The sky was heavy with clouds, and a cold wind swept through the mountain valleys surrounding the temple. Dry leaves scattered in the air as Iris walked with a steady pace up the stone path leading to the temple gate. She pushed the iron gate open, letting out a sharp creak. Inside, the silence was unnatural, as if time itself had stood still.

  As Iris stepped into the stone courtyard, she paused. The air was strangely quiet. In the center of the courtyard, a simple-looking old woman sat at a small wooden table, an old teapot in her hand.

  Iris advanced with measured steps, her eyes cautiously watching the woman. "You..." she said softly, showing no surprise.

  The old woman looked up with a faint smile, as if she had been expecting this very moment.

  "You've come at the same time," the old woman said in a calm voice.

  Iris didn't hesitate. "You know why I'm here."

  The old woman nodded, showing no sign of surprise. Instead, she gestured calmly to the chair opposite her. "Why don't you sit? Let's have some tea and talk."

  There was no threat in her voice, only an extraordinary calm. Though the situation was unexpected, Iris wasn't surprised. She knew things wouldn't be ordinary here. She sat in silence, her eyes never leaving the old woman.

  The old woman filled a cup with tea and placed it in front of Iris. "I have already seen everything," she said softly. "Everything that will happen." She raised her own cup and took a small sip, as if this were all just a conversation between friends.

  Iris glanced at the cup before her, then lifted her eyes to the woman. "I take it from your demeanor that you have used the Eye of the Unknown many times, Golden Dragon of Wisdom," Iris said, her tone even.

  "Yes," the old woman replied with a placid smile. "I've seen everything you will do... and everything that will come to pass. That is why I will not resist. There's no need. A fight between us would change nothing. Instead, let us sit and talk. And call me by my name, Aurelia."

  Iris took a deep breath and settled in her seat across from Aurelia.

  Aurelia set her teacup down gently on the table, then looked at Iris with a profound gaze, as if speaking to someone she had known for a very long time. She sighed. "I have had this conversation with you hundreds of times, and yet not once have you listened. We have fought many battles, and I have never won."

  Then she added, "I will get straight to the point. The Eye of the Unknown has lost its light. I can no longer use it. Even if you were to pluck out my eye, it would be of no use to you."

  Iris looked closely at Aurelia's right eye and noticed a strange whiteness clouding it, as if life had departed from it. "Hand over the eye," Iris said, "and I will see for myself."

  "I don't mind," Aurelia said calmly. "I will give you my eye; I cannot see with it anyway. But you must know, Iris, your death is inevitable. I have seen you die in every single path. There is no hope for your survival."

  Iris didn't flinch, her gaze still fixed on the sightless eye. "Someone is trying to make things seem that way, aren't they?" she murmured. "I know time is not my friend... but I will make my own path."

  Aurelia sighed, nodding faintly. "You know who the Guardian is. He stands between you and your goal. No one gets close without having to face him."

  Iris fell silent for a moment, thinking deeply on Aurelia's words. She knew what she was trying to obtain was no simple matter, but Aurelia’s warning gave her pause. She glanced at the blind eye, clouded over with a milky haze. Then she sighed. "I'll believe you. But as for my death, that's impossible. I have researched this thoroughly. I am confident of my victory."

  "I know the extent of your current power," Aurelia said. "It is only natural that you believe you are invincible. But he is stronger than you can imagine. I don't wish to discourage you, but he is hundreds of times stronger than you."

  Iris took a deep breath and placed her hands on the table, her fingers interlacing as she looked calmly at Aurelia. "I am no fool. I can continue to grow stronger. I have time, even if it takes me a thousand years."

  "I have seen that path," Aurelia replied. "You will be forced into endless wars. And you will be killed in one of them."

  "Listen, Aurelia," Iris said firmly. "There is no certain path."

  She stood and began to walk toward the gate. "I will create my own path. You will see." As she stepped outside, she unfurled her wings and launched into the air.

  Aurelia stood and walked to the courtyard entrance. She watched Iris fly away and said softly, "I truly hope you do create your own path."

  Then she began to chant a few words, summoning a small, golden bird.

  "How may I serve you, Lady Aurelia?" the bird asked.

