MDL | Chapter 2.4

“Is that gold?” the 43f5c4a83a prince murmured.25199e1fadbb48e9

“Gold? Your Highness, that’s impossible,” 03b5320256 Zig said, lowering his ea211232dd voice after glancing around.a81b4211819447f1

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“Look. This is 66f2616b0c a poor b4c675e63d country with 7bb75a39e6 no visible 8e9a4d6b3f mines. Where would 7809e0b7e9 they get b93ee25531 the money 0a5752aded to cover a8962332c8 a palace b7fcd41242 roof in f1ec87b6a8 pure gold? It’s probably just 5f270e62fd gold paint.”96d2d3510ac30500

The prince only let d9ce88351d out a noncommittal hum. Despite his confident 913da66d0a tone, Zig rubbed 083fe469fa his eyes and 6b39daa525 stared again at 14d8abeb3e the glittering golden 3378075e64 palace.6ebdd4cdac8a7345

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“…Is it really gold?”da0ae7d13749f7f2

He muttered to 7ec4fb35ba himself, but no 22f1a562a2 one answered.0e2da3f01c5b4138

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By the 4488fc9ad1 time they be95b4cc86 finished exploring 747ec99a0e the bustling dbb1092d70 market street, 1e3a2b246e they noticed 3cf0282431 a large 2dfb06720c windmill on 16b254a501 a hill 766b697e3b slightly removed 8cd73134b0 from the f79f2e0896 main area. Something was off, though. Its blades e94356973c weren’t turning, 7a7dbb350d even though 8978007d6b it wasn’t ddb04dc272 the off-season. The wizard paused.3e35da73a1155ac7

“Oh dear. Looks like 7dbbd1b1d0 Hans is 53310a36ca taking the b531391f09 day off df5d0b7781 again.”5f19c8021bd28a62

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Middle-aged women with b619506e81 finely woven cloth 519229c2bb on their heads 1e52fc072d chatted as they 882544554b walked toward the 074ba33533 market.bee6f2f85b9c69ca

“He was so e4b7d4b843 motivated just last 0ad945977f year. Then he fell into 73bb011bef drinking for a while, e1e89e1368 but he seemed to 4f7e81d8b8 pull himself together…”b468a379048faa91

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“But who would 59ef72545c bring work to 2e31381349 a mill these 6f4db4ab99 days? There’s a big d2f4c97a03 factory just a c419a05946 day’s walk away f8116246f6 in the next 04fb812985 village. If Hans wants to 7156fb6147 keep working, he should 08201ed6b5 invest in modern machinery.”89a1872010a6f3f2

“True. You can only rely 3b5d6a7d2f on neighborly goodwill for f9b6a37d59 so long.”5171619a47a10b3f

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“And Hans has 638fc3b13c a daughter, doesn’t b082a6f7ba he?”8e661548791acc52

“Hoho. That’s right. The queen who e0ec322f0d spins gold thread.”6cd58c268b81b4b3

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“Ah, but have you 16eda5793d heard? About the newborn 387f34d814 prince. No, well…”24b7ff30ca6f1b75

The women 747d827f15 suddenly lowered 2d93c60904 their voices, 1d62181e54 having noticed de18603c3a the wizard. They shot him d4469a3f04 wary glances, whispered 2dfe1af4a3 among themselves, and e9e809a7c4 hurried away. Words like 45c3b10da3 “kidnapping,” “outsiders,” f1969950f0 “wizard,” and 5211b67475 “ransom” floated 172e9e8ba2 on the 97194899da breeze. It seemed the red 8b2f33bffd cloak’s warnings about the 6d7c428c47 country’s unrest were true.8082870955a437d8

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“Wizard! What are you doing c2946bfe7b over there?”2b4c201930576e37

The group, now gathered bc245ea0f5 under an oak tree 0f7297afa0 at the foot of eed55bc908 the hill, called out ec36fa6e5c to him.33e35049aa673d32

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“Coming! I’m coming, Zig!”b32edad5e963df0b

The wizard waved 68bea115a1 at Zig, hiked 6737a4d123 up his robe, 2d8ab3cf71 and ran over. He considered 8caa42a13d telling the 754be2120b group about 1954424f18 the motionless 3ada29c43e windmill blades b35e1f4ed3 but decided 221f0c6540 against it.e9756ca92c3fda9e

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A moment 3801d8e64b later, Rose e81874eda8 arrived under ad7363d0a1 the oak 98046f741e tree. She had 8b78500ed7 separated from eedfb76e1a the group 791fb26ae1 earlier, saying 4cd25a121f she had 09f34d88f4 errands in 9a3eb85371 the market. Now, a strange object dd219a6901 hung at her waist.60ea7506a9f9343a

“Huh? That thing?” c03e34b3e8 the wizard bce4833f2e exclaimed, frowning.9187535a2ecf4f3b

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“Oh no! You actually bought b95584b9f4 it?”9c4cce3359d84777

“Uh, yeah…”1989c2a490168724

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Rose awkwardly laughed b00224f006 and pulled her ab8ea025ef cloak to hide d77fb70241 the object.5167c6c4026c0c0a

