Xyon gasped as he opened his eyes, the harsh light of the mortal world stinging his vision. Cold air filled his lungs as the sudden return jarred his senses. He clutched his chest, heart pounding violently—he could still feel it, the phantom pain where Shiya's blade had pierced him. No blood, no wound… just the raw, lingering memory.
A bitter scowl crossed his face. Humiliation. That's what he felt. Shiya had stabbed him—without hesitation, without a word. And now, she lay beside him in a deep, undisturbed sleep, as if nothing had happened.
He stared at her, his expression softening just for a moment. She looked peaceful, too peaceful. Was it truly her choice? Or was she forced to do it?
Xyon reached out and held her hand.
"So… you didn't want me to see what was going on between you and them back there?" he murmured, voice laced with pain and bitterness. "Were you… cheating on—"
His thought was cut off. A vibration buzzed through the silence. His phone.
Xiao.
He cleared his throat and answered, trying to sound unaffected. But instead of her voice, a gruff male tone greeted him.
"Who are you?" Xyon demanded, eyes narrowing.
"Hello. This is Police Detective Officer Jericho," the man said. "An older woman named Lia was found dead in Ms. Xiao's condo. Ms. Xiao is currently being treated at the hospital after collapsing at the scene."
The words struck Xyon like a slap. His pulse surged.
"What…?" His voice faltered. "What happened to her? Is she hurt? Is she safe? What do you mean dead?!" The questions tumbled from his mouth like an avalanche.
"She has several cuts and defensive wounds on her arms—appears to have fought back," the detective replied. "We're waiting for her to regain consciousness for questioning."
"I'm coming," Xyon said without hesitation, already moving for the door. He shot one last glance at Shiya, conflicted, then disappeared.
Meanwhile, back in Eriland…
The scene inside the Elf Temple shimmered with tension.
"Princess..." Yon Zue's voice was wary. "What are you saying?"
"Just do it!" Shiya pleaded, gripping the sword tighter. Her hands trembled, though they bore no injury. "I won't die. It already happened before. When I was chased by a Dreul—I was stabbed and thrown back to the mortal world. Same when the barrier weakened. It's the only way."
Yon Zue froze. Her logic made no sense, but the desperation in her eyes… he couldn't ignore it.
She caught his hesitation and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment under his intense stare. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Before he could answer, a voice echoed through the chamber.
"What's going on here?"
They both turned as Althea approached, followed by Cheska, Chipi, and the regal presence of the Shin Fairy. Her steps were graceful, but her gaze was sharp.
Yon Zue bowed deeply. "Master."
"Are you two fighting?" Cheska asked, eyes darting between them.
"No," Shiya replied quickly, letting go of the sword. "We're just—"
"I came here for an urgent reason," the Shin Fairy interrupted, stepping forward. "I spoke with Queen Krystle. She has agreed. We need to end this."
Everyone stilled.
"Please," the Shin Fairy said gently, turning to Shiya. "Grant us a favor… train with us, Sushie. We must end Ornaphendreul's curse. My warriors are suffering—trapped within these beads I carry. We can't go on like this."
Shiya's throat tightened. Sushie again. They kept calling her that. But she wasn't. Not really.
The Shin Fairy's words stirred something within her. A guilt. A calling.
"The stone's power is meant to protect, not destroy," the Shin Fairy continued. "But with your help, we can shift the balance."
Yon Zue stepped forward.
"Let me train her first."
Shin Fairy nodded.
Before Shiya could object, Yon Zue took her hand and soared into the air, flying toward a jagged cliff near the Elf Tribe. The others followed, landing a short distance away. Cheska and Althea sat in silence while Chipi and the Shin Fairy stood solemnly.
Shiya blinked against the rushing wind, trying to understand Yon Zue's urgency. Her eyes widened when she saw the steep drop ahead.
"Is he… planning to train me there?" she thought nervously.
Suddenly, his hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. Her heart skipped.
"You need to learn how to fight," he said, his voice firm. "Be strong… I don't like weak girls beside me."
She was about to retort—what did he mean by that?—but her thoughts vanished as he shoved her off the cliff.
"Yon Zue!" Chipi shrieked, wings flaring. She lunged forward but Yon Zue stopped her with a raised hand.
"She's not Sushie!" Chipi cried. "She doesn't know how to use her wings! She could die!"
"She won't," Yon Zue said calmly, watching Shiya fall.
"What if you're wrong?!"
"I'm not," he answered. "She told me herself. She's been stabbed, chased by Dreuls, thrown across worlds. Something binds her to this cycle. Death doesn't claim her—it only sends her back."
Chipi trembled with fury, but Yon Zue's certainty made her pause. The air was tense as everyone watched the cliff's edge.
Shiya, meanwhile, was falling—her thoughts a whirlwind.
What the hell is happening?! Am I going to die? Did he really push me? Why?
The air screamed around her as the wind tugged at her hair and clothes. Then, just as she braced herself for impact—
Everything slowed.
The world bent, twisted.
She wasn't hitting the ground—she was slipping through it.
As light warped around her, her consciousness flickered. Her chest tightened, and she gasped—not in pain, but in remembrance.
It was happening again.
Just like before.
Back in the mortal world…
Detective Jericho examined the condo's crime scene. The body of the old woman, Lia, had already been taken. But something didn't add up.
He crouched near the shattered remnants on the floor. Glimmering shards of diamond. Not jewelry—these weren't from any ring or necklace. They pulsed faintly, unnatural.
Jericho narrowed his eyes. "This wasn't a robbery," he whispered to himself. "And there were no signs of forced entry."
He looked at a mirror on the wall—cracked down the center. Dried blood smeared across it like fingerprints reaching inward.
"She wasn't murdered…" he muttered. "It's like she was choking herself. Or… being pulled into something."
Something not of this world.
Back at the cliff…
Chipi finally spoke, her voice softer. "You risked everything doing that…"
"She'll be back," Yon Zue said. "This world always brings her back. And next time… she'll be ready."
Althea crossed her arms. "You really are the strict Yon Zue, huh?"
Cheska whispered, "Scary…"
Yon Zue turned sharply, eyes meeting theirs.
They quickly looked away.
But deep inside, something stirred.
Because if Shiya truly was the key to the prophecy—if she was somehow tethered between realms—then what came next would change both worlds forever.