  "Go," Aurelia commanded, "and bring them."

  ***

  Under the bright midday sun, Hikari and Mirai approached the gates of Levander, a city in the kingdom of Lorasin. The massive gate was studded with golden ornaments that reflected the sunlight, while fluttering flags bore ancient symbols hinting at the city's long history. The moment their feet touched the city’s ground, Hikari was overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. His eyes widened in amazement, like a child entering a magical place for the first time.

  "Look at this, Mirai! This city is incredible!" Hikari said, his voice brimming with energy as he spun around, taking it all in.

  As they entered, streets paved with pure white stone opened up before them. The central market was bustling with visitors and vendors, artisans displaying their dazzling crafts. Hikari couldn't hide his grin as he watched the scenes around them. They passed stalls selling intricate wooden carvings and jewelry adorned with rare, glittering stones. "It's like everything here is alive, even the jewelry!" he said to Mirai. "How do they make it with such skill?"

  Mirai smiled at his enthusiasm, whispering to herself, "It's been a long time since I've seen him this excited." She said to him, "Let's explore every corner. We don't want to miss a thing."

  Hikari quickened his pace, eager to see more. His eyes darted from stall to stall, mesmerized by every detail.

  Throughout the day, they moved with a light and happy energy, enjoying every part of the city, from the bright colors of the people's clothes to the water flowing through small canals along the roadsides.

  As the sun neared the horizon, a warm orange glow washed over the city. They decided to look for an inn to stay in.

  As they walked, Mirai turned to Hikari with a small smile. "It seems you like the city, Hikari."

  "I do," he replied with a happy grin. "More than I expected. What about you?"

  "I like it a little," Mirai answered.

  "What do you think about going to the Guild tomorrow?" Hikari asked. "Maybe we'll find an interesting quest."

  Mirai thought for a moment. "I don't really think there will be any good quests. I'm completely disillusioned with the Guild; their jobs are never up to standard."

  "I understand how you feel," Hikari said. "You have all this power, but you can't fully unleash it on anyone. But you never know, maybe we'll find something."

  After a short walk, they found a suitable old inn. They went inside and rented a room for each of them.

  ---

  The next morning, Hikari and Mirai entered the Guild. The place was crowded with adventurers of all ranks, talking and swapping stories, while the walls were covered with boards full of various quests.

  The two approached the quest board, their eyes scanning the dozens of postings, but one thing caught their attention. In the corner of the board was a quest written in large script with a golden seal, indicating its high difficulty.

  Quest: Clear a Noble's Territory of a Wyvern Swarm

  Type: Urgent

  Objective: Eliminate a large swarm of Wyverns. Their number is 25.

  Reward: 2,000 Gold Pieces

  Difficulty: Dangerous

  Note: Requires an A-rank adventurer.

  Mirai looked at Hikari. "This looks really interesting. What do you think?"

  Hikari hesitated for a moment, his eyes going over the details. "Yeah, but it's also very dangerous... 25 wyverns is no small matter. And isn't it strange that the reward is so small? Two thousand gold for 25 wyverns seems a bit low."

  "That's fine," Mirai said excitedly. "I see it as a nice challenge. This quest is perfect for me to test my abilities."

  Hikari saw how eager she was and replied with a small smile, "Alright then, let's take it."

  They went to the Guild's reception desk to register for the quest, and Mirai took out her necklace, which proved her rank. After signing up, they left the Guild, ready to depart.

  Along the way, the two moved swiftly through forests and rugged roads, both fully prepared for the confrontation. The journey was not short, but thanks to their speed and experience, they knew they would arrive before sunset. As they passed through a narrow mountain pass, Hikari looked to the distant horizon where dark clouds were gathering over the Valley.

  Stolen story; please report.

  "Looks like it's going to rain soon," Hikari remarked.

  "I think that will be to our advantage," Mirai replied, watching the clouds assemble.

  As they neared the valley, the ground became rougher and the atmosphere more tense. In the distance, the Valley began to appear, surrounded by sharp, rocky mountains. The area seemed deserted, wrapped in an eerie silence. Everything suggested that a battle was imminent.

