Realmshift: Triad Ascendancy.

Clash.

[BEATRICE]

Sunlight came through the small window of the cart, warm and bright as it lit up the wooden floor. The cart rocked gently as it moved along the dirt road, wheels creaking, the sound of hooves steady in the background. Dust floated in the air, catching the light as we rode toward the country Ose once lead.

Lady Vermouth sat across from me, calm as ever.

"So... you're saying Ose came to you in a dream. And he fought with you?" she asked, her voice calm and curious.

She didn't look shocked. Not even a little. If anything, she looked like she had been expecting it.

"You already knew this would happen, didn't you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She let out a small laugh, like I'd just caught her in a lie. "Ah, yes, child... I did," she said with a soft smile. "I'm sorry for not telling you. I should've explained it earlier, but... I forgot."

I rolled my eyes and leaned back, watching the trees pass by outside the window. "Of course you did."

"Well, Celestials aren't so different from mortals," she said. "The main difference is we don't need to eat or sleep. But the biggest thing we share with mortals... is that we can die. We live for thousands of years, we don't get sick, but we can still be killed—or die in other ways."

That last part caught my attention.

"Other ways?" I asked, curious. "What else could kill a Celestial besides being overpowered?"

"Well, I'll explain that part later," she said, her tone shifting slightly. "Right now, I need to get straight to the point—we're almost at the nearest city in Lerona. Majula."

She glanced out the cart window, and I followed her gaze.

"It's also close to the secret I'm about to share with you. You see, Celestial bodies don't decompose like mortal ones. They remain—untouched by time. And the reason you've been having those visions... it's tied to a mountain near Majula."

She paused, her voice softer now. "We need to get you there. So you can understand more about your power. Maybe this journey is exactly what you needed. Even though I was against it at first... I was just worried about you."

I didn't answer right away. The air outside had changed. Brighter. Warmer. And then, as the cart turned past a curve in the road, I saw it.

Majula.

The city shimmered like something out of a dream. Tall white spires rose into the sky, glowing with soft magical light that drifted like fireflies through the streets. Trees with golden leaves lined wide stone roads, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. Small glowing orbs floated above doorways and bridges, casting a calm, welcoming glow over everything.

Mountains surrounded the city from behind, standing tall and proud, their peaks wrapped in mist. Between them and the city flowed a great forest, alive with color—deep greens, reds, and even soft blues from enchanted plants that pulsed with light.

And just beyond the city walls... was the sea.

It stretched out endlessly, a massive mirror reflecting the sky, glowing in shades of blue and gold under the afternoon sun. Waves moved gently against the shore, and I could hear the faint sound of water even from where we rode.

As we entered the city gates, I leaned forward, eyes wide.

"Wow... this is incredible."

Lady Vermouth smiled beside me. "Welcome to Majula," she said. "Where your past... and your future... are about to meet."