A year has passed since that day—
The day Adam disappeared, Evelyn thinks as she opens her eyes, waking from sleep.
Everyone can see the tiredness in her gaze, but they also notice something else—the light in her eyes has returned.
She found a reason to live again.
A cry shatters the quiet room.
Evelyn sighs, but a smile forms anyway as she swings her legs off the bed and walks to the crib.
Inside lies her daughter, crying, tiny fists trembling.
She gave birth four months ago, on a rainy dawn.
She named the child Elise Manford.
No trace of Adam's family name.
Because Adam hadn't come, not even during her labour.
The world knew she was pregnant.
If Adam were alive, he would've known.
But he hadn't appeared.
So she accepted the only answer left—Adam didn't want to return.
Didn't want her.
Didn't want their child.
So she stopped waiting.
Stopped hoping.
She would raise Elise alone.
She picks up the crying baby and begins to feed her, silent determination in her eyes.
Later that evening, she steps out with Elise tucked into a stroller.
The weather is calm.
She walks through the neighbourhood and into the nearby park, trees rustling with the early autumn breeze.
She walks deeper, drawn by the quiet.
Then she freezes.
Not because she hears something—
But because she doesn't.
No footsteps behind her.
No shadows where her guards should be.
Her breath catches.
Her guards are always with her.
Always.
She turns around—
Empty path.
No one.
Fear creeps up her spine.
Demonic energy stirs in her blood, rising with her heartbeat.
But even as she prepares to defend, her instincts scream to call for help.
She pulls out her phone—
No signal.
And then she sees him.
A man was standing ahead.
Old.
Tall.
Unmoving.
He does not attempt to hide himself.
And her stomach twists in dread.
And when he speaks, her heart falls from her chest to the earth.
"Little girl," the old man says, "give me your daughter, and nothing will happen to you."
Then he releases his aura—
King Kong Realm.
And Evelyn's strength vanishes like morning fog.
Even the will to fight drains from her limbs.
Her voice trembles as she speaks, fear wrapped in every word.
"Why?"
The old man doesn't blink.
"This is not your concern," he says coldly.
"I want the child's father to come out."
The words hit harder than his aura.
Evelyn staggers inside—
What did Adam do?
But before she can ask—
She feels a presence above.
A shadow.
A woman lands beside her, calm and composed, eyes fixed on the old man.
Another King Kong Realm martial artist.
The old man's expression shifts—recognition, then caution—
But he doesn't attack.
"Megan," he says flatly.
"They sent you? But you are not my match."
Megan's gaze sharpens.
"I didn't come to fight you," she replies.
"But you know what will happen. He'll kill you once he finds out what you did."
The old man snorts.
"I don't care. I have a decade left at most."
"If I can't break through to the Stone Body Realm, I'm already dead."
Megan answers evenly, "He'll return in a year."
"And if he doesn't—we'll send you where he is."
The old man stares at her for a long moment.
Then nods.
And vanishes into the sky.
Silence returns.
Megan turns to Evelyn.
"Let me escort you back home."
Evelyn nods numbly as Megan begins pushing the crib.
They walk slowly through the quiet park.
Evelyn finally asks, "Who was that man?"
"His name is Carl," Megan says.
"He's close to death. If he can't reach the Stone Body Realm soon, his life ends."
Evelyn frowns.
"I thought the King Kong Realm was the peak."
"That used to be true," Megan says softly.
"Now it's not."
"Now… the Stone Body Realm exists."
Evelyn stops walking.
"What does that have to do with Adam?"
Megan glances at her.
"He created it."
"The new realm."
"He showed it to the world—during that time, he risked everything to save you."
Megan falls silent.
And Evelyn is silent too.
She hates Adam now.
Hates the silence.
The abandonment.
The weight of doing everything alone.
But she can't forget—
Adam saved her.
Twice.
And the last time—
He nearly died.
That's why her father still calls Adam his future son-in-law.
They return home in silence.
As Megan opens the front gate, Cassie rushes out and throws her arms around Evelyn.
"Are you okay?" she asks, breathless.
Evelyn nods, offering a tired smile, then walks inside.
