Aria gazed at Mistral, who was pacing calmly along the cliff face, her eyes filled with confusion. "It looks so peaceful now, not at all like how you described it before."

Neven's expression grew deeper, his voice low and somber. "Mistral's calmness is just a facade; it doesn't mean it's not dangerous. I suspect there's some kind of binding here, perhaps a special seal placed by the Aether Chieftain to temporarily suppress its true nature. But you must understand, a seal can only suppress, not change. If the binding ever fails, Mistral's true form will wreak havoc, like a demon unchained from the depths of the Northern Forest."

Aria's worry deepened as she recalled the secrets Mistral had hinted at. Her mind teemed with questions. "Mistral mentioned some things about you," she asked cautiously. "Three years ago, when you led the legion to hunt down Mara, what was it really about?"

Neven's expression stiffened instantly, a flash of wariness in his eyes. "Mistral told you this?"

Aria nodded, her voice quiet. "He said he witnessed your pursuit and that you were after something Mara had."

Neven's gaze turned complex, as if weighing whether to reveal the truth. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke in a low voice. "The Arcane Crystal."

"Arcane Crystal?" Aria's breath caught as she stared at him in confusion. "What is it that you were willing to sacrifice three thousand lives for?"

Neven remained silent for a long time, pain flickering in his eyes. He began speaking slowly. "It's a secret Orion the Seeker entrusted to me before his death. I swore to keep it hidden, forever. Even in front of the Lunar King and the Moon Tower, I could reveal nothing, only admit that I had led the legion on my own to kill Mara."

Aria was shaken, struggling to believe that Neven had kept such a secret from her for so long. Her voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. "You kept this from everyone, even me. I thought we were always honest with each other."

"I swore to Orion the Seeker that I would never tell anyone, not even you. It’s the most solemn vow I’ve ever made," Neven's voice was filled with deep regret. "But now, I believe you should help me keep this secret. If anything happens to me, we must ensure that the Arcane Crystal never falls into Mara's hands again."

A heavy silence fell between them, the tension thick in the air. Aria's mind was in turmoil, caught in a silent struggle. She wanted to ask more but wasn't sure how to begin.

Neven broke the silence, his voice laced with barely concealed pain. "I can never forgive myself for the loss of those three thousand lives."

Aria suddenly remembered something and lowered her voice to ask, "Do you know that Orion the Seeker was poisoned by Daphne Blackwood?"

Neven's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"

Aria took a deep breath and recounted what she had seen in her dream, where she witnessed a conversation between Daphne Blackwood and Stormblade through a resurrection spell. Neven listened intently, then, after a long pause, he said, "You're right; the resurrection spell showed you some of his memories. Alexander also told me that Orion the Seeker was indeed poisoned."

"Was his death related to the Arcane Crystal?" Aria pressed.

Neven's voice grew heavier. "Yes, they were after the secret of the Arcane Crystal. When Daphne failed, she poisoned him and made it look like he had disappeared."

The sound of creaking chains interrupted them as a group of Aether warriors crossed the bridge, the wooden planks gently swaying under their feet. Once they had passed, Aria spoke in a hushed tone. "Why are they so obsessed with the Arcane Crystal?"

Neven's gaze turned as heavy as lead as he replied in a low voice, "The Arcane Crystal holds the power to destroy everything. Mara desired it above all else. If it ever fell into its hands, the consequences would be catastrophic."

"Do you have the Crystal now?" Aria asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Neven was silent for a moment, then nodded, confirming the shocking truth.

"Oh my God..." Aria gasped, waves of shock crashing over her.

Neven's voice remained calm, but the weight of his secret was evident. "I've hidden it in an extremely safe place. After Orion the Seeker's death, I became the only one who knows its secret. I swore I would never tell anyone, not even the Lunar King."

Aria was filled with a sense of awe; she couldn't imagine that Neven had been carrying such a monumental secret. The malevolent power of the Arcane Crystal, if it ever fell into Mara's hands, would bring unimaginable destruction.

Since Neven had regained his Essence Power, Aria had been plagued by doubts she couldn't shake. She had asked him multiple times how he had recovered his Essence Power after three years, but Neven always gave vague answers. Eventually, she stopped asking, but the question lingered in her mind—how had he suddenly regained his Essence Power just when it was most needed?

Whenever her golden pendant glowed faintly, she would anxiously rush to ask Neven if he had fought Felix again. Ever since that day, Felix had been relentless in trying to challenge Neven again.

Whenever she found Neven, he would always smile innocently and say, "I must have triggered the Essence Power while polishing my sword."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Aria would shake her head in exasperation and remind him, "Be more careful next time."

"I will," Neven would promise with a smile. Yet, it wasn't long before something similar happened again. This time, when Aria was about to confront him, she found Neven talking with Alexander. Just as she was about to push open the door, Neven called out from inside, "Come in, Aria."

Frowning, Aria walked into the room, unable to hold back her question. "Why are you using your Essence Power again?"

Neven shrugged, somewhat helplessly. "Felix challenged me again, saying he still wants to marry you, and I lost my temper. I couldn't control the Essence Power."

Hearing this, Aria's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her voice. "You don't need to pay attention to his provocations." Feeling a bit embarrassed, she quickly left the room. However, just as she was closing the door, she faintly heard Alexander shout, "He did it on purpose! We were betting on how long it would take you to show up!"

Aria's face turned bright red with anger. She hid the pendant under her clothes, not wanting to see the Soul Stone inside again.

A few days later, they prepared to leave Wind Valley and return to Moon Tower. On a tranquil morning, Aria walked along the chain bridge toward the storage area, intending to retrieve the supplies needed for their journey. A thin mist enveloped the valley, and the bridge beneath her feet swayed gently in the breeze, emitting a faint creaking sound. Aria took a deep breath of the fresh air, hoping to find some peace in the stillness around her.

