The world suddenly darkened.

Then, at the edge of the darkness, a streak of pure white suddenly broke free from the horizon's constraints.

After a brief period of pitch-black gloom, a pale and faint light scattered like fine sand spilled by an unseen hand, gradually spreading across half the sky in scattered patches — breathtakingly beautiful.

Dawn had arrived, and the darkness was gradually retreating.

A faint light shot over from the distance, piercing through fractured walls and illuminating Anna's cold profile, casting a soft halo around her.

Moen gazed at her, at her icy snake-like pupils, at the girl who seemed to have transformed into a monster.

Without a trace of fear.

The faint smile on his lips mirrored the very sunrise climbing steadily upwards, radiating warmth and gentleness.

They stared at each other for a long time.

Anna suddenly sighed softly, helplessly, and closed her eyes.

At that very moment, as though in chorus with the sun peeking halfway up over the horizon, her expression finally thawed like melting ice and snow.

Her body relaxed, no longer tense. When she opened her eyes again, the purity in her gaze reflected the image of a boy filled with wild joy, his eyes sparkling, the mole at the corner of his eye adding a sense of enchanting allure.

Just as she had always done before, she gently twirled a strand of hair around her finger and softly asked,

“When did you notice?”

“Just now,” Moen replied.

“When you attacked me while I was in the air.”

“I held back too much?” Anna tilted her head.

“No, it hurt like hell.”

Moen's expression turned wry.

“My chest still hurts right now.”

“Then…”

“Because it was strange.”

“Strange?”

“You said you wanted to eat my heart, but all your attacks were driving me away instead.”

Moen lightly hooked his lips in a smile and said,

“And that wind magic—you almost never use wind magic, right? Even though its power was strong, your control was clearly lacking. Compared to Exploding Magic, it wasn’t even lethal.”

“But that could’ve just been me losing my rationality…”

“That’s possible, yes. But what made me so sure was this.”

Moen suddenly extended a finger, pointing at the area over Anna’s chest.

There, on her chest where even the black robe couldn’t quite hide the tantalizing curve, a crystalline teardrop-shaped gem shimmered faintly under the gentle morning sunlight.

Looking at it, Moen felt like his heart grew brighter as well.

“Senior, you’ve kept it with you all this time, huh.”

It was the Tear of True Love.

A gem Moen had personally gifted to Anna.

Originally, Moen had intended to personally put it on her, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it ultimately ended up in Anna’s possession.

Now, it hung on her chest, swaying gently with her breathing.

This scene was even more breathtaking than the dawn in the distance.

“I see… but it’s still extremely dangerous.”

Anna touched the gem, her fingers brushing lightly against it as she looked earnestly at Moen. A trace of feigned anger shimmered in her eyes.

“If I truly had lost my rationality, what then?”

“As I said before,”

Moen spread his arms wide, entirely unguarded, and softly answered,

“If it’s you, then it’s fine.”

It’s fine—for you to take my heart.

The words, spoken a second time, were just as resolute.

With a hint of astonishment, Anna stared blankly at Moen’s face.

But as if unable to withstand the passion in Moen’s gaze, she suddenly lowered her head and shifted her eyes away.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” she murmured.

“But I’m already here,” he replied.

“This place is dangerous.”

“I’m not afraid of danger.”

“What’s the point of your coming here? I won’t go back with you.”

“I came to save you.”

Moen’s voice was firm as he declared,

“I’m here to save you, senior.”

The young man’s unwavering words drifted in the morning breeze, finding their way to the girl’s ears.

These were the words that should have been enough to shatter any frozen heart, the sweet sentiment that should render any girl bashful.

Yet Anna’s only response was the slightest flutter of her eyelids. She lowered her gaze, concealing her emotions, and let the faintest bitter smile grace her lips.

“You already know what’s happening to me, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“This syndrome is incurable. So, please leave.”

She pushed herself up off Moen, adjusting her black robe’s collar. Only then did Moen notice the faint black scales that had emerged along the edges of Anna’s neck.

Under the night’s shadow, they had been unobtrusive. But now, exposed fully in the sunlight, they appeared rather ominous.

Watching his gaze fixate on them, Anna tugged the collar higher, concealing the scales. Her expression grew somber as she softly said,

“Please leave, Moen. Before I truly become a monster, before I truly desire to take your heart.”

“I don’t mind, senior. No matter what, whether you become a monster or not, I…”

“But I mind.”

Anna met his eyes and firmly gripped the edges of her robe. Her trembling hands tightened with a visible quiver as she spoke seriously,

“I mind. I don’t want to become a monster in front of you. I don’t want to take your heart. So, can you leave? Please. I’m begging you.”

At that moment, Moen noticed—hidden within her voice, her tone—something he had never discerned before: a fragile weakness.

“I won’t leave.”

Moen’s heart clenched once again. Unconsciously, his fists tightened.

“Like I said, I came to save you. Until I succeed, I won’t go.”

“Serpentification is untreatable!”

“It’s not untreatable; I’ve already found a lead!”

Moen slowly enunciated his next words:

“The Tear of True Love.”

Anna froze for a moment, but her gaze remained dim.

“So you’ve looked at my research notes, haven’t you?”

“Sorry.”

“I’m not blaming you. But since you’ve read them, you must know…”

Anna lifted her head. Her exquisitely beautiful face carried a serene but heartbreakingly bittersweet smile as she continued,

“They’re all fake. There’s no cure for Serpentification.”

