...
Azareon slammed his fist down on the table. The wood cracked and split with a loud crash, and glass shattered, scattering across the floor. A maid nearby jumped back with a startled cry, her hands shaking as shards glimmered at her feet.
His chest rose and fell as he stood over the destruction, his face tight with anger. In all his forty-seven years, no one had dared to openly defy him. Not since that reckless demon boy long ago. And now Lilith—his own daughter—stood against him.
Azareon's jaw clenched as the memory of the boy returned. That insolent child had faced him without hesitation, daring to challenge him as though they were equals. Azareon had crushed that defiance, reminding the boy of his place. But this...this was different. This was family.
For years, Lilith had been obedient, playing the role of princess without complaints. And now, she had the audacity to refuse him—to question his authority. That was what stung. Not the marriage itself, but the fact that she had dared to undermine him, as though his decisions meant nothing.
"Shall I call someone to clean this up, Your Grace?" the maid asked in a trembling voice, her eyes darting toward the mess.
"Leave," Azareon snapped, his voice sharp and cold. The maid bowed quickly and hurried out, leaving the broken table and the king in silence.
Azareon turned away from the wreckage and walked to the balcony, his steps deliberate but heavy. The view stretched endlessly before him—the floating isles, cascading waterfalls, and golden light of the Sky Reign as pristine as ever. Normally, he found comfort in the sight, but not now.
"She thinks she can challenge me," he muttered, gripping the railing tightly. His knuckles whitened as anger boiled inside him. "As if she knows better."
The defiance in Lilith's eyes replayed in his mind, and for a brief moment, he couldn't shake the thought of how it reminded him of the demon boy. That same fire, that same refusal to bend. But he wouldn't let her win. This wasn't a matter for debate—it was about control. His control.
Azareon straightened and exhaled sharply. He brushed his hand over his robes to steady himself and pushed the doubt aside. He was the king, and he wouldn't let this escalate further.
.....
Lilith managed to slip out of the city. Her brisk pace and focused demeanor discouraged anyone from stopping her, and soon the vibrant hum of the streets faded behind her. As she crossed the outer edges of the Sky Reign, the landscape began to change.
She found herself in a vast, open forest of mushrooms—an otherworldly and breathtaking sight. Towering fungi with glowing caps stretched high above her, their gentle light casting colorful hues across the ground. Smaller mushrooms sprouted in clusters, their bioluminescent glow spreading every shade imaginable—soft blues, vivid purples, golden yellows, and fiery reds.
As Lilith moved through the glowing mushroom forest, the familiar sight of the towering fungi and soft particles of light brought a quiet comfort. This path wasn't new to her—she had walked it countless times before, every step leading her to the one place where she could truly feel at peace.
The mountain.
It had become her sanctuary, the only refuge she could turn to after the loss of her mother. Back then, she had come here every single day, climbing to its peak and gazing out at the breathtaking view. The endless expanse of floating islands and cascading waterfalls spread before her, a masterpiece of nature that seemed untouched by sorrow.
She hadn't spoken much about her grief to anyone. But here, surrounded by the beauty and silence of the mountain, she didn't need words. The wind carried away the weight pressing on her chest, the sunlit clouds offered her a space to breathe, and the view reminded her that life still held beauty even amidst pain.
Lilith continued walking, the soft glow of the mushrooms illuminating her path. A few animals approached her as she moved—colorful birds fluttering around her head, small woodland creatures scampering near her feet. They had grown used to her presence over time, learning she wasn't a threat, and now they seemed to welcome her as an old friend.
She smiled faintly, a fleeting moment of calm despite the storm raging inside her. The mountain was calling her, as it always did, and she knew she would find solace there once again.
As Lilith reached the end of the glowing forest, the soft hum of magic and light gave way to the open path leading to the mountain. Her gaze shifted ahead, and she slowed slightly as she noticed a figure sitting on a wooden bench near the trail.
The young man seemed relaxed, his posture leaned back with one leg crossed over the other, but there was an unmistakable energy about him. His short, white, reluzenting hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, a striking contrast against his warm, worn jacket. He stood around 1.76 meters tall, not overly muscular nor too slim, carrying an unassuming yet balanced presence.
"Hey there," the man said, his voice warm as he turned slightly toward her. "Hello. Long time no see."
Lilith froze as the man's face came into view. For a moment, she couldn't find words, the shock washing over her like cold water.
"...You," she whispered.
The man stood, brushing off his jacket. "Well, it's nice to know you haven't forgotten me," he said with a faint smirk.
She took a step closer, still processing what she was seeing. "Gabriel?"
The smirk faded slightly, and the man nodded. "It's me, Lilith. It's been a while."
Lilith's heart pounded, her thoughts racing back to the day Gabriel disappeared from the castle years ago. She hadn't seen him since the bitter fight with their father—the argument that tore their family apart after their mother's death.
Gabriel had openly accused Azareon of being responsible for their mother's demise, claiming his decisions had led to her suffering. Lilith hadn't been able to fully understand the details back then, but she remembered the shouting, the anger that filled the halls. And then Azareon's final command: her brother was to leave the castle and never return.
Since that day, he had been gone from her life, a ghost of the family they used to be. And now, standing here on the path she had walked so many times, he was suddenly in front of her again.