The night was quiet.

Chris and Elizabeth sat together on the edge of a rooftop, overlooking the city below.

The view was familiar.

It was the same peaceful landscape they had once admired from the Hill of Edenus.

Lights stretched across the distance like scattered stars, while a cool breeze drifted between them, carrying away the warmth of the day.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

There was no tension.

No fear.

Only silence.

Chris kept his eyes on the horizon before speaking.

"You know..."

His voice was soft, almost disappearing into the wind.

"I really wish you and him have a wonderful relationship."

Elizabeth looked at him.

There was no jealousy in his voice.

No anger.

Only an unexpected calmness.

Chris smiled faintly.

"But know this..."

He turned toward her.

"In the end..."

"I'll always be with you."

His eyes remained fixed on hers.

"Even in the darkest places."

Elizabeth couldn't explain why those words touched her.

She simply looked back at him.

For the first time in a long while, Chris didn't seem frightening.

He seemed...

Sincere.

A gentle smile appeared on her face.

The wind continued blowing between them as they quietly watched the city together.

Later... Elizabeth's Bedroom

Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes.

Morning light slipped through the curtains.

For a few moments, she remained beneath the blanket, staring at the ceiling.

A strange feeling lingered inside her.

Peace.

Real peace.

The kind she hadn't felt in a long time.

"What a dream..."

she murmured quietly.

She smiled to herself.

The memory still felt fresh.

Chris...

Being so kind.

She couldn't help laughing softly.

"Ugh... Chris being so sweet..."

She shook her head.

"That's new."

She pulled the blanket back over herself and curled up comfortably, wanting to stay in bed just a little longer.

Then—

Her phone vibrated across the bedside table.

Elizabeth reached over and answered without looking.

"Hello?"

"Did you enjoy the date?"

Lusion's familiar voice came through the speaker.

Elizabeth smiled almost immediately.

"Yeah... I did."

She sat up in bed, still thinking about the dream.

"I'd love to do it again today."

There was a brief silence.

On the other end of the call, Lusion smiled to himself.

"Lovely."

His voice remained calm.

"We just might."

The call ended.

Elizabeth looked at her phone for a moment before placing it back beside her.

For some reason...

The dream still refused to leave her mind.

-------------

Meanwhile... Outside Botas' Mansion

Chris stood quietly across the street, his eyes fixed on Botas' mansion.

It towered over the surrounding houses.

Large.

Elegant.

Almost intimidating.

"What a huge place..."

he muttered under his breath.

His eyes wandered across the windows, the balconies, and the neatly maintained garden.

"One could imagine the things inside."

A faint smile appeared.

"Bet they even have an underground bunker."

He continued staring at the mansion.

"Anyone would think a president stays there."

Chris leaned against a nearby wall, folding his arms.

He watched the house in silence.

It looked peaceful.

A home.

A family.

He tilted his head slightly.

"They're a happy family..."

A pause.

"But I wonder if they're good or bad."

His expression softened.

"Well..."

"They seem good."

For a moment, he simply watched. As though trying to understand something he had never experienced himself.

Then another thought entered his mind.

"Have you ever wanted a person to become the perfect half of you?"

His voice was quiet.

"Someone who completes you."

"Someone who understands who you are."

"Someone who makes you happy."

The words lingered in the night air.

Chris sighed.

"I want someone like that too."

His eyes remained fixed on the mansion.

"To be able to shape them into what I desire..."

His expression became distant.

"But these people..."

He slowly raised a hand, pointing toward the mansion.

"They can make someone into their perfect half."

A small smile crossed his face.

"They can turn someone into a perfect slave."

He lowered his hand.

"Who does that?"

Silence.

"I don't know."

Another pause.

"But I will."

The wind drifted gently through the street, causing the trees to sway.

Chris closed his eyes for a brief moment.

There was something he longed for.

Something that always seemed just beyond his reach.

He was always close enough to watch.

Never close enough to belong.

Like a shadow living just outside the light.

At the Park with Lusion and Elizabeth

The night was calm.

Leaves rustled gently as the wind passed through the trees.

Far away, the sounds of the city blended into a soft background hum.

Lusion and Elizabeth walked side by side along the park's winding path.

The scattered streetlamps cast pools of warm light across the pavement.

Neither of them seemed in any hurry.

For a little while, everything felt peaceful.

Then—

Footsteps.

Someone was running toward them.

A man appeared from the darkness.

His eyes were filled with desperation.

Without warning, he lunged toward Elizabeth's purse.

Elizabeth gasped.

Instinctively, she gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.

The man growled in frustration.

His grip tightened around the purse.

When Elizabeth refused to let go, he reached into his pocket.

A knife flashed beneath the park lights.

Without warning, he swung it toward the strap.

Elizabeth gasped.

Fear rushed through her body.

For a brief moment, she considered holding on.

