Chapter 97: Beyond Dreams

Kaiser’s Perspective:

We were led to our private rooms. I gave Lucas and Celia a lazy wave before slipping inside mine.

The bed greeted me, wide and soft, and I dropped onto it with my arms spread out, staring at the roof as though it could give me answers.

She’ll do for now.

My gaze stayed fixed above, my mind peeling back the layers of everything that had just unfolded. Key factors. Subtle nuances. She may wear a crown, but at the end of the day she’s still a woman. Race doesn’t change that truth.

Love—such a simple word. It devours logic, strangles reason, blinds the sharpest of minds.

All I need to do is become the person she convinces herself she can’t live without.

She’ll think she’s lucky—lucky to have someone who makes even goodbye feel like a punishment.

A knock broke the stillness.

“I’m busy,” I called out.

Busy, yes. Very legitimate business: lying on a bed, plotting how to unravel a queen.

“It’s me… Celia. Please open up.” Her voice was soft, nearly swallowed by the wood between us.

I exhaled, rolling my eyes at myself. Well, it’s her after all.

I dragged myself up, unlocked the door, and there she was. Still in the same clothes. Her head tilted low, refusing my eyes. Cold. Merciless.

“Can I talk to you?” she asked.

“Sure,” I said, stepping aside and closing the door behind her. The lock clicked.

I pulled a chair from the table, placed it before the bed. She sat, her movements deliberate, while I lowered myself across from her.

Her eyes caught me—brighter than before, sharper. Red, burning with something unreadable. She wasn’t smiling. Not tonight.

“So, what is it you wanted to talk about?”

“…It’s about earlier. Why were you staring at Sylaphine… I noticed it.”

“Oh, you too? Come on, Celia. Can’t you tell? She’s gorgeous. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.”

“…But why…”

“Hmm. Maybe my heart just wants her. Love at first sight, you could say—”

“But I… wasn’t I… your… I…”

“You’re my?”

“I…”

“As I was saying,” I continued, “she’s gorgeous. I could stare into her forever. Those green eyes, that hair, silk flowing through nature. Like the heavens themselves got jealous and gave it all to her.”

“…Is that why you like her?”

“Like?” I smirked. “No. Love. That’s the right word.”

“…Love…” Her voice broke, almost too quiet to hear. Her left hand trembled on her knee, quickly covered by the other.

“…Why her?”

“Well, let’s think about it. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her magic? Beyond anything we’ve crossed paths with—it feels ancient, untouchable. She’s strong, determined. A queen who carries her people’s future, and I respect that.”

“…Most beautiful…” She said blinking to stop something…

I nodded. “She’s everything I’d want in an ideal lover.”

“…I… I think… I have to go now. We have a banquet… to attend.” Her face dipped low, turned toward the door.

“…Uhh. Okay?”

The door closed behind her with a quiet click, leaving me in the kind of silence that carried weight.

I stood, turned the lock, and let my eyes fall back to the chair where she’d sat. She couldn’t even meet my eyes… her hands were shaking, her words trapped somewhere between her throat and her heart.

I sighed.

This time, no smirk, no clever remark. Just silence.

The heart is a fragile thing. Flesh and blood, yes — but weaker than bone, softer than skin.

Break it once, break it twice, and it still somehow beats.

I used to wonder if there was a limit. How many times can someone have the same heart break before it finally stops trying?

Back then, I didn’t know the answer.

Now I do.

As long as you love someone, you’ll keep breaking it. Over and over.

Death doesn’t scare me. It never has. Dying is simple — you go back to where you were before you were born: nowhere. What unsettles me isn’t the end of my life, but what comes before it.

What happens while I’m still breathing. Because I have one fear. Just one.

Celia.

Her being hurt. Her in pain. Her dying. That’s the only nightmare I can’t laugh at. I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s instinct, maybe it’s fate, maybe it’s just… me.

