(A/N: Uhh, the volume had started way early. But, I forgot to create the section T-T)

....

"Aren’t you angry that your little boyfriend is being taken away?"

High in the sky, two figures stood. One was a man and the other a woman.

Zeratheil chuckled and tilted his head, hearing his words, a vein popped on Soleine’s forehead.

"Old thing, mind your own business."

"Heh, you should be the last person talking about my age."

Zeratheil chuckled, making Soleine’s already intense eyes glow fiercely.

...

Far from the borders, on a distant island in the middle of the seas. Two figures flashed, Emperal’s eyes narrowed.

"Infernal Dragon, is my connection with Soleine still present?" He asked, after all, they had landed on none other than the Ashefields Islands.

"...Yes, it’s still connected."

The Infernal Dragon’s calm voice echoed, making Emperal sigh in relief inwardly. Tilting his head, he saw Vraelyn staring at him. He didn’t speak, just kept staring her in the eye. This continued for several minutes until Emperal’s patience finally ran out.

"...So?"

"...Are you and Soleine i-into a relationship?"

Vraelyn’s already dimmed eyes bordered on despair when she spoke her words; the entire Verandis would throw off balance if one were to hear such words and see her current expression.

It was...not the Supreme Empress of Dragons. Here, she was just Vraelyn.

Hearing her words, Emperal’s eyes hardened, and a vein popped on his forehead.

"Do you think that low of me, Vraelyn? Do you think my feelings are that hollow? How dare you assume I could move on from you and date the next girl I meet? If that’s truly what you think, then you never knew me in the first place."

Hearing Emperal’s harsh words, Vraelyn’s head lowered further. But inside? A tidal wave of relief washed over her body, and her body shook intensely.

"I...see. Hearing that brings me immense relief," Vraelyn spoke, and before Emperal could react, her hand shot out, and her body moved before he could speak.

"..."

Emperal just stood there, Vraelyn had buried her face in his chest and was sobbing uncontrollably. It was a surreal sight.

Emperal hesitated for a moment before sighing. Raising his hand, he gently stroked her back, trying to calm her trembling body. Calming her trembling body. After a few seconds, he felt vibrations in his chest. Vraelyn was trying to speak.

"I-I missed you! My body, my mind, and my thoughts...everything was messed up! Everything because of that damn curse!!"

Emperal was quietly listening to her words, but as soon as he heard her last words...his expression changed drastically.

"What did you just say?"

He asked, holding her shoulders and separating her. Vraelyn’s already crimson eyes had reddened and become a bit puffy.

Her snow white skin had flushed crimson, and upon hearing his words, Vraelyn finally smiled.

"You are still worried about me."

"Answer the damn question, woman!"

Emperal shouted, a terrible...really terrible feeling gripped his heart, and Vraelyn’s smile wasn’t helping either.

"I’m sorry...Emperal"

Suddenly, an eerie aura began leaking from Vraelyn. The sclera of her right eye slowly started turning black.

"V-Vraelyn!!?"

Emperal’s eyes widened in absolute horror as he saw this, even the scales on her right arm, the scales on her shin...all started to darken and turn into something...corrupted.

"You are..."

"Cursed"

Vraelyn nodded, and her face slowly started to return to normal. And in a few seconds, it turned completely normal.

Emperal was stunned, "There are curses that could even affect you?"

He couldn’t help but ask, to which Vraelyn sighed.

"Well, there were two reasons for that. The first, this curse is from a high-ranking Hollow, and second...I was careless."

"What do you mean, careless?"

Emperal asked, his voice heavy.

"Yes, even before the tournament, I was cursed, and my will and powers suppressed. Not just that, even my thoughts were starting to erode. But, I would have intervened even if I were a mortal for your sake, Emperal..."

Emperal felt his heart nearly stop when he heard this; his thoughts froze, and his cold, stoic expression finally shattered.

"What..."

"They...threatened me with your life on the line, my dear. I could do nothing...but watch you suffer endless humiliation."

In the end, Vraelyn broke down once again, sobbing uncontrollably. Even now, her heart still remembered how desperately she had tried to hold herself back. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"No way, all this while—all this while I blamed you. You...you were innocent. No, you were the real victim in all this."

Emperal muttered with a heavy heart, to which Vraelyn hurriedly shook her head.

"What are you saying!? This is my incapacity and lack of foresight that let that Hollow’s curse slip into me."

Emperal took deep breaths, "Blame games wouldn’t help at this moment. Vraelyn, tell me. Why are they targeting me?"

He was confused; the...creatures from the fourth and most mysterious continent were among the most dangerous beings in existence. The abilities and techniques they had were...second to none.

It is the forbidden place of Verandis, where each leader had specifically made it clear not to approach or explore the Hollow.

One of their strongest abilities was...curses. Yes, they seemed to worship the devil himself. A single high-ranking Hollow’s curse can wipe out an entire city overnight!

Hearing Emperal’s words, Vraelyn shook her head with a sigh. "I do not know, but my guesses are...it is linked to your blood and your...parents."

The moment Vraelyn dropped that bomb, Emperal frowned in suspicion.

"My parents and my...blood? Both are trash. What do they even need?"

Vraelyn felt a certain pain in the corner of her heart when she heard Emperal speak about his parents. But, she held back. After all, his feelings and sufferings are more than enough to put his parents in the category of trash.

"Don’t worry, I will investigate this as soon as possible. If...I do not die."

"What!? Why would you die?"

"This curse isn’t normal, my dear, it is slowly corroding my will and my...heart. I’m afraid I won’t make it after five or fewer years."

Despite those words, there was a small smile of relief on her face.

"I’m just glad I suppressed this curse and cleared up the misunderstanding between us. Or else, I would have died with eternal regret—"

Slap!

Just before she could complete her words, a tight slap landed across her cheek. Making her snow-white skin turn completely crimson.