Myorr stood over his father's body, blood still dripping from his right hand.
The moment Knorr's life left him, the Selifehians lowered themselves in unison. Princesses, and members of the secondary branch alike bowed before him, acknowledging him as their new king.
From across the cavern, Godric studied him quietly.
"The crown came to you by right," he said. "Yet you claimed it by force. You judged your father unworthy of the throne, which means you must have some understanding of what a worthy ruler should be. Tell me, Your Majesty, what path do you intend to lead your people down?"
The attention of every Selifehian shifted toward their new monarch, curious to hear what future he would offer a people who had spent twenty years wandering in darkness.
Myorr turned slowly.
Tears still streamed down his face, but his expression had become vacant. The fury that had driven him to strike was gone, replaced by the crushing reality of what he had done. He had killed his own father, and only now did the full weight of that truth settle upon his shoulders.
"I... don't know," he admitted in a whisper.
His answer was understandable. Though born a prince, Myorr had never borne the burden of ruling. Throughout his life, King Knorr had stood before him like the sun itself, guiding the course of House Selifehian.
Myorr's role had always been to obey, learn, and follow. Despite everything, he had loved his father and never truly wished for his death. In truth, he had never envisioned himself wearing the crown.
For a bitter irony lingered within the history of House Selifehian.
Much like jesters who spent their lives entertaining others while having no one to lift their own spirits in return, the Selifehians could glimpse the futures and pasts of others yet remained blind to their own.
Godric released a weary sigh, and neither Victoria nor Aiden seemed to think differently. Before them stood a man with a king's crown, yet utterly lost as to what he should do with it.
The Selifehians, however, did not share their concern. Rising to their feet, they approached their new ruler one after another. No accusation left their lips, nor did they judge him for his uncertainty.
Instead, they embraced him, kissed his cheeks, and offered words of blessing. They knew he lacked experience and possessed neither his father's certainty nor his years of rule, yet they appreciated the honesty he had shown them. Unlike Knorr, who had hidden the truth out of fear, Myorr had admitted his weakness without hesitation.
To a people who had suffered beneath deception for so long, that honesty carried more weight than confidence. The man standing before them might not know how to save them, but he possessed a heart capable of sharing their burdens, and for the Selifehians, that was more than enough.
The sun finally rose, swallowing the darkness that had ruled the valley throughout the night.
At Myorr's silent command, the Selifehians wrapped Knorr's body alongside the remains of Ur, Ter, and Marr before carrying them out of the cavern.
Though their natural enemy now hung high above the world, they remained unharmed beneath the sheltering cliffs of the Valley of Mendiants, whose towering cliffs shielded them from the sun's lethal rays.
Together, they walked toward an unknown destination in solemn silence.
Victoria followed at a distance; her hand loosely entwined with Coco's as she matched the little princess's slow pace. The procession had advanced only a short distance when Coco suddenly came to a halt.
"What is it?" Victoria asked.
Rather than answer, the child simply pointed ahead.
Victoria followed the direction of her finger and immediately spotted a small figure sitting alone near a rocky outcrop. The fairy's tiny shoulders trembled as she wept.
"Elysia?" The name left Victoria's lips before realization struck her.
Coco could see her.
Victoria stared at the little princess in disbelief.
"How is that possible?"
"Vicky!" Elysia cried, tears streaming down her face. "Why did you kill them? You're the Goddess of Love. You're not supposed to kill people!"
Victoria blinked in confusion.
"What are you talking about? It was a battle to the death. What exactly did you expect me to do? Dance with them?"
"You and I are one," Elysia replied through her tears. "I heard everything. Those three were only obeying orders. They were trying to protect their people. You could have defeated them without killing them. You could have knocked them unconscious and locked them away."
Her voice faltered.
"But now they're gone."
The fairy lowered her head.
"They were the only hunters the Selifehians had. How are these people supposed to survive now? That new king cannot carry everything on his own."
Victoria looked at her for a long moment.
"Why do you even care?"
"Because that's what love does," Elysia answered softly. "It cares."
The simplicity of the answer caught Victoria off guard.
"So, I must never kill, even when my own life is threatened?"
"No," Elysia replied, shaking her head. "I'm not saying that. But taking a life should never be easy. It should never be the first answer simply because someone stands against you."
Victoria frowned.
"And how am I supposed to know who deserves mercy and who doesn't? How do I determine whether someone is good or evil at a glance? All I've ever known is to respond to the hostility directed at me."
"I don't know," Elysia admitted as she wiped away her tears. "But that's why I'm here."
The fairy floated closer and managed a faint smile.
"To help you become the best Goddess of Love you can be. So please, Vicky... let's find the answer together and learn how to do things the right way."
Victoria remained silent for a moment before releasing a quiet sigh and lifting her gaze toward the morning sky. The path ahead suddenly seemed far more complicated than any battle she had fought thus far.
"Things are going to be more complicated than I expected," she murmured.
The procession continued until it reached the edge of the valley's protection, where the shadows ended and the sunlight began.
"What are we doing here?" Aiden asked. "One more step and the sun will claim you. Have you all forgotten that already?"
"No," Myorr replied softly. "How could we?"
His gaze drifted toward the brilliant light beyond the valley's boundary.
"Since our banishment, we have buried our dead in darkness. Every brother and sister we lost was laid to rest beneath these shadows, never knowing the freedom they longed for. As king, this shall be my first decree. Until the day we are freed from this curse, our fallen shall be offered to the sun. They lived as captives of the darkness; it is only fitting that they rest beneath the light they sought for so long."
He turned to Aiden.
"Would you help me carry out this wish?"
Aiden remained silent for a moment before closing his eyes and nodding.
Before he could step forward, Victoria placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Allow me."
The Selifehians turned toward her.
"Those three fought bravely for the sake of their people," she said, her voice calm. "I am sorry for taking them from you."
Aiden and Godric exchanged a glance of quiet disbelief. Neither had expected such words from her.
Victoria's gaze shifted to Myorr.
"And your father..." She paused briefly.
"I will not pretend that I agreed with the path he chose. In truth, I despised much of what he did. Yet regardless of whether he was right or wrong, he acted according to what he believed would secure your future."
Her eyes lingered on the young king.
"Only your reign will determine whether his sacrifices carried meaning."
The Selifehians parted in silence, clearing a path before her.
After leaving Coco at Myorr's side, Victoria gathered the bodies of Knorr, Ur, Ter, and Marr into her arms and walked toward the sunlight.
Step by step, she crossed beyond the valley's shelter.
The moment the rays touched the corpses, their flesh began to wither. The process was neither violent nor cruel. Like frost melting beneath the warmth of spring, the bodies gradually surrendered to the light until nothing remained but drifting ashes.
Victoria opened her hands.
The wind seized the ashes at once, carrying them high into the morning sky.
"Be free," she murmured.
She watched in silence as the last traces of them vanished beyond the valley.
Behind her, the Selifehians straightened and placed their palms over their hearts. Their heads bowed as one, offering a final farewell to their fallen king and brothers.
"Rest in our hearts."
Their voices rose together, solemn and unwavering, before fading into the wind that now carried their dead beyond the reach of shadows.
***
That day, Victoria urged Aiden and Godric to help her locate hunting grounds untouched by the Council's protection. With the information they gathered, the fallen princess and her two companions set out beyond the valley and returned with a varied bounty of hunted game, alongside gathered legumes, fruits, and wild grains.
With the aid of "Simplet", a telekinetic spell second only to the great "Orion", the trio succeeded in transporting their provisions back to the Valley of Mendiants.
Aiden let out a weary breath as they arrived.
"At last," he said, "you have food enough to last weeks."
The Selifehians froze in disbelief. It had been so long since they had seen such abundance that they could hardly comprehend it. Gratitude quickly gave way to urgency as they moved to rush forward and eat, but Godric raised a hand, stopping them.
