Waves lapped against the shore, brushing my feet on the sandy beach. Li Wei was lying beside me, propped up from his elbow to stare at the mesmerizing sea. His appearance was soft, glimmering like the sunset before us. Clad in white robes with golden sashes, he wore fine jewelry that shimmered like a myriad of stars, reflecting within his affectionate gaze.

In this dream or memory where we were only present, I watched the wind blow through his golden locks. His hair, unlike his usual short curls, cascaded down his back, reaching the length of his shirt window, and formed a neat pile on the sand.

Li Wei offered me a smile that made me reach for his hand. The touch of his soft skin strangely felt… comforting, even though I was trying to ease his worries instead. “Li Wei…” I whispered. “What do you dream about? You often read my mind, but I can never tell what you’re thinking.”

A flicker of surprise crossed his features. “My dear, whatever do you mean?” he asked softly with a laugh. “If I haven’t made my intentions clear, I guess I’ll have to try harder next time.”

Upon hearing his pretentious response, I shifted to move my hand away.

Li Wei tightened his hold slightly. “Ah Xue, I wasn’t lying.”

He held my gaze for a moment longer before looking towards the horizon, leaving me to my thoughts. “I know,” I said, my voice above a whisper.

“Do you know… When we met, you saved my life?” He paused, allowing me to recollect memories I couldn’t recall. Although my mind turned up blank, he smiled at me tenderly for my effort. “Hmmm, maybe saving my life isn’t the right word, but the essence is still the same. In that moment, your appearance rekindled my faith in humanity.” He laughed under his breath. “I didn’t realize that at the time since I was far too stubborn.”

I smiled faintly, imagining a younger Li Wei that was relentless and troublesome, not too different from how he is now.

“You know my biggest regret?” he asked. “I could have killed them all, Zhen Xue. I could have killed them all for hurting you.” His gaze lowered, his voice laced with sadness. “But I didn’t. I was too worried you would hate me. I should’ve just… done so much sooner to prevent you from suffering.”

“That might have changed nothing. Besides…” I said, squeezing his hand slightly in reassurance. “You can’t change the past.”

“You’re right,” he said breathlessly, holding my hand more firmly now. “I should be brave enough to let go, but everyday I’m grateful that I remain a coward.”

The scenery shifts, evaporating into a hazy mist with lingering sweetness. I found I was lying in a bed of silk sheets, my head resting comfortably against a feather-stuffed pillow. There was a canopy over my head and furniture placed neatly inside the bedroom.

Hades was asleep on the couch next to the window. Sunlight emitted from outside.

Li Wei was sitting beside me on the bed with an open book propped in his lap. I couldn’t help but reminisce that Li Wei was also reading a book when we met in this world. I turned on my side to watch him read, feeling oddly relaxed more than usual.

Li Wei flickered his gaze lower to mine. “Sleep well?”

I nodded, taking notice of how my injured arm didn’t hurt anymore. There was this indescribable pull, my attention returning to Li Wei, feeling the need to watch him further.

Li Wei smiled softly at my reaction and closed his book. He placed it on the nightstand and slid down to my level until we were lying next to each other. “Hi,” he greeted in a sweet voice.

“Li Wei,” I said carefully, my chest aching with concern. “Are you okay?”

“Hmmm,” he said almost playfully. “I’m much better than I was a few minutes ago. Although that could be for other reasons.” There was a teasing smile on his lips, but a twinge of something else hidden underneath.

Relief, guilt, sadness?

Does he blame himself for my injury?

“So, you’re a deity, hmmm?” I asked, attempting to change the mood.

Li Wei seemed amused by my comment. “A minor god,” he said. “Dionysus.”

“The god of wine? Wow, that’s actually fitting for you.”

Li Wei laughed.

I smiled as well, feeling an ounce of relief that I could make him laugh. However, my smile fell slowly, thinking about recent events. “Kazuo… Ming Yi,” I said, correcting myself. “He’s also…” My voice trailed off, finding Li Wei watch me beneath lowered eyelids.

“I haven’t seen you in so long,” he mumbled. “Let’s not talk about other people right now.” He bent forward and placed a light kiss on my forehead. “Let me just enjoy knowing that you’re alright.”

After a moment, I recalled losing the ring Li Wei had gifted me as a birthday present. My heart seized uncomfortably, worried he might think my gratitude was insincere.

“Zhen Xue,” he breathed, his face etched with concern. “I don’t care about the ring.” He looked at me exasperated, letting out a sigh after studying my expression. “My darling, you are more important. The gift was meaningless in comparison.”

We were so wrapped up in the moment that we didn’t realize Hades had been watching over us like a mother hen for who knows how long. His eyebrow raised, “Why are you two over here being suspicious?”

With a surge of embarrassment, I rolled out of bed so fast that I hit my head on the canopy.

Li Wei quickly grabbed my waist and pulled me into an embrace, rubbing the spot on my forehead that I hit. “Suspicious, my ass,” Li Wei clicked his tongue in disapproval, though I figured that was more because I got hurt. “Go gawk at someone who actually needs their soul reaped.”

Hades obviously wasn’t buying that excuse. He frowned at Li Wei with displeasure, raising his nose slightly. “I’m starting to not really like you.”

Li Wei smiled placidly in response, “I get that a lot.”

Hades sighed, turning to meet my gaze. “Zhen Xue,” he said, becoming serious. “If you need help, blink twice.”

I cursed under my breath, pushing myself out of bed. “Am I just supposed to not blink??? You’re both ridiculous.”

“I can understand the underworld god, but why me, too?” Li Wei asked, seeming to almost pout at my words.

A strange thought popped into my mind. Wait, Lady Rosalynn was still pregnant with Luna? That alone should be impossible. There was something terribly wrong with this situation, even more so that the sky god wants her.