  They stopped for a moment at the edge of the valley, looking out at the place where the swarm awaited. The sky began to pour. Rain fell in sheets, and soon the wind picked up, carrying a chill that made the skin prickle. The dark clouds grew thicker, shot through with quick flashes of lightning, as if nature itself was warning of the approaching danger. In an instant, a bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the dark horizon, where they saw the massive swarm of wyverns circling.

  The creatures' giant wings filled the sky like another set of moving clouds, their roars rising above the din of rain and thunder. Their flight was not random but organized, displaying a collective intelligence and a formidable threat. The red eyes of each beast glowed in the darkness, and their fiery breaths sent out smoke that vanished in the cold air.

  Hikari looked at Mirai and said in a low, cautionary voice, "There are so many of them... This is no ordinary fight."

  But Mirai was calm, her eyes gleaming in the flash of lightning. She smiled confidently as she took a step forward into the gale. "They're just little birds," she said in a calm, strong voice. "I'm counting on you to protect me."

  Suddenly, Mirai began to unfurl her wings. When fully extended, they seemed to stretch across the horizon, defying the darkness and projecting an unmatched power and majesty. With one hand, she drew her dagger and transformed it into a large two-handed sword.

  Without hesitation, she launched into the sky. The sound of her wings beating the air was powerful, and Hikari watched in awe, knowing she would not back down from this challenge. She flew swiftly toward the swarm, piercing through the dense clouds, leaving behind cascades of scattered water as she cut through the sky.

  As she closed in on the swarm, she didn't slow for an instant. The first wyvern that tried to attack was no match for her. In the blink of an eye, she rolled in the air, evading its giant claws, then delivered a swift strike to its neck. The massive beast tumbled through the air, plummeting to the ground.

  Mirai moved with astonishing speed, as if she were a part of the lightning flashing around her. She weaved through the swarm of beasts, swooping down with precise, fatal strikes, severing wings and claws without hesitation. Despite the overwhelming numbers, she showed no sign of fear or confusion. She was in a battle where the circumstances didn't matter, stronger than any threat.

  The screeches of the beasts rose amidst the thunder as the swarm began to break under Mirai's crushing attacks. Despite the sheer number of wyverns, it was clear that Mirai would end the fight quickly.

  It took Mirai only three minutes to wipe out the entire swarm.

  When she was finished, she descended to where Hikari was standing. "Well," she said, "we're done."

  "Not a single one of them could even get close to you," Hikari said, amazed. "Your speed in the air is unreal. I never knew you could fight in the sky with such skill."

  "Thinking about it," Mirai said, "this is the first time you've seen me use my wings, isn't it?"

  "That's right," Hikari replied.

  "I rarely fight while using my wings because I become an easy target for offensive spells," Mirai explained. "And after losing my long-range attack, I'll only fight with my wings against an opponent that can fly."

  "It's a relief you can defeat flying enemies so easily," Hikari said. "Usually, a mage needs a powerful magic attack to take down a single wyvern. But there's a small problem. If we go back now and word spreads that we defeated a swarm this quickly, people will become suspicious of us."

  Mirai started walking. "Don't worry about that. Let's head back now."

  As they were walking back to the Guild after their successful mission, the sky had calmed a little, but a light rain continued to fall. Suddenly, a strange glow appeared on the horizon before them.

  They noticed a golden glint coming from the sky. The two stopped and watched expectantly. A golden bird suddenly emerged from the thick clouds, shining like the sun amidst the gloom. It was small, but it possessed an immense presence. The bird shot toward them at lightning speed, its golden aura brightly illuminating the path.

  "What is that?" Hikari asked, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the brilliant light.

  Mirai, however, stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock and wonder. That bird... she had seen it before. The moment felt like a forgotten memory returning. In that forest, when she had first awoken after her exile, there had been a bird exactly like this one... shining with the same golden light and possessing the same majestic presence. It couldn't be a coincidence.

  Mirai felt a dangerous aura from the bird; it was dense, making the air around them heavy, just as she had felt in the forest back then. She readied herself to attack, her thoughts racing.

  But, with perfect calm, the bird landed before them, flapping its wings lightly. Without any preamble, the bird spoke in a quiet yet awe-inspiring voice. "Hello, Hikari-san, Mirai-san."

