The evening was calm, with most of Karmine’s residents tucked away in their homes or within their own quarters. The soft glow of street lanterns flickered against the cobblestone roads, casting long shadows in the quiet night. Guards patrolled at steady intervals, their presence ensuring order in the town.

  Standing by the street in front of Luna’s home, Elise faced Linda Greenwood, who greeted her not by the name she had come to know, but by another, Sivil. A name that had long faded from the world, unheard and unseen for years.

  Though Elise appeared as an ordinary woman to most, Linda’s vision pierced through the illusion, revealing the truth beneath. Sivil’s true form remained untouched by time—her youthful features unchanged, her presence as enigmatic as ever. Her eyes, deep and knowing, held the weight of countless years, yet her face bore no trace of age. Though the world had moved on, the one standing before Linda was still the same Sivil of legend, hidden in plain sight.

  "So… is it time?" Linda asked, her voice low yet certain. "I’m glad you finally revealed yourself to her."

  Sivil’s expression remained calm. "She was in danger earlier. They sensed her presence. I had no choice but to step in."

  She paused for a moment before adding, "The enemy’s forces are growing, even with their master still sealed. This is… alarming."

  Linda sighed, her gaze heavy with regret. "I’m sorry, Sivil… you know there is nothing I can do."

  Sivil shook her head gently. “It’s alright, Linda. You’ve already done so much good, especially for Luna… and for that, I am truly grateful.”

  “It’s the least I can do for you. You saved my life, and for that, I am forever in your debt. Thank you, Sivil." Linda said, her voice filled with sincerity.

  The weight of those words hung between them, unspoken emotions filling the silence.

  After a moment, Linda’s expression softened. Offering a gentle smile, she gestured toward the door of her home. “Say, why don’t we have some tea inside? It’s been a long time since we last had a proper conversation.”

  Sivil smiled and nodded, accepting the offer.

  The two stepped inside and settled at the dining table in the kitchen. The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the wooden table. The house was quiet, with only the faint crackling of the lantern flames filling the air as they sipped their fragrant tea in quiet contemplation.

  "Don’t worry, Luna is already asleep," Linda assured her. "We can talk freely, she won’t hear us."

  Sivil took a slow sip of her tea, then glanced upward, as if sensing something beyond the physical realm. "I can sense her energy—overflowing, yet now in a calm state."

  Linda nodded. "Yes… indeed it is."

  Though Linda was also a Nephilim, she was unlike the others. She possessed no enhanced strength, no supernatural speed, nor an overwhelming reserve of energy. Instead, she had a gift far rarer—a Celestial Sight.

  She could see through people. Not just their expressions or words, but their very essence. With a glance, she could discern if someone was good or ill-intentioned; Lies, disguises, and magical illusions are useless against her. She perceives people as they truly are, no matter what form they take; She could tell whether a person was human, Nephilim, or something else entirely—a creature in disguise, a being of magic, or just an ordinary soul. More than that, she can recognize hidden power; Even if someone is suppressing their magic, she can sense dormant strength, making her highly valuable in identifying potential threats or allies. Her senses extended beyond individuals, warning her of lurking dangers within a certain distance.

  It was a power without raw force, yet one of immeasurable worth.

  While Luna slept soundly in her room, dreaming of spells with the grimoire clutched in her arms, Sivil and Linda continued their conversation in the quiet kitchen.

  “So, are you planning to tell her?” Linda asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

  Sivil shook her head. “Not yet. But I started teaching her how to control her energy today. The gem broke. I had to make sure she could manage her mana on her own. And she can. She’s a fast learner.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  When Luna had been just two years old, Sivil had entrusted her with a green gem to stabilize her overflowing energy, preventing accidental destruction. It had acted as a safeguard, keeping her power in check. But now, that safeguard was gone, and Luna had taken her first step forward, standing on her own without it.

  Linda chuckled knowingly. “No wonder. Where do you think she got that from?”

  Sivil let out a soft giggle, but her expression quickly turned serious. “I will continue to train her. She must learn to wield her energy and defend herself. But for now, she must remain under your care. It’s far too dangerous for her to be with me.” Her tone darkened. “The Ancients and their legions still hunt me relentlessly.”

  She knew Luna was safest with Linda. Her clairvoyance would allow her to sense danger before it struck, ensuring that she could keep the girl out of harm’s way.

