"Sister, do you think father will allow me to go?" Vlad asked.

"If you behave and stop pestering him about it, he might just consider it," Tianna replied. "But... Do you prefer being with the Chieftain of the Aslan Tribe over being with me?"

"Of course not," Vlad answered in a heartbeat. "If possible, I also want to take you with me."

"That’s not going to happen." Tianna patted her little brother’s head. "Father won’t allow it."

"Mmm." Vlad nodded.

Many people in the Warclaw Tribe weren’t aware that his sister was actually an oracle.

She was an Oracle of the Goddess, Cybele.

Thanks to her visions, the Warclaw Tribe prospered over the past decade. For her safety, her ability was kept a closely guarded secret by her family.

Tianna was constantly under the security of their tribe’s elite warriors whenever she left her family’s residence.

Leaving the city was not even an option, unless her father came with her. This she knew very well.

She then thought of the boy she had seen during the last tribal gathering and wondered if she would see him again.

"Sister, I’m just wondering. Why aren’t you asking me more about Leone?" Vlad asked as soon as they entered his sister’s room. "I thought you’d be very curious about him."

"I am curious," Tianna replied. "But I also know that even if I don’t ask you, you will tell me everything you know about him anyway, won’t you?"

"Sister, did you also foresee that?"

"No. It’s just common sense, you know?"

Vlad scratched his head. However, just like what his sister had said, he told her everything he had witnessed when he was there in Grimjaw Mountain.

"Sister, I think I saw the Hero that you spoke of," Vlad said in a serious tone. "Someone whom even I will want to follow for life."

"Make sure you do not say a word of that to father, okay?" Tianna said in a serious tone. "He’ll get jealous, and your chances of going back to Grimjaw Mountain will be tossed to the trash."

"Okay." Vlad nodded. "I trust you, sister."

"As you should." Tianna smiled. "I only want the best for our family."

After praising Leone in front of his sister, Vlad finally bade goodbye to go to his own room to rest.

After the long trip back home, he frankly wanted to sleep desperately. He merely put off his rest because he wanted to tell his sister more about Leone, whom he now idolized more than his father.

Tianna looked outside of the window of her room and gazed at the setting sun in the distance.

An hour later, the skies finally started to turn dim, allowing the stars to appear in the heavens.

Soon, she raised her hand, her finger tracing the constellation of the lion in the heavens.

And among them, the sickle, which looked like an upside down question mark and was made up of six stars, shone brightly in the sky.

"Maximus," Tianna said as she pointed her finger at the first star that made up the cornerstone of the constellation. "Ulric, Kael, and Jason..."

The young lady spoke the last name a little fondly, as if reminiscing a memory of the past. She then continued to trace the two last stars that completed the sickle, which were the most visible in the sky right now.

"Otto, Brann..." Tianna added. "And then... Vlad."

The young lady smiled faintly while looking at the last star that shone brightly.

"The first six vassals of the golden lion will support its growth and protect it," Tianna muttered. "The last three will pave the path to greatness, helping him overcome all adversities."

"Once the nine stars have gathered, the lion will proudly roar in the sky. It will inform the world that a king has been born and is ready to face the challengers who will put its mettle to the test.

"Step by step, they will claim their ground. No hollow king, no fragile crown. With wisdom’s light, and courage bright. This is kingdom building done right."

Tianna smiled faintly because the Goddess’ words seemed a little playful when she spoke those words to her.

However, she also said that the lion would face many challenges that could put an end to its journey across the stars.

But Tianna wished to believe that everything was going to be alright.

As she clasped her hands together in prayer, the stars in the sky twinkled fondly at her.

While there were nine primary stars supporting the lion, there were countless other stars that made up the starry sky.

Each had a role to play in the bigger picture that was not known by normal mortal men.

"I understand..." Tianna muttered as if she was talking to someone. "I’ll do my best."

A moment later, she opened her eyes. The young lady then looked in the direction of the constellation of the Archer, whose arrow pointed at the densest cluster in the sky.

It was aiming at the center of the universe. To those who would threaten the lion, and try to end its journey.

Tianna smiled faintly, for the archer was starting to understand her role in the bigger picture.

While her true awakening was still far away, she knew now the part she had to play.

————

Somewhere in Grimjaw Mountain...

Yuni stared at the moonless sky as she sat, her bow resting on her lap.

This was the Starlight Bow, which she had won from the Wheel of Fortune. But in her eyes, this weapon was a gift from Leone.

She loved this bow.

It was adorned with delicate patterns that resembled stars, as though a fragment of the night sky had been etched into its surface.

It also had a special property that manifested itself during the night.

Since there was no moon tonight, Yuni decided to try it out.

She didn’t nock an arrow. Instead, she simply pulled the string to aim at the night sky.

A few seconds later, an arrow of light materialized as she pulled the bowstring to its limit. She held that stance for a while longer before finally letting go.

An arrow made of light soon shot to the sky, making those who saw it think that it was a shooting star.

However, instead of falling from the heavens, it was actually rising toward it.

The arrow of light held a promise of the one who shot it.

A promise that she would keep for the rest of her life.