When Star opened her eyes, the dream had vanished—but its weight lingered in her chest. She found herself lying in the quiet warmth of her grandparents’ bedroom, morning light spilling through the window like a soft reminder of the world she had left behind.

She sat up slowly, her body aching, her mind still clouded with visions of starlight and prophecy. The air outside felt different, as if the world had shifted while she slept.

There, she saw her friends and a stranger sitting together, enjoying tea and chatting. Klara spotted her first, ran up to her, and hugged her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Star was confused.

Siegfried, Friedrich, and the stranger approached Star and Klara.

"Star?! Thank goodness, you’re awake," Siegfried said, breathing a sigh of relief.

"How’s your head? Does it hurt?" Friedrich asked worriedly.

"I’m fine, just a little dizzy," Star replied, holding her head.

"Drink this, dear. It’ll ease your pain," said the stranger, handing her some medicine.

Star hesitated—she didn’t recognize him. But Siegfried stepped in and said, "Oh, right—this is Mr. Ludwig. He’s a merchant from Valhalla’s capital. He sells medicine, vegetables, and all sorts of things."

Star simply nodded to show she understood. Hesitantly, she took the medicine from Ludwig’s hand and drank it in one gulp. It tasted extremely bitter. However, the dizziness in her head gradually faded. She thanked the man named Ludwig and sat down on a chair, listening quietly to her friends’ conversation.

“So when will you return to the capital?” Klara asked Ludwig.

“I don’t know either. There have been many strange phenomena lately. Like sudden earthquakes, storms on the horizon, and roaring sounds beneath Valhalla,” Ludwig replied.

“Could it be a sign that the ancient dragon is about to rise again?” Friedrich chimed in.

“I’m not certain. But I did hear, back in town, that there’s an old prophecy. It says the dragon will rise again after being defeated by that nameless hero. Only someone bearing the title Star of Dawn can defeat and kill the ancient dragon for good,” Ludwig explained.

Upon hearing this, Friedrich, Siegfried, and Klara all turned to look at Star, who was confused about why her friends were suddenly staring at her. Star felt awkward, but then opened her mouth and said—

“Nidhogg…” Star muttered. “That’s the name of the dragon that’s going to rise again, right?”

“Star, you know about the dragon?” Siegfried asked.

“I’m not exactly sure, but I had a dream about the dragon’s return. I don’t know when it’ll happen, but I feel like it’s going to be soon,” Star replied.

“You must go to the capital and inform King Nicolas about this, child. Besides, there’s a great library there. You can learn more about the origins of that dragon,” Ludwig said.

“Let’s go to the capital together, Star!” Klara said enthusiastically. “You can also search for your roots—and train with the best mentors in the city!”

“But… I’m still not sure if the dream was real or not,” Star replied hesitantly.

“Huft… there’s no need to rush, child. There’s always tomorrow. I’ll stay in this village until the storm passes, so don’t worry,” said Ludwig.

Ludwig then hurried off, leaving Star and her friends behind. Star watched the man head into an inn next to her house and disappear inside. She was still unsure whether she should go to the capital or not. But she knew she had to act quickly—she had to warn the king of the disaster that was about to strike Valhalla. More importantly, she had to tell the king about Nibelung’s awakening.

“Star, you should think carefully and find clarity in your heart. You don’t have to carry the burden of this dragon alone,” Siegfried said.

“But… I don’t want another catastrophe to happen. I don’t want to lose any of you either,” Star replied. She continued, “I’m also confused. I don’t know what to do when I stand before the king.”

Klara then said, “Just be yourself, Star. You have a strong will and determination. That’s why Heaven chose you.”

“There’s still time to think about it. The day’s still long, so don’t worry,” Siegfried added, trying to comfort her.

Star fell silent as her friends tried to encourage her. By then, it was late afternoon—the sky had turned orange. Siegfried, Klara, and Friedrich bid farewell to Star. Siegfried walked toward the village of Odinshold, while Klara headed in the opposite direction, toward the village of Grimsvik.

After seeing her friends off, Star waited for her grandparents to return from the fields. Her eyes spotted her grandfather carrying a large basket on his back, filled with rice stalks. Star quickly ran to help him carry the load.

Once they arrived home, Star told her grandparents everything that had happened while she was away and staying in the village of Odinshold. She even showed them her Gnosis and explained how she obtained it—how she met the legendary hero.

The atmosphere grew tense. Her grandparents' expressions turned serious as they looked at one another. Then suddenly—

“Perhaps now is the right time to tell her…” her grandfather said.

Her grandmother took Star’s hand and said, “Star, listen carefully. Our ancestors met that hero more than a thousand years ago, and he blessed our entire bloodline.”

“He lived in this house for decades. Strangely, he never aged—he always looked like a seventeen-year-old boy, even after many decades.”

“He also said that thousands of years after his departure, a new hero would be born to solve the crisis of Atlantia. That chosen one is you, Star…”

Star’s chest tightened. All this time, she had believed she was just another girl, quiet, thoughtful, ordinary. But now, the pieces were falling into place.

A nameless hero.

A Gnosis that bent time.

A dragon fated to rise.

And her name… whispered in prophecy.

She looked toward the distant horizon, where the capital lay beneath gathering clouds.

The storm was coming, and she could no longer run from it.