With a broom resting under my chin, I looked outside the window, taking in the sunset. My reunion with the Unruly was soon approaching.

I wiped the sweat from my brow, continuing to sweep the floor, my stomach growling in protest. Han Jing had me working nonstop since I returned to the manor.

The alluring smell of food from the dining hall was torturous. If she doesn’t let me eat soon, I might just chew some grass on the lawn. I gripped the broom tighter, sweeping with more vigor until the wood snapped.

A bucket of cold, soapy water came flying into my person, spilling the contents across the ground. Tired, hungry, and now soaked, I looked at Han Jing with a lethal expression.

“If my husband returns and finds this place is a disaster, I swear I’ll skin you alive.” Han Jing’s gaze wandered, landing on a statue within her reach.

Upon realizing what she was about to do, I raised my arms to protect my head, reflexively closing my eyes. The object smashed into the wall behind me a moment later, shattering into pieces. I exhaled the breath I had been holding, my heart racing with unease.

With a ragged, tired look that she missed, Han Jing laughed humorlessly. “You stupid girl,” she said. “Will anyone want you without an education? Get your act together and stop this nonsense.”

When she walked away, I sighed at the new mess I’d have to pick up. It wasn’t easy to let Luna suffer, but if I leave now, I’ll only speed up the war. The empire relies heavily on Luna’s presence. She shines as a symbol of hope, even though she is unaware of her importance.

I kneeled onto the sopping wet floor with the dress stuck to Luna’s body. Carefully, I used the broken half of the broom to gather the remnants of the statue, resorting to use my hands when that didn’t work on the heavier pieces.

Not long afterwards, I notice someone tapping on the window above my head. I glance up, noticing Sagittarius standing there coolly with a smile. He removes his staff from the glass and pushes open the window to greet me.

His smile falls, noticing the mess. Without a word, he slips through the window, bending down to help me. “Ah, kid…” he said under his breath.

I didn’t bother checking my state, but I must have looked awful. I went back to work, my gaze fixed on the floor.

He lifted my hands, offering me a sandwich instead. “I’ll take care of the rest. Eat something before you pass out.”

Upon seeing me clumsily sit on the wet floor and accept the food without objection, he cracked a smile.

With every bite, I felt my energy return. I looked at his staff laid on the ground, absently studying the carvings. “May the gods shine brightly upon you and that you finally know peace and prosperity…” I say, reading the words aloud. “Ah… it’s a prayer for the deceased.”

After picking up the statue’s remains, Sagittarius began mopping up the water. “Don’t worry so much, kid. You’re going to live a long, fulfilling life.”

I suddenly stopped chewing, realizing I was worried as he said. My mouth fell open and then shut, determining how to ask my question. “How do you know?”

He looked like he was on the verge of saying something wise, but dropped his resolve and shrugged. “I don’t, but I’m a monk if that makes you feel any better. There have been a few gods I’ve spoken to in my lifetime.”

I laughed dryly, shaking my head in hopelessness. “At least you’re honest.”

“I don’t like to give false hope. Hells… I barely believe the rubbish written on that staff, but I think in someone’s last moments, I’d rather give those grieving some comfort rather than tell them it was all a lie.”

His resolute gaze, though diminished of vitality, didn’t falter at the weight of his words. It was then I realized the prayer was for the living, not the dead. I stared at him a moment longer in thought. “You know… You’re a decent person.”

He didn’t expect my comment, eyes widening slightly. With a subdued chuckle to himself, he continued to mop. “Your compliment is nice, but I can actually be a real menace if I want to.”

Naturally, I’m sure Zenith could testify to that statement. Just as I was going to ask about their relationship, I felt a stabbing pain in my chest like a protruding knife.

I found myself back in my old room when I opened my eyes. From my spot on the bed, I observe Ming Yi’s silhouette against the moonlit night, his hunched figure conveying a profound melancholy.

I stumbled out of bed, my body swaying unsteadily on my feet from the countless hours spent lying down.

“You’ve always been this way,” Ming Yi stated. “Doing things on your own, but I followed you despite knowing that and I will continue to do so, no matter your reasons for shutting me out.”

When he turned to meet my gaze, I looked at him, dreadfully fearful at the realization I prevented nothing. The belief that I was saving him from ruin faded. Would the truth matter to him now? “Ming Yi,” I said, my voice cracking. “You…”

Ming Yi moved closer, taking one step after another, until he threw himself the remaining distance, kissing me so deeply that I couldn’t catch my breath. I fell back onto my bed in surprise, his hands entangling with mine.

With a lost and pained expression, he departed from my lips. “When you wear that expression, why do I feel you’re going to disappear?”

Tears fell from his eyes, sliding down my cheeks instead.

I’ve never seen him so heartbroken. All this time, he must’ve suffered so much from my silence. I tried to speak, but he kissed me again as if I might vanish on the spot. His lips were demanding and warm against mine, leaving my skin tingling, but not in a good way.

I gasped his name, trying to catch my breath. I was worried that if I pulled away, he might think his feelings disgusted me. Suppose thought he had irreversibly crossed a line. I’d lose my best friend.

Ming Yi fell apart, sinking his head on to my chest. I felt him breathing heavily against my shirt, his bandaged hands shaking in my palms.

He raised his head and looked down at me with wide, horrified eyes, realizing what he’d done. He released my hands, opening his mouth to explain, but nothing came out.

Whatever excuse he was about to say wouldn’t matter. I knew this was his true feelings.

A distant sound of an explosion resonated from outside, shattering whatever words of comfort I was about to say.

What’s going on?

Another explosion shortly followed, this time softer.

Have the riots worsened? With this thought, my gaze wandered out my window, catching a faint light spiraling upwards.

