Yue entered the hotel room provided by the High Council, letting her mind unwind after a long, exhausting day. It was only the second day of Eldorin's showcase, yet their performance had already exceeded expectations.
Dignitaries from every faction watched in awe at the prowess of her young knights, and more than a few had already tried to recruit them for their own causes. As the Order's second-in-command, Yue found herself navigating a labyrinth of political intrigue, ensuring her knights remained united amid the tug-of-war of interests.
At the same time, she worked to strengthen her own standing within the Hyades Republic, hoping to sway them into joining the war against the Demon Cult. It was a tremendous burden to shoulder, but to Yue, every ounce of effort was worth it.
Yue dropped her bag to the floor and made her way to the bathroom to change into her nightwear. She removed her jewellery, wiped away the traces of makeup, and slipped into a silk nightgown, enthralling yet modest in its design.
Pausing before the mirror, she adjusted her hair and posture until her reflection met her exacting standards. Strands of white hair, like threads of moonlight, cascaded down her nape, softening the poised grace of her figure. Her flawless ivory skin, sculpted features, and ruby eyes exuded an allure that could easily ensnare any man's gaze.
Yue maintained her beauty through relentless discipline, and her perfect curves were the result of rigorous exercise in addition to her many duties.
To many, she was the embodiment of desire. But Yue's thoughts were fixed on only one person.
"Amon… I wonder if he'll like it if I show more skin?"
Yue's mind was shamelessly of the profane. She was thinking about how she could get Amon into bed and put a baby or two in her. And as she thought of her future husband, Yue's lips unconsciously cracked into a smile.
It had been almost twenty years since she'd regressed into the past.
When Amon and she first met in her previous life, he was a block of wood, or more specifically, a man with a machine heart. His mind was laser-focused on the goal of destroying the Demon Cult, and he was void of any human emotions. If it meant destroying the Demon Cult, he could sacrifice millions of people, destroy families and even take resources away from the ones who needed it the most. Get full chapters from novel-fire.net
Unknowingly, he shouldered the fate of the world on his shoulders, thinking it was a burden that only he could carry. In the end, as the world was ruined, he alone stood before humanity as its last protector.
But Amon had changed.
Gone was the cold, machine-like killer who focused solely on his goal.
Now, he would consider others' feelings, defer to opinions that could aid in his plan, and, most importantly, he learnt how to rely on others.
All of his secrets were laid bare to Yue, and they formed a symbiotic relationship where neither could last without the other. In all senses of the word, they were soulmates.
In her past life, Yue would turn into a villain, one who would destroy the Elune House after being influenced by her aunt, the Apostle of Lust. She would willingly sell her soul to the Demon Cult in the chase for power. Ultimately, that all changed when Amon came knocking on her door and pointed his favoured blade at her neck.
That was the catalyst that sparked their relationship.
Just like the members of Eldorin, Yue was saved by Amon.
She was fated to become a wretched betrayer of humanity, selling the Elune House and all of her loved ones to the Demon Cult in their nefarious need to take over Hyades. It was written in destiny.
But Amon broke that fate… Simply by existing, he rewrote the narrative and changed the records. Yue came to know of this after she studied the artefact that descended upon her once the fate of the world had been blurred.
The Mysterious Grimoire.
Amon simply thought of it as a novelty item that could boost Yue's magical powers.
But the truth of the matter was… the Mysterious Grimoire far surpassed any artefact on the planet.
It was more divine than the Holy Grail, gave more power than the Staff of Yiirun, and it could read destiny and rewrite the narrative. Even after her regression, which the Mysterious Grimoire enabled, Yue couldn't confidently say she mastered the magic book.
Nevertheless, it was bound to her soul, and Yue would spend the better part of her training trying to unlock the final few chapters of the Mysterious Grimoire. In Hyades, there wasn't anyone else who could help her on this front. Amon was completely useless when it came to complicated magic. Johann was far too inexperienced, and his knowledge as a mage paled in comparison to hers. Even the top mages in the world wouldn't dare to say they could match Yue's knowledge.