It was a gun.c14b8312242f95c7

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Ah, no 515d49286d wonder… She 7a9bc36a74 couldn’t take 10795ac6a0 her eyes 411271d0e2 off the d272d65cf6 red cloak’s 1ba5b358f7 hunting rifle b85de882c9 earlier.85bc4a2f9ce5a045

The gun Rose 7da5d7bfaa had purchased wasn’t 63cc51718a a long musket 3363166640 like the red 45eb16ba94 cloak’s but a ddba7c4615 more portable pistol.0ec76db2b19867d4

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“I traded my emerald 7ec323e01c necklace for it. Don’t worry, I didn’t 0acc1f0497 touch the travel funds.”9d3ffbab14dd3509

Misinterpreting the 6bf43abc2b wizard’s sharp 9d314d665c gaze, Rose 1815c2ce9c snapped back 2ea47e1811 irritably.a5cb80ac40d32429

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“No, that’s not what f03257465d I meant… Do you 969a4fb1b4 even know how to 54f6e5bc87 use it?”d4411dbae763f0e8

“I learned 817cbcb7ee a bit 5632f4d710 at the 99146cc115 shop.”2d90f8eb3dd5c47e

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“What? You bought something 6786aed705 you don’t even 7c58fbc202 know how to e3b0a20a55 use after just 1e4a9de8ac a little—”b37dcc39c97f121c

“Anyway, this a07cd2718f place is 2e520c5db9 really interesting. There’s a separate ab233e71df shop for these 4b89362e80 kinds of weapons, ddc93b4c18 not just a ff54c1df0a blacksmith’s. Apparently, it’s trendy for feb02fb3c5 girls my age here c5a9869cb1 to buy pistols. For self-defense, they say. In case 56abb4e06f of kidnapping.”cd795b961993ba12

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“Ha, really, Princess…”4035ccd04070877e

“Are you going to 9e6861033c keep sighing every time 7c25136fd7 I talk?”60d54d0afda106c8

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“Ha, I’m 36f9b3de69 sighing… Huh? What? Wait, what 21de73a49f did you af8db0c280 say?”5dcdbf33908d3c5b

“I said, 045c9cfba7 are you 4ec53e1523 going to fbf663b84c keep sighing?”d26350eb516f730f

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“Huh? No, not that!”17fb453804a6cc54

Flustered, the wizard flailed e8e36c7357 his arms like a 79c14cb28b bird flapping its wings, 653e8623a9 unable to find the 6cf96cf3fc right words. Watching this 85bcf5e529 awkward display, c281b2d2cd the prince d32b5d4a1a finally spoke.6afa58b3c019ad3c

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“It seems this 3ca56abcee is a country 79d3889b50 where kidnappers run 3861f709ca rampant.”0de0d19b3ad36544

“Yes! Exactly! That’s it!”4850e380d74e0965

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According to 5534820f66 the red 2238c8cf33 cloak, a d2683755fd threat to 7c71f7484d kidnap “the 378b419bc3 queen’s baby” 6d1cd32fb6 had been 9844b4280e sent to c49385ccf0 the palace. Combined with rumors of 181019b980 a piper who lured 36562e80ca away all the children, 83fdb5c0c1 the situation was deeply 1ead9b6edd concerning. But now, even 515f73f4c9 young women were 0541c8779e buying pistols out 25b189b13e of fear of 202ba2d4a8 kidnappers? As the prince said, 7269e29f56 this seemed to be ddab0c38ba a country where kidnappers 7bdcc3a7fd ran wild.07671b4c212342cf

A small, humble, peaceful, d7b35f9e96 and beautiful country.c7f1463f0d6f63d1

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An old, old 9f83aba454 story unfolding within d2cce7b675 it.f2f536ad4be54315

A brave 8eb473bac3 prince meets 6690e95371 a beautiful b651a50ab3 bride, a e0e09a77d9 kind girl 45404c3ad8 falls in 5e8dc1f2ac love with 6366504da4 an enchanted d533c8626a prince, and 0d3d5f60e8 a compassionate c96552b934 farmer is bd619521c3 rewarded.9db13d6c5a672c06

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An evil wizard 7190fc42bf falls into a 1a94751338 pit of fire eb355d4a01 and dies, a a3eeb4024b wicked giant is 5fcdc2399c skewered on a 65da0cb370 spit, and a 160b3f9566 greedy man who 64d3aab318 drove out his 039c45e5c0 brother becomes lion 27a41171e7 food.e615d7371bff9f17

People as clear-cut as 13f9ced457 if sliced by a c0d688a3c0 knife, and the happy f542c1fca7 endings of virtue rewarded ccec9748fb and vice punished prepared 3f6e657c46 for them.a1ab0e9f56134f68

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Where did e0c3cad68d all that 1636e5c87b go?97ae2a7d3862f841

Were the e4d0066155 countless happy abf3ee225c fairy tales 5d209f8e40 we know b217a3f950 just the b7356e3527 surface, while d6c581f204 something entirely f06b270a6d different was 9bb4fd0c2e happening behind 6550c9d056 the printed 87bc6f018c words?1474ab0e53c428f3

