"Leon probably received his Star Quest now, though I don't know about Mira, his younger sister that I do not know anything about except for being an unknown element.
"About Elizabeth, I trust that she'll have no choice but to confront her mother, but she's an intelligent woman, so it's a matter of time before her development, though it seems my previous cryptic pieces of advice would be the trigger to let out her emotions.
"In the same way, Samantha deviated too much from what I know, but I just hope it's for the better.
"Moreover, I feel dejected since reality truly hits in a different way."
Russell Moon, lying in his cozy bedroom in their home, muttered at the mysterious Egg that was floating beside him. Whenever he felt like he needed to blurt out the things that were bothering him, he would take out the mysterious Egg from his Dimensional Inventory to have it listen to him.
He thought of what had transpired a few weeks ago, the relaxing school trip that turned into a stigma to humanity that marked one of the worst events in humanity's history, causing the suspension of classes and the Three-Way Alliance to be established.
"To think I wrote about the terror attack to erase unnecessary characters from the story and for the development of the major characters… But witnessing it, in reality, was just something else."
To begin with, Russell only thought, having read numerous fantasy novels in his previous life, that being a reincarnator inside the world of his own unpublished novel was similar to the one he had commonly read – being reincarnated without elaborated reason, which only happened for the sake of the story's genre.
"But to think I'm being f*cked by what I've written. Sigh… Egg… Can you talk to me?"
[The mysterious Egg says to not sweat it.]
[The mysterious Egg faintly smiles at its owner.]
[The mysterious Egg reminds you of a crucial matter happening at this point in time.]
Russell, with his hands at the back of his head, smiled at the Egg after reading the System messages, which were the way for it to communicate with him.
"Crucial matter… I see. It seems it's time for a farewell with our princess, for the time being, at least."
As Russell finished reading the mysterious novel, which had been given to him by the Goddess of Night before going to Her slumber, he was certain, even though there were countless unpredictable things that could transpire at any given moment, that the circumstances would seldom deviate from the original storyline.
***
"...R-Rumia…"
Rosalin Flora, the queen of Nereia, spoke in a dejected tone as her lips trembled due to the unknown situation in front of her.
Calling her name as a mother and not as the queen of a country, Rosalin caressed the head of her daughter, who was sleeping soundly, but not waking up even though it's been more than twelve hours since she fell asleep.
Although it might be normal for some people to sleep that long for some reason, the problem in this Rumia's case was that no matter how hard they tried to wake her up, her gentle blue eyes just wouldn't open.
"Y-your Majesty, w-what's happening to the princess?"
The maid assigned to Rumia spoke with a tone of being anxious about the peculiar state of the princess.
Rosalin, however, fell silent and scrutinized her precious daughter's condition. She was not the kind of queen that would panic and become emotional at a glance, but rather, as long as her daughter was breathing soundly, worrying about the unknown was the last thing she would do.
But it would be a lie if she's not worried as a mother in the slightest because it's the first time since this situation happened.
"I have no idea for now… But I ask you to not tell anyone about this matter."
"Y-yes, Your Majesty!"
Even though Rosalin was talking to a maid, her words were spoken in a way that showed respect, which gained the absolute trust of those under her rule.
"Please call my Secretary and tell her to come in here."
Rosalin ordered the maid, who had complied without asking, before she stood up from the side of the bed where her daughter was lying undisturbed and then slowly walked towards the window where the bluish moon, up in the sky, could be seen, sending its moonlight throughout the continent.
"You will be so proud of our daughter."
Whispering in the air, a faint smile crept up Rosalin's lips. Her emotion was that of longing as her husband, Rumia's father, was away and could not be contacted for more than a year now because of a certain mission that would be extremely beneficial for humanity's sake.
Sometime later, a knock sounded on the door from the outside. Rosalin, being in her little reverie, was jolted and snapped out of reality.
"Come in."
The door was gently opened by a woman, wearing black, big-framed eyeglasses. She had shoulder-length blonde hair, sharp blue eyes, and a tender body.
"My Queen-"
The woman paused as she glanced at the unconscious princess, sleeping like someone from a fairytale. Without explaining to her what happened since she was doing diplomatic work in her personal office – something not too crucial and purposeful to be handled by the queen herself, Rosalin ordered her.
"Contact Miss Ayleen and tell her to come here."
***
"I wonder what's the problem…"
After a few minutes since the call from Rosalin's secretary came through, Ayleen Mayfield, driving and nearing the Warp Gate that's bound to Nereia's capital, Enfiya, muttered alone in curiosity.
'It's rare for her to call me, especially this late at night.'
Ayleen thought as she proceeded to enter the Warp Gate that was being guarded twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Sometime later, she found herself in front of the towering gate of the Royal Palace, where the secretary of the queen was waiting.
"Greetings, Miss Ayleen. Let me accompany you."
The secretary turned around as Ayleen followed suit. She didn't ask about why she was called, but rather, she wanted to see what was the matter this time around.
After two to three minutes of walking, she and the secretary arrived in front of a door. The latter then knocked before she spoke in a way that showed reverence.
"My queen, Miss Ayleen has arrived."
"Let her in."
***
Ayleen Mayfield entered the luxurious bedroom, that was designed for someone truly befitting of royalty.
