"You can't keep us imprisoned in Wind Valley forever," Aria exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "We're not Aether, and he is the Executive Commander of the legion. Voidmarsh is under attack, and the northern seals are weakening. If you and the Aether choose to stay here, the Night Ghoul will eventually climb the cliffs and destroy your Wind Valley."

The chieftain was silent for a moment before speaking, his tone tinged with melancholy. "It seems it won’t be easy to keep you here."

Just then, Felix cleared his throat, breaking the brief silence.

The chieftain turned his gaze to Felix, his voice growing deeper. "You saved Felix, and Felix saved you in your moment of peril. But we Aether have an ancient tradition—we never imprison the mightiest warriors. Those with extraordinary power are destined to bear responsibilities beyond themselves."

He paused, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "If you truly wish to leave, the only way is to challenge Felix. This isn’t just a simple duel; it’s a test of courage and fate. Every warrior must prove their worth to be acknowledged by destiny. This isn’t just about strength—it’s a tempering of the soul. If you can defeat Felix, you will earn the right to continue your journey."

Aria and Alexander both instinctively turned to Neven, knowing that only Neven could possibly defeat Felix.

"And if I lose?" Neven asked calmly.

The chieftain's expression grew more solemn. "Then you will remain with the Aether forever, becoming one of us. Felix requested this battle because he admires your friend. If you defeat him, perhaps our proud young man will learn humility."

Neven nodded, his voice steady. "As you say."

At this, Aria couldn’t hold back any longer and grabbed Neven’s sleeve, whispering angrily, "How could you agree to this? I don’t want to stay in this wretched place."

Alexander gently patted Aria’s shoulder, signaling her to stay calm. "Neven has regained his Essence Power. You must trust him."

Aria pursed her lips, still uneasy, but she knew that Neven’s victory or defeat would determine the fate of all three of them. She began to imagine what the legendary Executive Commander Neven, after three years of trials, might be like now.

When Neven accepted the challenge, a barely concealed joy appeared on Felix’s face. He walked toward Neven with his head held high, as if preparing to shake hands, but to everyone’s surprise, he took Aria’s hand instead and placed a gentle kiss on her bandaged hand.

"My dear, is your injury feeling any better?" Felix asked with a smile, his tone full of concern.

Aria angrily pulled her hand back, snapping, "I’m fine."

Though she despised Felix's audacity, she couldn’t help but feel grateful to him. If it weren’t for him leading the warriors to their rescue that night, the three of them might have already perished at the hands of the Night Ghoul.

The battle began. Neven drew his Soul Stone sword, its golden light gleaming, while Felix gripped his heavy steel sword with his powerful physique. The hall, filled with nearly a hundred people, fell silent in an instant. The warriors stepped back, leaving Neven and Felix facing each other.

The fight erupted. Neven’s sword glowed brilliantly, and he and Felix seemed evenly matched. Aria had thought only the Aether could possess such astonishing speed and strength, but with the power of the Essence, Neven’s sword moved so fast it was nearly invisible.

In the darkened hall, golden light sliced through the air. Aria could feel Neven’s anger, though his face remained calm. This was a battle not just of victory or defeat, but of whether they could leave this place.

When Felix leaped into the air like a falling meteor, bringing his heavy sword down with tremendous force, their weapons clashed with a deafening sound, and both fell to the ground. Neven stood up, but his Essence Power suddenly dimmed.

"What’s happening? Has his Essence Power failed again?" Aria asked Alexander anxiously.

Alexander replied quietly, "Neven is waiting for the right moment. Summoning Essence Power consumes physical strength, and Felix has incredible endurance. A prolonged fight would not favor Neven. I don’t think Neven has gone all out yet."

At that moment, Neven was struck heavily by Felix, sending him crashing to the ground. Aria rushed over, seeing a deep wound slashed across Neven’s arm.

She turned angrily towards Felix, but before she could speak, Alexander held her back.

"This isn’t a duel—he’s clearly out for revenge against Neven!" Aria hissed to Alexander.

Felix approached Neven, looking down with a mocking smile. "If you keep fighting like this, are you trying to give Aria to me?"

Neven picked up his sword, preparing to stand again, but Felix leaned in and whispered, "I sent the message to Aria. Did you not realize it was intentional? I told them where she was, told them she was the only mortal."

