As Aria ran toward the bright doorway, a shadow suddenly appeared. Aria nearly collided with the figure. She looked up in alarm, her vision focusing on the person in front of her, and froze.

"Alpha..." she said hoarsely, her voice trembling slightly.

Alpha stood in the doorway, tall and imposing, his gaze cold and piercing. The grayish light cast deep shadows on his face, highlighting his sharp features and the intense, wary glint in his eyes. He held a thin sword, the tip raised slightly, as if waiting for her explanation.

"What on earth are you doing?" Alpha's voice was cold and harsh, dripping with disdain.

Aria swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. "There was... a demigod..." She glanced back, realizing that all the explosive sounds had ceased. Behind her lay a scene of utter chaos, an inexplicable mess of a corridor.

Alpha's expression darkened further, his eyes like daggers aimed at Aria. "A demigod? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I saw a demigod break in, so I followed him. He opened the cell doors inside, like he was searching for something." Aria pointed behind her, her words tumbling out in a rush. Her heart pounded, her palms sweaty. She couldn't be sure Alpha would believe her, given the eerie silence in the corridor, her hurried breaths echoing through the empty building.

"You said a demigod?" Alpha's black eyes glittered with suspicion and disdain. "There's no demigod here, just your wild imagination."

"There’s blood on the ground. These glowing drops are demigod blood." Aria bit her lip after speaking, watching Alpha anxiously.

Alpha glanced down at the ground, the glowing blood drops flickering faintly in the darkness. His face paled, his brow furrowing deeply. He shoved Aria aside and stared intently into the darkness. "This area is off-limits. If I catch you here again, I'll throw you in the dungeon permanently." His voice was icy and threatening.

He stepped into the dim corridor, adding coldly, "Go back. I don't want to see you here again."

Aria, still shaken, returned to her room, unable to focus on watching the beast fights. What had just happened left her deeply unsettled. Whether the demigod was after her or not, she was certain something secret was hidden inside that could draw a demigod in. The thought of the demigod's magic made Aria shiver; she had seen such magic before, wielded by The Oracle, Adomoye. But she couldn't understand why. Was it just to chase a condemned criminal, braving the barriers with a Celestial Deer? Or was the demigod's target something else inside the abandoned building?

Aria paced her room, unable to make sense of it all. She was lost in thought until she heard footsteps and voices in the hallway. Sable knocked to remind her of the evening's gathering. Aria responded absentmindedly, realizing she had lost track of time as the sky outside darkened.

Aria approached her bed, pushing aside the tangled armor. She noticed her dress was missing, turning her room upside down but finding no trace of it. She stared at the disordered room in disbelief; someone had stolen that ugly dress.

The hallway was almost empty, with the Starguard having gone to the hall for the banquet. Aria stood in her uniform, feeling a pang of hesitation about whether to join them or not.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a key turning in the lock, and the door swung open. Aria glared at the intruder, furious when she saw who it was. "Do you ever knock? I need privacy, Master of Keys." Her voice was full of indignation.

"I brought you a dress." Neven held up a brand-new blue gown.

"You stole my dress?" Aria growled.

"I didn't steal it, I got rid of it for you." Neven corrected her.

"You actually—"

"As my companion, you should at least not look so dreadful. After all, the Lunar King and Grand Mentors will be present." He closed the door, smiling as he approached and held the dress up against her. It was a delicate blue silk gown, with a gold-threaded bodice adorned with a sparkling blue gem.

Neven smiled approvingly. "It fits perfectly. Put it on, the banquet has already started."

Aria wanted him to leave but Neven turned to the window, looking out into the pitch-black night. "I just came from Seraphina's, otherwise I would've brought it sooner."

Aria hid behind the bed, although it offered little concealment; the dark corner made her feel somewhat secure. She undressed, asking, "Did Seraphina ask about your Essence Power?"

"Yes."

"Did they find the cause?"

"No, and I don't expect they ever will." Neven still gazed out the window. He wore a fresh uniform, the shoulder epaulettes intricately embroidered with golden wheat, a blue velvet half-cape draped over his back. His silhouette was sharply defined in the firelight.

Aria slipped into the new dress, her fingers tracing the blue gem on the gold-threaded bodice. She stood up, and when she looked for Neven, he had vanished.