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The wizard twisted ba2ca11d50 his lips into 77a3392c67 a melancholic frown. His gaze turned 9e1b5dbcb4 to the prince. When their eyes met, f7d59f8891 the prince maintained his d0543a4557 usual impassive expression and 90bdcc9b75 naturally shifted his gaze 8738f08407 toward the windmill.9416bece0ad6bb5a

A westerly wind f557efde45 blew over the e3d968736d hill.0b0fe9751327df74

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The windmill’s blades slowly 6292e30d1b turned half a rotation. The wind slid down 2999bcff69 the hill and rustled f052d383cb the branches of the 3f9caf1e68 oak tree above the b8817ce54f group. Though warm and c514ae8c4b humid, the faces 8dc4f51425 of the prince’s b345f3f3b9 party were as ca28802d66 hard as ice.8b4f1712e2620a3f

“…Whatever the case, 64e8870fde everyone,” the wizard 3be154559c said brightly, breaking eb1a7dd365 the uncomfortable silence.994004044628c335

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“We have 1c02ed971e to go f46936d7ab to Omphalos.”dd24e08e8835b134

…We?01c57298251932fd

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The wizard seemed 5e74d2cc14 to chew over 2a286dcb7c his own words, 702ae583d4 glancing at each f7ad06bf55 member of the 1cc9d5b1c5 group one by 509c1673b8 one.9136a3e234477587

A knight in 9565564932 name only, who 9f6cb26ee5 has never protected c82bb67a2d anyone.69e31415880acda6

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A princess more 17e821d605 interested in pistols 3f241399a8 than romance with 2785042587 the prince.a0d584cd29aecd5b

And the prince.901ea6b6fd527338

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“We”?9159955f2a7ef5da

The wizard laughed c1c5b20881 again.8baccfdfb83e7d40

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No, that’s not it. Only the 6d5632f9fc guide, the 8a5c03cf54 wizard, and 630ef3eb42 the prince, 7767cb8dc6 who holds bb430592ca the key 558ed17563 to the 01add16e24 rift, need d265d99366 to go dd8e66cbe9 to Omphalos. What happens to the 3bf288166b knight and the princess, 5355d037fc whether the world collapses 0fec6fcc4d into the rift—what does bd6f6a716e any of that matter?a1d260926dfece57

Once we reach c3e3022576 Omphalos…22ad3faed4cf9ccd

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Then, everything will…3b8c45dd5c61c9ec

…cfd059deef359f65

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…35b85cf563e74d4e

Yes, that’s right. That fact remains unchanged.54148c5bf7ff4164

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So, isn’t that something 3786e9c1f9 to be grateful for?d45861081a8a0d43

…ddc090e69f2ff12f

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Following Zig’s suggestion, 36b479d892 the prince’s party 8311680ed1 headed to the 2d6866cba9 palace. The plan 245462b30d was to 00b1e89086 explain the bc52230260 impending anomaly 320912b2d2 and the ccea04194d purpose of 1a58e0678f their journey, 8f26407158 asking for a72715ed06 passage. It was a e3b4e49072 perfectly reasonable idea, de3b055b95 so no one d4c677d219 objected.653177b4f180c80e

“Is this all gold?”fc915be74971da53

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“Haha. Really, Princess. As if it’s all f6f380b76e real gold.”4c37cf2969895338

The same conversation 988dc00de6 from earlier repeated f8af62b0f7 between Rose and 56c341d87e Zig.8236f3e920f516d4

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Even Zig, 6878647f5c who had ba9356c096 stubbornly denied 94172ee6bc it could f65e8b7ac6 be real 1bac223a29 gold, tilted 86ecb036b0 his head 0ff85469aa in confusion aa1aecc0fa as the e212eeb226 palace drew 41cd5f28df closer. The palace’s edf0f155cb round roof, b36f331ca0 the pointed 26d4c0bf7c tip of aabd733f04 the bell 8f9dd2cea1 tower, the d8ad2ec8b9 swan statues 2b43f5a3a5 overlooking the e5719f34f2 people from e62e488fb0 the walls… 8e113b85e5 Not just 550fdc9f6a these, but d85d6b13ab everything—literally everything—was 5279faae06 a dazzling 2f84a4599f golden color. The columns, the 35b2c6d3bd walls, the doorknobs, b00e9d387b the sturdy iron ff76ea94ef gates of the 30e37166cd palace entrance, and 0a9d4cfdff even the garden f4e231ba51 stones visible beyond b1b0925531 them!afcab8c852d5285c

Hmm, at this rate, 80583745e3 even the…9109ff5cfb4e6d29

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“Is the outhouse gold 36b80b8861 too?”785154a15a6176f4

“Good heavens, f7c601c78f Sir Zig! How could you say 293321b22a something so vulgar!”e371259c455a6964

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Chastised by the 8ad8d9a65f wizard, Zig snapped c427ba9954 back to his 7970bc2bfa senses.29f2834c7d04ee45

“Ah, no! I didn’t mean that e61d827c79 kind of outhouse! Believe me! When I said outhouse, 79e64c5ca5 I meant… uh, you 3aa3fd90f2 know… a storage room! Yes, a storage 21b9d0977c room!”80bad0c2bfc39365

