A raven-haired woman in white robes stood in a wide landscape of stark white clouds. Her face buried in her hands as her shoulders trembled, the blindfold around her eyes fluttered to the wind.

"Your emotions have clouded my judgement in your mind."

She brought her head up, the tears streaming down her face as her blindfold disappeared from her eyes. Her pellucid onyx irises that seem to hold the luminous stars in the night sky glimmered with tears.

There was a gargantuan shadow concealed by the white clouds, and their figure seemed neither humanoid nor alien. There were no words to describe the omnipotent figure hidden behind the clouds other than the enormous pressure he was giving.

The being that created the world, the Creator.

"Keep quiet." Cecil hissed out, her voice full of disdain and anger. "You don't understand anything, you never have."

"How preposterous."

"Did you know what I–!"

Did you know what I had to give up?

The tears spilled from her reddened eyes as she sobbed. Her white robes and beautiful black hair swayed to the wind, and it seemed to carry the tender and loving whispers of her beloved.

"I love you."

"I won't die, and neither will you."

"Thank you for being by my side, Cecil Lan."

"Thank you for loving me."

"You belong to my side."

The memories of each lifetime they shared flashed past her mind. His every word, his every action and his every smile.

I can no longer be in his arms.

I can no longer place his head on my lap to admire his lovely face as he slept.

I can...no longer be with him.

She closed her eyes in defeat, unable to stop her tears. She knew there was a chance she could never return to his side, and she knew she would be leaving him behind.

"How distasteful. You would sacrifice the balance of this world for such fleeting happiness?"

"Shut up!"

"I shouldn't have created you. You are now useless, and a parasite of this world."

"Why didn't you destroy a parasite like me then?!"

The Creator loomed over her, and the pressure crushing down on her made her flinch. If it were any other being standing in her place, their internal organs would have been crushed by the immense power pressing down on them.

"I can no longer do that. Your presence in this world has grown too important. Erasing your existence will result in repercussions."

Cecil released a bitter laugh from her mouth, her reddened eyes burning with rage. "Is that why you sent me down a thousand lifetimes of suffering and misery?"

"To make you repent and start anew. If that meddling soul hadn't interfered, your memories would have been wiped and you would have been the perfect creation."

Even until the very end, Xue had protected her when all she had given him was her heart.

She couldn't even give him the happiness he deserved.

He must be crying all alone now.

Even though I told him not to cry.

Her voice was hoarse as she hollered at the Creator, but she didn't care. Right now, she was fighting for this world and her beloved. "What gives you the right to destroy lives as you please? For those ridiculous rules of balance?"

"It is only through balance that the world can continue to live."

"That isn't your decision to make!"

"How ludicrous! I created you, and I created this world!"

"You simply refuse to accept that a world has its own rules."

"Do you wish to see the world be destroyed?"

"Did you ask the inhabitants of the world what they wished for? Do you think they would sit aside and watch the world be destroyed? Do you...really care at all?"

A violent wind blew past Cecil, and it created gashes on her face and arms. Her blood seeped through the white robes, but she remained rooted to her spot, facing the Creator with determination.

"I don't have to care about anything. They are merely my creations living on a limited lifetime. None can escape my will!"

"You simply refuse to properly observe those creations of yours."

"What do I need to observe? All they have been doing is fighting amongst themselves while the life around them is slowly dying out."

"You were the one who started the war!"

"I merely expedited the process. When the ultimate good and ultimate evil have finally eradicated one another, this world would achieve a new balance. You are too much of an imbecile to see the truth."

"The truth? A new balance? What would that do for this world? You'll just end up repeating the same process again and again. You never cared about the world!"

"I do not need to explain myself. My observations are never wrong."

"Hah! Your observations of this world and the souls living in it are nothing but perfunctory glances. You never understood anything, the imbecile one here is you! You and your nonsensical rules!"

Those words clearly angered the Creator.

"...it's a pity that I am unable to erase you, but I can make you suffer."

Cecil smirked haughtily, drying her tears as she continued enduring the violent wind that left more gashes on her body.

"Your presence was never needed, almighty Creator. Even without you, a life will end and a new life will begin."

"...!"

"You were never in control, Creator. You never will be. You simply refuse to admit that because you are a coward."

"You dare...!"

