Aria cautiously leaned against the statue, pressing herself tightly against its wide robes, barely daring to breathe. She knew that if Alpha discovered they had sneaked into the Moon Tower, the consequences would be dire, and Neven would undoubtedly face severe punishment.

“Quinn, how’s your eye?” Seraphina’s voice echoed through the Moon Tower, tinged with concern.

“It still hurts, but it’s not oozing anymore,” a man replied, his voice low.

Aria stole a glance. Standing next to Seraphina was a tall, lean man with a single eye. Quinn wore a silver-gray robe, and a golden eyepatch covered one eye. He gently touched the eyepatch, looking very uncomfortable. Quinn bore a resemblance to Alpha but lacked Alpha's arrogance, his expression showing hints of pain and resignation.

Neven whispered silently in her ear, “Quinn is Lunarshade’s Guard Mentor.” He pointed to the cold, distant woman, adding, “That’s the Lunar King.”

The Lunar King slowly walked to the center of the hall. She wore a pale gold gown, the hem trailing on the floor and making a soft rustling sound as she moved. On her head was a crown set with a red Soul Stone that sparkled in the light. Her gaunt face was marked by the passage of time, deep wrinkles clearly visible. Her thin lips pressed into a tight line, and her cold gaze swept over everyone present. Her icy eyes radiated endless authority and a harsh scrutiny, as if she could see through everyone. Her presence made the entire hall feel even more solemn and imposing.

“I’ve called you to the Moon Tower today for a reason. This is an unofficial... top-secret meeting,” the Lunar King said sternly, her voice cold as ice. “This matter must not be leaked.”

“Of course not, Lunar King.” Alpha replied proudly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. “The Celestial Deer carcass in the forest has been burned. Only Neven and the girl he brought in know about it among the night patrols. I warned Neven not to spread any rumors.”

Aria glanced at Neven, who shrugged helplessly.

Quinn adjusted his eyepatch and stepped forward, reminding them, “The demigod who came in will reveal himself sooner or later. Secrets will quickly turn into rumors.”

“What if it’s just baseless speculation? I think we’re overreacting. Maybe there’s no demigod at all, just a Celestial Deer wandering in.” Seraphina interjected, her voice gentle yet filled with doubt.

“Celestial Deer would be hit by a magical shock entering the barrier; it wouldn’t wander in by accident. Demigods have an ancient spell, only they can communicate with Celestial Deer and guide it into the barrier.” The Lunar King’s voice grew harsher, her gaze sweeping over the three Grand Mentors with obvious displeasure at the escaped demigod. “A demigod got in, and we failed to capture him.”

Aria couldn’t help but recall her experiences at the Celestial Sanctum. She thought Lunar King was right, a Celestial Deer wouldn’t just wander in. She remembered Lucius, who had helped her escape from the Celestial Sanctum, mentioning that there were only three Celestial Deer in the Celestial Sanctum. One had died over two hundred years ago, and besides a naive fawn, this might be the last Celestial Deer.

So, who dared to enter the barrier?

Aria was horrified to think of one person—the only demigod who could wield such powerful magic, The Oracle—Adomoye. Perhaps it was Adomoye who had grabbed her neck that day. But why would she be with a long-missing Lunar Essence? Aria's heart pounded. She was supposed to be executed, but Lucius had saved her during the execution. She worried even more about Lucius; he might have been tortured for information. So, Adomoye might be looking for her personally.

But why take the heart of the Celestial Deer?

She suddenly looked up and met Neven’s bright, wide eyes. Aria took a step back, her back hitting the statue. Neven was so close, nearly colliding with her face.

Neven squinted, putting a finger to his lips to signal her to stay quiet, his gaze shifting to the side.

Through the gaps in the statue, Aria could clearly see Alpha staring at the statue. It wasn’t until Alpha’s attention returned to the Lunar King’s discussion that Aria relaxed, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin.

Neven blinked and smirked, then gestured for her to keep listening.

The Lunar King’s gaze swept around the room, her eyes like daggers piercing into everyone’s heart, as if to root out hidden fears and hesitations.

“We must take action, not wait for the demigod to strike again.” Her voice was cold and resolute.

Alpha quickly responded, “I will increase the number of patrols and strengthen the defenses around the perimeter.”

“Not enough, we need more.” The Lunar King’s voice quivered slightly, “We must find any weak points in the city’s defenses and fortify them immediately.”

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Quinn frowned, “But if the demigod is already hiding somewhere, here among us, or in the secretive Aether. If the demigod has chosen those places, we won’t find him.”

“That’s our failing.” The Lunar King’s voice was uncompromising. “We are the enemies of the demigods, and they will stop at nothing to destroy us.”

“Lunar King, should we search Shadowvale as well? It could be a potential hiding spot.” Alpha suggested.

“Yes, we can’t let a demigod act under our noses.” The Lunar King said worriedly. “I need more intelligence. Alpha, you are in charge of this task, ensure we can quickly locate the demigod.”

Aria listened quietly to their discussion, her heart filled with anxiety and unease. The appearance of a demigod had thrown the entire Lunar Essence into turmoil, and they still hadn’t found a solution. She could feel the tension and fear in everyone, but they were all trying to find a way to resolve the crisis.

