The eye was connected to the divine eyes, which was in an unusual state—neither fully alive nor completely inert, possessing a faint, lingering consciousness. Aurelion recognized that a bed sequnce of events and where it could lead them, though the situation remained somewhat salvageable.

Thiara’s emotions were in turmoil upon hearing Aurelion’s confirmation. As an angel of th knowledge domain, this development deeply affected her, and she could not always rely on her lord for salvation.

“You need not worry,” Aurelion reassured her, sensing her anxiety.

Encouraged by his words, Thiara steadied her resolve and began to strategize. 

“Would you care to join me?” Aurelion asked abruptly, rising from his seat.

“Of course,” Thiara responded eagerly, her concerns momentarily set aside. She was excited by the prospect of accompanying her lord, knowing that their past ventures together had been fruitful.

Moments later, The golden sun rose between the towering mountain ranges, its light spread across the horizon, chasing away the last remnants of the night. Under its glow, the stars blinked out one by one, as the world beneath bathed in the dawn of a new day.

On the crest of a high, snow-covered mountain, two figures stood in silent awe. One was a woman of striking appearance, her skin pale and flawless, her sharp features accentuated by long, raven-black hair that flowed down to her hips. Her sapphire-blue eyes were wide, reflecting the astonishment she felt. Thiara wore traditional blue robes embroidered with silver stars, a symbol of her celestial path.

Beside her stood a man, his presence like the blazing sun itself. His long white hair was slightly tousled, his golden eyes glowing with an inner fire. Aurelion, the god of light and power, surveyed the scene with calm, while Thiara struggled to grasp the enormity of what lay before her.

Before them was a sight so magnificent, so otherworldly, it left even one as experienced as Thiara breathless: a vast floating continent, suspended in the sky, its sheer size dwarfing anything she had ever seen. It was almost a quarter of the size of the Northern Continent, hanging impossibly in the heavens, partially obscured by swirling clouds.

Her mind raced. 'How could this exist in a world still struggling to grasp the power of steam engines?' Even after witnessing countless divine miracles, the floating continent was beyond her comprehension. The very fabric of space here felt different—altered somehow, twisted to support the weight of this vast landmass.

Aurelion chuckled softly, his deep voice breaking the silence. "You’re this surprised by just seeing the outer edges?" He turned to her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "We haven’t even reached the heart of the floating continent yet."

Thiara finally regained her composure, though her heart still raced with excitement. "Is this truly the home of Aleric, Milord?" she asked, her voice barely containing her awe.

It had been a shock when Aurelion had told her they would visit the famed Seeker of Origins to settle a score for what had been done to her. She hadn’t expected her lord to take her grievances so seriously. The thought both unsettled and warmed her—though she reminded herself, 'No, it’s not about feelings; I’m not that foolish.'

Yet now, standing before the creation of her childhood idol, her mind was a whirlwind of emotion. Aleric Silver, was a legend in her world. He had inspired her passion for innovation at a young age, during one of his exhibitions, though she had never had the honor of meeting him in person—until now.

Still, confusion gnawed at her. "Why are we here, Milord?" she asked, glancing at Aurelion. "Shouldn’t we be heading to the Seekers of origin where the dovine eyes are?"

Aurelion merely nodded. "We’ll get there," he said, extending his hand to her. "But first, there are matters to settle here. Now, take my hand—we don’t have much time."

Without hesitation, Thiara took his hand. The world around her blurred and twisted, as if she were being pulled through space itself. Moments later, everything snapped back into focus.

They stood in a grand room with high ceilings and elegant, intricate designs etched into the walls. But before Thiara could take in more, her attention was immediately drawn to the window beside her.

Outside, the view was stunning. Towering skyscrapers, far more advanced than anything she had seen before, dotted the landscape. The city stretched endlessly, a marvel of strange architecture and unimaginable technology. People flew through the sky in sleek, gleaming vehicles, moving effortlessly between the towers, while others conducted research on devices that defied understanding.

Thiara’s mouth hung open in awe. She had never imagined such a world could exist. It felt like a vision from the distant future—impossible in her present time.

