For a while, we sat in silence, each lost in our own memories and thoughts. I was the first to break the silence.

  "Everyone has something they regret. We’ve all been young once and made our share of mistakes. Even I was young once, and I made more than a few. I even ran away from the Ministerium once," I added with a bitter smile.

  "What? You ran away from the Ministerium? I can hardly believe that someone like you could do something so reckless."

  "Yes, that really did happen in my long life. It was after a series of difficult events. After I made a mistake with Emile, I felt I could no longer bear such responsibility—that I was completely unworthy of teaching anyone. So I ran away, to one of the most distant worlds I could find."

  "What were you doing then? How did the Mentor react—or was it already after her time, not under her watch anymore?"

  "No, it was actually when she was still leading the Ministerium that I ran away."

  I began to sink into memories of long-past days. The Ministerium was not exactly as it is now, but its core structure was already formed. The Founder was my Mentor, and she led the organization for a long time. The primary goal of the Ministerium was to protect and maintain order in all allied worlds. I obeyed the Mentor unquestioningly, sought out suitable "vessels," trained them, pursued violators, and executed them. But after the incident with Emil, I was overwhelmed with despair, and without saying a word to the Mentor, I fled, closing all portals behind me and covering my tracks. I was tormented by a sense of loss and worthlessness.

  The Mentor sent scouts with letters several times, but I could not find the strength to return. For a while, I thought I could forget everything and feel peace. I ran as far as my eyes could see, never staying anywhere for long. I didn’t want to form connections with anyone anymore—my only desire was silence and solitude.

  That’s how I found a small water-covered planet, where most of the surface was an ocean, and the few small islands were covered in tropical forests. I hid there, alone and broken. I built myself a small shelter and spent my days by the water.

  That’s when I met the spirit of that place, a dragon named Dilun. At first, we were wary of each other—I, because my loss was still too fresh, and he, because he had never seen anyone like me before. But time is a powerful force, and with its passage, many things can change. The pain becomes less sharp, and distrust fades. Step by step, over time, we grew closer. I shared my story with him and spoke of the pain I carried—after all, they say water washes away all sorrows. And for a while, I truly believed the sea would carry mine away too.

  One warm night, I lay on the shore, watching the stars, as small waves gently lapped at my feet. My weary eyes reflected a myriad of bright points in the sky. At that moment, I heard a familiar voice rising from the water:

  "Keeper, I must tell you something," said a voice that sounded like the rolling of waves.

  "Yes, Dilun, I’m listening."

  "You are trapped here. The portal you built in the underwater cave is sealed."

  I suddenly sat up, supporting myself with my hands, and objected:

  "That’s impossible. The portal is deep underwater. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

  "No, this is my domain, and I know everything about it."

  I had to see everything with my own eyes—I couldn’t believe that the Ministerium had found me so quickly.

  I rose to my feet and walked toward the water, wading deeper into it. The coolness was refreshing after the heat of the surface, which remained stifling even at night. As the water reached my waist, I ran my hand along its surface, causing ripples to spread outward. I kept moving forward. When the water reached my neck, I saw a faint glow ahead, shimmering beneath the waves. Taking a deep breath, I dove in and swam toward it.

  It seemed as though millions of silver fish had gathered in a tight school, swirling below me, drawing closer and closer, rising toward the surface. Soon, they were within my reach. Carefully but firmly, I grasped onto them. My hands sank into it as if into forest moss—soft, slightly cool, and ticklish. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small clump of seaweed—a gift from Dilun. As a land-dweller, I could not breathe underwater, but these remarkable plants granted me temporary gills and the ability to communicate with water dragons through thought. Gently patting the shimmering mass, I silently signaled:

  "Let’s go. I need to see this with my own eyes."

  We descended deeper and deeper into the ocean’s abyss. The sea was an all-consuming darkness, broken only by the shifting, radiant scales of the massive "school of fish" guiding me through the void.

  "Dilun, how long ago did you find the gate?" I asked the shimmering fish that carried me through the dragon’s domain.

  "Yesterday."

  We approached a vast underwater cave. Its entrance was barely visible, framed by a faint greenish glow. Dilun slipped inside effortlessly, gliding above a forest of strange, luminous plants that shimmered in every conceivable color. The sight was mesmerizing.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  We began to ascend. Soon, the water’s surface came into view. The cave was empty, as expected, illuminated by a soft bluish-green light from no apparent source.

  I emerged from the water and stepped onto the smooth, cold stone of the cave floor, my footsteps echoing in the silence. Droplets fell from my soaked clothing, breaking the stillness.

  At the very back of the cave stood a pitch-black mirror, as tall as a person. I slowly approached and reached out my hand. The mirror came to life. Instead of my reflection, something entirely different appeared on its surface. Jagged mountain peaks. A raging blizzard. Sparse trees bent under the force of the hurricane winds, seemingly on the verge of being torn from the ground. The mirror’s surface was freezing. Where my fingers touched, a delicate pattern of frost bloomed. I pressed against it, expecting my hand to pass through, but instead, a harsh, electric sound rang out. My palm met something solid and unyielding—cold metal. Bars.

  "You were right," I murmured to the dragon. "They found me."

