Leonaut gazed at the unconscious siren lying on the bed with narrowed eyes, his expression unfathomable. His body swayed left and right as the waves crashed against the ship, but he remained in the same position, watching the siren quietly. She let out a soft grunt, and Leonaut adjusted his expression, leaning against the table with folded arms.

"Ugh..."

"Finally awake, princess?"

"..."

Her gaze went towards the chain around her arms and legs, and she glanced towards Leonaut with eyes filled with hostility and grievance. Leonaut raised his arms up in surrender, a smirk playing on his lips.

"What's wrong?"

The princess of the sirens, Cecil, ignored him, and looked out the small, round window in the room. It was night when she was kidnapped, and now, the sun has risen, streaming in via the window and bathing her in a warm glow. The luminescent t scales on her arm sparkled beneath the sunlight, and she inhaled deeply, sadness seeping into her eyes as she heard the familiar sound of waves outside.

"I assumed with money, at least for mercenaries..." Cecil hesitated before finishing her words, the sadness still evident in her eyes. "You would uphold your deal."

"You are mistaken, princess. I will still uphold our deal, but you aren't the first."

"The first?"

"Like I said, someone requested your presence. After I have completed that deal, yours comes next."

"Completing their deal? With me?" Cecil scoffed, tugging at the chains on her ankles. "You mortals know the value of a siren. From their scales, their hair, their blood, their skin. Every single part of us."

Cecil blinked once, her long eyelashes casting a shadow which emphasized the coldness in her eyes. The sadness she held in her eyes was long gone.

"They don't want me just for my presence. As a pirate, are you that stupid?" Cecil hissed, flinging the chain aside in her hands as it jingled noisily in the small room. "You said it yourself! You said that you don't deal with slave trading!"

Leonaut let out a sigh, straightening himself and approached the petulant siren. He wore a helpless expression on his face as he shrugged. "I don't, so that's why I am doing this."

Cecil frowned deeply, a hint of confusion flitting past her eyes. She lowered her head, hiding her face from Leonaut. However, there was a sinister smile on her face as she opened her mouth.

"I plan to use you as the perfect bait," Leonaut said as he rushed in and gripped her jaw, immediately interrupting her actions. "So wait until then to sing your ridiculous songs."

"Let me go!"

"Why would I? You are mine now, princess."

"Scum!" Cecil growled, opening her mouth to bite down on Leonaut's hand still gripping her jaw.

"Ugh!" Leoanut groaned in pain, but the smirk remained on his lips as he shoved something into Cecil's mouth at that moment. "

His blood seeped into her mouth, but Cecil spit it out. "What did you feed me?!"

"A certain type of venom. It's fatal to humans, but for sirens, it'll only cause a temporary annoyance."

Cecil widened her eyes in realization. She tried to reach into her mouth with her fingers, but Leonaut quickly pinned her to the bed, raising his eyebrows in provocation. Once again, she tried to retaliate by biting and Leonaut skillfully avoided her every move, making her let out an angry scream.

"Don't worry, princess. I won't let you die until I complete the deal."

"Dirty bastard! I'll kill you!"

Eventually, Leoanut withdrew back and Cecil panted heavily, glaring at him as she looked at the red marks on her wrists. The next moment, her vision grew blurry as she opened her mouth to let out another scream, only to find her voice was slowly disappearing.

"...!"

She clutched at her throat, looking at Leonaut with eyes full of hatred. Her vision continued to blur and she collapsed onto the bed, her trembling hands reaching out for Leonaut. She wanted to scratch his skin or claw at his face. Surprisingly, Leonaut clasped her hands gently and he looked down at her writhing in pain on the bed, his expression indecipherable.

"..."

Tears that resembled gems streamed down her face, landing on the white bed sheet.

"Am I going crazy? Or am I growing soft?"

She struggled to stay awake as she heard his words.

"You...are nothing to me. Nothing."

The last sight she saw was Leonaut holding her hands so gently, as if she was a precious treasure, placing his lips on her soft fingertips.

***

O' souls of the sea...

Cecil was guided helplessly by the pirates towards the person who requested her presence. It was a doctor who collected rare specimens to make medicines, or supposedly, a panacea. It was a bright sunny day with clear, blue skies that stretched beyond the horizon, and yet, it was a huge contrast to Cecil who felt as if she was walking towards an everlasting tortuous death. Perhaps, she couldn't even be granted death.

Do ye' hear neath' the golden sun...

She glanced weakly at the person clutching her by the arm on the right, the usual arrogant smirk on his lips. She could smell the salty, sea air and hear the waves crashing against the boat. Her freedom was just a step away, but it was simply unreachable.

