February 22, 2021
"So? So what does the wolf do next?"
Mikael had completely wrapped himself in the blanket, even covering his face with his hands. Yet, through the gaps between his fingers, his wide eyes sparkled with anticipation. Bedtime stories read by his mother were among his favorite things.
"Well, what do you think happened?"
Alicia deliberately drew out the words, flipping the page to heighten the suspense.
Knock, knock.
Just then, a knock echoed through the room. Mikael peeked out cautiously from beneath the blanket.
"Oh no. Do you think it's the wolf?"
"It’s probably not the wolf."
"Really?"
"If you’re curious, why don’t you go check?"
Mikael hesitated for a moment before nodding carefully. Alicia chuckled softly as she watched him shuffle toward the door, still wrapped in his blanket like a cocoon. Whether he was more curious or frightened, she wasn’t sure.
"Sir?"
"...What exactly are you doing?"
Cabelenus's expression turned odd at the sight before him. Mikael, wrapped in a blanket far too large for his small frame, stood blinking up at him. He had thought he'd grown used to the child's antics by now, but there were still moments that left him utterly baffled.
"I was reading Mikael a bedtime story," Alicia explained.
"A bedtime story?"
"Mikael likes them."
She held up the book she had been reading.
"I fail to see the connection between a blanket and a bedtime story, but one thing is certain—you need a new one."
"This one is fine," Alicia replied.
"Is it really?"
Cabelenus glanced past Mikael, following the long trail of fabric stretched from the bed to the doorway. The room was immaculate, not a speck of dust in sight, yet the blanket dragging across the floor was another matter entirely.
"It’s fine, really. But what brings you here so suddenly?"
"I need your help."
"Of course, I’d be happy to help. What do you need?"
"There’s something I want you to verify. And..."
Cabelenus shifted his gaze. Alicia followed his line of sight—to Mikael.
"I just finished something."
"Finished?"
"Mikael, give me your hand."
"Huh?"
Mikael’s eyes grew round as he extended his small hand. A crisp white paper bag was placed in his palm, carrying a sweet aroma.
"You told me to bake cookies."
"...You really baked them? By yourself?"
Suspicion flickered in Mikael’s eyes. But Cabelenus nodded without hesitation.
"You said it was your wish."
"That’s true, but..."
Mikael bit his lip, fidgeting with the bag. He had mentioned cookies, but he had never imagined he'd actually receive them. His plan had simply been to feign generosity—once he felt like it, he would pretend to grant some goodwill and call Cabelenus ‘father.’
"You didn’t mess them up, did you?"
"If you’re curious, try one."
Mikael hesitated for a moment before carefully opening the bag. Inside, he found cookies studded with chocolate chips, packed neatly together.
"Are you sure someone else didn’t make these?"
"I made them."
"Really?"
"I burned the dough several times before getting them right. Just like you wished."
Cabelenus let out a dry chuckle. It had seemed like a good idea at first—to bake a fresh batch, keeping his promise instead of offering the ones he had made with Alicia. But without her help, the process had been much harder than expected. He had gone through so many failed attempts before he finally got it right.
"Now that the cookies are done, tell me your next wish."
"Let me try one first."
Still skeptical, Mikael picked up a cookie.
"Well?"
"...Sir, be honest with me."
"What?"
"These aren’t really yours, are they?"
"Why? Do they taste bad?"
There was the slightest tremor in Cabelenus’s voice. Seeing Mikael’s troubled expression, he was suddenly reminded of his first attempt at making cookies.
"They’re delicious."
"What?"
"This doesn’t make sense. There’s no way you could have baked something this good!"
"Don’t be ridiculous."
Despite Mikael’s indignant outburst, Cabelenus didn’t mind it. In fact, he found himself unexpectedly pleased. His expression softened.
"When did you even bake these? You’re always busy."
"I worked from the kitchen."
Recalling the past few days, Cabelenus smirked faintly. Gajev had tried not to show it, but his lieutenant’s expression had visibly stiffened every time he had stepped into the kitchen.
"You really didn’t have to go that far."
"With such a picky judge, I had no choice."
Cabelenus jerked his chin toward Mikael. The boy was already reaching for his second cookie.
***
"This is strange. So much time must have passed, yet everything is still intact. It’s as if time itself has stopped here."
Alicia walked slowly through the room, running her fingers along the walls. The indentations of old carvings pressed against her fingertips, creating a peculiar sensation.
"Can you read all of this?"
"It’ll take some time since there’s a lot, but I think I can manage."
She nodded without hesitation, continuing her careful examination. The inscriptions weren’t just records; they formed a story. She needed to find the beginning.
"Something’s off."
"What do you mean?"
"I can’t read any of this."
"..."
"It’s written in a language I know. And yet, I can’t understand a single word."
Cabelenus frowned, his brows drawing together in frustration. For someone of royal lineage, fluency in ancient languages was expected. Yet here he was, standing before a wall of script he should have recognized—but couldn’t.
"You really can’t read it?"
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"Yeah. I can’t read it. It’s as if... it doesn’t want me to."