"Even if you get rid of me and endure the repercussions, this world will never belong to me or you! Your understanding of life is pathetic and sad!"

A shockwave burst through the entire landscape and struck Cecil's body. She coughed out blood, collapsing to the ground as she struggled to sit up properly. She narrowed her eyes at the figure that was radiating with a wrathful energy.

"The answers are in my memories. The worlds you have created to make me suffer, and the worlds we have lived in, and this world where many have changed their own fates with their own hands."

"..."

The Creator ignored Cecil's tirade and assumed a disinterested mien. Angered at their nonchalance, Cecil extended her hand out and a broken mirror manifested on the palm of her hands.

"You dare...!"

"Your cowardice is showing, Creator."

Don't worry, Tano and Sevont.

I'll keep your souls safe and alive.

She tossed the broken mirror towards the Creator and forcibly injected it into them. Whether she died by their hands or she was sent to another thousands lifetimes of suffering, she had nothing to fear.

Xue was waiting for her return.

She'll return like she promised, no matter what.

"Now, take a look at a life without your will."

There was an angered roar resounding in the skies, and Cecil frowned in pain. Even so, she continued forcing her memories upon the cowardly Creator.

***

Elsewhere, Tano and Sevont were touring the beautiful Han. The first place where Xue had reunited with Cecil in this world. Tano was dragging a reluctant Sevont around as he sighed, shaking his head.

"What do you think this is, Sevont?"

"A rabbit."

"Huh?"

"Well, misters, these are pastries made in the shape of famous plants in the continent. What you are looking at is a...cactus."

Tano gave Sevont a baffled stare. "How...how can you mistake a rabbit for a cactus?!"

"They both have spiky ears."

"...???"

Tano and the store owner gave Sevont another baffled stare.

"I'll have one of those "rabbit-like" cactus please~"

"Of course! Thank you for your patronage!"

Tano and Sevont exited the store, and wandered into the less crowded area of the streets. Tano snickered as he took a bite into the pastry. Sevont sighed, shaking his head in resignation.

"I always knew you had weird tastes because of your experiments but–"

Tano spun around, speaking to Sevont when he realised something strange with Sevont. His figure was flickering as if his physical form was disappearing.

"Sevont! Your...your body is...!"

Sevont was already glancing down at himself since he felt strange, and he saw the same sight as Tano.

"...Oracle." Sevont muttered out with a look of unease.

It has been more than a month since they lingered in the mortal realm, and now, it was time to return to the heavenly realm. The first person that had to know about this change was Xue.

***

After viewing the memories that Cecil had accumulated over her lifetimes of suffering with Xue, the Creator began to tremble in rage. The atmosphere around the stark white landscape was suffocating, it was as if Cecil was held tightly around her neck, unable to breathe.

Just like she had said, the ones whom the Creator implanted its will in had defied expectations. They persisted, they survived and braved through their torment. Whether it was Xue, his soul fragments or Haru, Kiyae, Yun and Ryo, and even the two demon brothers. Unlike the future that Tano had written and shared with Cecil, right now, their entwined fate has started to unwind.

The world now belonged to them, and only them.

"You ungrateful thing! If only a disobedient creation like you didn't exist! Your existence is a hindrance and the cause of all this madness!"

"Even without me, someday, your will would have been broken. Your rules of balance weren't for the sake of the world, it was fear."

"You...!"

"There's no point in hiding it, Creator. You said emotions are useless, but that's exactly what you are showing right now. Pure, unbridled fear."

"Enough with your pathetic nonsense! There is no other presence here greater than me!"

"You are afraid of people forgetting your existence, and living with a life they have carved on their own."

"Keep that filthy mouth of yours closed!"

"Repercussions of erasing my existence? No, you are afraid that my presence is more important than you."

"Oracle! Repent your sins!"

A voice roared across the skies as thunder struck and heavy rain started to pelt against Cecil's blood-stained white robes. Her wounds weren't still completely closed as red, crimson liquid oozed from where she stood. Even so, her haughty smirk and the arrogance in her onyx irises didn't falter.

She simply laughed.

"If you want me to repent and be your perfect doll, make a bet with me! Prove me wrong, almighty Creator. Show me your truth, and your will! You won't fail, right?"

The Creator was still seething with anger. Her provocation clearly worked.

