At dawn, Aria left the tent with a heavy heart. Last night's events worried her deeply. However, the camp was not as chaotic as she had feared. In the distance, soldiers were repairing the damaged watchtower, and she occasionally heard murmurs about the Night Ghoul's attack on the camp.

Wrapped in her cloak, Aria made her way to the camp's largest command bunker. Inside, she did not see Neven, nor was there the expected military meeting. The sand table sat quietly in the center, surrounded by scattered chairs, giving the room a desolate feel after last night’s discussions.

Suddenly, she heard the steady sound of breathing. Sage Solon was asleep in a chair by the wall, his hands resting on the armrests, with the Soul Stone embedded in the back of his hand emitting a faint glow.

“The elder stayed up all night discussing strategies. He just fell asleep,” Alexander said softly as he entered, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness.

Aria lowered her voice, trying not to wake Sage Solon. “Where did Neven go? Why did he leave without telling me this morning?”

“He’s on a mission,” Alexander replied quietly.

“What mission?” Aria’s brow furrowed deeply.

“He said you’d ask, so he sent me to explain why he left without saying goodbye today.” Alexander walked to the sand table, gently moving the wooden pieces on it. The sand table depicted the terrain of Voidmarsh, filled with various wooden figures: horses, soldiers, long swords, shields, and small flags of different colors.

“Is this us?” Aria pointed to the semicircular bunker.

“Yes, the Bluestone Bunker. We’re just outside the gorge,” Alexander’s finger lightly traced the wooden figures on the sand table, as if outlining an uncertain battle.

“Did he specifically ask you to explain the situation in Voidmarsh?” Aria asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Alexander smiled, his charming eyes twinkling. “After last night’s attack, Sage Solon decided to implement the plan ahead of schedule. He spent all night devising the strategy, preparing for today’s mission. Look here… Neven and his team aim to capture this position today…” He pointed to a nearby hill.

“He went inside Voidmarsh?” Aria exclaimed, her voice trembling.

“Don’t worry, he’s familiar with it,” Alexander reassured, his slender fingers sliding over the sand table. “That’s a major lair of the Night Ghouls. The ones that attacked us last night came from there. Destroy it, and we can advance north.”

“The Night Ghouls’… lair?” Aria’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“If Neven successfully destroys it, our army can move along the cliff towards the northern ice caverns.”

“Ice caverns?” Aria was even more puzzled.

“That’s related to Sage Solon’s next move,” Alexander explained.

“How many people did Neven take?” Aria asked, her unease growing.

“Thorne and Lyra are with him, making ten in total.”

“Ten?” Aria gasped. “That’s Voidmarsh, and a Night Ghoul lair. How can he go with just ten people?”

“There’s a dried underground channel within the cliff,” Alexander pointed to the side of the hill. “They’ll climb in and ignite the oil barrels. We’ve stored large amounts of oil there. If we’re lucky, it will be enough to burn down the Night Ghoul lair.”

“But to burn it down, you need a lot of oil. Igniting that much oil requires a safe distance,” Aria said quickly. “The cliff is steep. Climbing up is extremely difficult, not to mention avoiding the Night Ghouls and lighting the oil barrels.” Her heart pounded. This mission required not just bravery, but incredible luck. “I don’t believe in luck. If the Night Ghouls are alerted, they’ll attack the intruders fiercely.”

“Have faith. Neven always has backup plans. Second, third, even fourth. Though, in practice, we won’t need that many,” Alexander reassured her.

“Plans can’t solve everything…” A sudden voice behind them interrupted. Aria and Alexander turned to see Sage Solon standing up from the armchair. “But plans can reduce unnecessary casualties. If ten men can secure victory, it’s a fair trade.” The elder walked to the sand table calmly, his eyes clear and alert. “Do you know why I reinstated Neven as the mission leader?”

“He has experience,” Aria replied without hesitation.

“He followed me into Voidmarsh as a child. No one knows it better than him. At twelve, he survived there for seven days and nights. We thought he wouldn’t make it, but one morning, he walked out of Voidmarsh on his own,” Sage Solon said.

“Neven knows the terrain and how to use it to his advantage,” Alexander added.

“But Neven doesn’t have Essence Power,” Aria emphasized. “If he’s attacked, he can’t protect himself, let alone complete the mission.”

“Aria, the elder also sent Lyra and Thorne,” Alexander said. “Without Neven leading, they wouldn’t even get in.”

Aria pressed her lips together, a multitude of arguments rising in her throat. But now, the team had already departed. Despite the danger, she believed Neven would risk everything to complete the mission.

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After leaving the bunker, Aria followed Alexander to tend to the wounded. Feeling stifled in her small tent each day, she gladly accepted Alexander’s proposal to help.

Near the edge of the gorge stood a giant white tent filled with rows of beds and wounded soldiers. Groans echoed through the space. Several Starguard members were also helping, but manpower was still in short supply. Inside, large braziers provided warmth, and a table laden with potions and more bottles and jars lined the shelves.

Following Alexander’s instructions, Aria fetched a bottle of thick green potion with beetles soaked inside. “How did so many people get injured?” she asked.

“The beasts are rampant,” Alexander replied, opening the bottle, releasing a sour smell. He patted an unconscious man and pried open his mouth. “This guy, it’s better if he doesn’t wake up. The potion tastes awful.”

“You’re going to make him drink it?” Aria’s stomach churned.

“What else?” Alexander raised an eyebrow.

Aria turned away just in time to hear a gurgle as the man swallowed the potion, smacking his lips as if he had tasted something delicious.

“Scared? Then why did you follow him in here? Life outside the barrier wasn’t good enough?” Alexander teased, walking over with the empty bottle, the sour smell growing stronger.