She puts Elise to sleep in her crib, careful and quiet, brushing a hand over her daughter's soft hair.
When she returns to the living room, she finds Cassie standing stiff, staring at Megan from across the room.
The air feels tight.
Evelyn steps forward to sit down—
But the doorbell rings.
She opens the door to see Patrick and Valen.
Cassie must have told them what happened.
Their faces are tense, worried.
They step in quickly.
In the living room, Patrick and Valen take a seat while Evelyn settles beside Cassie.
All three stare at Megan.
The silence stretches, sharp and expectant.
Cassie is the first to speak.
"Tell us where Adam is," she says, voice cold.
"Why wasn't he there at the birth of his daughter?"
Everyone leans forward, waiting.
Valen's eyes burn—not with anger, but hope.
He wants to hear that Adam knew, but chose not to come.
So, Evelyn can forget about him.
Megan's reply is calm.
"I can't tell you where Adam is."
"And he didn't come… because he doesn't know."
Cassie scoffs, arms folded.
"How could he not know?"
"We spread the news across the entire federation. Every channel, every whisper—he had to hear it."
"Or is he living under a rock?"
Megan remains silent.
Patrick shifts forward.
"Then… is Adam not in our world?"
"Is he in another dimension?"
"Another realm?"
Evelyn's heart sinks.
Her breath catches.
If Adam isn't in their world—
Then maybe he's in the Demon World.
And if he is—
Every second he's alive could be a miracle.
Megan's eyes widen slightly.
"I cannot confirm," she says.
Evelyn's voice trembles, "Is he in danger?"
Megan hesitates, then replies, "According to us… he shouldn't be."
In truth, she believes nothing in the new dimension could kill Adam.
Evelyn's next words are almost a whisper.
"So… he's returning in a year?"
Valen's heart drops.
A year is not enough to steal Evelyn's heart—especially one still tied to Adam.
Megan nods slowly.
"If nothing happens… he should return."
Silence falls after that.
Megan leaves soon after.
Patrick and Valen follow.
Cassie stays behind, quiet until the door shuts.
She turns to Evelyn.
"If Adam returns… are you getting back together with him?"
Evelyn says nothing.
She climbs the stairs one step at a time.
"No."
She can never forgive Adam.
Not after he ended it through an email.
-----
Merin, seated cross-legged in his practice room, opens his eyes and stares at his palm.
A faint violet wisp of energy flickers into existence above his skin.
He smiles faintly—he has succeeded.
Magic power now flows in his body.
But it is a path only he can walk.
He managed it because his understanding of this dimension's magnetic field has reached nearly thirty per cent.
It is just the beginning, but the first step is complete.
That is worth celebrating.
He decides not to train anymore today.
Rising slowly, he exits the practice room and steps out of the house.
The cold air brushes against his face as he walks into the garden.
He settles into a chair and leans back, soaking in the rare warmth of the winter sun.
The garden around him lies under a thick blanket of snow.
For a moment, he wishes to vaporise the snow with his power.
But that would draw attention.
Even if no one dares to confront him—as one of the hidden rulers of the Star Republic—it would still unsettle the ordinary people.
They would grow wary, and he would be forced to leave this quiet home.
He closes his eyes and lets the sunlight lull his body into rest.
But his mind stays active.
He wonders how ordinary humans might form magic power.
They cannot sense the world's magnetic field.
There is no Karst energy in this world, nor is there natural energy like in the Dragon World to support samurai cultivation.
He always builds new cultivation methods using the foundations of old paths.
But this time, he must build from nothing.
His thoughts drift to meditation.
If he can strengthen their spirits, maybe they can sense the magic particles around them.
Maybe, slowly, they can understand those forces.
But Merin's thoughts break.
His eyes open and shift toward the northwest.
Far beyond the snowy rooftops, a sea-going ship approaches the city's harbour.
His gaze sharpens, locking onto the third deck of the ship.
A girl stands there, orange-golden hair flowing in the breeze, violet-silver eyes wide with wonder.
She stares at the city like she's already part of it.
And in Merin's mind, a single word echoes—
Mate.