Days passed.
Now only one night remained.
Tomorrow morning— Lily was to depart for the Empire. Night had fallen deeply over Kankal City. The sky was clear, yet an eerie restlessness was mixed into the air— as if the coming day would not let anyone sleep in peace.
In that quiet night— Snehwal slowly reached the door of a room. He opened it. Seeing the scene inside, he stopped right there.
Lily was seated in meditation at the center of the room. Her eyes were closed. Waves of spiritual energy were swirling around her— blue, white, and faint hues blending into one another. This was no ordinary cultivation.
She was digesting her energy.
To stabilize— and elevate her stage even further. Even the air around her seemed to have frozen. Snehwal parted his lips to say something— then closed them again. He quietly shut the door.
"This is not the time to disturb her…"
he said to himself. He turned back.
"I should go meet Master…"
Thinking this, he had just started down the corridor when—
Suddenly— a hand grabbed his wrist.
And pulled him into a corner of the hallway.
Everything happened so fast that Snehwal didn't even get a chance to react.
He was extremely close to someone.
So close that— He could feel the warmth of their breath. He could clearly hear the rapid beating of a heart. Snehwal was startled.
"Luna…?"
his voice was low but shocked.
"You…?"
Luna was standing in front of him. Her eyes were closed. Her face was filled with emotion.
Her lips slowly moved toward Snehwal.
One moment—
just one moment—
But before anything could happen— Snehwal stepped back.
"What are you doing?"
There was no harshness in his voice, but there was clarity. Luna opened her eyes.
They held hesitation— and stubbornness as well.
"You saved my life,"
she said in a trembling voice.
"From that day… I became yours."
"Madly in love."
Snehwal shook his head.
"Luna… this is not right. You're losing your mind."
His words were calm, but firm. Luna grabbed his hand.
Once.
Then again.
She tried to pull him closer— using her body, her emotional snare.
But every time— Snehwal clearly refused.
"No."
"I can't do this. It wouldn't be right."
An argument broke out between them. Emotions clashed again and again. Moisture welled up in their eyes.
In the end— Luna said nothing.
She only— let tears fall from her eyes.
Without looking back, she left. Snehwal shook his head in exhaustion. He took a deep breath.
"Why is everything becoming so complicated…"
he said to himself. But he did not know—
that at a short distance away, in the shadows— Liora was standing. She had seen everything. She took a light breath in. And said softly— "Well then…"
"At least he's someone worthy of trust."
The night grew even deeper.
And the next morning— would bring not just a journey, but a test of many relationships.
With the first ray of morning light, a disturbance rippled across the sky. Tearing through the blue heavens— a magnificent ship appeared. Its structure was unusual. Metal and spiritual inscriptions were interwoven with one another. Thin streams of energy flowed around it. This was no ordinary vessel— it was a ship created by Lily herself.
Below— amid the rooftops and alleys of the city,
Master Jins stood in a calm posture. His gaze was steady. He raised his hand— and gestured toward Snehwal.
"Go."
Snehwal did not waste a single moment. He planted his feet firmly on the ground— and with a single leap, shot into the sky. Cutting through the air— he landed directly on the ship. The very next moment— his eyes fell upon Lily. A smile spread across his face.
"Lily—!"
Without thinking— he pulled her into an embrace. That hug carried relief. Warmth.
And also that fear— which cannot be put into words. Snehwal gently pulled back and looked at her carefully.
"You…"
There was surprise in his voice.
"You've improved your strength a lot."
Lily smiled.
Confidence shone in her eyes— along with gratitude.
"Yes," she said.
"This is the gift you gave me."
Snehwal raised his brows.
Lily continued—
"When I was unconscious—
you spent a great many spiritual stones for my sake."
Her voice was soft. Snehwal laughed.
"So what?"
He said with a smile—
"I'm benefiting from it too."
Below the ship— Liora and Luna were both standing. Their gazes were fixed upward.
Master Jins looked at the two of them.
"You both stay here,"
his voice was calm but commanding.
"The responsibility of protecting the city is yours."
But—
Liora did not listen to a single word. Or perhaps— she simply did not want to.
The very next moment— she vanished.
And then— she was standing on the ship.
Watching Snehwal and Lily talking—
she said in a firm voice—
"I have to come along."
Below—
Luna clenched her teeth. Her fists tightened.
Just then— Master Jins laughed.
"Don't set your sights on Snehwal,"
he said in a teasing tone.
"He's already claimed by two great heroines."
Hearing this—
Luna froze in shock. Her mind went blank.
"What…?"
she thought to herself.
"How does this old man… know?"
Master Jins' laughter echoed. And the very next moment— he too vanished.
When he appeared aboard the ship— his voice continued to resound in all directions—
"Until we return—
keep the city safe."
The next instant— Energy gathered from all directions. The ship picked up speed.
And— Lily, Snehwal, Liora, and Master Jins—
all four— set off toward the Empire.
On a journey— That would not only change their destination, But also twist their fates into a deep and strange new direction.