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Goddess. The Moon Goddess. As though she is here with us, blessing our mission. The sky rumbles, and the wind that rises tells me more we will have rain.

Lycannar stops his horse and turns to me, and I can’t help but smile.

“In a few minutes, it will rain. I guess this is our best chance,” he says with a wink, then dismounts sharply. He walks toward me, his finger brushing over my lap as he stares. “You stick to the plan, Zephyrine. Alright?”

I nod, my smile fading as the weight of this moment settles.

“I will.”

He says nothing more. He turns back to his horse, rubs its mane as though bidding farewell, and then sets out on foot with his twin blades. His steps are too smooth, too steady, like a man in his own world.

There is no fear in him at all. It is almost dawn, yet the sky, which should be lightening, has darkened under thick clouds. As though the Moon Goddess truly walks behind us.