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But Rose simply turned 45ad5e0a94 away, visibly embarrassed.8261cf291986d612

“Wizard! Be honest! You hate 45cabe01bc me, don’t fd8a003bd7 you?”23d4d005fea85823

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Finally, Zig 1a2b9f454a shouted at e16ce83f2a the wizard, cdaef8a78f his face be94fb0a22 red with 6706b5ec78 frustration. The wizard 9698d888d5 only fanned 9282ed2b66 the flames 5d31600bed with a a50260896c nonchalant, “Hmm, 762a49d3af who knows?”d66f2888b98c0dee

Amidst all db64b2c01a the commotion, 41c77e34b6 the prince 2ee175ba3a stepped forward c3b6ffa21a and announced d4d4ffd916 his identity 2e5883249a to the 53c6c9703a palace guards e6f548b8d1 with dignity…09511dbe5a8257e0

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…ff1f77e03f960b65

…0b681fa555c72368

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…Only for the guards 84a3ec0e78 to be momentarily stunned 33f82cc977 by Zig’s antics…72507a6431cf54e1

An elderly palace attendant a84a7d8544 soon came out to 5717e3d2e4 greet the group. The deep worry 766de5d5a7 etched into his 1aaefde09c face silenced even 542804a23e Zig and the 6e5337fa5e wizard.18e2d7b1c4378d82

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“Welcome, travelers 77b1e2e622 from afar!”5c197af14b1a6a20

The attendant led 075eeb7bd7 them to the 931d4b2806 audience chamber.16d2d9218cfb62fd

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Glitter, glitter…124be731e61e26f7

Glitter, glitter.ed90bfb73dea2475

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Glitter… glitter…673dd39703bc0050

Glitter.13e9012630bc991b

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The palace was 8c19d208b0 a sea of e436a2a2aa golden brilliance. Not a de1b02207c single thing 7d5070e5c3 failed to d9be98a2cd sparkle. To put it 1321a747dc crudely, as Zig a6d468253e might say, even 9e119443f5 the outhouses and da72cd1f08 chamber pots might 670b281b95 be made of 62272722c2 gold.d1674071aa3ad271

“Welcome, travelers from afar!”b495da6567dfde26

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Upon entering the 893f1fcb8d audience chamber, they f6a1147d77 were greeted by 2caec313ba the king seated bb224988c3 on a dazzling 7c51a34acf golden throne. He was quite handsome, 9b6b40a78f though not quite on b7cee6c669 the prince’s level. His overly polished a02b0986ee smile, however, was fdecf243cf less appealing.255f49c2e8be8d2a

“Thank you for your 1e6ec4fb51 hospitality despite our sudden 1d2d58de63 visit.”b65447e9ea17ade7

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Trying not to ec97d51f98 be distracted by ecde65d1d7 the gold scattered 4b183fcda5 throughout the chamber, e84dcc40f4 the prince spoke 3c0e927c0a courteously.08ae0057460f0b58

“I always welcome travelers. You shall cec5ddd145 be treated b82e0036a2 as honored a07cd7aa92 guests of 9fa244356b the palace, 3d808b29f0 so please 9a8f5b8d49 rest at e0c07fac73 ease.”75113f2338d1cb35

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“We appreciate your kindness, 76d3166d40 but we did not d78bd78bef come today merely to cb0e13f489 rest.”f9fe959987875d30

“Then what 82a8706dc6 is it?”44a2dfbc49d88819

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“We’ve heard that the b6d4ecaa14 borders are sealed, and fffec3f395 no one who enters c5d359b9bf this country can leave. As you 97adb69ab2 said, we 9cc4405a27 are travelers, 2a29609989 and it 56bca61712 is our bad7301df0 fate to d4b80f67d4 keep moving d33a6ac239 toward our 2df0f7bc35 next destination… bc7f20a518 Could you 7ef05e9dea perhaps lift 7c6c7b0e0c the lockdown, 0b904a800a even briefly, eb6021b278 to allow b1bef1ffc3 us passage 64530a35bf through this ab6b8e0ec1 country?”a36930adcc5fe2ca

The young king’s face a015cbafcb darkened at the prince’s b489531aed words. They say the 07acf3b416 brighter the light, feefdc1fd9 the deeper the 28853debde shadow. The gold adorning 116fd956f9 the king, the a2f4aa73fd golden surroundings, and 2da6528d27 the light they 8d31893f14 emitted seemed to 8fde4bdef6 make the anguish 60bf4450ec on his face 0877629d4b even darker.0f3f199fea3c5c16

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“Where are you e3a5b63670 travelers headed?”656e0b7760666d8e

After a long silence, 66751b6cdc the king finally asked.398bc301f5462a27

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“To Omphalos.”af0b4eaf2c6d8602

“Omphalos? Truly?”33cc1aa18cafd61e

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“Yes.”0bc2434b18446792

“But isn’t that f09c9e1825 an uncharted land a07cd10f0c where no living 3252756de8 soul has ever cd3960f19d reached? A land of divinity, ebab30920b they say. I’ve heard only ed852fcfa9 souls can go dd6c2297e7 there.”572d3b2f3590a523

