The silver-blonde-haired woman stood lost in thought, yet every flicker of her presence made Aurelia's chest tighten with questions she didn't voice right now.

How were the techniques they used so similar? Her own techniques felt like a simpler, less refined version of the ones this woman used.

To find another light-affinity user at such a high power level—one as strong as her, the Saintess of Light—Aurelia hated to admit it. Still, the woman beside her was more polished in combat overall.

If they were to fight, she felt she would ultimately lose. She still had her secret technique, which she was confident in, yet something told her that even then, she wouldn't be able to win.

This unexpected trip to the lower domain had been truly enlightening. The mother of the girl whom the Church had reported possessed an unusually strong connection to the light.

She had been hoping to find a successor of her own, especially after seeing how her friend and rival had found hers—Loriel—more than a decade ago. And here she was, still failing to find a worthy candidate.

It wasn't like she could pick just any mediocre person.

She knew she was only a little over a hundred years old. There was still plenty of time left—it was barely a fifth of her expected lifespan. Even so, she felt jealous of her friend for having both a disciple and a successor.

Now, in such a place as the lower domain, she had found not just one potential successor but two mysterious people she couldn't ignore. One was as strong as her. The other was an absurd boy whom she even had to tread carefully around.

There was also that purple-haired woman who seemed to have reached level two in her aura. Aurelia had another talented girl, yes, but that one was more on the ordinary side.

Talented, even by higher domain standards, but not on the same level as these two. Especially not the silver-white-haired boy.

She wasn't even sure if he was the Holy Son. His strength was far too absurd. Their scriptures didn't align with someone like him.

Yes, he did have a deeper connection to the light affinity than even the Saintess, but she remained skeptical.

It doesn't matter to me whether he is the Holy Son or not. All I want now is to bring him to our side… He's human too—surely, he would help us…

Tensions were rising in the higher domain, and the humans were in the most vulnerable position among all the races. If the fragile peace fully collapsed… it would be devastating. They would be annihilated.

Aurelia had resolved to take him back with her at all costs. Even if she had to remain here for a year, she would not return alone.

The world had gone eerily still, the silence heavy, as though the battlefield itself held its breath.

Ignoring the woman beside her, she moved toward the center of the crater to check whether the abyssal spawn had been completely annihilated. She already had her answer just by seeing the devastation caused by the attack. Still, when it came to the abyss, she could never be too cautious.

——

Leon hovered in the air, freezing the space beneath his feet to step upon it instead of using his air affinity. With one smooth motion, he arrived on the rooftop where Seraphine currently stood.

The air shivered around him, a subtle pressure that made even silence feel alive with his presence.

Upon returning, he noticed Liora's father still stood with his mouth agape. Leon understood the man was stunned by his strength, but the look on his face seemed stripped of all pretense—his mouth hadn't closed since.

Compared to him, his daughter Liora looked much more composed. Yes, she was shocked too, but she didn't react as exaggeratedly as her father.

He ingnored both of them and move closer to seraphine.

Seraphine's lips curved faintly as her eyes lingered on him. "Just like you said… finished in a single strike."

Leon's gaze softened, his voice low and warm. "If you're watching, how could I not?"

Her smile deepened, carrying a quiet promise only the two of them understood. "Then don't keep me waiting too long after this."

Leon leaned just a little closer, his tone laced with affection. "Believe me, I can't wait either."

How could Andrew not react that way? He had relied on his wife to back him up and teach this young boy a lesson if he dared act funny with their daughter or tried to corrupt her. However, now…

No!! It can't be…

Andrew felt helpless in front of the young man, something he'd never imagined in his life—especially when that boy was interested in his precious daughter. He was shaken to the core.

I-I'll run away with my wife and daughter! Yes! I must save them from this monster…

Liora gazed at Leon as he spoke to Seraphine. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. She already respected him deeply for saving her life.

But now, that same boy had become an incredibly handsome man—and it didn't surprise her in the least. He had always been a cute and charming boy just a week ago. She had known that he would grow into someone attractive, but she hadn't expected that time to come so soon.

More than anything, his strength was beyond comprehension.

Looking at his tall figure, his white hair flowing effortlessly, and his mystical eyes locked onto Commander Seraphine's, Liora could feel the love between them. The way they spoke with soft, affectionate voices and shared smiles—it lit something within her.

A harmless thought slipped into her subconscious as she watched them. An image formed in her mind alongside it.

It must feel wonderful… being treated that way by someone. I wish I could feel that too.

The very next moment, she realized what she'd just thought.

Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she quickly looked away. Her pulse raced wildly, each thud so violent it felt as if her chest might betray her secret thoughts to the world. Her fingers fidgeted against her dress hem, trembling with a nervous energy she couldn't control.

No! I-I can't be thinking like this… It's wrong.

She had never considered loving someone in a way different from how she loved her parents. That sort of emotion had never occurred to her, not when her primary focus was improving her family's standing in the kingdom.

But now, that burden—or rather, that mission she had set for herself—had lifted after learning her mother's true strength.

Having a lover… seemed fine now. It felt a bit embarrassing to even think about. Still, the image she had imagined made her too shy to look at them directly again.

Liora, that's wrong! You can't be thinking about him as your lover… He already has someone he loves deeply.

She tried to erase him from her mind. But the girl who once only wanted to rise for her family's sake… now yearned for love. She wished to find someone like Leon for herself, just like how Commander Seraphine had seen him.

These encounters had awakened emotions within her that she'd never paid attention to before. Now, she wanted affection and connection, just like any other normal girl. The cold winds of the battlefield brushed against her skin, yet all she could feel was the warmth of the yearning she had just discovered.

Her heart barely settled when the ground beneath the crater trembled faintly—too faint to be coincidence.

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