The God of the Future stood quietly at Icarus' side.
Icarus looked up at the God of Time.
"I am not a prince anymore," he said. "Do not insult me by calling me that."
The God of Time paused.
Icarus' gaze drifted.
The throne room was empty—
save for himself, Caelis… and the one before him.
And then—
he noticed something else.
Above the throne, set into a raised marble platform—
sat a woman.
A harp rested in her hands.
Her form was pale. Unsteady.
Her white hair drifted slowly—
as though she were submerged beneath unseen water.
["The Goddess of the Past" is looking at you.]
Icarus looked away.
…The Goddess of the Past?
The God of Time spoke.
"She is Solenne."
A pause.
"The Goddess of the Past."
Solenne smiled.
And plucked a string.
Twang.
Twang.
Twang.
A shiver ran down Icarus' spine.
"Why have you brought me here?" he asked.
The God of Time leaned against his hand.
"You called for help."
"I didn't."
A pause.
"And Gods don't answer so easily."
Icarus' gaze sharpened.
"You want something."
["The God of Time" is looking at you.]
"…Yes," the God admitted.
Silence.
"What is it?" Icarus asked.
The God of Time rose.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
He descended the steps of his throne and stopped before Icarus.
Tall.
Too tall.
"You want to destroy Morvane."
Icarus didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
["The God of Time" is smiling at you.]
"Then join us."
Icarus frowned.
"Join you?"
"To bring Morvane to its end."
A pause.
"And then take its throne."
Above them—
Solenne's harp softened.
Pling.
Pling.
Pling.
Icarus narrowed his eyes.
"You're a God. Why do you need me?"
A quiet laugh.
"Gods survive on the hopes of mortals."
Icarus shook his head.
"That's not what you want."
A step forward.
"You want something else."
The God of Time studied him.
"We want to act through you."
Icarus let out a small, humorless laugh.
"Act through me?"
"We do not… involve ourselves directly."
"So if this fails," Icarus said, "I take the blame."
A soft chuckle behind the mask.
"Yes."
A pause.
"You will take the fall for us."
Silence settled.
Heavy.
Icarus' gaze hardened.
"…Why Morvane?"
The God of Time turned slightly.
"…Caelis."
The God of the Future stepped forward.
He bowed.
"Yes, my Lord."
The God of Time returned to his throne.
Sat.
Watched.
Caelis faced Icarus.
"A demon has risen in Morvane."
Icarus stilled.
"…A demon?"
Caelis nodded.
"One that threatens the Gods of Time… Past… and Future."
Twang.
Solenne's voice followed.
Soft.
Cold.
"Morvane."
A pause.
"The Demon of the End."
Icarus frowned.
"…A demon named after the kingdom?"
Caelis answered.
"Demons are not born as Gods are."
A pause.
"Gods are formed through merit."
"Demons… through unforgettable deeds."
Another pause.
"And then—they die."
Icarus looked at Solenne.
"What did he do?"
Her pale eyes gleamed.
"He was the previous King of Morvane."
A faint smile.
"The one Caelis killed."
Caelis' hands clenched.
"…It was my fault."
Icarus' voice sharpened.
"Why is he called the Demon of the End?"
The God of Time spoke again.
"Because he ended something that had never been broken."
Silence.
"He refused tribute," the God continued.
"To the Future."
Icarus frowned.
"Why?"
Solenne answered.
"Because there was nothing left to give."
Her voice hollowed.
"His ancestors spent everything in conquest."
"They returned with nothing."
"The people starved."
"He chose them… over the Gods."
Her gaze shifted.
To Caelis.
"And the Future did not forgive him."
Caelis said nothing.
Solenne's voice dropped.
"He has doomed us all."
The God of Time raised his hand.
Silence returned instantly.
"Morvane is dead," he said.
"But not gone."
"He whispers."
"Guides."
"Consumes."
"His son—King Theron—listens."
Icarus' breath hitched.
"He conquered Solmara," the God continued.
"To restore what was lost."
"He unleashed the Corruption."
A pause.
"And now… he comes for Driftwood."
Icarus' hands trembled.
Images flooded back—
Bodies.
Decay.
Rot.
His mother.
His father.
Altheis.
Gone.
All of them.
The God of Time spoke again.
"Destroy Morvane."
A pause.
"Take its throne."
Another.
"We will handle the demon."
Silence.
Icarus clenched his fists.
Solenne smiled.
Her voice slipped into his mind—
The future knows no bounds…
Neither does the past.
Avenge your kingdom, Prince.
Icarus turned toward her.
She would have been beautiful—
if she weren't so monstrous.
Or perhaps—
that monstrosity was what made her beautiful.
Her hair drifted like memory.
Like something that refused to die.
Icarus looked back at the God of Time.
At Caelis.
Waiting.
Watching.
His voice caught—
just for a moment.
Then steadied.
"I will overthrow Morvane… and become King."
A pause.
"Do not break your promise."
["The God of Time" smiles at you.]
Silence.
Then—
[Congratulations!]
[Your attribute has evolved.]
["Prince" → "King"]
Icarus closed his eyes.
When he opened them again—
something had changed.
Not grown.
Not healed.
Something had ended.
I will never let you live peacefully again.