Samarth gazed at the forest and the shimmering lake nestled between the trees. A smile spread across his face as he realised he had found the perfect spot for camping. Knowing it would take time to reach the capital, he decided he needed to rest here, convinced there might not be another place quite like this.
Feeling satisfied with the surroundings, Samarth turned to the people who had accompanied him, who were beginning to disembark from the carriage. "Alright, everyone, let's get to work," he instructed. Although he could have set up camp alone, he brought a few people with him to keep them busy and prevent boredom.
"Yes, Master! Leave everything to us," one person responded, determination shining on their face and respect evident in their eyes.
Seeing the motivation and respect among his companions, Samarth remained composed and replied, "Good, go have fun." As soon as he finished speaking, they scattered in all directions, eager to gather materials for their one-night camp.
After observing them for a few minutes, Samarth turned back to his own carriage and watched as the girls stepped out.
For a brief moment, his gaze drifted to the forest, and his heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, a wave of nostalgia washed over him as he thought of the heaven he had lost. If I had my heaven with me, I would see everything through the trees, the plants, the grass, the flowers—all connected in a vibrant green heaven. But now I have no heaven, and heaven watches over me. I can't comprehend how heaven could disappear; it's not something humans or monsters can manipulate. There are only two possibilities: either heaven has vanished, or the illusion has broken, causing heaven to leave.
Samarth sighed deeply, reflecting on the past when he would sit in his room, observing the world and hearing the secrets of people's lives—their fear of death, their emotions, their love—everything he could perceive through the plants and trees of a magical world. No one had questioned their natural surroundings or expected anything beyond them.
As he pondered his losses, he reminded himself that he was going to the capital for work and a few personal matters. Looking up at the sky, he noticed that clouds still lingered above, even though night had already fallen.
As he watched the sky and noticed the vastness of the world—the infinite gap between heaven and earth—he stood surrounded by all elements. Existing without action, simply present in his place, staring at both heaven and earth with eyes like an ocean reflecting the sky, he had named it: Ocean-Heaven. This was because all of them—humans, monsters, and every living being—existed within Ocean-Heaven. There was no outside. If anyone ventured beyond by chance, they would perish in the Cosmic Ocean.
It was like fish, he thought. Humans and monsters were fish living in an ocean, and when a fish stepped out of the water, it died. Just so, they too were confined. If he could capture this Ocean-Heaven—understand it completely—he would see both heaven and earth as one unified whole, and no one would realise his insight. But was it even possible to capture an ocean as vast as heaven?
Samarth, lost in contemplation of the heaven he wished to capture, remained motionless as all three girls approached him. They had noticed his attention was elsewhere—his eyes fixed on empty air, seeing something invisible to them. Seraphina's eyes twitched as she observed him, assessing carefully. The other two showed little reaction to his absorbed state. They had grown accustomed to this over the past few days and had begun to ignore it.
"Master, let's cook something," Emily spoke, but Samarth made no response. His gaze remained fixed on thin air as though he no longer existed in the physical world—only his body remained, anchored to this place.
"He's lost consciousness again," Jane observed quietly. "This is his third time this week. He's gone somewhere else."
Emily nodded in agreement, watching his silence and the complete trust evident in his posture. He had no fear of leaving his guard down with them. She could see that he believed they would protect him if danger came, that they would do him no harm.
"He's been like this for a week now," Emily said softly, her eyes still on her master. "I don't even know what he's searching for, or I would help him." Despite her desire to assist, she knew there was nothing she could do in this moment. Yet he had helped her so much in the past, had taught her many things, and now she was returning to a home she had once abandoned to discover her own nature. She owed him that trust.
"What should we do?" Jane asked, glancing toward Emily.
Seraphina observed in silence, letting them speak freely while noting every important detail of their conversation. She barely understood all their words—her grasp of their language was still incomplete—but she knew she didn't need to understand everything immediately. She would wait and connect the pieces later. That way, she could understand their meaning without needing to ask direct questions.
"Hmm, let's observe him," Emily responded to Jane's question. Emily wanted to watch for any sign of danger, ready to help her master at a moment's notice. Though she didn't dwell much on sentiment, she wanted to show her gratitude—he had taught her in the past and transformed her into someone worthy of respect wherever she went.
"What happened to Lord Samarth?" Seraphina's words snapped both Jane and Emily from their thoughts, and they turned to see her standing steadily on her legs. They remembered her leg had been healed when they were leaving the village, and in their recent concerns, they had forgotten about her condition entirely. As they observed her now, they relaxed, relieved that it wasn't an attack or an emergency.
"Nothing to worry about," Jane assured her. "He will return in a few hours, perhaps a day. He always does."
Seraphina observed them, reading their faces and noting the confidence in their eyes and the trust they held for him. She found it difficult to comprehend. How could anyone place such trust in beings with human features? It was as though she were watching two fools who believed they would be praised for their loyalty, not realising that praise itself was a manipulation—a tool that connected people to their desires, compelling them to act in hopes of receiving it. And through this endless cycle of praise, people were manipulated further without ever gaining awareness of it. This realisation could not change as long as self-awareness had not awakened within them.
"But how will I learn Anti-magic without Lord Samarth?" Seraphina asked, her voice cutting through the air. "He promised to teach me."
Emily and Jane exchanged glances, unbothered by her concern. "Don't worry," Emily said gently. "He will teach you. For now, focus on your healing first—that's the best way to prepare for learning."
Seraphina nodded silently, accepting their words without argument, though doubt flickered behind her eyes. "I will wait for his return and thank him," she replied politely, then turned toward the forest. She spotted a large tree nearby and made her way to it, settling beneath its shelter. Jane and Emily watched her retreat, then turned their attention back to their master.
***
Inside Ocean-Heaven
Samarth's eyes opened to an unsettling sensation. The first thing he perceived was a presence—something watching him, observing his every movement. He shivered as he felt the consciousness of that being pressing against his awareness.
"Who could possibly perceive me here?" he questioned himself, his gaze searching the vast expanse of Ocean-Heaven for the source. But he could not perceive it, could not identify what watched him. The mystery only deepened his unease, and he shivered again.