Vercurius gently patted Nujah's head with a soft smile.
"Do not be afraid… because your other sister, Mabaka, has come to visit in person."
At that moment, shadows laced with light swirled around them. A delicate melody rose—like unseen hands plucking violin strings, carried by the wind as if the very souls of the air were singing.
From the ship that loomed above the sky, a figure of fox-like beauty leapt. She descended like a dancer with an unseen parasol, twirling gracefully, her movements in rhythm with the rising music. With every step closer, the melody grew louder, the notes filling the air and making their hearts tremble.
When her feet finally touched the ground, the shadows burst into stars for a brief instant, shimmering with light.
Nujah and Vercurius clapped eagerly. As the music faded, Nujah exclaimed:
"That was an amazing dance performance!"
Mabaka bowed theatrically, her eyes gleaming with playfulness.
"Thank you, sweet little brother! Together we'll make it even better—if you agree to be my mascot, of course!"
Vercurius's expression hardened. "That will not happen, Mabaka," she said firmly.
But Mabaka ignored her, stepping close to Nujah. She began playfully tugging at his cheeks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Looking at Vercurius, she teased:
"Isn't he adorable? I'm certain the whole realm would love to see him by my side."
Then she tilted her head toward Nujah, smiling sweetly. "Wouldn't they?"
Nujah let out a sharp cry, his voice high and thin:
"Please—let go of me!"
Mabaka only laughed and continued teasing him, her hands tugging more insistently. Nujah struggled to speak through the muffled sound:
"Ver…curiu…s! Hel…p meeee!"
The moment she heard him, Vercurius rushed forward, pulling his sister away.
Nujah straightened himself and quickly smoothed his clothes, his voice steady but faint.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Mabaka pouted, her energy suddenly dipping.
"But I wanted to play more…"
Nujah shook his head gently. His tone turned calm but serious:
"I truly appreciate your affection… but everything has its limit. And mine is not as high as you may think."
He lowered his head, his voice resonating with newfound resolve:
"My name is Nujah. Chosen by Naraka as the new human Shinrei. Even if I was not born as a pure Shinrei, I still hope you will accept me."
Both Mabaka and Vercurius suddenly burst into laughter. Nujah's face turned crimson, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Vercurius spoke softly, reassuringly:
"We don't judge by such things. We look only at the sha within you—the light of your soul core."
Mabaka leaned in, her smile shifting to something almost reverent:
"And that light… it shines far brighter than in most beings we have ever seen. More importantly, our Mother has already accepted you—she even chose you herself. Remember, she has rejected some of the most elite warriors. Yet her faith in you is boundless."
Nujah's face flushed even deeper. "I… I…" he stammered, but his words broke off. The weight of the moment, mixed with his embarrassment and stress, overwhelmed him.
He collapsed to the ground, fainting.
When Nujah opened his eyes, he found himself curled up at Mabaka's feet like a small child.
Mabaka laughed brightly.
"You're the first one to fall so quickly before my beauty, little brother," she teased.
From the side, Vercurius, playing idly with Vercuri, responded with a smirk:
"Don't listen to her. The moment you fell, she rushed to your side asking, 'Are you hurt?' You should've seen her—she was shouting, 'Are you okay? Please wake up!'"
Mabaka's face flushed red, her voice both soft and sharp.
"Hey, that's enough!" she snapped, though Vercurius only laughed harder.
Hiding her face behind her fan, Mabaka tried to compose herself. Nujah smiled gently.
"No matter how much I thank you, it won't be enough. I'd better stand before I cause more trouble," he said, attempting to rise.
But Mabaka's voice cut through the air—soothing yet chilling all at once:
"Stop moving."
At her command, Nujah's body froze completely. His connection to his own limbs vanished, and he collapsed, unable even to open his mouth.
Vercurius frowned.
"Don't you think you're overdoing it?"
Calmly, Mabaka replied,
"Didn't Maria tell us that? He hasn't fully shed his human body yet. He needs to rest."
Vercurius shook her head.
"Yes, but not by force. At least let him speak."
Mabaka blinked, then nodded.
"Ah… you're right. I didn't think of that." She lowered her fan, turned to Nujah, and said in the same unnerving tone:
"You may open your mouth now."
Struggling, Nujah whispered, "Stop… please… this is unbearable."
Mabaka leaned closer.
"You cannot rise until you've fully rested. But I promise, once it's over, your body will belong to you completely again."
Nujah forced out a breath.
"I promise I won't get up. Just let my body go."
Mabaka smiled faintly.
"Very well. Control is yours again."
Breathing deeply, Nujah asked,
"How long will I have to stay like this?"
Before Mabaka could answer, Vercurius interjected firmly:
"Our sister was here just a moment ago Mabaka—how could you already forget?"
Then she added evenly,
"A few more hours."
Nujah groaned in dismay.
"So I'll be stuck like this until then?"
Mabaka laughed.
"Yes—but don't worry. As long as you don't strain yourself, the weakness and fainting caused by stress will fade away. You'll be like the others soon enough."
After a pause, Vercurius's voice softened.
"Shall we tell you a story to pass the time?"
