"You dare eat in here..." Elder Gu stood at the end of the bookshelf, his face turning livid with anger. He glared at them, limping towards them.

"Run!" Neven urgently grabbed Aria's hand.

"But the plates!" Aria gasped, glancing back.

"Forget them!" Neven laughed, quickening his pace.

They dashed out of the library, weaving through the bustling crowd, and burst into the dining hall. Elder Gu's shouts echoed behind them, drawing everyone's attention. The furious elder stood on the stairs, clutching the handrail, cursing them: "How dare you... I'll tell the Lunar King..."

Thousands of eyes turned towards them, filled with sympathy and surprise.

"What did you do to make him so angry?" Sable shouted, with Oak and Alexander looking on curiously.

"Long story." Neven grabbed two cloaks. "Can we borrow these?"

"Hey, that's mine..." Sable protested.

As Aria was being pulled away, she turned to Sable and said, "We were eating in the library."

A collective sigh followed them.

They stayed hidden behind the snow-covered statue of Sovereign Bastion until Elder Gu's curses faded away before slipping out. Neven draped a cloak over Aria, giving her a gentle smile. "Come on, I want to show you something." He took her hand, completely unaware that he was currently holding Aria's hand. Aria, clutching the ancient book, looked down shyly. Passing Starguard Legion soldiers glanced their way; Neven's presence always drew attention.

"Where are we going?" Aria asked.

"To the Lunar Tower," he said. "We might catch the guard change. There's something I want to show you."

In the center of the royal city, the towering Lunar Tower stood majestically in the flat square. Guards were stationed everywhere. Aria followed Neven, hiding near the tower, sneaking glances at the stern-faced guards who resembled rows of expressionless statues.

"Stop staring, they're real," Neven pulled her back.

"Which legion is this?" Aria asked curiously, noting the prominent silver crescent moons on their armor.

"The Lunarshade Legion, the royal guard of the Lunar King. They protect the city and the Lunar Tower."

"How do we get in? It's heavily guarded."

"Now, we need to find an opportunity to get inside," Neven said, watching the tower.

Soon, the guards began to change shifts. They walked down the steps in order, lining up to hand over to the new guards.

"Now, follow me," Neven whispered.

He led Aria swiftly past them, stepping onto the stairs. In the gaps between the guards, they boldly walked into the Lunar Tower. They were incredibly lucky; none of the guards noticed them.

Aria's heart pounded. "You were too reckless. What if the guards had spotted us?"

"They won't," Neven smiled.

"But if even one of them had turned around..." Aria shivered at the thought.

"That's thanks to Alpha. He suggested to the Lunarshade's Grand Mentor that the guard change should be more ceremonious," he said slyly. "Coincidentally, this highly formal procedure has a blind spot. Unfortunately for them, I found it and exploited it."

"Grand Mentor doesn't know?"

"Obviously not, or it would've been fixed long ago."

Inside the tower was a spiraling staircase, reminiscent of the Echo Tower's design. But unlike Echo Tower, whose tighter spiral accommodated rooms on each floor, the Lunar Tower was a massive vortex leading up to a bright light. They climbed the stairs to a large door adorned with interwoven gemstones depicting the northern night sky's constellations, forming a beautiful star map.

"Stars and moons together, the Lunar Soul tribe worships the moon and stars," Neven explained.

In the dim stairwell, Neven pushed open the door, and a beam of dazzling light streamed out. The Moonlight Hall's floor was made of transparent crystal, with the bright light illuminating every corner of the spiral staircase. Aria realized this area wasn't continuous but divided by the crystal floor into a bright hall.

What amazed Aria most was that she had expected such a bright light to come from a giant flame or a mass of thousands of gemstones. But she was wrong. The light came from a small, translucent Soul stone floating at the apex, small enough to be grasped in one hand.

"It's the Heart of Lunar, the power source of Lunar Essence," Neven explained.

Aria squinted, slowly adjusting to the intense light. As the surroundings became clearer, she saw a conical black stone hall, its apex open to the sky, allowing the Heart of Lunar's light to shine farther. Around them were solemn statues holding dimly glowing soul stones, like many slowly beating hearts.

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"Are these all real Soul Stones?" Aria asked, looking up at the tall statues.

"Yes, these are all legendary figures of Lunar Essence." Neven pointed at each statue, introducing them one by one.

He first pointed to a tall male statue, its face stern, holding a massive battle axe. "This is Thorn the Fearless, former Executive Commander of Lunar Essence. He once single-handedly held off thousands of Night Ghouls, buying his army time to retreat. His Soul Stone symbolizes courage and sacrifice."

Next, he pointed to a slender female statue holding a staff, her face radiating wisdom. "This is Elara the Wise, the chief seer of Lunar Essence. Her prophecies saved the tribe countless times, helping them avoid many deadly disasters. Her Soul Stone represents wisdom and foresight."

Moving forward, he pointed to a warrior statue clad in armor, holding a shield. "This is Drake the Defender, the protector of Lunar Essence. His shield could withstand any attack. His Soul Stone symbolizes protection and loyalty."

Then, he pointed to a gentle female statue holding a blooming flower. "This is Seraphina the Healer, the greatest healer of the tribe. Her healing powers could mend any wound and cure the gravest illness. Her Soul Stone represents healing and hope. Much like Alexander's, it's a healing Soul Stone."

Finally, he pointed to a mysterious male statue dressed in robes, holding a book. "This is Orion the Seeker. He dedicated his life to seeking knowledge and truth, uncovering many ancient secrets. His Soul Stone symbolizes exploration and enlightenment." Neven paused, his voice softening, "He was my Grand Mentor."

