She widened her eyes in shock. But before panic could take over, a strange thought crossed her mind, softening her gaze. She looked the man up and down. Handsome? Yes. Elegant clothes? Check. Mysterious savior? Definitely. But also…
"Did you run away from a prison?" she asked, voice calm but weary. "Listen, you need to go back before---"
Axeden scoffed, his brows knitting in disbelief.
"You think I'm crazy?"
She let out a tired sigh. This day had already pushed her to her limits. Between keeping her pearl shop afloat, dodging the demonic cultivators, and now dealing with an apparent lunatic, she was running on fumes. And she certainly didn't want to be rude. Not all the crazy ones were violent.
Besides, this wasn't the first time she'd met someone like him.
In Ireas, mortals without special abilities often pushed themselves too far trying to cultivate power. When their bodies failed to endure the spiritual energy, their minds cracked. The unlucky ones turned violent or delusional, many thrown into spiritual prisons for crimes they didn't even understand they'd committed. Most of them believed they were gods. But no one had ever approached her so directly before.
Taking a careful step closer, she scanned him from head to toe, searching for any clue.
Every prisoner wore a spiritual-tracking bracelet, one the guards used to trace escapees. She didn't see one on him, but maybe he had hidden it under his clothes.
"Where is your bracelet?" she asked, tone gentle but firm. "They must be looking for you. Stand still."
Without hesitation, she began patting his coat, checking his pockets, sleeves, and belt. Axeden blinked, completely thrown off as her soft hands darted over him with clinical intent.
His lips parted slightly in confusion. This woman… was frisking him?
He flinched as her fingers brushed over a particularly ticklish spot. He hissed a little.
" What are you doing?"
She frowned. "Checking. Don't squirm."
He took a step back, utterly baffled and increasingly amused. Was this really the legendary Crystal Goddess? He was beginning to doubt it.
But before he could speak, he caught her wrists mid-motion and pulled her toward him.
Her hands landed on his chest, and her breath hitched.
"Your mortal self is… surprisingly eager to claim me," he murmured with a teasing smirk. "I just arrived, and you've already started marking your territory."
Her eyes widened in horror.
"Interesting... Here, check however you want. I'm all yours. No need to rush."
She shoved herself away from him, face twisted in disbelief and disgust.
He was clearly insane, no, worse. A flirtatious pervert using theatrics to get close to women. And yet… something about his presence stirred a strange ache in her chest. He felt familiar. And terrifyingly powerful. He scoffed teasingly.
"Can't take your eyes off me, huh?"
Snapping out of it, she growled, "As if you're good-looking! Don't follow me, or I'll scream."
She pushed past him and stormed away, only to feel a sudden flick on the back of her head.
"What the---!" She spun around, furious, only to find no one.
Frowning, she turned again, and nearly collided with him.
"Looking for me?" he asked, grinning like a fox.
She smacked him right on the forehead. "Who gave you permission to hit me?!"
Axeden staggered a step, stunned. He blinked. No one had ever hit him. No one dared.
"How dare you?" he snapped. "Even if you're Craysophy, that doesn't give you the right to raise your hand against the rightful heir to the Heavenly Throne, The Fire God!"
Her jaw dropped.
Wait… he really was crazy?
"Oh gods," she whispered. "I hit an insane person."
"I'm sorry! I didn't know you were actually craz----I mean, a god. Look, just stay here, okay? Your caretakers must be on their way. Don't go with anyone not wearing white."
Axeden's expression darkened. He stepped closer, eyes serious now.
"I'm not lying. I really am Axeden, the Fire God. And I've come from the heavens on a mission."
She rolled her eyes. "Right. And I'm the Goddess of Crystal."
"You are."
She blinked at his sudden agreement.
"You are Craysophy. The Princess of Crystal."
She groaned, turning away. "Please. I'm tired. I have no time for fairy tales."
His gaze softened. He had seen her life, her struggles, and her silent strength. Part of her trial was forgetting who she truly was, not just her divine name or power, but the love, betrayal, and pain that once shattered her soul.
Reborn as a mortal, she was forced to endure a life of loneliness, grief, and relentless hardship , stripped of her glory, stripped of protection, to learn what it truly means to suffer, to survive, and to rise again without remembering why she was ever broken in the first place. But seeing her like this… so weary and alone… it broke something in him.
He gently lifted his hand and cupped her cheek.
She flinched.
"What the hell are you doing?! I'll scream!"
"Shh… trust me. You'll feel better in a few seconds."
His touch was warm. Steady. And strangely comforting.
She frowned but didn't pull away. Then, like a ripple of cool breeze, a strange sensation flowed through her body. The ache in her legs faded. The pounding in her head dulled. Her sore arms felt light.
He stepped back, and she instinctively reached to feel her shoulders, her back, her head, everything was healed.
"W-What did you do?" she gasped.
He smirked and ruffled her hair. "I told you. This is basic healing spell. You used to do it all the time, for injured birds and sick animals. You were the kindest among us. You're the daughter of the God of Water and the Moon Goddess. I'm the son of the God of Nature and the Goddess of Ireas."
She stared at him.
"Right. And next you'll tell me you can bring the moon down, huh?"
Axeden grinned tilting his head. "Would you like to see it?"
"Sure!" she said sarcastically. "Let's summon the moon, mighty one. Maybe it can help me finish paying off my debt too."
He snapped his fingers.
The sky blackened.
Thunder roared. Lightning cracked so close she felt her skin tingle. Then… the impossible happened.
A fiery glow spread across the horizon, and from behind the clouds, a moon, larger than life, began moving closer towards Ireas. The sky trembled as streaks of blazing meteors rained down, followed by monstrous asteroids tearing through the atmosphere. Cracks split across the heavens like shattered glass, as if the sky itself was breaking apart under the weight of divine fury. The world shook, and the air turned thick with the scent of fire and dread.
Her legs gave out. She dropped, clutching her ears as panic overtook her.
"Stop!" she screamed. "Stop! STOP!!!"
Instant silence.
She opened her eyes. The sky had returned to its normal twilight.
Axeden was crouched before her, his hand gently brushing her hair from her face.
"It's gone," he whispered. "Look up."
She hesitated, then did.
No fire. No thunder. No moon crashing down. Just stars… and silence.
"You believe me now?" he asked. She stood up taking a step back.
"H-How did you…?"
"It was only an illusion. A mental projection. No one else saw it. Just you. And me."
She stared at him, wide-eyed.
"You--" Her voice broke. "You're insane."
He gave a crooked smile. "Only for you, my Goddess."
He tried to get closer to but she immediately raised her hand to stop him.
"You s-stay away from me"
To be continued