Chapter 398.1

Eugene’s eyes fluttered open, and a murmur escaped her lips.

“Today,” she whispered, gently rubbing her belly. “Today is a very important day. So, please be a good baby, alright?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Since the fetal movement began, the baby’s movements had grown stronger with each passing day. As if boasting its growth within her womb, the little one kicked and wiggled with increasing vigor. Naturally, with the ever-expanding belly came a bigger, stronger baby, and its movements were becoming more noticeable, even burdensome at times.

An unsettling silence greeted her this morning. Usually, the baby would greet her with a flurry of kicks the moment she woke, as if asking for playtime. Eugene smiled and patted her belly reassuringly.

“That’s right,” she crooned. “Good baby.”

Others might scoff and call it a pregnant woman’s fancy, but Eugene felt a deep connection with her child, even within the womb. It wasn’t just wishful thinking. An Anika’s Ramita could very well synchronize with a baby’s Praz, its burgeoning life force.

“This must be the most special ability Anikas possess,” she thought, a pang of sadness accompanying the realization. It was a cruel twist that the monster’s machinations had robbed Anikas of experiencing this profound bond between mother and child for so long.

“Things need to change now,” Eugene declared with newfound resolve.

Eugene summoned her maid to prepare for the morning routine. Washing, dressing, and breakfast – these mundane tasks stretched on tediously today. As soon as she finished her meal, Eugene hurried to her study and opened two notebooks.

She addressed Aldrit first. [Noon today. Everything confirmed?]

A swift reply arrived. [Yes, Your Highness. We’re all set.]

[Excellent. Thank you for your diligence. I’ll contact you again before noon. Report any developments, no matter how insignificant.]

[Understood, Your Highness.]

At high noon, they would activate the spell for Flora’s arrival. This spell would transport her from the wanderers’ hideout to the kingdom. Upon use, the departure point’s spell circle would vanish, but it could be easily redrawn if Flora needed to return.

After discussing with Kasser, they decided to keep the desert station operational for a while after Flora’s arrival. Dismantling it immediately felt wasteful, especially considering the effort Eugene had poured into its creation. Additionally, it could serve as an emergency transport point for Aldrit.

Switching to the other notebook, she found Kasser’s usual morning greeting. Following pleasantries, she moved to business.

[Flora will arrive at noon as scheduled. How’s the atmosphere in the castle?]

[It’s no different from usual.]

[What about the others?]

[They should be arriving at the designated zone around noon after moving last night. Remember, maintain a safe distance from Anika Flora, never be alone with her.]

[I will. Don’t worry, I’ll be cautious.]

A sigh escaped Eugene’s lips as she closed the notebook. Thoughts of Flora filled her with a sense of unease. Aldrit had reported Flora’s intense focus on spellcraft, a dedication that only amplified Eugene’s anxieties. �

Putting herself in Flora’s shoes, Eugene struggled to imagine such a swift acceptance of a shattered worldview. How readily could one accept the crumbling of their core beliefs? If Flora had truly made peace with this revelation, she possessed an exceptionally strong will.

Eugene whispered a silent plea, “Flora, choose wisely. Let peace guide your decision, for the sake of the Holy City.”

Elber slowly opened her eyes. She lifted her head and stared into the void, as if she could see something.

***

An unsettling feeling gnawed at Alber. It was a peculiar sensation, defying description. Her senses intertwined with an unknown perception beyond human grasp, constricting her very being. It screamed of impending change.

Strange premonitions, an innate ability sharpening with age, occasionally visited her. It felt as if the world itself whispered secrets. These moments triggered her foresight magic.

Today’s premonition, however, was different. More intense, yet paradoxically peaceful. Past anxieties about missing the perfect casting moment were gone. Her mind, a still lake reflecting a serene sky, was unruffled.

For some time, Alber had sensed an internal shift, the reason for which she vaguely suspected. It began with Jin’s gift – a fragment of the forbidden spell. Contemplating it shattered the limitations that had confined her. Her subconscious world transformed, exploding from a confined garden into an endless forest.

Wandering this vast expanse, her worries dissolved. Pain and happiness ceased to exist, the lines between life and death blurring. She felt on the precipice of complete merging with the world.

Yet, an unseen tether held her back. It was a lingering attachment to this world, something unresolved that danced just beyond her grasp. Alber squeezed her eyes shut, straining to reach it, feeling as though the answer lay just a hair’s breadth away.