"Yes, please," Nujah answered eagerly.
Mabaka tilted her head.
"What do you want to know most, little brother?"
Without hesitation, Nujah asked,
"This place we're standing on… this is Shiora, isn't it?"
Vercurius nodded.
"Correct… but not entirely. Let Mabaka explain."
Mabaka raised her finger. Lights swirled together into a sphere, which then split into three parts: yellow, white, and black.
"This is Shiora. A single sphere, yet divided into three realms: Light, Void, and Darkness. We don't even know every detail ourselves—only the Firstborn Spirit, Valuva, knows the full truth."
Nujah's eyes widened.
"The woman who rules the Void?"
"Yes," Mabaka confirmed. "She's harsh—even toward our mother. But she has a soft spot for Vercurius, perhaps because he resembles her son, Death."
"Wait—Death is really her child?" Nujah gasped, glancing at Vercurius.
Vercurius shook her head gently.
"Not entirely… but not entirely untrue either. He was born of her bloodline, yet Valuva holds no allegiance to light or darkness—she is a being unto herself. Death, on the other hand, was born carrying both light and darkness within him. That's why his nature and his power are so different. Still, that bond between them never changed. For all her sternness, inside… she is much like our mother."
Nujah nodded slowly.
"She was supposed to come, but something must have delayed her. Do you know what happened?"
Mabaka sighed.
"This is the first I'm hearing of it."
"I don't know either," Vercurius admitted.
Just then, Naraka appeared beside them.
"What are you three doing here?" she asked suddenly, startling Mabaka and Nujah.
With a faint smile, Naraka added:
"I'm glad to see you enjoying yourselves. But I need to take Nujah now—his guest has arrived."
Mabaka's curiosity lit up.
"May we ask who it is?"
"Valuva," Naraka replied simply. "She came to speak with Nujah alone. Don't get too excited."
Mabaka pouted.
"I want to come too…"
"That won't be possible," Naraka said firmly. She scooped Nujah up and added, "Come, we must go."
Nujah looked back over her shoulder.
"I hope we can play again soon. Goodbye for now."
Mabaka laughed and called out:
"Show her who you are!"
Vercurius smiled reassuringly.
"Don't be afraid. No matter how frightening she appears, she is kind. We'll see you tomorrow."
In an instant, Naraka and Nujah stood before the grand throne room doors. Naraka set him gently down, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you steady?" she asked.
"I am," Nujah answered softly. "But to say I'm not nervous… that would be a lie."
Looking deep into his eyes, Naraka spoke gravely:
"To be honest, she wishes to speak with you alone about a matter that concerns everyone."
Nujah inhaled sharply.
"You shouldn't have told me that… now my head feels like it's spinning, though it isn't. This is unbearable."
Naraka wrapped her arms around him.
"No matter what she says, remember—we are here. You will overcome every trial. I'll be just behind this door."
Nujah said it loudly and seriously.
"Understood, Mother. I'll prove myself. You don't need to worry."
"Then prove it, my son," Naraka said with a small smile. With a snap of her fingers, the doors opened.
Inside, there was neither light nor darkness—only emptiness. A silent void stretched endlessly.
From within came a thin, ethereal voice:
"Enter."
Though fear gripped him, Nujah felt Naraka's steadying hand on his shoulder. He took his first step forward, crossing into the void.
When Nujah first stepped into the void, he had no idea where to go. In the endless darkness, there was no sense of direction. Yet suddenly, steps appeared beneath his feet. With every movement forward, it felt as though the void itself was shaping to his will.
Moments later, the darkness trembled. Layers cracked and scattered. Before Nujah's eyes, the infinite emptiness gave way to a small yet strangely serene room.
The windows showed nothing but whiteness; odd shapes stretched upward, like meaningless patterns or toy-duck costumes. At the center stood a simple, ordinary table. But the woman seated at its head… was anything but ordinary.
She narrowed her eyes and spoke:
"Stop looking around like a curious cat. Let's talk."
Nujah, startled and tense, stammered:
"So… how should I address you? Sister Valuva? Aunt? Grandmother?"
Valuva's expression hardened instantly.
"Queen," she said sharply. "For now, that will do."
Nujah quickly apologized, trembling as he sat down.
"What did you wish to speak with me about, my Queen?"
Valuva fixed her gaze on him.
"Do you like this place?"
Nujah nodded. "Of course… why do you ask?"
"Because the power and responsibility you've been given are far greater than you realize. You are still just a child."
Nujah clenched his teeth.
"My Queen, forgive me—but before I died, I saved an entire city from starvation and slavery. Even if I don't remember which city, that is still something important."
Valuva rolled her eyes. "Yes, that was you. But that's not the point right now." She leaned forward.
"What do you intend to do? Stay here forever, only to 'develop' yourself?"
Nujah's reply was firm.
"Whatever our Mother says, we obey. That is the way of things."
Valuva's tone turned icy.
"I despise that behavior of yours. Blind loyalty… there is something deeply wrong here. Do you even know what it is?"
A memory struck Nujah. "The venomous snake in my room… it tried to kill me. Yes, I know. But Mother said she would fix it. So it's fine."