"I, as the Creator, will never fail! I'll bet with my honour on the line, and what about you? What can you offer with your insignificant existence?!"

A cold smile adorned her blood-stained lips. "My powers. I'll return them back to you right now."

"You want to sacrifice part of your existence?"

"Isn't this what you wanted? If you win the bet, you won't have to worry about the repercussions of erasing my existence."

With those words, the Creator was successfully lured in.

"State your conditions for my loss, impudent little thing."

"Creator. You will swear upon your honour that if you lose, you will never interfere with this world ever again."

"What? You dare..."

"Are you growing fearful again?"

Declining the bet and dishonouring their words would mean cowardice. That was something that the Creator abhorred. Their existence was omnipotent and all-powerful.

"Very well! Let this be a lesson to all of you! A bet with my honour on the line, and your powers on the line! My will is the law of the world!"

Cecil let out a sardonic laughter, the raindrops sliding down her beautifully sculpted features. The calm composure that the Creator assumed has completely broken, and they were extremely agitated.

"We will see, but your strings of fate have already been cut off."

"Begone!"

There was a sudden impact on Cecil's body as she was forced out of the white landscape, leaving behind the thunderous lightning and fierce raindrops.

"You are hereby banished, Oracle! Stripped of your powers and memories, you are punished to be a wandering soul. Know your sins and repent."

"I, the Creator, will be the victor of this bet! Remember well that your existence will be erased because of your foolish emotions!"

Her body flew through the endless clouds, leading to nowhere. There was a large gash on her chest as a myriad of colours flowed out from the wound, like the milky way.

Just as she stated in the bet, her powers were fading away.

Despite that, there was a radiant smile on her face.

No, it will be our victory.

No matter what.

She glanced down at the broken mirror dissipating from her palms as her vision grew blurry. "This is their new beginning."

***

Xue heaved an annoyed sigh, placing down his feathered pen and his eyes drifted towards the broken mirror laying on the table beside him. K'xug walked towards the table, placing a stack of documents before Xue, making Xue stare at him in disbelief.

"..."

"..."

K'xug merely shrugged at him. "The heavenly archives have been severely damaged. No one knows the archives better than you."

"Tsk, these damned wars. The repairs themselves have been delayed since the damage was more severe than expected too."

"Don't worry, I'll be back with another stack of documents regarding that. Don't forget, you aren't the only one buried under work."

There were obvious dark rings under K'xug's eyes. Meanwhile, Raz, who was stuck sorting through the heavenly archives was crying without tears.

"...!"

"I'm off."

"Oi, K'xug–!"

He disappeared in a blink of an eye.

Xue let out another frustrated sigh, ruffling his hair and narrowed his eyes at the fidgeting winged-figure before him. They had been standing there for a few minutes as Xue ignored their presence. Their bruises and cuts across their face and arms were a clear indication that they were previously involved in a scuffle.

"You said you knew them, Mir."

Mir flinched, not daring to lift his head to face Xue.

"M-my lord–"

"You are not permitted to call me that."

"Supreme–"

"Not that either."

"...Xue?"

A dangerous aura emanated from Xue and Mir stiffened. "How long do I have to sit here and listen to someone like you? Just get straight to the point."

"Th-they are beyond our reach now," Mir said as he paled, still not daring to lift his head. "Consider them as rebels."

"I'll take care of them along with Raz." K'xug said abruptly as he popped out of nowhere, placing another stack of documents down.

"Wait, K'xug! I'll go instead! It's only right that I–"

"You'll beat them hard enough to the point that they can't speak. It won't help with the current situation." K'xug plastered a smile on his face and disappeared once again. "Work hard, Supreme God."

Xue hung his head down in defeat.

"These damned wars!"

"Please set aside your worries! Oth-other than that group of angels, the rest are more than willing to comply with your orders. We'll continue our observations and report back immediately if there are any unrest in the soldiers–"

"Stop talking."

"Ye-yes!" Mir bowed his head repeatedly. "For an eternity, we swear to serve you and only you! We are willing to be cursed for an eternity to remain loyal to our liege!"

Xue gave Mir a dubious look. "Scram."

Mir left the place swiftly.

Xue groaned, resting his forehead in his hand. He glanced back at the broken mirror beside his palm and a wry smile curved at his lips.

