In the middle of the flight toward the West, Lyra suddenly stopped in mid-air.
Her eyes looked down at the figures of an old grandfather and a very young girl. The old man was seen trying to protect the girl with his own body.
Seeing Lyra stop, Azril also slowed down and called to her, "What is it?"
"Wait a moment," Lyra said. As she intended to approach them, it turned out the grandfather and the girl were being threatened by six men.
"Hey, you old fossil! Hand over the girl!" shouted one of the men surrounding them.
The grandfather began to draw his weapon with trembling hands. "If you want her, you'll have to go through me first!"
Seeing that sight, Lyra fell silent and pensive. It was as if she were seeing herself in the past, back when she had not yet taken the path of a Star Ascendant.
Suddenly, Lyra felt a pat on her shoulder from Azril.
"What's wrong with you?" Azril asked calmly.
"It's nothing..." However, suddenly a scream was heard from the young girl. The old grandfather was slashed, and the two of them were cornered.
"Hey, pretty girl, come with us! I promise if you come, you'll be happy! Hahaha!" The threateners laughed loudly with a mocking tone.
Lyra instantly shot down and blew the threateners away with her energy.
She stood tall in front of the grandfather and the young girl, staring cynically at the six men. "Get lost, you bastards!" Lyra said coldly.
"You... You are a Step 2 Star Ascendant (Stardust Strata)!" they screamed in terror. Realizing their opponent was far too strong, the threateners immediately scrambled away in a panic.
"Thank you, Big Sister. My name is Yun Yuan," the young girl said with teary eyes.
"Thank you, Senior. My name is Yun Meng, a Step 1 Star Ascendant," the grandfather said while bowing. "Senior, are you truly a Step 2 Star Ascendant?"
Lyra turned around and looked at them. Her old memories began to spin again. "Yes, I am a Step 2 Star Ascendant. Why were those bastards chasing you?"
"It is because my granddaughter did not want to go with them during the Blue Moon Sect recruitment ceremony," Yun Meng answered sadly.
"Thank you... would Senior like to stop by the Yun family residence?" Yun Meng asked while bowing respectfully.
"No need, thank you. We are in a hurry," Lyra answered.
"We? Is there someone else besides Senior?" Yun Meng was confused.
"Right above you," Lyra said. They looked up and saw Azril standing silently in the air. Upon seeing Azril, their gazes turned to terror, as if they were looking at a monster.
"Forgive me, Senior, I did not see you," Yun Meng said with a trembling voice.
"Alright, we are leaving. If we meet again, we will stop by your residence," Lyra said, ending the conversation. She returned to Azril's side, and then they flew off so fast that it created a wind wave that swept across the surrounding area.
"Grandfather... that big brother is very scary, but very handsome," Yun Yuan murmured.
"We are lucky to have met them," Yun Meng replied while wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
As they were flying, Azril noticed Lyra's face looked very sad. Below them stretched a vast meadow and a field of flowers. Azril pulled Lyra's hand and brought her down.
"What is it?" Lyra asked. Azril pointed toward the expanse of flowers. "Very beautiful," Azril said softly.
Lyra smiled, her eyes widening at the warm sight under the afternoon sun. "Don't be sad anymore," Azril said.
"Hahahaha, did I look sad all this time?" Lyra asked while staring at Azril. Azril only nodded slowly.
"This isn't a pleasant story... do you want to hear it?" Lyra asked. Azril smiled, a sign that he was ready to listen.
"When I saw Yun Yuan and Yun Meng earlier, I felt like I was seeing myself in the past. I used to grow up in a very wealthy family because my father and mother were merchants. However, due to competition, my parents' rival hired assassins."
"That night, I was playing with my maid in my room. Suddenly, screams were heard from outside, followed by a fire.
My maid told me to hide under the bed and not to come out. When she went to check the situation, right before my eyes, I saw a spear pierce through her body. She died."
Lyra continued with a raspy voice, "I kept hiding in a panic. When I finally started to leave the room, the sight was horrifying. In the courtyard, I saw my parents had been impaled by spears on wooden stakes. My world collapsed instantly."
"Then I heard my mother's voice, 'You must keep living no matter the circumstances, I hope you are happy, my dear Lyra.'
That was her last voice. When I wanted to go to my mother's body, my parents' rival appeared. I ran into the forest in a panic while that bastard chased me with a mocking face."
"It turned out another assassin was already in front of me. I was slammed to the ground and blacked out. When I opened my eyes, I was in a small house belonging to an old grandfather."
He was very kind and cared for me until I recovered in a mountain village. That grandfather was a Step 1 Star Ascendant; he was the one who taught me the basics of combat techniques."
"As I grew up, I realized his time was almost up. Then the village was attacked by a rogue Star Ascendant. Grandfather sacrificed himself to protect me. I clearly saw his body dissolve along with the enemy at that time..."
Lyra began to cry and leaned her head on Azril's shoulder. Azril stroked Lyra's head gently.
"So when I saw you fighting Damien, I was afraid the old tragedy would repeat itself," Lyra said while crying loudly. Azril just stayed silent and hugged Lyra tightly.
IN REMNANT VILLAGE
"What caused your injuries?" Huo Lan asked Arlo and Lizra. Arlo and Lizra looked at each other, afraid of being caught as traitors to the empire.
"Will you keep it a secret, Master Huo Lan?" Lizra asked.
"Rest assured, I will not leak anything," Huo Lan answered.
"We were originally imperial soldiers. We were assigned as bait, then we fled when the war broke out," Lizra admitted.
"Our empire truly is broken," Huo Lan murmured. He began to treat them with pills and medicine. "Don't be hesitant, let me treat you."
"Thank you for treating our husbands," Lana and Aerith said.
Suddenly, a loud noise was heard. An imperial horse carriage passed by, announcing the victory against Yeredith. The citizens cheered happily, but Arlo and his family panicked. They knew that in a few days, they might be discovered as traitors.
"Stay calm, if that happens we must leave immediately. I have also opposed the scholars' policies there," Huo Lan said reassuringly.
"But what about Azril, Arlo? He hasn't been found yet," Lana started to cry again.
"Who is Azril?" Huo Lan asked.
"Arlo and Lana's son," Aerith answered. Lana told the story that her son went missing at the age of 4 by a tree, leaving only a wooden toy.
"I hope your son is okay and happy," Huo Lan said, trying to comfort her.
BACK TO AZRIL & LYRA
"Lyra, don't be sad," Azril said.
"Thank you, I feel better now," Lyra answered while releasing her hug. "Let's go play over there!" She pulled Azril's hand toward the vast meadow.
Lyra picked a beautiful white flower. "Look at me," she said while tucking the flower behind her ear. "Am I very beautiful?"
"Yes," Azril answered while caressing Lyra's hair.
Suddenly, Lyra pulled up some grass and threw it at Azril. "Take this! Come chase me, Long-Haired Azril! You old monster who used to be a mess!" Lyra shouted while running mockingly.
Azril chased her, remembering his childhood in Remnant Village. Finally, Lyra lay down on the grass because she was tired, followed by Azril. The afternoon sun shone on their faces.
"Where is your hand?" Lyra asked. Azril held out his hand, and Lyra kissed it gently. "I am so relieved today."
Suddenly, a flower was blown by the wind and stuck to Azril's face, making them both laugh again in the middle of the beautiful flower field.