LOGINAt the same time, an anxious voice rang out from the hallway. "Aria! Aria!"The person was none other than Elijah. Ever since Aria left on her own the day before, he had sent his men all over Janovin to search for her. They had nearly turned the entire city upside down, yet there had been no trace of her.Elijah had also contacted the York family and learned that Landon was not at home either. Thinking back to how Aria had been searching for Landon ever since she woke up, Elijah quickly pieced everything together. She must have gone out alone to find him.From yesterday until now, he had not rested at all. Ever since he regained consciousness and recovered his memories, he had regarded Aria as the most important person in his life.He had never harbored any romantic feelings for her. It was simply the protectiveness a senior felt toward a cherished junior.Not long ago, Elijah received news that Aria was in Saint Joseph's Hospital. The moment he heard it, he rushed over. As expe
"You have reached your destination." Ahead of them, the gilded characters of Saint Joseph's Hospital soon came into view, standing out against the building's white facade. The car rolled slowly into the hospital parking lot. The moment it stopped, Paisley unbuckled her seatbelt almost immediately. Her eyes reddened again before she could compose herself.Aria and Landon got out of the car in perfect synchrony. Landon gently released Aria's hand but kept her close at his side as his calm gaze swept over the bustling crowd and hurried medical staff. He carried himself with dignity and aloofness, yet remained steady and dependable."Over here, Aria and Landon. My grandfather is in the special observation ward next to the ICU on the third floor." Paisley's voice trembled faintly. She wiped the corner of her eye and hurried toward the inpatient building. Every step was filled with urgency, yet she kept glancing back to make sure they were following, afraid she might lose them.Land
Landon drew Aria a little closer, guiding her away from the edge of the road. It was a natural, thoughtful gesture. "Stand close to me. Be careful of passing cars. This place may be remote, but there could still be traffic."He positioned himself on the side closest to the road, shielding her from any potential danger. His gaze held unwavering protectiveness. The two of them stood quietly by the roadside. Aria leaned against his shoulder, gazing at the mountains and sky. She had never imagined that one day she would stand beside him on such a remote stretch of road, waiting for a ride.There was nothing luxurious about it, only the simple warmth of ordinary life. Yet somehow, it felt more comforting than all the riches in the world.After an unknown stretch of time, the faint hum of an engine drifted from the far end of the road.Aria immediately straightened and turned toward the sound. Landon looked up as well, his fingers still wrapped around hers, the warmth of his palm l
Just like that, Aria and Landon walked side by side out of the secret realm. The moment they stepped out, the morning wind brushed gently against their faces, carrying the fresh, earthy scent unique to the deep forest.A thin veil of mist lingered in the air as towering ancient trees spread their branches overhead. Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, scattering across the forest floor like flecks of gold.From time to time, the crisp calls of birds echoed through the woods, accompanied by the gentle murmur of a nearby stream. The forest that had seemed so terrifying in the darkness now felt quiet and peaceful.Aria tilted her head and looked at him. "So the place we were in earlier can actually heal injuries?"Landon glanced at her. "That secret realm has been there for a very long time. No one ever discovered it. I found it by accident."Aria nodded. "I see. At least I can finally breathe a little easier. Now that Greenshade Guild, Suncrest Sect, and Grayburn Sect have
Aria's lashes clung damply to her cheeks. Her lips were pale and cracked, marked with deep bite marks from clenching her teeth the entire way. The faint stench of blood still lingered in her mouth. Her clothes were already soaked through with blood, and the old wound across her shoulder and back still oozed, staining Landon's fingertips red. Her arms and wrists were covered with cuts of all sizes from thorns and traps, some old and some newly formed. Even her hand that had clutched that scrap of cloth so tightly was covered in tiny cuts from jagged stones, the skin torn and bloodied.This was how she had made it to him—one wounded step at a time, surviving danger after danger, following the faintest trace he left behind until she finally found him. Landon swallowed hard, the pain in his eyes almost overflowing. In his usually calm and gentle gaze, unmistakable guilt and anguish now lingered. With movements as careful as if he were holding the most fragile treasure in the world
Weathered by a thousand years of wind and rain, its surface was scarred with deep and shallow cracks, with moss creeping through the gaps. It looked ancient and imposing, carrying a deathly stillness that seemed to cut it off from the living world.The wall rose several feet high. It stretched endlessly to either side before vanishing into the dense forest and swirling mist, like a barrier between life and death.The blood trail stopped at the base of the wall. It didn't continue forward or turn back. It simply ended there, as if it had never existed. Aria slowly crouched down. Her trembling fingertips traced the cold stone, then moved over the dirt at the base of the wall, the scattered gravel, and the dried leaves. She searched again and again for any traces of Landon—one strand of hair, a shred of fabric, or even a single drop of dried blood.However, she found nothing. The place was so clean it looked as though no one had ever come here.Every clue she had followed, every stu
It was a rare, honorable opportunity. If Pahana's worthless father could witness him now, he'd surely regret abandoning him and his mother.Pahana understood Aria could have chosen not to give him the merits. She could have chosen to continue enslaving him like the other fortune tellers. Yet, she cho
"Caw!" The crow swooped down from Landon's shoulder to the ground. "You Krowonian priests are truly wicked. You're actually trying to pin this on Chaos!" Eyes darkening, the crow declared, "Your lives are worthless now. Caw!" In ancient times, crows were sacred creatures with iridescent black fe
Aria kicked the envoy straight from mid-air. With her long leg extended and foot pressing his wrist, her tone was cold. "You're quite the performer." Nobody could blame her mockery. Whether trained or not, Aria never wasted words or relied on borrowed power through talismans whenever she acted.
It was one thing if this was the Beast of Fortune's own intention—but what if someone else was manipulating it? Morlock's gaze darkened. He had to find the culprit. The Beast of Fortune should belong to him!Just as Morlock was about to leave, Darius stopped him, "Mr. Grimalkin, some of my cowardly s







