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The voice lingered inside Rosy's soul.
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"Run, little one."
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Soft.
Gentle.
Filled with sorrow.
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Rosy stood frozen.
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"...Who are you?"
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No answer came.
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Only silence.
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Above the capital, another star vanished.
Then another.
Then another.
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The night sky looked as though an invisible hand was carefully erasing the universe one star at a time.
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The citizens fell to their knees.
Children cried.
Priests prayed.
Knights tightened their grip on trembling swords despite knowing no weapon could fight whatever was happening.
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Kael looked toward the heavens.
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"...I've never seen stars disappear."
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Azrael's expression remained calm, but Rosy knew him well enough now.
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His calm only appeared when he was deeply worried.
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The silver cosmic being slowly descended until it stood before Rosy.
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For the first time—
It looked at her not as Isle.
Not as the Eternal Sun.
Not as the Grand Duke.
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But as someone it had known far longer.
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"Do you remember my name?"
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Rosy frowned.
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"...No."
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"I never told you."
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The being smiled faintly.
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"I wished you to discover it yourself."
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Its body of silver galaxies slowly condensed.
The endless celestial light faded.
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Until, standing before everyone, was a tall man with long silver-white hair that reached his waist.
His eyes shimmered like countless constellations.
He looked young.
Perhaps twenty-eight.
Yet his gaze carried the weight of eternity.
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Kael blinked twice.
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"...You can look human?"
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"I always could."
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"...Then why stay as a giant floating eye?"
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The silver-haired man actually looked embarrassed.
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"...It was easier."
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Rosy stared at him.
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"...You're telling me I've been talking to an eye for thousands of years because it was convenient?"
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"...Correct."
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"..."
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Kael quietly whispered to Azrael,
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"...Ancient beings are weird."
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Azrael nodded.
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"...Very."
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The silver-haired man cleared his throat.
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"My name is Orion."
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Rosy repeated it softly.
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"...Orion..."
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The moment she spoke his name—
Another memory surfaced.
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A younger Orion.
Teaching her how to shape stars.
Correcting her when she accidentally created meteor showers.
Listening patiently whenever she complained about being bored.
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Rosy's lips parted.
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"...Teacher..."
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Orion smiled.
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"There you are."
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Before Rosy could say another word—
She suddenly hugged him.
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Not because she thought about it.
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Because her heart remembered before her mind did.
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Orion froze.
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For a long moment...
He simply stood there.
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Then, slowly—
Very gently—
He returned the embrace.
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"...You've grown."
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Rosy laughed through tears.
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"...You say that even though I'm technically older than worlds."
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"...You'll always be my troublesome student."
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Nearby—
Kael looked toward Azrael.
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"...Why do I suddenly feel like the youngest person here?"
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"You are."
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"I don't like it."
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Neither of them noticed Sol smiling quietly.
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For the first time since reuniting with Rosy—
His lonely expression had softened.
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Watching her remember pieces of her past made something inside him finally settle.
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She hadn't forgotten everything.
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She hadn't forgotten everyone.
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Then—
The heartbeat returned.
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THUMP.
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This time—
The palace cracked.
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Massive pillars collapsed.
Windows shattered.
The earth split open beneath the city.
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The reunion ended instantly.
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Orion stepped in front of Rosy.
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His expression became deadly serious.
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"...She's getting closer."
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Rosy frowned.
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"...Who exactly is she?"
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Orion remained silent.
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The Devourer answered instead.
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"My mother."
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Silence.
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Rosy blinked.
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"...Excuse me?"
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The Devourer looked genuinely irritated.
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"You heard me."
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Rosy slowly pointed toward herself.
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"...I thought I was your mother."
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"You are."
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"...Then who is she?"
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The Devourer sighed dramatically.
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"My biological mother."
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Rosy's brain stopped functioning.
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"..."
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"..."
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"...I need a diagram."
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Kael immediately nodded.
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"So do I."
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Even Azrael rubbed his temples.
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"This family tree is becoming impossible."
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Orion finally spoke.
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"There were two primordial beings."
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"The First Light."
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"And..."
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"The Endless Abyss."
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Rosy listened carefully.
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"The Endless Abyss gave birth to Nyx."
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"...Me."
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"Yes."
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"And Nyx divided her own existence into Creation and Destruction."
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Rosy looked toward Sol.
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Then toward the Devourer.
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"...Meaning..."
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"They are your children."
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The Devourer crossed its arms proudly.
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"I AM THE FAVORITE."
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"No."
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Sol answered immediately.
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"You literally tried destroying reality."
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"I WAS EXPRESSING MYSELF."
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"Through genocide?"
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"ART."
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"..."
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"..."
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Even Orion looked horrified.
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Rosy covered her face.
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"I refuse to acknowledge that sentence."
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The Devourer actually looked disappointed.
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"No artistic appreciation."
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Before anyone could continue—
The ground shook again.
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Not violently.
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Rhythmically.
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Like footsteps.
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Far away.
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Yet every step echoed across existence.
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Step.
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Silence.
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Step.
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Silence.
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Each one erased another star.
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Rosy's chest tightened.
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Because the voice inside her soul returned.
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"Don't let her see you."
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Rosy answered silently.
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"Who are you?"
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This time—
The voice replied.
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"The one who carried you before the universe learned your name."
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Rosy's eyes widened.
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Carried...
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Before the universe...
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No.
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That couldn't mean—
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A tiny fragment of memory appeared.
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Warm hands.
A soft lullaby.
Darkness that wasn't frightening.
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Someone gently stroking her hair.
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Someone singing.
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Someone calling her—
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"My little star..."
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A single tear rolled down Rosy's cheek.
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She didn't know why.
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She couldn't even remember the face.
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Only the warmth.
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Only the love.
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Then—
The heartbeat stopped.
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Everything became still.
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Completely still.
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Even the wind ceased.
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Even magic stopped flowing.
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Even time hesitated.
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Far beyond the disappearing stars—
A pair of enormous eyes slowly opened.
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Not crimson.
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Not silver.
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Pure midnight blue.
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Ancient.
Endless.
Beautiful.
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The entire universe seemed tiny before them.
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The eyes blinked once.
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Then looked directly...
At Rosy.
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And for the first time since the beginning of existence—
A voice older than reality itself spoke.
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"My child."
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Rosy's soul trembled.
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Not because of fear.
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Because every forgotten instinct inside her screamed the same impossible truth.
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She knew that voice.
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She had heard it...
Before creation.
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End of Chapter 40