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Scene 13: The Meaning of a Life Partner and Happiness Nearby
Inside the kitchen of the Thunderwill estate, Kalisa was teaching Zhuan and Mirelle how to make traditional Thunderwill-style desserts. As the ingredients came together, so did a simple yet heartfelt conversation.
"Zhuan, dear," Kalisa asked casually as she stirred a bowl, "what is it you like about that young lady?"
Zhuan flinched slightly, caught off guard, but replied with quiet sincerity.
"Most people admire her for her beauty, her cheerful energy, or her intelligence—things anyone can see. But for me… I admire her kindness. She's gentle, but strong in a quiet way. What I respect most is how she understands her sister's pain—truly understands it—and chooses to stand by her through it all.
She sees that being with someone destined for greatness often comes with loneliness, and yet she's strong enough to face it. Her support isn't loud, but it's constant. And that kind of heart… it's rare. And it's beautiful."
Mirelle smiled softly, eyes sparkling.
"If someone could see me that clearly, I think I'd melt on the spot. You've already won more than most people ever will."
Kalisa laughed lightly.
"True love, the kind that lasts a lifetime, doesn't come from fleeting passion. It grows into something deeper—a bond, a rhythm. Even if you argue or face hardships, if the connection is real, you'll always find your way back to each other."
She paused, eyes distant for a moment.
"That kind of love is born from understanding. Not appearances, not fame, not wealth—and certainly not from arranged marriages. Parents might think someone is a good match on paper, but that doesn't mean they'll care for your heart."
Zhuan nodded thoughtfully.
"You mean political marriages. I've never liked the idea. They might offer status, but they don't guarantee happiness. Meanwhile, I've seen poor couples smiling with a kind of joy that even the wealthy envy."
Mirelle chimed in,
"I think even those couples carry silent burdens, though. They might feel guilty about not giving their kids the best, or feel ashamed when others look down on them. People always want what they don't have."
Kalisa nodded with a warm smile.
"That's why I think the happiest people are the ones in the middle—enough to live, no debt, a family built on love. If they know how to appreciate what they already have, and can smile at the little joys around them… then I believe that's real happiness."
"Little joys?" Zhuan echoed curiously.
"Yes," Kalisa replied. "If you stop and really look around… a bird enjoying a puddle, flowers swaying in the breeze, children laughing without worry, parents showering love on their kids… or just the sky reminding you how unpredictable life is. Sometimes, just that is enough to make you smile."
"That sounds… big, but it's all so close to home," Zhuan murmured. "Does this have a name?"
Kalisa tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Not quite. Maybe something like mindfulness. Serenity. Or simply learning to see the good that's already here."
Mirelle beamed, glowing with a new sense of warmth.
"I think I've found a new way to smile more often now. Thank you."
Kalisa returned her smile, though a tiny voice whispered in her mind.
"Oh dear… I might've just handed the most powerful weapon to my daughter's rival. Keela, my sweet girl… forgive me."
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Scene 14: Truth Along the Path
Elsewhere, Akira and Luvian were walking along a winding trail on the outskirts of Thunderwill. The breeze was light, the night quiet—but their conversation grew heavier with every step.
"It's really an honor to walk alongside the Hero," Luvian said with a small smile. "Is it true, then? That you came from another world?"
"Please don't call me 'Hero,'" Akira waved his hands with a sheepish smile. "I'm just a normal guy who somehow ended up here. I don't even know how or why."
Luvian blinked in surprise. "Wait… I thought Lady Hikari summoned you. She said the third hero had finally appeared."
Akira scratched his head, confused. "She said that? Well, not exactly. I just woke up in that strange icy temple. An angel was there. She handed me some useful things, pointed to a path… and vanished. That's how I met Yue, and she's the one who brought me to Lady Hikari."
"Icy temple?" Luvian echoed.
"Yeah. It looked like some abandoned religious site in the middle of a snowfield. I called it the 'Ice Temple.'"
"That might've been Zen Temple," Luvian said thoughtfully. "It's a place the first hero visited long ago. A battle took place there."
"Oh—yeah! There were signs of fighting."
Luvian leaned in slightly. "Did the angel tell you her name?"
Akira paused, thinking. "Val'kyrie, I think? I only saw her once or twice. We didn't talk much. Why?"
Luvian's expression darkened. "That name belongs to one of the most powerful angels in the Heaven Realm."
Akira blinked. "Wait. You mean Heaven's real?"
"It is," Luvian nodded. "It's one of the twelve realms connected through the dimensional gates of Celes. Each world has its own element. Skyperion, where we are now, is the Realm of Wind."
Akira looked stunned. "So there really are twelve worlds?"
"Yup. You didn't know? Well, I guess that makes sense. You didn't arrive like the others."
Akira's eyes narrowed. "Others?"
Luvian nodded slowly. "Two before you. The first was Pravien. A genius, but he was corrupted by ambition. He experimented with Chaos in the Realm of Giants—tried to enslave the giants and conquer Arcadia. In the end, he disappeared after a brutal war."
Akira's face darkened. "A hero… turned against the heavens?"
"He wasn't the only one," Luvian added. "The second hero, Gael Varden, did something similar. He conspired with a celestial angel named Elenar in the Insect Star of Augarest. When they were caught, Elenar had her wings stripped and was exiled to a realm without magic. Gael destroyed his own body and split his essence into seven parts. We believe that's how the Seven Sins were born."
Akira froze, breath caught in his throat.
Luvian placed a hand on his shoulder gently. "I know it's a lot to take in. But like it or not, you're known as the third hero now."
Akira said nothing, but in his heart, he recalled the moment he touched the Armor of Serenity and the Earrings of Compassion—Gael and Elenar's names… they had appeared in his visions.
"If I defeat the Seven Sins… maybe I'll learn the truth behind it all. Maybe there's something only I'm meant to find," he whispered to himself.
Lost in thought, Akira barely noticed where he was stepping. Luvian subtly steered him away from uneven ground, assuming he was simply absorbing the lore. But Akira was thinking far deeper.
And though the truths were vast and the future uncertain—at least for now, he needed to keep his footing steady. Even heroes, after all, need to watch their step when walking toward destiny.
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