Lina felt somebody touching her shoulder, and shaking her carefully a few times. The girl slowly opened her eyes, and she blinked torpidly with her mind still half asleep.

"Mother?" She mumbled, chafing her eyes in order to awake.

But unfortunately it wasn't her mother. The woman who came here together with Lina yesterday was standing beside her bed with her hands placed, now firmly on the little girl's shoulders.

"Please milady, it's time for you to wake up…"

"Ah… It's you…" Lina said a bit disappointed, and she looked around completely astonished. She was in some big, fancy looking chamber inside of very comfortable but still, strange bed. It took her a few more moments to remember everything what happened yesterday.

When Lina finally realized in what kind of situation she is, her eyes slowly filled with unease. It was like a punch right on her face, there was no longer mother to wake her up, no Gilbert to play with her, no Charles to protect her… She was forced by her own father to leave everyone she loved, and everything she held dear behind her.

"That's right… you took me away from home…" Lina whispered to herself, but the servant woman didn't hear this comment.

"Lady Lina, you have to wake up now, your father is already awaiting you. Please… if you won't come for this meeting, I will be in trouble…"

Lina slowly removed the quilt from herself, and with some hanging back she came out from the bed, then she yawned quietly.

The little girl set her eyes on one of the windows, and she realized that it's still dark outside.

"Is it still night?" Lina asked.

In response the woman shook her head. "No, I'll rather say it is early morning the sun didn't rise yet but it will rise soon."

"What…? Why did you, awake me before dawn?" Lina asked surprised.

"My apologizes, milady…" The servant said, trying to avoid eye contact with the girl. "…But it was your father's order to bring you to the great altar before opening of the temple today. You see… the priests will start to accrue here very soon, and if they would catch sight of you, things might become… more complicated. It's better to clear up everything to you now, while it's still quiet and calmly…"

Lina blinked a few times, she was trying to catch eye contact with the woman, but without any effect.

"Things might become more complicated you said… how?"

The woman was a little abashed. "There are just a few people in the entire temple who know about you being here, but for the most, your presence here is still a secret. If they would find out that the vessel of Grima has finally arrived, the great fuss might happen. After all we've been waiting for you for so long… I'm sure that the Grimleal will get all excited just by looking at you."

Lina raised her brows in surprise. "Don't you overdo it? I mean… I'm nothing more than a little girl, no matter what kind of title I'll receive, or what kind of function I will serve here, so stop…"

The servant suddenly placed her hand on Lina's, and for a moment she looked directly into the girl's eyes. Lina was a bit surprised by her sudden change of attitude, and also she noticed that the woman's hand is unnaturally cold… deathly cold.

"You still don't get it milady?" She said, carefully squeezing Lina's right hand. "You are not just a normal human being to us… you are, our master, to us, to the Grimleal you are the most important person in the whole world…"

Lina opened her mouths and gasped loudly. She wanted to ask this woman so many questions; she wanted to say something, and affirmed her servant that she cannot possibly be so important to anyone. But she was so impressed and in the same time so surprised by the woman's words that she couldn't cough out even one simple word.

They stared at one another in silence for a few seconds, and then, somebody energetically opened the door. Another woman, which Lina never seen before was now standing in the entrance of the chamber. The reaction of Lina's servant was prompted. She quickly let go of the girl's hand and she turned her head in completely opposite direction.

Meantime the newcomer, very slim and tall woman, with long, straight dark-brown hair and narrow bright blue eyes approached Lina. She bowed her head in a gesture of respect.

"It's such a great honor to finally meet you, Your Greatness… milady Lina… You are even more beautiful than I expected." She said these words, but she even didn't look at the girl's face. The woman's eyes were set on the floor. Seeing her attitude Lina growled very quietly. She didn't know why everyone refuses to meet her eyes but it was very annoying.

"My name is Maura, and I'm one of the priestess of Grima. I came to give you your special apparel, and to help you in your preparation for the day."

Lina realized that the woman is holding some mysterious package with her.

"But I've got my own clothes with me… Is this really necessary to bring this to me at this moment?" The girl asked a bit surprised.

Maura raised her head, and she looked at Lina strangely, but she quickly lowed her eyes when the little girl looked back at her.

"Of course it's necessary Lady Lina." She replied firmly. "You cannot enter the great altar without applicable raiment, it would be…" Maura paused for a moment wondering which word she should chose to describe such situation. "…It would be misbehavior." She finally said.

Lina raised her brows in sudden flash of understanding.

"So, if I understand you well, I need these cloths to go for the meeting with my father?"

"Yes Your Greatness… you are correct." The priestess confirmed.

Lina passed her hand towards Maura, or rather towards her package in anticipation. "So can I see it?"

"O-of course…" The woman said, and she gave her gift to Lina with her hands shaking a little.

The girl removed the content from the packed, and she looked at it curiously, and then… she rolled her eyes with a snide smile on her face. – A dark robe, how… originally… - She was thinking with irony.

Her servants were always clothed in robes of dark shade, no matter the circumstances or weather. For Lina it was just unintelligible, even if there was a very hot day and they were sweat bucket, they never changed out into something more comfortable. As if they didn't tolerate any other color than deep black.

Lina knew that it has something to do with their culture and beliefs but still, to wear such threads when it was midday in a hot summer day was an absurd for the girl.

Lina smiled sadly to herself. - It looks like from now on, I have to be the same as they are… - Lina sighed and now she took a closer look on her new dress.

To be honest it was quite pretty. The dress had a big hood, and silver buttons. It was long to the ground, and well made by dark material, which glittered mildly in a rays of the rising sun. It was emblazoned by beautiful red and white beads arranged together in some strange patterns and symbols. In the package was also a long cape with a collar and with black outer side, and red inner side of the cape. The last thing that Lina found inside of the package was a golden broche… the broche with the same symbol as her mark.

The girl unconsciously squeezed the broche, and she started to wonder what this strange symbol that was on her hand ever since she was born could mean. Is that the real reason why they brought her to the temple? Is this all because of this stupid mark?

She continued to stare at the small object for a few more moments, but then Lina's servant coughed suggestively to awake her Lady from reverie.

"If I could suggest something Lady Lina… before anything else you should take a bath… you have to clean your body before entering the great altar."

Lina stood up quickly, still squeezing the broche firmly inside of her fist.

"Actually, it's pretty good idea, but where should I go to have a wash?"

The woman smiled a little in response. "There is no need for you to go anywhere milady. I've prepared everything right before I waked you up." She said pointing at the small bath already filled with warm water and soapsuds.

