Arfrotian exhaled deeply, his usual playful smirk momentarily replaced by a contemplative gaze. His arms were still wrapped securely around Eterna, their embrace lingering as if neither of them truly wanted to separate. The teasing had eased the tension between them, but now, the atmosphere was shifting. Eterna, still puffing her cheeks from her earlier playful defiance, felt a sense of curiosity bubbling inside her.

  Arfrotian had just teased her relentlessly, almost stealing another deep kiss, but now, he was about to reveal something important—something about why he had come to this icy omniverse in the first place.

  His voice carried a certain weight when he spoke.

  "So before saying anything, I should mention to you that --- I didn't come from just any omniverse."

  Eterna blinked, tilting her head slightly. Even though she was still in his embrace, her mischievous streak wasn’t letting go. She smirked and, in a playful yet intrigued tone, replied:

  "Oh? Is that so, Darling?"

  Arfrotian simply nodded, his fingers tracing gentle patterns along her back as he continued.

  "I came from one of those three omniverses that maintain the balance of this Central Omniversal Cluster... and, in a way, even the entire Megaomniverse. To be exact, I came from the Omniverse of Order."

  At that moment, Eterna’s entire body tensed up. The teasing expression vanished from her face as her eyes widened slightly.

  The Omniverse of Order.

  The words struck Eterna like a celestial decree, a truth so vast and immutable that it felt like the fabric of the omniverse itself had whispered it into existence.

  A place of absolute authority. A realm where laws of existence were dictated. To come from there was not just a matter of power—it was a matter of being fundamental to creation itself.

  The Omniverse of Order, along with the Omniverse of Creation and the Omniverse of Destruction, was known throughout the entire Central Omniversal Cluster and even beyond it into other clusters. These three omniverses weren’t just powerful—they were the very foundation upon which the balance of existence was upheld.

  For him to claim he came from there?

  Eterna’s heart clenched. Of all the possibilities she had entertained about his origins, she had never truly considered this. The Omniverse of Order was not just powerful—it was fundamental. To hear him say he came from there was like hearing the universe itself whisper a forbidden truth. But she didn’t let her astonishment show. Instead, she smirked, covering the flicker of shock beneath a layer of playful arrogance. She poked his cheek and smirked.

  "Oh! Is that so, Darling? I never knew you came from the 'famous' region of the omniversal hierarchy, --- Well, I guess this explains --- the monstrous power and aura you are hiding right now, huh?"

  Arfrotian chuckled softly, though his gaze remained steady on her.

  "Hah… nothing I could hide from your prying eyes, I suppose. I’d expect nothing less from the divine consciousness of this omniverse, and of your caliber, right?"

  It was true. Not every Omniverse had a divine consciousness that took a personal form, rather a form of a being or a person. In fact, it was extremely rare. Divine consciousnesses usually remained as vast, formless entities. The fact that Eterna had manifested into a physical form meant her power and presence were immense, and that she was sensible to his hiding powers.

  Eterna, still pressing against him in their embrace, puffed her chest proudly, her golden-white robes shimmering.

  "Hmph! Of course, I pride myself on that!"

  Arfrotian laughed at her confidence, shaking his head slightly before continuing.

  "Well then, you should already know about the five megaverses that make up the Omniverse of Order."

  Eterna nodded, still keeping her playful demeanor, but her curiosity was evident.

  Arfrotian exhaled, his hand resting gently on her waist.

  "I was assigned to govern Primavius Azureonic—the Megaverse of Water, one of the five megaverses of the Omniverse of Order."

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  Eterna’s eyes sparkled. This was even more intriguing than she thought. So, he wasn’t just a mere outsider… he was a governing force of one of the most powerful megaverses in existence?

  Her lips curled into a mischievous smile, and suddenly, she leaned in closer, her soft breath tickling his ear.

  "Hmm… Darling, you never mentioned you had someone else in your sight?"

  Arfrotian blinked in confusion.

  Eterna, faking tears, whimpered dramatically, clutching his robe.

  "Are you trying to cheat on me, Darling?! I won’t be able to bear that!"

