“Precisely,” Claudia remarked. “And so, Samira’s power wins out against the Golden Falcon’s when Ashbal is under the light of the sun or moon.”
There was no way Claudia could have realized Ashbal’s true nature and how Samira had tricked everyone through the harem’s barrier that had hidden the boy’s creation as a magical implement, born from a curse.
“The sun may hide behind clouds, but its light is never completely obscured during the day. True darkness exists only in the depths of night,” Claudia said.
Even when it rained or the sky was overcast, sunlight filtered through the clouds.
“But moonlight,” she added, “is far more fragile. Even on the night of a full moon, it can be easily concealed by a passing cloud. After your father’s death, the Golden Falcon’s power began to spiral out of control, growing more unstable with each passing day.”
Naila’s breath caught as the truth dawned on her.
“He met with you on nights under the full moon,” Claudia continued softly, “because he feared what would happen on any other night.”
Naila trembled as she listened, her eyes darting toward Ashbal.
“Eventually, he realized he couldn’t keep it contained any longer. That’s when Ashbal vanished from the palace. He concocted the story of the kingdom’s greatest treasure being stolen. It was a convenient excuse that wouldn’t allow room for any of his retainers to object.”
And it wasn’t entirely a lie. The purest form of the Golden Falcon had already disappeared from this world.
“Tonight was supposed to be the full moon,” Claudia said. “Under its light, Ashbal intended to suppress the Golden Falcon’s power long enough to destroy himself. However...”
Claudia looked up at the sky. The moon had been devoured by a dark shadow, its face now a bloodred crescent.
Naila followed her gaze and narrowed her eyes. “You knew tonight was an eclipse, didn’t you?”
Eclipses were seen as ill omens, so much so that the act of recording them was often forbidden. Thus, the only tales of them that existed in this land came from oral traditions, and any attempt to predict the next eclipse was considered taboo.
“Why wait for the moon to vanish?” Naila demanded. “If what you’re saying is true, without sunlight or moonlight, Ashbal will—!”
Her words caught in her throat as she struggled against Faraz’s grip. Meanwhile, Ashbal pressed his hands to his head and he spoke with a voice that was weak and hoarse.
“My duty is to destroy the Golden Falcon.”
“Ashbal!” Naila cried out desperately.
“Now that I have fused with the Golden Falcon...the power I was born with is gone.” Ashbal gasped. “I can’t do it without the bow that I gave you, Naila...”
Naila’s eyes shot toward the golden bow lying on the ground.
Claudia turned to her own retainer. “Noah, what did you sense when you fought him?”
Noah’s grip on the sword he was pointing at Ashbal tightened as he answered. “The golden bow and arrows are not cursed, but they are magical implements. Though their power is not overwhelming, they carry a magic capable of destroying the Golden Falcon.”
Ashbal had once told Naila to think of the bow as a piece of him. It had been no metaphor.
“Do you understand now, Naila?” Claudia asked. “The bow you carry truly is a part of Ashbal, and it is imbued with the power to destroy the Golden Falcon. That’s why he stole it tonight. His plan was to end everything by driving that arrow into his own heart.”
“No, how could he...?”
Had Ashbal given Naila that bow as a contingency? He had even taught her how to use it.
“How cruel,” Claudia whispered. “To give the weapon that will end your life to the woman you love.”
Naila’s shoulders slumped.
“Claudia...” Ashbal’s face twisted in pain. His breathing grew shallow and rapid as he forced himself to speak. “Why did you bring Naila here?”
“Because I knew she would be your weakness.” Claudia smiled calmly. “You made sure she lived in one of the palaces that has water with the strongest purification magic running through it. Even if the curse surged out of control, as long as she remained by that water, she would have some degree of safety.”
Ashbal’s gaze flickered toward the goddess statue’s pendant. It was dull and lifeless in the absence of moonlight.
He had chosen this place to commit his final act, perhaps hoping to draw some power from the cursed pendant. But with the moon veiled by an eclipse, even the place in the city most exposed to the moon was cloaked in darkness.
“Ugh... Gah...!”
Ashbal doubled over, the golden wings on his back expanding grotesquely. The shimmering gold spread across his body like feathers—or perhaps scales. The golden light grew stronger as Ashbal transformed.
“Aggghhh!”
The curse grew, spiraling outward like golden veins, running along the city’s waterways. Ashbal’s legs twisted, transforming into the scaled talons of a monstrous bird.
Faraz tightened his grip on Naila, sweat pouring down his face as he shouted to Claudia, “What’s going on?! What’s going to happen to him?!”
“The Golden Falcon’s curse is in full revolt. It’s happening far faster than I expected. If it continues, it will turn everyone in this city into gold.”
“You’re far too calm about this!” Faraz growled. “If you knew that would happen, why wait for the damn eclipse?!”
