A continent still overflowing with gods, goddesses, saints, and myths.
And upon that vast land, in the coldest place of all, stood the Grand Temple.
A place upheld by seventy-seven massive pillars.
Spring winds had begun sweeping across the continent, yet this place still seemed frozen in winter.
The statues carved into the seventy-seven pillars bore unfocused eyes, yet looked so vivid they seemed ready to leap to life at any moment.
Even amidst this lingering winter landscape, figures dressed in pure white priest robes moved busily about.
Knock knock knock.
A young boy hurried toward the largest prayer hall at the center and knocked urgently on the door.
The door opened soundlessly, and the boy entering bowed deeply.
“Your Eminence, another message has arrived from below.”
The boy’s quiet voice was perfectly calm, but his expression did not hide everything. The faint stiffness in his cheeks made it clear that the news he carried was no ordinary matter.
Kneeling reverently in the center of the prayer hall and gazing at the light pouring through the vast glass ceiling overhead, the figure slowly rose to his feet.
It was a restrained and silent movement utterly devoid of unnecessary sound.
“Y-Your Eminence. This time, perhaps a reply...”
“I shall do so.”
“F-Forgive me.”
Only afterward did the boy realize he had dared urge the High Priest himself, and he hurriedly lowered his head in alarm.
But what filled his face was not merely fear.
It was reverence for someone who had reached a higher realm.
The High Priest lightly tapped the boy’s shoulder.
When the boy lifted his head again, the only thing remaining was the open doorway. The High Priest himself had vanished without a trace.
“He truly is like the wind.”
The boy’s hollow voice of amazement scattered across the pure white marble floor.
***
“It seems people calling themselves prophets are causing chaos everywhere.”
Lowering his voice, Jepeto spoke meaningfully.
“Prophets?”
Ren’s eyes widened.
He had only brought it up to change the subject, but apparently something really was happening in the capital.
“With prophecies about the treasure spreading around, all sorts of swindlers seem to be taking advantage of it.”
Jepeto shrugged, saying such things were hardly trustworthy.
“The atmosphere feels strange. I think it would be best not to go outside for a while.”
The moment he said it, Jepeto realized his mistake. Though he did not know everything for certain, he did know Ren’s movements were already being restricted.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Jepeto busied himself checking Ren’s condition while rambling pointlessly about one thing after another.
“I wonder if Priest Kirky departed safely.”
“...”
At Jepeto’s words, Ren fell speechless.
He had completely forgotten.
Kirky had gone to that land where blood groaned beneath the earth.
Busy sorting the medicines spread from his bag, Jepeto failed to notice Ren’s expression.
“Lady Coco must be worried too, considering how suddenly he left. Honestly, what is this kingdom even becoming?”
Jepeto shook his head repeatedly.
Only after absentmindedly complaining did he suddenly realize what he had said and look up.
But Ren had already regained control of his expression.
Deliberately putting on a sulky look, he glared at his own reflection in the mirror.
“I’m sure it’ll work out somehow.”
“I’ve talked too much. Ren, you should sleep early if you’re tired.”
“You too, Jepeto.”
Jepeto gave Ren one last glance before leaving. He smacked his own head repeatedly, blaming himself for speaking carelessly.
But there was no taking the words back now.
After Jepeto left, Ren sank into complicated thoughts.
‘I’m really selfish.’
Thinking of no one but his brother.
He knew Giselle was sending Kirky to that land, yet Kirky had not crossed his mind even once.
Just what kind of person was he?
Even though so much had changed compared to the village where selfishness had been necessary for survival, had Ren himself really remained the same?
But soon, instead of continuing to reflect on himself, Ren chose to focus on the more important issue.
It was time to face death.
Not a decision made impulsively in the grip of emotion like at the inn.
This was something Ren had thought about for a long time.
He pulled out the paper he had obtained by asking a servant for it.
Only Ren’s own name had been written there.
The heart that had been unable to write even a single word still throbbed painfully.
Ren carefully folded the paper and tucked it into his clothes.
When he became capable of writing, he would write then.
There was still enough time left to leave behind a letter.
If he intended to leave, there were other preparations he needed to make first.
Ren tugged on the cord beside the bed.
A knock sounded, and the now-familiar servant peeked inside.
“You called for me?”
“I need to see Lord Giselle.”
“...Lord Giselle is rather busy...”
The servant tried to mumble his way around the matter.
But Ren was not the sort to give up so easily.
“It wouldn’t be the worst thing to tear through the royal castle looking for him myself.”
Ren twisted his lips sharply.
Even merely contorting his face to endure the pain made his expression frightening. How could the face of someone so beautiful look so terrifying?
The servant could not understand it, but he quickly retreated anyway.
“Tch.”