Cabelenus’s eyes narrowed. Gajev’s theory had been correct. The room had only appeared because of Alicia, and even the inscriptions left behind seemed to exist solely for her. There was a connection between Alicia and the monsters—one he had yet to fully understand.
"What could be the issue?"
"It’s not necessarily a problem. After all, we wouldn’t have found this place if it weren’t for you."
"What do you mean by that?"
"This place had completely vanished. No matter how hard I searched, it was nowhere to be found."
"..."
"But the moment you arrived, it reappeared."
Was it truly just a coincidence? Cabelenus studied Alicia carefully before speaking again.
"Gajev suggested something... that your connection to the monsters runs deeper than mine. That’s why they react to Mikael as well."
"..."
"And maybe, just maybe, your god and Prime God could be one and the same."
"That’s impossible. I’m not that kind of person," Alicia said without hesitation. "You know that. My power may seem extraordinary at a glance, but it’s far from perfect."
Her abilities were anything but absolute. No matter how grand it sounded to say she could grant wishes, there was always a price. The cost was her own lifespan. If she couldn’t pay that price, her power was meaningless. That was a stark contrast to the perfect, omnipotent god the empire had worshipped for centuries.
"Even so, it’s suspicious," Cabelenus murmured.
"What exactly do you find suspicious?"
"Monsters have always been deeply tied to the temple. Even your power resembles the abilities attributed to Prime God."
"...Then what do you think?"
Alicia lifted her gaze, but Cabelenus’s expression was unreadable.
"Honestly? I don’t want to believe it. There’s no such thing as a god. There’s no point stirring up trouble with unnecessary speculation."
"Is that so?"
"But... even so, I’m going to find out for sure."
"..."
"If your power has been consuming your lifespan... then there must be a way to reverse it."
Cabelenus’s gaze drifted ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) downward—to Alicia’s dress.
None of her clothes fit her anymore. Like a wilting flower, her body grew thinner by the day. Though she never once voiced her pain, the shadow of death clung to her, deepening with every passing moment.
"I promised to protect you. And yet, none of my preparations—none of my power—have been able to save you."
"Don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault."
Alicia reached out, brushing her fingers gently against Cabelenus’s cheek. He clenched his jaw, forcing down the emotions threatening to surface.
"I won’t give up. If it’s not a god, I’ll find something else. I’ll find anything."
"I believe you."
More than anything, I don’t want to give up either.
Her fingertips traced the corner of his eye. Even if it was a foolish, fleeting hope, she wanted to hold on to it. She didn’t want to let their time together slip away—wasted and meaningless.
***
"Can I go see Mom?"
"No. Alicia is busy."
Cabelenus didn’t even look up from his documents as he responded. Mikael pouted, aggressively squeezing a cushion in frustration.
Ever since the monster incident, one thing had changed: he was never alone anymore. The adults refused to let him be by himself. Whether it was Alicia, Cabelenus, or even Gajev, at least one of them always had to accompany him if he wanted to leave.
For a child who had once roamed the castle freely, it felt like a cruel punishment.
"Then can I at least go see Rex?"
"Wait for Gajev. You can go with him."
"Can’t I go now? I’m really bored."
Mikael stomped his feet, deliberately making a fuss. The table in front of him was piled with snacks and toys, but none of it was enough. What he really wanted was to go outside—to run around freely.
"Just be patient. I need to finish this first."
"If you’re really that busy, I can just go alone—"
"No."
He was shut down before he could even finish his sentence. His lips jutted out further in irritation.
"Ugh..."
"It won’t take much longer. Just wait a little."
"You said the same thing an hour ago."
Mikael sighed dramatically, glancing toward the door. Meanwhile, Cabelenus didn’t spare him even a glance, his eyes locked on his paperwork.
"Don’t even think about it."
"...."
Mikael had only shifted slightly off the couch, yet he was immediately called out. His cheeks puffed up in frustration. This was the third time he’d been caught trying to sneak out.
"At least eat a cookie while you wait. You like them."
"Mom told me not to eat too many sweets."
"Did she?"
"And besides, your cookies always taste the same."
Mikael shot a scowl toward the basket of chocolate chip cookies. He had eaten them every single day for a week. He liked chocolate, sure—but enough was enough. No matter how many he ate, the basket never seemed to empty, and they all tasted exactly the same.
"Sweets all taste the same anyway."
"They do not. Don’t say nonsense."
Mikael vehemently shook his head. The world was filled with all kinds of cookies—there was no way he was going to lump them all together under "sweets."
"Fine. Then I’ll bake you a cake next time."
"You can bake cake?"
"I don’t know."
"You don’t know... but you just said you’d bake one?"
"If I don’t know, I’ll learn. I’ll figure it out when I have time."
For the first time, Cabelenus looked at him directly. Mikael, who had been about to argue further, stiffened slightly—then slumped his shoulders in defeat at the faint smile tugging at the man’s lips.
"...When will you have time?"
"When everything is over."
For a brief moment, Cabelenus’s gaze flickered toward the bookshelf.
Amidst the countless strategy books and military texts, one book stood out—one that didn’t belong.
