Chapter 98
Silence filled the cabin.
Nobody spoke immediately.
The lantern's flame flickered softly.
Outside, waves struck against the hull of the ship.
Inside—
everyone was still processing Vendetta's words.
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"The death of the Four Souls."
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The sentence lingered in the air.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
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Princess Flora finally broke the silence.
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Princess : "Why?"
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Everyone looked at her.
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Princess : "Why do they want the Four Souls dead?"
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Vendetta remained quiet for a moment.
As if carefully choosing her next words.
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Then she answered.
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Vendetta: "Because the Four Souls are tied to the prophecy."
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Chris frowned.
Vendetta folded her hands together.
Vendetta: "If the prophecy succeeds..."
Vendetta: "Everything they believe in will end."
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Marco narrowed his eyes.
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Marco: "Explain."
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Vendetta nodded.
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Vendetta: "The worshippers of the seven Guardian Gods have spent centuries preserving their faith."
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Vendetta: "Their power."
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Vendetta: "Their influence."
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Vendetta: "Their Faiths ."
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A pause.
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Vendetta: "But if the God of Justice awakens..."
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Her voice grew quieter.
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Vendetta: "The seven gods will face judgment."
The room became still.
Vendetta: "Their Believes will collapse."
Vendetta: "Everything they built will be destroyed."
Marco slowly leaned back.
Chris looked stunned.
Captain Bochy frowned deeply.
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Princess Flora remained silent.
Listening.
Watching.
Then Marco spoke.
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Marco: "If what you're saying is true..."
Marco: "If the worshippers of Monesa and the other gods are everywhere..."
Marco: "Then how did we never know?"
Vendetta's eyes narrowed slightly.
Vendetta: "Maybe you did know."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
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Marco's expression hardened.
Marco: "What?"
Vendetta didn't look away.
Vendetta: "Maybe you're lying."
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Marco immediately stood.
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Marco: "Watch your words."
Chris looked between them.
The tension rose instantly.
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Then Vendetta shook her head.
Vendetta: "Or perhaps not."
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A pause.
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Vendetta: "Perhaps only powerful people know."
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Vendetta: "And the truth never reaches ordinary people."
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Before she could continue—
Flora spoke.
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Princess : "Powerful people hiding information from everyone."
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Silence.
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The words were calm.
But sharp.
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Flora's eyes slowly moved across the table.
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Until they stopped on Guinevere.
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Guinevere was looking down.
Quiet.
Composed.
Too composed.
She hadn't reacted.
Not once.
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Flora remembered John's words.
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"Ask Guinevere."
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A strange feeling settled in her chest.
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John had known something.
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And now—
for the first time—
those words carried weight.
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Guinevere eventually looked up.
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Their eyes met.
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Neither spoke.
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Then Flora looked away.
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Princess : "Continue."
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Vendetta nodded.
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Vendetta: "The prophecy itself was altered."
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Marco frowned.
Vendetta: "The version most people know is false."
Chris straightened.
Chris: "What do you mean false?"
Vendetta answered immediately.
Vendetta: "Everyone is taught only that all the gods must awaken."
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Vendetta: "That together they will save the world."
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A pause.
Vendetta: "That isn't what the prophecy says."
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The room fell silent.
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Princess Flora slowly leaned forward.
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Princess : "Then what does it say?"
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Vendetta took a breath.
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Vendetta: "The true prophecy speaks only of one god."
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No one moved.
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Vendetta: "The God of Justice."
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The lantern flickered.
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Vendetta: "When the world reaches its greatest need..."
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Vendetta: "A soul shall be born."
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Vendetta: "That soul shall awaken the God of Justice."
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Vendetta: "And only the God of Justice."
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Chris stared.
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Marco's expression hardened.
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Captain Bochy remained silent.
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Princess Flora listened carefully.
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Vendetta: "The prophecy never says to awaken the other gods."
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Vendetta: "Only him."
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Vendetta: "Because he alone possesses the power to restore the world."
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A long silence followed.
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Then Flora asked the question.
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Princess : "Restore it from what?"
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Vendetta looked at her.
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And for the first time—
hesitated.
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Guinevere closed her eyes.
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As if she already knew what was coming.
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Vendetta finally spoke.
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Vendetta: "From the curse."
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Princess : "The curse created by God."
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Vendetta slowly shook her head.
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"No."
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The single word froze the room.
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Vendetta: "God never cursed the world."
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Nobody moved.
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Nobody breathed.
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Princess Flora stared at her.
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Princess : "...What?"
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Vendetta's voice remained steady.
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Vendetta: "The monsters."
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Vendetta: "The dying lands."
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Vendetta: "The destruction."
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Vendetta: "None of it came from God."
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The silence became suffocating.
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Vendetta lowered her gaze.
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Then spoke the truth.
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Vendetta: "The Guardian Gods cursed the world."
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The room froze.
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Chris looked stunned.
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Marco's eyes widened.
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Captain Bochy slowly sat back.
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Even Flora couldn't speak.
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Everything she had learned since childhood—
every lesson—
every piece of history—
suddenly felt uncertain.
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Vendetta continued.
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Vendetta: "The Guardian Gods committed sins."
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Vendetta: "Terrible sins."
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Vendetta: "And eventually they brought disaster upon humanity."
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Princess Flora felt her pulse quicken.
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Princess : "Then why were they turned into stone?"
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Vendetta looked directly at her.
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Vendetta: "Because they were punished."
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A pause.
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Vendetta: "The Creator judged them."
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Vendetta: "The Guardian Gods were cursed for there own actions."
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Vendetta: "And sealed into stone."
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Nobody spoke.
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The cabin remained completely silent.
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Outside—
the sea continued moving beneath the ship.
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Inside—
an entire history was beginning to collapse.
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And Princess Flora could only remember one thing.
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A ruined sanctuary.
A broken battlefield.
The lord.
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"Why do i have to scrifice myself for humanity ."
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Lord's voice echoed through her mind.
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For the first time—
she wondered just how much of the truth he already knew.
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...CHAPTER 98 ENDS..