Soft sunlight filled the room.
Snehwal was lying on the sofa, while Lily stood near the window, looking at the setting sun on the horizon.
Lily spoke softly,
"Do you really want to know?"
Snehwal nodded slowly. "Yes…"
Lily's eyes seemed lost in the past.
"We both — my sister and I — studied in the same academy near the Mehan Mountains.
One day, some merchants came to the academy. From them, we bought a secret technique that could control the fire element.
We didn't know that the same technique already belonged to Shon Yakshini.
Later, there was a competition in the academy.
My sister used that technique and defeated Lela.
When Shon Yakshini heard about it, she became furious.
It happened about eight or ten years ago…
She attacked the academy with her followers.
Our Master was killed, along with many students.
When she came to kill my sister, I fought her.
Our levels were different — she was at the fifth stage, and I was only at the fourth.
Still, I managed to save my sister…
But I was captured.
Thankfully, Master Jins appeared and rescued me — he took me with him.
Since that day, only one fire burned inside me — revenge.
Then, Diresha offered me her inheritance…
And since then, I have become who I am today."
For a moment, the room was silent.
Snehwal spoke softly,
"You regret losing yourself, don't you?"
Lily sighed.
"I did… but not anymore. I don't want more bloodshed.
I don't want anything bad to happen to you.
Everyone close to me ends up leaving — my clan faced the same fate."
Snehwal was quiet for a few seconds, then said,
"That won't happen again. Trust yourself — and trust me."
Lily turned toward him and looked into his eyes for a moment.
She walked closer, and Snehwal sat up on the sofa.
Lily sat beside him.
She asked softly,
"Will you really always stay with me?"
Snehwal smiled. "Hmm."
"Really? Even if you become unbeatable in this land?"
"Yes."
"What if you start liking another Yakshini or a strong woman?"
"Never."
Lily smiled faintly.
"This world is full of beauty and temptation…
Even the strongest minds can lose focus for a moment."
Snehwal didn't answer — instead, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.
Lily stayed still, lost in that moment.
The air in the room grew still and heavy.
One of Snehwal's hands was around her waist, the other behind her neck.
Lily's hands were on his chest — or rather, trapped gently between them.
Just as they were about to move closer —
a sudden voice came from the door,
"Looks like I came at the wrong time…"
Liora stood there, a playful smile on her lips.
Lily and Snehwal quickly pulled away, their faces turning red with embarrassment.
At that moment, Liora quietly stepped out of the room.
She walked through the corridors and stopped near a wall of the grand palace, sitting down slowly.
Her mind drifted back — to that one night from her past life,
when the same Snehwal — then known as Mittu — had been in her arms.
Tears filled Liora's eyes.
She waved her hand, and a small handkerchief appeared.
Wiping her tears gently, she whispered, her voice trembling,
"That time has passed…
and now he belongs to someone else.
How… how am I supposed to bear this?"
Liora was standing unsteadily — her steps were shaky, and her tears wouldn't stop.
From a distance, Ignisa was watching everything. There was a deep pain in her eyes, a memory from long ago.
She whispered softly,
"Maybe love is like this…
The pain of losing someone — that's the real sorrow.
I remember… I also cried like this when he left me…"
Liora's eyes fell slightly on Ignisa,
and with tears streaming down her face, she ran away from there.
Her heart was completely broken.
Ignisa placed her hand over her heart and said softly,
"What kind of love is this… that shakes everything inside,
but never comes to the lips?
It's a fire that burns within everyone.
The pain Liora feels… maybe I can understand it."
Saying this, Ignisa slowly walked away.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Snehwal said shyly,
"I can never be enchanted by anyone else.
You're the only one who's dearest to me."
Lily's cheeks turned red — the love on her face was clear.
She smiled and slowly walked out of the room.
As soon as she left, Snehwal scratched his head and murmured,
"Did I… say something wrong?"
He kept scratching his head.