What is evil?
It is the absence of reflection.
What is good?
It is the relentless pursuit of thought.
These were the definitions of good and evil that Vera had co to understand.
She didn't claim these as absolute truths, nor did she believe they should be.
After all, good and evil varied based on circumstance and individual.
What mattered was building a frawork of one's own.
In this sense, Vera's worldview was resolute.
Why did such a young girl have such a firm grasp on morality?
Because she wanted to believe she was good.
"...Ah."
A vast, bottomless expanse of water stretched out below her.
Vera slowly rose to her feet.
It seed she had been pulled back into her Inner World.
But sothing new stood before her.
A massive black serpent.
Its eyes glead with red stars that radiated light like a cosmic aura.
Even though her Black dragon was enormous, it was nothing compared to this serpent.
Its sheer size was such that it could crush the palace of an emperor with just the tip of its tail.
The serpent rose from beneath the waters—a representation of the malice hidden within her since birth.
It was the essence of the Celestial Blade Star.
"Grrrrr..."
The Black dragon growled at her side, now so large that its shoulders stood taller than her head.
And yet, it was no match for even a single scale of this monstrous serpent.
This was no ordinary creature. It was a fragnt of a star embedded within her soul.
Even if that star was one of malice, it was a fragnt of eternity—a shard of countless cycles of destruction.
"A destiny, then…" Vera murmured quietly.
Her left hand reached for the hilt of the Falling Blossom Sword.
The surface beneath her feet rippled like water. This was her Inner World, the realm of her subconscious.
What governs the heart of a person?
Is it the self?
For most, it is not.
Humans are swayed by their circumstances and the conditions of their birth.
Her condition was the Celestial Blade Star.
Her circumstances were a life driven by vengeance.
But her heart had been hardened.
And so, in the depths of her soul, she drew her sword against the heavenly envoy of malice threatening to consu her.
[You have awakened twice now.]
The serpent did not open its mouth. Its will simply manifested in her mind.
A shiver ran down Vera's spine.
She understood instinctively.
This was a power beyond human comprehension—a cosmic entity.
The serpent's massive head lowered toward her slowly.
The Black dragon, undeterred, leapt toward the serpent's glowing eyes.
But that was as far as it got.
The serpent's tail whipped through the air faster than sight.
Thud!
With a sickening crack, the Black dragon was slamd into the ground beside her.
Though it was not dead—it was a manifestation of her own energy—it lay trembling and immobile.
[A beast cannot recognize a giant.]
The serpent's slitted pupils narrowed, its gaze piercing.
Vera stood between it and the fallen Black dragon, sword in hand.
In her pitch-black eyes, a star ignited, and her blade radiated with a small but brilliant light.
Even if the world condemned her as a being of malice,
She was a swordswoman born under a star.
[You are a resolute one.]
The serpent lowered its massive head to et her gaze.
Even with its jaw resting on the surface of the water, its eyes were far above her.
It was a being of unimaginable vastness, a cosmic wanderer that traveled the void between stars.
[Listen to my na, child.]
The serpent did not speak words that could be understood.
And yet, Vera heard it.
Sothing that should not be heard.
"―Hah!"
Vera bolted upright, gasping for air.
Her sudden movent startled Ethan, who had been poking her cheek playfully. He tumbled backward, landing with a loud crash.
"Ah! What the hell!"
"Ethan, mind your language."
"Even senior brother was startled!"
He wasn't wrong.
Marcus, though frozen in place, had reacted just as strongly in his own way. His hands trembled as he gripped his chair.
Ethan, embarrassed, waved his hands as if to disperse the atmosphere.
His flustered expression made it clear his outburst had been involuntary.
Vera blinked at him, her gaze shifting to Marcus.
Sothing felt strange.
Though she had been unconscious, her clothes were clean and girlish—unlike the blood-soaked robes she last rembered.
"…Senior Brother."
"Yes, Vera. You've woken up."
"My robes…"
"The servants of the Fiery Blade clan are washing them for you."
The first thing she did upon waking was ask about her robes.
The light, soft clothing she now wore felt unfamiliar. She shifted uncomfortably, her confusion evident.
Finally, her eyes fell on Ethan, who was still on the floor.