  Their meeting had been more than coincidence—it was fate…

  Linda had been young when she first met Sivil. Back then, Karmine was nothing more than a small village, far from the bustling town it had become. But one fateful day, the Dark Lord’s army descended upon it, leaving destruction in their wake. The village was thrown into chaos, countless lives were lost, and Linda herself had been gravely injured, moments away from death.

  Then, Sivil arrived.

  She tore through the creatures with relentless power, wiping out the dark forces that had nearly reduced Karmine to ruin. Yet even her intervention could not erase the scars left behind. The village was in shambles.

  Years passed, and the two met again under different circumstances. Sivil, now hiding under a disguise, blended in among the people and to keep dark forces away, but Linda’s Celestial Sight saw straight through it. Without hesitation, she approached her.

  "Sivil! It’s you! Look at you…you haven’t aged a day. It’s me, Linda!"

  Sivil paused for a brief moment, then smiled in recognition. "Linda… you’ve grown. How have you been?"

  That day, Sivil learned of Linda’s gift—the ability to see through disguises, sense the true nature of people, and detect hidden forces at play. From that moment on, the two formed a close bond, keeping each other informed about the growing darkness that still threatened the land.

  Linda took a slow sip of her tea, her gaze drifting toward Sivil’s staff, resting in the corner of the room. "That crimson orb… it truly is something. The energy radiating from it is incredibly strong."

  Sivil turned her head slightly, following Linda’s gaze. Her fingers tightened subtly around her cup. Her eyes lingered on the staff for a moment, and in the quiet of the room, she whispered a silent thought. Thank you, Hestia.

  Linda’s keen eyes caught the flicker of emotion. “The tether looks strong and stable… just like usual.”

  Sivil turned to Linda with a slight smile. "You haven't lost your touch. Your vision is as sharp as ever.”

  When Sivil entrusted Luna to Linda’s care, she had given her one of the Crimson Orbs, binding them through an invisible tether—an unbreakable connection linking them to the five other orbs sealing the Dark Lord.

  With her Celestial Sight, Linda could see the tether, a faint but unmistakable thread linking them across space. This connection granted Sivil the ability to instantly travel to Luna’s location, as well as to the five pillars and the ancient seal in the far north of Terra—the last defense keeping the Dark Lord imprisoned.

  "So, has anything been happening lately?"

  Linda shook her head. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything has been peaceful… thanks to you.”

  She set down her cup with a soft clink. “The town guards have done well, keeping the monsters at bay. Few knights patrol the area too and the elite guards as well, but mostly around the northern part of town—where the wealthy ensure their own security.” She sighed. “If you weren’t here, I’m not sure Karmine would stand a chance if an army of dark forces attacked again. You’re the only one I see with such immense energy… aside from Luna, but she’s still young.”

  A silence settled between them, thick with unspoken worries.

  They both knew—peace was a fragile thing, and the shadows had not forgotten them.

  As their conversation stretched into the late hours, Sivil reached into the folds of her dress and placed a red gem into Linda’s hand. “Take this,” she said. “When you’re on your own and trouble finds you, break it. Though I may not be able to reach you instantly, I’ll sense its energy—no matter where you are.”

  She paused, then added in a softer tone, “Though I hope that time never comes.”

  Linda curled her fingers around the gem, feeling the warmth of its latent power pulse against her skin. She met Sivil’s gaze, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

  “I’ll keep it safe,” she promised.

  Sivil nodded, exhaling softly as she glanced upward—toward the room where Luna lay, blissfully unaware of the burdens they carried for her sake. The child’s power was growing, and soon, the world would take notice.

  The distant toll of the bell tower marked the late hour.

  Sivil took a final sip of her tea. “The hour grows late,” she murmured. “I should get going.”

  Linda walked her to the door, the night air cool as it seeped through the threshold. The streets of Karmine were quiet now, the patrols distant, their armor glinting under the moonlight.

  Before stepping out, Sivil turned to Linda one last time. “Linda… I’m grateful I can count on you,” she said softly. “Please… be careful.”

  Linda offered a small, reassuring smile. “You as well, Sivil.”

  As the door shut, Linda lingered for a moment, tightening her grip on the gem. She knew that tonight’s peace was only temporary. The shadows were stirring. And soon, the calm would break

  Sivil glanced up at the window of Luna’s room before heading home, walking under the moonlight with the cool night breeze swirling gently around her.

  Upstairs, Luna stirred in her sleep, the grimoire still clutched in her arms, as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon.