The squirrel circled twice around the dead lion and the forest man (wild man), and then suddenly vanished like a wave of smoke.
Snehwal stared at Lily in astonishment.
Lily spoke in a calm voice, "What are you staring at? This is nothing unusual. That squirrel was on a higher stage."
Snehwal said in surprise, "Still… so quickly?"
Lily took a slow breath, and a hint of seriousness settled in her tone, "You didn't even realize… she also took the energy stone with her."
Snehwal scratched his head, trying to force a faint smile, and said, "You must have seen everything."
A gentle glow shimmered in Lily's eyes. She smiled softly and said, "Yes."
But the very next moment Snehwal's face turned pale. His vision began to blur, and suddenly, struck by a heavy dizziness, he collapsed to the ground.
"Snehwal!" Lily screamed. Her heart felt as if it would burst out of her chest.
She rushed to him in panic and gathered him into her trembling arms.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice quivered—
"Snehwal…! What happened?… Can you hear me?… Open your eyes… please, open your eyes…"
Her fingers caressed Snehwal's face again and again, as if her touch alone could bring him back to consciousness.
She was completely shattered, yet holding on to the last thread of hope, she kept calling his name over and over—
"Snehwal…"
But Snehwal was now panting as he moved toward the sea. A soft blue glow of moonlight spread all around, and the waves seemed to be waiting for him. Standing at the edge, he looked down—his reflection appeared in the water. But it was not his face.
The face was unfamiliar—framed by red hair, deep blue eyes, and a mysterious fire burning within them. A woman… and her shadow.
Snehwal stepped back in fear, but the ground beneath his feet seemed to vanish. His feet swung in empty air, and the next moment he fell straight into the abyss of the sea. The water swallowed him—cold, heavy, and suffocating.
In the darkness, the same voice echoed—the woman's, slow, whispering—
"Your body is very delicate… in your desire, I am but a servant…"
Snehwal tried to scream, but the sound was trapped in his throat. The waves surged inside him, stealing his breath. Suddenly, strange shapes emerged from the depths of the sea—skeletons, drowned faces, and countless empty eyes staring at him with cold gazes.
Then the same woman appeared before him—her sari flowing like the currents of the sea, the pearl necklace around her neck shining like stars in the darkness. She reached out and placed her hand on Snehwal's chest. The touch sent a cold wave deep into his soul.
"Do you remember, I gave you the method?" her eyes gleamed dangerously.
"A dead body's arrangement…"
Snehwal's heart began to race. His breaths were breaking. He panted, saying, "No… no, this can't be real… it's just a dream…"
And at that moment, the waves stopped. Everything became still. A silence so deep spread all around that even his heartbeat seemed audible.
Suddenly—with a loud crash, he woke up.
His eyes opened. He was in his own bed. The same moonlight spilled into the room through the window. Nearby, Lily sat—lost in sorrow, quietly watching him. Snehwal's chest heaved up and down, his hands were still trembling, and his heart felt as if it were still sunk deep in those depths.
Lily reached out in panic and touched his forehead. Her palm was damp with sweat. And there… there was a faint moisture—like a cold wave had truly touched him.
With a trembling voice, Lily asked, "What happened?"
Snehwal looked at her. His eyes carried both exhaustion and a gentle smile. With love, he said,
"If I run so much, I'll get tired… understand, my dear."
Lily wiped her tears, smiled faintly, and without saying anything, hugged Snehwal tightly.
Then Snehwal thought to himself, if this beauty had truly given such a method, he could change everything.
Lily asked in a voice mixed with slight worry and curiosity, "What are you thinking, Baby?"
Snehwal—smiling a little, but still weighed down by fatigue—said, " Baby!"
Lily said with seriousness and determination, "Yes, we should do something tonight."
Snehwal nodded slightly, and in a questioning tone asked, "What?"
Lily looked into his eyes, smiling, and said, "Fool, you still don't understand… something to relieve the fatigue."
Hearing this, Snehwal was suddenly filled with even more exhaustion and collapsed onto the bed once again.
Lily slowly looked at him, with a hint of disappointment and surprise, and said, "He is lifeless."