Chapter 3: Dream
The Head Maid took out a vial from her leather pouch, opened the baby's mouth with her forefinger, and poured a few drops.
"What are you feeding him?" Athena shouted in alarm. But the Head Maid didn't react. She simply continued feeding the liquid.
Then, without a word, she placed the baby next to Athena's mother and quickly left the room.
On the other hand, Athena watched the young baby cry out suddenly and then start vomiting the purple liquid. But before she could react, he began to drift into sleep.
No!
Seconds later, she realized — Raven wasn't breathing.
"NO!" Her eyes turned bloodshot as she screamed. At that moment, the entire world shattered like a broken mirror. She caught a glimpse of her aunt Shirley rushing into the room in a panic, but then everything faded into pitch-black silence.
—
Athena jolted awake, her eyes wide.
"W-Was that… a dream?" she muttered, her breath shallow. But it felt far too real to be dismissed so easily.
The baby's final cry still echoed in her ears.
She sat up in bed and, without a second thought, ran out of her room. The hallway was cloaked in darkness. She nearly tripped but quickly adjusted her eyes and hurried forward.
Reaching a familiar wooden door, she pushed it open.
Her gaze immediately found her mother and the baby.
"He's still breathing..." she whispered in relief. There was no trace of purple liquid on his cheeks.
Only now did she notice that the room looked cleaner than before. All the blood had been wiped away, and the air felt lighter.
After glancing at her mother, she stepped closer to the baby, sleeping soundly. A cup and a milk bottle sat on the table nearby — her aunt must have fed him.
'But what was that dream?'
She turned toward the window. The moon hung high in the sky. It had to be near midnight.
"Maybe… it wasn't a dream but a vision of the future?" she murmured in doubt. "Will she really kill Raven?"
She bit her lip and looked at the baby again.
'Should I take him far away?' The thought came unbidden but strong.
She turned to her mother and quivered.
"What should I do, Mama? Wake up…" her voice cracked, tears sliding down her cheeks. Whether that dream was true or false, she had made up her mind.
'If Raven stays in this palace, he will definitely die.'
She bent closer and whispered into Jeanne's ear.
"Mama, I don't have a choice. I'll take him away… I'll raise him. One day, I'll come back. Please… wait for us."
"But how are you going to survive on your own?" came a familiar voice from the doorway.
Athena stiffened.
"Aunt Shirley?" she turned slowly, her eyes wary.
'Why is she wary of me?' Even Shirley noticed the shift. This child wasn't the same as before.
Surprised, she raised her hands in reassurance and said in a solemn tone,
"Don't be afraid of your aunt, Athena. But… are you sure about this decision? There'll be no turning back."
"I'm sure," Athena replied without hesitation.
"Then follow me." Shirley took her hand and led her out of the room.
They walked silently through the hallway and then reached the end — a balcony overlooking the courtyard.
"Let's jump," Shirley said. She carefully took the baby from Athena and leaped off.
But instead of falling, she stepped onto the air itself and floated down gently, landing on the grass.
Even in that brief moment, Athena was shocked.
Aunt is an Official Knight?!
She followed, leaping into the air — but her descent was too fast.
Just before she hit the ground, Shirley reached out and caught her by the collar.
"Athena," she whispered, "cover your right hand from now on. Never draw the attention of nobles."
With that, she picked up her pace and rushed toward the compound wall.
But something felt off.
The reason she chose to flee in this direction was that the security would always be less. Only a Radiant Knight would be guarding this place and always sleep during his duty.
'Why isn't he here?' she thought while touching the bracelet in her hand.
It was an artifact with an illusion-type spell engraved on it.
She was prepared for a fight.
'Once I use this artifact's ability, I can make him sleep and escape.'
She glanced back at the white palace — and suddenly, an invisible force wrapped around her body. It vanished in an instant, but it was enough to turn her face pale.
She knew that pressure could've crushed her into dust a thousand times over.
"W-What happened, Aunt?" Athena asked, seeing her pale face.
Two seconds later, Shirley regained her composure.
"They're… letting us go," she said bitterly. "Voluntarily."
She understood. Even the weakest Royal Guard was a Radiant Walker.
"It's better if we go far away… maybe to some rural town."
Without another word, she grabbed Athena's hand. Together, they climbed over the wall and vanished into the night.
—
Palace Bedroom
Elise and Emperor Ian sat on a silk-covered bed, their eyes following Athena and Shirley's departure.
Elise's amber eyes glinted with a knowing gaze, her red hair cascading down her shoulders. She was a stunning woman, radiating power and grace — the Empress of the Zenith Empire.
Ian, the Emperor, stared thoughtfully at the door. His expression softened.
"That Athena girl... she's got real talent. Her swordsmanship is almost genius-level," he sighed. "Her darkness affinity may not be as high, but with the right guidance, she could've become something extraordinary."
Elise's lips curled into a faint frown. "Bright future? For who? The Wizards?" she scoffed. "The Ivory Continent's been isolated for so long, and now they return only to build an army. They're preparing for something... something big."
Ian let out a soft chuckle. "You may be right. But there's more to it. My father made a deal with the Wizard Alliance when they arrived here over a thousand years ago."
Elise raised an eyebrow. "A deal? Why haven't I heard about this before?"
Ian met her gaze. "You've never questioned the Wizards outright, and I never had reason to explain. The outside world's been advancing rapidly — airships, rune pistols, railways... while here, we can't even produce quality steel."
Elise's brow furrowed. "The Ivory Continent has always been a mess. But nothing's changed."
Ian shook his head slowly. "It has. The Wizards sparked a revolution — slavery was abolished, and people gained voting rights. That's how Gavin became Prime Minister. Commoners now have a path to power, and the nobility's hold is slipping."
He paused, his voice turning more serious. "But despite all that progress, we remain weak. A single magical beast invasion could destroy us."
Elise's lips tightened. "So, you made a deal with them for protection?"
Ian nodded. "Exactly. We gave up certain rights in exchange for two thousand years of protection. The Wizards promised to train our children — to make them strong enough to safeguard the Empire."