them.
The air remained unstable, sudden violent gusts tearing through the surroundings.
Lavanya's eyes and ears bled heavily.
She caught the blood in her palm.
"Fuck… yourself."
Her body regenerated like she never bleed. Irritation was crystal clear on her face.
"Even the Divine of Love bleeds. How pitiful."
The cat taunted her. There wasn't a scratch on its body. The wind didn't even brush past it and Bluesy.
"Shut your mouth, you damn cat."
Lyanna's words only fueled Lavanya's irritation further.
"Look. The clouds are expanding."
Bluesy pointed at the sky.
The winds stabilized, but the clouds above spread unnaturally fast.
"That cloud looks like a bed."
Bluesy pointed at a bed-shaped cloud.
"Quiet."
Lavanya ordered, staring intensely at Bluesy.
"You're quite rude for a Divine of Love."
Bluesy turned toward her.
Lavanya wiped the blood from her lips.
She smirked.
"Well, my title doesn't define me. I define it. I choose how I act. No external force could make me act against my will."
Her voice was calm. Chillingly confident.
"What if the opponent is stronger?"
The cat jumped and sat on Bluesy's shoulder.
Rain began to fall. Slowly. Deliberately. Almost unnoticed.
"Then I die. That's all. But I still won't obey."
Her smirk widened.
Suddenly, heavy raindrops slammed into the ground.
"Oh. It started raining."
Bluesy spread her arms, then bent them halfway.
"And these?"
Lavanya slightly lifted the basket of milk bottles.
"I'm cancelling the plan."
Bluesy smiled and jumped into the now-stable rain.
"Such a moody Divine."
Lavanya turned away. A portal opened in the dirt. She waved once and stepped into it, milk bottles still in hand.
"I can see my face in these drops."
Her blue eye, void-like pupil split by a sharp slash, reflected perfectly in a raindrop.
"Well, that's not surprising."
The cat jumped down and drank a few drops.
"It doesn't taste good."
Bluesy chuckled, covering her lips with her palm.
In uTara Center, the sky remained completely blue, unaffected by Bluesy's snap.
All the leaders sat at the table. Denu and Liyoku were present as well. Beside Denu stood a young woman, and beside Liyoku a young boy. Both appeared entirely ordinary.
Denu leaned forward, his hands interlocked on the table.
"It's Rushi Veyl. She has strong knowledge from Light's Future. She hasn't mastered her Divine Scar yet, but she has enough control that it won't act on its own. This also supports the Cities' No-Violence Law."
Every leader listened closely.
"The uTara, General, and Focus governments, including myself, choose her as the Cities-from-Above representative."
"Same for Nonuko Uiyokito,"
Liyoku said calmly."That Darkens have no acedamy, he is also educated from Light's Future."
"We expect them to work together, not separately."
A leader from the middle-left seat spoke.
"Are they ready?"
"I am."
Rushi answered immediately, her expression faintly mocking.
"I don't know about Mr. Nonuko."
"I am too."
Nonuko replied simply.
"Then it's settled. We'll sign the papers tomorrow."
Denu lowered his hands.
"Tomorrow," he repeated.
"Well then, I'll be leaving."
Liyoku stood.
"So will I."
Denu rose with him.
They shook hands.
"Tomorrow."
Liyoku grabbed Nonuko's hand, and both vanished in a blink.
"Some of you go with Rushi."
Denu ordered.
"As you wish, my Ruler."
Two leaders stood. One of their Divine Scars shimmered with a cosmic outline through the cloth as they teleported away with her.
"My Ruler…"
A leader beside Denu spoke, fear in his voice.
"Speak."
"We… had to release Aeni."
"What?"
Denu snapped.
"Why?"
"Fate ordered us to."
Another leader answered.
Denu exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I'll tolerate that. But do not stop the investigation."
He struck the table lightly.
"That's all."
Silence followed. Calculated. Heavy.
Then—
"I was the killer."
The man stepped forward from a distance.
Several leaders restrained him instantly.
"And why should we believe you?"
Denu demanded, stepping closer.
"I have a Divine Scar with a white outline. I wanted revenge on the villagers. So I killed their children."
The man laughed.
Denu kicked him hard in the face.
"Like that's something to be proud of."
Blood spilled as the man collapsed, unconscious.
"Take him to the cell. Use every method, but keep him alive."
Denu ordered quickly.
"If he's truly the killer, reveal his identity and release him into the village. Let them decide his fate."
"As you command, my Ruler."
As he was dragged away, the man smiled inwardly.
I've done what Fate asked. The man thought.
Elsewhere
On throne sat Liyoku, eyes closed, breathing slow. The air around him was perfectly still.
A Darken rushed in and knelt.
"My Lord… Paw Regr was killed by a child in the polluted area of Secondary Heaven. The Hiyu, however, is safe."
"Then his life is irrelevant."
Liyoku said calmly.
"But I want to see this child."
His expression revealed nothing.
The Darkens dragged Kaita inside. He was conscious. Rage was crystal clear on his face.
"Leave me, you bastards. Zaraisha… she's alone."
Kaita struggled against their grip.
A Darken slammed Kaita's face into the debris.
"What's your name, kid?"
Liyoku rose from the throne.
"Unknown. My name is Unknown. Now leave me alone."
He snapped.
"What a mysterious name."
Liyoku paused.
"Who's Zaraisha?"
"She's my sister."
Unknown answered.
"You must be hungry."
Liyoku stepped closer.
"Bring your sister here. I'll feed you both."
Liyoku's hand slid across Unknown's face.
"I want to stay in that area. I don't want to go anywhere."
Unknown's voice dropped, quiet but firm.
"That's fine."
Liyoku stepped back.
"You'll protect that area. I'll provide food and clothes for you and your sister."
"I don't want anything else."
Unknown lifted his head.
"Just bread. She likes it."
"That's acceptable."
Liyoku nodded.
"You'll get whatever you need."
"Provide him everything."
Liyoku turned away.
The Darkens dragged Kaita outside.
Liyoku glanced back at Unknown one last time. As if something inside Liyoku has been fullfilled a bit.