Lira continued patting Elenya's head, using her skills to see all of the girl's emotions and calm her down.
A few minutes later, after calming Elenya with her abilities, Lira said, "It's time to find an exit and leave. If we stay stuck here, nothing will change. Let's find an exit."
Elenya nodded and released her from the hug. Lira took Elenya's hand and began walking through the prison cells.
Lira and Elenya walked silently toward the exit door, though they couldn't see anything in the surrounding darkness. For Lira, this wasn't new—she had been blind before, so she didn't feel any different from usual and walked as she always had.
But it was difficult for Elenya to walk properly in the dark, so she didn't let go of Lira's hand and followed behind slowly and steadily.
Lira found a massive door. She couldn't see it, but she could tell its size just by touching it with her hand. She released Elenya's hand and pushed against the door. She tried pushing harder and harder but couldn't budge it. Finally, Lira put her mana into her hands and pushed the door.
The door opened, and light flooded her eyes. Lira closed them by instinct and waited for her vision to settle before slowly opening them again.
Lira saw things she had never witnessed in her entire life. She felt complete. She couldn't describe her inner feelings—she was neither happy nor sad.
Lira walked through the gate and looked around the small room. Sunlight had risen through the window, and beautiful light filled the entire room, protecting it from darkness.
Looking at this scene, Lira gained enlightenment and broke through, acquiring the light element through her understanding.
Lira went quiet and breathed a sigh.
She looked behind her, wanting to see another human, so she gazed at Elenya—who looked beautiful with her blonde hair and light brown eyes. But the girl hadn't crossed the door, as if she were stuck.
Lira looked at Elenya and asked, "Why are you standing there?"
Elenya looked at Lira but couldn't speak. She stared at Lira with numb eyes as tears began falling, though she remained silent.
Seeing her tears, Lira felt something was wrong. She went to Elenya, grabbed her, and tried to pull her through, but Elenya couldn't move from her position.
Lira was stunned and began pulling harder and harder, but it was no use.
Growing frustrated by the minute, Lira looked at Elenya, who was struggling against her pull and getting hurt.
"What is this? I can't see or touch it, yet you can't cross this place," Lira said with frustration, giving up because she was hurting Elenya by pulling her.
Lira shot fire at the invisible wall, but it hit Elenya instead, instantly knocking her unconscious.
Seeing what happened, Lira went to her and healed her, bringing her back to consciousness. But in that small room, the light had faded as night came—and with night came Aeren.
Aeren looked at both of them by the gate. Lira now stood between them with her arms spread wide, trying to block the entrance, but Aeren simply passed through her body like a ghost or spirit. He picked up Elenya and disappeared into the darkness.
Lira was shocked by this unexpected turn of events and began following Aeren, shooting light element attacks at him. But nothing affected him—her attacks didn't even reach him, and he didn't look back at her.
Lira fired at him and shouted, "Let her go, you bastard!"
Aeren ignored her completely.
Lira didn't know why, but a thought emerged in her mind: why was she even trying to protect Elenya? She didn't know her at all. But then she remembered why she wanted to protect Elenya—because she had been her light in the darkness, taking away all her pain and suffering from the monster.
Lira tried everything throughout the night but couldn't scratch him at all. Eventually, she gave up, sat in a corner, and sobbed until she screamed.
Aeren disappeared as usual without looking back at Lira or saying anything to her.
Lira went to Elenya, grabbed her, and began healing while repeating, "You'll be all right. I will heal you."
An hour later, Elenya was fully healed but still couldn't stand or speak properly. Somehow, she managed to whisper, "K..i..l..l.. me.."
Lira looked at Elenya but didn't hear her, so she put her ear to the girl's mouth. When she heard the words, her eyes widened, and she looked at Elenya with shock.
Lira shook her head with fear and said, "What are you saying?"
She looked at Elenya again and said, "You don't need to worry. We will leave this hell together—just wait. I promise you."
Elenya didn't believe her but still nodded, wanting to die faster but not knowing how to end her own life.
Lira looked at Elenya as an idea came to her mind. She thought, I was replaced by her, so that means if I find someone better than her, she can be replaced, right?
Thinking this, a smile emerged on Lira's face as she looked at Elenya.
Lira glanced at the massive door in the distance, then looked at Elenya and said, "Just wait here. I will come for you."
After speaking her final words, Lira left Elenya alone in the dark room. Elenya wanted to scream, "Don't leave me alone! I don't want to be alone!" but her screams remained trapped inside her mouth and couldn't escape.
The ghost manor looked empty from both outside and inside. Outside, several people stood ready to enter the ghost manor, different weapons in their hands, prepared to go in.
Lira left the Ghost Manor with Elenya left alone, while Aeren was working as a butler at the Verdan estate.