"He said that to you?"
Yue sat at the edge of a windswept cliff, her legs dangling freely over the edge as she gazed at the endless ocean stretching beyond the horizon. The sea breeze was strong and untamed, whipping through her hair and tugging at the edges of her robe, but she welcomed it.
Behind her, the crunch of hesitant footsteps drew her attention. She glanced over her shoulder to find Amon standing there, stiff and awkward, trying to put the Sword Saint's cryptic words into something resembling a coherent retelling. He gestured occasionally, clearly still processing the encounter, but his usually sharp demeanour had given way to something almost sheepish.
As he stumbled through the story, Yue's lips curled into a smile, and a soft giggle escaped before she could stop herself. The contrast between the solemn gravity of the Sword Saint's lecture and Amon's bewildered expression was simply too much to resist.
"That old man… He told you not to get to the point, yet he did the same thing."
"Nothing," Yue shook her head and swung her feet leisurely over the cliff. "So? What are your thoughts?"
"... My thoughts are irrelevant to this case. If we deem the Sword Saint a threat, we should eliminate him now."
"Hah… You're always thinking of the fast approach. Sometimes, things don't fall into place like you believe they would, Amon! Don't you remember why you failed in my original timeline?"
Of course, Amon couldn't forget it.
In Yue's original timeline, Amon approached every problem the same way—with his blade. He cut down anyone who stood in his path, swift and uncompromising. In fact, he had even tried to kill her, believing she was destined to become a villain responsible for the downfall of House Elune.
Though his ruthless methods eliminated countless enemies, they came at a cost. His actions disrupted the natural flow of events, triggering unforeseen consequences and deviations. These subtle shifts multiplied over time, creating instability that ultimately hastened humanity's downfall. Ultimately, the war against the Demon Cult was lost despite his strength and sacrifice.
"So what should I do?"
"Nothing," Yue shook her head. "About the Sword Saint, I know of a way to win him over to our side."
"Really? What is it?"
"It's nothing concrete, and I need some time to verify it. But don't worry, I can guarantee the Sword Saint won't defect to the Demon Cult once he hears my proposal."
"I see… Then, do you need my help?"
"No, for now… Think about the questions the Sword Saint posed," Yue replied without hesitation. "Why are you fighting for humanity, Amon Solaris? What are your desires?"
"That… Why does that matter?"
Amon was completely confused, almost to the point of annoyance. In his mind, all that mattered was saving the world and eradicating the Demon Cult from the planet. Whatever motivations he carried were irrelevant.
"Hah… And here I'd thought you had become more human after living here for twenty-two years… But deep down, you're still a soldier and weapon, Number 23."
Yue saw Amon's frustration and decided there was no point speaking in riddles. Therefore, she cut straight to the point.
"Most people are driven by desire. A warrior fights to protect their family. A mother, her home and children. Even the selfish ones—take the Blood Demon, for example. He sought resurrection just to indulge in his freedom. The Foolish Lich wanted to become human while clinging to his immortality. Every living being moves according to what they long for. But you, Amon… you have no desire at all."
"You just do things because it is meant to be that way. Even your desire to save humanity… stemmed from your love of [Bright] and a longing to finish it through. Maybe, you're even looking at it as an order from the entity that transferred your soul here."
Amon didn't breathe a word, but his silence spoke volumes.
There wasn't a single soul on the planet who understood Amon better than Yue. In many ways, she knew him more intimately than he knew himself. With a weary breath and a faint, resigned smile, Amon finally spoke, his voice tinged with fatigue: The source of thɪs content is NoveIꜰire.net
"Then… What are my desires?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
Yue gave a light shrug and rose gracefully from where she sat, the motion effortless, almost weightless. The wind picked up, sweeping through her long, ethereal white hair and tugging gently at the edges of her flowing magician's robe.
The fabric danced around her like mist, and in that moment, with the sea behind her and the horizon ablaze with light, she looked like a figure pulled from a dream—timeless and otherworldly. Her crimson eyes glimmered as they caught the fading sun, sharp and serene.
The sheer radiance of her presence made Amon unconsciously hold his breath. She stepped toward him, unhurried, each footfall light yet sure. As their eyes met, the world seemed to fall into silence. Amon said nothing. He couldn't. He simply stood there, locked in place, caught in the quiet intensity of her gaze.
