Why is she not here yet?

Cina has kept a watch on that girl since the trial. He's been waiting in the woods since her arrival. When she doesn't appear when she should have, he furrows his brows.

The Dark God's bride hasn't left the castle. It seems that Adira won't let her leave. He has clearly heard a whisper that Kresi would leave with that child.

He presses his palm on the tree and closes his eyes, listening to the voices of his children all over the world. Through the senses of his children, he finds himself in Unbroken Fog, a redeveloped forest that existed in the pre-war era. Obviously, the forest is definitely not the same. What's lost in the war cannot be recreated. He could only make something similar to it. Cina clenches his teeth. She's really there.

He's duped. The girl didn't take the usual path to the Dark Castle. She's too smart. Did she guess that he would hinder her journey?

Cina's figure crumbles into countless tiny leaves, flowing with the wind in the direction of the Unbroken Fog. He's going to do the same thing that she did to his daughter. Whilst he's at it, he will also take care of that nameless child.

If that nameless child and the Renasir don't meet with the stipulated time, the child would be killed.

After promising Aren that she would give him the one on one battle that she promised him on that night, Kresi takes out the Serpent's Sting. Though most godly weapons require channelling ehr, this weapon can work without ehr. There's a rumour that Sion created this with mortals in his mind. Even if magic is common in this world, every living being's ability to wield ehr is not the same. In this unequal world, abilities are decided by innate talent, bloodline, hard work, attitude, and perseverance. Just having immense talent isn't enough either.

Sorcerers, called Sehr in the old language, wield magic through channelling ehr through their vessels. Contractual Wizards or Wahr can wield magic if they make a contract with a compatible spirit. Usually, their familiar spirit is already chosen for them before they are born. Both Sehr and Wahr are different from each other. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. Wizards are physically stronger with extra senses. They can wield magic, though it's limited to the magic that their spirits have, and they also have a companion. Sorcerers don't have such limitations, but they are physically weaker too.

What about the broken ones?

She did meet broken ones before. In the lower realms, wielding magic isn't common. The commoners' ehr vessels are usually broken. They are born like that. Some get their vessels broken as a punishment or a part of the cruelty. Broken vessels can't be rejoined again -- not by the usual healers. Gods can heal them, but they don't do it usually. There is the Renasir, nearly equal to a God. But Ari has to be taught how to fix the channelling vessels.

Anyway, she's not helpless. Humans always find some way to make it possible. In the beggar cities, experiments have been done and results are made into a weapon. A different kind of sorcerers is born from the shadows of the beggar cities. The gods might or might not be aware of it. Well, they try to remain aloof as much as possible.

When the tiny autumn leaves arrive with the wind, the corner of her lips curls up. That God is in for the fun.

The autumn leaves gather together into a human form, swirling as it merges together. As it takes shape, Cina's figure starts to manifest. Aren inhales sharply. It's truly the God of trees. Do all the gods secretly want Kresi to die? God Noras has allowed Kresi to stay in this world.

Cina opens his eyes and looks at the girl standing in front of him. There's no trace of fear on that face. She's studying him as he's studying her. He turns his gaze toward Aren and frowns at him. Why is this person here? He doesn't want to offend Noras by hurting his people. Arenyr Starfire might have rescinded his title, but he's still a Starfire. That bloodline has served Noras for a long time.

"God Cina." Aren gives him a deep bow. The god is certainly here with a different motive, but it's best if he tries peaceful ways first. "We apologize for entering your territory without your permission. We are heading to the Dark Castle. Please allow us to pass through your land."

The boy is upright. He has no qualms with this boy. But his presence is a problem. "Mortal, I give you permission. Leave."

"You are kind, God Cina." Aren's jubilant voice makes him smile. It seems that the boy would leave without any issue. Where's the nameless child though?

Aren turns to Kresi and grabs her wrist. "Let's go."

"Wait." God Cina eyes them darkly. "Why are you taking her with you?"

Still pretending that he has no clue about Cina's motive, Aren says to the angry god, "God Cina, you have seen what happened at the trial. The Renasir wants to see her."

"She's not allowed to leave." Cina takes a step toward them. "Leave when I am still considering your link to Noras."

"I don't understand." Aren shakes his head slightly. "Why can't she leave with me?"

"She's the reason why my daughter is dead." That's not all. During the war that she caused, forests were destroyed. How many of his children died back then? Only Belan was left. Cina takes a deep breath. "Arenyr Starfire, hand over that creature to me."

"God Noras allowed her to stay here." Aren pulls her toward him, shielding her body. "She has no debts. Her sins were forgiven."

"I don't remember forgiving her." Cina jeers at Aren. He points at the girl who is half-hidden behind Aren's body. "I would eat her just like the way your mother's soul and Belan's essence were eaten. Don't you want the same thing? Whether her name is Amara or Kresi, she's a sinner. She must be given the same treatment that she gave the world."

Standing behind Aren, she jerks Aren's hand off her. She glances at the snakes curled around her wrists like bracelets. She slips her hand inside her pocket and takes out a vial with a silvery glow. She turns her back to Cina and quickly empties the content in her mouth. It's barely a drop. She purses her lips as a searing pain spreads in her veins. The vessels on her veins bulge with a silvery glow. She pulls the sleeve and hides it. She uncurls the serpents with her left hand.

Aren knits his brows. Her back is touching his. Even though there are layers of fabric between them, he senses the magic throbbing in her body. Her temperature is rising. How is this possible? "God Cina, she has already paid for her sins. Being reincarnated for more than ten thousand years to die as a harbinger is more than enough. Also, I think that you should rethink this. In the trial, God Noras is letting her live here. No one protested it back then. If you, a main god of Iravan, try to harm her now, it won't look good on you."