"Liora, you didn't travel here through a dimensional portal from the Mo Kingdom. You are not a Movian at all." Ethan revealed, his voice steady yet filled with immense weight. "You belong right here. You are a one-hundred-percent native Earthling."
Sophia's jaw dropped in absolute shock, and across the room, everyone else stared at Ethan in pure, unadulterated astonishment.
"What?!" Liora gasped, her mind spinning into utter confusion. "Then if I'm just an ordinary human from Earth... how on earth did a sacred blue gem end up sealed inside my body?"
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, a look of profound helplessness crossing his face. "To be completely honest with you... I don't know."
Liora's eyes widened even more, her voice rising in desperation. "What do you mean you don't know? Is there really no one in this room who has the answer?"
"Let me explain what happened to me on the day our world fell." Ethan said, his gaze drifting away as he pulled a painful memory from the depths of his past. "The day Dakan launched his brutal attack on the Mo Kingdom, the battlefield was pure chaos. I was in the thick of it, desperately fighting off waves of dark entities, when the Emperor suddenly materialized before me. He was catastrophically injured, bleeding heavily from his chest. I was completely stunned to see him in such a vulnerable state, but before I could even speak, he grabbed me by the shoulders."
Ethan gripped his knees, his knuckles turning white. "You must open the gateway and flee to Earth immediately." the Emperor commanded Ethan.
"W-What? But why, Your Majesty?" Ethan asked, terrified.
"I do not have a single second to explain!" the Emperor groaned out in agonizing pain, his knees buckling beneath him as he collapsed toward the earth.
"I cried out for him." Ethan continued, his voice trembling. "I fell to my knees right beside him, catching his upper body in my arms to keep him off the cold ground. He was gasping for air, his life force rapidly fading away. With the very last ounce of his strength, the Emperor reached out and forcefully pressed an object into my palm. It was a solid golden artifact shaped precisely like a ceremonial dagger."
"He looked into my eyes and whispered,
"This is the key to the portal that opens the pathway to the human world. The Blue Gem has already been sent to Earth. Go now... find it, and protect the Blue Gem at all costs... for the very survival of the Mo Kingdom." With those final words, the Emperor used his remaining strength to violently push Ethan away, screaming, "Go!!"
"And so, I fled through the portal to Earth, and I brought Sophia along with me." Ethan said, casting a soft, protective glance toward his friend. "Sophia is my younger sister. She had no one else left in the world but me, and there was absolutely no way I could leave her behind to be slaughtered by the dark army."
Hearing the revelation of their true brotherhood, Liora's eyes widened in surprise.
"As the divinely appointed guardian of the Blue Gem, I possessed an innate spiritual connection to its energy." Ethan explained. "The moment I stepped onto Earth, I could feel its powerful vibrations radiating through the atmosphere. I tracked the magical frequency across the country until it led me directly to a small, isolated hut. Standing outside, I heard the fragile, muffled sound of a tiny baby crying inside. I walked through the door, and there you were, Liora."
"M-Me?" Liora whispered, pointing a finger at her own chest.
"Yes, you." Ethan nodded softly. "I was profoundly shocked when I discovered that our kingdom's sacred gem had chosen to fully merge with the physical body of a newborn human infant. But regardless of how it happened, my sacred responsibility was to protect you with my life. That is why Sophia and I immediately bought a house in your neighborhood, keeping a constant, watchful eye on you as you grew up. As the years passed, I did everything I could to fit into human society; I studied relentlessly and earned the credentials to become a lecturer at your university, strictly so I could stay close to you and shield you from harm. Meanwhile, Sophia became a reporter, utilizing his investigative skills to monitor the media for any bizarre occurrences that might signal Dakan's forces crossing over to Earth. That is the absolute extent of the story I know."
Ethan and Sophia quickly exchanged a quiet, anxious glance, completely lost in their own thoughts. But the rest of the puzzle still didn't make any sense to the others.
"But how did the gem physically get inside of me in the first place?" Liora asked, her voice laced with a mixture of profound sadness and intense curiosity.
Sophia shifted uncomfortably on the cushions, her voice dropping to a nervous whisper. "Um... I-I think... it's highly possible that your human father is the only one who knows the truth about that."
Liora's breath hitched. "My dad?"
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Recognizing that the emotional revelation was threatening to overwhelm them, Maya firmly clapped her hands together to redirect the focus of the room.