Neven appeared beside her, lifting the golden belt to her waist. Aria felt his warm, rhythmic breaths against her, making her tense. "I can do it myself," she said shyly.

With a click of the buckle, Neven said, "You wouldn't get it right."

Aria's cheeks burned. She turned her head away, wishing she could disappear into the dress. Her face felt like it was on fire.

"Are you done?" Aria asked, clearing her throat.

Neven didn't release her. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, his hands covering hers, his fingertips cold. He rested his head against her hair, whispering, "If it were three years ago, as Thorne said, I was too arrogant, never thinking about the future. This might be my punishment, being brought low at my proudest. Today at the arena, I was terrified. I feared Damian would really kill you. Damian knows too; when it comes to you, I can't stay calm. You're my greatest weakness."

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Aria stood there, listening quietly, unsure of how to respond. From the moment she met Neven in Longhorn Town, their lives were destined to be entwined forever.

Aria broke the silence, "How's your injury?"

"It's not the first time. It'll heal in a few days," Neven released her and gently touched his arm, the bandages still visible through his clothes.

Aria adjusted her dress, her face flushing as she turned away. Neven's eyes sparkled as he gazed at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"But how did you defeat Stormblade without Essence? Did you feel anything... unusual at the time?" Aria recalled his pitch-black eyes, filled with confusion.

"No, I thought I was going to lose, but... I don't remember that strike..." He frowned, trying to recall, but it seemed forgotten. "I was probably too worried about you... the situation was a blur."

Aria stared at his eyes, as if facing a perplexing puzzle. Maybe she had seen it wrong.

"Who won the final beast fight?" she asked.

"It was Damian Blackwood," he said with disdain. "Didn't you go to watch?"

"No," Aria suddenly remembered something more important. "On my way to the arena today, I found an abandoned building. There were shouts inside, so I went in. I think I saw a... demigod..." Aria shivered.

"You saw a demigod?" Neven repeated seriously.

Aria nodded vigorously and recounted her experience.

"He blasted open all the doors?" Neven's eyes showed a flash of caution after hearing her story.

"Maybe he was trying to attack me," Aria recalled. "Or perhaps he was searching for something."

"Aria, you mustn't go there again," Neven said gravely, his brow furrowed with concern. "I'm more worried about you. If you encounter a demigod again, stay away from him. We don't know his intentions, and he might harm you."

"You're right. I destroyed the Celestial Eye, killed a demigod, and escaped execution," Aria listed her crimes, feeling deeply guilty. After being attacked today, she was still shaken, just fortunate to have avoided the spell. "What about Alpha? Why didn't he watch the beast fight and went to that building instead?"

"I'm not sure. I spent the entire afternoon dealing with Seraphina and Quinn's inquiries about why I don't have Essence," Neven said with a heavy expression. "But you must be careful of Alpha. The recent charred bodies suggest Tailsting is in serious trouble. Maybe those missing people have all defected..."

"Defected? You suspect Alpha is inciting people to rebel?"

"Yes, trying to break away from the Lunar Tower and align with Mara," he said solemnly. "In such harsh conditions, many can't accept reality. They surrender to death, trying to find some space to survive by worshipping Mara. But making a pact with a demon will lead to an endless abyss when evil is destroyed."

"Such betrayal is hard to believe," Aria said, frowning. "Alpha seemed loyal to the Lunar King. How could he turn like this?"

"Everyone has their limits, Aria," Neven shook his head with a trace of helplessness. "When pushed to the edge, people do unbelievable things. I hope Alpha hasn't defected. It would be disastrous for the Lunar Essence."

Suddenly, with a small clink, a golden vial fell to the ground.

"Essence Elixir?" Neven raised an eyebrow inquiringly.

"Yes, Alexander asked me to bring it for you. He told me to use it when you were unconscious," Aria explained. "How effective is the Essence Elixir? If it can restore your Essence, you should ask Alexander for more."

Neven picked up the vial, examined it carefully, and then tucked it into Aria's belt. "Hold onto it for me. I'll explain its use later." He looked around the room and suddenly asked, "Do you still have the demigod coins?"

