Cedrick remained motionless, his eyes empty and lifeless.
There was only one person occupying his thoughts—Aria.
He refused to believe that she was truly gone.
Tears streamed down his face as he embraced her pillow, the only thing left carrying her warmth and scent. He was inside Aria's room, surrounded by the memories she had left behind.
"I-If I had known you would disappear..." Cedrick said between his sobs. "I should have talked to you. I should have said how much I love you and miss you."
His heart was drowning in regret.
He wanted to scream. He wanted to destroy everything around him because of the overwhelming anger and pain consuming him.
Then suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind.
"The World of Emptiness?" he whispered.
His eyes widened.
He immediately stood up and rushed out of the room.
.
.
"How is my wife?" Xylon asked.
Maddison lowered her gaze and slowly shook her head.
"I still haven't found a cure for Her Majesty's illness," she replied sadly.
Xylon gently held Jade's hand, his expression filled with grief.
"My wife... please wake up," he whispered. "I'm the one who is suffering while watching you like this."
"She will recover," Xenon said, trying to reassure him.
Xylon silently nodded, holding onto the little hope he had left.
After a moment, they all left the room.
.
.
"We have lost Kan and Aria," Heberlin said, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"I don't know what we should do anymore," Xylon admitted.
"What is our plan now?" Stephen asked.
Xylon let out a deep sigh.
Suddenly, he remembered the mysterious being they had encountered days earlier—the one carrying a scythe.
"That creature we saw the other day..." Xylon said. "There was something familiar about it."
"Who are you talking about? The one carrying the scythe?" Xenon asked.
"Yes. It felt like..." Xylon trailed off.
"Like what?" Blake asked impatiently.
"There is only one being I know who possesses the power to wield a scythe..." Xylon said.
Everyone stared at him, waiting for his answer.
Xylon's expression became serious.
"Arden..." he whispered.
Everyone's eyes widened.
.
.
"Cedrick!" Stephen called out.
Stephen turned around and looked at him.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's about what happened to Aria," Cedrick said, his expression serious.
Stephen's expression darkened.
"About that... I am truly sorry for what happened," he said solemnly.
Cedrick shook his head.
"I don't believe that she's gone," he said firmly. "I have a strong feeling that Aria is still alive."
Stephen's eyes widened. "What? Are you certain?"
Cedrick clenched his fists as a spark of hope appeared in his eyes.
"Leviathan said that if we wanted to see her again, we should search for her in the World of Emptiness. That means she's there."
He paused for a moment.
"And she is trapped."
Stephen fell silent as he thought carefully about Cedrick's words.
The more he considered it, the more it made sense.
"If that's the case, then we need to tell everyone immediately," Stephen said.
Cedrick nodded.
For the first time since Aria disappeared, a small flame of hope began to burn inside his heart.
She was not gone.
No matter what it took, he would find a way to bring Aria back.
.
.
.....
When Aria slowly opened her eyes, she found herself in a different world.
A world where there was nothing to see.
No sky. No land. No light. No sound.
She stood in the middle of absolute nothingness—the World of Emptiness.
A strange silence surrounded her as she looked around, searching for any sign of life.
"Where am I?" she whispered.
She began walking, hoping that somewhere within the endless void, she would find a portal that could return her to the world she knew.
.
.
.....
"So, it is possible that she is in the World of Emptiness?" Xylon asked.
"Yes," Cedrick answered. "Leviathan himself said that if we wanted to see her again, we must search for her there."
"If she truly is there, then how are we supposed to bring her back?" Blake asked.
"The Gate Keeper," Lilith said.
Everyone turned their attention to her.
"However, the Gate Keeper of the World of Emptiness is extremely elusive," Heberlin explained. "Even if you manage to find him, you must first overcome his trial before he agrees to open the portal."
"Whatever kind of trial it is, I am prepared to face it," Cedrick declared without hesitation. "I will do anything to bring back the woman I love."
Xylon looked at him and gave a faint, understanding smile.
"I understand how you feel. That is exactly how I feel for Jade."
