[Edge of the Skyward Region]
Three hours passed, and the scenery underwent a striking transformation.
The boundary of the Skyward Region wasn't defined by a wall or a magical barrier; it was a natural stronghold.
Five towering mountains stood side by side, their peaks piercing the clouds. Their slopes were cloaked in ancient, lush forests, with trees so colossal that from this elevation, they resembled mere patches of moss.
At the summit of each mountain, a massive banner flapped in the high-altitude winds, each one symbolizing one of the Five Phoenix Tribes.
The central peak bore the tallest flag: a crimson banner adorned with a single feather streaked with Royal Azure.
This was the emblem of the Queen's Tribe.
"It is beautiful..." Ezmelral commented.
She wasn't just sight-seeing; she was multitasking. Her arms were moving in a fluid, hypnotic rhythm as she executed the "Heavenly Cradle Technique"—a martial art she had learned from Nanny Martha, which the Sect regarded as a profound skill—to soothe the slumbering Faye. Her movements were precise, ensuring the baby remained undisturbed by even the slightest turbulence.
BOOM.
A fiery streak had ascended from the eastern peak, bursting high in the sky and scattering golden sparks visible for miles.
"They know we are here," Libinea announced, her telepathic voice tinged with tension.
It was a standard perimeter protocol, one she recalled studying as a youngling. Each year, the Five Tribes took turns safeguarding the border, and among their responsibilities was manning the Watchtowers.
"We must land," Libinea declared.
She tilted her wings, gliding toward a plateau at the base of the central mountain.
Below, chaos had already erupted. A squad of Phoenix Warriors patrolling the perimeter noticed the enormous shadow blocking the sun. They formed up, hands aglow with conjured fireballs aimed directly at the descending creature.
Libinea landed with a resounding thud, her talons digging deep into the earth. The force of her landing slightly extinguished the nearby guards' Fireballs and sent clouds of dust swirling into the air.
She folded her immense wings, deliberately revealing the distinctive Royal Azure markings on her crest.
The guards froze. They refrained from attacking, their fireball-wielding hands lowering slowly as they murmured in disbelief among themselves.
"See? I told you," one guard remarked to his captain. "The crest... it matches the Queen's lineage."
"How is that possible?" the captain whispered, gazing up at the magnificent creature. "The Queen... wasn't she supposed to be dead?"
"We will uncover the truth behind this," a seasoned soldier murmured, gripping his spear as he advanced carefully. "Stay vigilant. It could be an illusion."
Their caution didn't last long.
Flames swirled around the giant bird, shrinking and condensing until they revealed a human silhouette. Libinea stepped out of the fading embers. The sight caused the captain's eyes to widen, instantly recalling the portrait she had seen in the Main Hall.
"Queen Libinea!"
The captain proclaimed the name with awe, bowing deeply. The other patrollers immediately followed suit, dropping to one knee.
Libinea said nothing. She simply walked past them toward the mountain path, her stride regal and unbothered.
Raiking followed close behind.
As the God of Death—an entity with an unparalleled understanding of the soul—when he passed the kneeling Phoenix Warriors, he sensed the emotions emanating from them.
The Captain felt elated. The young guard was bewildered. The seasoned warrior was disgruntled.
The moment the seasoned warrior looked up and met Raiking's void-like gaze, reality fractured.
He instantly felt as if he were sinking into a deep, freezing pool. Strange visions plagued his mind; he found himself in a village amidst a battle, unable to move as he lay in a pool of his own blood, surrounded by eldritch entities described only in the forbidden texts of the Great Era.
As the visions faded, he collapsed onto his hands and knees, sweat pouring down his face as he struggled to catch his breath.
"What's the matter, Illino?" the captain asked, quickly assessing his condition.
"N-nothing, I just saw something... strange."
"Let me help you up," she said, lifting him to his feet.
"Thank you."
Once he managed to stand, Illino wiped his forehead, his heart still racing. He observed the entourage escorting the Phoenix Queen, who was already vanishing into the forest's depths.
His eyes narrowed with determination. He gestured to a scout concealed among the trees, who immediately sprang to his side.
"What are your instructions?"
"Alert the other Chieftains," Illino whispered ominously.
The scout acknowledged the command and dissolved into a flurry of ash and sparks, rapidly moving toward the distant peaks.
---
[One Hour Later]
As they made their way to the mountain's summit, Faye regained consciousness. To attend to her needs, the group decided to pause briefly by a crystal-clear lake.
However, something unusual was happening at the water's edge.
"Gaga!"
The fish in the water were captivated by Faye. As she crawled to the left, they moved in perfect sync with her, and when she shifted to the right, they mirrored her movements flawlessly. When she halted, they paused too, hovering in the water like disciplined soldiers awaiting orders from their general.
While Faye orchestrated her own aquatic army, with Ezmelral acting as her vigilant bodyguard, Raiking stood nearby with Libinea, who was seated on a large stump, deep in meditation.
Completing her cultivation, Libinea opened her eyes to the peculiar sight of Faye's fishy followers. The fish were not just following her; they were jumping out of the water to lay at her feet, gasping for air, willing to die just to be closer to her.
"Is that Mind Control?" Libinea asked, her brow furrowed. "Or perhaps a Beast Taming art? I have never seen nature behave this way."
"It is neither," Raiking replied, his eyes fixed on his daughter. "To understand her, you must understand the Trinity of Existence."
He picked up a smooth stone from the shore.
"There are three absolute forces that govern the cosmos. The first is Genesis—The Mother. She could create this stone from nothingness. She paints the canvas of reality. But..." He turned the stone over. "...she cannot change what she has made. A stone is a stone. A fish is a fish. Her power is absolute, but rigid."
Raiking then held out his other hand. The space above his palm distorted, turning pitch black.
"The second is Entropy—Me. I do not create, and I cannot alter. I define the end. I provide the borders of the canvas. I can turn this stone to dust, returning it to the Void."
He crushed the stone. Dust slipped through his fingers.
"And then... there is the third. The force that bridges the Beginning and the End. Sovereignty."
He pointed at Faye. She wasn't using mana. She wasn't casting a spell. She was simply looking at the water, and the water was rising up into a pillar because it wanted to please her.
"Faye cannot create a fish from nothing," Raiking whispered. "And she cannot erase a fish from existence. But she can tell a fish to fly, and it will sprout wings."
Libinea watched in awe as the water pillar twisted into the shape of a bunny, holding its form against gravity.
"So nature obeys her?"
"No," Raiking corrected. "Nature Worships her. It recognizes its Ruler. The Mother provides the clay, I provide the kiln, but Faye... she sculpts the shape."
He walked over to scoop Faye up, breaking her concentration. The water pillar instantly collapsed back into a splash, and the fish scattered, their "god" having left the vicinity.
"Without Creation, she has nothing to rule. Without her, Creation is stagnant. And without me..." Raiking wiped a smudge of mud off Faye's cheek. "...there is no consequence to any of it."
"They are balanced," Libinea realized.
"Ideally," Raiking muttered, bouncing the giggling baby. "But right now, her 'Worship' radius is small. Let us hope she doesn't realize she can command the tectonic plates to clap their hands if she gets bored."