Nujah-The Goddess Child

It had only been a short while since they left the port of Vercu.

Nujah sat silently on the boat's deck, his eyes fixed on the map he had stolen from the Crow.

He carefully examined the locations, hoping to uncover where they had hidden it.

But no region was marked.

Just as he suspected.

With a single gesture, Crow was brought before him.

When Nujah opened his eyes again, yellow flame marks were now spread across his decayed skin.

And this time, Crow looked even more terrified than before.

Nujah's voice was calm, but firm:

"As long as you answer… there's no reason to fear."

He stood up slowly, a faint smirk on his face.

"I'm still in control."

Crow stuttered nervously,

"Wh… what do y-you want?"

Nujah replied with a smile,

"Three questions. That's all.

Once we're off this sea—you're free."

Crow nodded, forcing composure.

"I'm listening, boss."

"I saw you on the rooftop," Nujah began, "before you became this rabid mutt.

Right before Serekhka threw us out of the throne room.

I'm guessing… from that day on, you've been working with Naraka?"

Crow answered in a tense voice,

"Yes."

Nujah scratched his head in discomfort, turning to face Crow fully.

"I know this might sound strange, but I have to ask...

How did my mother explain that day… to the rest of the family?"

Crow hesitated, stammering,

"B-Boss… your mother never told them the truth.

She knew… if they found out, they'd try to wake you themselves and take the curse onto their own bodies.

So… she lied to them."

Nujah relaxed just slightly, his expression softening.

"And what did she say?"

Crow, now a little calmer, explained:

"To put it simply... she told them that after your great sacrifice, you were in unbearable pain.

Too weak to stand… and that your final request was to be given eternal rest.

She told them she granted it.

To your brothers… and even your daughter Mitra… she forbade anyone from ever knowing the truth."

Nujah's voice dropped, now more serious and troubled:

"What happened after that?"

Crow answered in a quiet, ashamed voice:

"Most of the family turned against her… everyone except Maria.

They blamed her for allowing it.

But when I spoke with her… she told me staying silent was better.

That knowing the truth would've broken them even more than the lie."

Nujah's eyes burned—not from the flames on his skin, but from the weight behind them.

The yellow fire danced across his decayed flesh, pulsing faster with every breath.

He could feel the anger creeping in, curling itself around his ribs like thorns.

But this time, it wasn't rage he feared—

it was letting the darkness enter his mind.

He reached for the sword.

Forged from the sacred branches of the First Tree, shaped by his mother's own hands,

this blade was not made to extinguish light—

but to destroy darkness.

Just once.

He took a breath, then drove the sword into his own side—

not in fury, but with precise intent.

Crow screamed.

"Boss! What the hell are you doing?! Are you insane?!"

But Nujah didn't answer.

The blade pulsed—

a warm, golden light pushing outward through his body.

It didn't hurt. Not like he expected.

The dead skin slowly peeled back into living flesh.

The yellow flames—

for the first time in years—died down.

Nujah gritted his teeth as he pulled the blade free.

He stood still for a moment, then looked down at the weapon.

The light was gone.

Its strength... spent.

He didn't look at Crow, but he spoke clearly:

> "This sword was never meant to kill.

Not even to heal.

It was made to erase what darkness leaves behind."

He sheathed the blade without another word, relaxed his muscles, and let out a slow breath as he sat back down.

After a brief silence, Crow asked cautiously,

"If you're done… may I continue, boss?"

Nujah nodded. For the first time, his voice was steady.

"Thank you. I don't need anything else.

I'll follow the path my mother set in motion."

Just then, Nujah raised his finger—then shouted:

"Wait! Wait—don't send me to her yet!

There's something important I still need to know."

Lowering his hand, he added,

"Make it fast. I won't stay like this forever."

Crow, now more nervous, spoke quickly:

"Maria sent me a message.

Telepathy. She was watching us from above — right as we attacked Vercu.

She said: 'When we break in, sabotage your boat's power core.

Wait until we go below deck — make sure Vercurius is already down there.

Then, when no one is left on the deck of your boat, sneak into our ship and sail out.'

The captain's working with me.

The pouch I'll give him has three keys — mine included.

As soon as we head below… you vanish."

Nujah's expression darkened.

"How does Maria know all this? Does she know what really happened?"

Crow answered fast,

"I never saw Naraka tell her directly. But when Naraka left the throne room, she said no one was to speak of the incident. Not even to Maria.

Still… Maria survived. She might've figured it out."

Nujah narrowed his eyes.

"Then I'll ask my final two questions—before our guests arrive.

Who made this plan?"

Crow hesitated.

"I'm sorry, boss… I have no idea.

The only thing I know is… everyone followed Mitra's orders."

Nujah interrupted sharply:

"She's in charge now? Were they even close?"

"No," Crow replied.

"Everyone tried to find you. When they failed, they turned to Mitra.

She gave orders, and eventually found where you were.

But there was something off… like she was holding back.

Her smiles were fake. I saw it. I watched from a distance."

Nujah leaned in, eyes sharp:

"Did you see a mask with her? Or glowing red eyes?"

Crow shook his head.

"No… she looked happier than before, actually.

But she had this strange object with her—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a small boat horn echoed across the water.

Then—

the thunder of cannons began to fall on the ship they were aboard.

Nujah's voice dropped.

"Seems your master has come to retrieve you."

Without hesitation, he grabbed Crow and vanished into the shadows—

…waiting for them to arrive.

---