I wake later than usual today. Perhaps it is because I am no longer traveling, or because my body still requires more time to recover.
Now, as expected, I sit beneath a shady tree, away from the crowd, quietly enjoying the view.
After reading the latest news today, this land is indeed in chaos.
I let out a heavy sigh, thinking of Oliver's execution, of Rose and the others being captured, and of Leon being gone.
I look up at the sky, unable to imagine the suffering Rose must be enduring now.
I do not know. My thoughts scatter; they are already too full. I turn toward the veil as the Doctor approaches me.
"Child?" Charlotte says, her expression slightly troubled.
"May we speak about the decision I made yesterday afternoon?" He asks, standing near me.
I nod.
"Of course. Please, have a seat," I reply.
Charlotte sits beside me, one hand massaging her forehead as if gathering the courage to speak.
"What is it?" I ask.
"I am a doctor who travels across the lands once every three years," He begins. "However, when I was treating patients at the veil in the land of Ilginisar, I noticed bruised faces and fractured jaws. The injuries were unusual—far beyond what bare hands would normally cause."
"And then?" I say. The paradise of the world, Lumineth. As far as I know, that place lies within the land of Ilgnisar.
Charlotte lowers her head slightly.
"More and more patients arrived each day. They were still underage. At first, I assumed they were victims of a group of children harassing others their age, and that an adult—someone extraordinarily strong—had struck them."
"Is that true?" I ask.
He shakes her head slowly.
"On my way back to the veil after shopping at the village market, I saw it myself. A group of children—future patients of mine—were harassing another child their age. I thought an adult would intervene. But he handled them alone, striking them one by one."
I raise an eyebrow, my curiosity stirred.
"That child was Nero," He continues, looking up at the sky. "One day he was careless and injured the king's son in that village. The king decided to punish the child who had been provoked by his own son. I was the one who saved him."
How is that possible?
"A few days later, my curiosity was answered," He continues. "His strength came from everything he had suppressed. His father was a slave—despised. His life was equally despised. He had no friends; no one wished to befriend him."
"His days were filled with bullying and humiliation. Especially when, as a child, he witnessed his father being beaten after being falsely accused of theft."
It sounds similar to my own past.
"He witnessed suffering every day, from childhood to adolescence. Then he released everything—and that power emerged."
Charlotte inhales and exhales heavily,
"He is blessed with something extraordinary, much like the blessing of the Mad Warrior from the previous generation. His fists are immensely powerful—powerful enough to kill a person with his bare hands. Yet such a gift can be misused. Instead of becoming a protector of the weak, he could become someone who believes himself the strongest and stands above all others."
He turns to me, her face filled with concern,
"That is what troubles me about the decision I made yesterday afternoon. Please, do not strengthen him only to turn him into an oppressor because of his past. Guide him to protect the weak. Let him learn from his past."
---
Night falls. Tomorrow marks one day remaining until the execution. The watchtowers light their lanterns, and the Malin royal forces increase their guard to prevent the fugitives from escaping the underground chambers of the kingdom—especially to ensure that Oliver does not escape from prison.
However, only Rose and the others' location is known to Olivia. Oliver has been confined somewhere unknown, under increasingly strict security.
Nevertheless, Olivia has now prepared her plan thoroughly. For Rose and the others, she gathers noble attire, intending to escort them out by claiming they are visiting nobles. As for Oliver—her father—a war will erupt the day after tomorrow, and she will rescue him herself.
Now Olivia stands in the noble district's market near the kingdom. She recalls that if she succeeds in bringing her father back from the execution, Hiro would likely accept him as a companion on their journey.
A faint smile appears on her lips, but it fades when she realizes she does not know where Hiro is now. Nor do Rose and the others.
Five sets of noble garments are prepared. She places them in the rear compartment of the carriage, which then departs back toward the Kingdom.
Zeco, her Covenant partner, oversees the broader plan and monitors suspicious movements. He allows Olivia's actions to proceed without direct contact until the day of execution, for he too intends to betray at the appointed time.
Upon arriving at the palace courtyard, the garments are neatly concealed beneath fruits inside several sacks. She carries them down to the underground chamber where Rose and the others are confined.
Olivia opens the door.
"This is the moment, my friends," she says, placing the sacks among them before layering the noble garments over her current clothes.
As they begin to prepare for escape, Rose remains seated, her knees drawn to her chest, head lowered.
"Rose?" Olivia calls softly.
She sits beside her and gently embraces her shoulders.
"My dear sister, be strong. You are steadfast and resilient. Please—your uncle and your close friend Hiro are waiting for you out there."
Rose slowly lifts her head, not fully, wiping her tears as Olivia helps her.
"Come. Rise. Do not drown in sorrow," Olivia says, standing and helping Rose to her feet.
Before Rose lies her noble attire, ready to be worn.
Olivia steps toward the door, listening carefully to ensure their conversation is unheard. She opens it slightly and glances around—no one is present on the lower floor.
"They will suspect me after the escape, of course. I already have an answer prepared. I have arranged a citizen's carriage atop the hill," she explains.
She exhales slowly.
"You will disembark near the hill and proceed on foot. Take the carriage and hide in the shadows until the day of execution arrives. I will drive this carriage far from the hill first."
She offers them a faint smile.
"I will follow shortly. Very well—let us begin."