Ray Nora exuded a sense of calm and balance that gave the impression she had spent years meticulously shaping her own destiny. She seemed as though she had already mentally navigated through all the potential paths her life could take, whether that meant enduring a perpetual nightmare or facing eternal exile. To her, such outcomes were simply part of the detailed future she had mapped out for herself.

Contrary to what Duncan initially thought, Ray Nora, often referred to as the Frost Queen, hadnt made any plans for what he called her rebirth. The idea of re-entering the world of mortals wasnt something she had considered in her grand scheme of things.

This puzzled Duncan, who couldnt comprehend her detached attitude.

Are you truly willing to sacrifice everything for Frost, even something as significant as your own life? Duncan asked, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity as they met Ray Noras. You spent over a decade in captivity, confined under a church. You werent even acknowledged as a human being until you were twelve. Subjected to continuous observation, bound by chains, and put through ceaseless experiments, every thought and utterance of yours was scrutinized for any potential threat to humanity. Despite your best efforts, you still ended up being publicly displayed on an execution platform and branded the Mad Queen. I dont want to sound cynical, but from a logical standpoint, I find your decision baffling.

Ray Nora fell quiet, leaning back against her bed while staring at the sheer fabric of the canopy above her. Her thoughts seemed to wander far and wide. After a lengthy pause, she let out a soft, amused laugh and shook her head. Yeah, why would I go through all of this, indeed.

She redirected her attention to Duncan.

Perhaps you misunderstand me, Captain. You seem to think that I should bear a grudge against that cold city, but the reality is different. That city did everything it could to keep me alive, she explained.

From a wider viewpoint, our complicated yet fragile civilized world aims to preserve the lives of everyoneincluding people like me with psychic abilities. Even if that required confining me with chains, locking me in iron cages, and keeping me in a dungeon for a decade, they never intended for me to die in that place. They always hoped that one day I would rejoin society as a human being.

I dont harbor any ill will towards anyone, Captain, Ray Nora said, letting out a gentle sigh. People werent being deliberately malicious towards me. The world is a harsh place for everyone, and each person is simply doing the best they can to navigate it.

The woman once known as the Frost Queen rose gracefully from her bed, which bore an unsettling resemblance to the one she had been confined to for a decade in the basement of a cathedral. The only difference was that this one had no bars. She walked slowly to the edge of the room, standing beside Duncan, her eyes transfixed on the turbulent, dark depths of the ocean beyond the window.

My parents, the clergyeveryone was doing their utmost to keep me alive. My supporters and I worked diligently to secure the safety of the city-state. Governor Winston and his predecessors were committed to finishing the work that I couldnt complete. But sometimes, despite ones best efforts, failure is inevitable, and that comes with its own set of consequences.

Lifting her arm, she pointed at the enormous tentacles that could be seen lurking ominously in the dark waters outside.

Even ancient gods can fail, cant they? she mused.

Duncan pondered her words for a moment before replying, If what youre saying is true, new flawed copies will inevitably emerge, born from the fabric of this flawed world. Destroying one wont fix the root issue.

Ray Nora turned her gaze to Duncan, Others will continue to do their best. What about you? Are you willing to act?

Duncan paused before softly saying, I will do my best.

Thats good enough for me, Ray Nora smiled, her eyes revealing a sense of urgency. Lets get started then. Ive been asleep for too long. Its time for me to wake up from this nightmare and its time to set it free.

Duncan hesitated for a while, but ultimately gave a quiet nod of agreement.

Almost instantly, a group of dim green flames appeared beside him. These flames swirled and expanded, slowly transforming into a vortex-like portal. As he took a step towards the gateway, Ray Noras face underwent a sudden change.

She looked at the ascending green flames, her eyes narrowing as if she were grasping at a distant, fuzzy memory. Abruptly, she turned to Duncan, who was just about to step through the portal. Is it you?!

Duncan stopped in his tracks. A moment of confusion passed before he understood the reason for Ray Noras sudden emotional jolt.

This wouldnt count as altering history, would it? he said, pausing at the threshold of the swirling gateway. He slightly turned his head towards her, So, whats your decision?