"Where can we find this Gate Keeper?" Stephen asked.
"He resides at the peak of the Third Mountain in the south," Xenon answered.
"I will go and search for him," Cedrick said.
"I'll come with you," Xenon volunteered.
"I can handle it alone," Cedrick replied.
Stephen stepped forward and shook his head.
"You are still unfamiliar with Aznar. Xenon and I will accompany you."
Cedrick remained silent for a moment before finally nodding.
"As you wish."
Xylon's expression then darkened as his thoughts returned to his unconscious wife.
"My other concern is finding a cure for Jade."
"The longer this continues, the worse her condition becomes," Maddison said sadly.
Zake clenched his fists in anger.
"This is all Leviathan's fault!"
"Do not lose hope, Your Majesty," Lilith said gently. "Jade will recover. We will find a way to save her."
Xylon looked toward Jade's chamber, silently praying that those words would become true.
For now, they had two battles to fight—
to rescue Aria from the World of Emptiness and to save Jade from the curse slowly consuming her.
.
.
.....
A young boy played the piano inside a magnificent chamber. The room was adorned with luxurious decorations, and the castle where he resided stood in a place so breathtakingly beautiful that it resembled paradise itself.
The soft melody of the piano echoed throughout the room until the grand doors suddenly opened.
The young boy stopped playing and slowly turned his head.
A young man entered the chamber. His face was concealed beneath a thick piece of cloth, and a massive scythe was strapped to his back.
He approached the boy and knelt before him.
"Your Majesty, I have received a report from Aznar," the young man said respectfully.
"Has another conflict arisen?" the boy asked calmly.
"The King and his companions have successfully sealed the portals. However, your close friend, Lord Kan, sacrificed himself and remained trapped inside Hell..." The young man's voice became heavier. "He is gone, Your Majesty."
A shadow of sadness crossed the boy's face.
"Kan is gone..." he whispered.
A sorrowful smile appeared on his lips.
"We have spent hundreds of years together. Yet because of Leviathan, I have lost him."
The room became silent for a moment.
"There is another problem concerning the current King," the young man continued.
"What is it?" the boy asked.
"The Queen has fallen victim to a grave illness, and it was caused by the angel Jinx."
The young boy let out a deep sigh.
"So, the troubles have still not come to an end."
Slowly, he removed the crown resting upon his head.
"Prepare yourself, Arden..." he said, his childish voice carrying an ancient authority.
"We are leaving at once."
Arden lowered his head.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Yes, Arden was alive.
He was a Reaper, and Reapers don't die.
The mysterious being carrying the scythe—the one whom Xylon and the others had encountered—was none other than Arden himself.
But the greatest surprise was the child standing before him.
The young boy was not an ordinary child.
He was the ancient king who had ruled long before Xylon's era.
The First King.
The legendary ruler whose name had been buried by time.
Vladimir.
The King who had lived through countless centuries.
.
.
.
Cedrick and the others prepared for their journey.
"Be careful," Xylon said.
"I promise I will bring Aria back here," Cedrick replied with determination.
After saying their farewells, they finally departed.
"Aria... wait for me," Cedrick whispered, his eyes filled with determination and hope.
Maddison watched as Cedrick disappeared into the distance."Love truly has the power to make people do things even beyond their limits," she murmured.
"You're right. True love makes you willing to risk everything just to find your way back to each other," a familiar voice said from behind her.
Maddison turned around.
"But what you did was different," she said softly.
Zander walked over and stood beside her.
"I know..." he said quietly. "And I am sorry."
"You don't need to apologize," Maddison replied.
Zander gently took her hand.
"Please forgive me for leaving you behind. Will you give me another chance to show you just how much I love you?"
Tears formed in Maddison's eyes.
"My love for you never disappeared, Zander. Not even for a single moment," she confessed. "Yes... I will give you another chance."
A smile of relief appeared on Zander's face.
Without hesitation, he pulled Maddison into his arms and embraced her tightly.
For years, their hearts had remained trapped in pain and longing.
But at that moment, they were finally given the chance to mend the love they had never truly lost.