Suddenly, she felt a cold presence approaching from behind. Aria turned around to see Felix walking toward her, a hint of a sinister smile on his face. Instinctively, Aria quickened her pace, but Felix was close behind.

“Aria, I want to explain what happened that day before you leave,” Felix’s tone seemed sincere, but the shadow in his eyes made it hard to trust him. “I didn’t expect those ravens to put you in danger; I just wanted to see you.”

Anger flared in Aria’s chest. She stopped and turned to face him, her voice cold, “You nearly got me killed because of your reckless behavior.”

Felix’s smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. “I know someone’s been after you, especially those interested in mortal blood.” His voice was low and tense, each word carrying a chill. “That day in the grand hall, I couldn’t tell you, but someone’s been preparing a resurrection spell.”

Aria’s brows knitted together, a sense of alarm rising within her. She pressed him, “How do you know a resurrection spell needs mortal blood?”

Felix’s hands fidgeted nervously, his eyes darting around as if hiding something. “I... I have my sources,” he finally stammered, his face pale as a ghost. “But you’re the most important person to the Aether; I can’t let you go back with Neven Everhart. He’ll get you killed, just like he did that girl from my clan.”

His words were like a cold blade piercing Aria’s heart. She took a deep breath, her gaze icy as she stared at Felix. “What are you talking about? Speak clearly!”

Felix’s expression grew even more tense, his fingers trembling slightly. “That year, if he hadn’t been retaliated against while clearing out rebels, that girl wouldn’t have died. You can’t make the same mistake, Aria.”

A wave of discomfort surged through Aria as she suddenly recalled that the girl Neven once loved was an Aether. She retorted coldly, “I don’t care about Neven’s past; I care about the present. Your so-called fate doesn’t interest me. The Chieftain is your leader; he understands your future better than I do.”

“Wait, Aria.” Felix hurried forward and grabbed Aria’s arm, his voice tinged with a hint of pleading. “Neven defied Sage Solon’s orders to save you. He left the Legion without any permission. That means he’s now a deserter and will face the harshest judgment in Moon Tower.”

“Judgment?” Aria’s heart sank, the words barely escaping her throat.

“He’s in deep trouble now. If you don’t want to get dragged into it, you should leave him. And his Essence...” Felix’s voice trailed off as his gaze shifted past Aria to the other end of the bridge.

Aria turned to see Neven standing there, cold and still as a block of ice in the night, his eyes sharp as blades.

“Aria, it’s time to go.” Neven’s voice was devoid of emotion, as if all feeling had been frozen within him.

Felix, seeing this, swallowed all the words he had yet to speak, masking his anxiety and fear. Aria sensed that Felix had more to say, but she no longer wanted to hear it.

She resolutely shook off Felix’s hand and strode toward Neven. She’d had enough of this place and didn’t want to stay a moment longer.

They passed through the heavily guarded caverns and smoothly made their way through the only exit tunnel, finally leaving the Aether’s territory in a dark cave.

As soon as they left Wind Valley, Aria asked anxiously, “Will they really put you on trial?” She turned to look at Neven as they shared a fiery warhorse.

Neven’s voice remained calm, “It’s something I have to face.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you left the Legion without permission?” Aria asked, her tone laced with a tremor she hadn’t noticed herself.

“At the time, I was more concerned about your safety,” Neven replied indifferently, as if discussing something entirely ordinary.

“Moon Tower will treat you as a traitor, lock you in a dungeon, and then subject you to the Lunar King’s judgment,” Alexander’s voice came from behind, carrying a cold dose of reality.

Neven smiled slightly, his tone tinged with a bit of teasing, “Being locked in a dungeon wouldn’t be so bad. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about the Legion anymore or carry out those annoying tasks.”

“Don’t joke about it! Who’d want to end up in a dungeon?” Aria snapped, her unease growing even more intense because of Neven’s casual attitude.

“You’re Sage Solon’s Executive Commander. Leaving the Legion during the Starguard’s crisis, which Grand Mentor would tolerate their Commander doing such a thing?” Alexander’s voice was like a cold blade. “And don’t forget the ambitious ones in Alpha and the Mercury Legion. They don’t want Sage Solon to become Grand Mentor and will seize this chance to pressure him into punishing you severely.”

On the way back to Moon Tower, they didn’t rush but slowly made their way through the dense forest. Aria’s heart was filled with guilt. While in Wind Valley, she hadn’t even considered how Neven had left the Legion. Now he was facing the darkest of fates because he saved her.

“Where’s your horse?” Neven suddenly asked Alexander, breaking Aria’s reverie.

It was then that Aria noticed Alexander had switched to a gray-white steed with a braided tail, clearly an Aether mount. The swift horse with the blue eyes he’d ridden before was nowhere to be seen.

“It died. I fed it a strong soul elixir, but the side effect is sudden death.” Alexander spoke with some regret in his voice, “I needed a stronger horse to keep up with Spark’s speed.”

“Do you often feed your horses elixirs?” Aria asked in disbelief.

“No, the strong soul elixir is actually a poison,” Alexander explained nonchalantly. “I remember a Tailsting rider once drank my strong soul elixir secretly to show off during Warrior’s Day. Just as he was about to receive a medal, he died from the poison, bleeding from all orifices. Because of that, I was locked up for a few days, and Alpha reprimanded me for not keeping the elixir safe.”

A chill ran down Aria’s spine as she thought about the terrible fate they might have faced if Alexander had accidentally given them the wrong potion.

Alexander winked at her and flashed a mischievous smile. “I also have some fantasy fruits that girls like. If you’re interested…”

“I’m not,” Aria cut him off immediately, filled with fear of his elixirs and no desire to try anything that tasted as awful as she remembered.