Soon after the verdict of the heavenly council, Hades opened a portal to his realm, and we returned to the underworld together. There was a goddess who joined us too, but I couldn’t recall her name.

Aelius was waiting in the living room by himself, pacing back and forth. Much like before, the house, beautifully designed with a Gothic interior, reminded me of the Cassanova church. It’s full of comfortable objects like mountains of pillows, contrasting starkly with Li Wei’s purely aesthetic decorations. The lounge felt fitting, given Hades’ pampered whims.

Upon watching Li Wei promptly take the seat beside me, Aelius raised an eyebrow at us with a smirk before suppressing his amusement. His gaze landed on mine and turned into a scowl. “For the record, I’m still mad at you.”

“Shouldn’t you be glad that your dear friend is back from the dead?” I scoffed at him, folding my arms. “What is this attitude?”

“Zhen Xue, I couldn’t be more relieved, but I’ll never get proper sleep with you around,” he replied dramatically, plopping into a chair across from us with many cushions. “You’re always determined to make me work overtime.”

The sight of Boreas and Apollo locked in a heated debate, their voices rising and falling like the waves, was too intriguing for me to even think about rolling my eyes at Aelius’ remark.

The fire god held a hand under his chin with a thoughtful expression, not surprised by Boreas’s display of anger. “Technically, he already is a god.”

“What you’re suggesting is impossible!” Boreas insisted upon seeing that the subject continued. “We can’t have the same entity as two gods. It would lead to an imbalance of power. Caelestis would abuse his position more than he already does!”

“Or Zhen Xue might have a fighting chance to end a tyrant ruler and exact his revenge,” Apollo suggested.

“What can he do we can’t accomplish, or haven’t already tried?” Boreas sighed, shoulders sinking with frustration. “Listen, I’m not saying you don’t have a point, but do we really need Zhen Xue to become a god for us to subdue Caelestis? Hasn’t Zhen Xue already been through enough?”

After watching them go back and forth for long enough, I got up from my seat and stepped closer to greet them. “I appreciate you both speaking in my defense,” I said with earnest. “But let me interject for a moment.”

They stood quiet, waiting for what I had to say.

I continued, “Boreas is not wrong. I don’t need to sacrifice my humanity to deal with Caelestis. Not only do I have powerful allies, but my knowledge far exceeds those in this world. Is that not the reason you collaborated with me to begin with?”

Apollo looked slightly reluctant. “Well, you’re right, but we need to resolve this issue soon. The longer we wait, heaven continues to plummet into a state of disarray and corruption. It won’t be long until the humans are affected.”

I nod, not denying his concerns. “The plot keeps changing, but that doesn’t mean the assets available are gone. I fully intend to keep my end of our bargain.”

Apollo looked satisfied with my declaration, gaze sparked with curiosity. “You know, even though you’re the author, you have limited knowledge, but you still speak with such confidence. I always wondered how you manage?”

“Because,” I snapped, my composure wanning to exasperation. “That’s all I have to go on! Every time I faced defeat, failing to remember my damn plot, I knew I could return to my world one day, that this world wasn’t real. And I hate myself for wanting so desperately for that to be true. I’ve suffered so much loss. Given my best at every turn. Why do I need to give up the only thing I have left that’s salvageable?” My voice broke slightly as I continued, “Why do I need to give up my promise to meet Tianshi and Zhi in the afterlife?”

Apollo looked away with a hardened expression, like he dared not to say more.

“You might be okay with living as an immortal,” I said, my nose held high. “But I’m not. Anyway, I’m still going to subdue Caelestis, so you don’t need to worry. Let’s end this discussion and focus on what matters. I assume you’re here because of the core? What’s happened now?”

They seemed relieved to move on from the topic, looking serious about whatever they were going to say. Boreas shared a glance with Apollo before speaking up, “Zhen Xue, I hope you don’t resent me. I was never against you, but I can’t allow you to become a god. We are born from human desires. Those rules have held together the foundation of our society, unlike other certain individuals in this room with their radical opinions,” he finished with an unpleasant humph, grumbling like an old man despite his youthful appearance.

“I feel called out and I haven’t even added anything yet,” Apollo said pointedly to his counterpart with a frown. The fire god looked like the wind had blown out his inner flame, but he still had an energetic glee in his eyes, as if teasing Boreas.

“Take my word for it,” Boreas replied flatly. “I already know that much.”