That was an entirely reasonable question.
Watching Ashbal from over Noah’s shoulder, she replied, “Because destroying a cursed artifact like this is nearly impossible without forcing it into a fully awakened state. Therefore, we needed to wait for the night of a full moon when Ashbal would show himself. However, it also needed to be a night when that moonlight would abandon him.”
“Did you say destroy?” Faraz asked in disbelief.
Ashbal staggered back, colliding with the railing of the watchtower. His balance wavered dangerously, but he did not fall. The countless golden bows sprouting from his back thrashed violently, causing gashes along his back, and then spread like magical wings. They propelled him into the sky, so high that they needed to look up to see him. He genuinely resembled a monstrous bird.
The people of the city had noticed the golden light and began to emerge from their homes, their terrified cries filling the air.
“Truly...” Ashbal said with a trembling voice as he listened to the distant screams. “I truly thought there would be a way to make everything right. But without the Golden Falcon, how will the people survive?”
“Ashbal...”
Naila’s tear-filled eyes met his, and he forced a clumsy smile, his expression fragile and broken.
“Do I preserve the Golden Falcon, or do I destroy it like my mother said? I failed because I was too weak to make that decision.”
“Too weak? That’s not true!” Naila said, shaking her head.
“When I was a kid, I had you, Naila. That’s how I survived. But not everyone... Not everyone was so lucky.”
The healing and nourishment Ashbal had received from Naila had saved his life countless times. Those experiences had shaped the man he became, a king who dreamed of freeing his people from hunger and suffering.
“Even so...” Ashbal said, his lips curling into a bitter smile at the memory of that dream. “In the end, my very existence will be the cause of their destruction. What was the point?”
“Please!” Naila’s voice cracked with desperation as she turned toward Noah and Claudia, tears welling in her eyes. “Isn’t there any way to stop this?! Just tell me what I must do! I’ll do anything—anything! I’ll give my life if that’s what it takes... Just tell me how to save both Ashbal and the kingdom!”
“H-Hey, Lady Naila!” Faraz called in alarm.
“I don’t care what it is!” Tears fell from Naila’s eyes. She had lost her usual calm demeanor and was now just begging over and over again. “If it’s something I can do, I swear I’ll do it! No, even if it’s something I can’t do, I’ll make it happen somehow. Please! Please help him!”
“Noah.”
Claudia’s lips were still curved into a smile as she turned to Noah, who still stood with his sword raised toward Ashbal.
“That’s enough. Lower your sword.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
“Wait! Please!”
Naila twisted violently in Faraz’s arms, struggling to break free. She thrashed with such desperation that Faraz, unable to hold her, collapsed with her onto his knees.
“Please! Please, help him!”
“I’m afraid”—Claudia’s heels clicked softly against the stone floor as she stepped forward, passing Noah—“I only do what I want to do.”
Naila’s face twisted in shock.
Claudia raised her right hand, and a burst of light radiated outward.
“What... What are you doing?!” Naila yelled.
At that moment, Ashbal arched his back and released a scream that couldn’t be described as human. Claudia gathered magic into her hand and the desert sands around the city began to shake. The golden curse that had spread through the city’s veins began to pulse and contract, beating like a living heart.
“Impossible... Is she suppressing the curse?” Faraz gasped in disbelief.
“But look at Ashbal!” Naila cried, her voice breaking as she pointed toward him.
“Aggghhh!”
The deafening roar swallowed their voices. Ashbal’s fractured cry echoed ominously like a death knell.
Meanwhile, the curse that had spread its golden roots throughout the city was retreating inch by inch.
Temporarily suppressing the curse to its very limit is possible. That said...
A bead of sweat rolled down Claudia’s neck, cool against her skin before it dropped soundlessly onto the ground. She shifted her left foot back, drawing on an even deeper well of magic.
Her breath caught.
Her expression had remained calm. To an outside observer, she likely appeared composed. No one would be able to see how much she was straining under the immense pressure.
No one except Noah.
“Your Highness,” he said quietly.
He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her from behind, bracing her body against his own.
No one could rival Claudia’s expertise when it came to magic involving curses. This task was hers alone to bear. Not even Noah could help her with it.
And that helplessness was surely eating at him.
Noah remained silent, but his jaw was clenched so tightly that she could hear his teeth grinding. Claudia, sensing his frustration, allowed a faint smile to grace her lips. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.
It’s been thirteen years since I was reborn as Claudia. I’ve known for a while now, haven’t I?
Feeling the steady rhythm of Noah’s heartbeat, Claudia reached a quiet conclusion.
This body will never last as a vessel for Adelheid.
Her constant drowsiness after using magic wasn’t just due to magical depletion.
Even so, Noah’s embrace brought her a fleeting sense of relief. His magic poured into her, surrounding her in a gentle, healing warmth, soothing her pain if only for a moment.