When the Skyfolk's iconic, magnificent rainbow light, a bridge to the sky, streamed through the window and fell upon Seliose's peaceful face on the hospital bed.
This elder, who had witnessed the rise and fall of the Skyfolk and lived for an exceptionally long age, finally closed her eyes gently and passed away from the world.
In the final instant before her life flame completely extinguished, the flow of time grew viscous in her perception. Her long life flashed through her mind like a lantern show, eventually freezing at a pivotal moment that determined her fate, and indeed the fate of all Skyfolk—
How had she managed to dissolve the blood-soaked, generation-spanning ancestral hatred between the Sunfolk and the Rainfolk?
How had she possessed such prestige and charisma that the originally divided and opposing clans willingly followed her, obeyed her commands, and accomplished that near-miraculous escape from Aquila's control at the Eye of Twilight?
Perhaps it was because of the "constellations" she saw when she gazed up at the firmament, at a time when she felt deeply puzzled about her own future and her people's prospects.
...
The Eye of Twilight.
Cerydra's delicate boot soles finally touched down upon this desolate and ancient land. The wind howled here, carrying echoes of history and a faint, barely perceptible trace of Titan's divine oppression.
Aglaea's expression was serious. Golden threads flickered faintly at her fingertips. "Though the threads of Romance haven't detected any trace of that Flame Reaver character for now,"
"Everyone must still maintain the highest level of vigilance. He guided us here; there's no way he's just going to be an observer."
Cerydra tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp as a blade, piercing through the thin layers of clouds to stare directly at the higher elevations of this ancient battlefield.
"Aquila's aura is completely unconcealed. It's coiled up there... but such madness and fury—has it too failed to escape, and been eroded by the Black Tide?"
"What should we do now?" Cipher flexed her wrists. The multiple scrapes and bruises she'd sustained from her previous fight with Khaslana had long healed thanks to her powerful demigod regeneration. Her eyes now burned with eagerness for battle.
"That mysterious black-clad figure summoned us here, but now he's hiding out of sight? This time we've brought so many people, we can definitely get our revenge for last time!" She was still holding a grudge about being so easily suppressed before.
Hysilens, however, maintained her calm. She assessed the current situation and offered a pragmatic suggestion: "I think, since that Flame Reaver is temporarily lying low, we might seize the opportunity to first deal with the confirmed target before us—to defeat the Sky Titan Aquila and claim the Coreflame of Sky."
"That way, regardless of whether we end up clashing with that Flame Reaver later, we'll have one more important trump card in hand, increasing our leverage." Her gaze swept over the group, seeking consensus.
...
While the several demigods were discussing their next plan of action, at a slightly more distant position, Mydei turned his gaze towards Phainon, who seemed unusually silent beside him.
He understood this close friend well and knew how greatly the sudden departure of the companion he'd grown up with had affected him.
"I heard... Cyrene's leaving without a word hit you pretty hard?" Mydei's voice wasn't loud, but it carried the concern of a brother.
Phainon sighed lightly. The sigh was filled with helplessness and an inability to hide his melancholy. "Yeah..."
He admitted, "She just left like that. No goodbye, no explanation at all. I tried looking for her, asked everyone who might have any leads... unfortunately, up till now, I haven't gotten any definite information."
His gaze drifted casually across this unfamiliar land, as if hoping that in some unknown corner, that familiar figure might suddenly appear.
"Sir Phainon, please try to ease your mind a bit." Hyacine, standing nearby, offered timely, gentle comfort. "You never know what will happen. Perhaps, at some unexpected moment, Cyrene might just appear before you, safe and sound?" She tried to offer a thread of hope.
"I hope your words come true, Hyacine." Phainon responded with a forced, grateful smile. He knew it was just comfort, but the worry and longing weren't things words could easily dissolve.
"Alright," Mydei suddenly spoke, his voice returning to its usual steady and decisive tone. "This isn't the time to dwell on personal feelings. We should set those matters aside for later."
His gaze swept over Phainon and Hyacine, his tone unquestionable. "Right now, our primary mission is to defeat the Titan of Sky—Aquila."
He specifically emphasized, his tone carrying a protective edge, "Neither of you are demigods yet. When facing Titan-level combat, there's no room for the slightest carelessness. If danger comes, don't be reckless. Remember to get behind me immediately."
"Tch," Phainon pouted slightly at this, habitually rebutting, "Don't make it sound like I'm so weak... I'm a 'deliverer' who's been through plenty of battles, you know?"
Despite his verbal unwillingness to admit defeat, he knew in his heart Mydei meant well. The tacit understanding and trust forged through life-and-death experiences ultimately led him to just gently bump Mydei with his shoulder and mutter quietly, "Still... thanks, Mydei."
...
En route to confront Aquila,
Hysilens walked up to Cerydra. Her voice carried a barely perceptible note of concern as she asked quietly, "How many more times can your personal treasury support a full-scale unleashing of the Law authority?"
Cerydra's petite frame was held perfectly straight, but a flicker of almost imperceptible fatigue crossed her face. She replied in a tone that was both teasing and bitter:
"Based on the eight million balance coins saved in my private treasury... using it a few dozen more times probably wouldn't be a problem, I suppose."
Balance coins—Okhema's legal currency. Their minting and circulation were themselves imbued with the power of Law, and they also served as the consumable resource for her to use her authority.
"A few dozen times? You know that won't be enough to handle the upcoming battles," Hysilens directly pointed out.
"The public treasury in Okhema still has over thirty million balance coins in reserves... I know you've never wanted to be bound again to the position of Okhema's ruler. You don't want to be that aloof 'Imperator' anymore."
Her voice softened, carrying understanding, but also a responsibility that couldn't be shirked. "But right now, your people need your protection. Okhema needs a pillar to stabilize people's hearts. They... need a 'Imperator.'"
"..."
Cerydra fell into a brief silence.
Finally, she took a deep breath. When she raised her head again, her eyes held only the resolve and firmness befitting a ruler.
"I understand." Her voice was clear and forceful. "On this expedition to the Eye of Twilight, I have come precisely as 'Imperator.'"
For Amphoreus, she was willing to take up that crown once more.