They say when the devil wants someone, it’s cruel, it’s violent, it’s destructive. But they also say it’s beautiful. You’re supposed to be terrified, but instead your heart finds happiness in the very thing that should kill you.

Why? Because the devil doesn’t care about right or wrong. He’ll burn heaven, drown hell, shatter every law of man and god alike.

All for her.

And that’s me.

A devil.

Heartless. That’s what I am, and that’s why I don’t deserve her.

Loving me won’t give her peace. It’ll give her scars. More heartbreak, more nights trembling like she did just now. Maybe even her life.

And I can’t— I won’t— let that possibility exist.

It’s better if she gives her love to someone else.

Someone human. Someone smarter, kinder. Someone who looks at her and sees the world instead of a strings. Someone who won’t leave her bleeding inside.

I’d be content with that. Watching her happy, even if it’s not with me. That’s enough. Because being with me? That only leads one way.

Pain.

I pushed myself off the bed, brushing the haze off my body, and walked to the wardrobe Lily had mentioned earlier. Fresh clothes waited inside, neatly folded. My fingers brushed the fabric, but my mind was elsewhere.

I couldn’t afford to dwell on Celia now. Not tonight.

The banquet was waiting.And there, I’d make my move.Exactly the way I envisioned.

Lucas’s Perspective:

System, what the hell are these clothes? They look… ancient.

「 Bro, I think they handed you the lost-and-found section from the last humans who wandered in here. Probably died in those dripless rags too. 」

Yeah, I think so too.

I held up a shirt. It was some half-yellow, half-white thing with sleeves wider than my future. Next was a coat that looked like it belonged on an unemployed noble from the fifteenth century. Everything was either too small, too short, or just… cursed.

Nobody can look good in this, bro.

「 Facts. These are the kind of clothes where even if you were handsome, you’d still look homeless. 」

…Exactly. Yo, System, make me new clothes.

「 Say the magic words. 」

Trust, gangster.

「 no. Try again. 」

Bro, c’mon, I gotta look fresh for the banquet.

「 …Fine, because you begged nicely. 」

My system hummed, pulling from the fourth-dimensional storage. I cast a ripple of wind magic, stripping away the reject garments and slipping into the new set. The fabric wrapped smoothly, sharp yet comfortable, as if tailored to me personally.

I stood before the mirror, grinning.

White fitted dress pants, sleek and straight-lined, paired with a deep navy shirt that clung in all the right ways — unbuttoned just at the collar to look effortless. Over it, a long coat, obsidian with subtle silver threading at the cuffs and edges, the kind of detail that shimmered only when the light hit it. My boots matched, polished leather with faint runic patterns etched into the sole.

Ahh. There we go.

「 Congratulations. You no longer look like a background extra. You’re officially the main character again. 」

Let’s go.

By the time we reached the banquet hall, I had to admit… I was impressed.

The underground fairy palace was already something out of a fever dream, but this? This was beyond. The banquet itself was held on a raised plateau carved from luminous white stone that gleamed like polished moonlight. The floor was so smooth it almost looked like water, reflecting the glow of thousands of tiny lights drifting above — fireflies, except brighter, each one weaving lazy trails across the air.

Tables stretched in long arcs, curved like crescents, their surfaces white but veined faintly with green and gold, as if nature itself had grown into furniture. They seemed alive, pulsing faintly, humming in rhythm with the wings of the fairies seated around them.

And the fairies…

Wings of every hue fluttered through the air — emerald, sapphire, soft lavender, burning crimson. Each set unique, shimmering like shards of stained glass under light. Their eyes mirrored the same unnatural brilliance, glowing pools of color: some silver, some jade, some gold. They spoke in soft voices, laughter like wind chimes ringing across the hall.

Thick vines twisted up the marble pillars, flowering blossoms glowing faintly in shades of blue and white, their petals dripping faint light like falling dew. Overhead, branches arched like a cathedral dome, leaves translucent, casting soft, natural light across the hall.

