Mushiyu felt her mind was in chaos. Since waking up earlier, she’d been dazed and disoriented—only now, jolted by shock, had she truly snapped to her senses.

Memories flooded back. She’d been grinding a new dungeon with Xiaoqing. She’d landed her ultimate skill to kill the Boss, but just as she thought it was over, a blood-red, serpent-like eye had suddenly appeared, locking onto her with chilling intensity. Then the egg Xiaoqing gave her had leaped from her backpack—and everything went black.

She woke up here.

If this wasn’t a dream, something utterly impossible had happened.

So… where was *here*? Why was she here? And who was that person who looked exactly like Xiaoqing?

Mushiyu took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, forcing herself to calm down.

She lifted her head and looked at the "Elven Captain." Her first question slipped out: "Can you use magic?"

Loran nodded. "A little."

Disbelief flickered in Mushiyu’s eyes. She’d asked to test his reaction—if he were faking it, even the dumbest question should’ve made him flinch or smirk. Yet he’d answered calmly, "A little."

"Is that strange?" Loran noticed her expression, assuming she doubted him. "Elves are nature’s darlings. Every one of us has strong magic affinity. At minimum, we master one or two spells."

*Is this world insane… or am I?*

Mushiyu took several more deep breaths to steady herself. Then she asked the question burning inside her: "Where is this place? Why am I here?"

"This is the outskirts of Cursed Dragon Gorge," Loran replied. "As for you—you were found by Her Highness in the nearby woods."

*Cursed Dragon Gorge…*

Mushiyu’s head spun. She waved her hand through the air again—no menu box appeared. She definitely wasn’t in-game. So what was this "Cursed Dragon Gorge"? A coincidence?

"Does… does Cursed Dragon Gorge have a dragon named A-du-ni-si?" she ventured hesitantly.

Loran’s eyes narrowed. "Adonis."

"Yes! Exactly—"

Mushiyu froze. Loran’s gaze had turned dangerously sharp.

*So I’ve transmigrated into the game? Or… into a world identical to Heavenly Wonder Continent?*

*Is that even possible?*

A Buddhist verse surfaced in her mind: *A world in a single flower.*

What if creating the game *Heavenly Wonder Continent* had somehow birthed this very world in another dimension? Was she now trapped inside it?

*No.* She dismissed the thought instantly. The original game had no NPC who looked exactly like Xiaoqing—a mere player. Unless… she’d transmigrated too? But why wouldn’t she recognize Mushiyu? Or… was she truly not Xiaoqing?

*She said her name is Melissara…*

Mushiyu asked, "Who is that Melissara—"

***SLAP!***

Fire exploded across her cheek. Her head snapped sideways, vision blurring. She stared blankly, stunned by the sudden violence. *Why?*

Loran lowered her hand, voice icy. "Remember this slap. You’re merely a slave Her Highness picked up. How dare you speak her name so casually?"

Mushiyu gritted her teeth, fury boiling over. "Are you insane?!"

Though she didn’t know what "insane" meant, Loran caught the venom in her tone. Her eyes turned glacial. Her right hand gripped her sword hilt—***shing!***—the blade flashed out, its tip stopping inches from Mushiyu’s lips. "Want to lose that tongue?"

The cold gleam of steel made Mushiyu shrink back. She swallowed her rage. "Melissara *Her Highness*—"

"***Master***," Loran corrected sharply.

*Damn you, Xiaoqing! If I ever get back, I’ll make you pay!*

"Fine," Mushiyu told herself to endure. Unarmed, she stood no chance. "*Master*… who is she? Why do you call her ‘Her Highness’?"

Loran sheathed her sword, reverence softening her features. "Her Highness is the Elven King. The youngest and most powerful ruler our people have seen in millennia."

*Elven King?* Mushiyu recalled a dungeon chat with Xiaoqing. Xiaoqing had joked about her title being "Elven King," granting access to all racial skills.

*Another coincidence?*

She studied Loran suspiciously. A memory sparked—someone cosplaying this exact character at a convention. That’s why she’d mistaken Loran for a cosplayer at first glance. *Loran* was the Elven Captain. Any elf player would know her well. But Xiaoqing, a human, rarely visited Elven Forest. Not recognizing Loran made sense.

If NPCs existed here… would other players appear too? Others who looked identical to real people?

"I asked you a question," Loran’s cold voice cut through her thoughts. "When did I tell you my name?"

Mushiyu improvised. "I’ve seen you before!"

"Seen me?"