Aria was shocked to hear this. Before she could react, Neven’s Soul Stone sword suddenly flared with blinding light.

Alexander shouted, "Neven, don’t act rashly..."

But Neven had already been pushed beyond his limit. The light of the Soul Stone sword became intense, no longer calm but searing bright.

In that instant, Neven unleashed the Essence Power he had suppressed for three years, each strike carrying deadly force, aimed directly at Felix. The Aether warriors hadn’t expected the Executive Commander’s wrath to be so terrifying.

Neven even mimicked Felix’s sword techniques. He leaped toward the high wall, using the rebound to launch himself into the air, and with unstoppable fury, he struck down at Felix.

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The moment their swords collided, the ground beneath Felix’s feet shattered. The hall erupted in chaos as Felix stared in disbelief at his broken sword.

Before Felix could react, the warriors threw him another sword.

"This is cheating!" Aria shouted angrily, but Alexander gently patted her, signaling her not to get too worked up.

Neven pointed his sword at Felix, his voice cold. "Why did you betray Aria?"

Felix sneered. "Because I don’t like you, Neven Everhart. I wanted to teach you a lesson."

Neven’s eyes grew ice-cold, transforming into a merciless killing machine. In that moment, Aria suddenly recalled the inhumanity of the Thanatos.

Neven's Soul Stone sword let out a low, mournful wail as it sliced through the air. To him, Felix was the most detestable of enemies, and each strike carried lethal intent.

Neven leaped onto the wall again, this time reaching even higher than before. The massive black wings carved into the wall cast shadows behind him, as if they were his own wings, unfurling in fury. He was consumed with anger, intent on shattering Felix along with his new sword.

Alexander gasped, and Aria, trembling, wanted to close her eyes.

A thunderous crash echoed through the grand hall. Felix rolled to the side just as Neven’s sword descended, channeling all his Essence Power into the black stone statue.

Shards of stone flew in every direction, and everyone in the hall stared in shock at the shattered statue. The Aether warriors cried out in disbelief—the black stone idol they revered had been obliterated by Neven’s sword.

Aria thought that after Felix dodged, Neven had unleashed all his anger on the statue instead.

For a brief moment, the hall, filled with shouts moments before, fell into dead silence.

Everyone held their breath, waiting to see how the Chieftain would punish the Executive Commander of the Lunar Essence Clan. In this tense silence, Neven walked toward the Chieftain, dropped to one knee, and offered up his Soul Stone sword.

“If you wish to punish me, I will not resist. As the commander of the Lunar Essence Clan, I am willing to bear full responsibility.”

“Have him hand Aria over to me,” Felix demanded as he got to his feet.

The Chieftain rebuked Felix, his gaze filled with reproach. “Felix, when will you learn to be as skilled in swordsmanship and as steady in thought as the commander of the Lunar Essence Clan? You caused this mess, so you can explain it to our honored guests.” He pointed at the statue. “And repair that statue. Though I must admit, it was quite ugly.”

“Why should I fix it? I didn’t break it!” Felix protested, his face full of indignation.

“Weren’t you the one who provoked our guest?” the Chieftain scolded.

“He wasn’t taking me seriously! I just wanted to see how strong the Lunar Essence Clan really is, but he…” Felix pointed at Neven, seething. “He wasn’t using his full power! I was fighting him with everything I had, and he insulted the duel—insulted me!” Felix was practically hysterical.

“Kneel,” the Chieftain ordered, his gaze turning stern for the first time. Felix, cowed by the authority in the Chieftain’s eyes, dropped to his knees with a thud, his head bowed as he admitted dejectedly, “It was my fault… I lied to provoke him… I never betrayed Aria…”

“But you did pass a lot of information to me,” Aria stepped forward, her voice questioning.

“Sorry, I really wanted to see you…” Felix mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, pointing angrily at Neven, he added, “It’s his fault for not being able to protect you…”

The Chieftain’s gaze grew even harsher, and Felix immediately fell silent.

“Since the duel is over and the outcome is clear, I will allow you to leave,” the Chieftain said. Then, turning a softer gaze to Aria, he added, “But stay until your wounds heal. And you must swear not to reveal the secrets of Wind Valley to anyone. Please keep Aether’s secrets safe.”