So thats the way it is thats how it is, Ray Nora murmured, her face shifting through a myriad of expressions as if complex puzzles that had baffled her for years had suddenly been solved. A flicker of understanding seemed to light up her eyes. For the first time, her smile looked genuinely radiant. She lifted her gaze to Duncan and waved her hand as if saying farewell to a longtime friend or companion. Proceed as you see fit, Captain. I believe we are making the right decision.

Duncan looked deeply into Ray Noras eyes as if to capture the essence of the woman once known as the Frost Queen. Without uttering another word, he moved forward, stepping into the swirling vortex of green flames.

Ray Nora remained still, watching as Duncans silhouette disappeared into the vortex, much like a wise and compassionate figure had vanished in the morning light many years ago.

She shifted her gaze and turned around, positioning herself at the rooms shattered edge. Her eyes fixed on the dormant tentacles of the ancient god that had haunted her for decades, along with all the destiny and responsibility they implied.

From the deep abyss, threads of dim green flames started to emerge, initially as tiny as fireflies. In a fleeting moment, they grew in size and intensity, spreading like wildfire, enveloping the entire pillar.

A subtle vibration arose beneath her feet, growing in strength over time. The mansion began to quiver; the energy sustaining this dreamlike state started to wane. The connection point between the Drifting Nexus and the external world was rapidly dissolving. Outside the room, the darkness surged violently, with layers of ripples and beams of light expanding wildly before collapsing back into the shadows. The tentacles of the ancient god began to morph amidst the fluctuating light and darkness. They seemed to bend and stretch as if trying to reach into the broken room.

Yet, Ray Nora stood calmly before this terrifying display. She watched as the newly formed, almost illusory, tentacle reached toward her, stretching until it hit an invisible barrier where it began to spread.

Slowly, Ray Nora extended her hand and placed her palm on the pulsating surface of the mysterious flesh. She could feel all the emotions it was trying to convey through the dreams barrierconfusion, tension, discomfort, and a hint of regret.

Yes, I understand, she whispered. You never wanted to manifest in this world. It will be over soon. Think of it as just a dream. Youll return to where you belong.

As my time to leave approaches, my thoughts turn to what comes next. When this anchor of reality shatters, Ill set forth. Maybe Ill find myself in a distant realm, or perhaps there will be no next destination at all. Even if my calculations hold true, I anticipate an incredibly long journey ahead. Should there be wonders to see along the way, Ill pause to savor them, Ray Nora mused, growing introspective in the waning moments before waking from the dream state.

For all the time weve spent together, Ive never asked your name, she continued, her eyes fixed on the tentacle on the other side of the dreams boundary. The sensations she received from it were fragmentedbarely coherent wisps of thought, like splinters of an idea erupting from a soul too broken to fully formulate them. After decades of this silent dialogue, shed grown accustomed to interpreting these shattered transmissions. I know youre called Nether Lord, among other titles. But those arent your real names, are they? Do you have a name? Either yours or that of your original form? Its a sudden curiosity, but one I find myself indulging.

Amid the cacophony of disjointed noise and whisperings, a single, crystalline thought emerged. Ray Nora listened with the rapt attention of a child, just as she had years ago when she was confined and chained, attuning herself to murmurs from an incomprehensible abyss. A name seemed to rise from her subconscious mind.

A smile slowly spread across her face. LH-01 What an unusual name. Navigator #1, is that your original name as well? Ill remember that. Its good to finally meet you, Navigator #1. So, goodbye for now, and good morning.

Suddenly, a tidal wave of flames surged from the darkness, engulfing the tentacle that had reached into the Drifting Nexus. It was incinerated instantly, reduced to ashes in the conflagration. The blaze even began to erode the boundary of the dream, manifesting beside Ray Nora and around her, sprouting into clusters of ethereal but brilliant fireworks.

Intrigued, Ray Nora reached out to touch the flickering spectral flames, only to see them dissipate upon contact with her fingertips.

In the oceanic depths below, the newly ignited ghost flames illuminated the entire underwater expanse like a celestial event, casting light upon a floating island shrouded in darkness and revealing human-shaped husks drifting aimlessly in the abyssal waters.

Duncan hovered at the periphery of the dark island, observing the blaze he had set into motion. Its intensity and transformation filled even himthe one whod sparked the conflagrationwith a profound sense of awe and wonder.