Nothing good would come from their encounter.

With growing unease, I moved away from the bed.

“What’s wrong?” Li Wei immediately moved to join my side.

“We need to find the childbearing ghost,” I explained, remaining deep in thought.

Hades looked intrigued, moving closer to listen.

“Alright, alright,” Li Wei said with soft reluctance, understanding the situation. “I can see there’s no point convincing you to rest longer.” His expression changed into a smile, with a glimmer of reassurance in his eyes. “Since you’ve already decided, I guess the only thing we can do is help you.”

When the three of us set out, I asked Li Wei a question that’s been on my mind, “Why have people forgotten the Unruly? I don’t believe that no one reached out to the church.”

Hades removed the fan from his sleeve and fanned himself as we walked down a sidewalk through the streets of heaven. The sun provided warmth on an otherwise chilly day.

Li Wei considered my question. “Well, you are one of us, aren’t you? You’re part of the Unruly. Other people forget what doesn’t benefit them.” He tapped his nose mysteriously. “Fortunately that you remember, my dear. I’d hate to remind you of all my redeeming qualities.”

Hades snorted.

Li Wei looked unpleasant for a moment and stared at the back of Hades’ head as if he saw something else entirely. “How much do you like that hair of yours?”

Hades fanned himself harder, walking a little faster as if to avoid the sun, taking cover in different spots of shade from the trees.

We were looking for a less populated place so that Hades could open a portal to the underworld, and soon enough, he did. There was a park that looked abandoned, which was rather odd for the picturesque view of heaven. The trees looked withered, the grass not as green, the air colder. I figured Hades needed a spot that was closer to the state of his home.

When I stepped through the portal, I’m greeted with darkness. Li Wei and Hades were gone, replaced with an eerie sense of being watched.

Without another choice, I made my way down dimly lit corridors, illuminated by candlelight on the walls. I didn’t doubt my abilities, but walking through the dark resembled too close to being trapped beneath the palace again.

Sensing a familiar presence in my wake, I turned around to find the hallway was empty. The candle lights shook with my sudden movement, drawing my attention. The snake tattoo on my arm was flickering, as though a threatening to go out.

I scanned the closed doors, finding the ominous feeling in my gut continue to rise and slowly writhe about.

My mind was spinning as I burst into a run, throwing caution to the wind with my shoes loudly pounding against the ground with every step. The hallways collapsed from both sides as though trying to push me out of some place I didn’t belong.

I heard footsteps approaching from behind me, but I didn’t dare turn around or falter in my steps.

A hand suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me into one of the many rooms. I tried to hold on to the door frame, but my fingers slipped, and the darkness pulled me in further.

Whoever grabbed my wrist let go just as quickly. With my heart in my throat, darkness enveloped everything, much like the time I spent inside the prison. The same darkness twisted my stomach into knots. There was another presence inside the room, watching me with consideration.

The door suddenly burst open. Li Wei grabbed hold of my arm, pulling me to my feet, and whisking me behind him in one quick movement.

Alongside us, Kazuo held the Celestial Dragon Jade Saber in a protective stance. The metal seemed to shine proudly in its master’s hands.

Hades was standing beside him, looking about furiously. It was indeed a sight to witness the pretentious Hades looking furious. He held his own sword, which was engulfed in flames, illuminating the surrounding space in a flickering glow.

Hades took a step closer to the far reaches of the room. At the same moment, I spotted a pair of innocent eyes peeking around the corner of the bed.

The “child” stepped out from hiding and looked among us. He had dark curls that matched his eyes and he wore something shabby and torn. “Sir,” he said, finally looking at me. “Sir, please. I’m so hungry. Can you spare me some food?” he begged, on the verge of tears.

“Stop the bullshit,” Hades spit in distaste, holding the bridge of his nose as though smelling something foul. “You reek of Tartarus,” he stated. “How did you get out?”

The child seemed unfazed by the scolding. “I… I don’t know what you mean,” he stuttered weakly, twisting his hands behind his back. “I’m just a child.”

Hades scoffed loudly. “You may have once been a child, but you have the mind of a six hundred-year-old. Now answer, how did you get out? Why are you after, my friend?”

“Hmm, I’m surprised you haven’t realized,” the child says upon observation we weren’t lying to him. “Or perhaps you have forgotten the truth.” He looks at me with an indifferent expression, devoid of his previous childishness, and replaced by maturity. “Do you not possess dark magic, human? Surely you are aware of what this means?”

Dark magic? I remember once talking to Sagittarius about how I transferred my soul into Themis, using my blood in the magic circle below the church to escape. I thought many people could perform blood magic, but I was told only one other individual had the capability. “Are you telling me you’re after my blood?”

After a long sigh, the child explained, “You attract every spirit, not just me. Dark magic gives us power. It allows us to interact with the world of the living, much like I’m doing now, but my power has weakened through the centuries. In simpler terms, you are a delicacy. It’s a miracle you’re still alive,” the child remarked. “There are spirits far stronger than me who would love to get their hands on that power.”

If this child is telling the truth, then I shouldn’t take the existence of my powers lightly. I’ve been so busy with the rebellion and other affairs that I haven’t had time to think about what Sagittarius told me that day. Returning to the child, I asked another question, “You aren’t from Tartarus, are you? If you need my power, then you wouldn’t be capable.”

Seeing the child smile for the first time caught me off guard. He stared with an intensity that left me unsettled. “Suddenly, I can understand how you’ve survived, but intelligence can only take you so far.”

The child’s eyes move towards Kazuo, who is currently holding the Celestial Dragon Jade Saber. With a last glance at me, the child transforms into a beam of light, spiraling towards the sword.