Neven looked up in surprise, while Aria bit her lip, a faint smile playing on her lips. Alexander let out a long sigh of relief; all three felt the weight lift from their hearts.

The Chieftain glanced at the others before saying gently, “Aria Magnus, please stay. I have something to discuss with you.”

Neven and Alexander exchanged a glance, then followed the warriors and Felix out of the hall. The heavy stone doors slowly closed, the echoes lingering long after.

Now, only the Chieftain and Aria remained in the vast hall. An eerie silence hung in the air, as if even time itself had paused.

The Chieftain studied Aria with an inscrutable expression. He finally spoke, his voice as soft as a whispering breeze, “Aria, the last time we met, you had just learned to shoot arrows. I was wondering if your archery skills have become more precise.”

Aria hesitated, then replied quietly, “I’ve practiced many times; I usually hit my target accurately.”

“Usually?” The Chieftain raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of surprise. “I would have thought you’d hit the mark every time. You are skilled in archery.”

Aria pursed her lips, hesitating before asking, “How do you know I can shoot?”

The Chieftain sighed softly, his gaze drifting past the shadows in the hall as if peering into a distant past. “The Aether have lived here for centuries, perhaps even longer. We know many things that the Lunar Essence Clan does not. The Lunar Essence Clan is from elsewhere, trapped here. I believe one day, the barrier will be lifted, and they will choose to leave the North.”

Aria looked at the Chieftain in astonishment. She wanted to ask why no one had mentioned the Aether two hundred years ago.

The Chieftain’s deep eyes seemed to see through her confusion. He suddenly said, “The Aether prefers to avoid the Lunar Essence Clan and all outsiders. Our goodwill is often misunderstood. In the Land of the Dead, many harbor hostility towards our existence. The Lunar Essence Clan is no different. They would rather struggle against beasts and dangers than trust that the Aether are not their enemies.”

“The Lunar Essence Clan is kind. And you sent Felix to rescue us—I believe the Aether and the Lunar Essence Clan can become allies.”

“The Aether will not turn a blind eye to those in need,” the Chieftain said. “Even though your commander friend is highly skilled, at night, facing demons and beasts, they are as vulnerable as mortals.”

“Yes, we nearly died. It was thanks to Felix and the warriors that we survived.”

“Felix can be reckless at times, but he means no harm,” the Chieftain continued gently. “I remember when he returned from the Voidmarsh, excitedly telling me he had found a girl with a dragon-scaled hand. It was clear from his expression that he had taken a liking to you. He even vowed to bring you back to Wind Valley.”

“So, he liked me just because I have scales?” Aria asked.

“Perhaps it was love at first sight,” the Chieftain replied with a smile.

Aria blinked, unsure of how to respond.

“The day I saw you in the Voidmarsh, I wondered what could have driven such a small, fragile girl to return to the Land of the Dead.” The Chieftain’s gaze softened as if he were looking at a rare pearl, glowing with a mysterious light. “A mortal with a dragon-scaled hand—I never thought I would see such a thing in my lifetime. It is an honor, Aria Magnus.”

“You know I came from outside the barrier?”

“Yes, I knew from the moment you entered the Lunar Tower, but I didn’t expect you to have scales.”

“Do you know what happened to me? Why have I forgotten so much?”

A flicker of surprise crossed the Chieftain’s face before he nodded in understanding. “No wonder you don’t know anything, not even that you are a master archer.”

“Please, tell me what happened to me.”

“I don’t know, my child,” the Chieftain said. “But I do know that you are the one we’ve been looking for, the one who can change the fate of the Aether. Though I admit, I was surprised to find that you are a girl.”

“That doesn’t sound like me at all,” Aria said, feeling unsure. She could barely control her own destiny, let alone change the fate of the entire Aether.

“You are not yet ready,” the Chieftain said gently. Then his aged gaze drifted past Aria, focusing on the shadows deep within the hall.

“Mistral, what do you think?” the Chieftain asked.

Aria turned, following the Chieftain’s gaze. In the dim shadows, a third voice, deeper and more resonant, echoed through the quiet hall.

“She is weak.”