Lina opened her mouths in shock, she was sure that this thing was not here yesterday, and she had no idea, how it got in this room in the first place. "When did you…? How on earth did you…?" Lina took a deep breath to ask this question meaningfully. "How on earth did you get here this whole bath without awaking me?"

Now the woman's smile was even wider, she was clearly proud of herself. "For you milady, I can do anything." She said with a grin. "But let's skip details, the most important thing is that you can wash yourself, isn't it?"

During the past few days Lina get used to the fact that nobody answers her questions, so she just sighed, and without any other word she started to prepare for the bath.

She entered the bathtub, the hot water calms her nerves a little, and after a few moments of relaxing she cleaned her body very accurately. After her bath the two women helped her getting dress and they combed her hair gently and carefully.

Lina had a strange feeling in that situation, that is, she get used to the fact that her servants were always around her, and that they, accompanied her everywhere. But as simple activities as getting dress or taking care of her hair Lina could do in her own right without any problems. – They just overdoing it, again. - Lina thought to herself.

When the women finally left out her hair-do, the girl stood up from her setting, and she looked around in searching for a mirror to take a look at herself. Seeing her intention the two women led her to the big mirror located on the wall under one of many bookshelves in this room.

She looked on the mirror, and she saw a figure of a stranger. Her face was pale, and she had dark bags under her eyes, everything because she was worried and exhausted lately.

But as for her sandy long hair, they were so well combed, and sleek that she cannot believe that it was the same annoying tress that she could never piece together the way she wanted.

Besides she was now wearing some special apparel which she would never wear in a normal situation. All this together was so… odd to the girl, that she cannot reorganize herself.

"You look just perfect Your Greatness…" Maura said, with her eyes shining in admiration. "It's so wonderful, that you've finally returned to this temple, to your home, to the place where you belong…" She said in reverie.

Lina turned her head towards the priestess. "You know? I'm not sure if I really belong to this place… I feel very unease in this temple, and to be honest I would prefer to return to my mother's house, as and when I could."

Maura gasped loudly and she frowned in a gesture of sadness and disappointment.

"How could you say something like that Your Greatness…?" She placed her hand on Lina's shoulder with some hesitation. "But… I understand. You still have a great fuss inside of your head, you're probably lost…" She shook her head.

"It's all because of her, isn't it? This damn hag Celia, she fouled you up, it is all her fault that you're not…" She was unable to finish her sentence. Lina whished off Maura's hand from her shoulder, rather brutally, and she looked at her with wrathful eyes. And then of course, the priestess of Grima fell into panic.

"M-milady?" She coughed out, with her voice shaking.

"How… did you just call my mother?" The girl asked gritting her teeth, and trying to restrain her anger.

"I-I…" The woman was trying to say something but she was so thrilled by Lina's reaction, that she just couldn't.

Lina raised her head and she looked directly on the woman's eyes, with visible anger all over her face. "You... don't dare to insult my mother ever again…" She said with dull, scary voice. "Is that clear?"

The priestess became pale, and she bowed before Lina so deeply that her long brown hair fell to the floor.

"I… I understand Your Greatness…" She finally spited out. "I'll never do such a terrible thing again… It was the first, and the last time when I speak such ill things about your respectable mother…" She took a deep breath and after a few moments of silence she added. "Please… punish me if you want to…"

"Can I…?" Lina asked completely surprised by such possibility.

"You can do absolutely whatever you want, milady…" The other woman said. "Everything depends on your decision…"

Lina breathe a sigh of relief when she saw the priestess's attitude. No, she has no intention to punish her if she regrets her words… and it looks like she did.

"I'm not going to punish you, or harm you…" The girl said. "Just don't do this again…"

"…It's so generous of you…" Maura whispered.

Lina continued to stare at the woman who was still bowing before her, and meantime the other servant looked at the window. The sun was rising, higher, and higher.

She gasped nervously. "I apologize for interrupting Lady Lina, but it's about time to go."

Lina sent her servant a look full of fear. The moment she was afraid of draws near, the moment of meeting with her father.

"Right…" Maura said, slowly drawing herself up. "We should go already."

They left Lina's room and they were in their way to the altar.

The two women marched to the altar readily but as opposed to them Lina straggled slowly with her head lowed. She didn't say anything during their way; she was clearly enwrapped in her thoughts.

Seeing that her Lady is absent minded, and she fall behind, the servant took a few steps towards the priestess of Grima to start discreet conversation with her. Maura was looking poorly as well, but after that situation between her and Lady Lina her attitude was understandable.

"If I could suggest something to you priestess Maura…" She said when the woman finally looked at her. "Never insult Lady Celia in our Lady's presence. You see… they are… attached to one another, and Lady Lina might feel offended as well if you will speak ill things about her mother."

Hearing the woman's words Maura slowed down a little. And her face was even more concerned now.

"I've offended our master…" She whispered. "Believe me… It wasn't my intention, I… I didn't know that it was so tender subject…"

"I guess you didn't." The servant sighed. "You couldn't possibly know about this. Especially that Lady Celia has a rather… bad opinion among the Grimleal, so it wasn't exactly your fault but you know what they say, the first impression is always the most important…"

"Do you think that Her Greatness might change her mind, and punish me for my words anyway?" Maura asked with her face even paler.

The servant took another quick look at Lina. The girl was still acting as if she was in some distant place; she was presented here with them, only physically but not mentally.

"I doubt that…" She replied. "Lady Lina is not vengeful… not yet, so I think she will quickly forget about your… blunder, if I could call it like that. For now don't worry priestess, but remember to never did this again, it's just my friendly advice for you."

"Yeah… Thank you…" Maura said strangely. She was not sure if she should feel relief, or abased. She was grateful, for Lina's servant that she warned her, and, she calmed her a little.

But on the other hand Maura's pride got hurt… Not only the great vessel of Grima, was angry at her, but in addition the simple servant sermon her… Her, priestess of the Fell Dragon, the person with a great opinion and very high status, it was so embarrassing…

And again, it's all Celia's fault. – Maura was thinking. – How could I know that Lady Lina is respecting her mother so much… I made a fool of myself before Her Greatness, and it's all because of this damnable woman…

Celia betrayed all of us, she turned her back from master Grima, and she fled from her duties, just like that… Just because of that, she deserve nothing but scorn, and pity. - The priestess bit her lip in anger. – But this is not the only reason. When Lady Lina was born, this stupid woman immediately took the baby away from the temple, as if our master's vessel was her property.

Such action was an absurd, and insolence to all of us; just who did she think she is to steal the precious servant of Grima, from his temple…

She growled very quietly – This wench… Celia of Ylisse… If she just would die, everything would be better, and easier… If she just would die… Who knows? maybe now when 'the great mother' has finished with raising Lady Lina, I will finally succeeded in convincing master Validar to eliminate her. She's useless after all. Celia is still alive only thanks to the Great Priest's generously.

