Amethyst still lay on the cobblestone ground, trembling, his face pale as Crystal shook him by the shoulders.
"Amethyst! Wake up already!" she whined, her little hands pressing against his cheek. He only groaned, still dazed from when he'd fainted earlier trying—and failing—to keep Theodore away from Lucien.
Meanwhile, just a short distance away, the real center of attention held Lucien's hand with an innocence that made her heart race.
"Hey, Theo," Lucien said softly, tilting her head to watch him, her lips curved in a gentle smile. "Do you… know any sweet places here in this kingdom?"
Theodore's eyes lit up instantly. "Oh, I do, Lucy! Come, follow me!" He pulled her hand with his usual enthusiasm, his golden hair catching the light as he led her through the bustling streets.
To Lucien, every little thing he did seemed brighter—his laugh, his steps, even the way he looked back at her as if making sure she didn't let go. To her, he wasn't just cute; he was unbearably precious.
They stopped before a fountain at the heart of the plaza, where crowds gathered, tossing coins and murmuring wishes.
"Look, Lucy!" Theodore pointed, his grin wide. "They say if you make a wish here, it'll come true one day."
"Oh?" Lucien stepped closer, her crimson eyes sparkling with mischief. She bent down, clasped her hands, and whispered to the water so only she could hear:
"I wish to have Theodore all to myself."
Straightening, she smiled at him. "Done! There, Theo. I made my wish."
"What did you wish for?" he asked curiously.
Lucien only laughed and shook her head. "A secret. But it's something I want forever."
They wandered through the city streets afterward, stopping at stalls and peeking at trinkets. At a small park, they sat under the shade of trees, chatting idly. Lucien found herself giggling at the simplest things Theo said. He wasn't trying to charm her—yet in her eyes, every word from him was effortlessly sweet.
"Lucy, look!" Theodore tugged her sleeve and pointed to a vendor rolling past with a cart of cold treats. "Ice cream!"
Her eyes widened, and before he knew it, she had already bought two cones—one chocolate, one vanilla. She licked hers with satisfaction, then glanced at Theo with a playful grin.
"Look, Theodore. Wanna taste mine?" she teased, holding it out near his lips.
Without hesitation, Theo leaned in and took a small bite. His eyes lit up like a child's. "Yum! It's way more delicious than my vanilla! Can we switch, Lucy?"
Lucien almost let a dangerous slip of her tongue escape—"Oh my cute—"—but she coughed and corrected herself quickly. "Ahem. Sure. I'll give you my chocolate."
They laughed, then fed each other ice cream, drawing amused looks from passersby. To them, the rest of the world didn't exist.
When they finally finished, Theodore turned to her with his usual brightness. "Woah, that was fun, Lucien! Wanna come hang out at our palace? We can still play!"
Her heart skipped, but she answered quickly, "Yes, Theo. I'd love that. I want to play with you too."
The two continued down the street, hand in hand, both glowing in each other's presence. But just as their laughter echoed through the plaza—
The ground quaked.
At first, it was small, like a cart rumbling by. Then it deepened, shaking the entire city. Windows shattered. The sky itself cracked as if made of fragile glass. Gasps of terror filled the streets.
From the distance, beyond the Demon King's dark castle, the ocean boiled. A monstrous shadow rose from its depths. The colossal head of the Leviathan emerged, scales glistening like black steel, eyes burning with primal rage. It rose higher, blotting out the horizon, then moved toward the Green Continent—toward the very battlefield where Aizen fought the Snow Elf King.
But before its looming terror could descend, the heavens themselves split open.
From the clouds descended a massive, wingless dragon with scales the color of burning rubies. Its four powerful legs scraped at the air itself as though tearing reality apart. The Bakunawa—ancient enemy of the Leviathan—let out a deafening roar that rivaled the shattering sky.
One monster surged from the sea. The other descended from the sky.
And the world trembled between them.
(End of Chapter 55)