He glided through the village on his way to his destination.
The townsfolk gave him strange looks, but he didn't seem to mind.
He simply passed through the tribe.
The village seemed infinite.
Like a labyrinth.
Distinct names separated the nests of the tribe, where several families lived together.
While the world of Kayal was under the monarchy of the Queen, where everyone stood beneath her authority, the Queen was like a mother to almost every royal soldier and many nests.
Not just the Queen.
Every woman was considered a divine being and was revered greatly.
Even in the village, all young women and children were sent to the Queen's chamber to train until they reached a certain age and were ready to produce heirs.
As Drake entered a familiar nest, he suddenly stumbled over something.
He looked down.
Two children were holding onto his legs.
One was slightly older than the other.
"Drake is back!"
"Drake is back!"
They shouted with huge smiles on their faces.
Drake let out a faint smile.
"Okay, okay, I'm here."
"So don't trip my legs anymore!"
While he was talking, the people of the nest began showing up one by one.
There were more children.
A couple of men in their thirties and forties wearing normal clothing.
Several warriors of different ranks.
They greeted him warmly.
Congratulating him on his safe return.
Praising his brave act of fighting a Ravager as a mere Listener at such a young age.
While everyone was talking, an old woman slowly approached.
The moment she appeared, everyone bowed.
These men were proud warriors of the Crier Tribe.
Some were even royal warriors.
Yet they lowered themselves and bowed before the old woman.
Not out of fear.
Not because of authority.
But out of pure respect.
And love.
For their mother.
The old woman smiled.
"Everyone, stand straight!"
She walked toward Drake.
Then spoke in a playful tone.
"Come on, you don't have to do this every time!"
"Aren't you all bored of it already?"
One of the men stood and replied proudly.
"Not at all, Mother."
"We are bound to respect you more than our lives!"
Hearing those words, everyone felt proud.
Even the little children remained quiet and respectful.
"Ehh, whatever."
"Don't be so rigid."
Then she looked around dramatically.
"And where is my cute little boy Drake?"
"I don't see him!"
"You're all grown up now, huh?"
Drake stepped forward.
Lowering his head, he said,
"Sorry, Mother."
"I failed to kill it."
The group immediately became restless.
"What is he talking about?"
"Kill a Ravager?"
"Even I can't do that alone!"
"What is he expecting from himself?"
Ignoring the murmurs, the old woman gently patted Drake's head.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, boy."
"It is okay to fail at an impossible task."
"And you even failed with flying colors!"
"So it's okay."
She smiled warmly.
"I'm sure you will be able to do what you want."
"Know what you want to know."
"And ascend where you want to go."
"For now..."
She looked around at everyone gathered.
"Look at the achievements you've made."
"And the family you left behind."
"The family that waited for your return."
As she spoke, her expression became emotional.
But only for a moment.
Suddenly, she brightened up again.
"So for now, be happy that you can still see your old mother!"
"What would happen to me if you went away again and came back only to find a lifeless body?"
"So be grateful!"
The moment she said those words, everyone's expressions darkened.
Their heads lowered.
Pain filled their hearts.
"Don't say that, Mother!"
"You'll live a healthy life!"
"You'll get to see what your little boy achieves!"
"And watch him reach greatness!"
Everyone agreed firmly.
Standing behind the old woman was a man.
He appeared to be her aide.
And bodyguard.
He leaned close and whispered something into her ear.
After hearing it, the old woman looked toward Drake.
"Kid."
"It seems the Head of the Nest wishes to see you."
"I should have said that sooner."
Drake nodded.
Then stood up.
Together with the man who had been standing behind the old woman, he began walking through the beautiful expanse of the nest.
The houses were all built from the wood of the Alam Tree.
The tree that gave life to the people of this world.
The tribe seemed peaceful.
Like a community living together in harmony.
And peace.
___
The nothingness of the Abyss was silent.
Then a voice appeared.
"Listen!"
"Listen to what I say!"
"It's very important!"
"It's—"
The voice was weak.
Almost like a whisper.
Before it could finish speaking, Levize suddenly woke up.
"Ahh!"
"Ahh!"
He gasped heavily.
Looking to the side, he saw Queen Rishya.
She had collapsed.
Using her power on him for so long had exhausted her.
A small stream of blood trickled from her left eye.
Levize stood up immediately.
A troubled expression appeared on his face.
Carefully, he wiped the blood away.
The blood was white.
The purest blood in the world of Kayal.
"Such true and rare blood should not be spilled onto the ground for someone like me."
He quietly called for the maidens waiting outside.
Several young women entered.
They had porcelain-like skin.
White hair.
White eyes.
They gently lifted the Queen and laid her properly upon her bed.
Even in her exhausted state, Queen Rishya maintained a youthful appearance.
Her silky white hair flowed down to her waist.
Her flawless face was perhaps the most beautiful sight in the world.
Second only to the luminous Alam Tree itself.
The Queen served as a beacon of hope for the people of the tribe.
A light that guided them.
Even in the darkest places of the world.
The light of the Queen saved.
The darkness of the Queen devoured.
She existed as a perfect balance.
A being like that...
Had become this exhausted simply because a man slept within her power for a few hours.
What exactly had Levize done...
To gain such overwhelming power?
As the thought crossed his mind...