Maura was still enwrapped over these terrible thoughts, when they reach the entrance of the great altar. The two women stopped before the door leading to the altar, but Lina didn't realized that they reached their destination, and she wanted to go further, so, the servant inhibited her from taking any other step.

"Lady Lina, please stop, we're here."

There were two guardians of the altar standing before the entrance, they were always here no matter if it was day or night, dawn or late evening there was always someone who kept watch over the altar of Grima.

And when they heard the girl's name, they looked at one another suggestively, and they whispered something in excitement. Fortunately for themselves, the guardians had enough tact to not comment Lina's odd behavior.

The little girl emerged from her reverie just because her servant grabbed her hand, and she directed her towards the door. "What…? What?" Lina asked, still a bit confused.

"I said we're here Lady Lina." The woman repeated patiently.

Lina gasped loudly when she heard the woman's words, she shook her head vividly, to drive off her fears, and then she took a very deep breath.

"Alright, let's do this…" She mumbled to herself, and then she addressed the woman. "I'm sorry… I think, that I drifted off for a moment, but now I'm focused and ready to meet the Great Priest… I mean, my father…"

The both guardians set their eyes on Lina in unbridled curiously. Now they were sure that this delicate girl before their eyes is indeed the vessel of Grima.

"You've heard aren't you?" Maura asked the guardians. "Open the door, master Validar is waiting for this person!"

There was no need to repeat this request, or rather an order to those men. They quickly opened the door to let the vessel in, to the altar.

"Go Your Greatness…" The priestess of Grima said. "I'm sure your father cannot wait to meet you."

Lina took a few steps towards the opened gates, but when she saw that the two women didn't fallow her, the girl looked at them with surprise in her eyes.

"You… aren't going with me?"

Now they were surprised, they didn't even dare to think about entering to the altar together with Lady Lina, at least not today.

Today she will learn the true about herself, and about her fate. She doesn't need them to mender around her unnecessarily. No… After she will learn about her destiny she would probably need some time alone, peace and privacy to understand everything, and think it over.

"Milady, I'm afraid we'll be just a burden to you in such situation…" The servant woman said. "We will be waiting for you here I promise, but you should go alone..."

"But…" Lina started weakly.

"She's right, Your Greatness…" Maura added. "We don't want to interrupt you in your reunion with your father, and in your searching for the true… So please, go and don't bother yourself with us."

Lina just sighed, but she concluded that it's probably for the best. After all, she's going to tell her father what she really think about him. She's going to blame him for everything; she would probably insult him in the process, so the fewer witnesses will be presented during their conversation, the better.

Lina turned towards the entrance, and soon she disappeared inside of the great altar of Grima.

The guardians closed the door, immediately after Lina came inside.

"Was that really the vessel of master Grima…? Lady Lina herself?"

"Yes… it was our Lady…" Maura replied.

"And we were lucky enough to lay our eyes on her so quickly… It's such an honor…"One of the guardians said with sparks of proudness in his eyes.

"Yes…" The other one agreed. "But don't you think that… she was acting strangely?" He could see that everyone looked at him sternly, and frowned.

"Are you saying…?" The priestess of Grima started but the guardian quickly interrupted her to save himself, from any nasty suspicions.

"No, no, no…" He said nervously. "I'm just saying that she looked fearful… and I wonder why. I'm just worried about our precious Lady, that's all."

"Well… She's probably a bit lost…" The servant of Lina said in reverie. "She's unaware of anything; she's desperately trying to find her feet in this new situation." The woman looked at the guardian. "You're right, Lady Lina was entering the great alter as a fearful girl… but she will probably left it, as completely different person."

Hearing the woman's words, everyone automatically looked at the gates. They started wondering what kind of person Lady Lina will be when she will come back from the Grima's altar.


Lina heard the sound of the clothing doors and then, she felt some strange numbness taking control over her body. The girl shook her head again, and she forced her body to move.

Lina went through the wide and long corridor that was leading to the altar, and after a few moments she found herself in the huge, great chamber bearded by high marble columns. They were crafted in the same style as these columns which Lina noticed yesterday in one of the other rooms in the temple.

There were large windows, stain glassed on each sides of this chamber, the windows were letting in the red rays of the rising sun. The effect was in the same time anxious and beautiful, everything around was overcome by red and orange lights, everywhere.

There was a red carpet under the girl's foot, and it leaded to the great monument of a dragon, with six eyes, two horns on his head and gigantic tusks inside of its opened widely jaw. The dragon looks the same as the figure in Lina's room, but there was one important difference. This great monument of Grima was about thousand times bigger than the one Lina saw in her room.

The girl looked at the demon dragon's eyes, and these eyes immediately hypnotized her, she suddenly felt… some nostalgic feeling. She just couldn't took her eyes of this monument.

She unconsciously, started moving, to get closer to the great figure. When she get closer she saw two more things before her eyes. The first was a big stony table… or altar, or whatever it was, and the second was a throne right before Grima's monument.

But what's more important Lina also noticed the silhouettes of three other people praying in silence to the Fell Dragon - two men, and one woman. They were so focused on their praying that none of them even noticed when Lina approached them from behind.

The little girl looked at them fascinated for a few more moments, and then one of the men budged suddenly, on the strength of a strange impulse. He slowly turned himself towards Lina, and their eyes finally met.

They stared at one another for a long while, and then a maniacal smile appeared on the man's face.

He practically dashed on Lina; he was so close, so quickly that the girl took a few steps backwards to keep some distance between them.

"We've been waiting for you… my daughter."

Lina's pupils became smaller when she heard this man's words. It was him, the Great Priest of Grima Validar, also known as her father.

He was the one responsible for her suffering, and fears. He was the person which her mother and brother are afraid of…

After Validar's declaration his companions immediately stopped their praying, and both of them looked at Lina curiously.

There was a woman with short hair in some strange claret shade, and bleak grey eyes. Her skin was very pale, but she had a strong make up on her face. Her cheeks were rosy, the woman's mouths had an unnatural dark-red color, and her shutters were painted in blue.

In addition this person was bejeweled. She had a circlet on the top of her head, she was wearing a golden necklace, and some shiny rings were on her fingers. Surely, she was a person of a high society.

The other man and the one who called Lina 'his daughter' just a while ago, in some way were similar to each other. They were both thin; they both have dark hair, narrow eyes, and identical smiles plastered on their faces. But of course there were some differences.

