It felt as though the world had stopped.
Sadness lingered in the air like a heavy fog.
Although the Godmother had won the battle, victory meant very little to her.
The price had been far too high.
She had lost too many people she loved.
The headquarters no longer echoed with laughter.
The halls that were once full of life had become quiet, and every face carried the same hollow expression.
If Levi and his team hadn’t intervened…
She would have lost even more.
Still, questions continued to fill her mind.
She wanted answers.
But those answers would have to wait until Levi finally woke up.
Unlike everyone else…
Carter saw an opportunity.
It wasn’t that the Godmother would’ve refused to help him.
It was when he chose to ask.
While she was grieving.
While she was exhausted.
While she was at her weakest.
Even Levi would never have approached her under those circumstances.
But Carter did.
He confidently walked toward the large wooden table reserved for the Godmother’s private meetings.
Without asking permission…
He sat down across from her.
The smug smile on his face hadn’t changed.
He had always been charming.
A smooth talker.
Someone who usually got what he wanted.
The Godmother slowly looked up from her cup of tea.
“What do you want?”
Carter leaned back in his chair.
“How much are the Black Ravens worth to you?”
The Godmother frowned.
“My people aren’t merchandise.”
“They’re my family.”
“We built this organization together.”
“I would gladly give my life for any one of them.”
Carter nodded as though he understood.
“Then give us two million credits.”
The room fell silent.
No one expected him to ask for that much money.
The Godmother simply took another sip of her tea.
“I’ll discuss it with Levi after he wakes up.”
For just a brief moment…
Something flashed across Carter’s face.
Frustration.
He quickly hid it behind another smile.
“Very well.”
He stood up and quietly walked away.
After he left…
The Godmother couldn’t help but smile.
It was the first genuine smile she had shown since the battle.
She wasn’t smiling because of Carter.
She smiled because Levi’s name had irritated him.
She quietly looked out the window.
Rain gently fell over the Dryland.
The gray sky perfectly matched the emptiness she felt inside.
But she couldn’t allow herself to fall apart.
Too many people still depended on her.
Meanwhile…
Levi continued sleeping.
The first day, no one thought much of it.
After everything he had been through, everyone assumed he simply needed rest.
His sisters tried waking him several times.
The servants checked on him.
Nothing worked.
Still…
No one worried.
The headquarters had far too much work to do.
There were wounded mercenaries needing treatment.
Damaged trucks waiting to be repaired.
Weapons that needed replacing.
Buildings that required repairs.
Everyone pitched in wherever they could.
Levi’s friends worked alongside the Black Ravens, helping however they were able.
Each day they learned more about how the organization operated.
Whenever they had a free moment…
Someone would quietly check on Levi.
He always looked peaceful.
As though he were simply enjoying a deep sleep.
But on the third day…
Levi still hadn’t woken up.
That’s when panic finally spread through the headquarters.
No one understood why he had been asleep for so long.
There was no poison.
No injuries.
No medicine nearby that could explain it.
He simply continued sleeping peacefully…
As though he were trapped inside a beautiful dream.
Concerned, one of the twins hurried to find the Godmother.
She immediately called for the best doctor she knew.
When the doctor arrived, everyone gathered inside Levi’s room.
The Godmother stepped inside first.
The moment she crossed the doorway…
She froze.
Years spent surviving countless battlefields had sharpened her instincts.
She could feel essence far better than most people.
And now…
She felt something terrifying.
Without another word, she turned toward everyone.
“Everyone out.”
The room instantly fell silent.
Even the doctor looked confused.
“But—”
“Out.”
No one argued.
They quietly stepped into the hallway.
The Godmother closed the door behind them.
Only then did she slowly turn toward Levi.
Her eyes immediately landed on the necklace around his neck.
Her heart sank.
“No…”
Fear.
Regret.
Anger.
All three emotions struck her at once.
She dismissed the doctor without explanation.
The others exchanged confused looks, wondering what was happening.
But the Godmother remained silent.
Because she already knew.
She knew exactly what Levi had awakened.
And she prayed…
She was wrong.