The Hidden Valley...
Night had fallen.
The gentle chirping of insects echoed throughout the forest while the three moons illuminated the peaceful valley.
Inside the wooden cottage...
Kieran slept peacefully, hugging the small pillow Crystal had made for him years ago.
Outside...
Crystal stood alone atop a cliff overlooking the valley.
The silver invitation rested quietly in her hand.
The wind gently lifted strands of her emerald hair.
Behind her...
Kael silently approached.
"You've been staring at that scroll for hours."
Crystal smiled faintly.
"I know."
"You still haven't decided?"
"No."
Kael folded his arms.
"I thought the answer would be obvious."
"It was."
"And now?"
"...It isn't."
---
For several moments...
Only silence remained.
Finally...
Kael spoke.
"You're afraid."
Crystal's expression didn't change.
"...Yes."
The Beast Lord looked surprised.
It was the first time in all the years he had known her that Crystal had admitted to fearing something.
Not an enemy.
Not death.
Not battle.
But fear nonetheless.
---
"I fought countless battles."
"I crossed the Chaos Channel."
"I've stood against Monarchs."
"I've even challenged Domain experts before becoming a Sovereign."
Her voice remained calm.
Almost emotionless.
"But none of those frightened me."
She looked toward the cottage.
"Losing him does."
---
Kael sighed.
"You can't protect him forever."
"I know."
"You also can't hide him forever."
"I know."
"The world will eventually find him."
Crystal closed her eyes.
"...I know."
---
"But..."
Kael continued.
"...you're still hesitating."
Crystal slowly nodded.
"When he leaves this valley..."
"He'll no longer belong only to me."
"He'll belong to the world."
---
Far away...
Within the depths of an abandoned mountain...
Several hooded figures surrounded an enormous stone table.
Each robe bore the image of a black serpent devouring the sun.
The atmosphere was oppressive.
Dangerous.
At the head of the table sat a tall man wearing a bone-white mask.
Unlike the others...
No Magna leaked from his body.
He seemed...
Empty.
One of the elders stepped forward.
"Lord Arbiter."
"Our spies report that the Grand Academy has begun issuing invitations."
The masked man remained silent.
Another elder spoke.
"Our preparations are nearly complete."
"We await only your command."
Still...
Silence.
---
After what felt like an eternity...
The masked man finally opened his eyes.
They were completely silver.
Without pupils.
Without emotion.
"The child?"
The elder lowered his head.
"...Still missing."
A terrifying pressure instantly filled the chamber.
Several elders dropped to one knee.
Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.
"We searched every known realm connected to Melika."
"No trace."
"No bloodline fluctuations."
"No ancient inheritance."
"It's as though..."
"He vanished."
The pressure slowly receded.
"Continue."
"Yes, Lord Arbiter."
---
Once everyone had left...
The masked man remained alone.
He reached into his robe.
A cracked crystal emerged.
Within it...
A single strand of golden light floated quietly.
If Crystal had been present...
She would have immediately recognized it.
It was identical to the light produced by Arcana Magna.
The masked man stared at it.
"So..."
"Someone still lives."
His fingers slowly tightened around the crystal.
It shattered.
The golden light disappeared into the darkness.
---
Back in the Hidden Valley...
Crystal suddenly opened her eyes.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"...Someone..."
Kael immediately became alert.
"What is it?"
She looked toward the northern sky.
"For a brief moment..."
"I felt..."
She frowned.
"No..."
"It disappeared."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"An enemy?"
"I don't know."
"But whatever it was..."
"It felt ancient."
---
The following morning...
Kieran stretched lazily before running outside.
"Mama!"
Crystal turned.
He was smiling brightly.
"I caught breakfast!"
He proudly held up two fish almost as long as his arm.
Kael burst into laughter.
"You've finally become useful!"
"I'm always useful!"
Crystal couldn't help smiling.
The uneasy feeling from the previous night slowly faded.
For now...
Kieran was still just a child.
He deserved to laugh.
To play.
To grow.
She would not allow the shadows of her past to steal that from him.
Not yet.
---
Far above the valley...
The old hawk from days before returned once again.
This time...
It did not descend.
Instead...
It circled once.
Then twice.
Its sharp golden eyes lingered on Kieran.
The boy suddenly looked up.
For a brief moment...
Their gazes met.
The hawk froze.
Something within its instincts screamed.
Not danger.
Recognition.
It immediately spread its wings and disappeared beyond the clouds.
Kieran tilted his head.
"...Strange."
"What is?"
Crystal asked.
"The bird..."
"It looked like it knew me."
Crystal's smile remained gentle.
But inwardly...
Her heart skipped a beat.
Some meetings...
Were not accidents.
And some eyes...
Saw far more than they should.
The peaceful days of the Hidden Valley were slowly drawing to an end.
The world had begun looking back.
End of Chapter 30