Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 32: The Promise

Aria looked sadly at his pale face. "It wasn't your fault. You were just carrying out Grand Mentor's orders."

"We were ambushed, there was no way out," Neven continued. "After we killed that Mara, the ground was littered with the bodies of our cavalry. I was severely wounded and felt utterly hopeless, thinking I would die too. I just kept walking, trying to get away from the sea of corpses, until I collapsed from exhaustion in the snow. Then..." He frowned, puzzled. "When I woke up, I was in Longhorn Town."

"You mean, you don't know how you got past the barrier? That towering wall?" Aria asked, surprised.

"I don't know. I lost consciousness. After that, I couldn't remember anything."

"You lost your memory?"

"No, I was unconscious. There's a difference." Neven forced a small smile.

Aria glanced at Spark, who was prancing nearby, and tried to recall more of her memories. "I don't understand. You survived, so why can't you control your Soul Stone? Is it damaged? If so, you could find a new one."

Neven drew his sword, revealing a dark, oval-shaped Soul Stone embedded at the hilt. "This Soul Stone is intact. It's me who can't control it." He held the sword, closed his eyes, but even after a long moment, the Soul Stone remained dark and lifeless.

"For us Lunar Essence people, losing our Essence Power makes us as fragile as ordinary humans," he said.

"But you survived, so there must be a way to recover it," Aria said, her eyes shining with hope.

"That night keeps replaying in my dreams—the night we killed the Mara. The faces of the soldiers who fought beside me, their screams, their bodies lying in pools of blood, are etched in my memory forever." Neven's voice grew low and hoarse, each word heavy with pain. "After that, I just wanted to drown myself in drink, lying in some cold corner of Longhorn Town, hoping the cold would numb my pain and guilt, so I would never wake up again." He paused, his gaze deep and sorrowful, but when he looked at her, a glimmer of warmth appeared. "Then, you showed up."

Aria blushed, embarrassed. "I should thank you. Without you, I couldn't have crossed the barrier or reached the Moon Tower."

Neven smiled. "When I brought you in that day, I wasn't very confident."

"But we made it."

Spark came over and nuzzled her face, its large tongue slobbering all over. "Spark, stop it...you naughty thing...your saliva is everywhere..." Aria pushed it away.

After Spark ran off, her face was covered in slobber.

"Did you ride Spark that time?" Aria asked, brushing a few strands of hair from her forehead.

"It draws too much attention and would cause trouble for me." Neven's fingers brushed her cheek, tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear. "When I mentioned Warrior's Day last time, I wasn't trying to be harsh. I'm sorry."

Aria looked up, and their eyes met. If there was anything in life that baffled her, it was the mysterious man before her.

Warrior's Day had set the once quiet royal capital ablaze, becoming the most talked-about topic.verywhere, Lunar Essence was being exchanged as gifts. Especially Alexander; no matter the time or place, women would cast him charming glances.On the streets, at market stalls, even in the shadows of the city walls, their eyes would follow his every move. Some women even meticulously stitched small gifts, shyly and expectantly presenting them to him in person. They surrounded him like a swarm of dazzling butterflies around a thorny rose, their wings shimmering with colors that highlighted Alexander's unique allure.