The moment Aiden laid eyes on the little girl in front of him, he froze.
Victor, Jenna, and Nellie -the first few to undergo the Golden Great Wall ritual -all emerged in a spirit-shaken state.
They looked as if they had just endured something deeply painful.
So Aiden took the ritual with serious respect.
But he never expected to see a tiny, innocent-looking child standing before him now.
"You're here," the little girl said. Her eyes sparkled, and a smile curled at the corners of her lips -she seemed genuinely happy.
Aiden didn't answer. Instead, he carefully scanned the surroundings, wary.
"Don't worry," she said lightly, waving her hand. "It's just you and me. No one else can hear us -not even Bella."
The moment her hand moved, the world around them shifted completely.
Warm, comforting sunlight poured into every corner.
White flower petals drifted down from above, landing gently on Aiden's shoulders.
