Aurora rode her steed through the apocalyptic ruins of Namvie, her divine mount galloping at a speed that rivalled the Armatus in flight. The sound barrier shattered in their wake, yet the steed’s arcane energy shielded her from the abrasive winds.

  The ride was so smooth that Cartier flopped against Aurora’s arm, sleeping soundly.

  High above the desolate ground, dawn broke, casting light that made the path ahead clearer.

  "It’s been an hour or so... how did the damage extend this far?" Aurora mused as she gazed at the ruins before her. They had travelled 400 kilometres and still had not left the devastation behind.

  "You stupid fox, all of this for nothing," she muttered, wiggling her foot experimentally. A slight soreness lingered, but the pain was gone. She glanced at her arc armour — its cracks were so fine they were nearly invisible to the naked eye.

  "It’s been four hours since I killed her clone," she noted in her mind, keeping track of time.

  At last, they reached the edge of the ruins, greeted by the sight of green for the first time.

  "Ummm... are we there yet?" Cartier asked, rubbing her drowsy eyes.

  "I don’t know... but we’re out of the blast zone," Aurora replied, slowing her steed to a halt. It whickered gently in response to her command.

  "Wow! I’ve never seen so many trees before!" Cartier exclaimed, her eyes glittering with awe.

  As the steed’s protective barrier dissipated, fresh, crisp air brushed against their skin and filled their lungs.

  Aurora inhaled deeply, closing her eyes to savour the moment.

  Cartier, meanwhile, scanned the scenery. She spotted animals and birds moving about. It was so peaceful.

  Then, to her left, she noticed a river a couple of kilometres away. "Look, Sister Aurora! A river!" she pointed excitedly.

  "I’m thirsty too," Aurora said, urging her steed toward the riverbank.

  The gushing stream filled the air with its gentle hum. The shallow river was about five metres wide. Aurora dismounted and helped Cartier down. The girl ran joyfully to the water, giggling as she went.

  Cartier crouched to inspect the pristine water. The white gravel on the riverbed gleamed beneath the surface, and fish darted around in hypnotic patterns.

  "A fish!?" Cartier gasped, utterly absorbed in her discovery.

  "Is this your first time outside the city or something?" Aurora asked, crouching beside her.

  "How did you know? My parents are—" Cartier paused, the weight of reality crashing down on her.

  They were gone.

  Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She sniffled, struggling to hold them back. "Mama... Mama said a strong girl shouldn’t cry." Her trembling voice hung heavy in the air.

  Aurora’s fingers curled involuntarily, shaking despite herself.

  "But... I’m not strong anymore..." Cartier sobbed, a tear trailing down her cheek.

  Aurora swallowed hard, stunned into silence. Her hands reached out hesitantly before she pressed forward.

  Death wasn’t just a statistic in a report. Real people, countless lives, were snuffed out—invaluable souls, like Cartier’s parents.

  The girl’s wails grew louder, endless tears streaming down her face.

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  "I wish I could turn back time and fix this. I should’ve crushed them before they rose to power. But time... time has always eluded me. In the blink of an eye, they stood as equals while I sat in an empty throne room."

  But time could never be reversed. The myths were clear — Cronos, the Titan of Time, was banished for eternity.

  Forlorn.

  "Ohhh..." Aurora pulled the girl into her embrace. "That’s not true. Even the strongest arcanist shed tears."

  A single tear slipped down Aurora’s pale cheek.

  No more.

  "I will fix this world. I am done being manipulated. I will bend Celestius to my will — or break them."

  "I. Am. Absolute."

  Cartier’s cries faded as Aurora’s silver eyes burned with resolve, her mana seeping out.

  Her mission was clear:

  End the war. Restore peace at all costs.

  ***

  Aurora and Cartier arrived at a small village near Namvie’s border. A few scattered houses stood in clusters, their wooden exteriors telling tales of extreme poverty.

  "Is this your empire, fox?" Aurora sneered at the sight. Villagers peered out from their windows, watching them warily, but none approached.

  Perhaps they had never seen such a majestic steed — or a woman clad in sleek black armour, her intimidating cape billowing behind her.

  They rode down a rough concrete road until they found an inn with a faded sign: Woodside Inn.

  Its stone base supported a structure of darkwood, large windows allowing natural light to spill inside.

  Aurora dismounted, releasing her steed, which dissipated into mist.

  Cartier scanned the place with curiosity. The inn seemed eerily empty. "I wonder if they serve burgers," she mused, touching her lower lip.

  "Let’s find out. Come," Aurora said, holding Cartier’s hand as they approached the door.

  It swung open with a rusty creak, revealing wooden tables and chairs in the middle of the room. The bar counter, lined with various liquors, stood directly in front of them.

  A large, plump man slumped over the counter, snoozing.

  Aurora cleared her throat. "Ahem!" No response. She and Cartier exchanged glances and shrugged.

  "Hey, watch this," Aurora said flatly, her expression deadpan.

  She lifted a palm to her lips. "Kyma Apatis ~ Nightmare," she whispered, blowing a glowing mist toward him.

  Cartier barely suppressed a giggle.

  A moment later, the man jerked awake, screaming, "Noooo! I declared bankruptcy!"

  "Hehehehehe," Cartier cupped her mouth, laughing, while Aurora smirked.

  The innkeeper blinked, realising it was a dream. Then his small eyes landed on them. "Ah!? Welcome to my humble inn!" he declared theatrically.

  "Food, please," Aurora stated coldly.

  "Do you have burgers, Uncle?" Cartier asked, gripping the counter’s edge.

  The man nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes!"

  Soon, he returned with two plates of beef burgers and fries, setting them down on the table.

  "Thank you!" Cartier beamed.

  "Any drinks, m’lady?" he asked, rubbing his hands together.

  "Water’s fine," Aurora replied. He soon returned with a jug of water.

  For a while, they ate in silence. Despite her hunger, Aurora barely touched her food. Her mind wandered elsewhere.

  "Sister Aurora, how can you be the strongest if you don’t eat?" Cartier piped up, noticing the untouched plate.

  "How wise you are, kitten," Aurora murmured, picking up a fry and popping it into her mouth. It was crisp, at least.

  "Hehehe!" Cartier giggled, taking a big bite of her burger.

  Aurora swept her gaze around the inn. The high ceiling bore paintings on the walls. Then she spotted what she was looking for — the clock.

  08:03.

  "Nine hours since the bomb..." she muttered.

  After they finished their meals, the innkeeper approached with the bill. Aurora handed him a shiny gold coin from her hidden pouch.

  "No need for change."

  His eyes widened. "Are you sure? That’s worth 100,000 credits!" He inspected it closely, ensuring it was real.

  Aurora hummed—

  A ringtone interrupted.

  "Oh! Thank you so much! Excuse me!" The man answered his phone.

  His shoulders instantly tensed. He spun around, pale as a ghost.

  He turned, his lips trembling. "For you... Astral Empress Aurora..."

  "Empress?" Cartier blinked, still processing his words.

  Aurora swiftly took the phone. "Fox..."

  A malicious laugh rang out. "Hahahahaha! You stupid bitch—"

  Ten beams of light, condensed with unfathomable energy, pierced through the inn, disintegrating everything in their paths.