Blind, deaf, and utterly helpless.
That was how Odglass came into existence.
"Hey there, little one."
Those were the first words ever spoken to her.
At the time, she had no way of understanding their meaning. She possessed neither the awareness nor the faculties necessary to comprehend the world around her. The words were nothing more than vibrations passing through.
And yet, somehow, they remained.
They were engraved deep within her soul, becoming the very first fragment of something she would one day come to understand as a memory.
Great Spirits were not beings born in an instant. Their existence was the culmination of centuries of gradual cultivation, beginning as insignificant Minor Spirits that consumed only the smallest quantities of mana. As they accumulated more, their consciousness developed, their forms grew, and their appetites expanded alongside their increasingly complex existence.
It was a slow, natural process.
A gradual awakening that allowed them to adapt to the world around them.
Odglass, however, was different.
She had come into existence in a rush, brought forth through circumstances that defied the natural order. Her growth had been forced into an impossibly short span of time, leaving her existence fundamentally unstable.
Her hunger was immense.
The amount of mana she required was far beyond what a newborn spirit should have needed. Her very existence demanded a constant, overwhelming supply of energy.
By all accounts, she should never have survived.
There were countless things that could have gone wrong. Her body could have collapsed under the strain. Her consciousness could have failed to develop. Her hunger could have consumed her before she ever had the chance to understand what it meant to exist.
And yet...
She survived.
Whenever her hunger stirred, it was promptly satisfied. Whenever her consciousness threatened to fade beneath the strain of her existence, warmth enveloped her. She was held close, surrounded by a presence that never allowed her to feel abandoned.
She was wrapped in the arms of her creator.
Safe, comfortable and loved.
She had no concept of how fragile she was, nor any awareness of how easily her existence could have been extinguished. She knew nothing of the dangers that surrounded her, nothing of the countless ways in which her birth could have easily ended.
All she knew was that she was never alone.
And so, for her, the world was a place of absolute security.
It took about as long as it would for a human child to develop the awareness necessary to recognize the world around them.
Then, one day, Odglass opened her eyes.
And from that moment onward, she began following her creator everywhere he went.
At first, she simply watched.
She observed the way he moved, the way he spoke, and the way others reacted to his presence. She followed him through sprawling cities, through lands inhabited by humans, demi-humans, and spirits alike.
She saw the countless responsibilities he carried upon his shoulders, the decisions he made, and the burdens he quietly endured. She witnessed the kindness he extended to his people, the patience with which he listened to them, and the compassion he showed even when circumstances demanded otherwise.
And she saw how they responded to him.
The people smiled whenever he appeared.
They trusted him.
They loved him.
The way he treated others was not so different from the way he treated her. And just as a human child instinctively imitated the gestures, habits, and mannerisms of their parents, Odglass began doing the same.
She watched how he smiled and tried to smile in return.
She observed how he spoke and attempted to imitate his words.
When he reached out to someone, she reached out as well.
She didn't understand everything he did. She couldn't possibly comprehend the complexities of governing a kingdom, nor the weight of the responsibilities he carried.
But she loved people as well.
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She and her master came across all sorts of people.
Among them were two particularly remarkable individuals.
The ones who held the titles of Sword God and Oni God.
Both were extraordinarily powerful, possessing strength that placed them among the very few who could stand on equal footing with Caelum. The Sword God, in particular, was someone who frequently crossed blades with her master.
His name was Ryuma Galerion.
Odglass had lost count of how many times the two had fought. Their clashes were so intense that the surrounding landscape would sometimes tremble beneath the force of their attacks. The sound of steel meeting steel echoed across the battlefield, while enormous waves of mana swept through the air.
The first time she witnessed one of their duels, she had been terrified.
Seeing her creator exchange blows with another person, she instinctively rushed forward, desperate to help him.
But she was stopped before she could reach them.
Caelum had gently reassured her afterward.
They had no intention of hurting each other. These duels are simply a way for them to test that they are prepared for whatever may come.
She didn't entirely understand what he meant.
But if Caelum said there was nothing to worry about, then she believed him.
One day, while accompanying him, her attention was drawn to an unfamiliar object.
"Caelum-sama, what's that?"
He followed her gaze.
"Hm? Ah, this?"
He held up the weapon in his hand.
"It's something humans call a sword. It's a weapon primarily used for combat and self-defense."
He turned it slightly, allowing her to examine its shape.
"Although, this particular one is rather special. Its craftsmanship is similar to the sword Galerion created."
Odglass stared at it curiously.
To her, it was simply an interesting object. She had little understanding of human weapons or the techniques used to wield them.
Caelum explained that ordinary people relied on swords to fight, while his own weapon was enchanted to help him channel and control his enormous power more efficiently.
She listened attentively, occasionally tilting her head whenever she encountered something she didn't understand.
But as fascinating as the Sword God and Oni God were...
There was another person with whom Caelum spent a considerable amount of time.
Someone who was much more like her.
Another spirit.
Her name was Zarestia.
Unlike the spirits Odglass had encountered throughout the kingdom, Zarestia was an extraordinary existence. She was one of the original three Great Spirits, born on the very same day as Caelum and Gaddogi Guadozeaddo.
