“Haroo~” Qiweiya yawned, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She couldn’t understand why she hadn’t been able to sleep last night, a persistent unease fluttering in her heart. Logically, a god didn’t truly *need* sleep, but this psychological suggestion was something even she couldn’t overcome.
Vernis watched her mistress with a peculiar expression. Her normally vibrant, energetic master was actually yawning so early in the morning? It was nothing short of a miracle.
Though Vernis wasn’t entirely devoted to Qiweiya, she still offered a polite, formulaic inquiry.
“Master, is something troubling you? Your spirits seem quite low.”
Qiweiya lifted her gaze to Vernis, speaking through another yawn.
“It’s nothing. I’m probably just overly cautious. Is there really anything in this world that could threaten me? What a joke~”
Vernis stared at Qiweiya’s delicate face for a moment, silently assessing if her audacity was truly as thick as a city wall. To her chagrin, she found it wasn’t quite *that* thick.
Qiweiya, of course, noticed Vernis’s subtle gestures but chose not to expose her. Living life with such solemnity would be far too exhausting, especially with an eternity stretching before her.
As she observed the uniquely shaped plants and strange magical beasts lining the path, Qiweiya sighed wistfully.
“To think tens of thousands of years have passed in the blink of an eye… Becoming an Eternal Race truly comes with a price. So many friends from back then have since departed…”
Qiweiya noticed Vernis’s expression, clearly wondering if her master had lost her mind, but offered no explanation. It was futile.
In a few centuries, Vernis too would be nothing but a pile of bones. Time transformed all things, and everything that wasn’t an Eternal Race could not resist the fundamental truth of this world.
Those destined to leave had left; those destined to scatter had scattered. Waxing and waning, gathering and dispersing – such was the nature of all things. Even she, an Eternal Race, was not exempt. Though her physical time was fixed, her temperament, soul, and approach to matters would inevitably change.
For countless years, she had relied on self-hypnosis, burying these painful memories to numb herself. Yet, what was meant to surface always did, just as it was now.
Qiweiya’s face turned stark white. ‘MMD, they arrived way too fast (ಥ_ಥ)! I only left a few days ago! I even hid my aura completely, so how did they find me? Whatever, escaping is the priority now!’
Under Vernis’s nuanced gaze, Qiweiya stealthily dismounted her horse, nervously eyeing the merchant caravan ahead.
Vernis clapped a hand to her face. ‘My foolish master! If you’re going to observe, observe everything… What kind of ghost only looks forward and not behind?’
Vernis felt that if she didn’t remind her master, she would become even more idiotic.
Vernis tapped her shoulder.
Qiweiya, looking utterly paranoid, slapped her hand away without turning her head.
“Stop messing around! Can’t you see I’m trying to sneak away?”
It took Qiweiya a few seconds to register the oddness.
“Eh? Wait, the people in front didn’t notice me, right… Oh my god! I didn’t look behind me!” She then turned to the strangely expressive Vernis and awkwardly waved. “Hi~”
Vernis’s pupils were locked onto Qiweiya’s face, her gentle voice echoing in Qiweiya’s ears.
“Master, what are you doing, sneaking around like this? Are you even abandoning the maid you personally appointed~”
“Cough, cough.” Qiweiya averted her gaze.
“What are you talking about? I just wanted to go for a stroll or something. I merely feared disturbing you all.”
Vernis looked at her gently.
“Master, are you being foolish? Have you ever seen anyone ‘stroll’ to this extent? Do you truly think I’m an idiot?”
Noticing the steadily dropping pressure emanating from her maid, Qiweiya quickly waved her hands in denial.
“No, no, no! My… my current situation is quite perilous. If you remain by my side, I won’t be able to protect any of you.”
Seeing the earnestness in Qiweiya’s expression, Vernis grew tense as well, realizing this was no laughing matter. She knew Karn’s strength well; he was far beyond the God-rank. So, for someone like Qiweiya to be this terrified, the power of their pursuers must be truly horrifying!
Vernis’s face was etched with anxiety.
“What do we do now? Are we just going to wait here?”
A subtle, knowing smirk twitched at the corner of Qiweiya’s lips. ‘Plan successful.’
“Of course, the further we get from here, the better, or else you might get caught in the crossfire. Just imagine the battle fluctuations from your demigod-level strength, and you’ll understand how terrifying we God-ranks are. It’s not just a little stronger; it’s dozens, even hundreds of times more powerful~”
As expected, Vernis grew visibly frightened by her words.
Qiweiya waited with a faint smile, anticipating Vernis would urge her to leave alone.
“Then I’ll come with you too.”
“Uh, ⊙▽⊙”
Qiweiya panicked.
“Oh my god! Girl, do you even know what you’re saying? If you come along, you could perish in a blaze of glory! Wouldn’t you regret dying so young, in the prime of your beautiful life?”
Vernis gazed at Qiweiya’s face with sincere eyes.
“But who’s to blame when I ended up with such a troublesome little master~”
Qiweiya felt deeply moved, yet simultaneously thought this girl was incredibly foolish! After all, she had merely threatened Vernis into serving her as a maid.
But this girl was actually planning to follow her willingly.
Qiweiya clicked her tongue, a bitter taste in her mouth.
“Why? I forced you, and you know I was just messing around, toying with you! I have no redeeming qualities besides my strength!”
Vernis’s expression grew serious.
“But you are very gentle with me! I can feel it. And you carry many burdens, don’t you? When you drink tea, it’s not just for rest; you’re often contemplating matters of great significance to you, aren’t you?”
Qiweiya looked at Vernis, and Vernis quietly stared back at her. Vernis knew whether she could stay depended entirely on this moment.
With a helpless shrug, Qiweiya beckoned to her.
“You’ve successfully moved me, young lady. Come here now! It’s time for you to truly witness a world beyond the God-rank!”
Vernis walked to Qiweiya’s side, a joyful smile gracing her lips.
Just as Qiweiya was about to activate her spatial magic—
“Lady Qiweiya, we’ve finally found you! Don’t run!”
“Damn it! Sorry, but it’s a princess carry now!”
With Vernis’s face flushed with shyness, Qiweiya scooped her into her arms and shot off into the distance.
“Don’t run!”
“Don’t run!”
“Don’t run!”
As the merchant caravan watched, utterly bewildered, three more streaks of light soared across the sky.