And in the center, a throne-shaped seat carved from crystal and wrapped in roots awaited the queen herself.

「 Wow. Bro, if this was Earth, people would be paying fifty bucks just to stand in here and take selfies. 」

Not wrong.

I folded my arms, taking it all in. It was mesmerizing, sure, but at the same time, I couldn’t shake the weight in the air. This wasn’t just beauty for beauty’s sake. No, this was their pride, their culture carved into every stone and petal.

This was a declaration: you are in our world now.

I was still scanning the hall when I noticed someone weaving through the crowd of fairies. Lily. Her steps were quick, her wings fluttering nervously, cheeks tinged with a faint red.

“Lucas! You’re here!” she said, voice soft but a little breathless.

“Yeah,” I replied, glancing at the glowing hall around us. “And this place… it’s unreal. Like standing inside a dream.”

She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, eyes trailing down my outfit.

“Well… where did you get that outfit from?” Her tone was shy, but the curiosity in her gaze was sharp.

Ah. Problem.

I can’t exactly tell her I got it from my omnidimensional system. The same system that exists with omnipresence beyond mortal comprehension. The same intelligence that bends the concept of creation itself, stretching across stars and galaxies, tapping into the infinite void to store anything I’ve ever owned. Days ago, years ago — doesn’t matter. In its fourth-dimensional inventory, everything remains untouched, pristine, timeless. To summon it is to call upon something that surpasses logic itself.

Yeah, imagine explaining that.

“…Backpack,” I said flatly.

Her wings twitched. “Oh… you got it from your backpack… uhh, okay.”

I smirked. “Yes.”

Very legit backpack.

「 Bro just downgraded cosmic omniscience into homeless people object. Incredible. 」

I ignored the system and walked with Lily deeper into the banquet. Then I noticed it—free food. Piles of it.

If Kaiser had been here, he’d already be halfway through the table. He would’ve told me to eat first, just to check for poison, then acted like it was the most honorable move ever. That gangster.

「 Game is game. 」

Yeah, game is game.

We passed another table, and Lily’s voice dropped a little. “Was your friend… Kaiser… serious earlier?”

“Huh?”

“I mean… about him falling in love with our queen.”

I scratched my chin. “He sounded adamant and serious enough. Honestly… I think he really did fall for her.”

Lily bit her lip, hesitation flickering in her eyes. “I noticed… he must’ve said something to her. The other elves were… very angry at him.”

Yeah, because bro wasn’t just hinting at it. He was blatantly flirting with the queen of an ancient race, in front of everyone, like it was a Tuesday.

“He has his ways,” I said instead.

“I just…” she trailed off, her voice quieter. “I hope he can stop soon. He has no chance with her at all.”

I glanced at her. “You think so? Why?”

She looked at me, expression soft but firm. “It’s because… our queen has lived for over seven thousand years longer than him. From the tales of our ancestors, she was born to carry the future of our kind. That is her destiny. Love… doesn’t exist for her. It can’t.”

I raised a brow. “…Interesting.”

She continued, almost whispering now. “There have been humans before him. Bold ones. Some who confessed their love outright, some who tried to sway her with their words. None of them succeeded. She has always been calm. Collected. She has never once faltered. Your friend… he’ll be heartbroken, Lucas.”

Her worry was genuine. I could see it in her eyes.

I placed a hand gently on her head, ruffling her hair just enough to break that frown. “Don’t worry, Lily. Kaiser will be fine.”

Because I wasn’t worried at all.

After all…

He has to have a heart to begin with.

We soon found Celia sitting by a table alone. Some of the fairies were hesitant, even scared, to meet her gaze. The air around her hummed quietly, a subtle tension no one dared break.

She held a fork in her hand, stabbing at a piece of food with a sharp, deliberate motion, almost as if she were silently challenging it to resist her.

I slid into the seat across from her, Lily taking the one beside her.

“Are you okay?” I asked, keeping my voice soft.