"...What seems to be the-"
After Rosalin signaled her secretary by nodding her head, the two were left alone together.
Ayleen, who was about to ask regarding the purpose of being summoned at this time, stopped her words as she saw a familiar face lying on the queen-size bed as if she were the most peaceful person ever.
"R-Rumia?"
Ayleen's purple eyes shifted to Rosalin. It's a look of curiosity.
"She's sleeping."
Rosalin said tersely.
"I know, but why are we here? If this is your daughter's bedroom, we should be talking in your office."
Ayleen was unaware of Rumia's condition, that's why she found this situation somewhat ludicrous. But Rosalin's next words made her stiff.
"She's sleeping... But she's not waking up."
"Huh...?"
Intermittently glancing between the queen and princess, with her mouth slightly agape, Ayleen did her best to process the meaning of the words that just came out of Rosalin's mouth.
In less than ten seconds, as Rosalin didn't answer Ayleen's stupefied expression, the latter's eyes widened as her mouth trembled.
"W-what do you mean she's not waking up?"
"It's just as I said... My dear daughter isn't waking up.
"I don't know what happened or what's happening, but can you check her condition?
"As you can see, she's breathing just fine, but she's not opening her eyes. Moreover, she's not reacting to any external stimuli."
Rosalin responded to the worried Ayleen, being the professor of the princess in the Basic Mana Theory class.
"I see... In other words, you called me here to check her condition and try to wake her up through internal means."
Rosalin nodded at Ayleen's guess before she added:
"You're the most skilled player when it comes to psychology or mind."
Being the Champion of the Constellation, Witch of Dreams, Ayleen Mayfield's specialty was manipulation and mind invasion, at least at this point in time.
Calming herself down since she had confirmed that Rumia was alive, Ayleen then spoke her perspective.
"Alright. I need your permission to proceed.
"You know very well that I don't do it unless it's an emergency or against an enemy."
Rosalin then permitted Ayleen to understand Rumia's condition by any means available.
***
[Activating the Skill: Mind Fog.]
[Invading the target's mind...]
[The activation of the Skill: Mind Fog has been canceled by an unknown power!]
[Invading the target's mind has failed!]
"What happened?"
Rosalin, who felt that something was amiss, looked at Ayleen, whose purple eyes were in disbelief upon reading the System messages that rang in her ears.
"For some reason, I can't do it."
"Contractor, can you tell me the reason why I can't invade this child's mind or dream?"
Ayleen muttered as she politely asked her Constellation.
[The Constellation, Witch of Dreams, shuts her mouth regarding this matter.]
[The Constellation, Witch of Dreams, has changed her Cosmic Title to "Lover of the Cosmos Ocean."]
"Huh... What the hell was that?"
Ayleen slowly shifted her gaze to Rosalin and told her what just happened.
"It seems your daughter's condition is more serious than I thought."
Although Ayleen had no idea why her Constellation didn't say anything and why she changed her Cosmic Title.
Cosmic Titles were the nicknames of the Constellations, Gods, and Goddesses, which could be used to disguise one's status. But it's the first time for Ayleen to see such a change.
Looking at the dejected Rosalin, who was looking at her daughter, Ayleen asked out of nowhere.
"Rosalin, your Constellation's Cosmic Title is the Wanderer of Cosmos, right? Perhaps she knows what's happening with Rumia.
"In addition, consider what happened to your daughter in the past few weeks or even months or so."
"Ah, f*ck! What is this situation..."
Listening to Ayleen, Rosalin didn't manage to hold her emotions as she cursed.
"Hey, calm down! Your daughter's alive. It's just that something's happening to her."
Letting out a sigh, Rosalin tried her best to calm down.
"Alright. I'm trying my best not to worry, but I'm a mother, you see."
Ayleen understood the love of a parent, a mother. From her point of view, Rosalin's reaction to her daughter's condition was commendable as a queen of the country because she's not overreacting, even though it's the first time such a situation happened.
"She'll wake up, okay?"
With that, the night just after the Star Blessing Winter Day ended.
***
Five days later, Samantha, Elizabeth, Anya, and Jiho visited the Royal Palace of Nereia.
Trusted by the queen because of Rumia's relationship with them, they were informed of what happened to the princess.
Elizabeth, although seeing her bestfriend breathing as a sign of life, couldn't help but feel emotional.
"Hey... I'll kill you if you don't wake up."
After learning the truth and confronting her mother about his father's death, although Elizabeth was relieved as though a thorn in her heart was burned, a feeling of emptiness was strangely lurking in her heart.
Samantha and the others were just silent in this early evening, a few hours before welcoming the Year 2063 of the Star Era.
Sometime later, Samantha reached for Elizabeth's shoulder.
"Let's go home."
Elizabeth, sitting on the floor as she held Rumia's right hand, didn't turn her head as she sighed.
"You should come back tomorrow.
"All of you have someone to celebrate the year's end with."
Rosalin Flora, leaning on the door, with her arms folded, interjected and advised them.
"Elizabeth...?"
At that moment, Samantha felt that something was wrong.
"...H-hey, R-Rumia...?"
The awake princess was sobbing as her mouth trembled.
The others, including Rosalin, approached Elizabeth to comfort her but noticed that the princess was looking at the sleeping one with darkened expression.
"S-she's not breathing..."
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