The immortal’s memories weren’t eternal.

Splash. Splash.

Freya walked through the flooded street of Lune.

The skystorm had carried a large amount of water onto the land; and the irrigation system seemed to be clogged, blocked by the wreckage which the violent wind had caused. Buildings had pieces of their roofs scrapped away, their bricks pushed off, and their glasses shattered.

‘…’

Freya stopped on her tracks.

Woosh.

The wind blew. Freya thought she had heard a voice.

‘It’s the end for all of us…’ said a man rummaging through the flood. His face was sunken with despair. ‘The skystorm will finally cause its demise upon us.’

‘Everything ends,’ said his companion. ‘Didn’t expect the end to be so near though.’

The skystorm was clearly troubling the people of Lune. Regardless, there was nothing Freya could do to help. She was just a simple swordsperson; and the storm was a giant natural disaster. Not to mention, she was pressed by time.

Lune isn’t as hopeless as they claim to be, Freya thought, then continued her walk.

After all, if those men had fallen into despair over the situation, they wouldn’t be trying to clear the irrigation system. Them still trying their best was enough proof that hope remained.

Splash. Splash.

She continued through the flooded street of Lune, avoided stepping on the floating wreckage caused by the skystorm; and pushed them away from the irrigation system with her feet when she passed by.

‘…’

Again, Freya heard a voice.

She looked around, searching for the source, but there was none. She was currently alone.

Freya placed a hand on her shoulder.

The voice was too soft to listen; and she considered it might just be the wind whispering to her. Though it bothered her, Freya decided to ignore it, for her priority was to arrange the travel to Malegonia.

The voice is most likely nothing.

After a while of walking—finally stepping on a street which was wet but not flooded—she arrived at the harbor.

Walking through the piers, she could see that some ships made of weak wood had their parts torn and scrapped away by the skystorm. None of the sailors, however, gave up on their ships; and they were meticulously repairing their sea vessel.

Freya kept going until she reached an enclosed dock, the place where the Stormpiercer was being kept, with sword worshippers stationed outside. The location of the ship had been known; and it seemed that the monster worshippers were aiming for it. Thus, the place was guarded.

‘Good afternoon,’ one of the two sword worshippers stationed at the entrance greeted Freya with respect.

The other was confused by his companion’s behavior and whispered, ‘Who’s she?’

‘She’s the new sword saint, show some respect.’

His eyebrows raised in surprise, then he too greeted, ‘Good afternoon.’

It’s just a title, Freya thought.

To her, there wasn’t anything special about being the sword saint. Getting the Stormpiercer was her only reason for wanting the title. After she had traveled to Malegonia, she intended to pass the title to someone else if possible.

Freya nodded to the sword worshippers in response, then entered.

Inside the dock was more sword worshippers, helping the sailors in carrying crates of provisions into the ship for the days of travel to come. Sailors who Drizzle had hand-picked.

She could see him near the ship, with a paper on his hand, keeping watch of the provisions.

‘When are we leaving?’ Freya asked as she approached.

‘Huh? Lass! Didn’t see ya!’ Drizzle remarked. ‘We’re leaving when the skystorm is near.’

‘Not after the skystorm has passed?’

‘We’re bound to fight the skystorm during the travel anyway. The others wanted safety. Said if near Lune, suppose they fail the passing, they could miraculously be carried to land and survive. Least they’re brave enough to challenge the skystorm.’

The reasoning sounded good to her. The sailors’ morale would be important.

Leaving even sooner than expected.

***

‘Have you remembered it?’

Kokuri ignored the leader of the monster worshippers. Her stare remained at the paper she was holding. One written with a magic formula.

She might have herself a bad memory, as proven from how she couldn’t remember the leader’s name. However, she could remember complicated information if she committed herself to it.

I won’t forget this. At least for a week, Kokuri thought.

‘That formula will be crucial for our plan,’ he said.

Silence.

Kokuri closed her eyes. In the darkness of her mind, she drew the magic formula. When she opened her eyes and compared her imagination with the paper, it was a match. Without hesitance, she tore the paper to pieces; letting it fall.