  Hikari was startled that the bird could speak and knew their names. Mirai, however, did not let down her guard. "Who are you?" she asked the bird. "Your spiritual energy is not ordinary. I believe we've met before, haven't we?"

  The bird didn't answer immediately. It turned slightly and flapped its wings slowly, and the world around them seemed to shift. The sky began to move unnaturally, the dark clouds growing denser. Then it said in a voice like a whisper, "My lady is waiting for you."

  It then flapped its wings more powerfully, and a golden halo of light expanded around them, as if space and time were suddenly overlapping. They felt something pulling them from within, and the ground seemed to move beneath their feet.

  "What's happening?" Hikari said, but Mirai had already begun to sense the magic surrounding them. It was a teleportation spell. She realized in that moment that the bird would give them no answers.

  In an instant, they were both swept into a vortex of light, and everything around them vanished.

  In the blink of an eye, they found themselves standing in the courtyard of Aurelia's temple. Everything around them overflowed with ancient energy, the atmosphere saturated with a powerful magical aura.

  Aurelia sat waiting for them quietly behind the small wooden table, a calm smile on her face.

  Before they could catch their breath or even speak, Aurelia raised a hand gently. "Please, sit. Let's have some tea."

  She lifted the teapot calmly and poured tea into two cups for Hikari and Mirai. Then she raised her head and said in a soft voice, "My name is Aurelia. You might know me by the title, the Golden Dragon of Wisdom."

  At that moment, Hikari felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. His eyebrows shot up in astonishment, and he stared at Aurelia as if he couldn't believe it. "What? You're... the one who gave me..." he stammered.

  Unlike Hikari, Mirai was surprised in a different way. She stared at Aurelia for a moment, then furrowed her brow slightly before saying in a tone steeped in bewilderment, "Really? I never expected you to be... a frail old woman. I imagined something... grander. Golden wings, perhaps?"

  A faint smile touched Aurelia's lips, and she chuckled softly. Despite the shock, Hikari couldn't help but smile a little.

  After that light moment, she gestured for them to sit in the chairs across the table. "Please. There are things we must discuss."

  Mirai and Hikari sat down quietly, and a more serious atmosphere began to fill the space. Though the previous moment had been relaxed, Aurelia now seemed much more grave.

  She took a sip of her tea, then said, "I will get straight to the point. Mirai, Hikari. You must stay away from each other."

  Silence filled the room. A look of astonishment crossed Hikari's face. He glanced at Mirai, who sat beside him, but noticed her expression was remarkably calm. Mirai raised an eyebrow slightly, then said in a cool voice, "What do you mean by that, Aurelia?"

  Aurelia set her teacup down gently, then looked at them with gravity. "If you continue on together, it will end in a catastrophe that cannot be avoided."

  Mirai showed no sign of being perturbed. She continued to look at Aurelia with steady eyes. "I assume you're referring to that Eye of the Unknown you possess, is that right?" she said coolly.

  Aurelia nodded. "That's correct. I have seen thousands of paths. They all end with the same result. There is no escape."

  Mirai folded her hands tightly in front of her, as if deep in thought, then asked, "And what is that result?"

  Aurelia took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving Mirai's and Hikari's faces. Then she said slowly, "In every path where you two stayed together... it ends with you, Mirai... killing Hikari."

  Mirai felt a slight jolt, but her expression remained composed. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to process the words, then opened them and said in a steady voice, devoid of any confusion, "That is something I will not allow to happen."

  Hikari, who had been watching in silence, looked at Aurelia and asked, "Excuse me, Aurelia-sama, do you have the ability to see the future?"

  "Yes," Aurelia replied succinctly.

  Mirai looked up, then turned to Hikari. "Have you ever heard of the Eye of the Unknown?"

  Hikari shook his head. Mirai began to explain in a low but clear voice, "The Eye of the Unknown... it's an extremely rare ability. The person who possesses it doesn't see their own future, but glimpses of the future of the world around them. They aren't clear visions, but more like scattered pieces of a large puzzle; just fragmented scenes that may or may not happen."

  She continued, looking seriously at Hikari, "But they are just possibilities, not a fixed destiny. They change constantly with every decision made in the present. The future isn't a single, straight line. Every choice can change the path that follows."

