Pillar of Yita

Rain is rare in Istania, thus the memory of rain becomes especially vivid for those who reside here.

Raindrops stir up a mist, first flowing along the gray-brown eaves, trickling gently to the ground, forming streams between the brown stones.

The dark gray stone monument stands amidst the misty rain, inscribed with words in Istania’s script:

’751 — 790, Farian, may your bravery and enlightenment rest forever in the Sand Sea —’

Raindrops trace the grooves of the inscriptions, flowing slowly, one after another. Barbaltan wipes away the water with a glove, but cannot clean it away completely; soon, the glove is soaked.

Princess Consort Afeifa stands beside him, silently watching the words on the monument.

After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice like a Nightingale’s song, ”Barbaltan, though Farian, Charab, and Hette did not return, at least more people survived... The Empire is strong, but even last time the Osh People did not succeed.”

The vibrant and powerful King of Sand turned his head to look at the woman he cherished, nodding lightly.

”I’m okay, Afeifa.”

”But you still seem burdened with worries, my love; do you know? It makes me very concerned.”

”I just remembered some past events,” Barbaltan opened up, ”Every year on this day, I can’t help but recall the happenings and sights during that war.”

”It’s been three years since that incident; do you still believe that prophecy to be true? That the Star of Calamity will descend upon our land, returning Dika here and taking away everything from the Istania People?”

”It’s not surely true, but signs have appeared,” Barbaltan frowned, ”I have to treat it cautiously. Outsiders all believe my father’s lineage usurped Istania’s throne, but truly being in this position only reveals the weight of responsibility...”

He raised his head, looking at the rain silken in strands. ”Afeifa, if one day all this really does perish—”

”They won’t, Barbaltan, I assure you; perhaps one day we may turn to dust, but some things will continue to exist, along with the beliefs we pursue, enduringly staying.”

”Afeifa?”

”Barbaltan, that is our shared secret; give us more time, please?”

Barbaltan gazed at his Princess Consort, nodding.

...

On the steps of the Holy Sanctuary, Afeifa wore a black dress; the hem draped to the ground, with a black gauze top hugging her frail figure, exposing delicate shoulders, her eyes firmly shut, a pitiful expression between her brows.

She turned in this direction, speaking with seductive tone: ”Mr. Ade, is it surprising to see me here?” The young woman’s voice was not loud, yet audible clearly to every corner of the square.

Although bearing Afeifa’s face, the timid and introverted Miss Arcanist would hardly speak in such a manner. Fang Hong furrowed his brow, feeling something was off. He turned back to Ye Hua beside him, ”What’s going on?”

Ye Hua similarly stared at the young woman silently before answering, ”That’s Dika’s incarnation.”

Fang Hong actually had a notion.

But he paused before asking, ”Then what about her and Miss Afeifa...?”

Ye Hua turned back, ”Do you remember the Dragon Soul within Afeifa?”

Fang Hong froze for a moment.

He just remembered, in Kashan Palace, Star said only he, Ye Hua, and the Grand Princess could enter this world; he always felt he seemed to have missed something.

But now, he realized, Afeifa also possessed a Dragon Soul, didn’t she?

Star hadn’t mentioned this, initially assuming it was overlooked. But watching the young woman in a black dress, he seemed to grasp something.

”That Dragon Soul...”

”That Dragon Soul is not simple; it has been twinned with Afeifa since her birth, rumored that only King of Sand Barbaltan truly knows its origin; but from what I know... it indeed has some connection with the Former Queen...”

The Grand Princess raised her head, her tone somewhat light, ”My mother...?”

Ye Hua glanced at her, nodding gently, ”That Dragon Soul is actually the sole relic your mother left for your father; it was... molded from your mother’s soul.”

Princess Rupert abruptly widened her eyes, staring at him.

Ye Hua glanced at Afeifa below the Holy Sanctuary, Arcanist girl standing among a group of Believers, also leisurely looking in this direction.

He then withdrew his gaze, addressing the two, ”No one can create anew a person who once was, possessing vivid memories and emotions. Even with the strength of the Emerald Star, this wouldn’t be possible.”

”But King of Sand Barbaltan precisely used this Dragon Soul to make the Blind Followers believe they could utilize it to resurrect the Queen. More importantly, the Blind Followers indeed need your mother’s soul—”

The Grand Princess seemed bemused for a moment, took several deep breaths, eyes almost turning red. She watched the distant young woman in a black dress, then looked at Ye Hua, hesitated several times, struggling to voice anything.

Fang Hong stood silently nearby, seemingly unveiling many previous mysteries, yet he glanced at Princess Rupert, still helping her ask: ”Why?”