Year 3988, 28th Day of the 9th Moon
Ember Isle, Fliamma Kingdom, Continent of Humana

STARING BLANKLY into space, Elise did not even sense someone entering with her whole mind occupied. The dream kept replaying inside her head and now given more time to ponder, countless worries arose in her heart.

'How did I tangled up in here when all I wished was an ordinary life?' She questioned herself and she hated to admit she was reluctant to leave. She understood what that god said but accepted it was a separate matter.

But when the sight of Aricson back then flashed in her mind, it was enough to erase all the hesitation. If she left, that would not happen again. The god's words echoed and further solidified her decision. It was time to put some distance between them.

"Good morning, Miss. Lady Faylinn inquired if you will be visiting Rei Aricson," Dell said.

Her eyes darted to Dell. The two maids that had always been following her had been reduced to one. There were dark circles under her eyes after everything that happened and all underlying naivety had been gone.

Dell and Aya were with her the whole duration and knowing that Aya died, Dell would probably be one of the people affected.

"Miss?"

"I'll go," she mumbled as she tried to quench that guilt gradually making its way to the pit of her stomach.

Elise had never considered that one day she would have such a feeling. Her whole life had been full of self-assurance that almost bordered on arrogance yet here she was diving into a series of misfortunes and crashing into a pool of regret.

ELISE HEADED directly to the Medical Hall. She was expecting to see the rest of the siblings but no one was there except for Caian. Her forehead immediately formed lines after her eyes roamed the room.

"Where are the Healers?"

"I had sent them to the dining hall," he replied.

Aricson was still under observation and should not be left alone. If the Healers leave, they should know that they should do it in turns and at least one person must stay. 'Or maybe this concept does not apply here?'

She glanced at him and there was a casual smile pasted on his lips as his hand traveled to his pocket. There was a glint of gold passing through his fingers before it disappeared.

"What are you holding?" she probed, eyes narrowing.

After all that event last night, doubt emanated inside her. Though the siblings were tight-knit but didn't powerful families have skeletons in their closets?

"Ah, this? My pocket watch." He took out the thing in his hand and it was indeed one. "Just checking the time. The Healers will be returning half an hour at most."

His mouth retained its arc shape that was too amicable but she could not get rid of the suspicious feeling. Overthinking had been her second nature and there must be something he was hiding.

She grabbed a stool and spoke, "I'll stay here for a while."

"Actually, you don't need to put your guard up. I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Caian, his younger brother."

Despite her trying to hide her vigilance, he was still able to see through it. She was about to make an excuse but there was one thing that distracted her. Elise stared at him, full of confusion. 'Why is he introducing himself again?'

"And you are?" he asked further.

The frown became deeper. They were talking yesterday and had gotten their names already but why was he acting like they were strangers?

"I'm Elise. I'm a guest here and we have met last night," she informed, nevertheless.

The change on his face was put in slow motion. His jaw dropped and paired with eyes shining with incredulity which widened right after she finished her sentence.

"You remember me?"

Both of them reflected confounded expressions. Seconds ticked between them until Caian was the first to break the silence.

"Tell me what happened last night between us?"

It sounded wrong in his mouth but she inclined and narrated the events yesterday.

"Have we met twenty years ago?" he queried again.

She was not even able to say a word when he answered himself.

"But I don't think so. Are you cursed?"

He quickly grabbed her hand while she could not make a rhyme or reason for this situation. It was exactly the same during the library when Aricson confronted her.

Caian's fingers closed on her wrist, spitting gibberish words and even asking the same question. 'Are they crazy? Is it a family thing?'

"Your age is only in your early twenties and you're not cursed either. You don't even have an elemental flow... Hold on, you don't have an elemental flow?!"

"What are you doing?" Another voice resounded before she could even react.

"Brother!"

She spun on her feet and could only stifle the rising panic when she saw who arrived.

'Oh my god, oh my god!' For the most skeptical among siblings to come was a complete disaster. Brennan had been nicer to her after he was healed but that did not mean he would not be wary.

"Brother... why doesn't Elise have—"

She did not think anymore and covered his mouth. Caian struggled to break free. She was no match for his strength and ended up begging with her eyes. He gave a nod before letting go.

"How weird. Are you two that close?" Brennan commented with arms folded.

"Brennan, I think we need the Healers here. They should not leave Aricson unattended," she said, trying to divert their attention.

"They'll return later," he uttered before turning to Caian. "Did Grandmother come?"

"Yeah."

"When? Why did you not call me?"

"She was in a rush and I only have time to send the Healers out and not call the servants," Caian said.

"What did she say?"

Caian was about to answer but he must have remembered that she was still there.

"It's alright," Brennan said, sensing Caian's gaze at her. "She'll know sooner or later."

"What do you mean?" It was Caian's turn to ask.

Brennan's gaze went down to her neck and was followed by Caian. The latter clearly showed disbelief while she followed their cryptic conversation.

"Is that Eldest Brother's Ink Plume?"

"Hasty, right? Aricson must be suffering from a midlife crisis when he gave that when it was not even the wedding. Anyhow, what did Grandmother say?"

"She'll send Cousin Daisy here later to investigate and purify the island."