"Why is senior brother on the ground…?"
"You scared !"
Ethan clambered back into his chair, his expression full of mock indignation.
Marcus picked up the damp cloth that had fallen to the floor.
He pressed it gently against Vera's forehead, pushing her back down onto the bed.
"Ugh."
"Stay still and rest."
"But… I don't have a fever…"
"You do. A high one."
As he said, the cloth in his hand felt lukewarm. But as it touched her forehead, Vera frowned. It was colder than she had expected.
"How long have I been lying here?"
"Several hours. A few Hours have passed."
"Then… the Fiery Blade clan must already be heading to Hollow Demon Valley—"
Vera tried to rise, but Marcus's hand pressed her shoulder back down.
His expression turned stern.
"Lie down."
"But…"
"The Family Head said he would first gather the people and recover. There's no rush."
Only then did Vera sigh in relief.
She avoided the embarrassnt of being bedridden after volunteering to help. Or perhaps, that wasn't the real reason.
There was an instinctive sense of urgency gnawing at her—a feeling that leaving this matter to others would be disastrous.
"Did you have a nightmare? You were feverish and groaning. We were worried."
"Yeah, senior brother didn't sleep at all."
"Why didn't you rest?"
Marcus let out a heavy sigh.
"How could I sleep when you were like that? I'd have woken you if you scread, but you just lay there, sweating and writhing."
"Did I really…?"
"Yes, Vera. That's what happened."
She bit her lower lip in guilt, but Marcus quickly pressed a finger against her lips.
"Don't. You'll hurt yourself."
"…Yes."
They were just as they always were.
Marcus, with his quiet concern.
Ethan, with his mischievous energy.
But was she still the sa as before?
"I saw a serpent… a massive one."
"A serpent? In your dream?"
"Sothing like that."
Ethan looked puzzled, and Marcus wasn't much different.
Vera knew it was ti to tell them the truth.
The essence of the Celestial Blade Star was slaughter and carnage.
By staying by her side, they might beco entangled in the cruel consequences of her fate.
Of course, they were her senior brothers. They wouldn't abandon her like strangers.
But she wanted to give them the choice.
If the worst ca to pass…
She wanted them to have the option to turn away.
"There's sothing I need to tell you."
"Oh? Senior brother, Vera says she has sothing to say."
"I heard her."
She took a deep breath.
She was afraid.
Afraid of seeing the warm gaze of her senior brothers turn cold.
"…I am the Celestial Blade Star."
Both Marcus and Ethan's eyes wavered.
They looked at each other, confusion and shock evident in their gazes, before turning back to her.
Vera dropped her head, unable to et their eyes.
"And there is soone I must kill."
The air in the room turned frigid.
Ethan, unsure how to react, darted his eyes around nervously.
But Marcus was different.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, senior brother."
"Then we will help you kill them."
"…What?"
Even Ethan was stunned, staring at Marcus in disbelief.
Vera, too, was at a loss for words, raising her head in shock.
"I've seen enough of you to know. It hasn't been long, only a few months, but isn't that right, Ethan?"
"Well… I suppose that's true…"
"Would Vera kill anyone without reason? Is that the kind of person she is?"
"No, she wouldn't, but still…"
Marcus smiled softly, patting Vera's shoulder.
"What does it matter if you're the Celestial Blade Star?"
"I…"
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"You're my junior sister. Ethan is your senior brother. And I'm your senior brother as well."
The emblem of Mount Suncrest, a bright red cherry blossom, was embroidered on Marcus's chest.
Its petals blood brilliantly, as if yearning for eternity.
And yet, the blossom would inevitably wither, only to bloom again in another season.
"We are family, Vera. We share the sa master, the sa path."
"…Even so…"
"Which ans your enemy is our enemy."
Vera placed a hand on her forehead.
This wasn't what she wanted.
She rubbed her face with both hands, only to see her two senior brothers smiling at her.
A weak chuckle escaped her lips.
Should she call them fools?
Or thank them?
The answer was clear.
"…Thank you."
She wondered how they'd react once they learned who her enemy truly was.
But for now, she felt at ease.
Because she knew that, no matter what, these two would stand behind her.
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