"Hold," he said firmly. "Show restraint. This is not a scramble for scraps. These provisions shall be prepared properly, and you shall be served as befits a noble house. If you would preserve your name, then act in accordance with it."
The Selifehians exchanged uncertain glances before slowly stepping back.
Aiden and Godric covered their heads with simple cloth wrappings and set about their task. Cauldrons were summoned and placed over flame, which Aiden kindled with a gesture.
Aiden glanced toward Victoria with a teasing grin.
"Well, then. Time for cooking, missy. You're not some gorilla woman, are you? Come help us. Any proper woman knows her way around a kitchen."
Victoria exhaled sharply.
"I was born a princess," she replied flatly. "I was never permitted anywhere near a kitchen."
"A princess?" Aiden scoffed, glancing around theatrically. "And where, pray tell, is this kingdom of yours? Nowhere to be seen. Here, we stand on equal ground. And please, spare me the goddess talk—it won't save you."
Victoria narrowed her eyes.
"Fine," she said, stepping forward and covering her head with a cloth like the others. "Just stop talking and teach me. Listening to you is enough to give anyone a headache."
Aiden folded his arms. "Then go learn from Godric. He's the cook."
Victoria stared at him in disbelief.
"So, you dragged me into this only to do nothing yourself?"
"Use your wit for a moment," Aiden shot back. "I never said I would cook. I made the fire. Godric handles the food. You were the only one standing around doing nothing."
"You—" Victoria's voice sharpened. "Say that again if you dare."
"Oh? I'm trembling out of fear," Aiden replied with a laugh.
Godric released a long, exhausted sigh as he watched the two bicker without end. Around them, the Selifehians followed the exchange in silence, their heads turning back and forth like spectators at a court jest.
In time, however, cooperation prevailed under Godric's guidance. Pots were stirred, meat was prepared, and the valley slowly filled with the scent of cooked food.
For the first time since their banishment, a proper banquet was laid before the Selifehian people.
Soups, porridges, roasted meats, and seasoned dishes filled the makeshift tables, Godric created. One by one, they ate until their hunger was no longer a burden, but a memory.
While Coco ate, she played quietly with Elysia. To everyone else, the child seemed to be interacting with empty space—talking, reacting, and playing with nothing they could see. The Selifehians exchanged confused looks, but none dared question it, and so they allowed her strange silence to continue.
"This is delicious," Victoria said after tasting the meat. Her gaze turned toward Godric. "Who taught you how to cook?"
"My parents," Godric replied calmly. "May they rest in peace."
"Ah… I didn't mean to—"
"It is fine," he interrupted gently. "Such is life."
Victoria nodded in quiet understanding.
"I wondered," she added after a moment, "if Aristovelli could do anything for them. She is said to be the strongest, and she seems to know nearly everything concerning magic."
"I had the same idea," Godric replied. "If anyone could perform such a miracle, it would be the Grand Master."
As they spoke, Aiden approached with his arms full of food. Without ceremony, he extended one hand toward Godric, offering a flat, circular object.
It was the Messenger, an enchanted artifact used to communicate across great distances.
"The master wants to speak with you," Aiden said, speaking through a mouth still half-full.
"Speaking of the wolf," Victoria muttered under her breath.
Godric took the artifact. At once, magic flowed through it, and an image formed in the air before them.
Aristovelli appeared, seated upon a wooden trunk with her legs crossed, casually smoking. Behind her lay members of the Comet and Legend Guilds, including their respective new guild masters, Gron and Eltrish, sprawled across the ground in exhaustion.
"Hey, Godo!" Aristovelli greeted cheerfully.
"Greetings, Grand Master," Godric replied. "And… what happened to them?"
"Do not mind them," she said, exhaling smoke. "We were attacked, and they acted like novices."
"You were attacked?" The trio reacted at once.
"By whom?" Godric pressed.
Aristovelli's expression grew slightly more serious.
"The Patriarch, Isidro Golshifteh," she said. "He is hunting Victoria. He travels with a beast—one that bears the lineage of the Methushlim."