"It's funny how they were the ones to betray me, and now, they are stubbornly sticking to my side despite me not saying a word."

Xue closed his eyes. He could never forget how he was betrayed by any of them, not even for a single moment. However, his thirst for revenge and blood has long dissipated. He no longer held any trust nor expectations towards them. Whether he was betrayed again, and they swear upon their loyalty for an eternity, Xue treated them with indifference.

"Xue!"

"There's something you need to know."

A trail of smoke circled in front of his desk before coalescing and revealing two familiar figures who called out to Xue.

"Tano? Sevont?" Xue frowned, standing up from his desk. "We haven't been able to locate you no matter–"

"There's something happening to the Oracle."

Xue stiffened and his eyes began to waver.

Tano rested his hand on Xue's shoulder, his grip firm and encouraging. "Calm down, and listen to us."

"...is...is she..."

"Take a deep breath, and look at this." Sevont said, stepping forward and pulling back the sleeves of his robes.

Underneath his sleeve, his arm had become translucent and glimmering with an unknown power. Xue inhaled shakily, his head swivelling towards the broken mirror beside his hand and at that moment, Tano called out to him.

"Xue, don't jump to conclusions just yet. We have–"

Crack!

There was a distinctive cracking sound heard throughout the study room. It felt as if their stomach had been twisted as they heard that sickening noise, and their gazes fell upon the broken mirror beside Xue's hand. The spider web-like cracks were extending further with each second, and the three of them could only stare in horror.

"...!"

"Th-the mirror..."

"Oracle."

A moment later, Xue finally reacted and grabbed the handle of the mirror. He placed the severely damaged mirror in his hand, holding it as if it was the most precious treasure in the entire world.

"Wh-what's happening? What's happening right now? Everything was completely fine just a moment ago." Xue stuttered out in shock, looking at Tano and Sevont.

Tano withdrew his hand from Xue's shoulder, looking back and forth between Xue and Sevont.

"I...I have no idea." Sevont shook his head, gazing at his arm growing more transparent by the second. "I'm afraid there's no one in this world right now with an answer for you, Xue."

"There's no way!" Tano scoffed, letting out a laugh of disbelief. "There's no way this is the end! We were supposed to have a happy reunion! She said she would return!"

Just like Sevont's disappearing presence, the mirror was starting to break further and further with each passing second.

"...!" Sevont furrowed his eyebrows. "Tano, your hands!"

Tano gasped, looking down at his hands. Just like Sevont, his hands were starting to grow transparent.

"No, no..." Xue muttered out, stupefied as he gazed at Tano and Sevont, along with the mirror. "This isn't what I fought for. This isn't what I turned back time for."

All of a sudden, the mirror started to float up into the air. It was on the verge of breaking into pieces. Xue breathed out, stretching his hand out to catch it as a hazy look covered his eyes. Just then, Sevont reached out to him with their transparent hands, clasping on his arm.

He gasped and looked at his lord, forlorn and dismayed.

Sevont shook his head at Xue, showing him a bitter smile. "Enough, Xue. Whatever happens next, we have no choice but to accept it."

Tano gazed at the mirror floating higher and higher, hovering above their heads. There was a conflicted look in his eyes as he stared at his transparent body before looking back at the mirror.

"When I wrote that book to find the Oracle, this isn't the ending I had in mind."

"Ah..." Xue choked out, his eyes fixated on the mirror. "But I...I..."

The mirror burst into pieces, creating a flurry of shimmering white orbs as it hovered in the air. The three of them could hardly comprehend the situation when the orbs began to speed its way rapidly towards them. In an instant, the white orbs surrounded Tano and Sevont.

Their transparent bodies were suddenly restored and they widened their eyes, inspecting themselves in disbelief. They were no longer disappearing.

"Live on."

There was a quiet whisper heard in the study room, her familiar voice was clear and warm. It dug right into their hearts.

The realisation finally hit them at what the mirror did.

"...!"

"Oracle."

"Until the very last moment, she..." Xue whispered in pain, closing his eyes. "She's such a self-sacrificing idiot."

The room was now enveloped in a sombre silence.

Just like that, the broken mirror that carried the hopes of Cecil's return has vanished from this world. A gentle wind swept past, caressing their tear-stained cheeks as if she were comforting them with her soft whispers and touch.

