Lily was standing near the window in her room.
Looking at the gentleness of the moon, she took a deep and calm breath, as though slowly releasing the burden accumulated upon her heart through a restrained flow. For a few moments, she remained lost within herself. A shadow of concern rested upon her face, but somewhere deep within her, a new determination had already begun to take shape.
Suddenly, a faint smile appeared on her lips. Almost cheerfully, she took a few light steps forward and sat down in a cultivation posture.
There was the same gleam in her eyes that could be seen in a flame just before it ignited.
Now, there was only one goal in her mind—to reach the complete Seventh Stage. She closed her eyes.
Gradually, even the atmosphere around her began to calm down. It was as though the determination within her was swallowing the tension spread throughout the surroundings.
Perhaps... after a long time, Lily herself was finally feeling a measure of peace within her heart.
On the other side, sitting within her room, Luna also released a slow sigh of relief. There was a faint happiness upon her face, yet an unfamiliar discomfort still lingered within her heart.
She muttered softly—
"No matter what happens ahead... I will never allow my passion for business to be weakened by emotions such as love or by any beautiful feeling."
Determination shone within her eyes.
"I made a promise to myself that I would become the greatest merchant of this land. I will leave only after my name has been written with honor in the books of history." She lightly clenched her fists.
Some dreams are so great that even the desires of the heart must wait before them.
Meanwhile, Master Jins sat alone within his room. His aged eyes were lost within the haze of bygone years.
He took a long breath and said softly—
"I have seen everything in this land..."
"The good as well... and the bad as well..."
"And there is hardly anything left that I have not done." There was weariness in his voice, but no regret.
A few moments later, looking out of the window, he said—
"But before I leave behind this body, I will surely accomplish one good deed."
"No matter what happens in the end... I will make Snehwal the ruler of this empire before I leave." A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Besides... I do not have much time left either. Nor do I have anything left to lose."
"After that, perhaps I too will be able to die in peace."
Elsewhere— lying upon the soft grass of an open field, Liora was gazing at the shining moon in the sky. The cold breeze gently brushed through her hair. She raised one hand upward and seemed to measure the moon with the palm of her hand.
Then she spoke softly— "Perhaps... one day Snehwal will understand me on his own."
"Perhaps he will give my feelings a rightful place within his life as well." A deep sadness drifted through her eyes.
"After all, my life has always been filled with sorrow and struggles."
She remained silent for a few moments.
Then a tired, yet genuine smile appeared on her face.
"Who knows... perhaps something good awaits in the future."
"Because I am tired as well."
"And perhaps now I should learn to be patient..."
"I should place my trust in fate."
The night continued to deepen. The moonlight became even more soothing, more pure, and more enchanting than before. Its pale radiance seemed to touch every restless heart spread across the earth. It felt as though it wished to calm every unbalanced thought and fill the mind with a purity, clarity, and peace like white pearls.
That night— very few people in Kankal City were able to sleep.
But perhaps for the first time, a small hope for the future had been born within all of their hearts.
Somewhere far in the eastern direction— a torch burning within a royal chamber suddenly went out.
The moment it was extinguished, the owls sitting outside the palace let out restless cries, as though they had sensed an ominous sign.
The very next moment, a sharp voice filled with anger and contempt echoed throughout the chamber—
"I hate light during the night. My own mind rushes to tear apart my peace on its own. And yes, I wanted to capture him at all costs... but how did I fail?"
"I am the king of this empire... I am omnipotent!"
There was not only anger in his voice, but also the humiliation of having his authority challenged.
At that moment, a sharp yet composed female voice echoed through the chamber—
"Your Majesty, calm yourself. We will certainly find a solution to this." It was Humbha.
But even her words were unable to calm that boiling rage.
Suddenly— Crash!
A glass shattered upon the floor.
Along with the sound of breaking glass came the muffled sobs of two maidservants.
They were trembling in fear. Their heads remained lowered, and even within the dense darkness, neither of them possessed the courage to raise their heads and look up.
King Omas gritted his teeth and said— "Humbha... how are we going to find a solution to this?"
"The enemy escaped right from the midst of our own home..."
"Is this not a matter of ridicule for us?"
There was more poison of humiliation than anger within his words.
A few moments later— the vast palace of the Chintamani Empire once again fell silent. But it was not an ordinary silence. The entire palace had sunk into a terrifying darkness and stillness.
As though even the moonlight that sought to reach it had been blocked by someone's dark power.
The shadows spread across the walls appeared alive. And amidst that dense darkness— it felt as though a dreadful storm was about to be born.