The fire god smiled satisfactorily. The two couldn’t be more opposites with how sparks flew between them during the meeting, but they still seemed drawn to each other like good friends. “Anyway, Zhen Xue, I’m not here to crash your reunion with friends. I just came to witness this old stubborn bastard slowly lose his resolve.”

Without further delay, Boreas told us his story, hoping I’d understand his circumstances and accept his request for my help.

Much like the frost lilies that bloom every year at the first signs of winter in the Northern Kingdom, Boreas blossomed to life upon the first snowfall. He was young, waiting to flourish like a bud quenching its thirst for rain, but met a cold, harsh world of rejection.

Boreas tried harder than any other god to win the humans’ affection. Not all gods were born with luxurious treatment.

Unlike how Caelestis was immediately loved and fawned over by many for holding the largest domain of power, no matter the effort Boreas put into helping the humans with his inventions, they all saw him as an untamed blizzard, ready to sweep away whatever obstacle lay in his path. Boreas’s search for acceptance ended abruptly when he realized his quest had gone too far and he unintentionally created his own path to ruin.

I watched as he looked around at those of gathered on the sofa and couch to listen, his gaze shadowed by the past as he further weaved the tale in our minds. “Inspired by my efforts to help the humans, Caelestis became my lab partner. We were both young and ambitious, trying to make a difference in the world. However, I found he moved at a much greater pace than myself. I could never quite match his strides.”

I watched as Boreas grew more serious as he spoke, evidently reaching the point of his story.

“I tried to destroy the abomination we created, but Caelestis was already using the substance as a network to have the humans devour themselves.” His lips twisted regretfully together with unsaid words. “I knew he hated humankind after the betrayal of his former lover, but despite how I believed he changed, over the years, I watched those feelings manifest into lunacy.”

Hmm, I see. So, the Red Flag got hold of this substance, converting it into weapons for their cause, which all started because Caelestis offered them a way to fight for their freedom. Caelestis must have seemed like their savior, but actually wanted them to become a slave to the product and ruin themselves. Even though the rebellion caused irreversible damage to Cassanova, I couldn’t help but sympathize. Not only did Caelestis manipulate them, but the North used them too, pretending to share a common goal for the sake of gaining power.

Boreas calmly closed his eyes with regret. “I never imagined he would take a darker path, but there isn’t a point ruminating about the past. The reason Caelestis wants to kill Zhen Xue is so this world can reset. He wants to start over, meaning our progress to reach this point will have been for nothing.”

“Many powerful forces are at play here,” Apollo concluded, adding to what Boreas has said. “The core is gone, which we can only assume is because Caelestis wanted to use the stored energy to produce another clone. But, considering Caelestis attacked Zhen Xue, his plan likely didn’t work since we exhausted the core’s power.”

“Also,” Boreas added. “The Celestial Dragon Jade Saber is deeply connected to Zhen Xue’s dark magic. It would be better for him to avoid future confrontations, but I know that’s asking the impossible, given their past connection.”

Apollo sighed. “The North is also problematic, trying to find the hidden power within Cassanova. These three variables, their energy is drawing towards Pandora’s Box and clashing against each other, spreading decay within Heaven, which will soon consume the human world, too. We must rebalance the equilibrium before it’s too late.”

“Zhen Xue, I believe you understand why we’re here now?” Boreas met my gaze, calm and collected as ever, waiting for my response.

It’s frustrating that I can’t deny their request. Every turn I take pulls me deeper into this world’s problems, keeping me from the truth behind the Zhen family’s death. Despite my grievances about helping them, it’s in my best interest that we work together. Along the way, I should be able to find the answers I seek. I nodded in confirmation, releasing a heavy sigh. “Alright, I understand.”

“You scratch our back, we scratch your back? Is that how this works, then?” Li Wei said, glaring at them with head tilted and a look of complete calm that left one unsettled. “Zhen Xue has already helped you once. Why are you taking more than he owes?”

Apollo shook his head, denying Li Wei’s claims right away. “It’s not that simple. Besides,” he shrugged. “We won’t leave him defenseless. Our collaboration will benefit him, too.”

Li Wei looked on quietly with an inner debate. “I’m not entirely satisfied, but for now,” he said, changing the attention of the room to the young woman. “I want to know why you are here?”

“Oh, I’m here for my husband,” she replied nonchalantly. The youthful woman had shiny long black hair, bright green eyes, and a pale complexion that exquisitely defined her features. “How long has it been since he’s been missing? Two hundred years, perhaps?”

