Aelira and Rudrean slowly opened their eyes.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved. Their senses were still catching up, their bodies heavy from the lingering exhaustion and pain that had only just faded.

"...Darling?" Aelira’s voice was soft, uncertain.

"I’m here," Rudrean replied, his voice low but steady.

They both sat up at the same time.

And then... they froze.

What greeted them was not destruction. Not chaos. Not the apocalyptic wasteland they had last seen.

But beauty.

Pure, serene, almost unreal beauty.

They were lying on a soft bed of emerald grass that shimmered faintly, each blade carrying a gentle glow as if infused with mana. The air was warm, fragrant, and alive with a calming energy that seeped into their very bones.

Tall trees surrounded them, their trunks smooth and pale, their leaves glowing in hues of silver, jade, and faint gold. Some leaves drifted lazily in the air, defying gravity before dissolving into motes of light.

Clusters of exotic flowers bloomed everywhere, their petals crystalline, translucent, or softly pulsing with color. Some released faint chimes when the wind brushed past them.

Not far ahead, a clear pond rested quietly, its surface like glass. Beneath it, faint lights swam like stars, illuminating the water from within.

And beside that pond...

A pavilion stood.

Elegant.

Refined.

Built from white stone and dark wood, intricately carved with patterns that seemed to move if one stared too long. Silk curtains swayed gently, though there was no visible wind.

Inside the pavilion, seated on a long couch, was a woman.

Rudrean’s breath caught.

Aelira’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The woman looked to be in her twenties. Her beauty was not the innocent charm Aelira carried, but something deeper, mature, and quietly overwhelming.

Her figure was graceful and perfectly proportioned, draped in a flowing robe of deep violet and black that shimmered faintly like a night sky.

Her black hair...

Long, cascading, and impossibly smooth, it fell like a waterfall of silk down her back and over the couch. Each strand seemed to carry a subtle sheen, reflecting light like polished obsidian.

Her eyes were closed.

She was meditating.

And yet...

The moment Rudrean’s gaze lingered on her, he felt it.

Pressure.

Not overwhelming, but absolute.

Like standing before something vast. Something ancient.

Something dangerous.

’This...’ Rudrean’s thoughts trembled. ’She’s strong.’

’Not just strong,’ Aelira replied through magic whisper, her expression serious. ’She’s... terrifying.’

They didn’t dare move further.

But the woman...

Already knew.

Her amber eyes slowly opened.

Dark.

Deep.

Endless.

For a brief second, Rudrean felt like he was being pulled into an abyss.

Then—

She smiled.

Warm.

Gentle.

Completely at odds with the pressure she exuded.

"So... you’re awake."

Her voice was smooth, calm, and carried a strange, soothing resonance.

Aelira instinctively stepped slightly in front of Rudrean.

"Who are you?" she asked, her tone cautious but firm.

The woman tilted her head slightly, her long hair shifting like flowing water.

"A fair question."

She rose from the couch.

"I am Isalyn Yizin. Nice to meet you, and....sorry." Isalyn smiled as she walked towards them.

"Sorry?" Rudrean blinked.

"Yep." Isalyn nodded. "I am one of the most wanted by the Riglight Galactic Alliance, and by taking you two with me, I’ve put your lives in uncertainty, not that there is certainty in life anywhere. Still, I’d like to apologize."

"..."

"..."

"Wait, so all the attacks that happened on the planet were because of you?" Aelira’s eyes widened. "And we almost died because of that?"

"Exactly." Isalyn smiled with a nod. "And I would like to request your aid in helping me escape from this planet."

"Where are we right now?" Rudrean looked around. "The sky also looks weird, and that sun is strange."

"This is a pocket world manifested by an artifact. It’s as big as an island." Isalyn ruefully smiled. "And if we don’t exit this pocket world in the next seven days, we will die because the artifact will deactivate to enter a cooldown period for one day to regenerate its essence."

As she finished speaking, a hint of pain flickered in her eyes. ’Darn this poison.’

"Anyway, the plan is very simple. I will bind the artifact to one of you, and then you two will exit this artifact and leave. The problem will be that this planet will be locked down, and you two will be questioned, scanned, and inspected like all others. Naturally, you will get caught, unless... You learn a 5-star spell in the next seven days."

Isalyn sighed. "If you fail, the three of us will die. Your aura is already attached to mine and this artifact. Without the 5-star spell, you can’t escape their detection."

"..."

"..."

Rudrean and Aelira looked at each other, speechless.

"Urgh..." Isalyn frowned as the layered white dress at her stomach began turning black as if black ink was spreading.

"What’s that?!" Aelira exclaimed.

"Poison." Isalyn wryly smiled. "It has sealed 50% of my parameters while giving some other annoying effects like pain elevation and healing corruption. Honestly, this is my last chance. If you two fail, I have no other way to live."

"Once again, I apologize for dragging you two into this, but I didn’t have any other choice, and the young man there..." Isalyn’s eyes glinted. "I sensed some extraordinary magic pulse, and you two were the only people nearby, so I took both of you with me... in hope that we could work together and escape."

Rudrean and Aelira looked at each other.

"Well, well... you sure are lucky." Aelira grinned. "Because my darling Rudy here is indeed extraordinary."

’Darling, she is uber strong... if you can make her fall for you, and you fall for her, then we can directly learn that 5-star spell and a lot of other things she knows using Love Points!’

Rudrean blinked. A second later, he turned to Aelira, shocked. "What?!"

Isalyn tilted her head, curious. "Please tell me about him. I am curious about why his magic pulse was so extraordinary. What is his talent?"

"T-That..." Rudrean stammered.

"Hehe, you’ll be shocked, sister." Aelira grinned like an imp and turned to Rudrean and winked. ’She is a beauty. That dress is definitely hiding boobs bigger than mine.’

Rudrean’s face turned red.