First of all, this man's eyes as opposed to Lina's father were dark-green, his hair were much longer than Validar's. He had some deep wrinkles on his face, and a big scare was running through his left cheek. But still… there was something in common in those two men's faces.

"Oh Lina! It's good to see you!" The man with a scar, exclaimed with a false smile. "You grow so much, since the last time I've seen you, and now you're a beautiful young girl. Did someone ever told you that you took after your mother… Your appearance, I mean."

"Actually, this is a big downside…" The red-haired woman mumbled to herself, but so quietly that nobody even considered her snide comment.

As for Lina, she was a bit surprised by this stranger man's attitude. He appeared to be so… airy. He was not afraid to look at Lina's face, and he addressed her in a normal way. It was a pleasant change for the girl, after her contact with a few others residences of this temple who were literally trembled with shock just by looking at her.

"Yes, I'm aware of my similarity to my mother. Thank you for the compliment… good Sir."

Hearing the girl's words the man placed his hand on the face hiding his eyes for a moment, and after that he run a hand through his hair in a theatrical gesture.

"Where are my manners? I still didn't introduce myself to you, no wonder you have no idea who I am." The man cleared his throat before the start of this whole introducing thing. "Well… I'm Xerxes the high priest of Grima, the right hand, and a brother of the Great Priest of the Fell Dragon Validar… so technically my dear child you can say that I'm your uncle…"

A wide smile appeared on Xerxes's face when he saw Lina's reaction. She groaned strangely, and she took a step towards him but then, she stopped. She was uncertain of what she should do.

Until now she was unaware that she has some other relatives expect of her mother and brother, and now she was just unable to restrain her own shock. She started wondering why nobody ever informed her about her 'uncle' existence.

She didn't know what else she could do, so she bowed before him with some embarrassment.

"I-It's nice to… see you, Lord Uncle."

The man's eyes sparked a little. "Lord Uncle…? She's calling me 'Lord Uncle…' He said with a jeering amusement. "Yes… yes… this sounds very nice… don't you agree?"

Xerxes addressed his companions but both of them sent him a look saying 'Stop making a fool of yourself.' So he just shook his head in disappointment. "Why are you both so gloomy all the time?" He asked them innocently.

"Stop it already, you idiot…" The woman growled at him.

He laughed strangely in response. "You're right my dear, I should introduce you to our precious girl as well."

He threw his arm around the woman's shoulder. "You see Lina, this is my wife her name is Ruth, and she's also high priestess of Grima. And since I'm your 'Lord Uncle' then I think she's your 'Lady Aunt.' Aren't you honey?"

Xerxes burst out laughing, as if it was some kind of a funny joke, but Lina was unable to understand his strange sense of humor at all. She concluded that her new found uncle is just a big weirdo.

Ruth just rolled her eyes and she sighed loudly.

"I'm sorry for my husband's strange behavior…" She addressed Lina. "He's got a… very unique character as you can see… But anyway, it's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too… Lady Aunt Ruth."

Xerxes smirked again, and he wanted to say something, but his wife discreetly hit him by her elbow. This action successfully stopped him.

Ruth took another look at Lina, and she bit her lip in frustration. – This girl… she reminds me of Celia so much, these blond hair of hers, these large eyes, and this pathetic look of her face. Lina is an image of her damn mother… This is not good, it would be hard for me to accept this child as the vessel of our master. – Ruth gritted her teeth. – What is so special in this girl, that Grima chose her? In which way she's better than the children, I given birth to…?

The woman reverie for a moment, and meantime Xerxes continued his introducing.

"And this man as you already learned is your father. May I introduce? This is my younger brother, and the Great Priest of Grima Validar."

Lina turned her eyes towards her father to take another look at him.

This whole time she was planning to shout at him, to blame him for everything tell him that she didn't care about him, or his stupid god, if for all these years he didn't cared about her. She really wanted to tell him, that she hates him deeply but… she just couldn't…

She couldn't, and not only because this man somehow abashed her. No… it wasn't the only reason… something was in him… Some dark energy was flowing through his whole body. The dark energy, was everywhere around him, this darkness was fascinating and in some way… - Lina gulped when she realized what she's thinking about but she cannot help it. – This darkness of his, was absolutely beautiful…

What's wrong with me...? – Lina thoughts to herself. – How darkness could possibly be so fascinating to me all of the sudden? And why I feel so nostalgic just being in this place? – The girl closed her eyes, and shook her head, desperately trying to get rid of all these strange feelings that overwhelmed her.

"Are you alright Lina?" When she opened her eyes Validar was right before her. There were just a few centimeters of space between the two of them. Lina immediately felt a strange connection with this man, something pulled her in to him, and in the same time she hated him.

Something inside of her mind was telling her, that she must respect him, that she must obey him, and fallow him no matter what, she was completely thorn apart, and somehow she knew that it was her father's doing.

Her head started to each; she could hear the palpitation of her own heart, and a demonic scary voice calling her name. She was trying to fight this, but without any effect.

Then, when she was just about to give up and obey the voices inside her head, she heard another one; this voice was gentle and calm.

"You don't have to listen…" It said. "You can make your own choice… always…"

Then the pain in her head disappeared, her heartbeat was normal again, and the demonic voice fell silent. When Lina returned to her normal state, she immediately recoiled from Validar as far as she could. Her action clearly surprised him.

"Why are you doing this to me…?" She asked with a dull voice.

"What do you mean? I'm not…" Validar was trying to say something but Lina didn't allow him to.

"First of all what kind of father are you?!" She shouted.

Lina was finally free from these strange clash of feelings, and now she was about to say everything she wanted to say from the start.

"I'm not even sure if you are my real father… Do you know why?! Because you never bothered to pay me even one quick visit, and at least introduce yourself to me! You're saying that you are my father, but why should I believe you?! I don't know you, damn it!"

"I am your father Lina…" Validar said with a chilly, and scary voice. Apparently he was feeling offended by her words, but again Lina interrupted him before he was able to say anything else.

"I'm not finished yet!" The girl cried loudly. She was now insolent and she knew it, but this fact didn't stop her from continuing her speech.

"But to be honest I didn't cared about you as well…! No… I had really nice and happy life you know? I've nearly forgotten about your existence… but what you suddenly decided to do!? You summoned me here for some unclear reason! You separated me from my mother!

"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to leave her behind?! To leave behind everything dear to me!?" Lina whizzed in her anger. "And now when we've met, you invaded my head, and you nearly caused me a heart attack! You! Why, are you doing this to me!?"

Now Validar was really surprised. Not only Lina broke herself free from his control, but also she already knew that it was him who caused her this little mind confusion.

A small smile appeared on his face. His daughter is strong… and brave. She's indeed worthy enough to become one with master Grima.

