Volume 8 Prologue (2/2)

Her surroundings were gradually enveloped in darkness. Noticing that, her fretfulness increased. At night, this was the kind of scenery that was meant to be gazed at from inside, through a window. But now, she was in the middle of it. The light was gone and she had to continue walking alone, in this cold world, without a sc.r.a.p of warmth.

Wasn't there a light to be seen somewhere?

Wasn't there even a single fire lit by human hands flickering somewhere?

As though trying to escape from the night that was looming closer by the minute, she quickened her steps. But she wasn't used to walking such long distances. Although she had confidence in her physical strength, her joints were heavy and she was already panting raggedly.

She felt overwhelmed.

Was she really this helpless, she wondered. A proud heart, a strong-willed gaze, able to throw out her chest and face any kind of difficulty at any time. That was the kind of person she was supposed to be. And yet, as soon as she took a single step away from human dwellings, and as soon as the people who protected her were all gone, she was in this state.

Her headache kept getting worse.

When she became aware of it, she stopped and leaned against a nearby tree. She had intended to start walking again after she had caught her breath a little, but she slowly started sinking down.

Even though there had still been some daylight until a moment ago, in this area of close-growing trees, it was already as dark as night; or perhaps the sun had sunk without her noticing. As though lulled by the darkness, her eyelids involuntarily dropped.

I can't sleep. I can't sleep. I can't go to sleep - she thought, but her body already felt far away. Her legs wouldn't listen to her, exactly as though they belonged to another person; and the unbearable pain in her head was gradually fading into the distance.

In its place, innumerable waves as black as night were creeping into her consciousness. There was no fighting against the exhaustion of both body and mind; finally, her posture collapsed completely, just as her eyelids had done, and she remained unmoving.

Far away, a beast howled again.

The night wind blew as if to spread the darkness in every recess.

Who could say how much time pa.s.sed.

The rustle of footsteps pus.h.i.+ng through the undergrowth approached.

But the figure leaning against the tree didn't stir. She had entirely lost consciousness.

At the same time, at the Dragon G.o.d Shrine in Solon, the imperial capital of Mephius - a woman who was known for being a more pious devotee than anyone else in the palace stood, alone and immobile, before the altar. Her eyes were closed and her head bowed as though she were offering up a prayer.

Empress Melissa Mephius.

Her plump red lips stood out in her lovely face which, in spite of her age, was like a young girl's. Those lips seemed to move into the shape of a smile and, there where no one was, they whispered,

”The hunting dogs have been released.”

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