The visions of that ancient past ended. I thought I would be back in the real world, but I found myself in an endless black void with nothing in it except the young woman from the memories.
Komera. Daughter of Pangu.
She stared at me, and her eyes were full of hesitation. It seemed like she wasn't sure about my identity. Komera took a deep breath and asked with uncertainty, "Umm… Father? No… Richard?"
This struck a nerve; why am I always mistaken for either of those two? She sensed my annoyance and was unsure of what to say next. I sighed and bowed my head slightly, "No, I am neither. My name is Orion Fistore. You must be Komera, right?"
She nodded, "I am. You have a striking resemblance to my Father…"
"I am a descendant of Pangu. My appearance, however, is because of Richard."
"How so?" Komera looked extremely interested in that all of a sudden. "Are you his son? Grandson?"
I raised an eyebrow as I certainly wasn't expecting this reaction from her. I shook my head and replied, "His clone."
"Clone?" she replied, stunned at my answer.
"Sort of. It's complicated."
She seemed to understand something and sighed. Then she suddenly chuckled, "So Richard grows up to look exactly like my Father. Oh, he must hate that!"
I was starting to form an answer to my next question, but I asked nonetheless, "Are you… Richard's mother?"
"In name only," she replied, looking dejected. "I didn't have a chance to be a mother to my quiet little boy. I will die way before that."
I looked at her with a complicated expression. By all rights, this woman is technically my own mother. I knew Richard was a descendant of Pangu, but I never imagined that he would be a first-generation grandson. "How is he? Is he exactly like you? I mean the hair and the eyes? Is he still refusing to make a sound? Is he… a good monarch?"
"Black hair, even blacker eyes. He talks only when he feels like it. And I suppose he is a good ruler as he ruled for millions of years."
She looked proud and said, "It's good that he was able to forge a life for himself. I was never able to go and see him in his original castle, nor in the Mansion of Night later on due to the complications of his time travel.
"But enough about my son. You must be looking for that shard of my Father's axe, right?"
"That's right," I nodded, slightly relieved that the awkward part of this conversation is over.
"Why?"
"You haven't figured it out?"
"I have my doubts. However, be a dear and tell me why regardless."
"Pangu is alive, just in another form of life. When he 'died' back then, his soul managed to escape to the axe. But the weapon was never able to withstand his soul, so it fractured. I am trying to make him whole again," I explained.
Her eyes went down to my hips, to my sword, and asked, "And that's what became of my Father."
I sighed. This woman still doesn't know the fate that had befallen Pangu, and she was owed an explanation. It was at that moment that I remembered the awfully silent Pangu. He hadn't said a single word yet. I incentivized him to say something, and prepared for another round of awkward conversations.
"Komera…" He started, although his voice was barely audible.
"Father… I can't believe it. It's really you!" she said, although her emotions were at an all-time high at this moment.
"It is, and isn't. I am not the same, dear Daughter," he replied. "Komera. I know that no matter what I say, it won't be enough. But still, I am sorry for the burden that I had put you through all these years."
"It was hard, yes, but not something that I couldn't take care of," she replied, although from her tone it was clear that it was extremely tough.
"I left suddenly, and left you with no knowledge about the Divine Eye whatsoever. Hard is an understatement. I can only ask for your forgiveness in shame now."
Komera shook her head and said, "There's nothing to forgive. Circumstances weren't on our side. And I did manage to pass through it all and lived a content life with my family. I just regret that I didn't have more time with Richard."
"You managed to complete the Eye?" I asked in surprise.
She nodded and said, "It took two centuries, but I still managed to complete my version of it. Yet… I will still die after we exit this void. I don't know why, but my life will end after this without any doubt."
"How can you be so sure?" Pangu asked, devastated that the Divine Eye wasn't able to remove the threat of death from his daughter.
"I unlocked my seer powers after I completed my Eye. It's quite different to usual seers, for everything I have seen has come to happen. I think this is also part of it."
"All this time I thought you didn't manage to complete the Eye, and I thought that was the cause for your death… I wish I had more time with you, my dear."
"I wish that too. But all things come to an end. It was an honor being your daughter."
Komera looked back at me, and the axe shard appeared in her hand. She extended her arm and addressed me, "Take it, Orion. Please take care of both of my Father and Son. They don't always get along, but I am sure that will change with your presence. May it serve you well. Please, tell him… Tell my boy that I love him."
I nodded with gratitude and took the shard. With that, the black void disappeared, and we were back in the wooden house. "She led a good life," I said to Pangu.
"Yes. Yes, she did," he sighed.
I looked at the shard in my palm and asked him, "Are you ready?"
He nodded, and it was full of determination. I fused the final shard with my sword. It glowed brilliantly for some time before it died down. I sensed Pangu diving into a deep sleep, and I think he won't be awake for quite a while.
The first part of the prophecy was completed!
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Updated on 22/5/2026
