Daylight ended, and the star sank behind the black mountain range.
The paper umbrella opened, floating and slowly turning as it sheltered the small figure lying on the ground in a deep sleep. The temperature dropped, and the wind gently stirred her hair, yet she never woke. Her duplicate did not know what had happened and dared not make any rash move, standing silently by to wait. The dragon spear stood wordlessly, cold and grim...
In the frigid night, the stars turned from one side of the sky to the other, and now and then meteors fell to the ground.
When the star's light once again illuminated the gray, lifeless planet, the tip of her tail twitched.
She slowly raised her head and woke.
The air was thin, cold, and dry. Her sweat had long since dried.
Bracing herself with both hands, she sat up and recalled the mirrored visions she had seen before fainting. It all felt unreal, as though she had dreamed some absurd dream. She had drifted through the starry sky for who knew how many years, wandering in circles until she reached this place, crossing time and space to witness an ancient war against the dragon race. Was it fate, or merely coincidence?
The ruins were desolate and silent—so silent that not a single sound could be heard.
She withdrew her duplicate and stood, looking left and right. Aside from rocks, Yellow Sand, and the enormous square cauldron, she was the only one in the entire world. Lonely, with a sour ache rising in her heart.
She put on her hood, picked up the dragon spear, and flew toward the Dragon Palace ruins without a word.
With a bewildered expression, she flew over the ruins and passed between the four claws of the Divine Dragon Statue.