Deep within the forest, beneath rain-heavy clouds, Cassian lay unconscious.

His body was mired in mud from the impact of his fall. His clothes, once clean though inexpensive, were now covered in dried bloodstains and tears.

Even caked in mud, his face twitched with pained expressions, a clear sign of the nightmares plaguing his unconscious mind.

Amidst the chaos, he still clutched a small, black sphere, holding it with a white-knuckled grip as if he would never let go.

I walked aimlessly through an endless realm of darkness.

The ground beneath my feet was neither solid nor liquid; with every step, ripples spread around me, as though I were walking on water.

It was a strange sensation, but this was not my first time here.

I knew this place all too well. This was the deepest corner of my mind, the domain of the being sealed with a piece of my soul.

"How much longer do you plan to hide in the darkness, my lady goddess?"

From within the shadows, a woman's giggle echoed, cheerful and charming.

It was a voice sweet, seductive, and dangerous enough to conquer the hearts of all men in the world.

The next moment, I felt a warmth on my back.

A pair of soft arms wrapped around me from behind.

I could feel her silken, purple hair spilling over my shoulders and the pressure of her breasts against my back.

She rested her head atop mine; she was much taller than me.

"I missed you too, Cassian..."

Instinctively, I wanted to push her away, but I couldn't.

This goddess had been watching over and protecting me since the day I was born.

Of course, I knew she wasn't doing it out of charity; she had her own motives and expectations of me. But still, deep in my heart, there was a special, indescribable affection for her.

I didn't know what these feelings were.

Was it the love for a mother? No. I remembered what a mother's love felt like; it was completely different from the warm, grateful love I felt for Duchess Seraphina.

Was it a sister's love? No, that had nothing in common with the protective, pure love I felt for Nivelle.

Then, was it the love between a man and a woman? That wasn't it either.

I didn't fully understand how romantic feelings worked, but the only person I had ever been close to in that way was Iris. Perhaps she was the only woman I could ever love in my life.

So, what was the meaning of these complex feelings I held for this ancient goddess?

I had no idea.

"Why did you bring me here again?" I asked, my voice cold and distant.

"Why?" she whispered in my ear. She placed a hand on my cheek and turned my head to face her, to look into those brilliant, violet eyes. "I can see that you need help. You must be going through some hard times."

I took a step back.

In the face of her touch, I felt myself growing more attached to her. I couldn't let that happen. Becoming attached to someone I didn't fully trust, especially a goddess, was the last thing I wanted.

At my retreat, she repeated her cheerful giggle.

"There's no need to be so shy, Cassian."

"I hope you didn't summon me here just to mock me. I have many questions for you."

"Questions?" she asked, feigning a childlike, innocent tone. "I'm not very good with questions. But if it will make you happy, I'll do my best."

"Tell me who you are."

The goddess paused at this direct question. The cheerful, playful expression on her face vanished, replaced by an inscrutable, ancient gravity. Then she fixed her hypnotic violet eyes on mine.

"I am Zevstyle," or by a name you might know, "Serene," she said, her voice no longer cheerful but deep and resonant, as ancient as the universe itself. "The Bender of Reality. I am one of the first ten gods of existence. The younger of the two daughters of the First God, Yavres."

Zevstyle...

I was hearing this name for the first time in my life. The Bender of Reality... There wasn't a single shred of information about the existence of such a goddess in that damned game.

"Zevstyle..." I murmured, repeating the name as if carving it into my mind with a dagger.

Hearing me whisper her name, the serious expression on her face disappeared again, replaced by her sweet smile.

"I take it you like my name?"

"How long have you been with me? And... how did it happen?"

"It was a long time ago," she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "You were just a tiny baby. You were brought to the Dark Forests, abandoned by two soldiers. An immense energy, too vast for your small body, radiated from you. It was impossible for your presence to go unnoticed. But you were so weak. A pitiable baby, so frail you could have died at any moment."

