The sky was dark and the moon illuminated a faint light. It was a chilly night and everyone sought comfort in their own homes. Lory soaked herself inside a big hot tub in the bathing chamber. Faint smoke sizzled from the bathtub warming the air around her. Lory placed her head on the edge of the bathtub as she blinked a few times. She was alone in the chamber as she had sent out the maids a long time ago. She needed a moment to herself.

[What did you see?] Girsha asked anxiously as he flew into the chamber and perched on one of the tub’s edges. He could tell Lory was distressed, something that hadn’t happened since she arrived in this world.

​​

[I’m not sure… I could be wrong…] Lory sat up straight and rubbed her forehead.

Girsha frowned as he asked again [What do you think you saw?] 

Lory took a deep breathe [I think… I think I saw the marks on her body?]

[Who are we talking about?] Girsha was puzzled.

[It’s Lao Min Na…]

Her answer only confused him more [What marks did you see?]

Lory remained silent for a moment. She didn’t know if she needed to tell him as she wasn’t sure what she saw. However, Girsha wasn’t the type to leave her until he got his answers. Lory sighed and look deeply into Girsha’s green round eyes [Lazarus Marks…]

They both went quiet, the water dripping onto the bath chamber’s floor was the only sound filling the room. However, Lory could also hear her heart beating loudly. If what she saw was true then everything in this world would soon fall apart. She didn’t think she could do it again.

[That can’t be…] Girsha spoke firmly [He’s gone… you dragged him to oblivion. You trapped him there. He can’t go anywhere…]

[Is he there…?] Lory wasn’t sure [We all thought he was the ‘First Kind’. The first of the ‘First Kind’ but we both know the truth, don’t we Girsha…? He is not the ‘First Kind’ but ‘The Fallen’… ‘The Outcast’… We are lucky we stopped him last time but what if it happens again…?] 

[There’s no ‘if’!] Girsha cut off her words [Stop thinking nonsense!]

[The fact is the creature is gone and you are safe!] He reassured her [And if that girl has some marks, it’s probably something else. Don’t jump to a conclusion. You need to think clearly…]

Lory took a deep breath [You are right… I jumped to a conclusion. This world has its own wonder and it’s definitely something else… We just need to observe and investigate like we always do…]

[Then it’s settled. I will watch that… Lao Min Na just in case and you need to calm yourself, okay…? Don’t make your boyfriend worry]

[He is not my boyfriend] Lory muttered before she sheepishly asked [Is he really worried?]

[He is. So, don’t be surprised if you find him in your room when you are done here]

Lory smiled unconsciously as she imagined Zhao Li Xin’s worried face. This thought calmed her heart and her worries subsided [He is more of a worrywart than Fred. Don’t you think…?]

Girsha was relieved to see her complexion return to normal [For a good reason…]

Lory smile widened. When she thought about it carefully, she had a blessed life despite going through many bad things and heartache towards the end of her life. However, when she compared herself to Lao Min Na and Zhao Li Xin, she was more fortunate than them. She was always surrounded by many people who genuinely love her from birth. They all protected and guide her into becoming the best she could ever be. Her father was warm and gentle. Her brother was caring and her subordinates treated her like family. She never lacked love in her life and that was why she never regretted sacrifice herself to protect others. The only thing she regretted was the pain her sacrifice brought to them.

Lory used a towel to dry herself then changed into clean robes. Girsha flew off somewhere else. Lory did everything herself. Zhao Li Xin wanted to assign personal maids to her but she refused politely. She’s always done anything on her own even when she lived in Cestine Palace. She found comfort in solitude, especially at such a time. She walked into the room and found Zhao Li Xin on the couch drinking wine as he usually did. 

Zhao Li Xin took in everything he saw when she entered the room quietly. Her cheeks were slightly red from the hot bath. She smiled at him like she expected him to be there. He was relieved to see she was calmer than before. He had asked her what bothered her before but she remained silent all the way back to the manor. He was anxious and hurt to see her like that, something he had never felt before. The pain he felt was mixed with sadness. He also didn’t understand why he felt that way.

He wanted to ignore her initially but felt restless as he couldn’t sit still in his room. He paced back and forth before he decided to check on her. The pain in his chest subsided when he saw her smile.

“You are here…” Lory greeted him with a slight bow.

“You feel better?” He placed the wine cup on the table next to him.

“I’m sorry I surprised you…” She sat on the chair opposite him. She poured herself a cup of tea, sniffed the tea’s fragrance and sipping it slowly. The warmth comforted her, “I thought I saw something but… I think I was wrong…”

“What did you see?” Zhao Li Xin frowned. He had never seen her distraught like she was, not even after Lao Min Na beat her up. However, what he saw earlier was something he had never seen in her before. Her eyes held fear…

Lory took another sip before gently placing the cup on the table, “Something from a long time ago. But it doesn’t matter… I was probably wrong anyway.”

Zhao Li Xin didn’t push farther since she didn’t want to talk about it. He could wait for the day she would trust him enough to tell him everything. Her answer was enough for now.

 ____________________________________________________

Girsha flew up in the sky. His long golden tail glimmered in the moonlight. He looked at the city below. He headed towards a hill and gently landed on a stone. He flapped his wings a few times before nestling on the stone. His green eyes closed slowly. The old bird needs to relax too.

[You knew this would happen… Arthea] His eyes suddenly opened and he scoffed. His words were more of an affirmation than a question.

A woman’s figure appeared from the darkness behind him. She had long silver hair, grey eyes and pale skin that looked like snow. She seemed about fifteen years old. She wore a long silver dress covered with laces and diamonds that twinkled like the stars. The woman was oddly beautiful. One could easily guess she wasn’t human as her body was translucent.

[Did I…?] The woman smiled innocently.

[Don’t joke with me seeress!] Girsha hissed impatiently.

[I’m not… Grimareus] She snickered yet she still managed to look pure and innocent.

Girsha glared at her [Don’t call me that!]

[The Grimm from the Elysius mountains… Am I wrong?] She teased.

[Stop talking about me. You are here because of her, aren’t you…? What else do you want to do to Lorient…?]

Arthea sighed helplessly [I didn’t do anything to her. She chose this herself, remember?]

[Only because there was no other choice…]

[There is always another choice] She refuted. Her voice almost sounded sad when as she added softly [However, there are not the choices she’s willing to take…]

[You’ve been taking advantage of the twins even before they were born….] Girsha never liked the seers because she only watched from the side and never tried to do anything else.

[The twins play a crucial role in the survival of humankind. It was their fate…]

[And what now…? She’s already given up everything. What else do you want from her…] Girsha eyes brimmed with anger. Arthea ignored him and pretended to not see his anger 

[It’s not over yet. What once started would begin again…] Her figure gradually disappeared.

[Hey, what do you mean!] 

However, Arthea was already gone. Girsha frowned as he stared at the emptiness in front of him. Seeing her gave him a bad premonition.