The Godmother stood beside Levi’s bed, unable to take her eyes off the ruby necklace resting against his chest.
Her hands trembled.
“No…”
“It can’t be…”
She slowly reached toward the necklace but stopped herself before touching it.
The fear in her eyes deepened.
She knew exactly what artifact this was.
Or rather…
She knew what was sealed inside it.
Out of all the gifts Arthur had ever created…
This was the only one she prayed Levi would never receive.
It was called…
The Ruler of Bears.
The name sounded harmless.
Almost childish.
But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
The Godmother didn’t know everything about the artifact.
Arthur had kept many of its secrets to himself.
But she had met the being that lived inside it.
And once…
Was enough.
Many years ago…
Before Arthur disappeared…
He had invited her to his workshop.
“I’ve finally done it,” Arthur had said proudly.
“I created my greatest masterpiece.”
She expected another weapon.
Another powerful artifact.
Instead…
She met a little boy.
He looked no older than seven years old.
His hair was messy.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes, making him look as though he hadn’t slept in days.
He smiled politely.
He laughed like any ordinary child.
He played harmless little tricks on the servants.
At first…
He seemed completely innocent.
Arthur couldn’t stop smiling.
“Isn’t he amazing?”
The Godmother smiled politely.
But something felt wrong.
Years of surviving battlefields had sharpened her instincts.
She could sense essence.
And the essence surrounding that child…
Was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Cold.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
It made her skin crawl.
Later that evening, she quietly pulled Arthur aside.
“Arthur…”
“I don’t know what you’ve created…”
“But that child is dangerous.”
Arthur frowned. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
“You should destroy him before something terrible happens.”
Arthur simply laughed.
“I think you’re worrying too much.”
The Godmother wasn’t convinced.
She left that day feeling uneasy.
She never expected the boy to hear their conversation.
The following morning…
Every one of her cattle was dead.
Over two hundred animals…
Slaughtered overnight.
Not eaten.
Not stolen.
Simply killed.
Their bodies had been carefully arranged outside her estate.
As though someone wanted her to see them.
No one witnessed what happened.
No one saw the killer.
But…
She already knew.
The little boy.
Despite her fear, she confronted Arthur.
“Your creation killed every one of my cattle.”
Arthur looked surprised.
“He did?”
For a brief moment…
She thought he would finally understand.
Instead…
He smiled.
“Well…”
“Thank goodness you’re rich.”
“You can replace them, can’t you?”
The Godmother stared at him in disbelief.
That single sentence told her everything she needed to know.
Arthur had become obsessed.
Protecting his children had consumed him.
Every artifact he created afterward became more dangerous than the last.
Power had become his answer to everything.
And that terrified her.
Years later…
Before Arthur disappeared…
He entrusted every artifact to the Godmother.
Each one carried a different instruction.
Some were meant for Levi.
Others were intended for the twins.
Some weren’t to be opened for years.
But one instruction stood above all the others.
“Give Levi the Ruler of Bears when he turns fifteen.”
She ignored it.
She couldn’t do it.
She locked the artifact away inside a hidden safe behind a moving bookshelf.
No one knew it existed.
Not even her closest servants.
It would remain there forever.
The Godmother suddenly froze.
Her eyes widened.
“No…”
She rushed out of Levi’s room without saying a word.
The servants stared in confusion as she hurried down the hallway.
She entered her private office.
Without hesitation, she shoved the large bookshelf aside.
A heavy steel door appeared behind it.
Her hands shook as she unlocked it.
The safe slowly creaked open.
She looked inside.
Silence.
The necklace…
Was gone.
Her knees gave out beneath her.
She collapsed onto the floor.
“…Impossible.”
Fear consumed her.
Someone hadn’t stolen it.
No one even knew it existed.
Which could only mean one thing.
The artifact had left on its own.
It had chosen Levi.
A few moments later…
Carmen quietly entered the office.
She had followed the Godmother after seeing the panic on her face.
When she stepped inside…
She found the normally fearless woman sitting on the floor.
For the first time…
The Godmother looked afraid.
Carmen hesitated.
Then softly asked,
“Is Levi going to be okay?”
The Godmother quickly composed herself.
She forced a gentle smile.
“Yes.”
“The doctor believes he simply exhausted too much essence.”
“He should wake up in a few more days.”
Carmen wasn’t convinced.
“Then why do you look so worried?”
The Godmother looked away.
“I’m just tired.”
“A lot has happened.”
“I can’t bear losing one of you.”
Carmen slowly walked over and hugged her.
“You won’t.”
“Levi is strong.”
“He’ll wake up.”
The Godmother returned the hug.
“…I hope you’re right.”
Neither of them spoke another word.
But hidden deep inside the Godmother’s heart…
She carried a secret she prayed Levi would never discover.
The truth…
About the artifact sleeping around his neck.