Then instinct took over.

She let go.

The purse fell to the ground.

The man reached for it—
But he never got the chance.

Lusion moved.

His expression changed instantly.

The calmness disappeared. Without saying a single word, he rushed forward.

He grabbed the attacker before he could escape and forced him to the ground.

The man struggled.

Lusion didn't hesitate.

His fist came down.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

Each punch was quick.

Precise.

Controlled.

The attacker slowly stopped resisting.

Within moments, he lay motionless on the pavement.

Silence returned to the park.

Lusion slowly stood up, taking a deep breath as if nothing unusual had happened.

Elizabeth remained frozen.

She looked at him in disbelief.

Only seconds ago, she had been terrified.

Now...

She felt safe.

Safer than she had felt in days.

Her heart still raced, but no longer because of fear.

She looked at Lusion.

He had protected her without hesitation.

Without asking for anything in return.

A warm feeling spread through her chest.

"He's my savior."

The thought appeared naturally.

She smiled.

Without realizing it, her feelings for him had grown even stronger.

Chris Struggles to Reach Elizabeth

Back at Elizabeth's house...

Chris stood silently in front of it.

He stared.

The fire was gone.

The damage was gone.

The house stood exactly as it had before.

As though nothing had ever happened.

Chris couldn't look away.

"I was right..."

he whispered.

A smile slowly spread across his face.

"I was fucking right."

His voice carried equal parts excitement and disbelief.

"This house can't be rebuilt in less than eighteen hours."

He stepped closer.

His fingers brushed against the wall.

It was real.

Solid.

Untouched.

His breathing became heavier.

"What the hell is this...?"

Questions flooded his mind.

But there wasn't time to think.

"I need to talk to Elizabeth before night falls."

Without another moment of hesitation, Chris ran.

He headed toward the park.

But almost immediately—

Something crashed from the sky.

A satellite slammed into the ground ahead of him.

Chris stumbled backward.

"What?!"

He tried another route.

Lightning struck nearby with a deafening crack.

The impact forced him to stop again.

"Damn it!"

He kept running.

A few streets later—

Tires screeched.

Two cars collided in front of him, blocking the road with twisted metal and smoke.

Chris stood there in disbelief.

Every path.

Every shortcut.

Every attempt to reach Elizabeth...

Something stopped him.

It wasn't coincidence anymore.

It felt deliberate.

As though the world itself refused to let him reach her.

At the Park with Lusion and Elizabeth

The two continued walking through the park.

The excitement from the robbery had faded, leaving only the quiet sounds of the night around them.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't awkward.

It was comforting.

Elizabeth looked up at Lusion.

A strange feeling lingered inside her.

Something she couldn't explain.

"Every time I'm on a date with you..."

she said softly.

"It feels nostalgic."

Lusion glanced at her.

She smiled to herself.

"Like I've done this before."

She paused.

"Exactly the same way."

Lusion smiled gently.

"Déjà vu."

Elizabeth laughed quietly.

"Yeah..."

"You could say that."

She couldn't explain why every moment with him felt so familiar.

As though somewhere inside her...

Those memories already existed.

Botas' Mansion

Inside the mansion, the television filled the room with cheerful music before an energetic voice echoed through the speakers.

"Good morning, citizens of Earth Family... it's a wonderful day today! A lot has been accomplished, and much is still in progress. Our journey into the unknown is well underway. Remember, be wonderful parents, raise wonderful children who will adore the Angel System. We're grateful for your hard work, and for that, today will be a family day. Have a nice day, and stay good!"

The broadcast ended with bright music.

Botas' parents smiled at one another.

Without saying a word, they shared a warm kiss before returning to what they had been doing.

Botas walked quietly through the room. Unlike everyone else, he couldn't seem to relax.

His thoughts remained somewhere else.

His mother noticed immediately.

"What's wrong with you?"

she asked gently.

Botas held up his phone.

"I can't reach Elizabeth."

His mother smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry."

"She's fine."

"The Angel System takes good care of everyone."

She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"This gloomy mood isn't good for us."

Her words were kind.

But somehow...

They felt rehearsed.

Botas forced a small smile.

His father looked over from across the room.

"Read the room, son."

He smiled as if trying to lighten the mood.

For a moment, the room became quiet again.

Then Botas' mother looked toward her husband.

"Where are you going, honey?"

Botas' father stood up with a cheerful grin.

"I'm going to work."

He laughed.

"The job of a programmer never ends."

He disappeared into another room.

Botas watched him leave before turning back toward his mother.

She wrapped her arms around him.

"Your father is a wonderful husband."

She smiled warmly.

"And you'll be a wonderful husband too."

Botas returned the hug.

He appreciated her kindness.

But the uneasy feeling inside him refused to disappear.

He smiled faintly.

Then looked down at his phone one more time.

Still no message from Elizabeth.