"Eldrich horror?, Sounds cool!" Penetrator repeated casually. His voice carried no excitement, nor did it sound bored—it was just plain, like he truly didn't care much either way.
At that moment, Maruti laughed loudly, her shoulders bouncing as she patted Penetrator's back several times like an old friend. "Good, good! With that power-up you showed earlier, I honestly thought you had turned into the incarnation of some constellation—or maybe even a constellation yourself!"
Penetrator didn't reply immediately. His eyes narrowed slightly as if he was seriously thinking about it. After a short pause, he asked in a genuinely curious tone, "What are constellations?"
Maruti froze. Her cheerful smile stiffened, and her expression went blank for a second. She scratched the back of her head awkwardly, her cheeks puffing slightly. "To be honest… I don't know myself!" she admitted with a small laugh.
At that moment, Esdeath, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head back and looked up at the endless night sky. She raised her finger and pointed upward. "Can't you see? All of them are constellations."
The stars above weren't anything special at first glance—they were just faint lights scattered across the sky. But when Esdeath traced her finger slowly in the air, connecting them like dots in a drawing, shapes began to take form.
"Look carefully," she said. "Those stars together form a Pegasus. That's Boreas, the God of Wind."
Her finger shifted slightly to another cluster of stars. "And over there, that's Cygnus. It represents Agni, the Goddess of Fire."
One by one, Esdeath pointed out different patterns, her voice calm yet oddly captivating. The way she explained made the night sky feel alive, as though gods and goddesses truly lingered above, watching silently.
Finally, her hand stopped. Instead of pointing to glowing stars, she pointed toward a patch of empty sky—a dark void where no light shined. The emptiness looked unnatural, like something had swallowed the stars whole.
"There used to be the brightest star there," Esdeath said casually, her voice softer than before. "It represented Seraphine. But she is dead now."
The silence that followed was heavy. Maruti's lips parted slightly, her eyes reflecting both surprise and curiosity. "So… all stars represent constellations? Or… do constellations need a star to exist as constellations?" she asked, her tone thoughtful, almost hesitant.
Esdeath shook her head slowly, her long hair swaying gently. "No. The stars are simply a way to show their existence, to make it easier for them to receive faith and prayers. Constellations don't need stars, It can be anything, The sun, the moon, rivers, oceans, even the concepts itself, Like fortune, Good luck, Bad luck, Beauty, Strength etc. "
Maruti's excitement faded into quiet wonder as she listened. She hugged her knees closer, trying to digest everything Esdeath had said. Penetrator, on the other hand, stayed silent, his eyes steady, as if he was weighing every word in his mind.
After a moment of silence, Maruti tilted her head, her brows furrowing. "Umm… so that means those star constellations are watching us all the time? Like, twenty-four seven?"
Esdeath gave a firm nod. "Yes. Since they can't descend to this world, watching from afar is all they can do."
Maruti's face stiffened. She shivered as a cold chill crawled down her spine. "Even in… bath? And private moments?" She almost squealed, clutching herself tightly. "Ekkkk! That's disgusting!" Her entire body trembled, goosebumps rising across her skin. The thought alone made her feel nauseated.
She didn't even need to ask if constellations could see through walls. If they could gaze down from so far above, then surely peering through walls would be nothing to them. The idea made her stomach twist.
Esdeath sighed lightly, her voice calm and a little dismissive. "Relax. To them, we're like ants. They wouldn't pay attention to us even if we were to cause a genocide."
Her words were cold, but strangely comforting at the same time.
As for Penetrator, he stayed quiet for a while, his green glowing eye sockets fixed on Esdeath. His voice finally came out, calm yet heavy.
"And what happens if they do notice you… or worse, decide to be hostile against you?"
Esdeath didn't answer right away. She just lay on the big, half-flat boulder, her eyes on the endless sky scattered with bright stars. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Then we are fucked," she said softly.
Penetrator tilted his head. "How so?"
"Dunno. But we'll definitely be fucked."
———
Meanwhile, in her own room, Sylvania lay on her bed. She wasn't asleep, though her eyes were closed as if she was resting. Suddenly, they snapped open. Her blue eyes gleamed like polished gems in the dark. A strange feeling surged through her—like her mind was being filled with knowledge that wasn't her own.
Her heart raced. She sat up quickly, her breath uneven, and pushed herself off the bed. Without even thinking, she walked to the kitchen, her bare feet brushing against the cold floor. She grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and carried it back. Setting it gently on the floor, she lowered herself into a cross-legged position.