"You are the one who decides your fate, Amon Solaris. I'm just an observer, lucky enough to witness it from the best seat in the house."
Amon stood in silence, lost in deep reflection. His thoughts ran so far inward that he failed to notice the two young girls watching him from a distance, their presence masked by curiosity and hushed whispers.
One of them, a slender girl with jet-black hair and striking golden eyes, bore a subtle resemblance to Amon—sharp features, a quiet intensity in her gaze. She observed him with a thoughtful expression, arms crossed as if analysing every movement.
Beside her stood a similarly lean maiden, this one with soft blonde hair and clear sapphire eyes. She seemed far more bashful, her cheeks tinged pink as she hesitated to look directly at Amon's distant silhouette. Her nervous glances were brief and fluttering, betraying a quiet admiration she tried to conceal.
The dark-haired girl noticed instantly and let out a playful laugh, nudging her companion with a teasing grin. The blonde shrank further, flustered, as the other giggled, clearly enjoying the moment far more than she should have.
While Amon didn't notice them, Yue certainly did. She waved at the pair only for Bawi to scowl and pivot her feet. Amused by her actions, Arya laughed even louder and followed the sword maiden back into the hut to complete their chores.
Naturally, Amon saw that exchange, and his mind calmed a little.
"It was a good idea, bringing Arya along. She's getting along well with the Sword Saint's granddaughter."
"Getting Bawi on our side is the key to unlocking the Sword Saint's allegiance."
Amon didn't fully understand Yue's plans but never questioned them. He trusted her instincts without hesitation. Still, there was an unexpected benefit—it provided much-needed experience for Arya, whose training had recently hit a plateau.
Lately, she had been sparring regularly with Bawi, exchanging techniques and testing her limits. Though it was clear that Bawi held the upper hand in both skill and experience, Arya had begun to adapt. Bit by bit, she was picking up new techniques, refining her movements, and showing steady improvement. The progress was slow, but undeniable.
"Then… should I spend more time with Bawi? She's been asking me to help train her," Amon said, his tone completely innocent.
Yue's expression immediately darkened. Her face paled, and she exhaled sharply as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Are you trying to provoke me, or are you just that oblivious?"
Amon blinked, clearly lost.
"She likes you, Amon! Romantically!" Yue snapped, her voice rising slightly in frustration.
Amon tilted his head, genuinely confused. The idea of the Sword Saint's granddaughter being interested in him had never even crossed his mind. And even if it had, he wouldn't have recognised the signs.
"You do realise…" Yue growled, her voice dropping to a possessive tone, "I'm not the sharing type."
Without waiting for a response, she slipped her arm through his and forcefully turned his face toward hers, locking their eyes together. Amon stood frozen, bewildered by her sudden intensity, but Yue didn't let up. Her expression was a mix of anger and something more profound—fierce and unspoken—as she held him in her gaze.
"I hate it when someone tries to take things that are mine. Especially when it's the one thing that I desire the most."
Stunned by the sudden confession, Amon stood still, momentarily frozen. It wasn't as if he hadn't known—he knew that Yue had strong feelings for him. But he had always ignored it, burying that truth beneath duty and detachment.
Yet now, faced with her open emotions and unflinching gaze, a quiet thought crept into his mind. Maybe it was time to stop running from it. To allow himself, if only for a moment, to indulge in that emotion, not out of weakness, but as a form of self-reflection. To peel back the layers of who he was and discover where his desires truly lay.
"You asked me to reflect on my desires, but Yue… Do you already know your desires?"
"Hah… So that's what it was." Yue sighed, seemingly hoping for a slightly different response. Yet, she didn't feel all that disappointed. Holding her laugh, she continued: "Yes, I knew my desires when I decided to regress into the past. No, I knew it long before that as well."
Skipping forwards so they could see each other face-to-face, Yue declared with all her heart.
"I desire a future where we can live in peace. A life where I can be your woman, and a mother to your children, and… I desire you, Amon Solaris."
"... why? Why go so far for me?"
"Why, you ask?" Yue held onto Amon's meaty arms and gazed into his quivering eyes.
"Because I love you."