[The Veil of Time]
Once again, Libinea harnessed her Time Magic to propel herself forward. Yet, through the blur of history, her focus narrowed solely on a recurring event over the next century.
The Phoenix Festival.
Part of her wished for this chapter of her history to conclude swiftly, while another part couldn't fully relinquish it.
What once symbolized joyful celebration—a time to honor the year's accomplishments and unity—had transformed into something entirely different.
It is often said that a single pebble can disturb the calm of a still lake.
However, to describe the upheaval inflicted by the Divine Realm on the Phoenix Tribe, a mere pebble would be insufficient. It was a divine spear piercing the ocean floor.
The resulting waves reverberated everywhere. But the one truly engulfed by them... was Libinea.
Year after year, as she sat listening to their pleas, the prayers she once yearned for became her primary source of torment.
"They say..." Present-Libinea murmured, floating among the clouds, gazing down at her past self, who remained motionless in the Queen's Shrine, bearing the weight of her people's hopes. "...that the difference between loneliness and solitude is that one anticipates the future, while the other remains ensnared in the past."
Raiking observed her. He recognized the sorrow in her eyes. Even though she was now surrounded by a new family that cherished her—a Spirit Sword ready to sacrifice for her, a child who adored her, and a Master who had reshaped the world for her—a part of her essence was still trapped in that shrine.
Libinea, overwhelmed by her own helplessness, raised her fan. She was poised to sweep it through the air, eager to hasten through the ages of suffering.
---
[Time Stood Still]
As Raiking watched the golden glow of Time Magic forming around her fan, his thoughts wandered back.
He had traveled a long, arduous road before entering the Void. Along the way, he had encountered kings, beggars, saints, and sinners. Each had their own history, their own obstacles to overcome.
If there was one universal truth he had discovered, it was this: There is no simple way to conquer the demons that lurk behind you.
The longer they whisper in your ear, the more they erode your spirit until you can no longer distinguish your own voice from theirs.
In watching Libinea, he understood that her demon wasn't the Divine Realm or the General.
Her demon was Expectation.
She was the go-between, the sole conduit to Nirvana. At first, the burden was light—a childless woman imploring for a child, a sick mother hoping for a cure. She answered these pleas, Nirvana fulfilled their wishes, and she felt whole.
But then, the prayers shifted. They grew burdensome. They grew impossible.
"My husband was killed by the Divine Hunters... please, Queen Mother, make an exception. Allow him into the pool of reincarnation."
"My daughter left to get medicine and never came back... please let her return."
"My brother perished defending us... does he not deserve to return?"
And Libinea? She could only sit on the other side of the window. Listening. Sky dancing. Continuing to place her faith in Nirvana.
Until she couldn't anymore.
Determined to take matters into her own hands, she ultimately sought vengeance against the Divine Realm. Yet, there was one more challenge she needed to confront if she truly wished not only to embrace the present but also to shape her future.
---
[Time Resumed]
Whoosh.
The sound of the wind faded as Raiking materialized beside Libinea, just as she was on the verge of completing her spell. He placed his hand over hers, halting her actions, and she turned to him in surprise.
He offered no explanation. Instead, the space surrounding them warped, transforming the frigid, stagnant air of memory into the fresh, invigorating breeze of the current night.
They were no longer in the Veil. They stood resolutely on the rooftop of the Queen's Shrine.
Libinea blinked, disoriented by the sudden shift from the oppressive past to the open air.
"Why are we..." Libinea began, looking around in confusion. "Why are we back here?"
"Your demons do not dwell in the past, Libinea; they are here, in the present."
Raiking declared, sweeping his arm across the sky. The clouds gathered over the village vanished instantly, unveiling a tapestry of stars so radiant it seemed as if the galaxy had descended to greet them.
He then began to ascend into the air, pulling her with him until they hovered directly above the village center.
Meanwhile, below them, The Phoenix Kin, who were completing the festival decorations, tilted their heads upward, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Is that...?" one of the kin murmured, squinting against the moonlight.
"The Queen?" another responded, pointing with a trembling finger.
"Look! To the sky!"
More and more people paused their tasks. The whispers grew into a chorus of awe.
Raiking met her gaze, noticing the hesitation in her posture.
"You are no longer that powerless girl, Libinea," Raiking said, his voice low and firm, meant only for her. "Nor do you need to place a barrier between yourself and your people ever again."
He released her hand.
She remained afloat, unsupported, her robes fluttering in the wind.
"Show them you are not the broken little phoenix who clung to my shoulder in the Void," Raiking urged her, stepping back into the shadows. "Show them that whether it is the Divine Realm or the Skyward Region... no one can prevent you from protecting them."
Libinea gazed downward.
She observed the faces of her people, noticing their anticipation and the profound sorrow that seemed to penetrate her very soul.
Yet, amidst that despair, there was one emotion they could not conceal:
hope.
Even now, she reflected, her heart swelling with emotion. Despite my absence, despite my silence, they still look to the sky for strength.
At that moment, she grasped Raiking's true intent. The sadness in her eyes melted away, replaced by a fierce, golden determination.
This was not a time to dwell on the ghosts of the past. It was time to prove that the decision she made a millennium ago—to leave, to endure suffering, and to train in the Void—had been the right one.
She tightened her grip on her fan, the pressure she exerted causing the wind to swirl violently around her, making her robes dance.
It wasn't merely about salvaging pride. It was time to demonstrate to the entire continent—the Divine Realm above, the Dragon King below, and every predator in between—that the Phoenix Kin were no longer prey to be hunted.
She lifted her gaze to the dark sky that she was about to ignite.
"You are right, Raiking," she whispered, her mana beginning to resonate around her like a rising storm.
It was time to make amends... for the time lost.