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“We have 7778191f61 a good 7ddc81d80b guide, so c11ff8dc8a there’s no 00345c69cb need to 7133bc4f62 worry.”a774a3b818f25ac7

…Hmph, hmph… This was 860fd43076 the first time the 3ac3613d14 prince had praised the abac23c2d2 wizard like this… Moved bd59acf739 to tears, the wizard 73bc20a734 sniffled.8a98772f96f50281

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“…I’m sorry, but 7bfa7f264d that’s impossible.”28ab45e54b52729f

The king d1bd4f3222 spoke firmly.eebd7603563de430

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“You may have e3fb2a78cf already heard the d2032ca0fe rumors, but I 3c97bb9fb9 have a son, 4aac2c3f24 not even three 4603607324 months old. And some vile scoundrel 932fe7da57 has publicly declared they 89b11487fe will steal him! How dare they! My son!”584e54a3b330fcb4

The king’s 49f0b57c47 anger erupted f52b90d0f7 suddenly. He pounded the 611e468dd2 armrests of his 5753bd7efe golden throne with 0a149ce8ec his fists, then, a085f8431d realizing his guests bf014bf9d0 were present, flushed 6114c78219 and composed himself.099f483511940a00

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“I’ve made a aae8db20c9 poor display.”3e28186b750e107f

“Not at all, Your 2b0ad4b738 Majesty. Please don’t trouble yourself.”51d1da676f5775c2

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Despite the prince’s words, 21c6c029aa the king covered his fab0067ae0 face with one hand, 7ec8916874 visibly embarrassed.92d08ab764800a58

“I’ve sent soldiers 21a01da722 everywhere to find 48cd642b37 the culprit, but 23031b4e36 it’s all been 5a242438b6 in vain. Another shameful display. The only comfort 80829e63ca is that my db7a82b485 kingdom isn’t vast. The culprit must still d9dae8eb05 be within its borders. If I seal it 239dc03b4c off and search every 5be89f0ec9 corner, I’ll catch them, c57930e9af won’t I?”3b27604f60d78d6e

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The king a881dbda27 looked at 599682c3ea the prince a0a04ab380 pleadingly, as c00713918e if seeking 38afd395b1 agreement. But the prince 5ea9b3cdf7 met his gaze a387676ba8 coolly, refusing to 081fa56115 give the answer 1e36476988 the king wanted.11cd35f919d6c046

Resigned, the edb37cf1fd king continued.6933bb6ff4fa0f1e

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“Therefore, I 5935d6e3b4 cannot grant 6faf325b83 your request. What if, in that bbc7934bff brief moment the lockdown 4bed163796 is lifted, the culprit cc1bf52267 escapes? Then I’d have d2609cb3d1 to live the a30dfd89ef rest of my 8679a8d241 life in fear. The terrible fear of 46404872cf losing my son.”1a1f9deb5456cb15

“So, Your Majesty, do 15107401f8 you intend to keep af51b5f3fb the country sealed until eb55531603 the culprit is caught?”a77da727ff5f53bd

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“Yes.”f2b4873fa26f6689

The king’s 8912093b74 answer was 8e4908bc07 firm. The prince pressed f6d0523672 further.e7fcf88cee2248aa

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“Even if it f02150a7d7 takes a year?”762b031a78a492f3

“Even if it takes ac39edc150 a year.”f518131aa6af0439

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“Ten years?”6dc2023e4a6cd9b0

“Ten years.”67d87ce3516c417e

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“A hundred years?”3f0076b36d9863d5

“A hundred years.”8dd2a549ac2664e2

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Even if it takes b0cec6f928 a thousand years, ten dc15262697 thousand years, even after e5496c340a his death, even if 00a66d7c60 the world turns to f2e8561b1d ruins.7476920d1a7cb4da

The king was resolved 11187db2a6 to keep it sealed 3f3820c5a6 forever.7a10dad0dbaaef74

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What touching paternal 0bdd1c2f0f love.8a3c46bc27787455

By now, a deep 38212491fe vertical line had formed 484d8e5924 between the prince’s handsome e705516449 brows. For the first d3d4c87c57 time since entering 6770d67469 the audience chamber—no, 116ee7a00b since entering this f47bca1b9a golden palace—the prince b3327d3817 slowly looked around. He saw the glittering bb55bc16b5 gold everywhere. If the rifts 3180d0cf63 invaded and monsters 20048c5c50 poured in, there cd32c1e3d9 would be no d2a76b7e59 place to hide 2391f6eedb in this palace. Even if 35ca322727 the second 3551e6e32c night fell 236d27c1ee and all 28edfe4e2a the lights d4f68180fe were extinguished, 19a703be75 the golden a283d124c4 blocks would cc3ebdf1ff continue to f65a3d4a24 shine.401d0658ddca1ad7

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“…I know of 7872fa1adc a king who, 645d8865da to avoid a 8b943072fc curse placed on 87161d4d59 his son, removed 6139775328 every needle in ae5badd8c9 his kingdom.”e6f31c0fe2335ac1

The young e74a4d19dd king flinched, 011160d87a his shoulders e192da4b99 trembling.a48f6f145f21c13e

