Toward the Grey

Lyra felt a shiver rise from the depths of her soul to her body in the face of the truths she had just learned.

All her emotions tangled together—she had turned into a helpless child, unsure of what to do.

What should she do now?

Who was she supposed to fight, and how?

The truths still echoed in her mind—was she truly ready for a war against Valtor?

She was afraid.

She was confused.

She couldn't believe what was happening.

She had always imagined herself as a princess—special, powerful, filled with light…

But this was not the life she had dreamed of.

Yes, she believed in the existence of fairies, gods, and goddesses—but the reality that now stood before her was beyond the power of belief.

It was too much.

Far too much.

She had withdrawn into herself, trying to digest what she had experienced.

Alice watched her in silence.

Every glance at the circle made her heart ache.

This small, delicate girl—her fate weighed heavily even on Alice's heart.

She didn't know what to do either.

She couldn't silence the thought inside her:

> "This poor girl… What a painful burden she carries."

The silence grew like a mountain and wrapped around her legs.

Alice could no longer bear it.

She knelt down and took Lyra's hands in hers.

Looking deep into her eyes, she spoke softly:

> "Lyra… I will be by your side for the rest of my life. Never feel alone. You are not facing this war by yourself. We can overcome everything together. For now, what you've learned is enough... We have to leave. We must protect you, we must train you. And whenever you fall into despair, I'll be there. I swear on all the gods—I will never let you feel alone."

Alice's voice gave Lyra a flicker of strength.

She had already felt an inexplicable bond with her.

But now, to truly feel her presence, to hear those words from her lips…

It shone like a small light in the middle of the growing darkness within her.

With a trembling voice, Lyra asked:

> "Where are my mother and father? Are they… dead?"

Alice's eyes filled with tears.

She had expected this question…

But answering it was not easy.

The words caught in her throat.

She swallowed hard.

Time was turning into the right moment to tell Lyra the truth.

Since the moment Lyra first saw Alice, she had felt a bond she couldn't explain.

Perhaps it came from the familiarity of their souls.

Inside her, there was a strange sense that she had seen Alice somewhere before.

Being near her made her feel safe—like a harbor in the middle of a storm.

Alice was a refuge, a voice, an embrace.

Alice's words had strengthened Lyra.

It wasn't enough to hear that she was trusted—feeling it in her eyes, her voice, and her presence meant something entirely different.

And at that moment, all of Lyra's questions condensed into a single sentence:

> "Where are my mother and father… are they dead?"

Alice forgot to breathe for a moment.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, her voice stuck in her throat.

She had expected the question—but saying the answer aloud was like tearing her heart apart.

Lyra had every right to know the truth—yes—but did she have the strength to carry it all at once? Alice wasn't sure.

She looked into Lyra's eyes.

In them, she saw Clara's pure heart and Malgor's rebellious flame.

This girl was their child—their legacy.

The majestic valley at their feet looked like paradise, yet inside them raged a fire ignited by the burning touch of truth.

Even the cool wind couldn't ease their sweat.

The air was calm—almost refreshingly so.

Alice's long brown dress danced in the wind, her golden hair moving with it.

The peace in her blue eyes blended with the silence of nature.

Lyra saw her as the most beautiful woman in the world—and in Alice's heart, the same feelings echoed for Lyra.

But now, it was time to speak.

Without looking away, Alice said with a trembling voice:

> "Your mother and father… they are no longer alive.

But I'm here. With you.

That's enough truth for today.

The rest will come when the time is right.

Now we must go—we must protect and train you.

We don't have much time.

You understand me, don't you, Lyra?"

Lyra's gaze was timid, her voice unsteady, but a soft "Yes" slipped from her lips.

And so, the cycle began again.

The hand of fate had returned to touch Lyra.

The real story was only just beginning.

She repeated silently to herself:

> "Trust Alice… Trust Alice… Trust Alice…"

Time began to flow quickly.

Alice trained Lyra like a teacher, passing down everything she knew.

Each time she saw the light within Lyra, she thought:

> "A child truly worthy of Clara and Malgor."

Months turned into years.

By the will of the gods, Alice succeeded in protecting Lyra from Malgor's curse for two whole years.

Malgor had lost her trail, though he still sensed her existence.

By the end of those two years, Lyra had learned every truth and transformed into a goddess as powerful as Alice.

When she turned twenty, she was denied the grand ceremonies usually held for other deities—because her power was already undeniable.

She was the union of good and evil—the balance of light and darkness.

Aserya was now her home.

She had grown accustomed to her inner strength.

She had matured, evolved—yet a few unanswered questions still lingered in her mind.

She didn't know how her parents had died.

And she still didn't understand why Alice felt so familiar.

Time flowed like water…

Two years passed.

Lyra was ready for war.

Or so she believed.

Alice still wasn't at peace.

Valtor's darkness wasn't ordinary evil.

His power sent tremors through the hearts of even the gods.

And Alice's fears came true.

At the beginning of the third year, the sky split apart.

Lightning flashed, thunder struck.

On the ho

rizon of Aserya, Valtor appeared.

The veil between good and evil had lifted.

Valtor stood before the gods and roared with fury:

> "Give me Lyra!"