The two talked without minding her while she deliberated how to explain this to Caian. Aricson allowed her to tell the truth if it was his siblings but it was her choice not to so they would not be implicated. Lost in thought, she absentmindedly said goodbye to Brennan and was now left alone with Caian.

As she had slated, the interrogation began and she steeled herself.

"What is going on? You have prismatic hair but you don't have an elemental flow. Even a banished fairy doesn't lose their magic—" His eyes sharpened, seeming as if another conclusion in his head, and declared, "You're a traitor. Did you deceive my eldest bro—"

"No! Aricson knew about this and helped me hide it. I am in no way a traitor. I am suffering an unknown curse that cannot be detected by magic. Aricson offered his assistance and he has helped me ever since. I can't return if I cannot break free from the curse that's why I have to stay here at the moment."

Lies after lies were easily spouted but more questions were asked. She almost spun a whole tale and was inwardly thankful that her mom forced her to read those books of hers, else, she would be stuck in making a believable background story.

Caian almost drained the life out of her. He did not even let go of her when the Healers came and dragged her outside. She assumed he would never stop, thankfully someone called him.

Elise went straight to the dining hall and grabbed her breakfast before going to the library.

All her apparatuses were in place but she ignored it and climbed up the stairs to try her luck. Last time, she was not able to find anything about the Harbinger but maybe she was searching in the wrong section.

During the months of her stay here, she knew the library like the back of her hand but there was one part she did not visit yet – the Restricted Section.

Aricson did not seem to mind when she mentioned it but she did not have time to go there when all the information she needed was already there. 

What waited on the uppermost floor was a coal-gilded door. On the center was a gap that had a transparent orb floating where the lock should be located.

She unclasped the necklace and put the feather on the orb as Aricson told her. The door slid open automatically and she could not help but scowl. 

'Aren't they too trusting?' 

What if she had bad intentions? Knowledge always meant power and this Restricted Section should contain classified information that was why she never ventured to respect their privacy. But that respect for privacy flew to the back of her head when she had to know more important matters to handle.

Elise was welcomed by a glass of ruby tablet at the center. It was a meter tall with engraved inscriptions. Upon reading the title, she had found what she was looking for, 'The Return of Destruction.'

Cease and listen to the silence of dawn, all magic hereby surrenders,

Come Harbinger, a being no other and the wheels of fate will trigger.

The lost spirit shall light and guide the way,

It is the beginning, hear what it says:

Loyal to darkness, the blood of the beast of eternity's pure sight,

Awaken the anguish, taking the spirit's only light.

Marked by darkness yet wield another's talent,

When four lines connect, disparity and lament will descend.

Dimmed by darkness, the jewel has lost its luster if not for the heart of the silver creature,

Only the prime being of the sky will take empathy and bring back sorrow's allure.

Deep within the darkness, the fairy's beloved offers its treasure,

And only then the shadows of the first wings will drown in a malicious pleasure.

Empty with darkness, the vassals of Destruction revers his existence,

For there will be no other god that will embrace Chaos' presence.

The god's reign is coming; all races will gather,

Destruction must return, and never will it falter.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice almost made her jump and there was a loud beating on her chest for an inexplicable reason. When she swiveled, her heart almost lurched in her throat. Her luck was indeed doomed upon seeing the woman with hair like burning sunset.

"Dryann? What is it?" She managed a smile and tried to control her expression. She did not why she was feeling guilty when she had Aricson's permission in the first place. Though tacit, it was still approval.

"Answer me first. How did you even come inside—" The graceful disposition faded as her eyes traveled in her hand. "You have Brother's Ink Plume?!"

'That word again...' Why did it cause such a huge reaction? It was just a feather for god's sake.

"I'm here to look for some medical books to help Aricson," she reasoned out.

With that note, Dryann's face softened for a moment before it completely disappeared and returned to its usual frown.

"Unfortunately, you're in the wrong place. There are no medical books here."

"Oh, okay but... I'm curious about the tablet. It's so beautiful and must take days to complete but I don't understand what it says. Is that a prophecy?"

"I certainly don't understand what magic can be so powerful that you can't even recognize The Return of Destruction. But, it is most likely that you have become too muddleheaded to comprehend." Dryann looked at her as if she was dumb and Elise's smile almost wavered.

"Return of Destruction? Then does that refer to the Harbin—"

"Shh!"

Her brow raised. "What?"

"One must not mention an inauspicious name. Don't ever try to utter it."

Faylinn said to never talk about and Dryann almost had the same warning in their tone. 

"What do you mean? Is it that bad?"

"Of course. They are the stigma and can summon the God of Destruction. If they succeeded, it will be the end of Elith and it is the mission of each race to search for them."

"Do you know what they look like?" she probed more.

"If we know, they'll be killed on the spot."

"What?" Goosebumps traveled on her neck watching the ruthlessness of those cyan irises.

Dryann scanned her from head to toe. "You're pale and shaking. You better rest. Why are you such a weakling?"

She ignored her words as she was rooted on the ground and struggled to force the words. "D-does that go for e-everyone? Will you really kill the Harbinger if they are found?"

"Certainly. A death of one person cannot equal to the lives that will be lost when the god is resurrected."

A chill ran through her spine as her brain had gone haywire. If they learned who she was, she couldn't imagine it. But with perfect coincidence, an orb came and saved her from letting the obvious trepidation be seen.

"My lady, Rei is awake."