September 4th , 1360
As the sky gradually turns into the color of late afternoon,
in a vast garden located behind Eclipse Castle. Countless rare flowers are blooming throughout the garden.
In front of a large flower bed, a woman is kneeling on the ground.
She is wearing a long black dress that touches the ground, the thick fabric soft as if darkness itself has been woven into shape. The waist is fitted elegantly, emphasizing her slender figure. The long sleeves are tight, and at the wrists are subtle embroideries made with silver thread so fine that they only become visible when the light touches them. The collar is high, neat, and refined. Every fold of the dress is perfectly tailored, with not a single unnecessary detail, giving off the cold luxury of the highest noble class.
Her hair is a pure platinum color, reaching down to her waist, without a single strand out of place. Her eyes are pale white, the same color as her hair, deep and still enough that it is hard to guess the emotions inside. Her face is delicate, beautiful to the point of seeming unreal.
When she looks at the flowers before her, her expression softens slightly.
Celeste reaches out and plucks a fully bloomed golden flower. She raises it before her face, gently closes her eyes, and inhales the fragrance coming from its petals. The corner of her lips curves into a very faint smile, fleeting before it disappears.
Right beside her, space suddenly trembles.
Another woman appears in silence, kneeling on one knee as if she has been there from the beginning. Her entire body is covered in a black outfit from head to toe, not a bit of skin exposed. Even her face is hidden, leaving only darkness.
Celeste does not turn to look, still holding the flower in her hand.
"Find the coordinates of the terrorist organization of that king's son from the continent"
Her voice is calm.
The woman in black lowers her head further, then immediately vanishes from the spot as if she had never appeared.
Celeste remains standing in the garden for a few more seconds, then turns and walks toward the castle behind her.
The golden flower is still in her hand.
Unlike the time when Cassius is still here, Eclipse Castle now is drowned in an atmosphere of emptiness so heavy it feels oppressive. The vast hallways stretch on in silence. No footsteps of servants, no voices speaking, no warm lights. Only the sound of Celeste's heels echoes evenly across the marble floor.
She walks through corridor after corridor as if she is the only one left in this place.
At last, Celeste enters her private bedroom.
It is a vast room with a high ceiling, everything arranged perfectly and coldly. She walks to the center of the room and stops. Her pale white eyes begin to glow.
"Ludoncis"
The moment the name is spoken, a vortex of golden light appears in the middle of the room. The air trembles lightly, then from within steps out a tall figure with a muscular body. His entire form is made of dazzling golden rays of light, with no clear details, only the outline of a man.
"YO, CELESTE!"
His voice booms through the whole room.
"IS IT FINALLY MY TURN TO GIVE CASSIUS A BLESSING?"
"WHERE'S THAT GUY? LAST TIME I SAW HIM, HE STILL HADN'T STARTED HIS RIDICULOUS PLAN"
"IT'D BE GREAT IF HE CAME BACK TO FIGHT ME"
"FIGHTING HIM FEELS AMAZING!"
Celeste's expression grows darker and darker. A faint red aura begins to spread around her.
"Shut your fucking mouth"
Her voice is so cold that the room itself seems to grow colder.
Ludoncis immediately raises both hands.
"Yo, chill, Celeste"
"I'm just being friendly"
Then he tilts his head, his voice full of teasing.
"Or are you annoyed because I mentioned Cassius's reincarnation plan?"
In an instant, Celeste's hand bursts with red light.
She appears right in front of him, grabs his throat, and lifts him off the ground.
"Have I been gone so long that you forgot your place?"
Her voice remains calm, but more terrifying than any scream.
"Yo... chill... just joking..."
Ludoncis struggles with both hands to pry hers away.
Celeste lets go. He falls to the floor, then quickly stands straight again.
"Give your blessing to this flower"
She holds out the golden flower before him.
Ludoncis adjusts himself, then nods.
"Yes, madam"
He reaches out his hand. A thin stream of golden light flies from his palm, wraps around the flower, then slowly sinks into it.
The petals tremble lightly.
"Good"
Celeste lowers her hand.
"Now destroy your incarnation"
"Okay, okay"
Ludoncis scratches his head as his body of light begins to crumble apart.
"I hope Cassius returns to how he was soon"
After saying that, he disappears completely.
The room returns to silence.
Celeste looks at the flower in her hand for a few seconds. Then she raises her left hand. From her fingertip falls a drop of red light, and in midair the drop expands into an oval-shaped gate.
Without hesitation, Celeste steps through it.
—
At the servants' quarters, in his small bathroom, Cassius is bending over and washing his face at the basin.
Water runs through his black hair and drips down his neck. The room is quiet, filled only with the sound of water and steady breathing.
Just then, a very strange familiar feeling suddenly rises in his mind.
Cassius lifts his head and looks behind him.
On the floor is a golden flower.
"Huh?"
He turns fully around.
"Huh... what is this?"
Cassius steps forward and picks it up.
The moment his fingertips touch the petals, countless golden rays of light immediately burst out from within, surrounding his entire body.
Cassius's eyes become unfocused. He stands still without moving, as if he has fallen into a trance.
The room is drowned in light for a few brief seconds.
Then everything disappears.
Cassius blinks.
His gaze returns to normal.
He stands in the middle of the room, looking at his empty hand, then looking around in confusion.
"What was I doing just now?"
Cassius frowns as he thinks, but remembers nothing. In the end, he only shakes his head and uses a towel to dry his face.
After that, he walks outside.
On the bed, Emily is already lying there in a simple white nightdress. The moment she sees Cassius, she immediately spreads her arms open.
Cassius laughs, then quickly climbs onto the bed and hugs her.
Emily nestles into his chest, rubbing her head back and forth as if searching for the most comfortable position.
Then she pauses.
"Oh, Cassius"
She lifts her head and looks at his collarbone.
"Did something bite you?"
Cassius lowers his head to look where she is pointing. On his skin is a small red mark, faint but quite clear.
"Huh?"
He reaches up and touches it.
"I don't know"
Cassius tilts his head.
"I don't feel anything at all"