The stillness of the night wrapped around the room like a gentle cocoon, yet something stirred within Emma, pulling her from the depths of sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. A strange unease crept into her chest. She sat up slowly, her silver-white hair falling over her shoulders as she glanced at the mirror across the room.
At first, it reflected nothing but her weary expression, the usual familiarity of her surroundings grounding her. But then.. a shift.
A swirl of misty darkness slithered across the mirror’s surface, spiraling outward like ink dissolving in water. The tendrils of black fog thickened, expanding until they consumed the entirety of her reflection. The darkness spread, stretching beyond the glass, creeping along the floor and walls like living shadows, swallowing the light, the air, everything. The very essence of her room twisted and folded inward until all that remained was an endless void.
Then, from the abyss, a throne emerged.
It loomed before her, massive and unyielding, carved from black stone that seemed to drink in all light. Its surface shimmered faintly, etched with intricate filigree... delicate patterns that pulsed like veins, as though the throne itself was alive. Upon it sat a woman shrouded in shadow, her presence an oppressive yet strangely calming force. Wisps of mist coiled around her like sentient phantoms, shifting in a way that defied natural order.
The woman leaned forward slightly, the vague outline of her lips curving into a cryptic smile.
Emma knew who she was.
Slowly, she lowered herself into a bow. "My Lady…"
A voice as smooth as silk, yet filled with an unfathomable depth, echoed around her. "You may lift your head, child."
Emma obeyed, meeting the goddess’s unseen yet piercing gaze.
"You seem troubled," Erilania observed. "Tell me, what weighs upon your mind?"
The words were spoken softly, but they sent a ripple through Emma’s chest. How did she already know? Even before Emma could voice it, Erilania already understood. Still, she hesitated for a brief moment before gathering her thoughts.
"My Lady, if I may ask... will my family notice my absence?"
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A knowing smile played on the goddess’s lips. "No, they will not. Time here will cease to exist until you return."
Emma’s breath hitched slightly. "Cease... to exist?" she murmured.
The realization dawned upon her. Time in this realm would remain untouched, frozen, as if she had never left. Meanwhile, where she was about to go...
"The time flows differently," Erilania confirmed with a small nod.
Emma’s fingers curled slightly at her sides, tension leaving her shoulders. If that was the case… if her family would not have to bear the weight of her absence… then she had no more reason to hesitate.
She straightened, her mind already decided. "If it’s possible, My Lady… I would like to begin my journey now."
A radiant amusement flickered in Erilania’s expression, her dark presence seemingly shifting with an unspoken understanding. "Nothing is impossible, child," she murmured, her voice laced with the echoes of something ancient. "If that is your wish, then I shall leave you to prepare. When you are ready, speak the words."
Emma bowed deeply in appreciation. And then..
Darkness peeled away.
She was back in her room, standing before the mirror, her heart pounding in her chest. The stillness returned, but she felt the lingering touch of the goddess’s presence, a reminder that what had just transpired was no mere dream.
Without wasting time, she moved swiftly, changing out of her nightwear into something more suitable. A dark ash skirt flowed down to her knees, paired with a dark blue and light blue shirt with sleeves ending at her elbows. Practical, yet fitting for what lay ahead.
Her fingers brushed against the fabric of her sleeve as she took a deep breath, stepping toward the door. She hesitated for only a moment, looking back at her room—the place she had always known, the warmth of home still pressing against her skin.
She whispered softly, as if speaking to all those she loved. "I’ll be back. Very shortly."
A quiet smile touched her lips as she closed the door gently behind her.
Moving toward the window, she gazed at the sky, its vast canvas painted in the deep hues of midnight. The world outside was at peace, wrapped in slumber, unaware of the path she was about to take.
Anna will be able to walk again…
The thought alone made her heart swell. She adjusted her stance, took another deep breath, and whispered, "I’m ready."
The air thickened. A hush settled over the room, deeper than silence.
Then, it appeared.
A portal, neither wholly light nor shadow, swirled into existence before her. It was too intricate to be simply called beautiful, too enigmatic to be merely a mystery. It pulsed softly, the edges shifting like liquid light, an invitation carved from the unknown.
She did not hesitate.
Stepping forward, she let the portal swallow her whole.
The moment she passed through, reality twisted. Her senses blurred, her body felt weightless.. adrift in a space beyond time and existence. The only thing that remained was a voice, echoing through the abyss, wrapping around her like fate itself.
"Your journey has already begun. And your fate… only your fate will guide you to your destiny, child. But be careful… great dangers lie ahead."
The words belonged to Erilania, yet they carried the weight of something even greater. Something vast. Something unknown.
Emma’s vision darkened.
And then darkness
Reigned Supreme!
[END OF ARC_5: PERFECT NIGHT]
[END OF VOLUME 1: THE JOURNEY OF HUMANITY]
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