The spark transformed, creating a mesmerizing array of twinkling colors that vanished.

Memories of past holidays flood my mind, mostly spent alone. Yet now, there’s always one person beside me.

“Happy birthday, Zhen.” Ming Yi’s affectionate gaze that looked upon me I swore was the brightest firework among the many that exploded in the sky.

With my safety no longer in question, Ming Yi fell asleep. I’ve never seen him so vulnerable before with exhaustion.

I moved the blanket to tuck him under, knowing I wouldn’t get any sleep myself. Often I had a hard time sleeping at night, with Xu Yang’s betrayal looming closer. He trained his entire life to dispose of me. Now that I’m twenty-three, that day would soon come to pass.

Amid the quiet, there was the faint sound of a little girl crying.

My stepmother had always left those kids alone since they were not her children, but she was an unpredictable woman and right now, I found my hands shaking as I emerged from my bedroom in search of Shu Lian.

Shadows danced across the pristine white floors, inducing an eerie sensation rising within my gut. The crying I heard ceased, yet I did not feel reassurance. I hurried down the hallway to continue my search.

Sounds that should not exist filled my ears, clicking noises that almost resembled snarling. The crying continued, followed by the shadows around me beginning to move.

They edged closer with malicious intention, appearing like billows of smoke that hugged the ground ahead. I was going to dash around them when someone grabbed my shoulder in haste, preventing me from approaching further.

Sagittarius rushed forward and slammed his staff into the ground.

Glowing lines appeared within the cracks of the wooden exterior that started from the peak and shot toward the ground, releasing a wave of energy that blew away the smoke surrounding the creatures.

They were like crippled dogs with tall spikes protruding from their thick black fur and hunched over backs. Losing their disguise, the creatures appeared to no longer care about hiding and moved to attack us.

Sagittarius immediately raised his staff again, slamming the closest one in the head with the end of the wood.

The impact stunned the creature motionless and allowed him to transition instantaneously from one fight to another and another. Yet, each time, he opted for a slightly more brutal tactic. The creatures never got close to me and remained engaging in the fight.

“I thought you were a monk,” I said, grinning slyly. Poking at him was immensely fun. I could also afford to do so, since I knew of his limitless strength. He’d definitely win this fight.

Sagittarius grunted in response, jabbing the staff behind him into a creature that sneaked past. The creature vanished into dust, having his life cut short. “Oh, holy thou blessed…” he started chanting.

With every word, he dispelled another creature. I sighed in exasperation, not letting him finish. “Why try to pretend now?”

As those words left my lips, I felt a familiar stabbing sensation inside my chest. I grasped at the front of my clothes, expecting a wound or blood, but there was nothing there.

Every second that passed made it harder to think, the pain becoming worse. It felt like someone was ripping into my soul.

“What is it?? What’s wrong?” Having vanished all the creatures, Sagittarius noticed the state of me and came closer. His eyes narrowed at the spot I was holding. “Tsk, pesky little…”

He sighed, gripping my shoulder to steady me.

“Kid, this is going to hurt.”

He shoved his palm into my chest so suddenly I didn’t have time to react. I stumbled backward into another person.

The pain from before twisted into a knot and burst like a star exploding into tiny pieces, bringing relief.

“What do you think you’re doing?!?” Ming Yi shouted over my head.

Sagittarius grumbled with impatience. “That thing lingering around here dug a hole in Zhen Xue’s core. I removed the source of the problem, but he’s still in critical condition. We need to take him to Aelius. ”

Ming Yi helped me stand up straight, making a point of ignoring Sagittarius.

“Wait… is it safe to just leave like this?” I pushed Ming Yi away, staring back at the monk. “What about my siblings and the staff?”

I could feel Ming Yi’s heavy gaze staring into my back.

Sagittarius looked at me calmly with understanding. “They’ll be fine. The spirit’s knocked out cold for now. You’re lucky I knew how to find you. That spirit almost reached full possession.”

I sighed so loudly that they both looked my way. “Ming Yi,” I said with utmost care. “As of now, I’m going to have you learn that technique he just used towards that spirit. Take notes.”

Ming Yi was quiet, no doubtingly sulking that Sagittarius was being portrayed as the hero, given his dislike for the monk.

A soft voice spoke from behind us. “You’re going out again.”

I stopped in my tracks, already knowing who was behind me.

“Then again,” Hua Lei continued, stepping towards us. She wore a rich blue nightgown, red curls strewn over her shoulders. “You were always the one among us that had it the worst. It’s time for these wings to take flight, I suppose. Don’t you want to prioritize your own desires? Aren’t you tired of this?”

What do I want? What will make me happy? Such questions were never a luxury. My life existed to serve others. I felt frozen to the spot, a flare of anger in my chest. “Thank you for the reminder. I’ll take my leave now.”

Hua Lei side steps my attempt to leave. “You’re out of time, Zhen Xue. You’ll inherit the crown now that you’re of age. There’s no returning from that point. Leave before it’s too late.”

I exhaled a shaky breath, feeling the burden on my shoulders intensify. “Alright, I understand your concerns, but there’s nothing to discuss. I’ve already reached my decision long ago.”

I couldn’t determine whether she was relieved or concerned by what I said, but regardless, she washed away whatever she was feeling, nodded, and then walked away.

The words left unspoken between us were like a pulled bowstring that finally snapped. Hua Lei wouldn’t intervene in my plans, but she wouldn’t help me, either.

“Zhen…” Ming Yi said under his breath. He wrapped me in his arms, hugging me tightly. “You’re crying.”

Sagittarius softly dipped his head, leaning against the wall behind him to give us some space. The moonlight reflected his regretful expression as I heard him say, “You’ve lived a tough life, kid.”