The Menyver Grave
April 18, 1518
Dark clouds loomed over the cemetery, casting a shadow over the already sorrowful landscape. The air hung thick with moisture, and the sky wept as if mourning with him.
Kite Lighthart stood in silence as his father was lowered into the ground. His small hands were clenched tightly, but his face showed no tears—only a blank, hollow stillness. It was the kind of silence that comes after the soul has cried so much, it simply has nothing left to give.
He had already lost his mother when he was five. And now… this.
On his shoulder sat Chu-Chu, the woolly mouse, his tiny form trembling, his whiskers twitching with unease. Even he could sense the crushing weight that had settled on his friend.
People came and went—some offered brief words of comfort, others simply patted Kite's shoulder as they passed—but he didn't respond. He didn't even seem to notice.
And then, he was alone.
Only the freshly turned earth and the dull patter of approaching rain remained. The world seemed to grow quieter with each second, until even the birds had gone still.
Then came the rain.
But Kite didn't move. He didn't flinch. He didn't care.
He just stood there, numb. Like the last light inside him had been quietly snuffed out.
And yet… the rain stopped falling on him.
Confused, he slowly raised his head.
A giant white wing hovered above him, shielding him from the rain.
"Why do you look so surprised, kid? Never seen a beautiful lady before?"
The voice was tired, disinterested—but oddly warm.
Kite turned. Standing beside him was a woman—tall, pale-skinned, with long white hair and sharp golden eyes. She had bags under her eyes like she hadn't slept in years. A black suit hugged her frame, hands tucked lazily into her pockets, and her whole presence screamed gloomy indifference.
"Wh–Who are you…?" Kite asked, his voice dry and brittle.
"Hmm? Me? Sentina. You must be Kite Lighthart?"
"Y–Yes…"
He blinked slowly, trying to push through the fog in his mind. Chu-Chu nudged his cheek again, concerned.
Sentina's eyes flicked toward the mouse.
"Is that a Lus Manatus?"
"Mu–Lu what?" Kite asked weakly. Even Chu-Chu looked confused.
Sentina sighed, shaking her head.
"Lus Manatus. That's your mouse's actual species name. Woolly mouse is just the pet-shop version. Anyway—"
She plucked a single feather from her massive white wing and blew it into the air.
The feather drifted upward, shimmered—and transformed into a beautiful white pigeon, which took flight into the stormy sky.
"Well, that should do the trick."
Kite flinched slightly and stepped back.
"W–What are you? What do you want from me?!"
"Chu! Chu!" squeaked Chu-Chu, baring his tiny teeth.
Sentina groaned.
>"Ugh, I really should've thought this through better. Okay—let's start over."
She pulled one hand from her pocket and gestured to herself.
"Sentina. One of the Seven Sisters. Sister of Knowledge. Right now, I'm working as the Chief Advisor for STF."
She waved dismissively before he could speak.
"Don't ask what that is. It's boring. I'm here for one reason: to fulfill a dead friend's final wish."
Her gaze turned briefly to the grave of Kian Lighthart, then back to the pale, exhausted boy beside her.
"And long story short… you're coming with me, kid."
Kite blinked.
Chu-Chu tilted his head.
They both stared at her, utterly lost—half convinced this was some sort of grief-induced hallucination.