"The last remnants of my own existence were trapped in a graveyard in that forest. In fact, I am the reason that forest is called the 'Dark Forest.' Anyway... I had existed in that graveyard for thousands of years in a half-dead state. Until you came to that forest. The moment I saw you, I felt it: You would be my key to escape."

"A normal human," she continued, "could never have accepted my presence. It would have meant the instantaneous shattering of their mortal minds and souls—in other words, their death. But you were different. I don't think I need to tell you why, do I...?"

"Back then, you were hungry and tired. You were in pain. You were barely clinging to life. So I presented my existence to you as a sweet salvation, a warm sanctuary, in a way that the intellect of a small baby could comprehend. It was like a symbiotic relationship. We needed each other to live. Our lives became intertwined on that day, in that dark forest. Before you even knew what was happening, an unbreakable contract had been formed between our souls."

This woman... Zevstyle... was telling the truth so far.

There wasn't a single sign of falsehood in her violet eyes. The way she told it, her acceptance of seeing me as a "tool"... it was all so honest that the honesty itself felt like a complex trap designed to hide something else.

But I didn't know what the trap was. Or perhaps there was no trap, and I was just being overly suspicious due to my experiences.

I would find out sooner or later.

"I don't suppose I need to recount what happened next," she said with a sad smile. "I assume you remember your time in that laboratory. You seemed to like having your hair stroked as you lay your head on my lap, those brief moments of peace..."

"You don't need to tell me," I hissed. "Even if I wanted to, I could never forget those moments."

"So, what do you want from me now? Why did you want me to get Mordret's Sword so badly?"

"I can't tell you that right now. All you need to know is that, for now, it's for your own good."

"And if I don't?"

"You could choose not to, of course," she said with a shrug. "But without that sword, you would also lose your chance of survival. You need that sword, Cassian."

"Why? Why is that sword so important?"

She paused. All trace of a smile vanished from her face. Her voice was cold and emotionless, as if rising from a grave.

"Because that sword... was forged from my corpse."

At this claim, I felt my blood run cold, even in the dark realm of my mind. I didn't know what to say.

"Your... corpse?"

"Yes. After they killed me, they turned everything that was left of me, every single piece, into a weapon, a cursed object. You understand what I mean... Just like what they did to Nerath. But unlike Nerath, they tore me apart by force... To be honest, I didn't feel the pain since I was dead, but I can't say it was a pleasant feeling." She let out a forced, pained giggle.

"I'm... sorry for you."

"So, let's say I gather all your cursed pieces. What happens then? When you regain your full power, will you take over my body?"

Without losing her grin, she returned to her playful demeanor. "I would love to return to life! You know, living is beautiful, however painful it may be. But no, I won't do that. I will support you until the very end."

"Why? What will you support me against?"

"Against our common enemy, of course! Our goals are the same: to kill my father, Yavres, and rewrite the fate of this cursed world."

"A common enemy, huh..."

"So, how will you help me? You haven't even offered me your blessing yet."

"Because you're not strong enough to handle it yet. Neither physically nor mentally. Your mettle is weak, Cassian. You fall into depression too quickly. If it weren't for the Dragon Heart, your situation would be truly pathetic. You should be grateful to that old dragon, Kaiser, for that."

Her words were stinging, but they were entirely true.

"But... there is something else I can give you. Things that will be useful. Of course, it's up to you to accept. Considering your weak mentality, it might be very difficult for you to handle. You can rely on the Dragon Heart, but I doubt even that will be enough."

"Are you setting a trap for me? What is your goal?"

"Hahaha! Cassian... why would I set a trap for you? As I said, we are on the same side. Our fates are bound together, until the end of our lives. If you die, I die too. If it will put your mind at ease to know that..."

I couldn't trust this woman. Even though she had been telling me the truth from the beginning, I still felt like a toy dancing in the palm of her hand.

"If what you offer will make me stronger," I said, having made my decision, "then I accept."

"Excellent! That's the Cassian I was waiting for!"

A bright smile appeared on her face.

Suddenly, she pressed a finger to my forehead.

With that warm touch, my consciousness once again sank into darkness.

"Sleep well, Cass!"

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