Everyone was in the courtyard.
"I have to go take the papers now," Kashime said.
Akarum was slicing a wooden stick nearby, lost in his own focus.
Flint avoided eye contact with her. He turned toward Akarum, ignoring Kashime as last night's memories flooded his mind.
"Hey, you," Kashime called.
He turned to her.
She pointed two fingers at his eyes, then to her own, repeating the gesture a few times, as if saying I'm watching you.
"Stay safe," Asami prayed.
Kashime left.
She reached the General Center, took the papers from Laixo, and began heading toward Heavenly Kaatoumo. The sun was at its peak, its rays spreading across the sky.
She glanced at the papers while running.
"Nymor. What kind of name is that?" she muttered.
"So the father's name is Nymor Konose. Not that bad."
Her pace increased, her gaze fixed on the path ahead.
Inside the beast-like structure, a large table stood with leaders seated around it.
"This matter is serious," the leader at the front said.
"Did she say anything?" he added.
Silence stretched, pressure building as they glanced at one another, hoping someone would speak.
"She keeps denying it," the leader beside him said quietly. "We tried every method."
"We can't just let this go," said the leader seated at the end, his head resting on his hand.
A pause.
"If we do, the villagers might lose control."
The leader in front exhaled sharply.
"We have no option but to prove Aeni is the killer."
"We can't just label her a murderer," the leader beside him objected.
"We would also need evidence to present to Our Ruler," another leader added, his Divine Scar with green and white outlines covering his wrist.
"There's no other option," said the leader at the front, his hands resting on the polished table. "Either we prove Aeni guilty, or we face the villagers' wrath."
Silence returned. Their minds raced, tension thick in the air.
Suddenly, a portal tore through the air, dropping a letter onto the table before closing instantly.
No one was shocked.
"Fate's letter," the leader at the front said, reaching for it.
He read it, then.
"What?!" Shock and confusion escaped him.
Aeni is innocent. She did nothing. Innocence must not be punished.
I, Fate, order you to free her.
— Fate
"What is written there ?" the leader beside him asked.
"To free Aeni," he replied.
A chill ran through them. The letter got swallowed by another portal.
"Do… we have to?" one leader asked hesitantly.
"We do," the leader at the end sighed.
They stood. Internally opposed, but bound by Fate's command.
"Then we'll find another solution."
They moved toward the mining-like structure on the left.
"Aeni's cell," one whispered.
Some stayed behind while the rest went inside.
They stopped at her cell.
Aeni lay inside, blood dripping from her mouth, sleeves torn, red marks from sticks covering her body. She was barely conscious.
They dragged her out by the collar.
"Heal her," a leader ordered, disgust clear on his face.
A female leader knelt and placed her hand on Aeni's body. Her Divine Scar on her shoulder, outlined in white, began to glow through the cloth.
A chime echoed.
Aeni healed quickly.
The glow faded as the leader pulled her hand away.
"What are you doing?" Aeni asked weakly as consciousness returned.
"Freeing you, dumbass," the female leader snapped.
One of them stepped forward and helped Aeni stand.
"Now let me send you back to the village."
"Don't stay there," another leader warned.
The one holding Aeni nodded. The Divine Scar on his chest shimmered with a cosmic outline it's glow easily passed through the cloth, and they teleported to the Village of Queens.
As soon as they arrived, the glow vanished.
"Have fun," he said, waving before teleporting away.
"Fun?" Aeni muttered in irritation, she clutched her teeth.
She began walking into the village. Her mind ran with thoughts, guilt flooding her mind. Rage surfaced. However she couldn't reverse the consequences. That made her chest ache in quiet pain.
Akarum sat on one chair in the courtyard of Heavenly Kaatoumo, Kashime on another.
"So my surname is Konose now," he said quietly. "Akarum Konose."
"Right. Right," she nodded quickly.
"And that's your surname too," he added. "Not the random father's."
"That's true," she replied.
He didn't ask further.
Kashime's gaze lingered on the doors of Heavenly Kaatoumo.
"They're inside," she murmured.
Somewhere else
Shishuki leapt across tree branches, breath steady, expression unreadable.
Village of Queens came into her sight, and she stopped upon a breach.
"Let's not get in sight."
Her leg muscles tightened, her expression hardened.
She leaped into the village at a speed no normal human could perceive.
She passed by a villager.
"What was that?" he turned.
Shishuki stopped at a hut.
"Here we go."
She entered, her movements decisive.
"Aeni." Her voice was sharp, cold.
Aeni, who was sitting inside, raised her gaze.
"Yeah?"
"You should be with Akarum. Right?" Shishuki said.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Aeni questioned. Irritation from previous events still lingered on the surface.
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, I am the person who will lead you to your mother." Shishuki spread her arms, then lowered them.
Aeni stood abruptly and grabbed Shishuki's hand.
"Really?" she pleaded.