Bercetia seemed unconcerned by Gawain's assessment. She merely raised her head, looking at the starry night sky and the glow lingering near the clouds at its edges—the lights on the ground had pierced the night, casting their afterglow into the heavens. Countless artificial lights kept most of the city as active as daytime even after nightfall, and the additional illumination made the starlight itself seem considerably dimmer.
In the Silver Empress's memories, it had been centuries since she had seen such brilliant lights in the human world.
"I'll be leaving in two days," she suddenly said to Gawain after a moment of silence. "It's been decided."
"The schedule was moved up?" Gawain raised an eyebrow. "I remember that according to the original plan, you were supposed to stay here for quite a while longer—there was still much you hadn't seen at Project 115 and the 'Gate' project."
"I know, but I've been away from the Silver Empire for too long," Bercetia said with a smile. "Sage Azmor's matter, along with those of the other Druid sages, has been settled, but those cultists won't simply vanish on their own. Every day I remain away from the royal court gives those restless elements another reason to emerge, and now they've emerged more or less enough. I need to return and put an end to this three-thousand-year mess."
Gawain glanced at the elven empress beside him. Beneath the starlight, her face remained as serene and calm as ever, yet hidden deep in those eyes was a resolute will like the bitter northern wind. Such determination was badly needed by the Silver Empire now, but Gawain could not help reminding her, "Do you remember what you promised Sage Azmor?"
"...Of course I remember," Bercetia sighed softly. "Those who truly follow the path of the