After the teasing and laughter settled, Dionel stopped and looked at Lia with a serious expression. His voice softened, but it carried a firmness that told her he wasn't joking around anymore.
"So, what is it that you want? I'll try my best to get it for you,"
he said.
"And by the way, I won't take no for an answer. A debt should always be repaid. That's one of my mottos."
Lilian gave a small, amused smile.
"Oh my, how fair of you."
But even as she spoke, her mind was already drifting.
What I want?
she thought to herself. There was really only one thing, something she'd kept buried for so long it felt like a distant dream.
It's freedom…
she whispered in her own mind.
For a moment, Lilian didn't answer. She kept her eyes down, staring at the ground like it might give her courage. Dionel noticed the shift in her mood and gently called out to her.
"Lia,"
"If there's something you desperately want, don't hold back. Don't wait for someone's permission, and don't let useless, negative thoughts stop you from reaching for it. If you do, you'll spend the rest of your life stuck in a cage of regrets."
Those words struck a deep, hidden part of her heart. Lilian had never told anyone how she truly felt, not even Sylvia. No one had ever encouraged her to dream for herself, let alone claim it out loud. For the first time in so long, she felt like someone was offering her a hand to climb out of the prison she had quietly accepted as her life.
"I… I wanna go outside!"
she finally declared, her voice shaking but brave.
Dionel blinked, a little surprised by her sudden outburst.
"Go outside? Is that all you want?"
"Yes!"
Lilian said, louder this time.
Dionel smiled at her, a genuine, almost proud look crossing his face.
"Then let's go now."
"Now!?"
Lilian nearly choked on her own words, startled by his suddenness.
"Do you not want to?"
Dion asked.
"Or maybe you're too tired for today?"
"No, no! I wanna go!"
she shouted, her earlier hesitation completely vanishing.
Without warning, Dion bent down and scooped her into his arms.
"Wha- what are you doing!?"
she yelped, flailing slightly in surprise.
"Carrying you would be faster,"
Dion said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
And with that, he sprinted towards the dark side of the forest. His speed was far beyond what an ordinary human could manage. The wind whipped past Lilian's face, carrying the scent of pine and earth. She clung to his cloak, her heart racing not from fear but from exhilaration.
"Wait, isn't the exit to the temple on the opposite side?"
Lilian called out as the trees blurred past them.
"This path leads to the temple forest and straight into the Hollow Forest where dangerous beasts reside! That's why no security's posted here!"
"Trust me,"
Dion shouted back, a playful edge in his voice.
"There's a shortcut through the mountains that leads straight to the capital market. Didn't you see me go this way last month?"
"Okay, I'll trust you one time, But if you let us die out here, I will haunt you even if we become ghosts.
She shot back, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"How sweet of you,"
Dion teased.
"But don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
They continued moving through the trees, Dion's speed steady and sure. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the occasional hoot of an owl and the rustle of leaves beneath his boots. The sky above was scattered with stars, and the moon hung low and bright, casting silver light through the branches.
"Are you an aura user, Rin?"
Lilian asked between breaths.
"You've got insane physical strength for a normal person."
"Yeah, I am,"
Dion replied smoothly, though it was a lie. In truth, he wasn't an aura user at all. He was a mage, he just had a naturally monstrous physique, but telling the truth now would only complicate things.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a small cave entrance hidden behind thick vines and rocks. Lilian looked at it skeptically.
"A cave?"
she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't worry,"
Dion reassured her.
"This is the shortcut."
Without waiting for her approval, he walked straight inside. The cave was dark and narrow, the cold air brushing against their skin. For about three minutes, it was nothing but pitch-blackness and the sound of their footsteps. Lilian gripped Dion's arm tightly, her earlier courage faltering in the suffocating darkness.
Then, suddenly, they emerged on the other side.
The sight that greeted her left her speechless.
Before them lay the capital's marketplace, glittering with a thousand warm lights. The market was alive even at this late hour, filled with people selling food, trinkets, fabrics, and exotic goods. Colorful lanterns hung overhead, casting hues of red, gold, and violet across the streets. Music played faintly in the distance, and the delicious aroma of grilled meats and pastries filled the air.
They were standing at the edge of a cliff that overlooked the entire city.
Lilian gasped, her eyes sparkling like a child seeing magic for the first time.
"It's beautiful,"
she whispered, her voice trembling.
Dion smiled, pleased with her reaction.
"Welcome to the world outside your cage, Lia."