At dusk, the sun was starting to hide behind the mountain. The light it cast, engaging with the patchy clouds, painted the sky like a yellow canvas. The usually white clouds seemed like they were forged with gold. On the mound beside the outer mansion, a few weeks ago only a lonely tree stood. But now it had neighbours; two stones, standing beside each other, and those stones often called visitors there.

That day one of those visitors was dusting one of the stones. It hadn't been there long enough to be dirty, but that visitor needed some reason to be there. To be alone. After cleaning the stones, the visitor sat there, looking at the sunset.

When a cold breeze blew, telling about winter that had started, the visitor shivered. She stood up, dusted her back and started walking down the mound. On her descend she saw another woman climbing up. She bowed her head and greeted, "Good evening, Lady Ceres."

Ceres replied, "Good evening, Greta." She forced a smile across her face. "It's become a routine. We often meet each other here now."

Greta couldn't look into the lady's eyes and her gaze fell to the ground. She wanted to return the smile, but she failed. All she was able to say was, "Yes..."

"What happened?"

Greta clenched a hand to her chest and her mouth opened wide, as if she wanted to say something. But it all dissolved into a single word, "Nothing."

Ceres' eyes were widened from the expectation of an explanation, but to Greta's single Nothing, she simply nodded. Before parting, Ceres asked, "How's Kei?"

Her question wasn't something unusual. It was just the manifestation of her worry to her late friend's child, but strangely it weighed heavily on Greta's chest. Her breath stuck in and her dried eyes shimmered again. But before she could say anything, a servant came running. They exclaimed, "Greta! Madam Venet is calling you!"

Servant's rushed words averted their focus. The dread Greta felt from the Ceres' simple question still lingered, but she felt a moment of relief that she didn't have to respond to it. She just mumbled to herself, "I'll protect Young Master Kei..." and rushed to Venet.

Greta's words were barely heard by Ceres, but before she could ask anything, Greta was already too far away.

By the time Ceres walked to the stone, the sun was almost behind the mountains. She folded her legs in a steeple and rested her head over her knees. Numerous thoughts crossed her mind as she watched the birds return to their nest at dusk. Lastly, she broke her silence and with a smile, she said, "You know, today Ceily tried to crawl..."

But there was no one to reply. The friend she wanted to share that thing wasn't there to respond or... To laugh with her. A tear slipped from her eyes from the loneliness that ached her heart.

Watching sunset in silence she lost track of time, only to be reminded by a chilling gust of wind. She didn't even notice when the sun dipped behind the mountains and the sky tinted dark blue.

She stood up and brushed off her back. She whispered, "Goodbye..." before walking down. As she walked, she chuckled briefly. I say 'Goodbye' every time, and think not to come again. But, I can't. Even the smallest thing that happens, I want to tell you. But, but you are not here to reply...

When she passed in front of the outer mansion, she glanced at the window in the second floor that belonged to Ivene's room. Don't know how Kei is doing. I'll check tomorrow.

Then after reaching the main mansion, she stopped before entering and rubbed her eyes with her handkerchief—making sure not to leave any traces of tears.

Though it was getting dark outside, the mansion was still illuminated from the lights of the magic stones in the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. On her way to the second floor to her room, she was greeted by several servants. It was a thing she was used to, but what she wasn't used to was being unable to return their warmth. She did hold a smile, but it lacked its usual warmth.

She could hear snippets of whispers behind her—servants talking about her recent disdained face. But she didn't say anything and kept walking. Just as she reached the turn to her room, she heard some voices. She would've ignored and walked past, but she couldn't and waited.

There were four servants. One man and three women. One of the women said, "You guys heard? Servants in the outer mansion are saying that child, he is cursed."

Another woman asked, "Who's child?"

"Ivene's," she replied, without caring to add any honorifics. "They say her child is the reason for her death."

The third woman asked in confusion, "What? How?"

"Don't you know about the Red Moon? Any child born on that day is destined to bring calamity."

The man added, "My grandfather used to tell about a man who was born on the Red Moon." His jaw trembled and he gulped in hesitation. "He killed thousands."

"But wasn't he was slayed by the seven saints?"

"That doesn't change what he did. Beside from those seven saints, only one form Aisel was able to return."

"But." The woman who questioned the kid killing someone, asked, "Isn't it that servant? I've heard she's always with him but never gets tired like others have experienced. I think she might be the one. She might be doing something."

"What? I didn't know. If that's true, they should throw her out."

The man insisted, "Use some brain. That girl can't use magic. And all those people experienced mana depletion. Not just exhaustion like some ghost had clung to them. They better throw that child out. Or maybe...Kill him." Even when saying his last words, the man stayed unfazed. On the contrary, a smirk could be seen on his face. Like he was having fun, suggesting to kill a child.

The women standing with him, gossiping, were shunned by his grotesque suggestion. Their lips curled in disgust.

Before they could say anything, Ceres rushed in front of them. "HEY!"

The disgust that filled women's heart turned into fear. There minds raced. How much did lady have heard? they all thought.

Ceres, who had heard everything, walked to the man and slapped him. His cheek reddened and ear rang. "How dare you?! To talk about killing a child?!" Ceres looked at the woman, who talked about a servant being behind. "And YOU! Don't accuse whoever you want!"

The woman tried to explain herself in fright, "B-but Lady, that's what I've heard-"

"Enough!... I'm gonna make sure you're all punished!"

The servant joined their hands and pleaded for mercy, but all they received in return was a roaring, "BEGONE!"

With their tails between there leg they ran away. Ceres clenched her hands into a fist. Her jaw tightened and she shook her head.

Just as she turned to move, another woman approached her from behind. The woman frowned in worry. She said, "Lady Ceres."

The woman's silence that tailed after her call from hesitation worried Ceres. "W-what happened, Crof?"

"It's about Kei..." Her eyes looked uneasy.

"What?" She asked in haste, "D-did something happen to Kei?"

"Earlier this afternoon... a servant tried to poison Kei."

"What?!" Ceres exclaimed in shock. "I-is he safe? I have to check him."

With that, Ceres rushed to the outer mansion. As she rushed, the earlier moment with Greta came to her mind. I should've asked her then.

But it was already late, all she could do was walk to the outer mansion as fast as she could and see Kei herself.