"They're in the jar," Aria pointed to a ceramic jar on the table.

Neven opened the jar and poured out several coins. "Do you remember the coin we took from the charred body?" He picked out the worn coin and then another demigod-forged coin from the jar.

"Is there a connection?" Aria walked to the table and examined them closely.

"This one... was forged by the demigods," Neven pointed to the worn coin. "The eye on the corpse's coin isn't just a symbol; it's an ancient demigod curse. When a soul leaves the body, it can follow its master." He pointed to the shiny demigod coin and added, "The coins Lucius Argent gave you look much more refined..."

"But Lucius's coins don't have eyes. How can you be sure they're from the demigods?"

"Do you have water?" Neven asked.

Aria, full of suspicion, brought a cup of water.

Neven dropped the corpse's coin into the water, saying, "Demigods use sap from the Eternal Tree to forge their coins. It's an ancient custom."

"You've never been to the Celestial Sanctum. How do you know?"

"The library books have detailed records. They say demigod-forged coins will release part of the sap when soaked in water. It's the simplest way to identify them."

Aria watched the cup in silence.

After a moment, silvery sparkles emerged from the coin.

"You're right," she said in surprise.

Neven then tossed a genuine demigod coin into the water, and it too released silvery sparkles. They exchanged meaningful glances. Although the two coins looked entirely different, both were forged with the silver sap.

"Maybe someone used the Eternal Tree sap to imitate them?" Aria suggested. "You found this in a book, so could others. They could have deliberately made these coins to confuse people."

"There are no Eternal Trees in the Land of the Dead, and no one knows how to mix the sap," Neven pushed the cup aside and said lightly. "But one thing is certain... we're late. Today is the most festive day, the War God's celebration. Let's not dwell on these troubling matters. Let's hurry."

They arrived at the hall, which was already bustling with activity.

The opulent hall was adorned with bright chandeliers, casting a radiant glow. The long tables were laden with sumptuous food, wine, and an array of exquisite desserts that made mouths water. The men of the legion, in uniforms embroidered with golden wheat sheaves, stood tall and proud, exuding courage and dignity; the women wore magnificent gowns, their jewel-encrusted dresses shimmering like fairy tales under the light.

At the front on a high platform, the Lunar King was bestowing an award on Damian. Even at such a grand celebration, her stern face remained unsmiling. She wore an emerald silk gown and a gem-studded crown, exuding a cold, regal presence.

She took a glowing red Soul Stone from a tray beside her. The gem sparkled brilliantly in her hand. The Lunar King slowly handed the Soul Stone to Damian, performing a seemingly sacred ritual. Damian knelt on one knee, respectfully accepting the gem, his eyes gleaming with smug arrogance.

Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd, deafeningly loud. Tailsting's soldiers stood and cheered, waving their banners with pride and joy.

Aria and Neven, at the top of the stairs, witnessed this scene.

"How does the Lunar King know Damian can control this new Soul Stone?" Aria whispered as they quietly descended the stairs.

"That's a Dragonfire Stone," Neven replied in a low voice. "It can release heat in flames. In the cold north, Dragonfire Stones are extremely rare, making them a coveted prize for the victor."

At that moment, several Grand Mentors stood and applauded. Aria first noticed Alpha. His face was unusually sullen today, his gaunt eye sockets deep under his nose, his beard meticulously trimmed. From his somber expression, Aria guessed he hadn't caught the demigod. Beside Alpha was Seraphina, and next to her, a small woman in a wheelchair, the Grand Mentor of Mercury. She wore a thick fur cloak in the warm hall, as if recovering from a serious illness.

The Executive Commanders sat at the table behind the Grand Mentors. Except for Stormblade, who was absent, all four were present. Lyra wore a green dress, complementing her short hair, looking fresh. Thorne, dressed in a dark purple gown, sat elegantly next to Lyra, the color perfectly matching his dark skin.

When Aria saw Mercury's Executive Commander, she covered her mouth in surprise. The woman not only wore a bright pink dress but also had a camellia flower covering half her head. Her curled lashes and large eyes blinked rapidly toward the stairs, revealing a coquettish smile. Aria realized that Mercury's peculiar woman was flirting with Neven.

"That's Umena. She loves pink," Neven whispered.