"Xiu."

Isharis sheathed her Holy Sword, calling out to Albel as she walked toward him.

"Xiu?"

Albel heard that familiar yet elusive name again. Why did it feel so oddly nostalgic? And why did the First Holy Maiden keep calling him Xiu?

"It seems you haven't awakened yet."

Isharis smiled slightly.

"Awakened? What do you mean?"

Albel found himself frozen as Isharis drew closer, staring blankly at her.

"Her Highness, First Holy Maiden Isharis..."

Alicia recognized her instantly—the legendary maiden who led the Light Sanctuary against the demons a decade ago. Statues of her stood before every Light Sanctuary headquarters, and Alicia had seen her portrait in the Holy Maiden Hall.

Alicia didn't know what to do. Isharis was a hero to all Light Sanctuary believers, a figure Alicia had grown to revere despite her own lack of faith.

"Bro, watch out!"

Unlike the stunned Alicia, Verdandi saw Albel unresponsive. Fearing Isharis might harm him, she used Instant Teleportation to appear before Isharis, ready to attack.

But to Verdandi's shock, Isharis dissolved into golden light, reappearing behind her. Golden chains shot from the ground, binding Verdandi in place.

"How? I can't use Instant Teleportation?"

Verdandi tried to teleport free but gasped—her ability was gone.

Alicia stood behind Albel, heart pounding as she watched Verdandi restrained. If Albel died now, what would become of her? She'd never considered it.

No. Albel had saved her countless times. She couldn't just stand by.

Alicia's anxiety surged, but hesitation held her back. Isharis loomed like an unscalable mountain in her mind.

Fight or not? That was her dilemma.

Attacking was futile—even Verdandi couldn't touch Isharis. Yet doing nothing meant watching Isharis approach Albel.

As Alicia wavered, memories flooded her: moments with Albel, the terror facing Asmodeus. What if he vanished?

Albel mattered deeply. Her fear of losing him now outweighed her awe of Isharis.

Alicia made her choice. Even if futile, she'd act.

She clenched her teeth, drew her Holy Sword—a replica dimmed before the original—and swung without hesitation.

Isharis didn't even glance at Alicia. With a flick of her finger, Alicia froze mid-swing.

What? Why can't I move?

Alicia teetered off-balance, immobilized as if encased in ice, forced to watch Isharis pass by.

"Xiu, it's been ten years. Do you know how much I've missed you every moment?"

Isharis embraced Albel, pressing her cheek to his chest.

"Who... who are you? Who is Xiu? Tell me—why send me to Lost Isle? What's the Aberrant Core for?"

Albel pushed her away awkwardly, his head spinning with unanswered questions.

"Shh~"

Isharis placed a slender finger on his lips, then rose on tiptoe and kissed him.

"Right now, a kiss is all we need."

Albel's pupils widened at the warmth of her lips. What kind of move was this?

But instantly, he understood. Buried memories surged:

A classroom with neat desks—Isharis in a student uniform, grinning at him from the next seat.

A breezy seaside—he and Isharis watching the dawn sun rise over the horizon.

A city street amid skyscrapers—he held Isharis as a blood-red sky revealed a massive totem-like sigil.

Isharis cradling his lifeless body, weeping.

"Ahh!"

Albel clutched his head, a searing pain tearing through his mind.

"Still not ready, I see."

Isharis watched him, her expression flickering from sorrow to a twisted smile.

"But your kiss still tastes the same. I truly can't live without you."

She touched her lips, savoring the memory with a soft sigh.

"What... what was that? Why were we together? Did we know each other?"

Albel's head cleared. The visions felt like a dream, yet real. He studied the silver-haired girl before him—Isharis's face matched the girl from his memories, save for her hair color.

"Xiu, in this life or the last, you're mine alone. And I am yours."

Isharis cupped Albel's face gently, but her words cut off abruptly.

"Time's up, it seems."

She tilted her head, murmuring to herself.

"But seeing you today satisfies me. Soon, nothing will keep us apart."

Her body dissolved into holy light, vanishing before Albel's eyes.

"Wait!"

Albel reached out—but grasped only air.

As Isharis disappeared, Verdandi and Alicia's restraints lifted.

"Bro, are you okay?"

Verdandi rushed to Albel, worry etched on her face.

"I'm fine."

Albel shook his head. The pain was gone, like a fleeting illusion—but those memories were real.

"Good. But you deserve this. Why snatch a wife when we were fine alone? Now things are messy."

Verdandi shot him a glare. Blissfully unaware, he didn't know his luck.

"What could I do? I'm desperate too."

Albel shrugged helplessly, utterly confused.

"Albel, confess now! What's your tie to Lady Isharis? Aren't you enemies?"

Alicia stomped over, kicking his shin. Hands on hips, she glared up at him. Verdandi hadn't seen the kiss—but Alicia had, right before her eyes.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be in this mess."

Albel shrugged again.

"You must have history! Why did she kiss you? 'Same taste'? You've kissed before! And you claimed ten years as a virgin—shameless!"

Alicia turned away, cheeks flushing. Why did Isharis get to act so freely?

"Jealous?"

Albel's lips curled into a sly smile. He leaned down, eyes twinkling.

"W-who's jealous? I just dislike her!"

Alicia shook her head fiercely, but her crimson face betrayed her.

"Still, I'm touched. You stood up for me—even if useless."

Albel ruffled Alicia's silky golden hair. Seeing her charge at Isharis for him had filled him with warmth.

"N-not for you! I'd just be troubled if you died."

Alicia insisted, adding hastily, "I'll still escape someday. I'm meant to be a princess's queen."

"Try it. Think it'll be easy?"

Albel eyed the stubborn Holy Maiden, voice teasingly threatening.

"Then watch me closely. Or I might run off with someone else..."

Alicia shot him a glare, then turned away, face burning. Hands clasped behind her back, she wandered aimlessly forward.