Liora had no idea how, but somehow, things had gotten even more chaotic after her "miracle" at the Festival of Light. She wasn't exactly thrilled about what was coming next—especially now that Luziel seemed to have decided she was his new object of interest. And to be honest, that made her even more uncomfortable.
The next day began like any other—with an overwhelming pile of religious duties she had long since learned to ignore. Her mother, Lucia, was perched at the mansion's window, watching the square while murmuring about her daughter's "divine greatness."
Liora didn't want to hear any more praise. Not after what had happened on the night of the festival. As she had predicted, the city was in an uproar, talking about her as if she were some newly reincarnated saint. As if she were some kind of walking miracle. Liora wanted to scream, but what good would that do?
With a heavy sigh, she slipped out through the back door of the mansion, searching for a little peace. The garden was quiet—but not for long.
"Don't think you can run away that easily, Liora."
She froze. She didn't need to look to know who it was.
Luziel was leaning against the garden fence, looking more like a celestial prince than a former demon commander. His golden hair shimmered under the sun, as if spun from pure light. And, as always, he was smiling—that smile that could melt any naïve heart. But Liora was far from naïve.
"Luziel," she said flatly. "I think it's time you gave up."
He took a step toward her. "I give up on many things, but you... not so easily."
Liora rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the fact that his words still got to her somehow. "What exactly are you here for? I'm not your mission. I'm not your war."
He chuckled softly. "I just want to know what you think. How you're handling all this celestial power around you. Or should I say, divine power?"
She gave him a tired look. "I'm handling it like any normal person would. By running away."
Luziel moved closer, until he stood beside her. "I'm not just anyone, Liora. I know what you're going through. You know, in our past life, you fascinated me... even when you were on the other side. You had something I couldn't quite figure out—until now."
"And what would that be?" Liora asked, still trying to keep her emotional distance. But something in his words stirred a sense of unease she hated feeling.
"An inner strength," he said, gazing up at the sky. "Something that transcends light. Something darker, more... intriguing. Something only I could see."
"You really do have a special talent for being annoying, you know that?" Liora said, crossing her arms.
He smiled, and this time, it was less provocative, more sincere. "That's part of the charm, Liora. I just want to understand you. Who you really are."
Liora took a step back. "Don't you dare try to understand me. You never will."
And at that moment, the tension between them broke with the arrival of an unexpected figure: Morian, the former Demon King turned "celestial choir mentor."
"I knew something was going on here," Morian said with a mischievous grin, appearing behind Luziel. "But I thought it was just a dramatic reunion. Didn't expect a charm contest too."
Liora glanced from Morian to Luziel, then down to the ground. "This really isn't my day, is it?"
Morian laughed, while Luziel simply watched him, still smiling. "Don't worry, my dear," Morian said, draping an arm around her shoulders. "We're all just trying to figure out what you're going to do with all that power you supposedly control now."
Liora gave Morian an uncomfortable look. "I don't control anything. I'm just trying to survive."
"You've made it this far, which is already impressive," Luziel added, eyes gleaming mischievously. "But will you survive the next stage?"
"Was that a threat?" Liora asked, slightly annoyed, though the challenge in her voice was unmistakable.
"Not a threat," Luziel replied. "Just an observation. I like watching how things unfold. And seeing where you'll take us."
Liora didn't know what to think. Something was shifting, and she knew it could turn into a serious problem. Whatever Luziel truly wanted wasn't clear. He seemed to be a constant presence now—someone both in her way and, somehow, by her side.
The sky was clear, but the weight on her shoulders grew heavier with each passing day. And those two men, as different as they were, were somehow tied to her.
Deep down, Liora knew the road ahead was full of riddles. And the greatest of them all would be figuring out how to keep her true self intact while the power of light threatened to consume her.