“I’m good,” she replied. Her tone was neutral, but there was a quiet intensity in the way she held herself.

Celia had opted for a minimalist look tonight, a red dress that clung just enough to her form without being extravagant. The fabric was sleek, almost fluid, and the subtle sheen caught the candlelight at the edges. A simple ribbon tied back her hair, a restrained detail that somehow highlighted her sharp features, giving her a dangerous sort of elegance.

Pretty, without trying.

We sat in silence for a while, the faint hum of chatter around us not touching the bubble we seemed to exist in. Then, she tilted her head slightly, her red eyes locking onto mine.

“Lucas… can you tell me how water actually freezes?”

I blinked, surprised by the sudden shift. “Uh… okay…”

Yo, system, give me the scientific lowdown.

「 Water freezes when its molecules slow down enough that their kinetic energy isn’t sufficient to overcome the intermolecular forces, forming a rigid crystalline lattice. Temperature hits 0°C at standard pressure, phase changes from liquid to solid, density decreases, expands slightly. 」

System kept blabbing bla bla bla and I just got the gist of it.

I gave her the summary. On how to basically visualize to freeze water.

“Thank you,” she said softly, and for a moment.

I raised an eyebrow. “Why would you need to know that? I thought you focused on cursed magic mostly.”

She gave me a soft, almost playful smile. “Knowing ice won’t hurt… for now.”

“For now?” I repeated, suspicious. She was vague again. I could feel that she wasn’t telling the whole truth. But I let it slide—for now.

“If you say so,” I shrugged, leaning back.

The room’s attention suddenly shifted. Sylaphine herself arrived. The entire hall seemed to hold its breath; fairies clapped, flitted, and whispered, their excitement palpable.

She carried a small, golden-hued fairy in her arms—a newborn. The tiny creature’s wings shimmered like spun sunlight, and it chirped softly in her embrace.

Lily leaned closer, whispering, “Our queen blesses the newborns by carrying them herself. It’s sacred, something she doesn’t have to do, but she chooses to. Out of her own will… and kindness.”

Velith and Rowan walked beside her, standing at attention, but a subtle gesture from Sylaphine told them to take their seats. All eyes were fixed on her.

Tonight, Sylaphine wore a gown of deep emerald and soft jade, layered in delicate, flowing fabric that shimmered like morning dew on leaves. Vines of silver thread traced the contours of the dress, embroidered with tiny blossoms that seemed to open and close in rhythm with her breathing. A crescent-shaped ornament rested in her hair, faintly glowing, framing her face and highlighting the luminous green of her eyes. Her wings unfurled behind her, translucent and massive, catching the light in a cascade of green and gold. She was mesmerizing—not just regal, but impossibly alive, a living embodiment of the forest itself.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Even from here, she commanded attention, presence enough to make everyone else in the hall feel simultaneously awed and peaceful.

Celia’s gaze flicked to her, unreadable as always, but I noticed the faint tension in her shoulders. She looked rather annoyed.

Yeah… no wonders…

I leaned back slightly, glancing at Lily as we drifted away from the buzz of the banquet hall. The soft hum of fairy wings and clinking glasses made the space feel alive, yet here we were, tucked in a corner, far enough to talk quietly.

“You know, Lucas,” Lily began, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, “humans… they scare us.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Scare you? We’re barely… normal humans. Well… I guess.”

She gave me a small, knowing smile. “It’s not just normal. Humans are… strong, unpredictable, capable of things we can’t always counter. That’s why we’ve been hiding here for centuries, in this labyrinth. From other races… and even from humans who might stumble across us. This place isn’t just a palace—it’s a sanctuary. Impervious to those who mean harm.”

I nodded slowly. “Makes sense.”

Celia, who had been quietly poking at her food, suddenly tilted her head toward Lily. “What about Sylaphine? What about her? Does she… ever get tired of it?”

