Pov Author
The path to the Abyss of Noctyra was nothing like the heroic tales described.
It was exhausting.
Anna had lost count of how many times Mong had dramatically announced, "We are definitely walking in circles," only for Kiyoshi to calmly point out that the sun was, in fact, moving forward.
"We've passed this rock three times," Mong insisted.
"That rock," Shou Feng replied dryly, "exists in many places."
Anna laughed under her breath.
The air was crisp, wind brushing against tall silver grass. Mountains loomed in the distance like silent judges. The journey was long — painfully long — and yet somehow lighter.
Because Shou Feng's hand was holding hers.
Not tightly. Not possessively.
Just… there.
Their fingers brushed at first. Then intertwined. Neither of them mentioned it.
Anna glanced at him. He was already looking at her.
For a moment the world felt smaller.
"You're quiet," he murmured.
"I'm thinking."
"Dangerous."
She nudged him. "About going back. About… my dad."
His expression softened — but there was always something darker beneath it. A promise edged with danger.
"You," he said slowly, voice low, almost lethal in devotion, "will go back with me. With him. And you will be happy."
She blinked. "We?"
He stepped slightly closer as they walked. "You. Me. Your father. Together."
Anna smiled — a soft, almost fragile thing. "Finally… I can have someone who wants me."
Shou Feng stopped walking.
The wind stilled.
"Anna," he said, voice dropping into something dangerously tender. "Who doesn't want you?"
His thumb brushed against her knuckles.
"You are the most beautiful woman in the world. If they do not see it, that is their blindness… not your lack."
"You are not someone to be wanted, Anna… you are someone to be chosen. Every single day. And I would choose you in every lifetime I exist." He says but she keeps looking at him .
Mong gagged loudly from behind them.
"Can we focus on not dying before the wedding speeches begin?"
Anna burst out laughing.
Kiyoshi sighed. "We are not having wedding speeches."
"Yet," Mong added helpfully.
Little did Mong knew that he will not be attending their wedding.
---
By night, the laughter faded.
The four sat around a crackling fire. Shadows danced across their faces. The air was colder now — the kind that seeps into your bones.
Anna eventually drifted to sleep beside Mong.
Shou Feng and Kiyoshi remained awake.
Silence.
Heavy. Intentional.
"The Abyss will change things, Everything will go back to its place when we get the book " Kiyoshi said quietly.
Shou's gaze remained on the fire. "I know."
"You cannot keep her here forever."
The flames reflected in Shou Feng's eyes — not warm. Intense.
"I won't," he replied. Lies
Kiyoshi looked at him then.
"She doesn't belong in this world. It's dangerous for her." Shou's voice was calm — too calm. "I will make her go back."
"And you?"
A pause.
"I will take care of her there. Forever, Mr. Brown."
Kiyoshi let out a low laugh at the name. "You speak like a man who thinks forever is easy."
Shou finally looked at him.
"Nothing about her is easy. But everything about her is very interesting and beautiful"
The tension between them hummed like a drawn blade.
"Just make sure," Kiyoshi said quietly, "that what you're protecting her from… isn't you."
The fire cracked.
Shou didn't answer.
I wish.
---
The next day, the air felt different.
Heavier.
The sky darkened though it was still noon. The ground shifted from grass to black stone. Mist curled unnaturally at their feet.
And then—
They stopped.
Before them stood the Abyss of Noctyra.
A towering chasm carved into the earth, swirling with violet fog and ancient runes glowing faintly along its edges. The wind coming from it felt alive.
Watching.
Above, on a jagged cliff edge—
Two figures.
William stood tall, cloak swaying in the dark wind. His sharp eyes locked onto Anna instantly.
Beside him, cloaked in crimson magic, was Red Witch.
William's gaze was predatory.
But Anna…
She wasn't looking at him.
She was looking at Shou Feng.
And William noticed.
His eyes sharpened.
The game had begun.
---
To be continued..