As the sun began to set, a magical scene unfolded before their eyes. The air was filled with the soft glow of fireflies, illuminating the entire place. Nia'le and Tassa found themselves dancing amidst the enchanting display, surrounded by a flurry of fireflies. Meanwhile, Céline joined in the fun, catching fireflies of her own.
In the midst of their dance, Tassa and Nia'le engaged in a heartfelt conversation. Nia'le reassured Tassa, saying, "Please don't dwell on it, Tassa. I will still stand by your side, even if you can't give me the love I desire. Besides, I never asked for it in return."
Touched by Nia'le's words, Tassa responded with remorse, "I'm so sorry, Nia'le. And I want to express my gratitude to you for everything you have given me. Thank you for your guidance and support. However, with every thank you, I still feel the need to apologize again. I—"
Nia'le interrupted gently, "Tassa, it's alright. It's my choice, not yours. I will spend my entire life with you, patiently waiting for you to find love within your heart."
Tassa tried to interject, but Nia'le continued, "And if you can't, that's okay too. There is nothing more beautiful than being with the person you love."
Nia'le's smile both comforted and unsettled Tassa. She cherished their bond and regarded him as a brother, not wanting to cross that line. She valued his genuine feelings for her but didn't want to toy with his emotions.
Just as Céline finished catching fireflies, she excitedly ran over to join Nia'le and Tassa. She proudly showed them the fireflies she had caught. With joy in their hearts, the three of them made a wish before releasing the fireflies into the night sky.
In the distance, a figure named Ixartxist embarked on a perilous journey to find Nia'le and Tassa. He knew that in order to break Ayamani's spell, he had to make a sacrifice. With a heavy heart, Ixartxist took the lives of 1,661 innocent souls, their blood staining the mysterious symbols and shapes he had prepared. In a daring act, he cut his own arm and offered it as a symbol of his commitment. Chanting an ancient incantation, a massive fire erupted before him, revealing the whereabouts of Tassa, Nia'le, and Céline.
Ixartxist's emotions were a mix of relief and fury as he realized that Ayamani was the mastermind behind the spell that had kept him from finding them. "So that's why I couldn't find them. Ayamani, the foolish Grim Reaper, is behind all of this," Ixartxist muttered with a hint of disdain. He couldn't resist the urge to smell Tassa's clothes, a twisted act that showcased his possessiveness. "Who does he think he's fooling? Not me, Ayamani. No one can take my Tassa away from me, not even a foolish Grim Reaper. No one can," he declared, his regenerated arm a testament to his determination.
Meanwhile, the breaking of Ayamani's spell had a profound impact on him. He felt a surge of pain, but his thoughts were solely focused on Tassa. Without wasting a moment, Ayamani rushed to the Morntlight to warn them and devise a plan to escape Ixartxist's clutches.
Tassa, finding solace in Nia'le's presence, rested her head upon his shoulder. Céline peacefully slept in Tassa's lap, their newfound family bringing immense joy to her heart. Tassa gazed warmly at Nia'le and playfully remarked, "You know what?" Nia'le responded with a sarcastic tone, "Not yet," Tassa shot him a playful glare before looking away. Sensing her momentary discomfort, Nia'le wrapped his arms around her, assuring her that he was only joking.
Taking a deep breath, Tassa replied, "This is the first time I've experienced something like this, and I'm grateful that I can share it with you and Céline. I truly hope we can stay like this forever." Nia'le gently held Tassa's hand, promising to stand by her side no matter what choices she made, even if she were to leave him because of Xart. Tassa's face lit up with a warm smile, appreciating his unwavering support.
Céline, ever the innocent observer, chimed in with a question, "So, if Mother starts to like you, will you two get married? And will we all stay together forever?" Tassa playfully tapped Céline's head and responded, "Wedding or no wedding, the three of us will always be together. As long as we breathe, as long as we live."
"Of course, we'll be together forever. And Tassa, someday we will get married. You'll learn to love me, and it will drive you crazy. And when that happens, you'll give me a dozen babies, won't you?" Nia'le teased. Tassa protested, "A dozen? Am I a pig? One or two is enough, don't you think?" Nia'le playfully disagreed, saying, "No, 12 is the magic number. Haven't you heard the saying, 'the more, the merrier'?" Tassa stood up, placing her hands on her hips, and retorted, "No, I haven't. And why don't you give birth yourself? You and your dozen babies!" Nia'le stood up as well, looking down at Tassa, and replied, "Am I Godzilla? Only an asexual being can do that. I am 100% male." Feeling a bit awkward, Céline quietly walked away from their playful banter.
Realizing their oversight, Nia'le and Tassa immediately ran towards Céline to apologize for their thoughtless discussion. But Céline motioned for them to stop and turned back with a smile. She was just happy to witness their lighthearted argument, feeling that her life was finally on the right path. Slowly, she walked towards them and embraced them both. "I love you both. Please never change, my new Mother, my new Father. With or without marriage," she happily expressed.
