Dawn in the Moonwater Realm did not come with sunlight.
It arrived through silence.
The three moons slowly dimmed, silver mist rolled across the endless lake, and the floating Moon Palace reflected itself in still water like a memory trying not to fade.
For the first time since I had entered this world, nothing was trying to kill me.
Suspicious.
Deeply suspicious.
I stood on the highest balcony of the Moon Palace, looking over the restored realm while Professor Mehra's journal rested in one hand and the Moon Sovereign's Crest in the other.
The silver pendant was cool against my palm.
Real.
Proof that somehow, against all logic, I had earned the trust of another sovereign.
Lian Xueyi in the Crimson Realm.
Yue Xiang here.
Two goddesses.
Two worlds saved.
And somehow my life was only getting more complicated.
Honestly, consistency mattered.
Behind me, footsteps approached.
Light.
Measured.
I didn't need to turn.
"Shouldn't sovereigns be sleeping after saving entire worlds?"
Yue Xiang stopped beside me.
"Shouldn't outsiders be resting after nearly dying repeatedly?"
"Probably. I'm choosing denial."
"Unsurprising."
Comforting.
At this point, if she stopped insulting me lightly, I would assume something was wrong.
We stood together in quiet for a moment.
The kind that no longer needed defence.
Then I opened Professor Mehra's journal again.
Most of his notes were still written in coded symbols only he found emotionally reasonable.
But after the Lunar Heart, one page had changed.
Ink I hadn't noticed before now glowed faintly beneath moonlight.
I frowned.
"That definitely wasn't there yesterday."
Yue Xiang stepped closer.
Moonlight touched the page.
The hidden writing became clear.
A map.
Not complete.
But enough.
Three symbols connected by lines of ancient gate script.
The Crimson Flame.
The Moon Crest.
And the third—
a golden thunder mark shaped like a broken crown.
Yue Xiang's expression sharpened.
"The Skyforge Realm."
I looked at her.
"That sounds dramatic."
"It is."
Naturally.
She traced the symbol lightly.
"Realm of storm forges, divine blacksmith clans, and the Thunder Sovereign."
That sounded like trouble wearing armour.
Perfect.
Professor Mehra had written only one sentence beneath it.
Beware the realm where gods forge kings.
I stared at the line.
"That sounds like terrible news."
"Yes."
Excellent.
ARINA's voice echoed.
"Main Quest Updated."
A blue panel unfolded.
Main Quest Chain: World Gate Recovery Next Destination: Skyforge Realm Primary Target: Third Gate Fragment Sovereign: Lei Mira Threat Level: Severe
Lei Mira.
Another name.
Another goddess.
Another incoming disaster.
I was beginning to see a pattern.
Yue Xiang's voice lowered.
"Lei Mira does not trust easily."
I looked at her.
"You say that like I have a good record."
She gave me a look.
Fair.
"She rules through strength," Yue Xiang continued. "Unlike Lian's fire or my restraint, Lei Mira values proof above words."
I nodded slowly.
"So instead of emotional damage…"
She folded her arms.
"She may simply throw lightning at you."
Honestly?
Clearer communication.
I respected it.
The balcony doors opened behind us.
Jian entered, carrying all the emotional energy of a man who had spent the night reconsidering his life.
Reasonable.
He bowed slightly to Yue Xiang.
"My Sovereign. The gate preparations are complete."
Then his gaze shifted to me.
He sighed.
"Unfortunately, so is he."
I pointed at him.
"Your support means everything."
Professional friendship.
Healthy.
Jian ignored me with discipline.
Impressive.
Yue Xiang turned toward the inner palace.
"Come."
No explanation.
Just sovereign command.
I followed because experience had taught me resistance was mostly decorative.
The gate chamber beneath the palace was different from the Crimson Realm's.
Where Lian's gate had burnt with fire, this one flowed like water trapped in moonlight.
A circular silver platform surrounded by floating rings of crystal, ancient runes spinning through the air like constellations obeying invisible gravity.
At the centre—
another World Gate.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
And once again, making me question my life choices.
The Moon Sovereign's Crest in my hand pulsed warmly.
It fit perfectly into the gate's centre seal.
I placed it there.
The entire chamber awakened.
Silver light flooded upward.
The floating crystal rings began turning.
The air vibrated.
The gate was opening.
ARINA's voice rang sharply.
World Gate Activated Destination: Skyforge Realm Traveller: Ishaan Witness Authority: Moon Sovereign Gate Stability: One Passage
One passage.
Again.
Apparently return tickets were a luxury item.
I turned toward Yue Xiang.
This part was harder than expected.
Goodbyes were dangerous.
Especially when they mattered.
She stood beneath the silver light like she had been carved from moonlight itself.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Far too easy to think about.
Bad.
I focused on survival.
"If your realm collapses while I'm gone, I'm blaming Jian."
He looked offended.
Excellent.
Yue Xiang stepped closer.
Close enough that the silver light around us felt quieter.
Her voice was low.
"The Skyforge Realm is different."
Not a warning.
Something more personal.
"The Covenant has deeper roots there."
Ashborn, again.
Of course.
She reached up and adjusted the collar near my Phoenix Mark.
A small gesture.
Unreasonably effective.
"Do not fight every battle alone."
I looked at her.
That line wasn't just advice.
It was trust.
I nodded once.
"I'll come back."
Not dramatic.
Not poetic.
Just true.
Her fingers lingered for half a second.
Then she stepped back.
Professional distance restored.
Probably safer for everyone.
Jian crossed his arms.
"If possible, try not to return with another kingdom trying to kill you."
I considered that.
"No."
He sighed.
Yue Xiang almost smiled.
Again.
Dangerous.
The gate flared.
Silver light swallowed the chamber.
The third path had opened.
I took one last look at the Moon Sovereign.
At the realm we had saved it.
At the place that somehow felt less like a mission and more like something I would return to.
Then I stepped forward.
The world dissolved.
Moonlight vanished.
And thunder answered.
I fell—
again—
through storm and fire.
Toward the next sovereign.
Toward Lei Mira.
Toward a realm where gods forged kings.
Honestly—
I should have been worried.
Instead—
I was curious.
Which, according to history, was usually how disasters began.
Perfect.