But… there was a one small downside of this situation; she just pointed her whole anger at him… Apparently she doesn't like her own father too much.

How, unfortunately… It looks like Lina is not found of me… I'm sure it's Celia's doing… She will pay for turning our daughter against me. - Validar was thinking, while looking at his child's angry face.

And then, he noticed one very interesting detail. For some reason Lina's normal dark-brown eyes changed its color into scarlet-red.

He cannot help but grin in satisfaction, her face was full of pure accumulated hatred. And he could clearly sense how the Fell Dragon's power is accruing inside of her body. Lina was probably much stronger here in the great altar then she would be anywhere else in the world, after all, this place is fully sacrificed to the Fell Dragon.

These growing power of hers, and the fact that her eyes become red all of the sudden, were both prove of her strong connection with Grima.

Validar continued observation of his daughter, and the longer he stared at her calmly, the more Lina was angry at him. This situation grow tenser, and tenser, and finally Xerxes and Ruth decided to intervene.

"Such ugly words in the mouths of a little girl… Don't you think you're a bit too strict for your father Lina? You should know that he did this for, your…"

"Insolent girl… How dare you address your own father in such terrible words…? Is that the way your mother raised…?"

They started speaking in the same time but Validar quickly silent them by one simple gesture of his hand. This gesture said 'stop' so they fell silent.

I'm unable to control you, girl… - Validar was thinking to himself – But still I can motivate you to follow me… by your own volition.

There was a long while of tense silence, before the Great Priest of Grima did something that Lina would never expected him to do.

He fell to his knees, and he bowed before her.

"Lina… I beg your forgiveness…" He addressed the girl. "I understand that this is all hard for you… You're here, in a new place, with strangers… far away from your mother… And yes, I'm responsible for this new course of your life. But you have to know that I did this all for your own good! I did this to help you fulfill your great destiny! I did this to move you on above all existence; I did this to… make a god of you, my master…"

Ruth put a hand on her mouths to hide her shock, but Xerxes just smiled widely seeing this scene.

You're right brother… good old histrionics is a resolution of every problem. If you can't manipulate her by your magic, then manipulate her using your other talents. - He was thinking.

Now Lina stared at her father with widely open mouths, and absolute confusion all over her face. She was no longer angry, now she was dumbfounded.

"Haaaaaa…? Eeeeee…?" Instead of questions she wanted to ask, just these strange noises came out from her mouths.

Lina was trying to pull herself together but she couldn't. She just shook her head in disbelief, and she started walking in circles.

This all just doesn't make any sense to her. She could stand the fact that her old, well-known servants suddenly started to kneel before her.

She could stand that the doorman of the temple kneeled, and bagged her for forgiveness, she could even stand that the high priestess of Grima kneeled before her and asked her for the punishment…

But this… The fact that the Great Priest of Grima, the man who has absolute control over this city, the man that people are afraid of… Her own father… just fell to his knees and asked her for forgiveness…?! It was unreal… ABSURD… And… Did he just said that he's going to make a GOD of her?

It was all too much for Lina, she became pale, her head started to ache again but it was different kind of pain then before. This time, her head ached because of too much thinking, and because of shock.

"I've had enough…" She finally coughed out with a dull voice. "What's going on here? I'm sorry… just… Can you…? Can you explain this all to me? Please… this all kneeling… and 'master'… and everything?" She was completely lost now, her eyes were brown again her rage, and hatred disappeared completely. She wanted nothing more than some answers. After all it was the main reason why she came to this temple without too much resistance, or complaining. She just wanted to know who she really is.

"Of course, of course, that's why I'm here Lina, to give you an answer." Validar said standing up. He was proud of himself; his little performance worked just perfectly.

Lina was not angry at him anymore, at least for now… So they could speak calmly. Yes… It's definitely time to explain everything to the vessel of Grima…

"Lina you look unwell…" Xerxes said approaching the girl and grabbing her hand. "Come on, you should sit down for a moment."

He leaded her to the throne before the monument of Grima, and he allowed her to sit down on it.

Lina did this without even thinking, but when she realized where she's sitting she wanted to stand up immediately but seeing her intentions, Ruth stopped her.

"It's alright Lina…" She said trying to be polite to Celia's child. "You're too nervous, try to calm down a bit…"

"B-but…" Lina started "This is a throne… Do you really think that this is ok for someone like me to sit on it? F-father might be opposite this idea…" She said weakly.

"Of course I'm not…" Validar replied her. "Why should I be opposed it? This throne is not my property…"

Lina blinked in surprise. "Aren't you The Great Priest of Grima?"

"I am… But this throne belongs to somebody greater than me..."

"Somebody greater than the Great Priest…?" Lina cannot help but ask with clear irony in her voice. "Don't you have absolute control over this city? Aren't your words 'absolute'? Aren't you on top of the Grimleal hierarchy?"

Validar approached his child and he smiled manically. "No, I'm not my daughter… you are, and in fact this throne belongs to you."

In response Lina just laughed quietly. "I'm sorry, I think I misheard you. Can you repeat what you just said… father."

"No, your hearting is alright, you are on top of our hierarchy... Lina."

"What are you saying?"

"You see…" Validar replied her. "I'm just Great Priest of Grima like many others before me were in this world. But you? You are different you are vessel of our master… The unique existence... In the whole history of the world you're the one and only...You are the most precious servant of Grima, his living byword and will… You and the Fell Dragon are one and the same… our perfect god."

"One and the same…?" Lina's whole body quaked when she heard her father's mysterious and in the same time insane words. In one moment she understood something. Her father in some way considered her as Grima. It was probably not only him, but the rest of the Grimleal as well. That's why they were so afraid of her rage.

No… impossible… this is an absurd, I'm not Grima or his will. I'm only myself… I'm sure of it… But why? Where did they get such stupid and irrational idea…?

"Father…" Lina still had a strange feeling while saying this word. "I don't know why you believe that I have something to do with the Fell Dragon… but you're mistaken. I'm just a little girl, your daughter… but definitely not your god… this whole idea is an absurd to me…"

"Absurd?" Xerxes asked with chilly voice, now he got serious. "No Lina… It is all true, you just still don't understand…"

"Then explain it to me…" The girl growled at him. "How possibly a little girl like me can be… byword of your mighty god?" She said it with a clear irony, and everyone sent her a scary look hearting this.

"You really are insolent, you brat…" Ruth said strangely. "Pay some more respect to our great master!"

"Calm down Ruth." Xerxes placed a hand on his wife shoulder, to stop her from insulting Lina any further.