‘Done.’

‘Then I will prepare other matters.’

The leader left the doorway.

Kokuri was inside one of the monster worshipper’s bases in Lune, specifically inside its best room. Sitting on a chair, having committed the formula to memory, Kokuri had nothing much to do save for waiting.

She had lived through the ages because of her immortality. It wasn’t that she was forgetful; but rather, she couldn’t remember everything. From one point in time, she had no choice but to forget in order to remember.

In truth, she had forgotten her real name.

Her closest to true name was one given to her, which was embroidered inside the collar of her kimono.

This kimono, given to her by a mage, could repair itself like she would when damaged. Hence, the reason why the clothing stayed; and why the name continued being with her.

A name which remained with her the longest.

You should have written your name here too… That way, I wouldn’t have forgotten yours…

***

Freya waited inside the enclosed dock.

She could hear hints of patters from the roof, ocean water carried by the skystorm. Soon, she would have to depart, and there were no signs of her allies.

If they’re not coming, perhaps this is farewell, Freya thought.

Freya doubted that the sanctum’s matter could be finished in less than half-a-month. Counting the travel time to Malegonia by ship and the amount of time she had left from the curse, suppose that they chose to stay, this might as well be farewell. Catching up was very unlikely given the time constraints.

Leaning on the deck’s railing, Freya had herself doubts on whether leaving today was the right choice.

Her upper right arm ached, remembering the kunai stab from an immortal.

She had fought her here.

‘You can’t kill me.’

‘…’ Freya stared into empty air.

‘Lass!’ Drizzle called from below. ‘Someone’s here!’

Freya turned and looked down, seeing only Elaine.

She went to the railing’s opening and descended the ladder.

‘Ray and Dunnford chose to stay,’ Elaine said once Freya had gone off the ship. Oddly, she wasn’t surprised by their decision.

‘You’re staying too?’ Freya noticed that Elaine didn’t carry her belongings.

Her gloved hand, on the side, formed a fist. ‘I want to help you with your curse… I do. But I can’t leave. A threat is looming and…’

She trailed off; there was a momentary silence. Her face was anguished, tortured by the choice she had to make.

‘I once chose to remain in the sidelines when something happened. And I regretted it. I don’t want it to happen again. I want to stay here—and then catch up with you, essentially helping everyone. It’s egoistic, I’m aware, and you have all rights to be mad at me.’

Elaine prepared herself for what was to come.

However, Freya had no reasons to be mad.

‘It’s alright, Elaine. I’m glad that you’re able to make your own decision despite the choices.’ Freya could learn from Elaine. Leaving Lune was tough for Freya, but she had to set her priorities straight. I suppose this would be farewell.

‘Thank you; and sorry, Freya.’

‘It’s alright.’

‘… Before you leave, we should try negating your curse with the Extinct Formulae Magic.’

‘No need. I’ve tried.’

‘You’ve… tried?’ Elaine was holding back more questions from escaping her lips. ‘… You’ve got to fill me in when I catch up to you.’

‘Sure.’

‘I’ll finish the matter here as fast as I can. Until then, stay safe. See you, Freya.’

‘See you, Elaine.’ Freya waved back.

Farewell.

***

Kokuri, along with Haze and the monster worshippers, followed the leader through the alleyway. Uniformed with a black raincoat and armed with spears, Kokuri excluded, they were a small army.

Ready to start strife and discord.

I’ve never painted the rain crimson before, Kokuri thought as rain trickled. It would be beautiful.

Even more so if the crimson belonged to the expressionless swordsman and the violet swordswoman.

I’ll kill them this time.

‘Today is the day!’

The leader spoke as they were nearing destination.

‘Everything we’ve done has been a build up for this very day! The assault on the Stormpiercer did not directly help our cause, but it served a purpose! Our enemy has split their forces, worrying their ship, and now…’

The sanctum was now within view.

‘Our main objective is within our grasp.’

Finally…

***

‘…’

Woosh.

The wind blew. Carrying a faint whisper.

At last, Freya heard it.

‘… kill me.’