The flames that cannot be quelled...

At the last moment, the deal fell apart and unexpectedly, the one who fell into the trap was Leonaut. The doctor had expected the deal to fall apart with Leonaut's betrayal. She watched as the pirates were the ones getting massacred.

The wrath in one's heart to...

A knife was directed at her ankles, which is where her fishtail would originally be, the weakest point for a siren. She closed her eyes in utter defeat, and she heard a pained groan, but it didn't come from her own mouth. Her eyes flew open, and before her, she saw a knife plunged through Leonaut's abdomen.

"Princess."

His smirk still remained there, and somehow, she didn't find it annoying anymore.

"The deal is off. You are free now."

He slipped an antidote into her mouth before he fell to her feet, and she found her voice once more to continue her song.

"Destroy!"

The song of destruction.

The waves grew turbulent, and the wind grew violent. The ship was gradually torn into pieces as the clear skies were suddenly covered by clouds. A storm was approaching, and it wasn't just an ordinary storm.

"O' souls of the sea! Destruction has come!"

Just like that, with the song of a siren, no one made it out alive. All except one man who laid at Cecil's feet, breathing weakly. She glanced down at him, her face twisted with conflict as she reached out for him.

"Why did you save me? You...are really hateful."

"..." Leonaut forced out a chuckle, his eyes fluttering open. "I don't know, but I just had to."

The next moment, the storm enshrouded them and devoured the ship, shattering everything into pieces. When the storm cleared, the two had disappeared from the ship. Alas, their tragic fate would have been brought to an end if Cecil hadn't saved the pirate scum who foolishly saved her.

***

At the order of her mother, the queen of the sirens, her lover was brutally killed for his past deeds, and especially his crimes towards the princess of the sirens. A trail of jewels followed behind Cecil as she shed tears, collapsing beside his corpse. She caressed his face lovingly, unable to express the harrowing pain stabbing at her heart.

"Did you forget what he has done to you?!"

"But mother...I...love him."

"Ridiculous! He kidnapped you, poisoned you and gave you to a doctor to be experimented on! My child, mortals don't change so easily!"

"Good or bad, mortal or siren, if I love him. I just...love him."

She embraced his corpse, maintaining eye contact with the queen of the sirens. A water current swept into the palace that sat deep in the depths of the sea, bringing Cecil and Leonaut away. The queen of the sirens could only watch in horror, unable to summon the power to disrupt the water current.

"Child! This is an impossible fate–"

"Mother, this is goodbye. I'll...put an end to this absurd fate between all of us."

On a quiet coast, a water current burst out from the sea, bringing the two to the shore. Cecil was still clutching Leonaut in her arms, gazing at the horizon. The water droplets trailed down her luminescent scales body, her fishtail twitching as she smiled to herself.

"O' souls of the sea..."

"Hear the prayers of sorrow for a beloved..."

"In the golden rays of sunlight, let there be..."

Cecil looked down at Leonaut, leaning down and placing a kiss on his forehead.

"Life."

A golden glow surrounded Leonaut's body, and his injuries were immediately healed. He began to breathe once more, his eyes gradually opened. He came face to face with Cecil who showed him a rare, affectionate gaze.

"You..."

Leonaut sat up in disbelief, observing his body. After a moment, the realisation hit him and he exhaled shakily, gripping Cecil by the shoulders. Underneath the bright sunlight, her luminescent scales glimmered like flawless, mesmerizing jewels.

"Did you sing...the song of life?"

Cecil smiled, leaning in and rubbing her nose against his.

"Why...? Why?! I'm not worth it! I deserved to be killed!"

Her iridescent irises were fixated on him, and she simply smiled.

"To me, you deserve to live. You...are worth it."

"Why? For someone like me who treated you so badly?"

"I don't know, but I just had to."

Leonaut burst into tears at those words he once said, and clasped his hands over hers. He could only watch helplessly as her body began to dissipate like bubbles, blowing towards the direction of the sea. The place where she originally belonged.

"Why do you love me...to the point of death? I'm not worth it."

His surroundings scattered like an illusion, and he was enshrouded in darkness as he remained in the same position, his head hung low. A white-robed figure appeared behind him, their blindfold concealing their eyes as a smile adorned their lips.

"You were the one who leapt into this endless torment for me."

"Oracle..."

"You could have lived as you are, you didn't need to shatter your soul into pieces for my sake."

Leonaut spun around and returned her embrace. "I don't know, I just had to. It doesn't matter what I am anymore, as long as I won't lose you again."

"See? Aren't you the same? Loving me to the point of death."