"All we have to do is to give our precious girl some explanation, isn't it? So in my opinion we should begin in the moment where everything started. Validar if you allow me…"

"Of course…" His brother said and then Xerxes cleared his throat loudly, and begin his story.

"It all started very long time ago… Thousands of years ago, before our master Grima became a god my dear child… He was a normal leaving being back then, he was the king of dragons."

"This long time ago the world was, time and again stacked into conflicts and wars between humans and dragons… endlessly."

"Our master had enough of this. He was a great visionary… he decided to conquer the whole continent, end the chaotic time in our realm, and bring peace, and prosperity to everyone as their new emperor. "

"But as you can probably guess yourself, to rule and change the world was not easy task for our master… Humans were unable to understand Grima's true intentions, and another war started between the two species."

"Dragons were always stronger than humans, so at the beginning of the war master Grima and his army were prevailing. And they would probably win this war if not for intervention of one particular cursed dragon who was opposed our master…" Xerxes clenched his fists in anger. "The 'Divine Dragon' Naga…" The man said this name in strange mix of rage and irony. "She always hated Grima… and guided by her pure hatred towards him she stood on humans side in this conflict."

"She created a special blade known as Falchion, and a banding shield, the Fire Emblem in order to defeat the dragon's king, and she gave it to the most powerful man among humans, his name was Anri."

"With the Fire Emblem, Falchion the cursed sword in his hand and with the help of Naga, Anri sealed away our master for one hundred years…"

"But fortunately, after this whole time with some help of his loyal servants Grima emerged from his slumber… and he decided to continue his great plan… for the sake, of the peaceful world… But… someone interrupted him again… Do you know who it was Lina?"

The girl drawn herself up on the throne and she set her eyes on Xerxes. So far, she was absolutely fascinated on this story. She had no idea that the Grimleal's god was once a real living being… but still… she didn't know what all this, have to do with her being 'Grima's byword, and will' like her father putted it…

"Well according to the historical books the man who killed Grima was Marth the prince of Altea… I think Ylisseans are calling him The Hero King…"

"Don't dare to speak this cursed name in this sacred altar you little…" Ruth was about to said something nasty to Lina, but Xerxes interrupted her in the last moment.

"Oh! I see!" He exclaimed, so loudly that the woman's last words were drowned. "You want to continue this story in my stead, right honey?"

Ruth looked at her husband strangely, but she concluded that his suggestion actually wasn't so bad idea.

"I can, if you insist…"

"Feel free to continue." He replied her with a grin on his face.

The woman took a deep breath before telling her part of the story.

"Marth… This 'Hero King' like you said, was Anri's descendent incidentally. Just like his ancestor the prince of Altea was unable to understand our master's vision of the world, and he make a fight against him, as well."

"But Marth was more ruthless than his ancestor, he killed our master… he slain him in the fight using Falchion, and he was proud of himself… Many people, mainly from his own country started calling him a hero of humanity..."

"He became 'The great and famous Hero King' " Ruth said with a clear rage in her eyes. "Marth was thinking that he defeated Grima once and for all, but fortunately to all of us, it wasn't the truth."

"Even death didn't stop the Fell Dragon from raising again, in fact his own death made him even more powerful, and he became the ultimate spirit… our god."

"He still wanted to change the whole world, and in his new spirit form he was able to see the evilness in our realm even more clearly. His wish was to purify the world, to set it free from sinners… but our world was already rotten to the core, and helpless… So Grima concluded that the best way to free everything from evilness is to destroy it and crate it again, as something new and pure…"

"Grima was a powerful spirit but still, to intervene in the mortal realm he was in need of the some help. He was in need of someone who would help him in his returning to live, but he knew all too well that just a few living beings could truly understand his intentions and mission..."

"But he was searching… he was in searching for somebody after his own heart, someone who could truly understand him, and who would serve him loyally. And finally, after a few years of seeking, he found such a person…"

"It was a young human boy with a great charisma and bravery, he was able to hear master Grima's voice inside of his mind, and what is more important he was the first who reorganized the Fell Dragon as his god."

"The boy's name was William, and he was the first Great Priest of Grima. It was him who was blessed by the Fell Dragon, his first precious servant. The man, who formed the cult of our master. He was the founder, of our religion."

"He was speaking in the name of his new god, and soon he draws a crowd with him. It was all thanks to Lord William that people started worshipping the Fell Dragon…"

Strange… isn't William a typical Ylissean name? – Lina was thinking but she was too absorbed by this long historical lecture to ask her aunt about the name.

"William planted the Mediuth city, it was him who constructed this temple and the great altar, him who created our sacred rituals and prays. He was guided by the Fell Dragon's wisdom; he even performed the special ritual to fill his own veins with the blood of Fell Dragon."

"William and master Grima were nearly one and the same… but just nearly…" When Ruth said these words she looked at Lina suggestively, and the girl suddenly felt thrills on her back.

"The new religion burgeoned, in the matter of time Grima gained more and more followers but it wasn't enough… Lord William's true aim was always to bring master Grima back to live, so he was searching for the right method to accomplish this goal, and he was close… He was very close to do this but… he was betrayed. When he was still in his middle ages his own mother… she killed him, she slain him by her own hands…"

"WHAT!?"

Lina heard one simple word shouted in desperation. It was a mix of disbelieve, outrage, and surprise in this voice. The girl budged in sudden realization. It was the same mysterious feminine voice as Lina heard yesterday when her old servant started to educate her about darkness, and the beginning of live.

Lina looked around discreetly in searching for the owner of this voice but again, she didn't see anyone else expect of her family members, which surrounded her now. And also, she realized that nobody else heard this desperate question. It was disturbing… why others didn't hear what she just heard… Is she become crazy now, or something?

Well, I can start worry about it later… For now, I should pay more attention of what they are saying… - Lina was thinking – I must admit this story is fascinating and all… but I have no idea what all this has to do with me. - She decided to focus on Ruth's words immediately.

"As I said…" The woman continued. – "The first Great Priest of Grima died because of his own mother's fears… The legend says that she was from the same nation as Marth, and she was afraid of Grima's returning. So to stop her son from realization of his plan of resurrecting the Fell Dragon, she killed him. But never mind at this betrayer… her motives are immaterial, the consequences of her action are more important here."

"You see Lina, Lord William's death was a great loss for the first Grima's believers… But despite this great tragedy, the Fell Dragon's followers never gave up on their aim, to bring their master back to live. So they continued their researching anyway."

"It took them two hundred years… long two hundred years to gain enough dark energy and sacrifices, to finally resurrect master Grima in his true dragon form. It was these times when new countries of Plegia, Ylisse, and Regna Ferox were formed and the great war occurred between these lends over domination on the continent."

