"Two . . ."

". . ."

Amara suddenly raised her head. I expected a slap but was surprised to find that there were tears in her eyes, her chin crumpling, and her face flushed.

As Amara cried, her bottom lip quivered the same as a baby pushed past endurance. Her eyes became glacier blue under that sheen of water, constant yet allowing the tears to flow without pause. At that moment, seeing her cry like that, I understood the depth of pain that had been sitting below her skin.

And, of course, my other self was quick to react by slamming my heart against my rib cage.

I got to admit that this was my first time seeing her really cry like this. I didn't remember that she was such a crybaby, but in this week alone, I lost count of how many times I saw her wipe her tears.

"Look . . . ," I started and didn't know how to proceed. "Dementia and Megu are both dear to me, but you will always be the first ever girl that I love, and you will always have a very special place in my heart."

I just said what my other self would have said.

I think that worked since Amara stopped crying, and she looked me straight in the eyes. "I won't fault you if you have many women in here. I didn't have the right to lecture you since I kind of did lead Edward too, thinking of using him to survive."

She then pulled her gaze and steadied them on her fiddling fingers on the top of her knees. "As long as your feelings towards me never change, I will try my best to be the woman who will be at your side no matter what happens . . ."

". . ."

I slipped a look at Amara and found that she was in a good mood. She had a smile on her face despite the depressive environment we were in. It was almost a sin to destroy her lovely expression at this point.

It looks like my trip with Dementia will be cut short.

When the Shadow Forest was within view, Florin was about to take the safer and longer route.

"Florin," I warned her.

Florin grumbled under her breath before she looked over at her shoulder and beamed. "Florin might think that my Lord might want to view the scenery some more."

My brow raised.

"I will go and take the shorter route." She conceded with a sigh.

"Wait. Wait. Wait."

Of course, Jin had to intervene immediately because, apparently, he took on the role of being the mother of the group.

"Are you going to enter Shadow Forest?" Jin asked, eyes wide.

"It's the shortest route," I answered simply.

"You just wanted to see that cow," Florin muttered.

"Don't you know that there's a powerful Hag living in there that not even the Church could kill? That forest is full of the Hag's sorcery. Players and inhabitants alike don't even think of stepping foot in there!"

"Calm down." I waved a hand at him when Jin shot to his feet. "You don't have to worry a thing. I know that Hag . . . personally."

Amara gave me a side eye, but she didn't bother to say anything, which made it much worse. Her silence could really pull at my edges.

"Personally?" Jin wasn't convinced. "I don't know any instances where the Old Hag could be friends with a player. She used to lure players and inhabitants alike, using them as ingredients in her potions.

"She is, like, one of the top most wanted villains in the Kingdom! Are you sure this witch isn't just luring you into her hut so she could eat all of us?"

I got annoyed and corrected him, "Dementia doesn't eat players."

Jin paused, and he let out a weak laugh without mirth. "And she has a name. Great."

"I named her," I told him. "And you'll be surprised to find that she's very beautiful."

I regretted saying that as soon as it left my mouth.

Amara's piercing cold glare was gnawing at my bones.

Why did women had to be complicated creatures?

"Is that so?" She asked with an icy tone. "Is she one of your women, then?"

I cleared my throat and changed the topic. "Anyway, we're going there, and that's final."