408 The Winged Folk (1/2)

She woke from her dream. Opening her eyes, she saw the flame. In the sacred hall, the Sacred Flame was still lit. It shone in all directions. Majestic music theory burst behind her. The Sacred Flame flowed like large wings of fire. It created a gust of wind in the hall.

The light that passed through the material and aether world flowed. Countless hallucinations flowed as well. In the fleeting moment, mysterious scenes flashed by. Some were powerful and beautiful; others were dark and cold… The world joined inside the flame and became real. This seemed to be the true nature and expression of aether. Thus, she was reborn.

She did not feel any joy from being reborn. Instead, she looked up at the beautiful ceiling in silence. After a long while, she looked back and said quietly, ”Caligula, I had a long dream.”

The old and withered man leaned on his cane and studied her. He smiled pleasantly. ”Was it a good dream?”

”It was very long. I don't remember.” She thought back and her eyes brightened. ”But I remember that someone came back to find me and I was not scared anymore.”

”That is a good dream.” Caligula nodded. ”When you become old, you'll think that in this world, you're apart more than you're together. The moments without loneliness are like dreams. But there are no regrets if you can have a dream like this.”

”I see…” She nodded and asked, ”Will I see him again?”

”He has left,” Caligula answered. ”He has probably already found somewhere he needed to return to, just like you. From now on, fate will care for him.”

”So I can't see him again?” she asked. ”I want to see him.”

Caligula fell silent. The light in her eyes faded.

”You are the descendant of Romulus, the child of the powerful god.” Caligula lowered his head and urged humbly, ”You sacrificed yourself and became the host of the Flame. After being reborn with the enlightenment, you will be the emperor of the empire, the Augustus of utmost power… You are not the same as before.”

”So I can't have friends?”

”Your Majesty, you are the emperor. You can have as many friends as you wish.”

”But those aren't my friends, Caligula.” She shook her head. ”I'm the emperor. They will all fear me.”

The old man studied her and wanted to say something but stopped himself. His eyes grew sad.

”I don't understand but an emperor should be like this, right?” Seeing Caligula's sadness, she smiled. ”I'll try to get used to it. Don't worry, Caligula. There is someone in my heart so I won't be afraid no matter what.”

After a long while, Caligula lowered his head. His expression was pleased yet troubled. ”Your Majesty, you've grown up.”