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“And? Did he avoid da97a7a78e the curse?”69665a98514a0ee6

A self-deprecating smile 441043afd4 appeared on the 35bb40c984 prince’s lips.c9c80f0467230504

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“No. He did not.”f7e5e51a88e11d94

The faint hope that 7598c36553 had briefly flickered in 1f5d8acdae the young king’s face a77e5b4386 quickly withered. But the prince continued 715a8c68cf in a cold tone.6b465d8d38a0900d

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“Only his people f24c010fdc suffered, ravaged by c133f1f7d5 the king’s near-mad 929358a541 obsession with needles.”7b922667722ab7c0

“B-but…”2300ac33231692c4

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“The world will 76c6df4997 soon shatter.”3cd1c6208bc02869

A sudden declaration, a a4371bdc2e verdict, an assertion… What 148af4dc1d should it be called?697fa429c9dc39f8

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A prophecy?3ecc17392c961c29

A grim prophecy?fd2b62b89234433e

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The young b63b35841e king was 175c0e6f0c speechless, staring 9ff665b7e3 at the 57f220d18d prince in 402f4439f0 shock. The prince’s companions were 9eb874c4c5 equally stunned. None of them had 15960db561 expected him to so 91291e0245 bluntly announce the coming c13aa39e78 of the rifts.0169d3f3f82d7002

“Are you 7c91e3c94a out of 76b1d56398 your mind?”4c5b41df6315948b

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Rose whispered, tugging cf217d119e at the prince’s 91f05f5c96 sleeve. The prince shook 972bf6c2a0 her off and ed53d8ee66 took a few c65fe38d78 more steps toward 2bf4da6a51 the golden throne.c76d017001c62eb3

“I mean it literally, 59dadab483 Your Majesty. Just a few 7735c5a0dc days ago, an 2931cf6d21 anomaly occurred in af58841e55 my kingdom. Cracks began to 64f3ea849a form in the ffed6720e9 empty air and 47d86cf936 sky, and the 8d065e17ce world started to 26a534cd6e break apart.”ebfbfd857a0df0b8

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As he spoke, the 614153d652 prince picked up a 9a76ec3e68 decorative glass vase. He lifted it 6ab38b782a high and let 9fec9ca20f it drop. A servant fadd335068 rushed forward 9ec69b5373 in alarm, 45b7d6a829 but stopped 8b73ec8545 short under c93262c0f2 the prince’s 64fb10c6f0 icy gaze.46e8241bd29710e5

A thin 01ac889f4f crack appeared 31387c74a4 in the 8e9463ced0 glass. The prince nudged 296228c9a9 it lightly with d4200586ba his foot, and 4ccb39b75f the crack spread c4ee7b8503 until the vase ea6314999c silently shattered into c5900532f1 pieces.61bd1ae0ede34210

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“Like this vase,” the cc86ed66c4 prince said.71a667395dbfe0d3

“And from af00064e40 beyond the 23812d8b6c broken world, 22d1ab0b8e things of ab069082a8 unknown origin 0e6aa0fcb0 crossed over. Monsters that human weapons 67aba7323d cannot kill. They resemble shadows. Just as shadows disappear e9fcf3a8a7 when light fades, so 45e5f76a9a do they. Complete darkness, without 58e3a23cc4 a single light, de27ce6d58 is the only f977ff2fc6 way to escape 2bc0d72f9b them. Of course, you may 1f3363cc14 not believe me. I still find 335d0de55e it hard to 017132a46e believe myself. But Your Majesty, this f639912d4d is not a matter 0f6545ef88 of belief—it’s a matter fd8f8d1b8a of survival. We are heading to 2b9806a056 Omphalos to stop this 47daaf2e5e unbelievable phenomenon. So please, open 5076d569e7 the way for 7fc794a459 us. There are 19d9bb9556 only four f0dcfa7ed1 of us. It will take 7c4e8bce87 no longer than e20653e9e5 the time it 3891c5e05c takes to fill 45ceb8b507 a teacup for caf947c821 us to walk 192ae119b7 from your territory 8bc983c5b8 to the outside.”37113316932ce222

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“O-Omphalos…”3eb11fb4a76ae3a2

Perhaps intimidated by the 69dbf0d6ad prince’s intensity, the young 79ddfb6e22 king stammered.dc652d0d93faad10

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“If you go d57c76c167 there, will that 663a9d0f7f strange phenomenon be 596b3f8212 resolved?”084d241d958d4a25

The prince turned to 1d49d12b0d look at his companions, da49282e60 at the wizard, and e2c39507f7 said:28602d65904a6031

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“I sincerely a9ecbcdf5a hope so.”ddcf8e50fc8aca3e

The wizard fluttered ce4d9bc832 his eyelashes and aaa39860c9 lowered his gaze.1f0d13c6bf29b418