  What a shame. So little time had passed, and now I had to run again, to seek out yet another refuge. And I had grown so fond of the salty scent of the sea, the warmth of the sun… Dilun remained silent. Gloomily, I turned back toward the water, my thoughts tangled in the problem before me.

  "Let’s go back to the shore," I said at last. "I need to gather my things and figure out where to go next."

  "As you wish," the dragon replied.

  We reached the shore in complete silence. My mind was consumed with thoughts of how much I didn’t want to leave behind my little home by the warm sea—a place of breathtaking sunsets, soothing warmth, and, for a time, a semblance of peace. Here, I had been free. Here, I had simply lived. But all good things come to an end, and now this world, too, would have to be abandoned.

  I had to move quickly. They had already found me, and it was only a matter of time before the Ministerium paid me a visit. By then, I needed to be far, far away. I stepped into the house and began packing quickly. There weren’t many things, so the process shouldn’t have taken more than an hour. By the time I finished, dawn was already breaking, and I was slipping into the all-too-familiar—and all-too-hated—garb of a wanderer. Sturdy boots made of rough brown leather. Dark blue canvas trousers are comfortable and worn. A loose, light linen shirt. And finally, the cloak. It had survived more than anyone could imagine, and despite everything, it was precious to me. It shielded me from storms, warmed me in the bitter cold, and cooled me in the scorching heat. More than that, it changed its color. At night, it turned black, blending with the darkness; by day, it grew light, deflecting the sun’s rays.

  "That’s it. Time to go," I whispered to myself.

  And then, from the corner of my eye, I caught movement outside the window.

  "So I wasn’t fast enough after all…" I scoffed bitterly. "What a shame."

  I stepped outside. Two figures were already standing there, waiting for me. Ministerium envoys. Their travel-worn clothes were covered in thick layers of dust, their boots scuffed and stained, as if they had trudged through miles of desert or wilderness.

  "You’ve gone far this time," one of them said. "We’ve been looking for you for a long time."

  "Turn around and leave," I replied flatly. "And I will walk away. Let’s pretend we never saw each other."

  "No," the man shook his head. "That won’t work. We need the Keeper. You’re coming with us. It’s time to resume your duty. The Mistress has been searching for you."

  "And what if I don’t want to?" I snapped. "Find someone else." My voice dropped into a mutter as I cast my gaze downward, staring at my boots like a sulking child.

  "You know that’s not possible," the envoy replied. "You must return with us. You must follow orders. She has done everything to train you, and you are perfect for this role."

  "Get out," I hissed through clenched teeth. "Don’t touch me. I can’t do what she asks. It’s beyond me. How many times do I have to say it?" Anger burned through me like wildfire. "I have done my part. And you two… You won’t be able to stop me."

  "Perhaps that would be true," the man admitted. "If there were only two of us."

  A cold shiver ran down my spine.

  "The others are on their way," he continued, pulling a glowing sphere from his pocket.

  Instantly, my body began to change. My bright blue eyes darkened, shifting to a piercing shade of gold with thin, vertical pupils. My skin paled, my hair lengthened, streaks of silver threading through it. My nails grew into razor-sharp claws, slicing through the air. Before he could react, I lunged, gripping his throat with one hand. My claws punctured his skin, and the first crimson droplets of blood appeared. A banshee’s scream tore from my lips, raw and furious.

  "Why?" My voice trembled with rage and despair. "Why won’t you just leave me alone? I don’t want to kill. I don’t want to teach. I don’t—"

  But he never heard the rest. A swift blow to the head sent him crumpling to the ground, unconscious. The second envoy turned to flee. He had no chance. Sand kicked up beneath his frantic footsteps as he ran, but I was faster. And I wasn’t going to let him escape.

  "Foolish… How foolish…" I muttered in a lifeless voice as my transformation reached completion.

  Now, I was unrecognizable. Deathly pale, with waist-length white hair, thin and agile, my eyes seeing everything. I lunged forward, chasing after the Ministerium officer. I didn’t need to catch him—only his shadow. That was enough. I stepped on it. The man, who had been running at full speed, suddenly crashed backward as if some invisible force had yanked him with terrifying strength. He hit the ground with a choked gasp. I crouched, grabbed hold of his shadow, and began winding it around my arm, pulling it tighter and thinner with each turn. The man at the other end flailed desperately, trying to rise, trying to run. But the more he struggled, the stronger the pull. Like a spider reeling in a helpless fly, I dragged my prey closer. He fought with everything he had, screaming, pleading, clawing at his own shadow in a desperate attempt to break free. But his hands passed right through it, grasping only sand and empty air. Realizing the futility, he dug his fingers into the ground, bracing against the inevitable. It made no difference. He was nearly within reach now. I seized his clothes and lifted his face to mine. My lips parted. I inhaled. A thin wisp of mist drifted from his mouth to mine. I was consuming him. Transforming his life into my own. I only realized what I was doing when his arms fell limp, hanging lifelessly at his sides. He was still alive—barely. I had drained him of more than half his life force before I managed to stop myself. Regret gnawed at me. Those two… I had no right to do this to them. But I had no choice. They would have dragged me back. And I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t face the Mentor, not yet. Not when I knew she wouldn’t even judge me for what I had done.

  "And what was it, then?" Todeus asked, his eyes filled with pain. "What made you return to the Ministerium?"

  I exhaled slowly, the name burning on my tongue.

  "The Moirai."