"Listen to me, everyone." Maya commanded, her eyes flashing with royal authority. "Now that the absolute truth has been brought to light, and the two long-lost gems are finally standing in the exact same room, we cannot afford to waste another single second. We need to formulate a strategic master plan to liberate the Mo Kingdom right now. We must remember that for every single tick of the clock we waste sitting comfortably on these couches, our fellow Movian citizens are being brutally tortured and forced to work like helpless slaves under Dakan's dark regime. As the sworn protectors of the realm, it is our ultimate duty to save our kingdom from the forces of darkness, isn't it?"
"Yes, you are entirely right." Ronan agreed without a moment's hesitation, his jaw clenching as a newfound, regal determination settled over his features. "I spent my entire life believing I was just an ordinary businessman, but now I know I am the rightful leader of an entire empire. I will do whatever it takes to save my people as quickly as humanly possible."
"Y-Yes, of course..." Liora murmured softly, looking down at her intertwined fingers. "But before we wage a war, I desperately need to uncover the truth about my own identity. I want to travel to Manchester tomorrow to look my father in the eye and find out exactly how I inherited the Blue Gem."
Hearing Liora's vulnerable plea, a profound wave of adoration swept over Ronan. Leaning over in front of everyone, he captured Liora's lips in a swift, incredibly sweet, and reassuring kiss.
Liora's face instantly flushed a violent shade of crimson. Across the room, the other four onlookers widened their eyes in absolute astonishment at the casual display of affection.
"Wait a single minute!" Ethan interrupted, waving his hands back and forth in pure bewilderment. "Before we discuss anything else... we need to know how on earth you two managed to get this close. Start from the absolute beginning and explain yourselves."
Ronan and Liora turned to look at each other, a soft, knowing smile passing between them. Together, taking turns, they openly recounted the entire journey, from the mysterious car accident that had violently bound their energies together, to the emotional breakdown where Ronan had finally bared his soul to Liora.
"So... you two are actually lovers?!" Michael and Sophia shouted in unison, their voices cracking in pure shock.
A heavy wave of intense guilt and regret instantly washed over the two warriors. They realized with absolute horror just how catastrophic their mistake had been; they had spent the entire evening attempting to brutally murder Liora's actual soulmate.
Ronan nodded proudly, wrapping an arm securely around Liora's waist.
"I knew Liora was the host of the Blue Gem from the very moment he first stepped foot inside this mansion." Maya interjected, turning a sharp, heavily irritated glare directly toward Ethan. "Because absolutely no one else in the universe can physically handle being near the raw power of the Red Gem without perishing. But this utter idiot over here couldn't even put the pieces together."
Ethan threw his hands up in self-defense, whining loudly. "Maya, come on! I had absolutely no idea what had happened to the Red Gem after the kingdom fell! At the very least, I had zero indication that it had been smuggled onto Earth!"
Maya rolled her eyes dramatically, prompting a loud burst of laughter to echo through the living room from everyone except Liora. Ronan noticed his girlfriend was sitting entirely rigid, a deep, adorable pout resting on her lips as she stared at him with crossed arms.
"Love?" Ronan asked softly, leaning down to catch her eye. "What's wrong?"
"The cruel way you've been treating me over the past week doesn't exactly scream 'loving boyfriend'" Liora huffed cutely, turning her head away and tightening her arms across her chest.
Ronan couldn't help but bite back a laugh at the incredibly endearing display, but he quickly forced his expression to sober up, knowing Liora was genuinely hurt by the emotional distance.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"All right... allow me to explain myself." Ronan said, his tone turning incredibly serious as he gathered Liora closer, resting a large, comforting hand on her shoulder. "It is vital for everyone in this room to hear this, because you all need to understand the danger we are dealing with."
The room fell dead silent as Ronan took a deep breath, his eyes clouding over with residual fear.
"The night I finally confessed my true feelings to Liora, I dropped her off safely and began my journey back to the estate. My personal driver was running a bit late, so I decided to walk down the dark avenue until the vehicle arrived. It was precisely eleven-thirty at night, and the streets were completely deserted. But without a single shred of warning, a terrifying presence materialized directly in front of me."
Ronan's grip tightened slightly on Liora's shoulder. "A cold dread paralyzed my entire body the exact moment I realized it wasn't human. The entity looked like a swirling, sentient cloud of toxic black smoke, but its facial features were violently distorted and shifting. The only clear thing about it was its eyes, they were glowing a piercing, malicious shade of vibrant green."
"Dakan." Ethan whispered, his face draining of color.
