Like the unchanging sky.

Elen and the others were returning to the Spirit World to secure the help of the Great Spirits.

Lovell would explain things to the Wind Great Spirits, but Elen would handle the explanation to Mother—the Queen.

As Elen approached the throne room, she found Mother lounging comfortably on a newly placed sofa, half-buried in cushions.

Origin was currently four months pregnant. Still not in the safe period, so no room for complacency—Spirits stood guard all around, fully prepared.

“Mother, how are you feeling today?”

“Fufufu, today’s going well.”

Spirits don’t get morning sickness—but their power can run wild instead.

Because the unborn child’s power wasn’t stable, it clashed violently with Mother’s own power, causing outbursts.

Her original power was so strong that, if she weren’t careful, the castle might collapse halfway while she slept.

Mother’s surrounded by a barrier, always watched over.

It’s like touching a boil—careful, tense, always on edge. But when she says, “It’s much better than when Elen was little!” with that practiced ease, I can’t help but feel a little guilty.

Sitting beside her, I speak to the tiny life just beginning to stir.

“You’re a good girl today, Sister.”

I let myself stroke her belly. The thought of a new life growing inside her swollen curve—just barely starting—makes my chest ache.

Soothing her with soft words, rubbing gently… and then, just barely, I feel it. A flicker. A pulse of power.

“…Huh?”

“Hmm, did you like being praised by your sister?” Origin smiles, amused.

But I’m more stunned by the fact that it’s already four months in—four months, and she’s already managing her power?

“Is this kid a prodigy?”

“Oh my, saying the same thing as Lovell, are we?”

“Eh? That’s quite a surprise.”

“Ah, ah, ah…”

Mother’s amused chuckle makes me feel oddly embarrassed.

Lately, I’ve been told more and more that I look like Father. Every time, I reply with “That’s quite a surprise,” and Father gets ridiculously excited—annoying as hell.

Good thing Father isn’t here, Elen thought, silently relieved.

“So, Elen-chan, what’ll it be?”

Origin suddenly cuts to the point. Elen straightens up.

Origin had been watching through the water mirror. This is a human kingdom affair—but now that the target has been confirmed as us, Mother, as queen, is asking me how I’ll handle humans.

“Human problems are for humans. That hasn’t changed.”

“Yes.”

“But if Father and I are being directly targeted… then it becomes a matter between humans and spirits.”

“…Yes.”

“But really…”

“If a spirit passes judgment, humans don’t walk away clean. You’re worried about that, aren’t you?”

“Yes….”

“If that woman’s involved, I’d like to pass judgment right now….”

“W-w-wait! Mother, you can’t do that!!!”

If the Origin, currently pregnant, were to step into the human world, who knows what could happen. Her power might spiral out of control.

The air around the current Origin is already thick with magic particles—so dense it’s practically suffocating.

Arc comes by regularly just to check the nature of the particles and thin them out a little.

The Origin is that unstable. No one knows what kind of effect it might have on the womb.

“Humans are humans. I’m actually planning to get that scheming one to help us.”

“Oh?”

“I already got a promise from her two years ago. Now’s the time to make her pull her weight!”

“Hmph, now that’s a clever idea!”

The fun of watching through the water mirror just keeps growing, Mom said, and Elen rolled her eyes inwardly—though she felt a strange, weightless loosening in her shoulders.

As a human, and as a spirit. Elen was the one being watched.

And now, as a goddess. The pressure on her shoulders was beyond measure.

Back then, Elen would’ve immediately run off to gather proof for condemnation—no way she’d let her family get involved.

But now, as a goddess who must observe everything…

She had to see through all, and treat all equally.

As time passed, Elen began to feel more and more distanced from the human world.

Every time she played with Raffilia, her age-mate, she noticed their bodies drifting apart.

The moment a girl became a woman—it happened so fast, like blinking.

Even Kai, who’d always protected her, was growing into a young man.

And Elen… was left behind. Just her.

I found myself sighing more often lately, staring down at a body that refused to grow.

The lingering traces of my human past were a constant nuisance—made me feel like a half-baked spirit, stuck in limbo.

The Origin watches over Elen, both as goddess and mother.

Two years since my awakening as a goddess.

They say it’s still too soon. But maybe it’s time I started facing that.

(…Even so, I… )

I try to cling to those hazy, faded memories from before—back when I was still human—but now, they’re slipping away. I miss them. That’s the worst part.

Elen steps out from the castle into the garden, tilts her head back to look up at the sky.

The color of the sky—clear and endless—is the same in both the human world and the Spirit World.

She just stands there, gazing up, wishing she could be like that sky—so open, so free.