"The Grimleal found this new conflict as a perfect time for their master, to finally get rid of these sinners, and bring peace to the world…"

"They performed the sacred rite, and they succeed… Master Grima was alive again, in his full dragon form, and full might. Soon after his resurrection the Fell Dragon started the ceremony of destruction, but yet again…"

Lina cannot help but roll her eyes – No wonder they are calling him 'The Fell Dragon.' - She was thinking with irony. - He indeed felled so many times in the history that I'm surprised he still has so many worshipers by his side…

"The first Exalt of Ylisse was descendent of Marth, so he slain Grima again after performing the Awakening ritual, Grima was stronger than ever before, so to make the Exalt stronger Naga gave him some of her own power, and eventually the Fell Dragon lost… again." Lina chimed in. "This part of the history I know… Since then the Ylisse kingdom is dominant country of this continent but… this is the end right? Grima was defeated, he returned to his spirit form and he's now in slumber…" The girl sighed. "But it didn't explain why you think that I'm the same as the Fell Dragon like you said Great P… I mean… father."

"It's not exactly the end of the story my child…" Validar addressed her this time. "It's true that master Grima is currently in his slumber, but to awake him is your objective now…"

"My… objective…?" Lina repeat after him, she still didn't understand anything.

"After the great conflict on the continent, and victory of the first Exalt…" Validar continued the previous subject. "…the people started doubting in our god, many humans turned their back against him. They said that Grima failed them, our religion nearly fell part… But… here in Mediuth city, absolutely nothing changed. We, the descendants of Lord William were invariably devoted to the Fell Dragon."

"We were praying to him and worshipping him always… we were trying to resurrect him again, for generations… for the next thousand years, but master Grima fell silent… and our struggles were in vain…"

"After this long time even the high priests of Grima started to lose all their hopes for the Fell Dragon's returning."

"But then one hundred years ago, when it appeared as if there is no hope, and master Grima is lost forever, one devoted priest entered this altar to pray to his master… His name was Orion and he was a great prophet."

"When Orion returned from the altar he had a wide smile on his face and sparks of hope in his eyes. When the other Grimleal asked him what happened he exclaimed in excitement that he had a vision of the future, and he saw the pure world ruled by master Grima, and his loyal servant… " Now Validar set his eyes on Lina. The girl gulped nervously in response.

"The prophet Orion, with proudness on his face declared the new plan of master Grima's resurrection to everyone…"

"Someday…" Orion said that day. "The child with a sacred mark on the body will be born. The child will be of pure Grima's blood, the descendent of Lord William… the child of the Great Priest…" Now Lina held her breath, and she looked at her right hand. She already knew where this story is coming.

"This child will take a great honor of becoming one with master Grima, his spirit will always be with the chosen one. The child will be his voice, his will, his... byword… -

Now Lina gasped with fear in her eyes – He didn't refer this all to me, right? right? Something like that would be impossible… it's… an absurd. - She repeated to herself, now desperately trying to hide the symbol on her hand.

Validar saw his daughter's distress but it didn't stop him from continuing his speech.

"The chosen one will receive Grima's all might and power, and all possible blessings from him… And when the vessel of the Fell dragon…" Lina immediately became pale when she heard this title. "…Will finally be the same as our god, she will finally destroy this world full of sinners, and she will recreate it again. Then she will became ruler of this new world… - Validar's bowed to Lina's eye level, and he looked directly on her affrighted face. "Do you know about who am I talking about, Lina?"

The girl was unable to respond by her words, she just shook her head in a helpless gesture of denying. It was just too much even for her genial brain to contain.

"You Lina…" Validar said slowly. "You are the vessel of Grima; you are the chosen child from Orion's prophecy…"

"E-enough…" Lina finally said with her voice shaking. "I-it can't be true… It's a… a lie… I-impossible lies…"

"But it is true Lina…" Xerxes spoke up this time. "You are the vessel of Grima as it was said in the prophecy, you've got the sacred mark on your right hand, and you are of our bloodline… you're the descendant of Lord William. You're a living prove that the prophecy of Orion was true…"

Validar now turned himself, to take a look at his brother. "Did you ever doubted on it Xerxes?"

The man smirked strangely. "Of course not… You of all people should know, I always believed that master Grima will return and…"

"I'M NOT GRIMA!" Lina shouted in shock, so suddenly that everyone immediately turned their attention at her. "I'm not Grima… I'm not, I'm not, I'm not…" She repeated weakly a few times. "I'm just myself… I'm Lina, Lina…"

"Yes… technically you're right…" Validar said calmly. "You're still just Lina, you're yourself but it will change when we will perform the Awakening ritual with your attending…"

Now the girl set her eyes on her father, and she stared at him for a while. "I-It doesn't make any sense…" She said with her voice still shaking. "Awakening is the same ritual as the first Exalt attended to receive Naga's power. What Grima could have to do with this…?"

"This is the plan." Ruth answered her. "Naga and the first Exalt performed this ritual to defeat Grima… But nobody said that Awakening is only for Naga and her children. Everything depends of how you will conduct the ritual, which words you will choose, and what is your aim…"

"The first Exalt's aim was to defeat Grima, so during the rite he was praying to Naga to grant him her power, and she fulfilled his wish…"

"The Fell Dragon's spirit is sleeping within you now, so all you have to do during the Awakening is to pray to Grima and offered him your own body as his tool… Thanks to this he will awake, and you will be able to become one with him…"

"So in your opinion, I should ASK your god to possess me?! You think that I should offer my body to him, and you expect me to do something like this by my own free will…?"

"No Lina, no… you get it all wrong…" Validar was trying to calm his daughter down. She was in shock, some tears fell from her, again scarlet eyes.

"It won't be possession. The union between you and the Fell Dragon would be rather like… symbioses…" The Great Priest of Grima said, while squeezing his daughter's marked hand.

"You will offer him your body, and in return he will grant you all his blessings, and power in order to destroy and recreate the world. Don't worry about yourself, your spirit and master Grima's spirit will just exist in the same body in the same time…"

Lina started laughing, in strange mix of amusement and horror. "Two spirits in the same body… I can't even imagine this…" Without even looking at Validar she squeezed back his hand, strongly… Her grip was unnaturally strong; it was too much strength as for a little girl. It was painful for Validar but despite his discomfort, he was still smiling.

Master Grima really is inside of this girl… - He was thinking – I can feel it, I can feel it so clearly… It's… exciting. – He smiled manically to himself when Lina spoke up again.

