Neve walked in silence, her boots tapping lightly against the polished black stone path that led away from the palace. Above her, the eternal night of Vrasnia stretched endlessly, the purple moon casting its ethereal glow across the land. The aurora borealis shimmered lazily across the sky, ribbons of green, violet, and blue weaving like the strokes of a divine brush.
She had no real destination—only the need to be away, to breathe air that wasn't heavy with unspoken tension. Her mind replayed her earlier words to Kazimir, each syllable like a shard digging into her conscience.
Then, she stopped.
A figure stood before her—not living, but immortalized in stone. The statue of Karah, her blade Twilight Deliverance held high in a frozen arc of triumph and vengeance. The craftsmanship was so fine that the ripples in the warrior's cloak looked ready to sway in the wind. The sword—now in Kazimir's possession—seemed to almost gleam under the moonlight despite being chiseled from stone.
Neve's lips parted, and the words slipped out in a quiet murmur."A legendary warrior…"
Her gaze lingered on the determined expression carved into Karah's face."I wonder… if you were alive, how things would be for him."
A voice—soft yet clear—broke the stillness."A lot of things would change."
Neve turned sharply, her hand instinctively brushing the hilt at her side. She relaxed when she saw Jessie standing a few steps away, the moonlight catching the two tones of purple streaks in her hair.
"You're here?" Neve asked, surprise flickering in her voice. "I thought you'd stay in the palace."
Jessie took a slow step forward, her tone calm but carrying a weight of quiet concern."Yeah… but you stormed out. I came to check on you—to see how you're feeling."
Neve turned her eyes back to the statue."Nothing. I just… needed to walk. What I said to Kazimir—it was uncalled for."
Jessie stayed behind her, watching her posture, noting the stiffness in her shoulders."I get it. People say things when they're angry. But you can make it up to him. Kazimir's forgiving… more than most people realize. He carries a light heart, even if the world keeps trying to darken it."
Neve's lips pressed into a thin line."I know. And I have to make it right. He fully trusted me, admired me… saying that must have hurt him more than I wanted to admit."
Jessie's voice softened, but her words carried conviction."It did. Other than Riah, you're the one he shows the most admiration for. You were his second master, Neve. You trained him—not just in the sword, but in discipline, in balance. His offense became deadly because of his own skill… but his defense? That's yours. That's what you gave him. You shaped him into something greater than a weapon."
Neve's eyes narrowed slightly, absorbing the truth in Jessie's tone.
Jessie stepped closer, her own expression firm."And he would do anything for you. He's my little brother, yes—but I look up to him, just as any ordinary person might. He has flaws, like all of us… but everything he's accomplished? Even if the world outside Vrasnia tries to stain his name, here he's loved. Respected. Feared where it matters, trusted where it counts. Killing Diablo didn't just save lives—it restored the Vrasnians' faith in him."
Neve turned to look directly at Jessie now."And you—you have that power too. You're Karah's daughter. In Vrasnia, you're practically an empress yourself."
Jessie gave a faint smile, shaking her head."Maybe. But my title was given. Kazimir's was earned. That makes him the true emperor."
There was a brief pause before she leaned in slightly."But enough about him… what matters right now is you."
Neve frowned lightly."Me?"
Jessie nodded."Yes, you. I don't want you drowning yourself in guilt. Don't overthink every word you said. It's a scar, not a deathblow to your bond with him."
Neve's voice was quieter now."Yeah, but… I might have hurt Riah too. She looks up to me in her own way."
Jessie shook her head."I spoke to Riah already. She thinks the same as I do—you acted out of frustration, not hatred. She isn't holding it against you."
The tension in Neve's chest loosened slightly, though her gaze still flicked toward the moonlit ground. Jessie laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder."Take your time. When you're ready… speak to him. Kazimir listens when it matters."
Neve's lips curved into the faintest, fleeting smile."Alright… I will."
Far beyond the edge of the black-stone path, a shadow stood unmoving against the silvered grasslands.Kazimir.
The purple moonlight slid across the blue-tipped strands of his black hair. He did not shift. He did not speak.
From this distance, the sound of their voices could not reach him—only the shapes. Jessie's poised stillness. Neve's slow, deliberate movements.
The wind stirred, brushing past him like a question left unanswered.
He neither stepped closer nor turned away.Only watched.
And then, without fanfare, the night claimed him again—his figure swallowed by shadow, leaving no sign he had ever been there.
Neve paused mid-sentence, the air catching in her lungs.Her gaze drifted past Jessie, past the faint glow of the purple moon, toward the empty grasslands beyond.
Nothing moved.
And yet… she felt it.A weight.A presence.Like being watched from somewhere too far to see, yet too close to ignore.
She frowned, fingers brushing the hilt at her hip. "...Never mind," she muttered.
Jessie tilted her head, sensing the shift in her tone. "What is it?"
Neve's eyes narrowed at the horizon. The silvered grass swayed under the moonlight, undisturbed."...Nothing. Just a shadow," she said at last, though her voice lacked conviction.
Far beyond their sight, atop a jagged outcrop, Kazimir stood.The wind pulled at his coat, his expression unreadable, eyes fixed on the two below.He did not move, did not speak—only watched.Then, as the moonlight dimmed behind drifting clouds, he was gone.