I was taken to a large hall within the inner sections of the capital, a place clearly meant for spatial constructs. Several teleportation circles already existed there, carved into the floor, each one layered with complex runic patterns.
The air carried a faint distortion, evidence of constant use and stable connections. I stood at the center of an empty section and took a moment to assess the layout.
I wasn’t going to connect this directly to Abor.
That would defeat the entire purpose of keeping our core hidden.
Instead, I chose one of our relay bases, the one closest to Abor. It was secure, and more importantly, expendable if needed. From there, access could be managed without exposing anything critical.
I raised my hand and began working.
This wasn’t a simple teleportation circle. It was a fixed gate. A controlled entry point.
I worked through the structure steadily, adjusting the alignment, refining the pathways, making sure the connection would remain stable under repeated use. The existing circles in the hall hummed faintly in response, as if acknowledging the formation of something more advanced.
Then I felt it.
A familiar presence.
I paused mid-construction, letting the partially formed runes hold their shape without collapsing.
Slowly, I turned.
She stood near the entrance of the hall.
Azalea.
She looked exactly the same as she had back in the realm, slitted eyes sharp and observant, long blue hair falling all the way to her hips, and faint scales along her neck and forearms catching the light with a subtle sheen.
But her aura had changed. It was deeper now. She had reached Upper Transcendent.
I studied her for a second longer than I intended.
And she did the same.
Neither of us spoke for a moment.
"You look good," I said finally.
A small smile appeared on her face as she began walking toward me.
"You do too... Lord Billion," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.
I let out a quiet chuckle.
"How have you been, Azalea?"
"I’ve been well," she said. "Better than I expected, if I’m being honest." She slowed as she reached closer, her gaze steady on mine. "I got a second chance... and that was because of you."
"I’ve been hearing about you a lot lately," she said. "Stories, mostly. Some exaggerated, some... not so much. But I never thought I’d actually stand in front of a World Lord I already knew."
"Still the same person," I said.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me.
"Are you?" she asked softly.
I waved my hand lightly, and two chairs formed beside us along with a small table in between.
"Lets sit and talk," I said.
She nodded and took one of the chairs. I sat across from her, the faint hum of the partially constructed gate lingering in the background.
Then I asked, "How was it... going back?"
She leaned back slightly, her expression softening.
"It wasn’t easy," she said after a pause. "The initial period was... rough."
Her gaze drifted for a moment.
"I was angry," she continued. "Not just at the Ferans... but at everything. At what I lost. At how easily it was taken."
I listened without interrupting.
"But that didn’t last forever," she said. "The Matriarch stepped in herself. She helped me rebuild.... My body, my foundation, everything."
She flexed her fingers slightly, as if recalling the process.
"That’s how I managed to reach Transcendent," she added. "It wasn’t just growth. It felt like... starting again, but this time without the same limitations."
"Since then, I’ve been active," she continued. "Rifts mostly. And whenever possible... I go after Ferans."
Her tone didn’t change, but the intent behind it was clear.
I gave a small nod.
A faint smile returned to her face.
"And you?" she asked, shifting slightly in her seat. "What about North and Steve? How are they doing?"
"Both of them are doing well," I said. "North and I are together. And both of them have reached Upper Transcendent as well."
There was a brief pause after that.
"Together..." she repeated softly. "That doesn’t surprise me."
"And this Order of Absolute everyone keeps talking about," she continued, shifting slightly in her chair, "are you actually serious about it? I never imagined you as someone who would build an organization."
A faint smile crossed my face.
"I am serious," I said. "I won’t be staying in the Blue Spiral forever. If I leave, I want to make sure something remains behind... something strong enough to protect it. Something that makes others think twice before acting."
She watched me closely as I spoke, her eyes not leaving mine.
"That sounds less like an organization," she said, "and more like a legacy."
"Maybe," I replied. "But it needs to work, not just exist."
"You’ve changed," she said quietly.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a good thing?"
She didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"I think it makes you more... interesting," she said.
Her gaze lingered just a second longer than necessary before she looked away, as if choosing not to hold it.
Then she added, almost casually,
"Though I suppose some things don’t change."
I chuckled softly.
"Like what?"
She glanced back at me, that same faint expression returning.
"You still don’t realize how much you affect people around you."
I tilted my head slightly, not quite following her meaning.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She held my gaze for a brief second, then shook her head faintly.
"Nothing," she said, brushing it aside. Then, as if to shift the conversation, she added, "So what’s next for you? Xeron mentioned you’re planning to take on the Grade 3 rift."
I nodded.
"Yeah. That’s the plan."
She gave a small nod in return, as if she had expected that answer.
"Then I won’t keep you any longer," she said, rising from her seat. "Looks like you have work to finish."
I stood up as well.
"It was good seeing you again, Azalea."
"Yes... it was," she replied.
She stepped closer.
For a moment, I thought she was just passing by but then she leaned in slightly and pressed a brief, soft kiss against my cheek.
"See you around," she said quietly.
Before I could respond, she had already turned and begun walking away, her figure moving toward the exit of the hall without looking back.
I remained there for a moment, watching her leave.
Then I exhaled lightly, turned back toward the half-formed gate and resumed my work.