“Of course not. I wanted to come in,” Aria said, pinching her nose.

“I thought he dragged you in against your will,” he said, studying her curiously.

“No, I volunteered. He was in a terrible mood outside, missing you all. I thought it wasn’t healthy for him to keep torturing himself, so I suggested coming in,” Aria said vaguely. In truth, Neven was helping her hide the real reason. Whenever anyone asked why he brought a mortal girl, he would always respond with heartfelt devotion: We’re madly in love.

Alexander laughed heartily.

“You’re a foolish girl from outside, and also Neven’s good luck,” he said, arranging the potion bottles neatly by color, shape, and healing function, nudging a misaligned ceramic bottle into place. Aria shrank back slightly, thinking Alexander had an obsession with order.

Satisfied, Alexander placed the last bottle correctly and said, “All these years, this is the first time he’s loved someone. After losing his previous girlfriend, I thought he’d never love again.”

“You mean Neven loved another woman before?” Aria asked, surprised.

“You never asked him?”

“No.”

“Then, of course, he wouldn’t tell you. It’s his unresolved issue. He doesn’t talk about it, and he dislikes mentioning that part of his past.”

“He always seems indifferent. How was I supposed to know he had someone else? I thought he only had a passion for wine.”

“The drinking came later. He rarely got drunk before,” Alexander said.

“What about that woman? Why didn’t they stay together?”

“Because… she died.”

“Died?” Aria was shocked.

“There were rebels in the Moon Tower at the time. After Neven eradicated them, they captured his girlfriend for revenge,” Alexander recalled somberly. “The methods they used were extremely brutal…” He paused, appearing disturbed by the memory. “They beheaded her, placing her head on a flagpole in the forest, with her body laid out in the snow… blood everywhere…”

“Did Neven see it?” Aria asked, horrified.

“Neven was the first to see it. We thought he’d break down or go mad, but he didn’t. His reaction terrified everyone present…” Fear filled Alexander’s eyes. “Are you sure you want me to continue? I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it…”

“Go on,” Aria said firmly, her hands trembling slightly.

"When Neven saw her body, he walked up to that flagpole. We all thought he would collapse, but instead, he calmly removed her head and then meticulously reassembled her body. He didn't shed a single tear. It was as if his girl was still alive. He touched her forehead with his and then kissed the head…" Alexander furrowed his brow, his voice low and somber as he recalled. "There were a lot of people around at the time…”

“You’re saying…he kissed a corpse?” Aria’s heart clenched, as if she could feel Neven’s pain at that moment.

“Yes, he did.” Alexander’s gaze darkened.

Aria unconsciously touched her own lips, suddenly finding the thought of that kiss terrifying. This past event was far beyond what she could comprehend.

“So, after that, he dedicated all his time to swordsmanship.” Alexander sighed deeply, leaning against the table. “Since then, he has never loved anyone else. I thought he had lost all hope of ever loving again. Until one day, he brought you here…”

“I’m not even sure about our relationship,” Aria said, slumping her shoulders in disappointment. “It feels like two lonely souls walking together. Sometimes, I don’t even know what he’s thinking.”

Alexander looked at her, a hint of pity in his eyes. “Don’t be sad for him. He’s moved on. Every time he looks at you, I can see it. He’s feeling something, I know him well.” Alexander paused, his tone growing serious. “But there’s something you should know… Don’t ever look at other men. It will infuriate Neven, and the consequences could be severe.”

“You must be joking.” Aria gave a bitter laugh. “This place is full of men, unless I’m blind. Besides, he doesn’t seem to care about anyone… He does whatever he wants… So arrogant…”

Alexander didn’t respond immediately. He studied Aria, as if weighing whether to continue. “You don’t understand, Neven is a complex person. His inner pain and past scars make it hard for him to express his true feelings. The fact that you’re in his life at all is a huge breakthrough.”

Aria was silent for a moment before finally asking, “So what should I do? How can I help him?”

Alexander took a deep breath, his eyes steady. “Be patient, give him time. Neven needs solid support, not quick fixes. Your relationship will develop over time, as long as you’re wholehearted.”

Aria forced a weak smile, as if she was trying to convince herself. Alexander looked at her, his expression serious. "Remember, Aria, you're not just helping Neven, you're helping yourself too."

Outside the tent, the wind rustled the flags, making a soft sound, as if telling endless stories of this land.

The setting sun painted the sky crimson, casting a tense atmosphere over the camp. A unit slowly approached from the gorge, their shadows elongated by the twilight. Aria pushed through the crowd and reached the first figure to arrive at the camp—Serpent Executive Commander Thorne.“Where’s Neven?” she asked urgently, her eyes scanning the group for any sign of him.

Thorne’s serpentine eyes turned silently toward the gorge. The rest of the unit continued to enter the camp, bathed in the amber glow of the setting sun. Aria held her breath, her gaze fixed on the distant figures. At last, a solitary silhouette emerged in the final rays of daylight. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she discerned the outline of a rider on horseback, dragging a wrapped figure behind.

Aria’s heart raced as a dreadful thought crossed her mind—someone had perished in the mission. When she recognized Neven atop the horse, her legs nearly gave out from the wave of fear that hit her.

Her legs trembling, she stepped forward. “I thought it was you...” Aria’s face was pale, her voice shaking as she spoke, barely holding herself together.

Neven dismounted and immediately embraced her, his hands still carrying the scent of oil. He buried his face in her hair, seeking solace. Surprised, Aria gently patted his back, trying to calm him.

Alexander, who had followed closely behind, went straight to the long bundle being dragged back. He quickly tore away the fur covering, his expression turning to shock. “Where is Lyra?” Alexander’s eyes burned with intensity as he looked at Neven, his voice low and urgent.