Aria sensed the emotion in Neven's voice and gently asked, "He looks impressive."

Neven nodded, his eyes showing a mix of fondness and reverence. "Yes, Orion taught me many things. He was more than just a mentor; he was like a second father to me. He always encouraged me to pursue knowledge and explore the unknown. His wisdom and courage are something I'll never forget."

Aria looked at Neven, understanding his feelings. "He must have been a very special person."

Neven smiled faintly, his gaze returning to the statue. "Yes, his passing was a huge blow to me. But his teachings have always guided me. Whenever I face difficulties, I remember his words—'Courage is an endless light that will illuminate your path.'"

Aria gently held Neven's hand, offering comfort. "He would be proud of you. You've inherited his spirit."

"Open the book; I placed a leaf inside..." Neven gestured. "I know it's important to you. The book records a lot of history, mentioning someone by the name Magus. Did you know the former king here was also a Magus?" Aria opened the book, finding an autumn-yellow leaf. Though Neven spoke casually, Aria's heart raced with anticipation.

The book read:

In the final battle of the seal, King Magnus led the Iron Guard, swearing to uphold his promise. However, despite his bravery, he failed. He couldn't stop the prophecy, and this land and Sovereign Bastion vanished into the prophecy of death. King Magnus sacrificed himself, trying to change fate, but the dark forces were too powerful, ultimately consuming them. His eyes were filled with pain and despair, yet also with determination and fearlessness. He used his last strength, dying to uphold his vow.

The handwriting was strong, as if the writer had poured their emotions into recording this history. The page's edges were slightly yellowed, but the tragic sentiment seemed to transcend time, striking Aria's heart.

Aria's hands trembled slightly. She could feel the despair and tragedy of that moment, as if she were in that devastating battle herself. Her eyes swept over each word on the page, a wave of indescribable emotion welling up inside her. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as if mourning those lost souls.

Neven watched Aria's expression and asked softly, "Are you okay?"

Aria trembled as she held the book. Suddenly, she realized that this book, which she thought could unravel the secrets, had altered history. Two hundred years ago, she had witnessed her father being burned alive; King Magnus never saw the seal's disappearance. She recalled the massacre that day, and King Magnus's blood-soaked eyes.

She angrily snapped the book shut. It was filled with lies. It was Thanatos, that demon, who brought Sovereign Bastion's ultimate doom by gouging out her father's eyes. That day was unforgivable for everyone. Hatred led Thanatos to take her family away. People lost their lives in the massacre, Sovereign Bastion was destroyed by darkness and death, yet there was no mention of Thanatos.

"Why are you so angry?" Neven scrutinized her.

"Nothing,"Aria replied angrily.

“You really are a hard person to figure out.” Neven’s brow furrowed slightly, regret in his voice. “I always blame myself for bringing you here. Aria, you could have had a more ordinary life outside.”

“It was my request, Neven. You don’t need to blame yourself,” Aria said firmly, her eyes filled with gratitude.

“You may not fully understand how dangerous it is here.” Neven had never looked this serious before. The moonlight fell on his pallid face, making him look even more wan. “From the day you crossed the barrier, you’ve been trapped here forever. Every sunrise and sunset, we face the threat of death.” He paused, his voice lowering. “And, as your friend, don’t you want to talk about why you were so determined to come in?”

Aria gazed into his eyes, torn about revealing her true identity. She knew Neven had been helping her, even without knowing her real purpose.

The Moon Tower was deathly silent as Neven waited for an answer. Aria’s silence once again left him disappointed. His eyes dimmed, his voice filled with sorrow. “If it’s too hard for you, don’t force yourself.”

Neven walked over to a tall statue, the battle-axe's Soul Stone glinting. He turned back to her gently, as if to mask his earlier despondency, and spoke calmly. “Alright, let’s talk about something lighter. Do you know why we hate demigods?”

“Because they created the barrier?” Aria asked, relieved.

“Not exactly. The hatred for demigods is etched in the Lunar Essence’s codex. We must never ally with them. They once destroyed the Lunar Essence’s city using similar methods. From then on, our ancestors ingrained this hatred into our blood, reminding us to never trust demigods.”

Aria recalled how Hawk had once sought help from the demigods, who had refused. But later, the demigods sealed the northern magic pit of Sovereign Bastion. “But didn’t the demigods come here? They resealed the magic pit.”

“No, Aria, that’s not the truth. Over two hundred years ago, it was us who reinforced the seal. The demigods merely erected a magical barrier outside, trying to trap us along with the magic pit.” Neven’s brows tightened, his voice tinged with mockery. “Those so-called holy demigods knew there were still living beings inside, but they didn’t care about the Lunar Essence or the people within.”

“What happened to the people of Sovereign Bastion?” Aria asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“They all perished.” He said it matter-of-factly.

Aria’s mind went blank with shock. She had thought there might be survivors. But in the barrier, she hadn’t seen any other humans. Even the blacksmith in the town was part of the Lunar Essence. No wonder everyone looked at her as if she were a rare specimen—she was the last human.

Neven saw her shock and softly reassured her, “You are not alone, Aria. We will find a way out of this barrier, as long as we persevere.”

At that moment, footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Neven quickly pulled her behind the statue until the footsteps entered the Moon Tower’s hall. Aria snapped out of her shock. Neven put a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet.

“Close the door,” commanded a cold, imperious female voice.

“Yes, my Queen,” Alpha responded eagerly. Footsteps and the sound of a door closing followed.