"A Methushlim?" Godric repeated, frowning. "I thought they were extinct."
"I know what I saw," she replied calmly. "And he was not alone. He was accompanied by two women, though they were weak. Still… they may know something of our little goddess. I mean like what reason else would push him to take such weaklings with him."
Her gaze shifted toward Victoria through the projection.
"What do you say, Victoria?"
Victoria's thoughts tightened at once.
"No one knows me here apart from you. Those outside your group who might recognize me are dead—except for two women I spared during my battle with the Agape Cult, after I awakened my magic. It must be them." She frowned.
"You may want to finish your meal next time," Aristovelli replied lightly. Then her tone sharpened. "In any case, prepare yourselves. I managed to delay them, but they will reach you soon enough. The Patriarch is strong—dangerously so. Still, I will not tolerate failure. You are apprentices of the strongest, so act like it."
Despite the warning, a quiet confidence settled over the trio.
Godric then recounted what had transpired in the Valley of Mendiants and explained the Selifehian curse in brief.
Aristovelli listened, then gave a faint, amused smile.
"The Selifehians… it has been a long time," she said. "I almost forgot they still existed. I will send Gron to retrieve the girl and bring her to me. I will study her myself and see what can be done."
Her tone turned colder.
"Leave quickly, or that place will soon become a battlefield." She cut the communication.
The trio began packing their belongings when Myorr approached them alongside the princesses.
"Are you leaving already?" he asked.
"We were only meant to stay the night," Godric replied. "Now we have an urgency."
"Things will be difficult," Aiden added, "considering your people killed two of our Luluths. I wonder how we are meant to travel with only one remaining."
"It is simple," Victoria said with a shrug. "You are both men. You will walk while I sit."
Aiden let out a short laugh and shook his head. "Do you ever hear yourself speak?"
"I have something better," Myorr said, stepping forward. He bowed his head slightly. "A way to thank you for what you have done for my people… and to apologize for how we treated you upon your arrival. Please, follow me."
The three companions exchanged glances, curiosity replacing hesitation, and followed him.
***
Within the cavern of the first branch, a concealed passage led them down into a subterranean opening. There, the sight that awaited them left Victoria, Aiden, and Godric momentarily speechless.
Before them stretched an underground river, vast and quiet, its waters flowing endlessly through the darkness.
"My father named this river Azulir the day he discovered it," Myorr said softly, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "In our tongue, it means saviour. Without it, our people would have perished long ago. I do not know where your path leads, but this river will carry you beyond this valley."
He raised the withered wand that once belonged to his father.
"Filomend," he intoned.
At his command, pieces of wood submerged within the river stirred beneath the surface, rising and weaving together as though guided by unseen hands. In moments, they formed a sturdy vessel large enough to carry them and their supplies.
From behind, Irshr and Kursh brought forward the surviving Luluth.
Godric stepped forward briefly.
"Soon, a man will come here in our name to take the child," he said. "Do not resist him. We have found someone who will seek a way to break the curse. From this day forward, you are king. It is easy to hold a crown, but far harder to bear its weight upon the head."
Myorr lowered his gaze for a moment, sadness passing over his face, though Victoria's faint smile seemed to ease it.
"Do your best," she said softly.
Then she stepped onto the boat. The others followed, and soon the vessel was filled with their provisions and last Luluth.
Before they departed, Myorr spoke once more.
"Tell me your names."
"Aiden Maelgnir," Aiden replied with a grin. "The Flame God."
"Godric Heimfinger," Godric said calmly.
"Victoria Ave Strassfey," she answered lazily.
Myorr smiled through tears.
"Aiden, Godric, Victoria… as long as House Selifehian endures, we shall not forget you. May your journey be safe."
With those words, they exchanged a final farewell. The boat drifted away through the underground river.
After a long silence, a small voice broke through the stillness.
"I hope to see them again." Coco's words echoed faintly across the water.
Everyone froze.
Even Myorr and the princesses turned in shock. For until that moment, Coco had always been believed to be mute.