Five thousand years ago, in a city nestled in a fertile valley east of present-day Hirica, the majestic Babel stood tall. Dominated by a gigantic ziggurat that seemed to touch the sky, the city was a beacon of grandeur and splendor. Within the royal palace, near this imposing structure, a beautiful and elegant young woman sat, carefully inscribing a poem onto a clay tablet. She patiently awaited nightfall to gaze upon the stars and find inspiration in their glow.

  —Princess, the sun is setting. It is time to prepare —said a servant with reverence, holding in her hands the ceremonial garments and jewels, ready for the occasion.

  The princess, finishing the last stroke on the tablet, smiled melancholically before standing.

  —Thank you, dear friend. Very soon, I will be accepted as a priestess of the goddess Ishtar, and perhaps this will be the last time I climb the ziggurat merely as an observer.

  Once atop the ziggurat, the princess and her servant paused to admire the view. From that divine height, they could see the city of Babel illuminated by torches and oil lamps. The streets, bustling hours before with merchants, laughter, and music, now exuded a serene beauty filled with memories and hope.

  —Isn't it wonderful? —the princess asked with a radiant smile, observing the orderly commotion of the city below—. Babel is my father’s pride, built to be the most beautiful of all. He believes that, even as centuries pass, this city will stand strong. And I... I believe in him with all my heart.

  She paused, inhaling the cool evening air deeply.

  —I love this city so much that I could never leave it. That is why I have rejected every marriage proposal from noblemen of other lands. No other city compares to Babel. Don't you think?

  Her smile illuminated the moment, but soon, the image shattered like a broken mirror. The idyllic vision of Babel was replaced by a devastating sight.

  The once lively streets were now reduced to ashes. The houses and the ziggurat, once symbols of pride and faith, lay in ruins. Everything had been reduced to rubble. Amidst this apocalyptic landscape, the princess stood motionless, stunned.

  In front of her, a figure emerged from the wreckage: a woman of strange, ethereal, and unsettling appearance. She was not human; the princess knew this immediately.

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  —You are a “god-invader,” a false deity... a being from another world —Lily’s voice trembled, her eyes fixed on the void as if reliving that moment—. That creature destroyed everything.

  The memory faded with a heavy sigh, and Lily returned to the present.

  —That is all I clearly remember of my past life. —Her words, tinged with sorrow, echoed like a whisper in the room—. It is like a dream. I can piece together fragments, but never the whole picture.

  Lily lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

  —To defeat that false goddess, the gods of my land granted me the gift of immortality. A “blessing,” just like the one you possess, Axel. But that power came at a price... I lost most of my memories, even my true name.

  She shrugged slightly, offering a resigned smile.

  —Lily is just one of the many names I have adopted over these endless centuries.

  Axel watched her with disbelief.

  —Are you telling me that you are five thousand years old? And that you were a princess?

  Lily nodded slowly.

  —And that this "God-invader" is the reason I have wandered this world for so long. The reason I sought you out.

  —You sought me? —Axel asked, his brow furrowed.

  —Yes, Axel. Your blessing is different from mine. Mine granted me immortality and the ability to witness history. Yours... is the key to stopping her once and for all. Tell me, what do you feel makes you special?

  Axel closed his eyes, reflecting on the countless battles he had fought throughout his life. For the first time, he realized that his strange ability was not normal.

  —I can... see. It only activates when I’m in combat. I can see the “possibilities” of battle. What seems like hours in my mind are merely seconds in the real world. I choose the most optimal attack and act accordingly. I have fought against five members of the Royal Guard and lost only once—to Estela. With her... it was different. Something "blinded" me. I couldn’t see anything. It was as if every possibility led to my defeat.

  —When did you first realize you had this power? —Lily asked, her tone a mix of intrigue and excitement.

  —When I was a child. My father took my sister and me to a camp in a forest near a lake. One night, we left the cabin and found a lost boy: Prince Maxwell. A monster attacked us. We tried to defend ourselves, but we were helpless. We were just kids. Then, Estela appeared—a girl not much older than us—and saved us. That’s the story everyone knows.

  But what no one knows is that I prolonged the fight with the monster until she arrived. I saw how we could die in different ways, and I also saw how to avoid them. It was like... like when magic apprentices inhale those strange herbs and have visions. That’s how I felt. But it worked. Thanks to my instructions, we survived.

  Axel paused, looking at Lily with newfound determination in his eyes.

  —Now that I will never be part of the Royal Guard, I was wondering what to do with my life. But then you appeared. And now... my life could take a completely different path. I spent too long obsessing over becoming a Royal Guard. I recognize that it was unhealthy. Perhaps it's time to seek a new destiny. Tell me, Lily... how can I help you?