She was born in a past so distant that even the memory of it had long since faded.
At that time, she had undoubtedly been born blessed.
Praised as the most beautiful being in the world, as the supreme treasure of the earth, as the guardian deity of the islands, countless people celebrated her birth and her very existence.
She herself had been happy.
If her power could shield people from calamity and grant them happiness… then that, too, would bring her happiness. For that purpose, she had been ready to face any hardship.
But one day, her fate changed.
In that era, three brave and mighty warriors and one beautiful girl lived upon the island.
The four of them had been very close… yet at some point, the three men began to fight over the girl.
It started as mere arguments… and then became a struggle to the death.
The conflict did not remain confined to the three of them. It spread to their allies, and eventually even to the surrounding islands, escalating into a war so horrific one could scarcely bear to look at it.
To win that war, the three warriors sought her.
She was said to be a supreme treasure whose power would leave no enemy standing in this world. If they could only obtain her, they believed they could destroy their two rivals and claim the beloved girl for themselves.
The battle over the girl became, in turn, a battle over her.
There was nothing she could do.
She remained nothing but power. She wielded that power to ensure the victory of whoever held her.
Much blood was spilled.
Many lives were lost.
The people mourned, suffered, despaired… and then raged in hatred.
They hated their enemies. They hated the war. They hated the three warriors. And… they hated her.
But sorrow and suffering were hers as well.
She could do nothing but unleash power. Because of that, so many people suffered—the very people she had sworn to protect, the ones she had wanted to save.
Before she realized it, she had closed her heart. She came to seek only victory and power, to give only what was demanded of her.
It no longer mattered who wielded her strength or for what purpose. She simply became their might, strengthened their will, fed their hunger for power, and ensured their triumph in battle. She did nothing else.
If the fighting continued, it would engulf countless islands and bring everything to ruin—all because of the war that had begun over her.
Realizing this, the girl relinquished her own life.
The war ended.
The three warriors deeply repented their foolishness and swore never to wage war again.
But she… was left behind in the new era that followed.
Having sealed her heart amid the chaos of battle, having become a being that granted power and craving to whoever held her—she, who had once grieved and suffered, was now branded fallen, cursed. The people recoiled from her in disgust… and at last, they sealed her away.
So that no one would ever again lay hands upon that forbidden, malevolent power, they locked her within a dark, cold stone coffin, where no one else would ever be.
Years passed. Decades. Centuries… perhaps far longer still.
Her heart, abandoned amid that brutal war, wandered alone through that long, grinding stretch of time, worn thin by solitude.
…By the time she no longer knew how much time had passed.
Then, one day, her sealed consciousness stirred faintly.
Someone had taken her into their hands.
That alone was nothing remarkable.
Over the long years, such things had happened several times. And each time, without thought or hesitation, her power had been wielded—bringing yet more tragedy into the world.
But this time, the one who touched her… rejected her power, pushing it away.
And then, that person carried her off.
Not back to the dark coffin where she had once lain. Not to a battlefield where blood and death filled the air.
They took her somewhere she had long forgotten… a place of hope, happiness, and smiles.
From time to time, that person would pick her up and gently tend to her, adjusting her form with care.
More than that… that person seemed, somehow—though perhaps no more than imagination—to sense her past and the feelings hidden within her heart.
And yet, at the same time… they never once wielded her power, nor even sought it.
They did nothing with her. Used her for nothing. They simply kept her by their side and carried her with them.
For someone who had endured endless ages in darkness, it might have been only a brief span of time.
Even so… within that quiet, uneventful peace, she was gradually saved.
Just having someone by your side—could it truly be this warm?
Was it really this comforting to watch peaceful lives and the happy faces of others?
She opened the eyes she had once kept closed. She unblocked the ears she had sealed. Within the soft haze of half-dreaming awareness, she began to gaze upon the world that person showed her… and to enjoy it alongside them.
Unfortunately, life was not made of peace and joy alone.
There were times when that person—or someone dear to them—had to step onto the battlefield.
They were hurt. They shed tears.
And in those moments, she hated that she could do nothing but watch.
Use my power. Let me help you.
You may not even intend it. You may not even be aware.
But you restored my heart. This time, I want to be your strength.
Her voice never reached them… and that was what tormented her most.
Still, she did not give up.
That moment would come. It would, surely. Somehow, she knew.
…Of course, the best outcome would be if that moment never arrived.
If that person ever sought her power, it would mean they had been driven into a desperate, unbearable crisis.
She did not wish for such a day to come. She wanted her benefactor—and all those around them—to remain happy forever.
Watching them sleep peacefully, surrounded by their three daughters, she thought so.
But if that day should ever come.
If they were cornered beyond all hope, and at last turned to her for help—
Then she would offer every ounce of power dwelling within her.
They said she possessed strength capable of conquering the world… the divine power of the Gods of the Asuka Seven Stars shining within her. She would wield it with all her might to obliterate their enemies.
With that quiet resolve, she drifted back into sleep.
☆☆☆
"…What was that just now?"
When I opened my eyes, the usual sight greeted me. I was in bed, with Alice and Suzu curled up on either side.
Leona… had fallen off the bed again today. Lately it's about half and half. Sometimes she manages to stay put, but… yeah, her sleeping habits are terrible.
Still… why did I wake up so early? It's still dark outside.
The reason is—
'Man, that was a weird dream…'
…I experienced the whole "someone appearing at your pillow in a dream" thing.
It's not the first time something like that has happened.
When my homeland village was burned down and I lost my adoptive parents… aboard the Kuja ship, I dreamed of them again and again.
The next morning, my pillow would be soaked with tears.
When my second homeland was destroyed and I was abducted, I kept dreaming in my prison cell of the islanders I had grown close to.
But this time…
"…I don't recognize her."
The one who appeared in my dream was a small girl.
She had long, bright green hair… a gentle, quiet-looking, adorable girl. She wore what seemed like traditional folk clothing and carried a fragile air about her.
But no matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn't recall ever meeting her.
There was something strange about her… almost mystical. The impression she left was surprisingly strong. Even though it was only a dream, the memory remained vivid.
…If I'd actually met someone like that, I should remember, right? No—what does it even mean to dream about someone I can't remember? That's kind of creepy.
…Still, I didn't sense any ill will from her. If anything, it felt like she held some kind of goodwill toward me.
She probably isn't anything bad. Probably. Definitely.
…Whatever. I'll remember eventually.
Time to sleep.
To be continued...