Axeden's smile froze. He frowned at their expressions and scratched the back of his head in confusion.
"What's with that reaction? Isn't it simple?"
Aurora pursed her lips, trying not to laugh as she searched for an escape from the awkward situation. She cleared her throat and glanced at Sophie, whose cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment. Even though they were open-minded, the idea of having an intimate relationship right after the first meeting was way too much.
"Well, I think I left the fish bones at our neighbor's house. I should probably go clean it off for them. You guys can... um... do whatever you want. I won't be around anytime soon, so..."
Sophie gave her a "Are you serious?" look and scoffed in disbelief. She immediately turned her full attention to Aurora.
"Right. And next, you'll say you left your baby dragon in a pickle jar. What a traitor of a friend I have! That's the best excuse you could come up with? 'Left the fish bones at the neighbor's house?' Since when do you have such a close relationship with Zumin?"
"Wait--you can't leave us alone! We need you here for this!"
Aurora and Sophie choked at the same time after hearing him. His indifferent tone while discussing such wild things made them both feel incredibly uncomfortable.
"Young Master," Aurora started carefully, "I know you may have done everything in Heaven, and maybe it's normal there to be with more than one person, but down here, we're a bit conservative about intimate relationships. I hope you'll stay loyal to Sophie since you're planning to marry her. If you have any side chicks, or even thoughts of being with anyone other than Sophie, then maybe you should drop the idea of marrying her altogether."
Sophie added sharply, "I thought you were a decent guy, but you turned out to be a pervert. Do all gods have weird fantasies like this? You know what, forget it. I want nothing to do with you. Get out of my house!"
Axeden instantly realized they had completely misunderstood him. He clenched his fists and glared at Sophie, trying to suppress his anger.
"What the hell is going on in your brain?! When I said 'sleep,' I literally meant sleep, as in unconsciousness!"
Aurora burst out laughing, while Sophie gritted her teeth and kicked Aurora's leg in irritation. Her face burned red with embarrassment. Axeden shifted his gaze toward Aurora, and her laughter immediately vanished.
"And the reason I asked Aurora to stay here is because there's real danger involved, one that could lead to our deaths."
The girls fell silent. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Aurora instinctively reached out to stop Sophie from agreeing, but Sophie exhaled deeply and nodded, gesturing for Axeden to continue.
"A mortal body can't enter or exit Ireas at will. Since I came here with my immortal body, I can't leave until I fulfill the mission assigned to me by Heaven. My body is stuck here... but my soul can still travel back. I can take your soul with me, while you're asleep. But--"
Sophie nodded, frowning as she tried to understand. Aurora, more frightened than Sophie, blurted out,
"But what?"
He hesitated for a second,as they were going to enter in the River of Life… the only place where souls meet the dead, guarded by the Ancestors' forbidden laws...
"Since our bodies will be left in a vulnerable state, someone needs to protect them. And in the River of Life, you must follow my instructions exactly. Don't let emotions control your actions. Even the slightest mistake could result in a huge disaster, and we might never return to our bodies. The Ancestors' Law strictly forbids this kind of act... so we need to be extremely cautious."
Sophie's heart began to race. She desperately wanted to believe him. She had lost her parents without a chance to say goodbye. Maybe, just maybe, this was her one chance to see them again.
"Okay... Aurora will protect our bodies."
"Sophie, don't do this! I'm scared. I don't want to lose you."
Aurora grabbed Sophie's hands tightly and looked into her eyes. Sophie glanced at her but smiled reassuringly. She gently stroked Aurora's hands a few times before letting go. Then Axeden asked,
"Do you trust her enough to place your life in her hands? We need someone loyal and devoted to you."
Sophie frowned in annoyance.
"Hey! She's my friend, not a slave. I don't need loyalty or devotion. I just trust her more than anyone. More than you."
Axeden frowned. It was hard for him to understand. He had never trusted anyone, not like that. Only servants and maids who devoted their lives to him. Aurora felt emotional hearing Sophie's words. Axeden sighed and looked at Aurora with a serious expression.
"Anyway, listen very carefully. Don't touch our bodies while we're gone. Here, take this. If someone comes and tries to disturb us, use this to protect us. Just hold the crystal between both hands, and it will form a protective barrier around you, and us. Understand?"
Aurora nodded nervously and took the small, glowing crystal. But she thought to herself that she probably wouldn't need to use it. Who would come at this hour?
"Are we going to do it now?" she asked.
"Yes. Are you ready, Craysophy?"
Sophie didn't want to respond, especially after he called her that, but this was for her parents. She nodded with a determined look. It felt silly to trust someone she had just met, but the hope of meeting her parents again gave her courage.
Axeden, Sophie, and Aurora went into the bedroom and locked the door. Axeden removed the bedsheet, pillows, and duvet for safety, making sure nothing could accidentally touch their bodies. He brought his fingers together, touched his forehead, and closed his eyes. Sophie and Aurora watched as the wooden bed began to transform into a crystal bed.
"What the--"
Before Aurora could finish, Axeden answered.
"It's for our protection. Aurora, stay close to this crystal bed while using the stone."
Then he turned to Sophie.
"Let's go."
Axeden gently helped Sophie lie down on the bed, then lay beside her. He reached for her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. Her fingers trembled. Could she really do this? What if she never woke up again? But then, a memory of her mother's smile flashed in her mind... That was all it took.
Sophie blinked rapidly, her heartbeat quickening at the intimate gesture. She quickly looked away and closed her eyes tightly.
But suddenly, she felt Axeden lean in close, his breath warm against her skin. His voice was low and soothing, sending shivers down her spine.
"Calm down. Relax a little… or I won't be able to enter with you."
She gulped hard, trying not to think vulgarly. She nodded and exhaled slowly to calm herself.
Axeden didn't fully trust Aurora. Quietly, he wove an invisible barrier over their bodies. He didn't tell Sophie about it, knowing she'd be offended. If Aurora tried anything, he would know her intentions weren't pure. But if she followed his instructions, maybe, just maybe, he'd begin to trust her a little.
Axeden closed his eyes and began connecting with Sophie's soul, but suddenly, a sharp pain burst through his chest. He started sweating, his eyes teary from the overwhelming sensation.
He saw a glimpse of a girl crying and screaming, unleashing her fury and destroying Heaven itself. She was killing immortals, and they couldn't stop her. Her white clothes were stained with blood, and her long hair swayed like blades alongside her swords. She looked like someone who had suffered deep injustice. Every scream and wail echoed her pain, as though begging someone to understand the torment in her heart.
Even though he couldn't see her face clearly, something about her struck him. A tear rolled down Axeden's cheek. He felt an unbearable urge to stop that girl from suffering, and to destroy everyone who had hurt her. His heart ached in a way he had never experienced. He couldn't explain it, but something told him he was deeply connected to her.
Meanwhile, Sophie saw something completely different.
A soft meadow under a lavender sky…. A blurred figure of a man stood in front of her, and she was pointing a sword at him. Without hesitation, the man grabbed the blade and stabbed himself. A sharp pain surged through her chest. Her body felt heavy, her heart aching as tears welled up, yet a strange calmness washed over her, like a silent, lifeless sea.
The image shifted. The man now lay in a woman's arms, drenched in blood. With trembling fingers, he reached up to wipe her tears. His breath was fading. With what little strength he had left, he whispered,
"It's okay… it's not your fault."
And at that moment, she felt as though her soul had left her body.
To be continued