Forn slowly looked behind her…
When she turned, she saw a tall woman—almost Odin's height, though slightly shorter. Her features were sharp, and her steady gaze carried both coldness and confidence.
Forn froze in place.
Wasn't this the woman who had been with Odin on the shore?
The moment she realized that, she forced a polite smile onto her face and said with deliberate courtesy:
"Hello. You must be Athena… right?"
The woman let out a faint mocking laugh.
"Of course I'm Athena. There's no one else on this island who carries my name."
A slight irritation appeared on Forn's face.
"And how would I know that? I'm not from this island—"
Athena waved her hand dismissively, cutting her off with an impatient tone.
"Yes, yes… it doesn't matter. Listen. When you enter the house, your room is on the right. Understood?"
Before Forn could even respond…
She vanished.
Forn stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space where Athena had been, anger rising in her eyes.
"Are all the people on this island this rude?"
She shook her head and looked up at the sky, sighing.
"Getting used to living here is going to be difficult…"
As if the sky decided to confirm her words—
She suddenly sensed a wooden sword flying toward her at a dangerous angle.
She reacted instinctively, moving her hand in a flash and catching the sword before it could hit her, even though she was still lost in thought.
"Seriously?! Even now? What is this—"
One of the children hurried toward her, slightly out of breath, then bowed apologetically as he took the sword from her hand.
"I'm sorry! I didn't hold the sword properly. Are you okay?"
Forn looked at him with a cool smile.
"Yes, I'm fine. Go back and continue your training, little one."
Once the boy made sure she was unharmed, he ran back quickly toward the training grounds.
Forn stood still for a moment, trying to process everything happening around her.
"Even the sky is against me…"
Far from Forn, the children, and the island of Asgard altogether…
There was unrest on the island she had disappeared from.
The place was crowded with knights and mages. Bloodstains were still visible on the ground.
The Head Mage stood there with a pale face, sweat dripping down his forehead despite the cold weather.
The mage beside him asked hesitantly:
"Are you certain… she's not on the island, sir?"
Another mage quickly bowed.
"The knights have searched every corner multiple times, and our spellcasters cast a detection spell covering the entire island… We found nothing. She isn't here."
The Head Mage shouted with chilling coldness:
"How?! How does she vanish like this?! She already used teleportation magic—she cannot use it again for a long time! So how did she disappear from the island?!"
The mage had no answer.
He lowered his head, unable to meet his master's eyes.
The Head Mage remained standing among the bloodstains, his mind boiling with thoughts.
How… how did she disappear from the island?
It took me so long to pinpoint where she teleported… and when I reached the location, she wasn't there. How is this possible?!
He snapped out of his spiraling thoughts at the sound of the Imperial Guard Commander approaching with heavy steps.
"Where is she, Head Mage? I was told she is not on the island."
The Head Mage looked at him, trying to maintain his composure.
"We will find out, Commander. I do not believe she has left the island. There are no ships sailing near this dangerous place, and we have detected no new use of teleportation magic."
Then he added tensely, masking it with sarcasm:
"The only remaining explanation is that she grew wings and flew away."
The Commander replied seriously:
"You're right. She couldn't have left. There is no missing griffin for her to ride, and even if there were, it wouldn't be able to carry her far. This island is isolated—there is no nearby land she could reach."
The Head Mage nodded slowly.
"Then she must be using unusual methods to hide. We need to search further. I am certain we will find her."
He then turned to a nearby mage and ordered sternly:
"Go at once and command the others to reactivate the detection magic. Establish a full isolation barrier. We will remain here for some time."
The mage bowed.
"As you command, Head Mage."
The Head Mage looked up at the clouded sky and said with forced confidence:
"Finding Princess Forn… is only a matter of time."
The Imperial Guard Commander looked at him coldly.
"I hope so. Because if we fail to find Princess Forn… the Emperor's punishment will be severe."
The Head Mage shuddered involuntarily.
"I will personally supervise the mages… and reinforce the isolation spell."
He hurried toward the gathered spellcasters, his robe fluttering behind him—his anxiety racing ahead of him.
The Commander watched his retreating back and thought firmly:
I must do my duty as well.
He called to one of the nearby guards:
"Reform the squads! We will search the island again. Leave no corner unchecked."
The soldiers immediately moved to carry out the orders.
But they were not alone in the sky.
High above them, at a great altitude, a strangely shaped raven circled in eerie silence.
Its gleaming eyes observed everything carefully…
As if it were transmitting what it saw to a presence they did not even know existed.