"And besides…" She said slowly. "Do you really expecting of me to destroy the whole world…? I'm unable to do something like this…"

"Well, maybe not at this moment…" Her father replied. "You're still too young to perform the rite… Your body is too weak to stand it at your age… But don't worry, I'll make you stronger, I'm going to teach you everything I know about dark arts and the Fell Dragon's powers…"

"That's not what I mean!" Lina shouted, despite the fact that her father was right in front of her, and he was able to hear her very well.

"I'm not going to destroy anything, or kill anyone! I'll never do such a terrible thing! Never!" She cried, and then she finally removed Validar's hand from her grip.

"Terrible thing? I don't think so…" Validar said while staring at his, almost certainly broken hand. "The whole world is a terrible place Lina, and thanks to Grima's power you can change it… for the better… you can start everything anew."

After his words Lina suddenly stood up from her place, and she looked around with clear despair in her eyes.

"You are… insane… I don't want to have anything to do with this." She said with a dull voice. "I don't care if Grima will be resurrected or not, I don't care about your god, or your stupid prophecy … just don't drag me into this…"

"How dare you…!" Ruth shouted but when she looked at Lina's face, she fell silent immediately. This girl's face was now more similar to demonic face than to face of a normal human.

Her scarlet eyes were full of madness, her teeth were gritted tightly, she still had some tears on her cheeks, and her whole face was screw up manically.

It wasn't the best time to get argue with her.

Lina passed by Validar without any word, she wanted to leave, and cool down, now.

"Lina… You cannot escape your fate…" Her father's cold voice stopped her for a moment, and she turned her head towards him again.

"I'll try…" She said weakly, and she took another few steps forward.

"Wait…" Validar said again now calmly, and gently. "You still don't understand… but I believe someday you will… I'll be waiting for you to understand… I'll always be here for you, to help you and support you in everything. Because I'm not only the Great Priest of Grima, but also I'm your father, my child."

He quickly approached Lina and he… embraced her.

Lina was in shock at first, but then she felt this dark energy flowing through her father's body. It calmed her, and she allowed him to hug her for a moment. When he let go of her, the girl's face was relent. She wanted to say something but she gave up and she left the altar without any other word.

When she finally disappeared from their sight Xerxes and Ruth both sighted in relief.

"She… took it much worse than we expected…" Ruth spoke up after a moment of silence. "I don't understand… she will become a god… It's a great honor… she should be proud, so why she's acting… like this."

"It's a shock…" Xerxes replied her. "She should chill out a little for now, and reconsider everything on her own… Besides… she still don't understand our religion, we should do something about this as soon as possible…"

"I agree..." Validar said. "I'll take care of it, just give me some time, I'll make a true Grimleal of her, very soon…"

Ruth looked at her brother in law, and she realized that his fingers are… practically crushed.

"Validar, your hand…"

"Is broken…" He said turning towards his companions. "Lina did this to me." The man announced to them with pure proudness in his voice. "She's very strong, mentally and even physically, no wonder master Grima chose her as his vessel…"

"Then, we should heal your…" She started, but Validar stopped her before she was able to finish.

"You know very well that, it isn't necessary. It's pointless to worry about my physical state."

"But still… It must be painful…"

"It will return to normal in no time, until then, the pain will remind me of how powerful my own daughter is…"

"When you mention it…" Xerxes chimed in. "I had no idea that you're such a good daddy, brother. 'I'll always be here for you' you said. 'I'll help you and support you in everything.' you said, and what surprised me the most you even embraced her… What's next? Are you going to play in some silly children games with her? Or sang her some lullabies before sleeping time?" Xerxes said this all with clear irony in his voice but as opposed to him Validar was serious.

"I cannot control her mind…" He replied to his brother. "In fact I was trying to do this a few minutes after she came here, but she quickly broke free and she even knew what I was trying to do… She has a very strong will, stronger than mine. And in that case I need to find some other method to manipulate her. Even if it means that I have to play a lame role of a good father for the rest of my live… I will do it for our master's glory."

"I see… You're ready to sacrifice everything, even yourself to achieve our goal. You are as devoted to Grima as always, aren't you…"

"I am, and I always will be…" He looked at the entrance of the altar where his desperate daughter disappeared just a minute ago. "No matter what, no matter how long it take to convince her to our cause… Lina must be with us, on our side..."


The Hero of Shadow was watching over little Lina like she promised to her mother. At this moment the woman was really feeling sorry for this child. What this lost girl must feel now… She was trying to read her mind but it was ineffective… Lina's mind was like a storm, quick, chaotic, and scary. It was impossible to understand even a single thing from her thoughts.

But well… It was understandable after what she heard from her own father's mouths… after she had learned the true about herself.

No… the true is not the right word to describe it, it was rather these heretics version of the true. And to be honest it was hard for the legendary guardian of the Hero King to even listen to it.

"I can't believe that those… Grimleal are so stupid..." She mumbled to herself.

"First of all they even don't know the history of this continent AT ALL. It was just some strange mix of garbled, or unclear historical facts that they served to Lina…I don't know if they really believe in this idiocy, or if they just said this all to fool Lina, but… they are treating Grima as if he was some noble savior of the world… This is probably the greatest absurd of this whole story… No, there is one worse thing… This part about William…" The woman sighed very loudly.

"They were saying as if this demonic voice of the Fell Dragon which completely ruled over William, and in the end draw him crazy, was a blessing… As if everything he did was of his own free will, while Grima just brazenly possessed his mind… and body…" She took a quick look at Lina with her face worried, but then she shook her head.

"And where did they get the idea that the boy was slain by his own mother… this is an absurd…! Scandal even…! William… this dear little boy…" She sobbed a few times without even knowing, but when Lina finally reach to the hall where her servants were awaiting her, The Hero of Shadow returned from her reverie to reality.

"Milady, are you…?" The woman who was taking care of Lina ever since she was a baby was trying to ask something, but Lina didn't let her to do so.

"I have a question…" The girl said with a dull voice. "Do you consider me as byword of Grima? As a… god?"

The woman immediately fall to her knees, and she bowed very deeply.

"Yes, milady!" She answered without hesitation.

The guardians of the altar, and the priestess of Grima kneeled as well in a gesture of respect.

Seeing this Lina just stared at them for a while, and then she started to laugh, loudly… and maniacally. Only one thought was in her mind now – Impossible, impossible, impossible… - She endlessly repeated it to herself.

The girl was completely fell apart. She didn't know if she should taunt of their idiocy or cry over herself.

"My poor child…" The Hero of Shadow said quietly, and again she remind herself about William's terrible fate. "I'll never allow you to experience the same things as he did, Lina… Someday I'll show you the truth… the real truth…"


The end of chapter 7!

Thanks for reading :)