Until the Lunar King and Grand Mentor finished their lengthy conversation and left the Moon Tower, Aria and Neven remained hidden behind a statue. They seized the opportunity during the guards' shift change to silently slip out of the tower. Night had fallen, and moonlight streamed through the high windows, casting a silvery glow on the cold, empty hallways. Footsteps echoed through the vast space as most of the palace's occupants had retired for the night, leaving only the patrols to break the silence.

At the end of the corridor, faint candlelight flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Neven escorted Aria to her door.

"Won't you invite me in?" he asked softly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, as if hoping to extend their time together.

"It's already late, I need to rest," Aria replied, leaning wearily against the doorframe, a trace of fatigue in her eyes.

"Alright, it is quite late," he conceded gently, his voice carrying a touch of expectation. "I wanted to invite you to join me for Warrior's Day in a few days. It's the grandest celebration of the Lunar Essence, and I would love for you to be my companion."

After a moment of consideration, a smile tugged at Aria's lips. "Well, I suppose I can accept your invitation."

They exchanged smiles, easing the tension between them.

"Is Warrior's Day a banquet?" Aria asked curiously.

"No, we'll be heading to the Beast Arena to watch the duels," Neven's eyes sparkled with excitement. "The performances there are spectacular, and the final battle in the arena is something you won't want to miss."

Aria's mouth opened slightly in surprise. Neven's invitation to witness the brutal battles in the arena was unexpected, especially on such a gentle night.

"I have an important reminder," he continued gently, his tone taking on a seriousness that was hard to ignore. "Before Warrior's Day, do not accept any Soul Stones from anyone."

"Why would I accept someone else's Soul Stone? I don't need it, and I'm not part of the Lunar Essence," Aria shrugged, finding Neven's caution unusual.

Neven's expression grew solemn, a flicker of worry in his eyes. "Promise me, if I find out you’ve secretly accepted someone's Soul Stone, it will cause a lot of trouble. I don't want to see you caught in unnecessary complications."

At that moment, a group of noisy Starguard cavalrymen passed by, their footsteps reverberating through the hallway. Upon noticing Neven, they suddenly quieted, hurrying past without so much as a greeting.

"What kind of complications?" Aria asked, her tone wary.

Neven cast a displeased glance at the eavesdropping cavalry, his gaze sharp as if it could kill. The footsteps in the corridor suddenly quickened, followed by a few rapid closing doors, leaving the corridor in complete silence, as if the whole world had narrowed down to just the two of them.

"If I find out, the person who gave you that Stone… I'll have him expelled from the Moon Tower," he added, his tone carrying a more severe threat.

Aria glared at him, her voice filled with indignation. "You're not the Executive Commander, Lyra is. Who I accept gifts from is none of your business."

Neven's gaze darkened, and their eyes locked in a cold standoff. The tension between them was palpable.

At that moment, a voice called out from the staircase. "What are you two arguing about? I could hear Aria's shouting from downstairs." Sable approached, followed by Oak.

"We're done with the cloaks," Neven said curtly, pulling off his cloak and grabbing Aria's offered one. He strode over to them and tossed the cloaks to Sable.

"I didn't do anything to you," Sable protested, his voice innocent.

Aria hurried back to her room and slammed the door shut.

She collapsed onto the bed, her inner turmoil preventing her from finding sleep. On one hand, she felt guilty for hurting Neven; on the other, she couldn’t forgive his overbearing attitude. She thought of his gentle side, the way he protected and cared for her, but was equally haunted by his coldness and rigidity.

"Why did things turn out this way?" she whispered to herself, a hint of sorrow in her eyes. She couldn't deny her feelings for Neven, yet she couldn't ignore the conflicts between them.

After a bout of frustration, Aria realized she was wide awake. She picked up the ancient book on her bed, sitting up and turning to the page marked by a leaf. She had been curious about its contents earlier in the Moon Tower. The book detailed the history of Sovereign Bastion and its downfall. Aria skimmed through each line, reading about the horrific war against the Death Army before the arrival of the demigods. The remaining survivors were forced into exile, disappearing from the world…

Aria's heart pounded in her chest.

But something felt off. The history didn’t match her memories. The book mentioned the Death Army breaching the strongest fortress, but there was no mention of the pivotal figure, Thanatos...

Aria tossed the book aside, her thoughts in turmoil.

Her understanding of the world was being challenged, making her question her own memories. She felt lost and confused, unsure of whom to trust or what to believe. This chaotic feeling left her restless. She knew she needed to uncover the truth, but it wouldn't be easy. In a world filled with mysteries and dangers, she felt isolated and helpless, forced to face one uncertain future after another.

Time flew by in the Lunar Tower. Ever since that day when she angered Neven, their silent feud had persisted for a long time. Even during their nightly sword practice in the hall, Neven wore a stern expression, refusing to engage in conversation. Aria gritted her teeth and decided to continue resisting their war with silence.

Since the secret meeting with the Lunar King, Alpha had been actively fulfilling his promises to the king. He ordered all Starguard members to expand their patrol range and conduct large-scale searches during the day. The Starguard grumbled in discontent but dared not voice their grievances. Meanwhile, the favored Tailsting enjoyed the privilege of swapping out their mounts for sleek, well-groomed horses, parading proudly through the iron gates of the royal city. This only added to the frustration and desolation of the Starguard, who were readying themselves for whatever lay ahead.