That same night–
Far beyond the palace walls, the skies began to stir. Clouds twisted unnaturally, coiling into shapes that defied all earthly logic.
The stars blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then dimmed—
their light swallowed into something far older than night.
In the Temple of Spirits, far across the empire, High Priest Harven stood atop the wind-swept terrace.
His ceremonial robes billowed as the air thickened, charged with the scent of rain and fate.
His eyes narrowed, fixed on the strange phenomenon unraveling across the sky.
"It has begun," he whispered.
His whisper was barely audible, lost in the howling wind.
But the world heard it.
And in the depths of its silence—
it stirred.
—
Time passes by like the wind—swift and intangible.
It had been almost two months since Edrick's last visit.
He hadn't come by during these weeks, or rather, he hadn't found the time to.
After all, he was preparing himself for the approaching Mid-Winter Council, a responsibility that demanded his full attention.
For Astra, however, those weeks had passed in relative peace.
The five servants carried out their duties with such dedication that they had practically become her hands, feet, eyes, and ears.
Astra, being too lazy to monitor everything herself, simply sent them in her stead.
And they never failed her.
One afternoon-
After finishing her lunch, Astra reclined comfortably on a large velvet couch by the window, letting her head fall against the cushions as she rested.
The afternoon sunlight streamed in, warming her skin and creating a peaceful ambiance.
Suddenly, as if something crossed her mind, Astra opened her eyes and called out, "Cass."
Cassia, who had been organizing some flowers in a vase near the corner, paused for a moment before walking over.
"You called me, Your Highness?"
By now, everyone had grown accustomed to Astra's mispronunciations of their names.
Cassia had caught glimpses of Astra's laziness and her indifferent, almost unbother demeanor. As a result, she had grown noticeably more relaxed and casual in her behavior toward her.
Astra nodded lazily.
"Yes. Call those five girls," she said, then added as an afterthought, "and Geron too."
"... Yes, Your Highness."
Cassia nodded. She had come to understand the princess's temperament over the past few weeks—laziness wrapped in an oddly strategic calm.
Despite being a child, she had a chilling maturity. Unfortunately, she was a bit too lazy.
Cassia went to call them all over, and as she observed their dedication and the responsibility they showed toward their tasks—listening to the princess despite her being just a child.
Cassia became assured that they were all trustworthy individuals.
She had grown to respect those five—Melinda, Lily, Lora, Ella and Claire. Their loyalty to the princess was unwavering, and their dedication to their work was something she hadn't expected.
It was hard to believe they had once been ordinary servants.
Moments later, the five stood before Astra with Cassia and Gerald slightly apart from the others.
Lily, being the most talkative, naturally spoke first.
"Your Highness, you called us so suddenly?" she said. "Is there something you need us to do?"
Astra straightened slightly, her gaze drifting toward the window.
"Yes," she replied calmly. "There is something I need to tell you."
They instantly grew more attentive, their postures becoming more formal.
Astra noticed and let out a soft chuckle.
"You don't have to look so tense."
She turned her gaze outward, watching the world beyond the glass, her voice growing quiet.
"As you all know," she said quietly,
"I'm just an abandoned princess."
Silence fell.
"If someone were to come here and slaughter us all one-day..."
Her words were steady. Too steady.
"...no one would even care, let alone come to our rescue."
Her words struck a somber chord. The five exchanged glances, the weight of her statement settling in.
Astra turned back to face them, something gleaming in her eyes.
"So, I have decided something."
Her voice was calm, yet it carried weight.
"What is it, Your Highness?" Cassia asked, her tone cautious.
Astra took a deep breath, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"I've decided to create my own Guardians."
Silence descended upon the room.
It was not the peaceful kind, but the heavy, suffocating stillness that followed an impossible declaration.
Shock spread openly across their faces—widened eyes, stiffened postures, breath held mid-air.
Of course they would be shocked.
[Guardians- The Guardians are elite protectors who operate from the shadows. They're unseen, unheard, and unknown to most — existing solely to shield their master from threats before they ever reach their master. Trained in stealth, strategy, and silent combat, they strike without warning and vanish without trace. Their loyalty is absolute and solely to their master.
In Cristiane, only those from aristocratic bloodlines have the right to become Guardians. Guardians aren't just protectors—they're bound by a special contract that allows them to sense their master's location and teleport instantly to their side in times of danger.
Despite how powerful and loyal Guardians are, very few nobles choose to make such contracts. The reason is simple—placing one's life in someone else's hands, no matter how skilled or trustworthy, feels far too risky for most.
Still, legends persist. It is said that Seraphion Aster—renowned as the greatest swordmaster in Cristiane's recorded history—was the Guardian of Elencia de S. La Cristiane, the founding matriarch of the Cristiane empire.
Even the current Empress has only two Guardians, yet no one knows who they are. Their identities remain a mystery, hidden from the world. ]
Cassia was the first to find her voice, though it trembled openly. Her eyes were wide, disbelief etched into every line of her face.
"Your Highness… you..."
Before she could finish, Astra rose calmly from the couch, her expression unreadable.
She stepped forward, standing tall before the group that had served her so diligently these past weeks.
Her gaze swept across them—steady, assessing, unwavering.
"So," Astra said, her voice calm but absolute, "I want to ask all of you—are you willing to become my Guardians?"
The words struck harder than any blade.
They were stunned. They were all commoners. To even dream of such a position was blasphemy in the eyes of nobility.
Gerald stepped forward.
Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, his head bowed deeply, fist pressed to the floor.
"Your Highness…" His voice was tight, restrained. "I fear I will disappoint you. I don't believe I'm capable of becoming a Guardian."
The air shifted.
Astra's expression turned cold, her voice laced with sharpness.
"Oh! Are you saying that my judgment is wrong?" she asked. "Do you think that because I'm a child, I don't understand anything?"
Gerald's head snapped up, panic flooding his eyes.
"No! Never, Your Highness!" he blurted out. "I would never dare! It's just… I fear my skills are unworthy."
The room held its breath once more, waiting for Astra's response.