Her hands came together, fingers interlocked in a praying gesture. Her lips moved almost on their own.
"You are the water…
You are the ocean…
You are the source of all living things…
Heed my call, sea goddess Bylgia…"
She whispered the chant over and over, her voice trembling yet steady, like something deep within her demanded she continue.
The water inside the glass rippled, then rose as if alive. It spilled over, yet didn't stop. In the blink of an eye, the entire room was swallowed by flowing water. The floor disappeared, the walls melted away, and all around her was an endless sea stretching to no horizon. And yet, somehow, she wasn't drowning—she was sitting calmly on the water's surface, her body light as a feather.
Her breath caught. "What… what did I just do?" she whispered, her voice shaking. Fear started to creep in, her hands trembling as she looked around at the impossible sight.
Then, from the depths, a figure slowly emerged. A woman, her body formed entirely from shimmering, flowing water. Her shape was delicate yet commanding, her presence overwhelming yet strangely warm.
"Do not fear," the woman's voice was like a gentle wave lapping at the shore. "I am not an evil god. You already know my name. I am Bylgia, the sea goddess."
Sylvania's mouth parted, her body frozen in awe. The woman's smile was faint but kind, carrying the weight of eternity.
"I am a Constellation," the goddess added, her watery form glowing faintly like stars reflected on the sea.
"Constellation…?" Sylvania echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's that?"
"Think of me as a good god," Bylgia replied, her tone calm and reassuring.
Sylvania blinked, her mind reeling. Her throat felt dry despite the endless sea around her. "A deity…? But I thought gods existed only in heaven. Why… why me? What did I do to deserve this? Wait… was my performance today because of you?"
Her heart pounded as she asked question after question. She had heard only stories—ancient records that said the heroes' parties could communicate with gods. Heroes, saints, chosen ones—special people. But she? She was just Sylvania. A noble, yes, and somewhat talented, but nothing truly remarkable. She had no special bloodline, no heroic destiny. So why her?
Her thoughts spiraled, doubt and fear gripping her chest like a vice.
But then Bylgia chuckled softly, the sound like waves dancing on the shore. Her eyes shimmered with warmth as she leaned closer.
"Of course you didn't," she said, her voice flowing with certainty. "But you will. One day!",
After a short pause, Bylgia extended her hand, her gaze calm but carrying the weight of something divine.
"Tell me," she said softly, "do you want to be my incarnation? You'll surely benefit from it. If everything goes as it should, your name will go down in history, just like the Hero's party."
Sylvania froze, her lips slightly parted. If it had been any ordinary commoner in her place, they would have jumped in excitement and accepted without a second thought. But she was a noble, raised with proper etiquette and taught to think calmly even in situations that pulled at one's emotions.
She drew in a slow breath. "But… there must be something I need to give in return, right?"
Bylgia nodded gently. "Of course. But what I ask is nothing different from what you already want—to defeat evil. There is only one personal request I have. If there comes a time when you cannot win against your enemy, I will descend into your body temporarily. That's it. A deity's descent does not kill the host, nor does it cause much harm. You can even confirm this knowledge with others."
Her voice softened, reassuring. "And if such a situation never comes, then think of it as if I never said anything."
Sylvania's heartbeat quickened. "The conditions… they're not bad at all. Our goal is the same—to fight against Lortell. She is evil. In the end, I'll only be doing what's right: destroying evil."
Her eyes sparkled with resolve. "I agree."
Bylgia's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "Good. I will bestow you with more knowledge, grant you mastery over skills, essence stones, and I'll make sure you rise to S-rank within a year." Her tone remained calm but carried a divine certainty.
Then, as if remembering something, she added, "But you cannot tell anyone that you are my incarnation, unless I permit it. It must remain a secret. And do not show too much sudden strength. If you do, people will only grow suspicious."
Sylvania nodded quickly, unable to hide the excitement dancing in her chest. "So it's like… hiding one's power even though you're the strongest!" The thought thrilled her.
The moment she thought that, her vision blurred, and in the blink of an eye, the world around her shifted. She found herself once more sitting cross-legged on the ground in her own room.
——————
Meanwhile, in Violet's room, the atmosphere was completely different. The soft light of a lamp flickered, throwing long shadows against the walls. She was dressed in her nightclothes, yet beside her lay unusual items: a purple rose, a vial of essence oil, and a small golden spoon.
She carefully placed the rose in front of her, poured a few drops of the oil into the spoon, and inhaled its sharp fragrance. Slowly, she began to move. She circled herself three times clockwise, her bare feet brushing softly against the floor, and then four times counter-clockwise. When she stopped, her expression grew serious.