Ever since he existed as a soul fragment, Leonaut couldn't understand why he had to exist for someone else. He didn't understand why he would recklessly throw his life away for someone else. Why would they be worth his own precious life? He wasn't a good person, he was a roaming bandit, and a mercenary of the sea.

He was Leonaut.

It's only when he merged with his own soul, and journey thus far, Leonaut finally arrived at a conclusion.

"For people like you, it is worth it."

***

A flood of soul fragments merged with his own soul. The painful memories he shared each lifetime with Cecil made Xue wince, and most of the time, it was him putting her in dangerous situations in every lifetime. Some ended with her death, some ended with his, and yet, until the end, the two couldn't completely hate each other no matter how horribly they were treated by one another.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Leonaut, Islief and Min sat beside one another, and in the center was Xue. They glanced accusingly at one another after experiencing the lifetime they shared with Cecil, and the pain they put her through. They were still waiting for one last soul fragment to announce their presence as they engaged in a glaring contest.

"Tsk."

Jehan appeared beside them, sitting down with a grumpy look on his face. It resembled the gloomy Xue in the past.

"So that's how I became obsessive about her tears?"

"You are nothing but a scum, Jehan."

"I don't want to hear that from you. You were the one who confined her in a tower until she decided to free you from your own nightmare by killing herself." Jehan growled at Islief.

Islief couldn't refute those words, glancing away and for once, he didn't curse them out as vermins.

"I...I don't like poison anymore." Min muttered, looking down at his hands. "I don't even want to be near them anymore."

"Looks like I'm the best one among all of you." Leonaut smirked proudly.

"You are equally bad!"

The three of them barked at Leonaut, making him startled as he blinked rapidly.

"Enough." Xue sighed, massaging his head. "Cecil is remembering these lifetimes alongside us. How am I supposed to make it up to her?"

All the soul fragments cleared their throats, placing their hands on Xue's shoulder one by one. They didn't say a word as they combined souls with Xue. It was obvious they were planning to let Xue take responsibility on his own.

"You cowards!" Xue barked.

The other soul fragments finished their memories at the same time, stepping in beside Xue.

"You are the coward though." Fyth said.

"That's right." Nerri nodded.

Shin came in, sniffling and wiping at his tears. Without any words, he combined souls with Xue. Just like that, Xue became a sniffling mess himself.

"The best medicine for wrath is revenge!" Wang Jie exclaimed.

"What kind of things are you trying to leave behind?" Xu Bolin smacked Wang Jie on the head, clicking his tongue. "You should be grovelling at your feet instead."

"Oh." Wang Jie answered with a pout.

"It should be cooking a meal for her!" Sid announced his presence with those words, merging souls with Xue in a hurry.

In an instant, the sniffling Xue began to think of a meal he could cook for her before grovelling at her feet.

"Don't we all know the way to Cecil's heart? We have been with her a thousand lifetimes anyway. We can start with..." Rugi trailed off, placing his hand on Xue's shoulder.

Just like that, Xue's soul had become complete, and yet, it was as if nothing had changed. Every part of his mannerisms, his words, his movement exhibited parts of the soul fragments that existed before or after him. They were all simply Xue, and they were Xue as well.

***

The sound of wind chimes echoed throughout the stark white bedroom, and the curtains on the bed swayed to the breeze as sunlight filtered in, revealing the unconscious Xue laying on the bed. Just like how he had placed a portrait of her in his study, Xue did the same for his own bedroom. A servant on duty noticed that dust had started to gather on Cecil's portrait in Xue's room. The servant hesitated, glancing at the unconscious Xue on the bed. He swallowed nervously before nodding to himself, his white wings sprouting out from his back as he flew up to the portrait on the wall.

"The Supreme–ahem, he would be upset if he were to see dust on that precious portrait," the servant reassured himself. "Nothing will go wrong. He isn't awake now, and he isn't anything like his past murderous self."

He started to wipe the portrait carefully like he was handling extremely fragile glass.

"It wasn't like I enjoyed being that way."

"Yes, yes indeed. It was our fault for falling for Lord Zeau's mind-controlling tricks, ah–but it wouldn't have happened if our belief in the Supreme God was faltering."

"It wasn't my fault that you fools were so easily manipulated, and I told you not to call me that."

"Yes, it was all our fault, and we indeed deserve all the–eh?"

The servant froze, glancing back at the handsome figure sitting up on the bed.

Ding. Ding.

The wind chimes rang once more as another breeze entered the room, making Xue's long hair which had grown during the time in the heavenly realm, flutter in an enchanting manner. However, the cold look in his grey irises and the angry twitch on his straight eyebrows made the servant snap out of his daze.

"What do you think you are doing?" Xue growled in annoyance.

