"So do I have this right? You can see the future?" The head priestess narrows her eyes, her cheekbones move a fraction of an inch higher with her hands clasped in front of her lips. Her eyes pierce through me, as if trying to see any falsehood, any lies in my words.

But there is no lie. I have not uttered a single lie nor misled her into believing something not true. My words have been the truth and nothing but the truth, to my knowledge. And I know, very well, that seven years from now, the world will meet its doom. If we, the sentient creatures of this world continue to bicker among each other, that future will come true again.

Humans enslaving long ears. Long ears killing humans who enter their forests. Mountain folks isolating themselves from the other races. Short folks who steal, rob and murder. The fae folks and their mischievous tricks. The forest maidens who jealously guard and propagate their sacred trees. The bird folks who look down on the land dwellers. The merfolks who prey on fishermen and sailors. And the red and gold dragons who constantly fight each other for dominance. This must all come to an end.

If we are to stop the end of the world, all the races must work together. We cannot afford to lose any of the sentient races again. But before all that can happen, I must first convince the head priestess, Sister Jihan the Unforgiving, that our future is bleak unless we do something about it.

"I do not see the future. I am from the future, Sister Jihan."

It is amusing to see her left eyebrow tick upward upon hearing me speak her name so casually. I actually forgot that as a mere Listener, it was rude of me to speak her name so casually. It's because I've been at the top of the clergy for several years that I forgot that right now, I'm only at the second lowest tier of the ordained priestesses of the Starsilver. In comparison, Sister Jihan is at the highest rank, a Keeper, as only a Keeper may lead the sanctuary. She is a Starkeeper, one who foretells the coming events by watching the stars.

It is at this point that I hope that Aria, who is standing beside me will stop fidgeting at everything. I don't remember much about the Aria of this time, but has she always been this nervous? Or is it because we are in front of the High Priestess? Regardless, if she is this nervous, it's like she's admitting that everything is our fault.

Instead of making an fuss about my transgression, the head priestess decides to drop the issue. "Am I supposed to believe the predictions of a Listener without any evidence?"

"What kind of evidence would you like to see, High Priestess?"

"Anything that proves you are from the future, of course."

I say nothing as I look back into my past trying my best to find evidence that cannot be doubted. I have no items from my seven years of wandering. I have no friends to vouch for me, for I have not met any of them as of yet. I have no wealth to show. What can I provide as evidence other than my own knowledge?

And therefore, I look into my memories to find the answer - a prayer that I had sung hundreds, thousands of times, that I now know by heart. Every word, every syllable, every note, every single meaning, I knew them all. I knew the Call of the Dead Queen more than I knew the Path of Starsilver, the sendoff prayer for the faithful of the Starsilver. Since the Starsilver was lost, what reason would I have for praying to a lost god?

And so I sang, just like I had done hundreds, thousands of times before. Pleading for the Queen of Death, Halleb, to honour the ancient covenant and provide safe passage for the souls to their final destination. To never corrupt. To never mislead. To never refuse.

Listen to my call

Oh wandering soul

My voice

shall guide you home

The light in your eyes

Your shadows undone

The day is past

And night has come

The clock has struck

And time is out

This is the time

to celebrate

All you have done

in memory

Was it regret

or pride indeed?

Oh my child

can you hear?

The voice of the crows

calling for a feast?

Now or never

Your world has ended

Another world awaits

A new journey

Follow my voice

Come to me.

Oh dear child

Be naught afraid

Those left behind

shall be just fine

Listen to my voice

I'm calling you

Follow my voice

Come to me

Worry not my child

The darkness before you

Is your own darkness

Your darkest heart

Face the darkness

And you shall be free

Let not your fear guide your way

Your heart shall be the answer

Come forth my child

Fear not the darkness inside

The taint in your soul

The burden you hold

Leave all behind

Come home to me

The gate is now open

Your path is now clear

Leave your past

And don't look back

Leaving this world

Eternally

"I see," the head priestess looks at me with a glare, "Is that a challenge, brat?"

"What? What do you-"

My blood goes cold as I feel the atmosphere change with my own skin. My body shivers, and my breath comes out as fog. Her blood fills with magic, carrying the mana around her body to complete a magic circuit. I know what this is.

She wants to kill me! The thought appears in my head as the blade of ice in her hand becomes longer and longer before my eyes.