"Yes! In… in a book! Humans write novels and biographies. One featured you!" *She said I was found in the woods. Any lie should work, right?*

But Mushiyu was wrong. She hadn’t been found in the woods—she’d been pulled from Adonis’s egg.

***

"…She knows your name?" Melissara arched a delicate eyebrow.

Loran nodded. "Yes."

"Fascinating." Melissara glanced toward Mushiyu’s carriage. "What did you do to her?"

"Just cast a sleep spell and tied her to the bed." Loran scanned the camp. Adventurers celebrating their dragon-slaying victory paid them no mind. "I suspect she’s Adonis’s avatar. She might have learned my name during the fight."

"But she has no magic aura," Melissara countered.

"Perhaps she’s hiding it." Loran’s tone was grave.

Melissara stroked her pointed chin, then rose from the grass mat and strode toward the carriage.

Loran moved to follow—but Melissara’s command pinned her in place: "You stay."

The carriage’s interior was far larger than its exterior suggested—a result of spatial magic.

Melissara lit the oil lamp on the small table and approached the bed. The sleeping girl’s arms were bound high above her head by vines, revealing porcelain-white skin. Beneath a thin blanket lay her unclothed body. Her cheeks were fair and flushed, her lashes thick and dark as butterfly wings.

Melissara leaned closer, tracing a finger gently over the girl’s face, savoring the smoothness beneath her touch. A faint smile curved her lips. Her fingertip drifted from one cheek to the other—then froze. Her smile vanished. She frowned at the angry red mark marring the girl’s skin.

Whispering an Elven healing incantation, Melissara’s palm glowed soft green over the bruise. The swelling faded instantly, restoring the skin to the flawless texture she preferred.

Watching the girl sleep, Melissara felt an unfamiliar warmth stir within her. She lifted a corner of the blanket, slowly peeling it back. The girl’s bare form was revealed, bound wrists and all—a sight both vulnerable and alluring.

*Her body looks no different from mine… yet why does my heart race?* Melissara pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the frantic pulse. *So alive. A sensation entirely new to me.*

*Is it because of this body?*

Curious, Melissara’s hand slid over the girl’s skin—shoulders, spine, waist—exploring every inch.

Touching wasn’t enough anymore. She craved deeper contact. To feel this body against her own.

After sealing the carriage door with a barrier spell, Melissara undid her buttons one by one, shedding her clothes until she stood bare. She climbed onto the bed and gathered the girl into her arms.

A wave of profound satisfaction washed over her. She pulled the blanket over them both, holding the girl tightly. Her hands glided over delicate shoulder blades, down the slender spine, finally resting on the girl’s narrow waist.

Melissara inhaled the girl’s sweet scent, eyes closed, lost in the warmth against her chest.

***

The campfire dimmed. Adventurers retreated to their tents, leaving one guard on watch.

"Captain Loran," the guard yawned. "Aren’t you resting?"

Loran nodded curtly. "Soon."

She stood and walked toward the carriage, worry tightening her chest. *Why hasn’t Her Highness returned? Has that cursed slave harmed her?*

At the carriage door, Loran raised her hand to knock—then froze. A barrier spell shimmered faintly on the wood. Unmistakably the Elven King’s magic.

Loran’s brow furrowed. *What is Her Highness doing? Why seal the door? Alone with someone who might be Adonis’s avatar… what are you thinking, Your Highness?!*

Fists clenched, Loran fought the urge to shatter the barrier. *She’s safe. Adonis can’t touch her. She must have her reasons…*

She sat down right there, back rigid, senses sharp. She wouldn’t sleep. If Her Highness needed aid, she’d be ready.

The distant guard glanced curiously between Loran and the carriage. They’d all seen it—the Elven King emerging from Adonis’s shattered eggshell, cradling this mysterious girl. Her origins were a dangerous riddle. But no one asked. After facing Adonis, they were glad to let the Elven King handle whatever trouble she might bring.

Dawn broke. Nothing happened. Loran had sat guard all night.

She sprang to her feet. *No reason for Her Highness to spend a night in a slave’s carriage. Unless… she’s in danger!*

Gathering magic into her blade, Loran roared and swung her sword with crushing force at the carriage door—

***THUD!***

The barrier flared. Loran staggered back, her sword arm numb, boots scraping the earth to keep balance. The carriage stood unharmed.

*Her Highness’s barrier is too strong!*

Gritting her teeth, Loran summoned magic again, raising her sword for a second strike.

No matter what, she had to shatter this seal!

But just as Loran was about to swing her sword, a scream suddenly ripped from inside the carriage, forcibly halting her advance.

"Xiaoqing! What have you done to me?!"