Almost on cue, the nobility let out a sigh of relief. They could condemn and even despise Adam for his cowardice and his failure to face his “wife.” Still, deep down, in the part of themselves they kept hidden, a faint sense of gratitude remained. He had shown weakness, but that weakness had let them survive.

  Catherine’s brief show of power, when she single-handedly tore through the church’s best warriors as if they were rag dolls, was a chilling reminder: joking with her was dangerous. Her threats were real. She truly could destroy the provincial capital if she put her life on the line.

  The prophecy was terrifying. In a world ruled by magic, where gods walked among mortals, fate was not something to take lightly. But that was a problem for another day. The nobility had always followed their own interests. Fate, messiahs, divine punishment—let someone else handle those. Today, they had already done enough. They had already “stopped” the demon. They had crippled him. That had to count for something, didn’t it? Didn’t it?..

  So why, now that they had already won, would they risk angering a raging tiger?

  No one wanted to be caught under the desperate onslaught of attacks from a Sky-born being fighting for his life on the line. Even the mere thought of facing the mad Catherine sent a wave of existential terror through their minds.

  When Catherine heard Adam’s decision, she let out a barely noticeable breath. Her relief was brief and subtle, almost hidden. She stood bravely, ready to fight at any moment, but inside, fear was wound tight within her.

  She was afraid too. She feared Adam might refuse, forcing her into a brutal fight. As a Sky-born, she was the strongest warrior in the entire Province of Light. In open combat, no one could match her. But now, she was not alone.

  Children were nearby, far too small to survive the aftermath of a battle. At her feet, a maid lay exhausted, completely drained of mana. If a fight started, she simply could not protect everyone.

  In that moment, she felt helpless and frustrated. If she had been alone, she would not have hesitated for a second. But how could she bring the children with her? How could she break through the encirclement?

  The news of the prophecy had caught her off guard. Though she had her own sources, even Adam himself had only learned of it recently and acted with great haste. How could she have reacted in time?

  She never even thought of leaving Grey behind. He was her son, her own flesh and blood. She had watched him grow and knew he was a good child. Even if he became a merciless villain one day, even if the whole world turned against him, she would never abandon him. A mother’s love, as terrifying as it could be, was absolute.

  Yet her love did not override her intellect. Even in this critical moment, her mind worked at full speed. She had been drawing conclusions and planning ten steps ahead the entire time.

  Adam had acted too hastily. Without a plan, without strong support. He was unprepared. That meant he himself was not convinced that Grey was a “child of darkness.” What had changed?

  Only Apollo’s intervention could have made the entire church act so recklessly. Did he want to interfere too? But why hadn’t he acted himself? Did he just want to cause chaos, or give them a chance to escape? It was too complicated. She needed to focus on the future.

  To Catherine, it already felt like the whole world was her enemy.

  No one would condemn the church, or the god, or anyone else for daring to threaten the life of an innocent three-year-old boy. They would blame her son for every mortal sin. Make her a scapegoat. Everything would be wrapped neatly: a heroic act. A preventive sacrifice in the name of salvation.

  And not a single patrician would file an appeal. Not a single one would stand in their defense.

  It was no exaggeration to say that from this day on, their family’s life hung by a thread. Only yesterday, everything had been fine. They were part of the world, content and carefree. And today, they had become outcasts, enemies of all humanity. No guilt, no trial, no voice.

  She could almost hear the town crier’s slogans he would shout tomorrow morning:

  “The Church of the Holy Light has prevented the birth of a devil destined to destroy humanity!”

  “Princess Grace and Prince Grey: the tale of a holy sister and her ominous twin!”

  “A mother sheltering the spawn of Darkness. The final revelations!”

  Her son would be made out to be a cheap villain for the crowds. Lies were always louder than truth. Catherine knew all too well how quickly suspicion could turn into fury, and fear into execution.

  They had to hurry. They needed to run without looking back, right away, as fast and as far as possible.

  But where could they go?

  She didn’t know. It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was getting out of the capital at any cost, before the senate sent reinforcements.

  A bird’s cry broke her thoughts. A huge shadow swept over the acropolis. The thunder of wings cut through the air, and a blinding white shape dove straight toward the altar.

  The owl, with wings spanning seven meters, appeared among the people in an instant. Its feathers shone in the sunlight, and its eyes scanned the crowd with a cold gaze. Its beauty and elegance mixed with a sense of danger.

  Catherine smiled.

  “Snowy… just in time. I’m counting on you again,” she whispered. “Cassia, follow me.”

  The owl beat its wings once more, sending dust swirling in every direction. A gust of wind knocked down those who hadn’t reacted fast enough. Several priests toppled to the ground, losing their balance. No one dared approach.

  Catherine scooped Grey into her arms, Cassia pressed Grace close to her chest. In an instant, they were on the back of the snow-white bird.

  “Let’s go!” Catherine commanded.