Her existence alone was a testament to her immense power.
In fact, she was one of the very few beings in the world capable of standing alongside Caelum.
But despite her extraordinary strength, Odglass never saw her as some distant or intimidating figure.
To her, Zarestia was simply someone dear to her creator.
And someone who, on occasion, could be rather amusing.
"I hope that one day you meet people you can truly be happy with."
Caelum's voice was gentle.
Zarestia frowned.
"Hey! Stop messing with my hair..."
It was already too late.
His fingers had found their way into her hair, ruffling it playfully.
She tried to swat his hand away, but Caelum only laughed.
Odglass watched the exchange from her usual hiding place, nestled comfortably inside his clothes.
It was always fun being around him.
Whether he was speaking with political figures he instated, spending time with his friends, or simply wandering through the kingdom, Odglass was happy as long as she could remain by his side.
Those were peaceful days.
Days she would later look back on with a fondness she could never quite put into words.
But, unfortunately...
They did not last.
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"Caelum-sama, please take me with you."
Odglass clung tightly to him.
Her little paws grasped his clothes, refusing to let go as she looked up at him with pleading eyes.
Caelum lowered his gaze.
"I'm sorry, little one. But that's not your role."
His voice was gentle, though there was a firmness to it that she rarely heard.
"I have to face my brother alone."
Gaddogi Guadozeaddo.
It was a name Caelum didn't speak of often.
He was supposed to be the same as Zarestia, but his relationship with her master was something she couldn't understand.
And now, Caelum was preparing to confront him.
"Fate dictates that I will lose."
He spoke those words with a calmness that made them all the more frightening.
"Just as Galerion died, I will meet the same fate."
Odglass's eyes widened.
"But..."
"However, I should be able to weaken him enough to buy us a few centuries."
He paused, looking toward the distant horizon.
"There are changes coming to Od Lagna. New beings, similar to you and me, will come into existence. Blessings and abilities will be bestowed upon others, and the world will begin moving toward a new era."
His gaze returned to her.
"The next shift will determine the fate of this world. And you need to be there when it happens."
Odglass didn't understand.
Why did that matter?
Why was he speaking as though he wouldn't be there to see it himself?
"At least take Zarestia-sama with you!"
She spoke hurriedly, grasping at the only solution she could think of.
Zarestia was powerful. She was one of the strongest beings in existence, and the only spirit Odglass knew who could stand on equal footing with her creator.
Surely, if she accompanied him, things would be different.
Caelum shook his head.
"My brother and I disagree on many things. But there's one matter on which we're in complete agreement."
He gave her a faint smile.
"We won't involve her."
Odglass lowered her ears.
"I haven't spoken to her in over a century. And I would very much like things to remain that way."
She didn't understand why.
But she could tell that his decision was final.
"Caelum-sama..."
Her voice trembled.
"Please, I..."
She tightened her grip on his clothes.
"I don't want you to die." Her eyes began to grow wet. "Please don't leave me alone."
She couldn't accept it.
How could she?
He had been there from the very beginning.
He was the first person she had ever known, the one who had guided her through every step of her existence. He had taught her about the world, introduced her to its people, and shown her how to live.
Everything she knew had begun with him.
The thought of a world without Caelum was simply incomprehensible.
She didn't want to learn how to live without him.
She didn't want to be left behind.
And yet, whenever she became frightened, Caelum had always known how to comfort her.
He gently placed a hand on her head and began stroking her fur.
"You won't be alone, little one."
His voice was as warm as ever.
"I'm entrusting this kingdom, my people, and my sister to you."
Odglass looked up at him.
"Just as I have been a parent to you, I need you to become a parent to them."
"..."
She didn't know what to say.
A parent?
The people of the kingdom were wonderful. She had grown fond of them, and she knew they would need someone to guide and protect them.
But...
That wasn't enough.
They weren't him.
No matter how much she loved them, no matter how much time she spent with them, none of them could ever take his place.
She wanted Caelum.
She wanted him to stay.
"Don't worry."
He continued petting her head.
"I'm not going to die, either..."
For the briefest moment, Caelum flinched.
It was almost imperceptible, but Odglass noticed.
His hand paused against her head.
His gaze drifted toward the golden pocket watch fastened around his wrist.
For a moment, he simply stared at it.
There was something in his expression she couldn't understand.
Hesitation, perhaps.
Or a slip of tongue.
He seemed to realize that he had said something he shouldn't have.
After a brief silence, he looked back down at her.
"I don't know everything that's stored within fate." He continued, "But there's a good chance you will find me again and if that happens, I will really need your help."
He gently tapped her forehead with one finger.
"So, can I count on you then, little one?"
Odglass stared at him.
She looked directly into those unforgettable eyes.
His incandescent, icy-blue eyes.
The same eyes that had watched over her since the moment she was born.
She wanted to cry and beg him to stay.
But she couldn't bring herself to do any of those things.
Because, even if she didn't understand why, she knew that he had already made his decision.
And at the very least, he gave her hope.
He had never lied to her before.
Not once.
So, even though her vision was blurred by tears, Odglass slowly nodded.
"...As you wish, Caelum-sama."
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