Taking a deep breath, she began to recite an incantation—harsh, chilling words that seemed to scrape against the air itself. The moment her voice rose, the room quivered faintly, and then everything around her vanished.
She opened her eyes and found herself standing in a strange place that looked like the endless stretch of cosmic space. Stars glimmered far away, their light reflecting in her determined eyes.
Before her stood a figure—humanoid in shape but made entirely of purple energy, glowing faintly, radiating both warmth and divinity. His presence pressed against her soul, yet instead of fear, Violet felt only clarity.
"So," the figure's voice echoed through the cosmic void, deep and calm, "what do you think?"
Violet clutched her hands tightly to her chest. Her eyes burned with determination. "I agree to be your incarnation. If it means I can be more helpful to Ethan… if it means I can stand proudly as his companion, then I'm willing to sacrifice."
The figure let out a light, almost amused chuckle. "Don't make me sound like the villain here. What I asked in return is not much, is it? Only that if needed, I may descend into your body temporarily. And, of course, that you keep this matter a secret."
Violet's throat tightened, but she nodded firmly. "I understand."
------------
After a few moments of silence, Esdeath stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes.
"Well then, it's getting late. We should go," she said casually.
Maruti also stood up, stretching her arms. "Yeah, her husband might worry if she's late," she added sarcastically before turning her gaze to Penetrator. "But what about you? Going back to that cave again?"
Penetrator rose to his feet, his glowing green eyes dim for a moment. "No. I'm planning to wander around. Maybe if I see familiar places, some of my memories will come back."
Maruti frowned, crossing her arms. "That's a bad idea. With the amount of green aura you're leaking, the whole kingdom will be after you, thinking you're some dangerous anomaly."
Esdeath, however, tilted her head slightly and smiled faintly. "Let him do what he wants. He knows how to hide his aura, and even if someone does notice… I'm sure he's strong enough to escape."
Penetrator gave a small nod. He pointed his sword toward the horizon. "I will head in that direction."
Both Esdeath and Maruti looked where he pointed. Esdeath's voice turned calm. "That path leads to the Awakened Kingdom. The rest is up to you."
Without another word, she waved her hand and started walking out of the forest.
"Goodbye!" Maruti waved as well before following Esdeath.
---
Since they were deep inside the forest, both Esdeath and Maruti used their strength to leap between the tall trees, before soaring into the air to cover the distance faster.
The cool night breeze brushed against them. It barely moved Maruti's short hair, but Esdeath's long hair danced behind her like smooth silk.
That's when Maruti noticed something strange. A red layer of hair shone beneath Esdeath's black locks. Last time it had been just streaks, but now a whole layer of deep red covered the underside of her hair, like some carefully styled dye.
Intrigued, Maruti flew closer and reached out, touching the red strands. "It's grown again!" she said.
"No. It actually stopped," Esdeath replied calmly without looking back.
"What?" Maruti blinked in confusion.
Esdeath landed smoothly on the ground as they reached the outskirts of the forest. Turning around, she said, "It didn't spread any further after a point. I think the Mother of Corruption is trying to tell me something."
"Mother of Corruption?" Maruti repeated as she followed her down.
Esdeath's expression turned serious. "One of the Lords of Hell. Just like Kirmada. She is the source of corruption."
Maruti's eyebrows raised. "Wait—didn't you say you didn't know what corruption actually does?"
Esdeath clicked her tongue, glaring at her. "Do you really have the brain of a donkey? I said I don't know whether corruption increases the chance of second awakening as an anomaly. But according to old folklore, corruption definitely makes becoming it but of course there's high chance that all of that is a flat lie."
She paused, then muttered in frustration, "What I still don't understand is why a Constellation-level being like her would care about me. I never thought of her, never stepped in her secret temples, never even prayed to her."
Maruti stayed quiet for a moment, trying to digest the heavy information. Finally, she sighed, a mix of worry and excitement flashing in her eyes. "As if all this wasn't enough, now even someone like her is involved? Hah… what a mess. Still, sounds fun."
Esdeath smirked, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Who knows, maybe one day we'll have to make a little trip to hell."
Maruti groaned. "I'd rather go to heaven, thank you very much."
As they continued forward, the forest opened up into the sight of three-story buildings, meaning the town was near. Both women split up, heading to their own rooms.
When Maruti entered her room, she froze. Inside, she saw Kailith and Alice—no, Arlecchino—waiting for her, prepared for a long night of 'pleasurable' work.