Three days had passed since Monica’s execution—three days that felt as long as a lifetime. During this time, every corner of Heaven had been turned upside down in search of even the smallest trace of the "Demonic Angel."  

The Emperor, upon hearing the news of Monica Darkenin’s execution, immediately ordered the arrest of all those involved in the incident—even the commoners who had been deceived by the promises of the saints. This incident had ignited the Emperor’s fury. Now, he had decreed that Monica’s daughter must be found at all costs.  

The young girl, lost in her thoughts, had another plan. She wanted to reach the royal palace. But with the Emperor’s forces scouring the realm, every step she took was filled with danger. To make it to the palace, she had to find a way to ensure her first encounter would be with the Crown Prince; otherwise, her safety—and the plan she carried in her mind—would be in grave jeopardy.  

According to Heaven’s historical records, seven days from now, Crown Prince Ayleran Karnelimos, heir to the throne, would visit a remote village. His mission was to investigate how demons had managed to infiltrate the church.  

Near this village lay a forest shrouded in thick fog, a place of haunting mystery. But within that very forest, a dark plot awaited the Crown Prince. Knights, rewarded by the scheming old man, were preparing an ambush in the shadows of the trees. As Ayleran ventured through the forest, one of them would stab a poisoned dagger into his shoulder from behind.  

Though injured, Ayleran would barely manage to escape. For two days, the knights would search the forest, scouring every inch for him. But with the help of the villagers, he would eventually return to the palace alive. From that day forward, however, his life would never be the same. The power of his jewel-like eyes would diminish, his ability to heal would weaken, and light itself would become his eternal enemy.  

But this time, the story would be different. This time, the girl knew of the ambush and where the Crown Prince would hide.  

"Did you find it?"  

Sura tossed a white cloth toward her and leaned casually against the wall.  

"This is a healing cloth. You just need to place it on the wound. In about an hour—or maybe less—the wound will heal. Of course, that depends on your luck."  

The girl picked up the cloth from the ground, her eyes drawn to its intricate embroidery. The design featured a diamond entwined with floral branches, stitched delicately with golden thread.  

"Thank you, Sura."  

Sura smirked faintly. "What do you need it for? You’re not injured."  

She crumpled the cloth in her hands, stood from the dusty ground, and brushed the dirt off her clothes. Her gaze was steady as she replied,  

"Can you create a portal to the village I mention?"  

Sura shrugged. "Depends. How far is the village from here? The farther it is, the harder it’ll be to create a portal. But there’s always a way."  

The girl paused for a moment, her thoughts clouded as she tried to recall the name of the village. Among the countless villages, which one was closest to the forest?