For the first time in a while, irritation flared violently through Ren.
He felt a little sorry toward the servant, but Ren had never possessed a good personality to begin with.
He had only softened because he had met good people.
The moment he thought of Giselle, he reverted right back to himself.
Out of habit, Ren picked up the mirror resting on the table.
His complexion still did not look bad.
“...?”
But when he touched his forehead, cold sweat dampened his fingertips.
***
Giselle headed toward the king’s second office.
It was rare for him to visit the king’s office without cause.
His long hair swayed behind his large strides.
Heralts, was it?
He absently rolled the object in his pocket between his fingers.
“Lord Giselle. It’s been dealt with.”
A voice suddenly spoke behind him in the previously empty corridor, but Giselle only nodded.
The figure who had spoken disappeared without a trace, just as silently as they had appeared.
As though melting into the shadows.
The time was approaching.
***
“Please come this way.”
Late into the evening, Ren followed after the servant.
His legs tangled weakly beneath him as he staggered, but he said nothing and continued following behind.
He was on his way to see Giselle.
After passing along the message earlier that he wished to speak with him, Giselle had responded surprisingly quickly.
“Where are we going?”
Ren barely managed to ask while catching his breath.
The servant turned with a strange expression, then lowered his head again.
His pace only quickened. Ren received no answer.
Apparently the irritation Ren had shown earlier was still lingering.
But this was still preferable to exaggerated politeness, so Ren silently followed after him.
Grinding his teeth, forcing his slowing legs forward somehow—
The servant eventually led him to a watchtower.
“Hah... hah...”
With his stick-thin body and pitiful stamina, it was not a place Ren could climb easily.
Watching Ren fall farther and farther behind while gasping for breath, the servant urged him on.
“Lord Giselle is waiting.”
“I know...”
He knew that.
But his body needed to cooperate first.
The fact that he was still standing at all on trembling legs already felt miraculous.
As Ren climbed the endless stairs, he seriously wondered whether he might stop breathing before reaching the top.
“He’s waiting above. You must climb all the stairs.”
Aaaaugh!
Ren screamed internally.
This servant was far colder than he looked.
Just because Ren had snapped once earlier, he was treating him like this...
‘My body’s never been this bad before...’
Had moving always been this difficult?
Under normal circumstances, perhaps Ren would have grown suspicious.
But Ren already believed it would not be strange if he died at any moment.
Because of that, his suspicions remained faint.
He could not find it strange that climbing each stair demanded immense effort, or that the servant urging him onward sounded increasingly impatient.
Instead, sheer stubbornness carried Ren all the way up all seventy-seven stairs.
“Hah... hah... hah...”
It was only after climbing the final step that Ren realized something was truly wrong with his body.
An indescribable presence burrowed [N O V E L I G H T] beneath his skin.
It felt similar to what he sensed from Temar and Luman—
Yet entirely different.
Something icy and freezing, devoid of even a trace of warmth, swept across the crown of his head like blue lightning.
At some point, the servant who had been hurrying him along had vanished.
In front of Ren, one person stood casting a shadow over him.
He had no idea how long that person had been watching from above.
Though he had climbed only seventy-seven stairs, Ren now stood atop the watchtower.
His ragged breathing scattered into the night air.
The figure before him lowered his head, revealing a face previously hidden beneath the moonlit silhouette.
Long hair cascading like a curtain.
Eyes calm enough not to stir even the faintest ripple.
“I’ve been waiting.”
It was Giselle.
Straightening the upper body he had slightly bowed, Giselle stepped aside.
As his shadow withdrew, the pitch-black night sky filled Ren’s vision completely.
The countless scattered stars shone as brightly as moonlight.
“I heard you wished to speak with me.”
Pretending not to notice the hand courteously offered to him, Ren forced strength into his shaking legs.
“I came because I had something to say.”
Giselle nodded as if telling him to continue.
But Giselle’s gaze was not fixed on Ren’s mouth as he chose his words, nor on his face.
Those calm eyes sunken deep in reason rested elsewhere.
On the place Dell Belkerman’s sword had cut.
On Ren’s collarbone.
“I’m leaving this place.”
“Is that so?”
Giselle remained utterly calm.
As though he had expected those words.
“I still don’t know exactly what it is you want...”
Despite Giselle’s reaction, Ren’s voice stayed perfectly even.
It sounded as though he were trailing off slightly, but his gaze never wavered.
Those meteor-bright green eyes stared directly at Giselle.
A gaze so deep it seemed to peer beyond the surface and into what lay underneath.
Giselle’s pupils widened sharply.
“But I know you got at least some of what you wanted from me.”
He did not need to ask.
Ren’s unwavering gaze wrapped itself tightly around Giselle.