  Hikari leaned forward slightly, his expression growing more intent. "But how do you deal with all those paths? How do you know which one is true?"

  "The paths change every time we make new decisions," Mirai answered calmly. "Each time the ability is used, new paths appear. What is seen is merely a possibility, nothing more." She added, looking thoughtfully at Aurelia, "The person who possesses the Eye of the Unknown can even see the future after their death, but these visions remain possibilities that can change."

  Hikari looked at Aurelia, a mix of curiosity and concern in his eyes. "So that means what you saw, Aurelia, is just a possibility?"

  Aurelia nodded slowly. "I have seen thousands of paths, and they all ended with the same result. This has never happened before. No matter what I tried, no matter the decision, Mirai kills you, Hikari."

  "Can you tell us exactly what you saw?" Hikari asked.

  Aurelia's voice faltered slightly before she said, "The last thing I saw was the death of everyone in this world... except for two people."

  Mirai raised her eyes cautiously and asked, "Was one of them me, Iris, or Neutras?"

  Aurelia shook her head. "No. I saw your individual paths."

  She then fell silent for a moment. A fleeting shadow of a painful memory crossed her calm face, and a slight shiver seemed to run through her despite her composure. Her tone changed slightly to a whisper laden with dread.

  "They were just possibilities... until the moment one of them realized I was watching."

  Hikari and Mirai looked at her, confused.

  Aurelia continued in a low voice, as if reliving a nightmare. "In my last vision, I didn't see a fragmented scene as usual. Instead, I looked directly into their eyes... one of the two who survived at the end of the world. They felt my presence across time."

  She paused, staring at her own white right eye as if feeling a phantom pain. "Their presence reached out from the distant future... and destroyed my eye through the barrier of time itself. They extinguished the light so that I could not see the whole truth."

  A heavy silence fell over the place. Now, Hikari and Mirai understood that the whiteness of her eye wasn't a sign of old age, but a scar from an impossible battle.

  Then Aurelia looked up at them again, a sad calm returning to her voice. "That is why I am certain. There are no more possibilities. The master of the future has closed off all other paths. And worse, I don't know who they are. I couldn't see them. I don't know their gender, their age, their appearance. They were like black shadows."

  Silence reigned for a few moments, then Mirai asked seriously, "And how will everyone die? Something doesn't add up. The Demon King Neutras exists. No one can kill him."

  Aurelia sighed deeply and looked at the teacup before her. "The Demon King Neutras... died yesterday," she said quietly.

  Mirai's eyes widened in shock. "Was it Iris who killed him?" she asked.

  "No," Aurelia answered slowly. "Neutras died of natural causes. His life came to an end."

  "Stop being ridiculous," Mirai said, staring at Aurelia with suspicion. "Neutras isn't even a thousand years old. How could he die naturally? Demons live for thousands of years."

  Aurelia took a sip of her tea and said in a quiet but heavy tone, "That is because Neutras is not a full demon. He is half-demon, half-human."

  Mirai paused, trying to comprehend what was just said. "Neutras... half-human?" she said, bewildered. "How is that possible?"

  Aurelia exchanged a look with Hikari and Mirai, then said softly, her words shattering the silence like glass, "There is more to it than him being half-human. The truth that has been hidden from everyone is that Neutras is the last descendant of the demoness Astra... and the hero Arias."

  When Hikari heard the last name, his eyes widened in utter shock, while Mirai was stunned into complete silence. She sat motionless for a moment, as if unable to process what she had just heard. She took a deep breath, then fixed her sharp eyes on Aurelia and said slowly, as if searching for any flaw in this claim, "What did you say? Neutras... is the grandson of the demoness Astra and the hero Arias? That's impossible. You were there, Aurelia. You saw with your own eyes how they killed each other."

  Hikari, still unable to speak, tried to compose himself, but his words came out jumbled. "Astra... and Arias? But... they killed each other. You yourself brought their heads as proof."

  Aurelia sighed slowly, looking at their faces. "A lot happened... things no one knew about. I will tell you everything that took place, but the truth is more complicated than you can imagine."

  (To be continued.)