“…”

Moen took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He fixed his eyes on Anna’s, his gaze filled with seriousness as he retorted,

“That’s not fake. It’s just that you didn’t find the right method. The Tear of True Love has so many possible interpretations. If we just find the correct one, then—”

“It’s fake!”

Anna suddenly raised her voice, cutting him off.

Then, she reached toward the gemstone resting on her chest, lightly brushing her fingers over it as she spoke softly,

“I think that the ‘Tear of True Love’ mentioned in the writings meant this gem, don’t you think?”

“What?”

Moen froze. The gem? How could that be?

“Why? Why would senior think that?”

“Because I’m still able to talk to you like this.”

“What?”

Moen was momentarily stunned before he caught on.

“You mean this gem?”

“Yes,” Anna replied softly. “I found it out by accident. This gem carries a unique and subtle power—it suppresses serpentification.

But… it’s only a suppression.”

Anna glanced down at her own hands.

Those hands were still slender and pale, reminiscent of jade. Yet, beneath her sleeves, the blackened scales had already completely enveloped her arms.

Not only that, but she could once again hear the faint whispers in her ears—the cold, invasive will gradually eroding her body.

All this, despite the gemstone suppressing the effects. Without it, she suspected she might already have ripped Moen’s heart from his chest.

The gem couldn’t save her.

The story that the ancient kingdom of Aesop had cured Serpentification two centuries ago was likely nothing more than a lie…

“No!”

Moen’s voice abruptly cut through Anna’s thoughts. He gripped her delicate shoulders with surprising force, his tone like the roar of a furious lion.

“That’s real!”

Both Professor Mela and the Black Book said so. How could it be false?

“This gem might be another of Aesop’s messages. It’s telling the world that Aesop did indeed master a method to reverse Serpentification!

And the method is related to the Tear of True Love!”

“…”

Anna studied Moen, her lips parting slightly as if to respond, but no words came out.

She wanted to refuse.

She wanted to argue.

She wanted this stubborn boy to leave immediately.

But facing the resolute determination in his eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say a single word to push him away.

“But even if it’s real, I’ve tried everything…”

Anna clutched her arm tightly, her grip firm but unnatural, feeling only the texture of hard scales beneath her touch.

For years, she had poured every ounce of effort she possessed into this, experimenting over and over again, only to encounter failure after failure.

“If you’ve read my research notes, you should understand.”

“Of course, I do. But after reading them, I also discovered something you overlooked.”

“Oh?” Anna tilted her head slightly, puzzled.

“Your experiments—the tears you used—none of them involved you. They were all tears connected to someone else’s emotions.”

Anna’s brows knit together. “And what’s wrong with that?”

“Everything!” Moen emphasized, his voice resolute. “You’ve always been an observer—a bystander watching others’ sorrow and joy that had nothing to do with you. But…” He paused, leaning in closer, his gaze serious. “Have you ever truly accepted someone’s love?”

“Accepted… love?”

Anna’s beautiful eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Indeed, she’d always been an outsider. After experiencing countless ‘false loves,’ she had stopped believing in the so-called ‘true love.’

To avoid hurting others, she had long since sealed her heart away.

But Moen’s words indeed pointed out a path that she had never tread before.

“Then… whose love should I accept?” Anna asked, an uncharacteristic hint of hesitation creeping into her tone.

“Isn’t it obvious? Standing before you is none other than the most infamous playboy of Santa Maria College!”

Moen’s lips curled into a roguish smile.

“Who else would be more likely than me to fall head over heels for a beautiful girl like you?”

“Moen, you…”

Anna wanted to say something but found herself cut off. Moen gave her no time to respond.

He suddenly extended a hand toward her, his mischievous smirk replaced by a solemn expression, as if making an important declaration.

“And so, Anna Kablin, my dear senior, please—set your sights on me. Capture my heart.”

…

At that moment, dawn transformed into sunlight.

The sun entirely escaped the horizon’s grasp at last, draping the world in a dreamy, ethereal glow.

Anna stared blankly at Moen. His words lingered in her ears—no, in her heart—knocking, knocking incessantly at the door to the heart she had long since locked away.

With a sudden deep intake of breath, she sighed and spoke,

“Do you understand what that would mean, Moen?”

“Of course,” Moen replied lightly, shrugging as if it were no big deal.

“It just means, at long last, Santa Maria’s most notorious philanderer will finally face divine retribution and experience heartbreak firsthand.

And as for you, senior, how unfortunate—you’ll have to be branded a femme fatale without ever even having a proper boyfriend first.”

“…Ha,” Anna let out a soft laugh, a melodious and bubbly sound that seemed to echo like ringing bells.

“A playboy… and a seductress, huh?”

Anna lowered her gaze and chuckled softly.

No one could tell what she was thinking.

Suddenly, she took a step forward, moving into Moen's embrace and gently nudging her head against Moen's chest, where his heartbeat had quickened.

"Junior, you always come up with ideas that catch people off guard."

"Since that's the case..."

Anna lifted her head and tilted it slightly, staring at Moen's somewhat dazed face. A mischievous smile surfaced on her lips, one that hadn't appeared for a long time, resembling that of a little devil:

"Whatever happens next, I'm not responsible for that."