"I wasn’t expecting guests." A deep voice echoed through the room, breaking her trance. Startled, she turned towards the source of the voice.

A man stood before them, holding a bronze scroll in his hand. His brown hair was neatly kept, and his sharp, black eyes seemed to pierce through her. His high nose and gray robes gave him an air of authority, but it was his presence that struck Thiara—she felt completely exposed under his gaze, as though he could see every secret she held.

A brief moment of panic seized her, but it vanished the instant she felt Aurelion’s hand on her shoulder. She turned, and her lord stood beside her, calm and reassuring.

"Yet a friend, I see," the man said, his voice lightening as he smiled at Aurelion.

Thiara blinked, her shock growing. This man, standing so casually before her, was Aleric—the Archangel of innovation and Alchemy himself. Her childhood idol, the genius who had created the floating continent and so much more, was finally before her, and she could hardly believe it.

Aurelion, however, was unfazed. He met Aleric’s gaze, his demeanor unchanged. They had met before, during the First Era, when Aleric’s fame had reached its height. His unmatched talent had earned him the attention of even the Old Sun God, whose guidance had pushed Aleric to the brink of godhood. The floating continent, the city beyond—these were his masterpieces, testament to his brilliance.

“Shall we dispense with the nonsense?” Aurelion’s voice turned sharp, cold as steel and cutting through the air like a blade. The room's temperature surged, the oppressive warmth signaling the stir of divine power. His golden aura began to ripple outward, an unmistakable warning that the time for patience had passed. 

Aleric’s confident smile faltered, the lightness in his eyes dimming. He had known this confrontation was inevitable, but it was clear he could no longer hide behind veiled words and polite conversation. Thiara, standing nearby, instinctively shrank back, attempting to blend into the shadows of the room. She could sense the tension thickening between the two figures, a volatile storm on the verge of breaking.

 Aurelion’s patience wore thin. He advanced slowly, each step deliberate, as waves of golden flames rippled outward from his form. The flames flickered to life with divine ferocity, crawling across the walls and igniting everything in their path. Yet, the heart of the room remained untouched, illuminated by a blinding brilliance that defied the destruction unfolding around it.

This was no ordinary chamber. Shelves overflowed with rare tomes and esoteric volumes, exploring the arcane mysteries of time, space, and the fundamental laws of the cosmos. Across the desks lay meticulously detailed notes and complex calculations, the product of Aleric’s unparalleled intellect. Strange devices—each crafted with ambition and ingenuity—were scattered throughout, some capable of rivaling the power of sealed artifacts from ancient legends.  

The walls, woven with layers of enchantments and defensive wards, shimmered faintly under the pressure of Aurelion’s flames. These wards were strong enough to thwart even an archangel, capable of rendering divine beings powerless if they ventured in unprepared. Yet none of it mattered now.  

Aurelion’s golden fire consumed everything without discrimination. Knowledge, artifacts, and devices—everything crumbled into ash beneath the heat of his divine wrath. The room, once a vault of brilliance, was reduced to ruin, save for the untouched center that stood like an oasis amidst the blaze, glowing with unyielding radiance.  

At last, Aurelion halted, his gaze falling on Aleric, who stood defiantly amid the destruction. “What gives you such confidence before my presence?” Aurelion asked, his voice smooth yet laced with cold menace. There was no anger, only curiosity—a predator’s fascination with its prey. “After everything that has happened at Seekers of origin, you remain calm. Unbothered. Why?”

Aleric opened his mouth to respond, but Aurelion’s smile sharpened, cutting off his words before they could form.  

“Let me guess,” Aurelion murmured, his eyes gleaming with dangerous insight. “Is it the Ichor of the Old?”  

The question hung heavily in the air, each word imbued with deep implications. Aleric’s breath hitched as realization struck—Aurelion knew far more than he had let on. The flames flickered around them, casting long shadows as Aleric stood frozen, acutely aware that no defense, no hidden plan, could shield him now. There was no place left to hide.