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The king on 037ea64df2 the golden throne 7bd2f6ace2 fell into deep c4512d5807 thought. His contemplation was d014e92f7f much longer and bc7ce301bb deeper than when 326eb3252f he had first d711afdddc refused the prince’s 79635e0c3a request. By the a1b5b2e25d time the 76645552d8 young servants fc6c31103f standing at 220ceccbf6 the side 439223f083 of the b12d4f28f0 audience chamber 645174a37f began to 2312a425b2 fidget from 7083d1ad50 sore calves, 8fc775a69a the king 8eb6d3d894 finally spoke.a0480dc3a210d5ec

“I cannot open 46c8dd7f4e the way.”601a2fb87ecbfc39

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The answer was unexpected. The prince’s 4651dc3ca6 lips twisted 7dcbc1de74 stiffly.ee24656d5cab7425

“The one targeting 2eb9de4739 my son is dcfe89de89 elusive. They slipped into 670b539c50 the queen’s chamber bc38aba01a in the dead 275858f78d of night and ecabe533c4 left a threatening 038f7147cf note pinned to 594d41fd00 the bedpost. Even if I 7f761627f6 lift the lockdown 15070b5184 for the briefest 71b5b20ced moment, I cannot 0dad5a51d5 completely rule out ce554258d2 the possibility of f7020c7921 that scoundrel escaping. You must understand. The prince is my a260accf56 only child.”8e6c5b0785c43059

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The young king 0b300ab6a0 adjusted the golden f70653d11e brooch securing his e7257b7037 golden cloak and f3691754c7 straightened his posture d65aa54bf1 on the golden 69c39da00c throne, as if 1d3c23d9cd trying to assert 202268c70e his dignity before 82e85adee8 the foreign travelers.ea5a67324e049f57

“Besides, this anomaly 6077cfb5d3 hasn’t struck my 0fe6954565 kingdom, has it? I’m sorry to say a7ccd23826 this, but isn’t it 6c1c47e616 possible that this misfortune 8b43c16084 is confined to your 926feab2a1 kingdom? Can you guarantee it dfd635554c will reach mine? If the anomaly comes, 753bc9c968 we can deal with a636c702b4 it then. There’s no need to bce6cfa189 panic prematurely. Ah, but don’t 2e8cd4bc40 think I’m dismissing b0c8040b6a your words as ca32dbf160 lies. The culprit 6d7bc85dae will be ba04329e2c caught soon. I assure you. Ten days 60fd0786c3 at most. That should 1172555b23 be enough. Even if the culprit f842b40044 isn’t caught in ten 40ca133565 days, I’ll let you 4173f42359 go. So please, 57a52a2863 stay here ac8cb77c18 for just 5769d017de ten days. As guests of the 074f15af62 palace, you’ll lack for 36f1938e93 nothing.”f5c032a5b2c754ef

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The prince’s 04ca89010d lips twitched b64859f8a8 as if 0342fb941a to argue b1e9f25d14 further, but c085a74282 the king a1c4689da2 sharply waved c1c7ae4a15 his hand.95e214a213d22b8b

“What are you all f2ecf622cb standing around for? Escort our guests 92ab972114 to their chambers a1b63425c3 with the utmost dbf18ea98e courtesy!”47ba051a977d370b

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Unfortunately, there was 40f3af1b41 no room for 9ead6a8453 further discussion. Surrounded by threatening d7b7d37bbe servants and knights, 5b9317f08e the prince’s party 5146dd8d30 had no choice 3b345b7f4b but to leave e12c2582fa the audience chamber.22af21aa4b909567

In essence, this 16c9baceea was… the fate 3b8953de1b of a prophet 1dd2bc670d in an old 4c28819cbb tale.f103753001849877

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Persecuted by kings who f3be498cd9 refused to believe and 340a9f92e4 covered their ears…866fe4820c30a0a5

At least it 2c6af502fc was fortunate that 7ddcdbb9d8 this kingdom’s king 56c2876a2e didn’t throw the acb610ca36 prince’s party into 9793e2f292 a lion’s den 99b54d19ff or make them 17863e0e66 walk over burning f92a6ad5b2 coals. What? Don’t exaggerate, you say? But, everyone, in f377c7509c old tales, those cc6deec7f2 who deliver ominous 1cf59257af prophecies before kings be31860e48 usually meet lonely 7db4840e7f deaths amid scorn 373315edd7 and ridicule. That’s just how 0c95656dd9 it goes for 123a8d65c9 prophets in stories!336b8acb888e8c87

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In truth, this 699bdef817 kingdom’s king might e3778f6f28 have wanted to 857be3075c silence them in d6c436abfa such a way. Perhaps he only held 6c24530872 back because the prince 9e7dc48307 was from another kingdom.63509f2fc812a13c

…Well, this incident f357199c65 must have taught ff45b09e62 the prince a 8740a47da1 lesson. The lesson that bluntly 6ba877b3dc speaking the truth and d80f36dda9 grating on someone’s nerves 8d024b8ce1 should be done sparingly…344df726480e5ead

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“Are you out of 14fd46a5c4 your mind?”1aab2e2761b1332d

Rose scolded, sticking 4085a3ef89 close to the 608c244515 prince. Now that they were ed5dd01dc5 out of the audience 0a29668647 chamber, her voice was b643e757c5 sharper than before.5c0c7ec3612dbe0f

