An immortal laid a hand upon my head

Neph swallowed. She suddenly realized that, in certain circumstances, there was no fundamental difference between this King of Angel and the members of the Aurora Order-they seemed to take greater offense at her disrespect than the True Creator himself.

One day, I swear I'll take you fanatics on!

She exhaled, lowered her eyes meekly, and said, "I saw the ritual for my advancement to demigod, but I don't understand it."

Ouroboros neither spoke nor left, so Neph continued:

"The ritual requires me to offer Eternal Winter a sacrifice that satisfies him, but-"

She raised her head, openly displaying her confusion. "Who is Eternal Winter? How am I supposed to offer him a sacrifice he'll find satisfactory? This ritual-"

She paused, staring intently at the King of Angel of the Fate pathway, and ventured, "Could there be an alternative?"

In such matters, besides those who had already walked the path, Fate and Omniscience could sometimes provide answers as well.

Neph could sense a change in Ouroboros's gaze. Though it was still directed at her, he seemed to be looking through her at something else.

Neph fell silent. After she waited a few seconds, the King of Angel spoke:

"The sea.

"The sacrifice you need is out at sea.

He paused, then raised his hand under Neph's puzzled gaze and rested it on the crown of her head.

In an instant, a cool sensation flowed downward, reaching deep into her spirituality. For a moment, all information vanished. Neph only had time to glimpse a face-a beautiful young woman's face, its most striking features her long, straight eyebrows and a pair of somewhat hazy blue eyes.

That was-

Tracy!

Neph's eyes widened. Ouroboros slowly withdrew his hand, and the last words fell beside her ear:

"...is connected to her."

Before Neph could recover,