Eldros seemed to read Nina’s thoughts. "I have no intention of manipulating you. You are... special, and Thraxxis had already set his sights on you long ago. But you are still free. Anything you do not wish to do—I will not force upon you."

He truly meant it. Everything he had done was simply following the natural course of fate.

Nina considered his words—and quickly came to terms with them.

If anything, this had brought her more benefits than harm. He had protected her, given her the chance to learn from another world, and even granted her Little Bun.

He had also saved Yanai... and Dian.

"...I understand," Nina said at last.

"If you wish to recover those memories, I can help you," Eldros offered.

"Alright." She didn’t refuse.

Perhaps those memories held clues—about the beastman who had poisoned her.

With a wave of his power, Eldros restored what she had lost.

Fragments flooded back—scattered, then whole.

And within them, Nina did find something.

Her gaze sharpened, a chill flashing through her eyes.

I’ll settle this debt... when I go to Spirit Stone City.

"Little female," Eldros said, his tone calm, "it is time for you to return."

The moment his voice fell, the world shifted once more.

Nina found herself back beside the altar.

At that very moment, Yanai stirred. His lashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes—only to find himself still lying by the altar.

His first instinct was to look for her.

"Nina?"

"Yanai, you’re awake!" Nina’s face lit up with relief and delight.

Joy flickered across his features the instant he saw her—but confusion quickly followed.

How am I still alive? Wasn’t I already...

Could it be—

He pressed a hand to his still-aching chest. "Nina... was it you who saved me?"

"I only used some medicine to keep you alive," Nina said gently. "It was the Beast God who brought you back. How are you feeling now?"

Yanai smiled faintly and shook his head. "I’m fine."

Nina puffed her cheeks slightly, a trace of mock anger in her expression.

"You idiot. I told you to leave, and you refused—you almost lost your life! I already said I forgave you, and you still didn’t believe me. Don’t ever do something so reckless again."

Light seemed to scatter in Yanai’s eyes like shattered stars.

She cared about him.

She really cared.

A rush of overwhelming relief and joy filled his chest. To see her again... it felt like being given a second life.

He couldn’t help but ask, his voice low, almost cautious, "Nina... have you truly forgiven me?"

If she said yes, then he would never again suppress the love he held for her.

Nina sighed, a soft, helpless smile curving her lips. "How many times do I have to say it? I really have forgiven you."

The heavy weight that had long pressed on his heart finally lifted.

Yanai broke into a radiant smile.

His arms lifted slightly—instinctively, as though to pull her into an embrace—but he stopped himself.

Slowly, he lowered them again.

In this moment, he wanted nothing more than to hold her tightly.

But he was not yet one of her mates.

He could not overstep. He could not risk angering her.

He would take this... one step at a time.

When the blade had pierced his heart, he had truly believed he would never see her again.

Only then had he realized just how much he longed to stay by her side—forever. How desperately he wanted to mark her with his bond.

So now, he would not let go.

He would no longer stand at a distance, watching her from afar.

A firm resolve flickered in his eyes.

He would win her heart. He would become her mate.

"Nina," he asked, concern returning to his voice, "what about you? Has the curse been lifted?"

He couldn’t help but worry—what if he had failed to save her?

"I—" Nina had just begun to answer when another familiar voice called out from nearby.

She turned, surprise lighting her face.

"Sister Nina." Dian looked at Nina, slowly pushing himself upright.

"Dian, you’re awake too!" Nina’s smile bloomed, bright and radiant, though her eyes shimmered faintly with unshed tears. "That’s wonderful... you’re both alright."

In that moment, she felt a deep, sincere gratitude toward the Beast God—

for allowing them all to stand here, safe and alive.

Dian stepped closer, lifting a hand to gently cup her face. His gaze wavered with uncertainty.

"Sister Nina... are you really here? Or am I still dreaming after death?"

Hadn’t he already died? Then how could he see her again?

Nina covered his mouth with one hand and pressed the other against the hand on her cheek.

"Don’t say such nonsense. You’re alive—perfectly fine. And I’m real too. If you don’t believe me, feel it. Am I warm?"

Dian’s fingers brushed softly along her cheek. Then he pressed a light kiss against the hand covering his lips, his smile bright and tender.

"As long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters."

The warmth beneath his touch made his eyes sting.

She was real. Truly real.

He could see her again.

Slowly, he freed her hand—then suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Sister Nina... it’s really you," his voice broke, thick with emotion. "I thought I’d never see you again."

When his world had gone dark, fear had swallowed him whole—fear that the one he loved most would vanish from his life forever.

And yet... the Beast God had shown mercy.

He held her tighter and tighter, his voice trembling with lingering panic.

"Tell me... I’m not dreaming, am I?"

Nina gently patted his back, her voice soft. "You’re not. This is real. You really woke up."

Off to the side, Yanai watched, unable to hide the flicker of envy in his eyes.

He wanted to hold her too.

After a while, Nina’s breathing grew uneven.

"Dian... loosen your grip a little. I can’t breathe."

Reluctantly, he eased his hold, though his arms still lingered around her. Lowering his gaze, he looked at her with a soft, lingering warmth.

She hadn’t disappeared.

She was truly here.

Nina reached up and pinched his slightly slimmer—yet still pleasingly soft—cheek.

"Believe me now?"

Dian nodded, a contented smile spreading across his face. "Mm."

If this was a dream... then he never wanted to wake up.

Watching the two of them, Yanai felt a faint pang of jealousy. He quickly spoke up, eager to draw her attention.

"Nina, what about your curse? Has it been lifted?"

Dian’s expression tightened as well, his gaze turning anxious.

Nina gently stepped back from Dian. "It’s been lifted."

Only then did both men finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Dian, however, slipped an arm around her waist again, unwilling to let her stray too far.

"Nina," Yanai continued, "you said it was the Beast God who saved me. Did you... meet him?"

Nina nodded. "Yes. He said he was the Beast God. He was the one who woke you—and he also repaired Dian’s merman pearl."

She turned to Dian. "But he said the energy inside your pearl needs to be replenished by returning to the sea. You should go back as soon as you can."

Worry flickered in her eyes. If the pearl’s energy ran low, it could affect his life.

"I can replenish it at my brother’s place," Dian said quickly, a hint of guilt in his voice. "I don’t need to return to the sea."

In truth, the energy there was negligible—barely worth mentioning.

But he didn’t want to leave her.

If he returned to the sea, it would mean being apart from her for a long, long time.

Right now, he didn’t want to be away from her even for a single moment.

Nina narrowed her eyes slightly. "You really don’t need to go back?"

Dian hesitated, lips parting—but no words came.

He didn’t dare lie to her.

Nina sighed softly and reached up to ruffle his hair.

"Be good. Your pearl is tied to your life—this isn’t something trivial." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Dian gently caught her hand, his voice soft, almost pleading.

"Sister Nina... now that your curse has been lifted... could you... could you come back with me?"

His large, beautiful eyes turned pleading and vulnerable.

He truly didn’t want to go back alone.