Her certainty was short-lived. As no further words were heard for a while, she began to doubt herself.

Was someone really there?

‘Was I just imagining it?’

Rosha decided to take the initiative and address the possibly non-existent, silent presence with a slightly stale greeting.

“…Is someone there?”

In response to her words, she heard a faint breath. Hearing that, she could finally be sure.

“Froy?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

He revealed his identity. Along with a sense of satisfaction that her hunch was correct, a new question arose.

Why was Froy in her room?

“…Although I did allow you to enter my room once before, that didn’t mean you could come anytime.”

“That’s… there’s no room for excuses, regardless of the reason. My apologies. If I’m making you uncomfortable, I’ll leave right away.”

“No.”

Raising her upper body, Rosha hurriedly replied.

Of course, Froy’s appearance was surprising, but she welcomed it. After being cooped up in her room for so long, she had been wanting some company.

‘Cedric is busy, and Cassis has been obsessed with training lately.’

Her only conversational partners had been Koko and Berri.

The ‘Guide God’ asks if you’ll just let a strange man into a lady’s room like that.’

Ah, there was also the Guide God, though not particularly helpful.

Ignoring the God’s message, Rosha looked in Froy’s direction and said:

“This is just what I needed to relieve my boredom. It’s been three days since I woke up, but I’ve been stuck in this room the whole time. So what brings you here?”

“What brings me? Do I need a reason? Between us.”

“…”

“Just kidding. I have many questions, and I was worried since you were unconscious. And I’m a bit more to the right of where you’re facing.”

“…Ah.”

Seeing her tilt her head slightly in confusion, the man softly asked:

“…Can you not see anything at all?”

He tried not to betray emotion in his voice, but the end of his words trembled slightly. Well, it was understandable to be taken aback, seeing the woman who had seemed fine last time suddenly lose her sight.

For some reason, Rosha wanted to see him falter, so she deliberately answered tersely:

“Yes.”

“…You didn’t suffer any eye injuries during the trial. And your ability was closer to ‘seeing’, so your current blindness seems to be a side effect of that. Am I correct?”

Despite the surprise that should have narrowed his thinking, he was certainly quick-witted. However, the man, standing rigidly in place, wasn’t done speaking yet.

“Or perhaps it’s related to the force of death that had bound you at the end of the trial-“

“Huh? You felt that force too?”

“…So you were already aware of that force.”

Even without seeing, she could tell.

Froy would be staring intently at her with those peculiar purple eyes that seemed to peer into one’s soul.

Froy Echerzen.

Rosha’s collaborator, an extraordinary ability user, and… the possessor of overwhelming potential.

‘Being able to sense the force of the Hardmode penalty. Is that even possible?’

His potential was astounding enough to feel eerie. Which is why the decision came easily to her.

As if finding the situation interesting, Koko, who had been sprawled out, stirred. Sensing this, Rosha spoke softly:

“As Froy guessed, losing my sight is indeed a side effect of my ability. I don’t know the exact timing, but it will likely return soon.”

“That’s… a relief to hear.”

“And the ‘force of death’ Froy mentioned…”

The man held his breath, waiting for her answer. To avoid making her feel burdened, he didn’t move an inch from his spot, only leaning forward slightly.

In any case, she had intended to share part of the truth with Froy, as he would undoubtedly ask about the mountain illusion from the trial.

‘However, I hesitated to reveal the Hardmode penalty, as it could be a vulnerability… but with this level of potential, it’s better to bring him to our side.’

Of course, there was still a possibility of him betraying them, but there was one way to prevent that in advance.

Rosha smiled brightly in Froy’s direction.

Then she abruptly made this request:

“Would it be possible to step outside for some fresh air for a bit?”

* * *

Even without sight, there was much to perceive.

The crisp autumn night air and cool breeze, the sensation of the grass beneath her feet. The faint scent of water, accompanied by the swishing sound of trees and wild grasses rustling.

Snugly wrapped in a thick outer garment, Rosha thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors while pondering,

‘How long has it been since I last went out?’

She didn’t know exactly where this place was, having asked to be taken somewhere secluded and in nature, but…

Well, as long as there were trees and rocks, it didn’t matter.

“Ah!”

“Be careful, Rosha.”

Froy, who had been watching over her like a child let out to play by the water, quickly grabbed her arm. She had nearly scraped her knee on a large rock, yet instead of being more cautious, Rosha felt the rock and nodded in satisfaction.

Then, like a white parrot gathering twigs and stones nearby, she began stacking them one by one on top of it.

“…What are you doing right now?”

“What does it look like? A flat base and pillars made of natural objects, with a ceiling. And in the center, a symbol of the God. It’s a shrine, sticking to the basics.”

“I can see that. I’m asking why you’re making it here.”

“It’s necessary.”

After briefly choosing her words, Rosha continued:

“Have you heard of a covenant sanctioned by the deities, Froy?”

A covenant sanctioned by the deities.

This referred to a vow made with Gods as witnesses, useful for preventing betrayal as violators would face punishment.

Froy had read about this in books preserved in his family’s ancestral archives.

“…So what you wish to tell me is quite sensitive?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t make contracts carelessly. What are the terms?”

“Simple. We don’t betray each other, don’t divulge secrets, and any judgments are based on the fairness of at least two gods.”

She spoke with a firm attitude, as if the terms were already set.

However, the content itself didn’t seem too objectionable. Moreover, Rosha was undoubtedly a necessary presence for the road ahead, no matter how he looked at it.

And…

‘Being around her keeps triggering these inexplicable moments.’

Even her recent loss of sight was like that.

He felt a premonition, as if he had experienced something similar before.

He wanted to know more about Rosha.

Who she was. What she was hiding. How the strange experiences he faced were connected to her.

“You’ll have to accept this covenant for me to share the truth. What do you say?”

She extended her hand toward him. Her slender hand, glistening in the moonlight, had an inexplicable allure that drew his gaze.

After staring at that hand, Froy placed his own on top of it, suddenly thinking a ring would suit those fingers well, and replied:

“Very well. If it’s something I can only learn by making this covenant, then let’s do it.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a brilliant light burst forth from the roughly made shrine, silvery and deep violet hues elegantly enveloping them as the dim surroundings brightened.

It was a forest near the capital.

Likely due to a small spring nearby, the area was distinctly vibrant, but this was a secret location layered with concealment and camouflage magic.

This was because the vicinity served as a hideout for rebels opposing the Emperor.

Swish-

Highly trained individuals rushed towards the sudden light but retreated at the gesture of Lovell, Froy’s subordinate.

Unfazed by the movements around him, Froy gazed at Rosha’s form with her eyes closed. Her loss of sight allowed him to observe her more closely than usual.

Her gaunt, pallid face from her ordeal glowed softly in the moonlight.

The reason his eyes were drawn to her face was likely due to the indescribable veil of time and faint shadow of sorrow cast upon it, yet beneath that, an unwavering commitment to the path she must take.

The covenant was soon complete.

Confirming the deities’ light had faded, Froy pondered where to begin – there were too many questions to prioritize.

It was then that:

“Puheheng.”

The white parrot, which had been circling them with an odd gaze, let out a strange laughing sound.

Knowing from the incident at the nobles’ council that this bird was the phoenix’s true form, Froy thought, ‘So that’s what a phoenix’s laugh sounds like.’

However, far more surprising than the bird being the phoenix was what happened next.

Fluttering down beside Rosha, the creature opened its beak and ‘spoke’.

“Finally, I have another conversation partner. Be good to me.”

“…What?”