Hysilens released Keleradra's collar, letting her steady herself in the shallow water.
Keleradra staggered, quickly regained her balance, and looked up at the sea demon woman towering far above her.
So this was the sea demon the dean spoke of?
At last, Hysilens spoke. Her voice was soft, like a thin sheet of ice covering the water's surface.
"Yes. They were all lost."
Keleradra did not respond at once.
She looked into Hysilens's eyes. Within those peculiar eyes, something seemed to be slowly flowing.
It was neither tears nor anger, only something that had not appeared for a very, very long time.
A faint warmth.
Then Keleradra raised a hand and pointed toward the direction from which the stream flowed—the vast sea stretching between heaven and earth. Slowly, she swept her hand in an arc toward the continent behind them, then finally pointed at the sky.
"I am Keleradra, Princess of the Balak Kingdom and holder of military authority in Fasinuo Province. My ambition is to make every city-state upon this continent bow before my Caesar, to shatter the decayed barriers of the sects, and to make this world operate according to my laws. This road is long and difficult."
She paused.
"But at the end of that road, a feast awaits—a feast that will never end, a feast for the victors. Fine wine, music, blazing lights. Everyone can laugh, sing, and dance there until dawn."
Hysilens shuddered and stared into her eyes.
The stream flowed past their feet. The muddy sediment gradually settled, and the water slowly became clear.
"...A feast."
Hysilens repeated the word, her voice so soft, as though afraid of breaking something.
"Do you promise?"
"I swear upon the name of the Princess of Barak."
Keleradra held out her hand. It was a small hand.
Yet