Azul was about to argue, then something crossed her mind.
"Hold on—usually no one can see the Dowager unless it is preplanned.What do you mean, submit a day earlier?Surely I won't be allowed to see her."
Borji choked on his words; she was right.
"Shit," he hissed in realisation.
Azul seemed to have understood at the same time because she grinned and laughed.
"Good!They really want my head in a basket one way or another!"
He clenched his jaw, unsure of what to say.Normal people couldn't see the Dowager as they wished, and the wives had to pay respects to her once a month.That day was in two days, not three, so why did the Ugoeze give Azul seven days?
"It seems I should get going; thank you for feeding her."Azul was quick to adjust the cloak she had worn on the way here to hide her hair.Nkiru stood up quickly, following behind her.
Wait, you're leaving?
She turned towards the front door, but Borji's voice stopped her.
"Azul."
She looked back, and he found himself arrested in place, unsure of how to broach the topic.
"...Make sure you don't make any mistakes with the transcript," he blurted.
She nodded once, took the girl's hand and left.
Only after the door had shut did he look at the table.Azul's plate was full.
It seemed she was determined not to trust him.
Yet the child's plate was empty.
Chapter 4
TheSevenGatesofHell came into existence after the end of the world.Azul wrote, her eyes stinging from the strain.
The first and the last were taken by the first and seventh Titans.The third was taken by the third, and the second by the second.The fourth by the fourth, the sixth by the sixth, and the fifth by the fifth.
Ink-stained parchment, like spilling blood.
And so, should the Unknown return, the gates will open, and the world will finally be united as one, under one, above one.
"Azul."
Azul's head lifted towards the direction of the voice, eyes blurring and watering as a plate slid across the table towards her.She looked up to see Borji.He was dressed more formally today, clothes covering over half his chest for once, his hair tied back and beaded.He was dressed to see his grandmother with her, as though saying he would stand by her in this fight.
"Did you manage?"
Azul looked at the manuscript, moving to write the very last line.
The death of which whom shall bring.
The more she read it, the more it looked like a name, but she couldn't be sure.
"I'm done," she finally said.
Borji stepped closer, his eyes scanning the pages spread across the low table.There were dozens of them—each one covered in dense, black script.The characters were perfect, identical to his own hand.She'd worked through two nights without sleep.
