Aengus held her close, feeling her tremble in his embrace as she silently wept. Her warmth pressed against him, and he tightened his arms around her, his heart heavy with guilt.
“I’m so sorry, Aria,” he whispered, his voice sincere. “This is all my fault. But I don’t want you to leave from my life. I want you and Bella with me on this journey, and I promise we’ll never be apart.”
Aria wiped her tears with the back of her hand and slowly lifted her head, their faces close. Her emerald eyes, still glistening with tears, locked with his.
“No, It’s not all your fault, Ethan,” she said softly.
“My mother always told me that it’s fate that decides our lives. Perhaps she was right. Maybe this was unavoidable. If only I could have saved you instead of her… none of this would’ve happened. But no, I wasn’t capable. So, maybe it’s fate.”
She paused, taking a deep breath.
“I’m glad she saved you. I forgive you, Ethan, but I can’t promise that I’ll be able to get along with her. A demoness… the same kind who killed my clan members. It’s hard, but I’ll try— only for your sake.”
Aengus’s chest tightened at her words, and he was about to respond when Aria spoke again.
“I have only two demands, Ethan,” she said, her voice firmer now.
Aengus, visibly relieved, caressed her silky silver hair as the wind rustled around them.
He gently asked, “What are those two things, Aria? I will fulfill them no matter what,” his hand reaching her soft cheek, wiping away the tear stains tenderly.
“First, I want to call you Ethan, not Aengus, because it holds significant memories for the two of us. And second, you have to make me your first wife,” she said resolutely.
Aengus looked troubled, knowing that, technically, he and Bella were already married by vow, though it wasn’t official.
Sensing his thoughts, Aria clarified, “I’m not talking about your marriage vow with her, Ethan. I’m talking about a proper marriage ceremony, with our parents’ consent. You have to make me your first official wife. Can’t you do that?” she asked with a pleading look.
Aengus’s resolve returned, and he nodded. “Yes, I agree, my beautiful Aria,” he said firmly, sealing his promise as he leaned in, closing the distance between their lips.
Her pink lips met his, and in that moment of exchange, all their doubts and pain seemed to melt away. Aria wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer as they shared the tender embrace.
Under the silver glow of the moonlight, they were seeking each other’s warmth, making a quiet promise of love and commitment between them.
After a while, they were separated.
Regaining her composure, Aria asked,
“By the way, Ethan, you haven’t told me about your family yet. Where are they? Have you gotten your memories back yet?”
Instead of answering right away, Aengus gazed at the starry sky, wondering if the stars above were nothing more than illusions.
“Aria, have the people of this world ever explored outer space? In those stars… The Transcendentals are so powerful, they might know something, right? Have they shared anything with the rest of the world?”
Aria looked puzzled, unsure how this connected to her original question. She wondered, Is he from one of those stars?
“No, Ethan,” she responded. “We haven’t learned anything like that yet. Maybe even the Transcendentals don’t have enough power to explore the mysteries of the stars. At least, that’s what I think. What’s on your mind? Why are you asking?”
Aengus turned serious.
“Aria, I’ve found some information. And my memories are slowly coming back. I can now remember my mother… and my father, though I’d rather not speak about him. What I want to say is that this world is just like an illusion. You’re all trapped here. The stars, they’re fake… the moon might be as well.”
Aria was stunned by the revelation. “What about you, Ethan?”
“Yes, your guess is right,” he confirmed. “I am not originally from this world. I come from a primal dimension where people harness the power of laws and nature, calling themselves Seekers. They are spread across endless stars and planets, conquering whatever they find, waging war against each other for resources.”
“Oh…” Aria’s voice trailed off in astonishment, her thoughts racing as she tried to grasp the reality Aengus had just revealed.
She had always been curious about the stars, but no one had ever given her any real explanation. Now, the idea that they were stuck in this world—trapped beneath a false sky—left her both intrigued and unsettled.
Instead of feeling fear, her mind began to imagine the possibilities: adventuring from one world to another, meeting new people, growing more powerful beside Ethan. The thought of such endless exploration was tantalizing. But alongside the excitement came an unsettling realization.
“If everything he said is true, are we really stuck here?” she wondered. A new sense of doubt began to creep in her. “Am I truly human? Or are we just figments in some grand illusion, a dream crafted by a powerful being? Her thoughts drifted to the idea of a true God, perhaps orchestrating this confinement for reasons beyond their understanding?
She glanced back at Aengus, her mind swirling with questions. “Ethan, do you think… we are just pawns in someone else’s game? Am I even real? Just like a illusion that you said?”
“No, it’s not that, Aria. They use this world as a trial ground for people who can’t wield the power of laws, like me. I came here for the same reason—to gain power.
Besides, if you feel alive, that means you are alive, Aria. I believe there are mysteries behind this, and I’ll make sure to unravel them. But for now, reviving people that havd been dead is my main focus. We need to deal with Beelzebub and others and work on stabilizing this world to bring peace.”
“Okay, forget about me for now. Tell me about your newfound power. How did you become this strong?” Aengus asked, finding the mystery surrounding Aria deepening. He tried to probe her stats repeatedly, but each attempt failed miserably.