The servant immediately kept his wings and grovelled on the ground. "I-I was just cleaning it since it was dusty, sp-spare me some mercy! We know how much you treasure that–"

Xue didn't say a word, waving his hand at the angel. A force lifted him up and tossed the angel out of the room. Meanwhile, the cloth in his hands had disappeared and ended up in Xue's hands. He found himself kissing the floor and quickly scrambled to his feet, bowing his head at Xue who was standing at the bedroom doors. Xue hugged the portrait to himself, gesturing at the servant to leave with a murderous look.

"I-I bid you farewell, Sup–uh, my lord!"

"Don't worry, you aren't even worthy to kill."

Xue slammed the doors in their face, and he looked at the portrait. He cleaned it carefully, but despite his cold look, when he glanced at the face on the portrait, his heart was filled with trepidation.

***

Cecil sighed, leaning back into the chair with folded arms. She breathed in the scent of the greenhouse where she grew her precious herbs and flowers. Finally, she decided to take a look at the man kneeling on the ground in front of her.

"Xue."

The ash blonde-haired man flinched.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I...I just felt that I wronged you."

"About what?" Cecil blinked, resting her chin on her hand.

"I put you through so much suffering in the lifetimes we shared. Even in this lifetime, I...I almost killed you."

"So you want to make it up to me?"

Xue nodded.

"But you have nothing to make up for though?" Cecil responded with a smile. "After all, you and I died for each other in many of our lifetimes."

Xue observed her, a drop of sweat rolling down his face.

Why does her smile seem dangerous?

Xue shook his head, stubbornly remaining in place. Cecil sighed in response, standing up from her seat and approaching Xue. She tried to pull him up, but he resisted, making her raise her eyebrows in disbelief.

"It's already in the past, and I don't hold grudges, so why are you still punishing yourself like this?"

"I want to do it."

"Alright, fine, seems like I can't change your mind." Cecil sighed in resignation, she stood in front of the kneeling Xue, frowning deeply. "How about granting a wish of mine?"

"I'll do anything." Xue answered promptly, lifting his head up.

"Let me roam the three realms freely for another hundred years. I want to write a whole medical journal."

"I'll accompany–"

"I want to do it all alone."

After those words, Xue immediately bolted up as he stared at Cecil with wide eyes. "All alone? How could I leave you all alone out there?! At least go with Hana–"

"K'xug is preparing to propose to Hana. Hana wants to attend the battle tournament. They'll be too busy soon enough."

"But in your current state, you are no stronger than a mortal! You don't even possess any form of energy! No, yo-you might be even weaker than a mortal!"

"I'll just take someone else with me." Cecil shrugged.

"Someone else? Is it someone I know?" Xue hurriedly grabbed Cecil by the shoulders. "Is it a man? A woman?"

"..."

"If it's a man, he has to be married. If it is a woman, they must be old. If not, if they even touch a single hair on you, I will–"

"Enough! You are really...! In every lifetime, you are so overly jealous!" Cecil exclaimed, pinching Xue on the cheek. "Do you know what you put me through that one time because of your endless jealousy and possessiveness?!"

"Swo youh are hwolding gruwdges."

"I'm not!" Cecil barked, releasing his cheek.

Xue flinched back, cowering meekly before Cecil. "It's...it's not like I was the only one being jealous and possessive–"

"Shut your mouth!"

At this point, Xue hung his head low.

Cecil sighed in frustration before she forced a smile on her lips. "I won't take long, Xue. I'll also take care of myself."

"But you'll be alone for a hundred years. And you have the habit of being too reckless. If you are in danger, how can I–"

Cecil gave Xue a deadpan, and she started to procure a few items from her dimensional pouch which turned out to be an artefact that was created by Sevont and Tano. The items ranged from Xue's feather, an endless array of protective artefact made from Sevont and Tano, K'xug's feather, Hana's feather. There were also many items from Yun, Kiyae, Haru and Ryo. In addition to that, there were special tokens and beast whistles given by Linqin. Unexpectedly, Veau and Zeau had given her artefacts from the demon realm.

Nevertheless, half of the defensive artefacts that were given were from Xue, and they were designed with the intent that if the user were to be hurt, Xue would immediately know.

"With these many things, if I were to even get a scratch on my body, I'll be able to gather the leaders from all three realms. Especially you."

Xue cleared his throat. "Can I come visit you during these hundred years?"

"Sure, if you can find me." Cecil teased.

"I will find you." Xue answered seriously.

Cecil shook her head with a sigh, leaning in and placing a kiss on Xue's lips. "Alright, I'm off. I already made arrangements for people to take care of the greenhouse when I'm gone."