Liora violently jumped at the name, her chest tightening with a sudden wave of fear. "Huh?"
"That entity was Dakan." Ethan said, turning a grave gaze onto Liora. "He managed to project his consciousness onto Earth."
"Yeah, I figured that out the moment I heard your story tonight." Ronan agreed, nodding grimly.
"S-So what did he say to you?" Liora asked, her voice trembling as a cold sweat broke out across her palms. The sheer thought of her boyfriend facing such a demonic entity alone terrified her to her core.
"The creature laughed at me." Ronan recalled, his jaw clenching. "He told me he was eagerly waiting for the two of us to officially unite, because the moment we joined together, he would finally be able to seize the kingdom's 'main power.' Even though I didn't possess any context for what he meant at the time, I knew with absolute certainty that his intentions were evil. I resolved right then and there that I would do the exact opposite of whatever he expected of us. I forced myself to stay completely away from you, treating you like a stranger... believing that if I kept my distance, I could keep you safe until this nightmare finally ended."
Ronan turned his head, looking down at Liora with eyes full of absolute devotion. "I am so incredibly sorry, Lio. But I quickly realized that forcing myself to stay away from you was a living hell. How on earth am I supposed to survive without the person I love most in this entire world, hmm?"
A beautiful, radiant smile broke through the tears of joy gathering in Liora's eyes. Ronan leaned down, pressing a deeply affectionate, lingering kiss against her lips, completely erasing the lingering heartache of the past week.
"Wait a single minute... the 'main power'?" Ethan murmured, his brow furrowing as he locked eyes with Maya. "I know I have heard that phrase somewhere before in our history."
"It was an ancient prophecy published within the royal archives of the Mo Kingdom, Ethan." Maya explained, her expression turning deeply reverent. "Years before either of these two were even born, a sacred text was etched directly onto the prophecy board inside the Holy Mo Temple. According to the script, the Mo Kingdom would eventually be driven to absolute ruin by a treacherous, malevolent force. The prophecy explicitly stated that while the two separate gems possessed the raw strength to physically rebuild the infrastructure of the nation, only the activation of the gems' 'main power' could permanently eradicate that evil force from existence forever. But back then, the royal court dismissed it. No one took the warning seriously because absolutely no one could comprehend what the 'main power' actually was. But against all odds, that ancient text has come true."
"Then what exactly is this main power?" Liora inquired curiously.
Ethan sighed heavily, shaking his head. "No one knows."
"Because the two gems were forcefully kept apart for twenty-two long years, their natural spiritual reservoirs drastically weakened over time." Maya clarified, mapping out the mechanics of their abilities. "The violent car accident occurred because the two stones suddenly experienced a massive, unprecedented spike in energy the exact moment they came into close proximity for the first time in over two decades. Fortunately, that volatile explosion of cosmic power ended up granting advanced supernatural capabilities to both of their physical human hosts. The closer you two get, the more the gems' power amplifies, granting you both greater strength. But Dakan is actively lurking in the shadows, watching your every move. He is waiting for your energies to peak; if the two gems alone aren't enough to destroy him, he will step in, slaughter you both, seize the artifacts, and claim the main power for himself."
Sophia leaned forward, her brow furrowing. "But what is the catalyst to actually unlock this main power?"
"I don't have a definitive answer." Maya mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Dakan seems to believe that when the output of the two gems reaches its absolute maximum, they can seamlessly fuse to create the main power. But simply locking the physical stones together in a vault never triggered anything special in the past. Perhaps... since the two gems have taken on living, breathing human forms... the main power can only be unleashed when the two physical bodies are fully combined as one."
The moment the implication of Maya's words registered in his mind, Ronan choked violently on his own saliva, erupting into a frantic fit of coughing. Beside him, Liora's entire face turned a brilliant, burning shade of hot pink, her eyes darting to the floor in absolute embarrassment.
Seeing their spectacular, flustered reactions, the rest of the couch burst into a loud, roaring fit of laughter.
"All right, all right... I simply said that was my leading theory." Maya teased wickedly, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Whenever you two feel ready, you're more than welcome to try it out."
"Hey, Miss Scott!!" Ronan whined loudly, his face burning as he glared at her.