  Snowy crouched, then straightened, rising above the crowd like a wall of living force. Adam took a step forward, but Catherine’s sharp look stopped him. Their eyes met: hers cold and watchful, his a bit confused.

  “Live well, Adam. From this moment, I give up the name Starlight. Nothing ties us together anymore,” she said calmly, though her words were heavier than any threat. “Do not look for me. If we meet again, it will mean your death. Take this as my final gift.”

  A pillar of flame crashed onto the roof of the Acropolis. In an instant, countless vines sprouted, withered, and burned to ash, followed by a furious downpour. Catherine emptied her magical core without hesitation, and Snowy intensified the attack with a powerful gust of wind.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Scalding steam rose everywhere. It was so thick that no one could see their neighbor, and it was as hot as molten magma. Painful screams echoed from the stone monuments.

  Few knew that these statues were not mere decoration: for years, they had accumulated the energy of faith from the worshippers. With the blessing of the priestesses, heroic spirits could temporarily awaken and descend into the mortal world, inhabiting the statues. But it required immense energy—so much that even the church could barely sustain them.

  Catherine’s sudden attack struck the central node of the array, where Eva hid. The chaotic use of all four elements threw the surrounding mana into turmoil. The holy daughter could not control the energy of light, and the heads of several statues, which were on the verge of awakening, exploded, scattering shards everywhere.

  The crowd froze. No one had expected such audacity. Adam stood motionless, watching the destruction: his hidden “trump card,” for which he had been stalling, had backfired. Catherine had already escaped, leaving chaos and ash in her wake.

  In grim shock, he watched the white speck disappear into the sky, taking with it his wife, the children, the fate of humanity, and his reputation.

  “Bitch! You won’t die a quick death!” Eva screamed after her. Her wounds were superficial, but she could not endure the humiliation.

  “Was that really necessary?” Adam asked, restraining his irritation. “We acted too hastily, and as a result not only failed to get rid of the child, but also made ourselves a powerful enemy. Was it worth it?”

  Eva came to her senses.

  “God commanded us to act. And that means we must act. You heard the cracking of the sphere. And the color? How can a little boy wield such dark mana?! Who knows what he might have become if Allaric hadn’t destroyed his magical core.”

  “Are you absolutely certain his core is destroyed?”

  “ADAM! Do not dare question divine will. Allaric used Apollo’s dagger. Its energy should be enough to kill a Sky-born. This is not just a weapon. When it strikes an enemy, it destroys all organs—and even the soul.”

  “But the boy survived in the end!” Adam could not believe it.

  “That’s further proof that we were right. He is a devil, a harbinger of Night, a spawn of Darkness. He cannot be left alive,” Eva snapped, in no mood to argue. “Our god has already done enough. He simply cannot intervene—you know that.

  And Catherine…

  She’s too stubborn. Too selfish. Is it really so hard to consider the bigger picture? That vile bitch…

  What are you still waiting for? I’ve said all this, and you still haven’t sent a tracking unit?”

  “There’s no point. From the moment she took flight, we had no chance,” Adam replied, his voice dull, as if every word filled him with self-disgust. “You saw that owl. Who knows how it was tamed? No one in the Province of Light can catch it. We’ll have to wait for reinforcements from Rome.”

  He was the governor of the Province of Light. A senator of the Roman Empire. And he couldn’t even hold onto his own wife. What humiliation.

  “Damn it,” Eva muttered.

  “But you’re right. The main thing is to do everything possible. Who knows what those bastards in the Senate will say? I’ll send a unit,” he said with effort. “How is Allaric? And what about Fulvius?”

  “They’re already being treated. Their lives are not in danger, but full recovery will take time. Even with the magic of Light. Catherine was extremely… merciless.”

  Adam exhaled. Deeply. Heavily. But he felt no grief—only helplessness.

  Catherine had been a good ally and a very dangerous enemy. Their marriage had long ago become just a deal that no longer meant anything. And yet… and yet…

  He shook his head and gave the orders.

  “Send a messenger to the Senate. Find the rudiarii to track her. They’ll have a chance.”

  Meanwhile, the mother, son, daughter, and maid, carried farther and farther from the capital, flew in silence. The mood was heavy and subdued.

  Awakened, Grey stared at his family as if seeing them for the first time. He still hadn’t fully grasped the truth, yet his father’s words were seared into his memory: “Cripple. Devil. A threat to humanity.”

  That alone was enough for him to realize he had ruined his mother’s and sister’s lives. Because of him, they had to leave their home. Because of him, they would be condemned. He was no ordinary child. No heir. No hope.

  He was a burden.

  “Mom… sister… forgive me…” Grey croaked, feeling another lump of blood rise in his throat.

  “Little brother!” Grace voice rang out, tears belatedly streaming down her cheeks. “You can’t say that now!”