Valuva leaned closer.
"The problem will come from there."
Nujah shot to his feet. "Watch your words! Say whatever you want to me, but never speak of my Mother that way!"
Valuva drew in a long breath, her eyes burning like twin black suns piercing through the void.
"I will not drag this out. There is only one truth you must understand: as long as you remain here… one of you will die. And not merely die—your soul will be erased, as if it never existed."
She opened her hand, and the void itself twisted with a scream. From its depths, a crystal emerged—the VA Stone. Neither light nor darkness clung to it. It was the trembling gulf between existence and nothingness, pulsing like the heartbeat of time itself.
"Touch it," Valuva commanded, her voice both a whisper and a thunderclap.
Nujah, caught between terror and awe, reached out. The moment his fingers brushed the stone, his sight collapsed into darkness.
He saw a hundred deaths at once—cities consumed by fire, souls torn apart in the abyss, laughter smothered into silence. Not only bodies, but memories too… gone. As though they had never been born, leaving no trace behind.
Nujah tried to scream, but even his voice was stolen. The stone was drinking his very existence, dragging him into nothingness.
Then Valuva snapped her fingers. The visions shattered like glass, and the void returned to the pale emptiness of the room.
With a cold smile, she whispered,
"This… this is the fate of absolute erasure. The truth hanging above you and your Mother alike."
Nujah's eyes widened. "What does that mean?"
"I control both void and time. Looking into the future is forbidden… but in grave matters, I bend the rules." Her eyes gleamed.
"You were meant to die that day. Your soul was supposed to pass into heaven. But Naraka stopped it."
Nujah whispered: "Why?"
Valuva hesitated.
"It is not mine to explain fully. But this much I will tell you: your Mother, Naraka, was once human. She loved, she grieved, she hated. And she became one of the reasons the greatest war in this universe was won. That is why the Light entrusted her with the Stone."
Nujah's voice trembled.
"Wait… the Light has a will of its own? Are you saying Mother forced me here? What do you mean?"
Valuva steadied herself.
"Listen, child. When Naraka first ascended, she was not this strong. She was human—fragile. Her death was horrific, and in the endless void, she nearly faded away. I came to her. I lifted her up. Because she was afraid—alone."
"And then?" Nujah pressed.
"Then, to protect herself, she created her own children. With the power and resilience the Light gave her, she bound them to her life."
Nujah closed his eyes.
"Stop. Answer just one thing. No lies."
Valuva inclined her head. "Ask."
"Today… does my Mother love her children more than her own life? Is that true or false?"
Valuva shut her eyes. "True."
Nujah fell silent, lips trembling.
"Then… who cares who I am?"
Suddenly, a piercing pain struck his head. He collapsed to the ground, writhing as visions surged. In the haze, he saw himself as a child—beaten, broken, his body trembling under the cruelty of those who should have been his family.
And then… a golden butterfly descended. It settled gently on his chest, its wings glowing with warmth. With every fragile beat, the agony dulled, as if the pain itself were being drawn out of him.
It was not the first time—he had seen this butterfly many times before, always appearing when the pain threatened to consume him.
Even within the vision, Nujah felt it—someone watching, protecting, refusing to let him shatter completely.
Naraka. She had been there, all along.
At once, Valuva raised her hands, shattering the vision and forcing him awake.
Gasping for breath, Nujah said:
"The past doesn't matter. Even if she created us for protection, the past doesn't bind us. Naraka asked me once: 'If your siblings could live happily without you, what would you say?' And I answered: 'My parents were worthless, killers even. What good is heaven alone? But if I can save innocent souls—if I can ensure my siblings live safe and joyful tomorrow, the next day, and every day—that is the highest honor. And that is what must be done.'"
Nujah lifted his head, eyes burning with resolve.
"So maybe you see us as our Mother's puppets. Maybe you think she was weak once. But even if that's true, if I have even a sliver of a chance to help her, I will. I'll stay by her side. I won't abandon her like others might. My siblings love our Mother more than their own lives—and she loves us the same. That is the only truth that matters. This discussion is over."
Valuva stared, momentarily speechless.
Then, after a pause, she said coldly:
"Even if we close this subject, one truth remains. Within the Time Sphere, one of you will die. With your soul erased—never to be reborn. Does that not terrify you?"
Nujah clenched his fists.
"If I still stand today, it is because of my Mother. She did not sit idly in her throne like you, waiting in emptiness. She fought when the universe itself was collapsing. As terrifying as this may be… it isn't my choice to make. Only she can send me away. And the only one who decides whether I stay or go—is her."
He drew a deep breath, turned his back.
"I'm leaving now. Hopefully, we won't meet again for a long time."
As he walked away, Valuva's furious voice thundered:
"This is not over, Shinrei!"
But then Naraka's voice rang out, drowning everything in radiant light:
"It is over."
In an instant, the entire void flooded with brilliance. From within the light, a cord reached out, seizing Nujah's arm and pulling him free.
Moments later, Naraka emerged with him at the door. She closed it firmly behind them, then pulled Nujah into a tight embrace.