"Okay, let's bring this meeting to an official close." Maya laughed, clapping her hands to restore order. "The very first order of business on our agenda tomorrow morning is to escort Liora to Manchester so we can confront her father and discover exactly how the Blue Gem was sealed inside of her. Once we have those answers, we will decide on our next course of action."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Since the clock had already slipped past midnight, the group officially wrapped up their discussion. As the couches cleared, Liora turned around, preparing to walk out the front doors alongside Sophia and Ethan, but Ronan's hand instantly shot out, gripping her wrist to halt her movements.
"You are staying right here with me tonight." Ronan commanded with a firm, authoritative frown, refusing to let go.
"He's right." Maya called out from the hallway, offering a supportive nod. "Now that the truth is out in the open, there is absolutely no reason for the two of you to be separated. Besides, the closer you two remain, the more powerful your defenses become."
Liora offered a shy, compliant nod, stepping back toward Ronan's side. As Ethan prepared to lead the departure, Sophia and Michael remained frozen in place, their heads bowed awkwardly as a heavy, uncomfortable tension hung in the air.
Slowly, Sophia shuffled forward, her eyes filling with tears as she looked up at Liora. "L-Liora... I am so incredibly s-sorry. If we had only known who he truly was-"
Before Sophia could even finish her stammered apology, Liora lunged forward, playfully grabbing her roommate by the top of her shirt to cut her off.
"Listen to me, Sophie." Liora said softly, a warm, reassuring smile gracing her face. "It was not your fault. You were simply doing everything in your power to safeguard the Blue Gem. Hmm? You have absolutely no reason to apologize to me."
Tears spilled over Sophia's lashes as she nodded rapidly, profoundly relieved. Liora opened her arms, pulling her friend into a tight, comforting embrace. But as they hugged, a fiercely jealous Ronan stepped up from behind, casually extending his large hand and giving Liora's rear a sharp, possessive swat.
"Hey, Ron!!" Liora squealed, violently breaking away from Sophia as her face erupted in a blush, glaring at her boyfriend in utter disbelief. Ronan simply flashed her a smug, unbothered grin.
Turning his attention across the room, Michael shifted his weight awkwardly, biting down tightly on his lower lip as he faced Ronan. "I need to apologize to you as well, Liora... and to you, Ronan."
"No." Ronan interrupted softly, his expression melting into one of deep sincerity. "I am the one who needs to apologize to you, Mike."
Michael's eyes instantly filled with happy, emotional tears at the sudden, unexpected warmth. It was the first time in twenty-two years that Ronan had ever addressed him as 'Mike.'
"I am so sorry for losing absolute control of my temper during our meeting." Ronan admitted genuinely. "I caused you an immense amount of physical pain."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Michael didn't waste another second. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Ronan, pulling his long-lost prince into a fierce, brotherly hug.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Within a matter of minutes, the guests officially departed into the night, leaving only Maya behind inside the grand estate. A sudden, thick wave of awkwardness settled over the young couple as they faced her. Having spent years treating the woman like an eccentric, middle-aged housekeeper, looking at her true form, a stunningly beautiful, pristine young warrior, felt completely surreal.
Maya let out a soft chuckle, instantly sensing their discomfort. "Please, don't let my physical appearance throw you off. Deep down, I am still the exact same old Miss Scott you've always known. I'm going to head into the kitchen and whip up a proper dinner for the two of you. Until the food is ready, go upstairs and wash up." She offered them a warm, maternal smile before turning on her heel and disappearing down the corridor.
Ronan and Liora headed upstairs to rinse away the grime and exhaustion of the chaotic evening before returning downstairs to the grand dining room.
As they quietly chewed their food, a heavy, lingering curiosity began to burn in Liora's mind. Unable to contain herself any longer, she set her chopsticks down and broke the silence.
"If you and Ethan were already fully grown warriors twenty-two years ago... how old are you actually in human years?" Liora inquired, a question that had been driving her crazy all evening. Ronan immediately perked up, equally desperate for the answer.
Maya casually took a sip of her water, answering as if she were discussing the afternoon weather. "Ah. I am currently one hundred and seventy-eight years old. Ethan is exactly one hundred and eighty."
The shocking declaration caused both Ronan and Liora to instantly choke on their food, coughing frantically as they reached for their drinks.
"Wh-What?!" Ronan gasped out, his eyes wide.
"Yes." Maya explained with a soft chuckle. "The elite guardians of the Mo Kingdom are blessed with exceptionally prolonged lifespans. We aren't completely immortal like the dark priests, but we live for centuries."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
After finishing their meal, the exhausted couple finally made their way up to Ronan's private master bedroom to rest. But just as they reached the threshold of the door, Ronan suddenly swept low, scooping Liora up into his arms in a sudden, flawless bridal carry.