  “She’s right, Grey,” Catherine added. “Do not apologize. You are not to blame for anything. If anyone is at fault… it’s me. What kind of mother am I, if I couldn’t protect you?”

  She brushed her hand across his forehead, moving hair which clung to his skin. Her gaze showed no fear or regret, only endless love and determination.

  “If you really want to make us happy, then just live. Rest. Heal. Everything else can wait. We don’t care what the world thinks of you. To us, you’re our boy. Our family.”

  Grey nodded slightly in response, clenching his fists.

  His mother’s words, full of love and care, struck true. He said nothing. He just cried, bitterly.

  What kind of three-year-old wants to die? Grey certainly wasn’t one. But he wasn’t afraid of death. Even the prophecy didn’t trouble him all that much. What terrified him most was Adam’s declaration:

  “You are not her son.”

  Those words were poison, eating away at him. Even now, he couldn’t stop thinking about them.

  What if Mom believed him? Rejected him. What if his sister believed it? Would she understand his situation? Could she accept it? And what about Cassia?

  Grey was terribly afraid of being abandoned. He imagined himself left alone: small and helpless. All around him were noise, screams, and footsteps, but no one noticed him. He wanted to disappear, to hide, but then everyone turned toward him with wild, fanatical smiles. Kill! Kill! Kill the devil!

  Goosebumps ran down his back, and his teeth chattered with cold. He gripped his mother’s dress until his knuckles ached, trying to push those thoughts away.

  “Grey!” Catherine shouted, noticing that her son was drenched in sweat. She took his head in her hands, as gently as she could, and began to shower him with kisses. On his forehead, his cheeks, his eyes, his chin, his lips. As if afraid he might disappear.

  “Remember this, baby. Mommy will never leave you! DO YOU HEAR ME? You have to promise you’ll always stay with Mommy! PROMISE ME!” By the end, her voice broke.

  Grey felt his mother’s soft lips, never stopping their kisses. He felt the wetness of tears—his and hers. He was so overwhelmed that he laughed through his sobs.

  “Hahaha—sniff, sniff… I-I promise! I’ll never leave Mommy! Mommy! sniff Mommy! I love you so much!” Grey buried his face against her chest, his shoulders shaking. Even if they beat him to death, he would never let go of her.

  Grace hugged her brother from behind. Cassia silently stepped into his shadow.

  They were silent for a long time.

  “Sniff… Mommy… where are we flying?” Grace asked cautiously.

  Her brother was crying, Cassia had hidden herself, and their mother frowned. Though she didn’t understand all the details, it pained her to see them so… dejected. She wanted so badly for them to smile. So she tried to change the subject.

  “To somewhere they won’t find us, sweetie. Somewhere they won’t find us,” Catherine answered, holding the children even tighter. “We’ll live like we used to. Just you, me, your brother, and of course Cassia. Far from civilization and all their endless conflicts. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes! Mommy, I promise: I’ll train every day and protect you and my brother! I won’t let anyone hurt you!” Grace exclaimed, pounding a tiny fist against her chest.

  A child’s mood changes quickly, almost like magic. Just moments ago, her lips trembled with uncertainty and her eyes were full of tears. Now, she wore a bright smile, so genuine and contagious that Catherine couldn’t help but grin a little herself.

  Even Grey, though weak and exhausted, managed something like a smile. He didn’t speak; he just went limp, leaning against his mother’s chest. Pain still tormented his body with every breath, but he made no sound. He simply closed his eyes and let it all go. He fell asleep.

  ‘What if this is all just a nightmare? What if I wake up at home and everything is just like before?’ The thought flickered briefly in his mind.

  The snow-white feathers of the giant owl rustled softly under the gusts of wind, carrying them farther and farther away from the Province of Light.

  Catherine didn’t move. She let the children use her as a pillow. That was the least she could do. She still blamed herself for failing them. She had no plans left, no support, only the children and a constant worry for their safety.

  She began to sing quietly, just to release her feelings somehow, because she didn’t know what else she could do…

  I close my eyes to winter's embrace,

  Snow kisses lips, a frosty trace.

  Joy's tear turns to ice so still,

  While cheeks feel the cold's sharp thrill.

  Winter's memory, a silent keeper,

  My own recall, growing deeper.

  I'll store each moment, big and small,

  From chance meetings to heart's fall.

  Awkward encounters, dreams so pure,

  Heartaches and hopes that endure.

  I'll find a quiet forest nook,

  Where nature's beauty's mine to look.

  Her voice, soft and melodic, trembled in the cold wind. The words and melody were simple, but they carried all her pain, love, and helplessness. Catherine poured her whole soul into those plain lines. And as everyone knew, the soul of a Skyborn could shape the world.

  The song spread through the sky, seeping deep into the clouds and forcing the wind to falter halfway. This was not just a lullaby. It was a mother’s cry, begging the world to grant her children a little peace.

  And for a brief moment, it seemed the world listened.

  Is Adam an idiot?