Lily’s gaze softened, a rare vulnerability in her expression. “Our queen… Sylaphine… she was chosen, long before she was even born, by the heavens themselves. She carries the weight of an entire race. Her destiny… is to guide, protect, and nurture us, forever. It’s her burden and her gift.”

I frowned, leaning a little closer. “So she’s… sacrificing her own happiness for it?”

Lily nodded, smiling softly. “Our queen is remarkable. Seven thousand years guiding us, shaping our world, raising generations of fairies… And yet, I know she finds happiness in leading us. Being our mother. Even if the rest of the world doesn’t understand, even if she rarely takes for herself.”

I followed her gaze toward Sylaphine, standing at the center of the hall, the green light of her aura brushing the walls like sunlight over the forest canopy.

Seven thousand years… no real love, no real attraction… a heart forged to endure alone…

Even if she finds joy in guiding others, a small part of me knew the truth. She must feel lonely.

Her heart, cold by necessity. By time. By duty. And maybe—just maybe—that coldness was beautiful because it had learned to be unyielding.

The hum of the crowd quieted, and Sylaphine’s voice cut through the room, soft yet commanding, a melody threaded with authority and warmth.

“Welcome, all of you,” she began, eyes sweeping the assembly with an unerring grace.

“Tonight is a night of unity. A night where past divisions and old fears dissolve before a purpose greater than any one race, any one life. This banquet is not merely a gathering—it is the beginning of a bond, forged to confront a shared threat: the Frost Serpent, whose shadow has haunted our forests and rivers for too long.”

I could feel the system light up beside me. 「 Oh, I like where this is coming. 」

“Through our shared efforts, humans and fairies alike will stand together,” Sylaphine continued, voice unwavering yet lyrical.

“Though our magics differ, our strengths contrast, our hearts may not always understand one another… yet trust can be built in purpose. I believe we can trust these humans,” she said, nodding ever so slightly, “and in turn, they will witness the strength and resolve of my people.”

「 I can sense him… 」

Another soft murmur passed through the crowd. I leaned slightly closer to Celia, but she remained impassive, as always, though her red eyes lingered on Sylaphine with something very negative.

Sylaphine’s voice rose just a notch, eloquent and flowing like a river over stones. “Tonight, let us celebrate this beginning. Let us honor courage, intellect, and the bonds we will forge. And to our guests, whom fate has led here:”

“Lucas,”

“Celia,”

“and…”

“Kaiser.”

A sudden hush fell over the hall. Even the clatter of utensils seemed to stop mid-air.

Then, the door creaked. Slowly. Shoulders shifting with a familiar confidence. Black glasses catching the light, stride precise and measured.

Every head turned. The warmth of the hall, the shimmer of fairies, the buzz of anticipation—all faded in that instant.

The presence was undeniable.

One figure stepped into the hall.

Kaiser Everhart had arrived.

Black from head to toe, wearing a buttoned shirt, undone just enough at the collar to look effortless, sleeves rolled to his elbows. Hair messy but somehow attractive, framing a face that was as handsome as it was untouchable. Black square glasses perched on his eyes, forearms veined and tensed with a subtle power, hands swaying as he walked with a predator’s ease.

Even in the simple black of the fairies’ old ceremonial clothes, he looked… unreal. Dangerous.

Eyes followed him—fairies froze mid-conversation, whispers died, and even Sylaphine blinked once, caught off guard by his presence.

He walked straight toward Sylaphine. Slow. Deliberate. Every step measured. His left hand lifted, adjusting his glasses, then removing them in a motion that was casual but somehow commanding. His eyes locked onto hers, and a faint smile curved his lips.

“Thank you all for waiting, everyone,” he said, voice smooth, low.

“Good things come late,” he added, just a hint of amusement threading the statement

He stopped near the center, then opened his arms wide, a shrug and a smile, showing the room and the fairies themselves that he wasn’t just here—he owned the moment.

“Just like me,” he finished.

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