Nia'le gently tapped her head and said, "Only clouds change, but we don't. We are constants, like stars." Tassa's eyes sparkled with a sudden realization. "Constant stars, constant like stars... Have I heard that before?" she mused.
Their joyful moment was abruptly interrupted when they noticed the once serene clouds transforming into a fiery red hue. The entire surroundings darkened, as if the very fabric of the place was dissolving before their eyes.
Tassa, Nia'le, and Céline grew increasingly worried as the commotion intensified. Their concern deepened as Ayamani, visibly agitated, abruptly left for the Morntlight. He rushed towards Tassa, gripping her hand tightly. Tassa tried to calm him down by placing her hand gently over his, concerned by his unusual distress.
"Ayamani, what's going on?" Tassa asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
"Tassa, Céline, and you," Ayamani began, his voice tense. "We need to return to the real world. Our time in Reverie is over."
Confusion and worry etched across their faces as Ayamani's words only served to deepen their uncertainty. Nia'le, his voice calm, attempted to seek clarity. "Ayamani, what's happening?"
However, Ayamani's response was far from calm. He glared at Nia'le, his hands gripping his collar tightly, lifting him off the ground by a foot. "How could you, Nia'le? I left for less than ten minutes, and you've already done something to her!"
Tassa intervened, pleading with Ayamani to release Nia'le. She was utterly bewildered by his accusations. "Ayamani, what's going on? What did he do to me?"
Ayamani's gaze remained fixed on Nia'le as he replied, his tone filled with admonishment, "Ixartxist placed a spell on your lips, a mark of death. Anyone you kiss will surely die. And because of that, he is determined to find you. He broke my spell by offering his arm and killed 1,661 people just to locate the two of you. Ixartxist learned your whereabouts, thanks to this lustful man!"
"It's not his fault, Ayamani," Tassa pleaded.
"Tassa, I know what the mark of death is. And it wasn't him who activated it, but you," Ayamani explained solemnly.
Tassa was shocked by Ayamani's revelation. She touched her lips, her voice filled with sadness as she replied, "I held back."
She looked at Nia'le with a mixture of sorrow and regret, ready to apologize, but Nia'le stopped her. He couldn't comprehend the gravity of the situation. Tassa embraced Nia'le, tears streaming down her face, but he couldn't understand her anguish. Ayamani understood that he couldn't prevent her from mourning the impending loss of her dear friend, as they both knew that Nia'le would undoubtedly die because of her. However, Ayamani couldn't let their emotions consume them, and he warned them that Ixartxist was on his way to kill all three of them.
Ayamani placed a reassuring hand on Tassa's shoulder and urged her, "Tassa, if you can't save him, please save Céline. If you don't act now, he will surely kill all of you."
Worry filled Nia'le's heart as he held Tassa tightly, determined not to let her fall into the clutches of the demon. "We need to get out of here, Tassa. I will never let that demon have you, do you understand? So stop crying," Nia'le declared.
Ayamani rolled his eyes in annoyance and forcefully separated Tassa from Nia'le. "Oh, how touching, as if holding her closer will save you. How enthralling, NIA'LE TOBLETONE!" Ayamani exclaimed, his irritation palpable.
Before Nia'le could respond, Ayamani swiftly transported their souls back to the real world, returning them to their physical bodies. As they awakened, Ayamani urged them to flee immediately, as they needed to escape from the danger that surrounded them. Tassa's frustration grew, and she questioned Ayamani, "What do you mean? How did he know we were in the Morntlight and our location?"
"Once he discovered that you were in the Morntlight, he simply observed and listened to your conversations. You inadvertently provided him with hints about your whereabouts. This mansion and this place are not new to him. He has likely called the police to apprehend you and have Nia'le arrested. Tassa, all of you need to leave now because the police are likely on their way. It's not safe here anymore. Go! I will buy you some time," Ayamani explained urgently.
Ixartxist lounged on his bed, a wicked grin spreading across his face as a woman kissed his neck. In his twisted obsession, he held Tassa's clothes against his face, inhaling deeply as if intoxicated by her scent. With a phone in hand, he engaged in a sinister conversation with a police officer, manipulating them to do his bidding.
"Yes, sir," Ixartxist purred into the phone, his voice dripping with malice. "I have some valuable information to share with you. Prepare yourself for the joyous news I'm about to reveal. I know exactly where to find Nia'le Tobeltone. It's time to mobilize your forces, perhaps a battalion or two. Nia'le has two hostages in his grasp. One is Tassa Bottesford, a breathtakingly beautiful and enchanting woman. The other is a child, whose familiarity eludes me. Take him down, but I must insist that you lay not a finger on Tassa. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," the officer replied obediently, unaware of the sinister motives behind Ixartxist's request.
Ixartxist ended the call, a malevolent laughter escaping his lips. "The time is drawing near, so very near. Nia'le will meet his demise in the most fitting manner, and my dear Tassa, you will soon be mine, Quart," he taunted, relishing in his delusional fantasies.