Alreis’s consciousness drifted in and out. She glimpsed her past. Though she commanded time itself, she never looked back. What was done was done—she never regretted a thing.

She saw herself rise step by step through the great wars among the races, until she became an Ascendant Sovereign. She saw the peace she forged, where conflicts ceased under her presence. Only when the races laid down arms and coexisted did she feel safe enough to breach the world’s barrier. Yet adrift in the River of Time, she witnessed war reignite. All she could do was watch silently.

Records of the Ascendant Sovereigns were sealed. Alreis couldn’t fathom how humanity—once the underdog, propped up by the Holy Church—had won. Why had the Church vanished? What meaning did her bloodshed hold, if war returned endlessly?

Dazed, she pondered questions she’d never normally consider. Some instinct whispered: this mattered.

“Alreis! Alreis!”

That voice… Wude?

Her consciousness rose. Her tightly shut eyes snapped open.

“Alreis, you’re awake!” Wude held her hand, worry in his eyes.

Alreis glanced around. Elisa stood behind him, concerned. Tini’s gaze sparkled with amusement, as if spotting something deliciously intriguing.

“Did I… do something?” Weak but confused, she wondered why they stared. Logically, she’d been asleep awhile.

“Since earlier, you were shouting—thrashing!” Tini said, her stare making Alreis uneasy. “We thought you woke up, but you were still asleep.”

“What did I say?”

“Stuff like, ‘Why are you still fighting?!’ ‘I made you stop!’” Wude cut in.

“Huh? I said that?” Alreis was stunned she cared so deeply.

“But Alreis thrashed so hard Tini and I couldn’t hold her,” Elisa added in a teasing lilt, “yet the moment Brother Wude held your hand, you calmed. *So* strange~”

“…” Alreis fell silent, cheeks flushing crimson.

“Ahem—Alreis just woke. Don’t bother her. I’ll get food,” Wude said, steering clear of Elisa’s jab. He tried to pull away… but her grip held firm. He tugged gently. No use. *Who said she was weak?*

“Alreis…” he murmured.

“A-ah… my hand won’t listen… Just… a little longer?” she stammered, face burning. A faint tremor betrayed her racing heart.

“…Alright.” Wude relented. Even a fool wouldn’t leave her now.

Elisa and Tini tactfully turned to leave—ignoring the sharp glare Elisa shot Wude.

Alone. The air turned awkward… and faintly intimate.

“F-first—I really can’t control my body…” Alreis avoided his gaze. A transparent lie.

Wude found her flustered denial utterly endearing—the blush, the clumsy cover-up. *So cute.* No wonder he liked teasing her. But today? He’d let it slide.

He simply smiled, covering her hand with his other. Alreis glanced up, met his warm, brilliant smile, and looked away again, letting him hold on.

His heartbeat quickened. *Never done this with a girl before.* In this moment, he wasn’t the master of two Ascendant Sovereigns—just a longtime mage.

Alreis wasn’t faring better. *Wait… I used to be a man.* A wave of shame crashed over her. But his grip was firm. *I’m injured. A little indulgence is okay… right?*

They stayed like that—until a voice cut through.

“Enough already! We thought something happened to you two!”

“Sorry!” they chimed in unison.

*The two being lectured.*

“Exactly!” Tini crowed. “With everything urgent, you’re off doing… *ahem*… inappropriate things? No sense of priority!”

*We’ll deal with you later,* Wude and Alreis thought. Elisa was untouchable. But Tini? Easy prey.

“So, as I was saying— Eep!” Tini froze. A chill ran down her spine. Two terrifying presences locked onto her.

Elisa’s lecture finally ended.

Alreis nibbled fruit, pondering. Tini’s resurrected Lingyue matched her memories. Wude’s Lingyue? Completely off. What was happening? She had theories—but no proof. Better stay silent.

“But… there’s nothing we can do now,” she sighed.

A gray stain lingered in her spirit from Lingyue’s strike. *That’s why I saw the past.* It was fading slowly. Tini’s recovery would take time too. They were stuck in this remote corner.

“Then there’s only one thing left to do!” Alreis declared.

“Hm?” Wude, Elisa, and Tini turned.

“Boost *your* strength, Wude!” she said. “We kept delaying it. Now we have time.”

“But Lingyue…” Tini fretted. *What trouble will she cause if I’m absent?*

“Don’t worry. Shifting from soul form takes time—no less than ours.”

“You mean…” Tini caught on.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Wude and Elisa blinked.

“Complicated,” Tini waved off. “Lingyue won’t appear soon. We use this time to train Wude. Nothing else to do.” Alreis stayed quiet.

Wude missed the subtext. Elisa behind him seemed to understand—but said nothing.

“Then tell me how to get stronger!” Wude clenched his fist. *Finally. I’ll truly grow stronger.*

“Wait… give me a moment to gather magic and retrieve that orb,” Alreis murmured, voice tinged with embarrassment.