The Knight Captain casually walked beside Levi.
"You've gotten faster."
Levi continued walking.
"I'd certainly hope so."
"I've been running from you for a month."
The Captain laughed.
"Still too slow."
Levi sighed.
"...I hate this."
"You accepted the training."
"..."
"...You have a point."
The Captain grinned.
"I usually do."
-
By the time training ended...
The sun had already begun to set.
Levi dragged himself back toward the palace.
"My arms hurt."
"My legs hurt."
"I think muscles I didn't know existed hurt."
He let out a tired sigh.
"...And tomorrow..."
"I get to do it all over again."
He pushed open the door to his room.
Without even changing...
He collapsed onto his bed.
Darkness soon claimed him.
-
"..."
"..."
Silence.
Levi slowly opened his eyes.
There was no ceiling.
No walls.
No stars.
Only an endless sea of darkness stretching beyond sight.
He immediately stood.
"...Where am I?"
A woman's voice answered.
"Not where."
"Who."
Levi turned.
Standing several paces away...
Was a woman cloaked in flowing crimson robes.
Long scarlet hair rested upon her shoulders like flames given form.
Golden eyes watched him quietly.
Not with hostility.
But with curiosity.
"...Child."
"Who are you?"
Levi frowned.
"...I'm Levi Ashbourne."
She slowly shook her head.
"No."
"I asked..."
"...Who are you?"
A chill ran down Levi's spine.
She knew.
Somehow...
She knew.
"..."
"...How?"
The woman ignored the question.
"That body..."
"...Doesn't belong to you."
Levi swallowed.
"...Who are you?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"I am..."
"...Pyrathera."
Levi's eyes widened.
"The Fire Goddess...?"
She gave a small nod.
"I prefer simply Pyrathera."
Silence lingered.
Levi took a slow breath.
"...I don't know how it happened."
"An old man spoke to me."
"He asked me to save a family."
"The next thing I knew..."
"I woke up in this body."
Pyrathera quietly observed him.
"...Curious."
"Very curious."
She lowered her gaze in thought.
"Transferring a soul..."
"...That is no simple miracle."
"Not even among gods."
Her golden eyes met his once more.
"...Yet whoever sent you here..."
"...Succeeded."
Another silence followed.
Then...
She smiled.
"...Very well."
"You may continue living."
Levi blinked.
"...That's reassuring."
A quiet laugh escaped the goddess.
"I'll be watching you."
"Closely."
Before Levi could ask another question...
Her figure dissolved into countless crimson embers.
One by one...
They vanished into the darkness.
Leaving him alone once more.
-
Levi awoke with a sharp breath.
Morning sunlight poured through his window.
"..."
"...Was that..."
"...Real?"
He slowly sat upright.
Something burned.
Not painfully.
Warmly.
At the back of his right hand.
Levi frowned.
"...Hm?"
He turned his hand over.
There...
Etched into his skin...
Was a crimson mark resembling a flame.
"...A Stigmata."
He stared at it in silence.
His mind immediately returned to Pyrathera's final words.
"I'll be watching you."
Levi gently closed his hand.
'Should I tell Father...?'
He thought for a moment.
Then slowly shook his head.
'...No.'
'If it's truly the blessing of a goddess...'
'Someone will notice eventually.'
'Until then...'
'I'll keep it to myself.'
The crimson mark gave off the faintest pulse of warmth.
As though silently acknowledging his decision.