Chyna ran through the forest as fast as she could, her breathing uneven with panic.
Behind her, the sound of footsteps drew closer and closer.
Terrified, she kept glancing back over her shoulder to check if the men in white were still following her.
Because of that, she failed to notice someone standing directly ahead.
She collided into a solid chest.
Startled, Chyna immediately stepped back.
"Who are you?!" she asked fearfully.
Then a familiar voice answered.
"Yna… thank God you're safe."
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Jordan!"
Without hesitation, she threw herself into Jordan's arms.
Jordan held her tightly, relief flooding through him.
"What happened?" he asked worriedly.
Chyna quickly explained between breaths.
"I was talking to Gavreal when men dressed in white attacked us. He told me to run and warn you that the Cyanans are going back on their word."
Jordan's expression darkened dangerously.
"What?" Rage flashed through his eyes. "They actually dare betray us?"
"We have to leave," Chyna urged nervously. "I can feel them getting closer."
Jordan gently held her shoulders.
"Calm down, Yna. You're safe with me."
But the moment the words left his mouth—
An arrow shot through the darkness.
Chyna froze.
Jordan's expression suddenly twisted in pain.
"Jan…?"
A weak smile appeared on his lips before his body collapsed heavily onto the ground.
"Jordan!"
Chyna immediately dropped beside him.
Her trembling hands tried desperately to wake him, but the moment she touched him, her fingers became stained with blood.
Her entire body shook.
"No…"
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
Then she looked up.
The men in white were approaching them once again.
Something inside her snapped.
With trembling rage, Chyna grabbed Jordan's sword from the ground and stood up.
The soldiers charged toward her.
But this time—
She fought back.
Driven by grief and fury, she slashed through every single one of them mercilessly.
One after another, they fell.
When the final soldier collapsed lifelessly onto the forest floor, a familiar voice suddenly echoed nearby.
"Impressive."
Chyna turned sharply to see Gavreal watching her.
"Gavreal!" she cried desperately. "Jordan won't wake up!"
Gavreal's expression softened slightly.
"I can save him," he said carefully. "But there's a price."
"I'll do anything," she answered immediately.
"You must give up your most precious possession in exchange for his life."
Chyna froze.
For a moment, silence filled the forest.
Then she slowly lowered her gaze toward Jordan.
"My most precious possession…" she whispered painfully. "Is my love for him… and the memories we share together."
Tears rolled down her cheeks again.
"But if that's what it takes to save him…" She closed her eyes briefly before nodding firmly. "Then do it."
Gavreal gave her a sad smile.
Before he could begin, Jordan suddenly stirred weakly on the ground.
"N-No…" he whispered painfully. "Don't do it…"
He tried to move, but the deep wound in his chest began bleeding heavily again.
"What are you waiting for?!" Chyna screamed desperately at Gavreal. "Save him!"
Gavreal sighed before kneeling between them.
He drew a glowing circle around both Jordan and Chyna before muttering ancient words beneath his breath.
Mist slowly began rising from Chyna's body.
As the magic spread, fragments of their memories replayed vividly inside her mind.
Their laughter.
Their moments together.
Their love.
Everything.
Jordan watched helplessly as the glowing mist left her body and flowed into his wounded one.
Slowly, his injuries began healing.
"No…" Jordan whispered brokenly. "Please don't do this…"
Then he heard her voice echo softly inside his mind.
"I love you."
Darkness swallowed everything afterward.
When Jordan regained consciousness, the forest had become eerily quiet.
Gavreal was gone.
And Chyna lay unconscious beside him.
Ignoring the pain still tearing through his body, Jordan crawled desperately toward her.
His trembling hands cupped her face gently.
"What have you done…?" he whispered painfully. "Why would you trade away our memories for me?"
Tears streamed silently down his face as he held her close.
After resting long enough to regain some strength, Jordan carefully carried her back to Grandcrest Palace.
Using the secret passageway they had once discovered together, he sneaked into her room unnoticed.
He gently laid her onto her bed before leaning down to kiss her forehead softly.
Then he heard approaching footsteps.
Reluctantly, Jordan disappeared into the shadows before anyone could see him.
From that day onward, Jordan devoted himself to one thing only—
Revenge.
He hunted down every last Cyanan involved in the attack and showed them no mercy until their existence was erased completely.
Even afterward, he secretly assigned shadow guards to protect Chyna from afar while patiently waiting for the day her memories would return.
Four years passed.
And eventually, Jordan could no longer remain hidden.
Not when danger had begun circling her once again.
[Back to the Present]
As the memories replayed painfully inside his mind, Jordan leaned back heavily against his chair.
Regret clawed mercilessly at his chest.
Sometimes he wished the past had only been a nightmare.
But no matter how much he hated it…
It was real.
He had searched endlessly for Gavreal after that night, but the mysterious man had vanished without a trace.
Jordan released a tired sigh before finally closing his eyes, hoping sleep would silence the memories haunting him.