Cray stood with a bright smile and offered, "Why don't you rest for a while? Or join us for a moment of peace during the journey?"
Solarin smiled calmly, gazing into the distance. "Maybe next time, when we reach Noxvir."
The soldiers around them had mixed expressions—some were filled with resentment, others with anger or fear, while a few stood frozen in shock at the sight of a living legend, the Sun Blade.
And in the blink of an eye, Solarin vanished with a cold breeze.
Cray suddenly burst into tears, holding Isaac tightly, her body trembling as she whispered, "Your words… made me feel safe, even if only for a moment."
Isaac remained silent, trying to understand why she always cried whenever she had the chance. He turned to the Blue Sovereign and asked in a low voice, "Why is she crying?"
The Sovereign pondered for a moment before answering:
"Human tears… sometimes they come from pity, sometimes from pain, and sometimes from surrender… But at times, they also come from a sense of security. Crying doesn't make them weak; only willpower determines strength and weakness."
⟐ ⟐ ⟐
After a brief rest, the convoy resumed its journey toward the palace. Eventually, they stopped for the final night before reaching their destination.
Elsewhere, the eldest son, Caldrias, sat on his luxurious ruby-encrusted chair in his private chamber, sipping wine as he gazed at the moonlight reflecting through his window.
His wife, Fornica, approached him and spoke in a cold tone,
"Doesn't it concern you that another heir has appeared, threatening our child's position?"
Caldrias sighed lightly, setting his glass aside as he replied,
"If he surpasses him, then it is his own sin… and he must atone for it himself. We do not concern ourselves with the weak."
Fornica observed him with a brief flash of anger before her lips curled into a sly smile. She whispered,
"Don't worry, my dear… I'll take care of everything."
⟐ ⟐ ⟐
In the dead of night, Cray suddenly awoke, feeling a thick aura of murderous intent surrounding the camp.
She got up quickly, gripping her sword, her eyes burning like fire, her body like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Just then, Karmz rushed into her tent, panting,
"My Lady… we are under attack! Their numbers are overwhelming! The soldiers have already been slain… you must escape!"
Cray glanced at her sleeping child, struggling to make a decision. But Karmz yelled,
"My Lady! Decide now!"
For a moment, she froze, fear for her child clouding her thoughts—until she heard low laughter.
Karmz was laughing, holding his stomach and mouth, before speaking in a mocking tone,
"Oh, my Lady… you were right! The fear on your face… it's hilarious and utterly pathetic!"
He then burst into loud laughter, declaring,
"I have deceived you all this time, you fool! Under Lady Fornica's orders, I was placed here to monitor you, but you were never a real threat. You're just an insect compared to my Lady."
Cray stood motionless, biting her lip so hard that blood began to trickle down. She clutched Isaac tightly as if holding onto her very soul.
And in that moment, Isaac placed his small hand on her chest, smiling softly.
Before she could react, screams erupted outside the tent, the ground shaking violently, splitting in half. In an instant, all the enemy soldiers vanished—leaving behind only blood and torn remains scattered across the battlefield.
Karmz stared in horror at the scene, his legs trembling, his face as pale as a corpse, as he whispered in terror, "Spare me… please…"
And then, Solarin appeared before him.
His body hadn't moved, but something felt wrong—something was off. He looked down and realized the truth—his body was slowly collapsing towards the ground.
As his last breath left him, he whispered, "Why… is the feeling of death so terrifying?"
Solarin then turned to Cray and embraced her, whispering, "Do not worry…"
⟐ ⟐ ⟐
Days passed, and everything settled down.
Cray subjected herself to relentless, brutal training, determined to shatter the mentality of weakness that had crept into her.
Isaac watched her from a distance, cradled in Lara's arms, thinking, Yes, that's exactly what I need… seek strength. That is the only path to survival.
But the Blue Sovereign interrupted his thoughts, saying, "But, my King… she is different from you. She has taken the path of strength for another purpose—to protect those she loves. Tell me… when you gain strength, what will you do with it?"
Isaac fell into deep silence, as if the question had never crossed his mind before.
⟐ ⟐ ⟐
Three years passed.
Isaac turned three years old, displaying extraordinary talent for rapid learning. News of his brilliance reached the family patriarch, as well as his sons, who harbored nothing but hatred toward him. But none dared to touch him—not while he was within The Northern Palace.
During those years, Cray continued to shower him with an overwhelming amount of affection, as if she were worshiping a god himself.
But that clashed violently with Isaac's mentality.
His mind, which had always clung to strength, began to waver under the weight of these emotions he despised. He resisted them with all his might, yet he found himself unable to escape them.
He tried to distance himself, but she surrounded him with her love, filling his heart with something he could not comprehend.
Why? Why is she doing this?
⟐ ⟐ ⟐
After five more years, Isaac turned eight, having completed his academic education three years ahead of his peers.
One night, Cray entered his room, where he was—as usual—reading a book.
She smiled and said, "Noxvir, tomorrow, we will begin sword training."
Isaac slowly closed his book and looked at her, saying, "Alright, but before that… tell me, what is the Extended Void? There is very little information about it, and I want to understand it more."
Cray sat on the floor in front of him and began to explain:
"The Extended Void… it surrounds the Seven Continents from all sides. It is an incomprehensible realm, filled with tyrannical beasts, fugitive criminals, and spiritual entities. The deeper you venture, the stronger the beings you encounter. It is said to be the resting place of ancient rulers' legacies, containing remnants of civilizations long lost to time. It is a place of endless opportunities, yet it devours all who lose their vigilance."
Isaac then spoke to the Blue Sovereign, "Does this place have anything to do with you?"
The Sovereign replied in a calm voice, "We have merged, my friend… I no longer have the freedom to recall my memories, for they have been sealed along with my power. You must reach further levels of strength… to unlock my past."
Silence filled the room before Isaac suddenly asked, "What if… you were once human, Sovereign?"
A long pause followed, before the Sovereign spoke a single word:
"Time."