Several months earlier...
While Eyrx, Nick, and Darven were still living peacefully inside the old castle, training every morning and laughing over dinner...
Far beyond the Earth...
In another corner of the Twelve Realms...
Two figures stepped through a glowing portal.
One wore a black hooded cloak that concealed long green hair beneath its shadow.
The other followed quietly with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Their destination...
The Third Realm—Sakurath.
Chapter 36: The Ruined Blossom Realm
A soft pink light rippled across the portal.
Hazel and Orion stepped through together.
The moment their feet touched solid ground, Orion's eyes widened.
They stood atop a floating island suspended high above the Third Realm—Sakurath.
Behind them stood a magnificent realm gate unlike anything Orion had ever imagined. Its towering wooden frame was carved with ancient symbols, wrapped in glowing pink crystals that shimmered beneath the morning light. Countless cherry blossom petals drifted around the gateway while a massive blossom tree spread its branches above, casting a gentle shadow over the entire platform.
For a brief moment...
It looked like paradise.
Then Orion looked beyond the edge.
His breath caught.
Far below, enormous floating lands stretched toward the horizon. Rivers of glowing pink energy flowed endlessly beneath them, disappearing into an endless mist. Smoke rose from ruined districts, and countless buildings lay shattered as if a giant hand had crushed the realm long ago.
One side of Sakurath still glittered with life.
Elegant palaces stood proudly behind enormous pink barriers. Cherry blossom gardens bloomed across wide streets, crystal lanterns floated through the air, and noble districts sparkled beneath the sunlight
The other half...
Was nothing but suffering.
Collapsed homes.
Burned marketplaces.
Families rebuilding walls with rough wooden planks.
Children carrying stones larger than themselves.
Workers repaired roads while ash drifted with the falling blossom petals.
Beauty and despair existed side by side.
Before Orion could speak, Hazel suddenly grabbed his collar.
"Down."
She pulled him into the thick branches of the giant blossom tree.
At that exact moment...
Two armored soldiers emerged from the gate station.
"I heard the portal activate."
The second soldier sighed.
"You've been on duty too long. Stop imagining things."
They searched the platform carefully before walking away.
Hazel kept her voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't move."
Orion remained frozen.
From the enormous tree, he could see nearly the entire gateway platform. Dozens of guards patrolled the fences while archers watched every entrance.
Only after the soldiers disappeared did Hazel finally exhale.
"They've doubled security."
Orion slowly released the breath he'd been holding.
"Sis Hazel..."
"Hm?"
"Why is this realm divided into two completely different worlds? One side looks like heaven... the other looks destroyed."
Hazel smiled faintly.
"You've grown curious."
"I'll explain later."
"Right now, survival comes first."
She closed her eyes.
A faint ripple spread across her body.
Her green hair darkened into chestnut brown.
Her facial features shifted.
Even her eyes changed color.
Within seconds...
A completely different woman stood before Orion.
He instinctively stepped back.
"W-Who are you?"
Hazel chuckled.
"Relax."
"My transformation ability changes my appearance for thirty minutes."
"It's part of my power."
Orion stared in disbelief.
"That's... terrifying."
"It keeps us alive."
The two climbed down from the tree and approached the security checkpoint.
The moment they reached the gate, a soldier raised his spear.
"Stop."
"State your identities."
Hazel lowered her head politely.
"We're traders."
"We've come to purchase local goods for trade across the realms."
The guard frowned.
"Wait here."
He signaled another soldier.
"Check today's arrival records."
The second guard opened a floating crystal panel, scrolling through glowing documents.
"No scheduled trader groups today."
The first soldier narrowed his eyes.
"No appointment."
"No registered caravan."
"And only two people?"
Hazel smiled apologetically.
"We're a newly formed trader group."
"We left our previous realm in a hurry and couldn't submit our arrival request."
"Show your trader mark."
Hazel rolled up her sleeve.
The branded trader emblem gleamed softly on her arm.
The guard examined it carefully.
"It appears genuine..."
"But where's your group?"
Hazel pointed toward Orion.
"We're just beginning."
"He's my first partner."
"My name is Vale Choros."
"His name is Riven."
The guard nodded before calling someone inside.
Moments later, a man wearing silver armor stepped outside.
His badge read:
Captain Kaien.
"Show me your trader identification."
Hazel handed over the forged identity cards Robert had prepared.
Kaien compared every detail before looking back at her.
"Everything seems correct..."
"But you failed to register your arrival."
Hazel sighed dramatically.
"I know."
"Our schedule collapsed after problems in another realm."
"I promise we'll register properly next time."
Kaien studied her for several seconds.
Then she spoke again, her voice gentle enough to soften even suspicion.
"Please."
"We've traveled for weeks."
"We only wish to do business peacefully."
Kaien cleared his throat, hiding the faint redness creeping onto his face.
"...Very well."
"But hear me carefully."
"If you cause trouble inside Sakurath..."
"You'll spend the rest of your lives in prison."
Hazel smiled warmly.
"We understand."
Kaien continued.
"Never stay longer than seven days."
"On the eighth day, visitors without renewal become fugitives."
He wrote something onto two parchment permits before handing them over.
"Don't lose these."
"You'll need them to leave the realm."
Hazel accepted them politely.
"Thank you."
As they prepared to leave, Kaien suddenly called out.
"One last question."
Hazel turned back, maintaining her perfect smile.
"Yes?"
"Why are both of you carrying swords?"
"For protection."
"We were attacked during our last trading journey."
"We'd rather not repeat that experience."
Kaien nodded.
"Fair enough."
"But remember..."
"Use those blades to kill someone here..."
"And Sakurath will never forgive you."
Hazel inclined her head.
"We won't forget."
The checkpoint gates slowly opened.
Beyond them stood another security station guarding the descent to the lower lands.
The soldiers inspected their permits once more before allowing them through.
A lone operator stood beside a massive iron lever.
"Stand on the platform."
Hazel obeyed.
The operator pulled the lever.
The floor beneath her vanished.
She dropped into empty space.
Orion's face turned pale.
"I-I have to fall?"
The operator smirked.
"You'll survive."
Orion swallowed hard before stepping onto the platform.
The lever moved again.
His stomach lurched as the ground disappeared beneath him.
Pink light swallowed his vision.
Seconds later...
His boots touched solid earth.
Hazel sat calmly upon a weathered stone nearby.
"Took you long enough."
Orion forced out a shaky laugh.
"I thought I was going to die."
Hazel's disguise faded.
Her green hair returned.
Bright green eyes reflected the broken streets around them.
"The transformation expired."
She stretched her shoulders before surveying the poor district.
Around them...
Families repaired broken homes.
Smoke drifted through narrow streets.
Children carried buckets of water while exhausted workers rebuilt walls beneath falling cherry blossoms.
Hazel quietly observed everything.
"It seems we've arrived in the lower district."
She pulled her hood over her head once more.
"Come on."
"Let's learn how the people of Sakurath truly live."