"When will you fully open?"
Yue summoned out the Mysterious Grimoire and observed it from all sides. Its chains were still tightly sealed, and no matter how much Yue tried to decipher its secrets, it wouldn't budge. Only when the time was right would the Mysterious Grimoire release another function.
Though, admittedly… Yue had been slacking off in her research.
Because she was dealt the ultimate distraction of all…
"Amon said he was waiting to start a family… Heh, shouldn't we just marry this fall? Maybe we should consummate the marriage early!"
Lost in her delusions, Yue felt her heart becoming fuller by the minute.
She had dreamt of this moment for so long—a day when Amon would fully open his heart to her and eventually connect their hearts—a relationship of ultimate trust and love.
But alas, in her patience… arrogance, even… she forgot one crucial thing.
A shadow stirred in the corner of the room, instantly sharpening Yue's senses. Yet she didn't panic. Her magic detection was flawless—no hostile presence could have slipped past it. Whoever had entered must have been an ally.
Sure enough, Renee and Maelle stepped out from the darkness, earning a raised eyebrow from Yue's perfectly composed face. Behind them were two more figures. One was Bane, barely conscious and swaying on his feet. The other lay utterly still, motionless as if overcome by a potent toxin.
And there was no way Yue would fail to recognise him.
Yue ran towards her fainted lover and fell on her knees. She instantly cast a detection spell, prompting for any significant injuries or mental contamination. But while that was going on, she sent a glare that would kill Renee and Maelle.
"W-We were caught in a trap!"
Renee wasted no time and began recounting everything that had transpired. From Bane's shocking betrayal to the sudden appearance of the Pope of the Utopia Church, her voice wavered between exhaustion and disbelief.
What unsettled Yue most, however, wasn't the Pope's emergence—it was Renee's description of him. By all accounts, the man wasn't overwhelmingly powerful. In a direct clash, Amon, at his peak, could have ended him with a single strike. Yet, reality had played out differently.
The Pope had unleashed a mysterious mental art, an attack so insidious that even Amon's formidable will couldn't resist it. In an instant, he was drawn into a deep, unending slumber, his consciousness sealed away as though trapped in a dream with no escape.
Once Renee finished recounting what had happened, Yue's analysis of Amon's state had completed. She glanced down at the man she loved and let out a heavy sigh.
"There's nothing wrong with his body… His mind has been caught in a dream that I can't pierce through… The only thing we can do now is wait until Amon breaks free from this mental corruption on his own."
All this time, she had forgotten one vital fact. Amon may be powerful, but he wasn't invincible. History has shown that he would plough through his enemies, no matter how dangerous they may be. Even the Prophet was no match for Amon's relentless talent and overwhelming power.
But even giants had their weaknesses.
And Amon's one was his mind.
Yes, his mental psyche surpassed most Knights, but in the end, he was just a soul recovering.
Amon didn't know it, but his mind had automatically sealed all his memories, or rather, his feelings associated with those memories, in an attempt to protect his mental state. But now, Nirvana had shattered that mental barrier, forcing him to face the horrors of his past.
"The Pope of the Utopia Church… what a blind spot."
Yue cursed the Demon Cult. She cursed the Pope of the Utopia Church, and most importantly… she cursed herself. She was the regressor, and her knowledge of the future surpassed Amon's. Yet, she wasn't able to foresee the Pope's actions. And now… Amon was paying the consequences of her oversight.
"I have been too relaxed… Everything had been going well, so I've let my guard down."
Yue's mana surged, revealing the depths of her wrath. Renee and Maelle instinctively hid themselves, fearing that the strongest magician in Eldorin would direct her anger at them. Fortunately, their worst fears didn't come true. Instead, Yue held onto Amon's hand with worry as she channelled her mana into his soul.
"This is the least… I can do."
For the first time in ages, Yue prayed.
Not to the Goddess, nor was it to another God.
She prayed to Amon, hoping that he would recover.
And unknown to her… the Mysterious Grimoire, which hadn't moved since she regressed into the past, began to tremble.