It felt as if the piece of her heart residing within him had grown faint. It was so faint to the point that Xue struggled to locate its presence.

On that day, the Oracle, Cecil Lan, has left their side.

***

Fifty years have passed in the heavenly and demon realm. Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, it has been six months.

"I told you to leave matters like that to me! You haven't recovered fully from the previous battle! Why did you handle the berserked beasts alone?!"

"Ow-ow, okay! Be gentle on the bandaging! At this rate, my ears won't be the only thing falling off. Stop abusing your brother!"

Linqin clicked her tongue, exerting more effort in tightening the bandage around her brother's arms. It has been a few months since the entourage left. She heard a commotion outside the tent and lifted her head curiously, patting her brother's arm at the same time.

"There, done."

"Don't you think it's a little too–"

"Xu Bolin's protege taught me step by step. Are you saying you are doubting the best healer among the three tribes?"

Her brother raised her arms in surrender. "Fine, fine."

The commotion outside the tent grew louder, but the sounds associated with it were familiar to the two siblings.

"It must be the time of the year to transport the resources to trade with the clans from the Sen region." Linqin pondered, her arms across her chest. "Ever since that battle, it's strange seeing demons and angels descending down to the mortal realm frequently."

"At least they are doing it for good reasons. I was surprised to hear that they needed resources from all the different continents."

Linqin glanced around the tent, admiring the gorgeous furnishing. The beasts in the Sacred Forest were no longer being kidnapped by the angels and demons to be used in their own warfare, and their livelihood were no longer disrupted. In fact, to make up for their mistakes, they have been given relics made by the past leaders of the heavenly and demon realms.

"I guess what Cecil and Hana said was true." Linqin hummed in approval, smiling.

"You are shameless."

Linqin narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean shameless?!"

"I heard you bullied Cecil and Hana back in the academy. Don't think I didn't hear reports about it even after our parents–"

"I–I didn't know!" Linqin blurted out, her eyes growing wide. "In our tribe, we attack with our fists and weapons when we aren't happy with someone!"

"I warned you again and again, our cultures might differ from others."

Linqin lowered her head in guilt, twiddling her fingers together. "I apologised to them, again and again."

Her brother smiled in resignation and reached out, ruffling her hair. "As long as you know, and continue to treat them well."

"Of course I will! We promised to see each other again!" Linqin exclaimed.

"Oh right, you said you had something to pass to them, didn't you?"

"I did! They said they were interested in wearing the clothes from our tribe, and I decided to design it according to colours matching their appearances," Linqin said, tilting her head in concern. "But it has been six months, and they still haven't dropped by. I hope they are doing fine."

Just then, there was another commotion outside and the siblings frowned. This time, it wasn't something they were familiar with. They rushed out of the tents and realised that the tribespeople were pointing at the dark-coloured skies.

"Wh-what the–"

The skies suddenly parted and a beam of light shone down.

Boom!

A violent tremor was felt across the ground and everyone screamed and yelped, stumbling around in panic.

"Brother, tha–that direction! It's the Sacred Forest!"

"Not good! We barely managed to calm the frenzied beasts after the war!"

The two of them brought their fingers to their mouths, whistling. In an instant, their treasured beasts rushed to their sides and the two of them leapt onto it.

"Chieftain!"

"Don't worry, we'll take a look. All of you, stay here and take care of one another!"

There was a distinctive roar echoing throughout the plains, and the source originated from the Sacred Forest.

"Linqin!"

"I know, it's the guardian beast requesting our presence!"

***

Dada remained as the guardian beast of this forest since the beginning of time. Moreover, he had always remained in the same spot unless he went to visit those he considered his family in the heavenly realm.

The spot was where the meetings between the leaders of the three different realms were always held. Overtime, this large stone table that gathered them was long forgotten as the war forced their camaraderie apart.

"Oracle."

Dada whined, nudging his snout at the raven-haired woman sprawled across the stone table, dressed in white robes and this time, she was without her blindfold. Her eyes were closed as if she was in a deep sleep.

***

《 start 》

Live on.

It is only by living on that you can experience the beauty of this world.

And when that happens...

All of you will become happy.

I will make sure of it.

This is the world I want to protect.

《 stop 》