Chaos Era, Year 1815.
"Are you leaving now?" Ankula gazed reluctantly at Xia Lun and the others before her.
"Oh, Miss Ankula, I know your heart is reluctant to part with me, but alas, my sights are set on the stars and the seas..." Liyana remarked, casually chewing on a wildflower she had plucked from somewhere.
"Enough, spare us the embarrassment." Moke pulled Liyana aside, clearing the way for Xia Lun.
Musen silently packed their belongings, resembling the burden-carrying monk of a pilgrimage quartet... and indeed, he was a monk of sorts.
Well, truthfully, there wasn’t much to pack—everything could be stored in spatial rings... Musen simply wanted to appear busy. Having joined the group not long ago, he hadn’t yet mastered Liyana’s art of doing nothing.
Aina was still weak, her magic exhaustion having taken a heavy toll. Xia Lun had already settled her into the carriage to rest.
After all that had happened, they had initially planned to delay their departure. However, the Adventurers’ Association, having learned of the events in Olie City, pressed them urgently to return, insisting that the members of Dawn’s Wings cooperate with the investigation.
It wasn’t just Miss Ankula—many of the city’s residents had come to see Xia Lun and his companions off.
They had clearly learned that it was Xia Lun’s group who had resolved the plague and stood as the city’s guardians against the evil god.
"Thank you, adventurers!"
"Truly, you are the blessed heroes of the goddess!"
"We are so grateful! We will never forget your kindness!"
Many of the residents brought gifts—mostly homemade bread, pastries, fresh fruits, and meats.
Xia Lun responded with modest politeness, while Liyana cheerfully accepted an entire basketful without hesitation.
After all, the commotion that day had been impossible to ignore. Many had witnessed the spectacle in the sky.
Well... mostly Aina’s magic. At such a distance, the figures were barely discernible, but Aina had unleashed an extravagant display of magic circles and large-scale elemental spells, leaving the onlookers below in awe—and naturally imagining the intensity of the battle above.
Moreover, the earlier misunderstandings had been cleared up. Angelie’s men had uncovered the magic circle, and everyone now knew that the evil god had been summoned by the noble responsible for the plague... The ruined manor in the outskirts was further flattened by the furious mob.
"Thank you so much for your help, Xia Lun. Without you... I don’t know what would have become of Olie City." Ankula bowed deeply to Xia Lun.
"Please, raise your head, Miss Ankula." Xia Lun smiled gently. "In truth, it was you who resolved the final crisis."
Though he wasn’t entirely sure what entity Ankula had summoned, without her timely descent ritual, they might not have survived.
Amid the crowd’s farewells, Xia Lun reached the city gates.
"W-Wait, Xia Lun!" Just before he departed, Ankula suddenly called out to him again.
Her face flushed red as she shouted, "I love you, Xia Lun!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, and countless young hearts in Olie City shattered in despair.
Moke’s jaw dropped in shock. Musen let out a sigh of amazement. Liyana gritted her teeth, glaring at Xia Lun’s back before angrily biting into an apple from her basket.
Inside the carriage, Aina showed no reaction.
"Is that so? Thank you, Miss Ankula." Xia Lun’s smile remained soft. "But you are already a member of Dawn’s Wings."
Ankula blinked, unsure what he meant.
But Dawn’s Wings had already resumed their journey.
...
"Xia Lun, what a shame. A wonderful girl like Ankula, and you just turned her down." Liyana sighed. "If only you’d let me have her instead."
"Hey, you dimwitted elf, if you go around objectifying women like that, the Women’s Federation will drag you out for public criticism," Moke retorted, rolling his eyes.
"None of your business, bleh!" Liyana stuck out her tongue at him.
Then, glancing at the carriage, she nudged Xia Lun discreetly. "You should check on the mage lady. Seems like she’s in a bad mood."
Throughout the journey, Aina had remained secluded inside, never stepping out for air.
Xia Lun took Liyana’s advice.
A moment later, he sat across from Aina.
She was curled up, knees to her chest, her gaze distant.
"Aina?" Xia Lun called softly. "Are you alright?"
She slowly lifted her head.
Meeting his concerned eyes, Aina felt an unfamiliar twist in her heart—an emotion she couldn’t quite name.
"I’m fine." Her voice was as cool as ever.
"What’s troubling you? This isn’t like you." Xia Lun cut straight to the point. "If possible, I’d like you to tell me directly. We’re companions, aren’t we?"
Companions...
But Aina herself didn’t know what was bothering her.
The one who had possessed Ankula... her words lingered in Aina’s mind, refusing to fade.
Every time she recalled the way that being had looked at her—with pity and sympathy—an inexplicable fury rose within her.
She was the Demon King! How dare that creature regard her with such eyes!
"I..."
Aina hesitated, but under Xia Lun’s gentle gaze, something inside her wavered.
"You must have realized by now... I’m not human." Her tone was flat. "I’m a vampire—what your kind calls a demon."
During the battle in the sky, she had revealed her formidable regenerative abilities in front of Xia Lun.
"Yes, I guessed as much." Xia Lun nodded.
"So, what will you do? Kick me out of the group?" A hint of regret flickered in Aina’s eyes. Her long-concealed plan seemed on the verge of collapse.
"Of course not. Aina, you’re our mage." Xia Lun chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.
"But I’m a vampire... Even if you accept it, what about Liyana and the others—"
Before she could finish, Xia Lun acted.
He opened the carriage door and called out, "Liyana, Moke, Musen... Aina is a vampire."
Musen: "Hmm, I know."
Moke: "Ah, figured as much."
Liyana: "Xia Lun, why bring it up now? We’ve known for ages."
Aina: "..."
"Did you really think you hid it well, Miss Aina? We’ve known all along." Xia Lun extended his hand into the carriage with a smile. "No matter what you are, as long as you’re Aina, you’re our companion."
In the dim carriage, Aina hesitated for a moment—then grasped the beam of light reaching in.