Lory stared at her brother's face for a long, silent moment. So much time had passed, years slipping away like grains of sand, as they were separated by time and space. And yet, despite everything, Lucas's appearance hadn't changed much.
Blessed with powerful, gifted abilities, their kind could maintain their youthful looks far longer than most. To the world, they still looked as if they were in their mid-twenties. But inside… Lory felt centuries old. Weary. Tired. And yet—somehow, still hopeful.
She couldn't begin to imagine what Lucas had endured during all those years apart. The crushing loneliness he must have felt. The guilt he likely carried, as heavy and relentless as her own… perhaps even more.
Lory considered herself fortunate. She had found her soulmate, Zhao Li Xin. His presence made her burdens lighter, her struggles more bearable. But Lucas… Lucas was still alone.
