The Weight of a Prophecy and a Dream of Falling

“So, is there something you need?” Ziyao didn’t believe Raphael was merely speaking casually.

“How perceptive of you.”

“Less talk, more action,” Ziyao yawned, feeling full and content, and ready for sleep.

“Perhaps a soak in the hot spring?” Raphael’s lips curved into a slight smile.

Ugh, let’s skip the hot spring. Ziyao still found such a “fragrant and alluring” scene a bit much to handle. Just yesterday, she had deliberately suppressed her senses to their weakest, yet she had still almost fainted in the spring.

Picking up her book, Ziyao decided to return to her bedroom first.

“Oh, but I haven’t finished yet.”

“If you intend to be mysterious, you must be prepared for others not to listen.”

“The hot spring is safer, you know.”

“Oh? This place isn’t safe enough?” This reason, indeed, took Ziyao by surprise. In her estimation, this should have been the safest place of all.

“After all, no one knows how many forbidden techniques exist in the world.” A white glow illuminated Raphael’s hand. “That hot spring is far from simple.”

The white orb of light rapidly shifted form in Raphael’s palm.

“I see, so it was hidden so deeply.” Ziyao conjured a stream of water, encircling the light orb completely. Subsequently, the water began to permeate, tiny, invisible tendrils delving deep into the orb’s core. After a few breaths, the orb of light completely dispersed.

“So that’s how it is.” Ziyao dispelled the flowing water. “If possible, please use a more convenient method next time.”

To dissipate the light orb, one had to erase the embedded magic nodes in the correct sequence, one by one. These nodes contained information, which was what Raphael intended to convey.

“However, does that person know about this?” Ziyao gestured upwards with her finger.

“Of course. If even I know, how could that person not?”

“And they still dared to do it?”

“It’s fishing. For that person, the power in their hands is far more reliable than any prophecy.”

“Sigh, I only hope the commotion will be minimal,” Ziyao sighed.

“Indeed, no one wants to blow this out of proportion.”

Ending their rather cryptic conversation, Ziyao proceeded to the second floor. Coincidentally, Ailin was just emerging from Aiya’s bedroom.

“Miss Ailin, is Aiya already resting?”

“Yes, Her Highness wasn’t feeling very well today, so she retired early.”

Well, Ziyao, as the unwitting culprit, truly didn’t know what to say. She quickly mentioned the matter of the blood to Ailin, then scurried back to her own bedroom. It was only at moments like these that Ziyao resembled a little girl.

Back in her bedroom, the knot of tension in Ziyao’s heart finally loosened. For some reason, she was now incredibly afraid to see Aiya.

Am I such a shy person? No, at least, that’s what I once believed.

But now, whenever she thought of Aiya, images of Aiya’s hazy eyes and her fair, flushed little face invariably surfaced in her mind. This made her directly reluctant to meet Aiya.

Heaven knows if I’ll be able to control myself next time. Forget it. Sleep.

Good sleep could soothe all wounds. After a simple wash, Ziyao took out her pajamas. As expected, Miss Ailin had already swapped them for a pink dress. Resignedly, Ziyao put on the nightgown Miss Ailin had prepared, letting out a sigh.

It’s quite comfortable, she thought, feeling her resistance utterly crumbling.

Placing the book Sophia had given her on the desk, Ziyao switched off the magic lamp. The room plunged into darkness. Ziyao lay on the bed, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier. At some point, she drifted into slumber.

****

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

The sharp pain in her chest jolted Ziyao awake. A strange female voice was sobbing inconsolably beside her ear. Ziyao forced herself to look down, seeing an ominous black spear piercing through her chest.

The black-haired girl holding her clutched the spear’s shaft with her other hand. The black-haired girl wept bitterly, tears cascading like a flood from her obsidian-like eyes.

“I’m sorry…” She slowly exerted more pressure, and the spear began to twist within Ziyao’s body.

“Uwaa…” Spitting out a mouthful of golden-glowing blood, Ziyao felt a surge of returning strength.

Boom—

A golden beam of light struck the black-haired girl’s back, knocking her away from Ziyao’s embrace. A girl enveloped in golden light appeared in Ziyao’s vision. Her face was etched with shock; she simply couldn’t believe her best friend had murdered her beloved.

“Youlan, what… what have you done?” She pointed at the black-haired girl, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

No, you two, acknowledge me! I’m not dead yet.

Losing her support, Ziyao crumpled to the ground. She tried to rise, only to find her strength utterly insufficient to lift herself. The black spear in her chest continued to inflict unbearable agony, and she felt as if she might pass out. To lose consciousness in such a state—everyone knew what that meant.

“Bastard!” The golden girl raised the longsword in her hand, her eyes blazing with furious flames. With a single swing, the black-haired girl would be utterly obliterated from this world.

At that moment, Ziyao found her mouth moving on its own. “Ceres… today… no more… deities… should fall.”

The golden girl’s body stiffened. She shot a resentful glance at the black-haired girl kneeling on the ground, then cast aside her longsword and rushed to Ziyao’s side.

“Lotia, why… what on earth happened?” Her palm trembled slightly, and the black spear, now devoid of its master’s control, shattered instantly.

“Cough.” Ziyao coughed up another mouthful of blood, realizing this was likely her final moment.

“Ceres, don’t blame Youlan… cough cough… I made her do it…” Fragmented words escaped Ziyao’s lips. “After I fall… the world… will be in your hands…”

“No, no, no, you’ll be fine, Lotia. I won’t allow you to die!”

“Cough cough… Ceres… you’re not a child anymore… remember… the abyss still lurks…” Ziyao used her index finger to gently press against the golden-haired girl’s lips. “Ha… ten thousand years… I might have to take my leave… don’t hate Youlan… this was my mistake…”

Gradually, Ziyao felt her eyelids growing heavier and heavier, the figures before her blurring, her voice fading to a whisper. Her end was nigh.

“Those children… their talent is immense… if not guided… ha… there’s no time…”

“Lotia, don’t leave me.” Transparent tears streamed from her eyes as the golden girl embraced Ziyao tightly, as if hoping to snatch the dying girl from the grasp of death.

“Cough cough… goodbye forever… Ceres… Youlan…” Her last shred of strength vanished, and Ziyao closed her eyes.

Bang—

Her body dissolved into countless blue specks of light, scattering into the air.

The divine throne shattered.