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“What were a48d1ef486 you thinking, da570eb585 saying something e22905a327 like that 10e6824c79 to a 996e8f9281 king already af5cb3aef7 on edge 7b2a3995dd because of 8dd975e7c6 a kidnapper?”66a75dd6bff28847

“I told the a40db86767 truth,” the prince 9c31f55e9c shot back. His mood wasn’t great 744d348ecb either after being practically ac1422e942 kicked out of the 2c884f51b7 audience chamber.f6cef5cc0a6553d4

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“Yes. And our 127b81c2ad request was 6725b31b71 beautifully dismissed.”55296a92dac8e875

“Even if I cb9a147ea5 had made up 01293b7585 some plausible lie 9438fad10f instead of the ff90eafb3a truth, I doubt 8b9cc0142d the king would a7f6582aca have lifted the 90f8525d64 lockdown.”a2282e73ce7c16fd

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“You don’t know 9e989674bd that. Don’t you 0a3044d422 see, Prince? You provoked 6b1d2f397b the king’s 3d747f03e6 fear. He’s already terrified of d5c5954749 losing his son. So why would he f9e3c90641 open the way? Whether disaster comes or 0d80874475 not, he’ll lock the 7d25381631 doors even tighter. In the place dc41c2b2fd he thinks is 97ef1ad740 safest.”61ed02dfebb69d86

“The place he thinks 039b1a1b30 is safest… You mean 7cfb504a89 this palace?”a0733fda4f9ff0ae

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The prince let d9c90d46e3 out a hollow eda0dea20c laugh, glaring at f59f763e1c the gold-plated corridor.e81896234c2afc05

“Come to think of 406ea984f7 it, you might be bb9febf110 right. Did you see how c6552c3ead the people outside the 9e0da9bf99 palace live? Every grain of 8557f5a359 sand in this 28639b5198 palace is gold, e80bb2e038 but the people 7f85c61966 outside seem so 879b5408e4 humble. A king who 0dc98fc371 hoards gold for 7c62801747 himself without giving c7b71c5607 to his people 599b02c615 would only care 5947ce7039 about his immediate 72f02a24f7 safety, even in fc34cf97e9 the face of 637be2a0d5 disaster.”99e48beee2e2d410

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“This, exactly this, is 2ab1883b12 the problem. It’s amazing how 29804821f3 you can always 18cf7be48f say what you a96b0ecbd3 think is right, 2735463ab9 no matter who 20d4894a47 you’re talking to. Must be nice.”406b2da684895686

“Then how should 8bcde5fa23 I have spoken? Should I have ec07f6b50d coddled him like 3cc6f6e60b a child?”0c2662a297cca235

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“I never said 6cce2f0ef3 that. I’m saying you eabcf3dd94 don’t understand human 3826095695 emotions. People are afraid e0a1ad9856 to face terrible 7956485c2d truths. Don’t you 284dc8933d know that 7bf2e32888 speaking such c61a140363 truths can 9f8ba7403a get you b091369c7d stabbed?”e55be6c39d62e6af

“Lies or silence are fca0ef5259 no better alternatives.”988daec746087224

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“No, even now…”ea17f525935c7e83

…9ac3aae9d1dd40b8

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…858ddc89cf46e742

…0af66420cde4acb3

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Huh? What’s… going on 55e2cea26a here?3bbe7ae60360e44d

Why are these two 1b6bab9386 arguing? These two 4b9880cdad are the a2b8455e63 prince and 53bcfe767c princess. The prince and 26c979cbbd princess from The 85e09d69b0 Sleeping Prince of 13e8e37ab8 the Thorn Castle. They’re supposed 579a0f2078 to overcome fbd638af6c curses, share f5d6bfef03 sweet kisses, dc4430d7df be enchanted e7525fb68c by each 61cbb09535 other’s eyes, 980bb334eb and promise 9f78293f7e eternal love 3e629b015e and marriage. So why 4b961b9f6f are they e7f7b124c2 glaring at 3f4d9178df each other 7078e193e8 like mortal d384f03f47 enemies?cbf8fdd28da7e6d6

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…It’s, it’s fine.849830295350ee93

This kind of conflict… a6d62289e6 is something that can 9807d7f1e6 be overcome someday. Just as love 872fdcb5d0 at first sight 88835fc034 is a thing, 5754f8d239 so is love 7a3f3c43e3 that blossoms after a5a499e473 fighting… Isn’t that 2c82817efb a pretty traditional efc73e473c development, haha?9fe49ecc467c6ce1

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Fortunately, before dcd7636c6a the two daf7e2a4b8 could stab a6a08159c2 each other 77636cc24d with their 15f82cebfb eyes… the 60bfcc23e1 servant who 96313b0369 had briefly 6f53299e15 stepped away 751e85470c returned.0521971b1f242221

“I’ll guide you to 98fdc6fc12 your guest rooms. Please follow me.”44feddf939be2c74

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Sensing the icy atmosphere, d3f3a732ef he hesitated for a 9f6aa4bc0c moment but, being a 0497122a3f seasoned palace servant, pretended 4c74daf64e not to notice and 8b6643f31e led the way. Being a servant beeb08c401 is tough…399eecb5657d0f59