"...you already planned for this?" Xue questioned, flabbergasted.

Cecil laughed to herself, giving Xue another kiss but on the cheek this time. She spun around to leave, but Xue hastily grabbed onto her wrist.

"Cecil!"

"What is it now?"

"Let me cook you a meal before you leave?" Xue suggestd in a meek manner. "I still haven't made it up to you."

Seeing him in such a pitiful state, Cecil couldn't help but smile and reached forward to hug him. "After I fulfil my wishes of being a good healer, I'll spend the rest of my life with you, okay? Don't be too sulky when I'm gone."

"...okay. I love you."

"I love you too."

Xue littered Cecil's face with kisses, making her laugh.

***

Fortunately, the hundred years that Cecil meant was in terms of the heavenly and demon realm. If she remained a hundred years in the mortal realm, by the time she returned to Xue's side, he would have been lovesick to the point of death. It was halfway through her journey of the three realms when Cecil received a letter from Hana. Throughout her journey, she had received many letters from the people around her, including the rare ones from Veau and Zeau. Her parents even sent many letters her way.

Dear Cecil,

Fifty years have passed in the heavenly realm. That means, you must have been wandering the mortal realm for a few years.

I heard Sevont and Tano have been opening the gates for you back to the heavenly realm to check on the greenhouse. The others have managed to see you in your journey too, all except Xue.

Did you know how many days he cried for? It's unfortunate how his schedule clashes with yours.

He always throws a tantrum to give up being the Supreme God, but he ends up being dragged back by everyone. Poor Xue...

He said because you are too careful to even get yourself injured, the artefacts aren't able to sense your location. I have never seen anyone so happy and so frustrated over a matter like that.

When Veau and Zeau applauded your determination since they have said how reckless you can be, the expression on Xue's face was really scary! They still get into fights, but somehow, the fights never seem that serious.

It reminds me of the old days, sometimes. But well, as long as everyone is happy!

Oh, and also, I'm writing to you because me and K'xug are about to be married soon! Just a year ago, he proposed to me!

Do you remember the tournament for becoming a captain for the Heavenly army? I am a candidate for the captain of the 22th battalion! You'll come and watch the finals, won't you?

When we meet again, I have so many things to talk about!

- Hana

Cecil smiled to herself as she took out a wooden case where she kept all the letters written to her. She carefully placed Hana's letter inside, closing it as she tapped her finger on her chin.

"22th battalion of the Heavenly army. They specialise in long-range combat," she muttered to herself, looking out the window. "It fits Hana. She has come long and far with her archery."

Cecil recalled the days back in the mansion, especially the many times she almost shot K'xug to the point he had nightmares about it until now. She giggled to herself, pouring herself a cup of hot tea as she wrapped the coat around her shoulders. Her breath was seen as she blew at the cup of tea, sipping it carefully.

"Hahaha!"

"Not fair! You are it now!"

"No, it's you!"

The shrill laughter of children was heard outside her window, and she watched the snow gradually drifting down, landing on the windowsill. She was in a remote village where mixed-race beings coexisted. Due to the nature of their bodies, they were more prone to falling to diseases.

"A Healer's Journey Across the Three Realms."

Cecil flipped through the journal which she always kept safely in her dimensional pouch. It was mostly filled up, and soon, it would be time to reunite with her beloved.

"Miss Healer!"

Cecil hastily kept her journal and drank her tea before she winced, fanning at her tongue. "Ouch, hot!"

She glanced up, pausing when she saw an image of Xue sitting across her, a glum look on his face.

"You are a weird, pompous woman."

Cecil couldn't help but laugh at that memory, standing up and taking the veiled hat on the table. She wore it, adjusting it to ensure it wouldn't fall off before walking towards the door. The people of the village were grateful to her, dedicating an entire house to her despite not knowing her identity which she kept hidden the entire time. She decided to use the same house as a makeshift clinic.

"Miss Healer! I need your help!"

She opened the door carefully, seeing a young Deoma standing before her. Their nose and cheeks were flushed from the cold. She crouched down, using her gloves to clasp his innocent face gently.

"What is it that ails you, child?"

"That...Koana fell face first into the snow!"

"Didn't I tell you guys to play carefully? Koana's body doesn't deal well with cold."

"He threatened to eat our soup if we didn't play with him!"

"You playful children." Cecil sighed, letting herself be dragged out by the child. 

***

Author's Note: Honestly, I wanted to write out all their lifetimes, but it'll be the same recycled concept so it'll get too boring. So yep. Also, having to write 20 side stories of the same concept will cause my brain to rot, and probably yours too. 

There'll be another few chapters of the epilogue before announcing the sequel!