Liora let out a loud, startled shriek, her hands instinctively flying up to grip Ronan's shoulders for balance.
Laughing heartily at the sweet sound, Ronan carried her across the room, carefully lowering Liora's fragile frame onto the center of the plush mattress before instantly crawling over her, hovering directly over her body. Liora's eyes stretched wide, her heart hammering against her ribs as she looked up at the handsome face looming inches from her own.
"W-What on earth do you think you're doing, Ron?" Liora stammered, her face flushing crimson.
"I was simply trying to conduct a little scientific research to see if the main power would finally manifest itself." Ronan teased wickedly, his eyes full of playful mischief.
Liora let out an embarrassed whine, raising a fist and playfully punching Ronan squarely in the center of his chest. "Shut up~!"
"All right, all right... I was only joking, love." Ronan laughed softly. He leaned down, pressing a profoundly tender, lingering kiss against Liora's smooth forehead.
Ronan was acutely aware of the deep-seated anxieties and fears Liora harbored regarding physical intimacy. Even though the girl's spiritual energy was no longer weak, Ronan had absolutely no intention of rushing her or forcing her past her comfort zone. He was perfectly content to wait forever.
Liora's expression gradually softened, a comfortable warmth settling over her chest. But a sudden, serious thought crossed her mind, causing a heavy frown to return to her face.
"Tomorrow morning is the final evaluation day to officially select your personal executive secretary." Liora murmured sadly, her fingers tracing the fabric of Ronan's shirt. "Since I have to travel all the way to Busan to confront my father, I won't be able to attend the trials. That means you're going to be forced to select Mia for the position."
Ronan's brow furrowed slightly. "And why exactly does that reality bother you so much?"
Without holding back a single detail, Liora openly recounted every single word of the chilling, villainous confession Mia had whispered into her ear earlier that afternoon, revealing her father's corporate empire, her plan to assassinate Ronan, and the corrupt senior managers who had secretly planted the entire ten-day training initiative inside the company to force her selection.
But to Liora's absolute astonishment, Ronan's face didn't betray a single shred of surprise. A calm, knowing smirk simply graced his lips.
"I already uncovered every single detail of that plot days ago." Ronan revealed smoothly.
Liora's mouth popped open into a perfect 'O' shape. "What? You knew?"
"Hmm," Ronan nodded, gently twisting a lock of Liora's blonde hair around his finger. "My executive managers possess absolutely no courage to pitch rigid, random training protocols to me out of the blue, because they are well aware that I operate strictly on my own strategic decisions. The exact moment they brought that bizarre proposal to my desk, my suspicions were triggered. I immediately launched a comprehensive background investigation into their private assets and uncovered the entire conspiracy."
"Then... if you knew it was a dangerous trap designed to infiltrate your office, why on earth did you willingly sign off on it and agree to host the program?" Liora demanded, completely bewildered.
Ronan's gaze softened into pure, unadulterated devotion, his thumb gently caressing Liora's cheekbone. "Because the moment I reviewed the list of applicants, I spotted your name. I realized that the program provided the absolute perfect corporate loophole for me to pull you into my building and legally appoint you as my personal secretary to keep you safe."
A profound wave of warmth flooded Liora's entire soul, her heart swelling with love.
"But... there's absolutely no way I can fulfill that role for you now." Liora noted softly, a small hint of disappointment in her voice.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Lio." Ronan reassured her tenderly, leaning down to brush his lips against the girl's cheek. "My initial goal was simply to force you into that position so I would have a valid excuse to keep you close to me every single day. But now that the truth has been brought to light, and you're going to be permanently staying right by my side anyway, I don't care about any of those corporate games anymore. You are all I need."
A radiant, incredibly beautiful smile lit up Liora's entire face. She nodded softly, her heart completely at peace.
"Then let's finally get some sleep, hmm?" Ronan whispered, leaning down to capture Liora's lips in a slow, deeply loving, and reassuring kiss.
Shifting his weight, Ronan pulled Liora's fragile body flush against his powerful chest, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and locking her into a fierce, protective embrace as if he were guarding the most precious treasure in the universe. Liora snuggled deeper into the familiar, comforting warmth of her boyfriend's chest, safely closing her eyes as a profound sense of security washed over her.
"Good night, my love." Ronan murmured into the dark room.
"Good night, Ron." Liora whispered back, instantly drifting off into a deep, dreamless sleep.