The room was suddenly silent, as if not expecting this outcome.

“Well, she’s not my wife,” Li Wei scoffed, lowering his guard. “Where’s that frivolous death god anyhow?”

Hades had conveniently vanished and likely wouldn’t reappear.

If this was his wife he spoke about before, she must be Lady Persephone. Judging from her dominant temper, no wonder Hades was hiding, but why did he leave his own wife unattended for two hundred years? This was way too long to be normal. Is this even a relationship anymore? It felt more like a hostage situation where Hades couldn’t escape.

“I’ll take my leave for now,” Boreas decided, heading towards the kitchen. Apollo followed along behind him with a faint smile as they left. Shortly after, Lady Persephone took her leave in search of her husband, which left Aelius, Li Wei, and me alone in the lounge.

“Li Wei,” Aelius called to him over his shoulder. “I’m going to hibernate for a week.” As though not waiting for a response, he rested his head on the back of his chair while shutting his eyes.

“Well, I’ve decided everyone here is by far the craziest group I’ve had the privilege of meeting,” Li Wei went to the cupboard, rummaging for wine. “Except for you, Zhen Xue, my dear,” he added lovingly. “You’re already perfect.”

An amused smile falls on my lips. “I think you just want the wine,” I pointed out.

“Darling, I always love it when you know what I’m thinking,” Li Wei replied, catching my gaze with a thrilled sort of air. “I get so excited.”

His reaction made me laugh. “You always get excited when I’m involved,” I countered.

From across the room, Li Wei looked at me below lowered eyelashes. “Isn’t there something you want to say to me, my dear?”

His jewel-colored gaze ensnared me in an invisible, warm embrace full of love, adoration, and comfort. “Why don’t you read my mind and find out?”

His eyes sparkled in response to the challenge. “Now, where’s the fun in that?”

“I think there is plenty of fun to be had, actually.” Moments passed with our gaze connected. I sat back in my seat, sobering my thoughts. With a sigh, I finally asked, “You’re involved in something dangerous, aren’t you?”

He took a seat on the armrest beside me with a glass of wine now in hand. “It’s only a little dangerous.”

I sighed in aggravation and concern. “You’re a horrible liar.”

He tilts his head, his earrings shimmering like his gaze. “It’s not a lie,” he refuted. “I fully intend to help you, my dear.” He smiled behind his wineglass, taking a sip. “I’m not going anywhere until we’ve dealt with every single problem, no matter how small.”

Some restless part of me, which didn’t want to see Li Wei leave, added, “What if my problems are never ending? What would you do then?”

Li Wei’s eyes widened momentarily, surprise turning into endearment. “You’re right,” he said with a sly smile. “That is quite the dilemma.”

The genuine dilemma is that I’m forced to drop the subject. Li Wei always had his secrets, but after everything we’ve been through together, I thought he would be more honest with me. I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s not one to do things recklessly, but I can’t help worrying despite that.

Li Wei seemed lost in thought. Whether he read my mind remained uncertain. He didn’t show signs of acknowledging or providing an answer soon.

“Ah, Zhen Xue,” Apollo said, upon entering the room again. “I was discussing with Boreas our next course of action. You must have some ideas about how we are going to retrieve your body?”

“Oh, definitely,” I said, far too casual to be calm. “I think there is someone who knows better than anyone here. Why don’t we ask him now?"

Kazuo, who had been quietly observing until now, moved from the shadows and into the spotlight to greet us. The faint jingle of the bell on his boots and his heavy footsteps resounded through the silence. He wore an expression of inevitability, taking broad steps in my direction. Before reaching my side, he pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “A map,” he explained, dropping the object into my lap. “It will lead you through the tower to Pandora’s Box.”

Apollo raised his eyebrow in confusion. “From Caelestis?”

Nobody said a word, nor needed to elaborate. Apollo grew quiet, too. Caelestis wants me to confront him so he can finish the job.

Well, he’s about to be sorely disappointed.

I don’t intend to lose again.

With a racing heart, I stared at the ground. “You’re going to him, aren’t you?” When he didn’t respond, I looked on with a broken smile, watching him leave. “I think the worse part is that I knew this would happen, yet I still hoped you would resist.”

Kazuo paused for a second, perhaps a flicker of guilt weighing on his conscious, but that did little to persuade him from continuing on his chosen path.