  Arfrotian realized she was messing with him and sighed. This woman…

  But if she wanted to play, he would play along.

  Smirking, he leaned in, his fingers brushing against her lips as he whispered:

  "Honey, what are you saying? Do you want me to kiss you again to prove my loyalty?"

  Eterna’s entire face turned red.

  She stammered but quickly regained her composure.

  "Oh, Darling, you can't always use the same trick to get away from me this time!"

  Arfrotian chuckled, then stuck out his tongue playfully.

  "Okay, okay, I accept my defeat. Happy now, Honey?"

  Eterna puffed her chest victoriously.

  But then… he stopped.

  Arfrotian’s expression became serious again. For a brief moment, the laughter between them faded, replaced by an almost imperceptible stillness. Arfrotian’s grip on her waist remained firm, but his fingers no longer traced playful patterns along her back. Eterna felt it—the shifts in the air, the weight pressing against them, like the calm before an impending storm.

  She swallowed her own heartbeat slowing. As Arfrotian said the next words

  "So, yeah… while that's my duty—to govern my megaverse and be acknowledged by its divine consciousness, Azuraelis—there’s one issue."

  Eterna tilted her head, noticing the shift in his tone.

  "What is it?"

  Arfrotian hesitated for a moment. Then, he laughed awkwardly.

  "Well… I haven’t been acknowledged yet."

  Eterna’s eyes widened in shock.

  "Wait… WHAT? You mean… the divine consciousness of Primavius Azureonic hasn’t acknowledged you as its ruler yet? But why? You’re clearly more than qualified! There’s no way she wouldn’t—"

  She paused.

  Then, a thought struck her.

  Her gaze sharpened, and she asked cautiously:

  "…Did you not let her acknowledge you?"

  Arfrotian didn’t answer immediately. But after a few seconds, he nodded silently.

  Eterna was stunned.

  "Why?! Why would you not let her acknowledge you? You were assigned to govern that megaverse! Aren’t you—"

  Arfrotian suddenly cut her off.

  His voice, usually teasing and playful, now carried a deep weight of sorrow. He exhaled sharply, his fingers twitching ever so slightly against her waist. Words hovered at the edge of his lips, heavy, reluctant. He had never spoken of this—not like this. But if there was anyone who deserved to know, it was her.

  "Because of the Red Ice."

  Eterna froze, as she felt an ominous coldness emanating from Arfrotian, rather not only him but even from the surrounding atmosphere of this dream world which was supposed to be formed due to Eternal Frostheart’s backlash, and Arfrotian’s……..

  Arfrotian’s gaze darkened, and his hands tightened slightly around her.

  "Pandora."

  The name itself sent a chill down Eterna’s spine.

  Arfrotian continued, his voice quieter now.

  "It's because of that power. Not exactly that I would put the blame on it… but it’s my fault. I’m not able to control this power of mine. And there have been times…"

  His fists clenched and his voice crackled as he uttered the words, he never thought he would have to, remembering the day on which he had seen the faces of his people looking at him terrifyingly, as he spoke finally, his eyes starting to become watery,

  "Times when I nearly had my people—those I should have protected—nearly killed… because of it."

  His breath hitched, his entire frame stiffening as if shackled by invisible chains. His body stiffened, muscles locking as if chained by something unseen. His left hand instinctively curled into a fist, nails digging into his palm so hard that thin streaks of blood formed.

  But his eyes—those usually gleaming, confident blue eyes—had darkened into something hollow. The memories flooded back—of frozen cities, of horrified gazes, of his own power slipping from his grasp like a nightmare he could never wake from, and more so startling was the tears in his eyes!

  For the first time, Eterna saw something in Arfrotian’s eyes she had never seen before.

  Tears.

  Not from embarrassment.

  Not from teasing.

  But from pain, from everything he had gone through.

  His voice wavered slightly, his usual composed demeanor cracking as he uttered those final words.

  Eterna had always seen him as untouchable—a force of nature wrapped in charm and mischief, cunningness and perceptiveness as well as boldness to his actions and words. But now, that image cracked. She wasn’t looking at an all-powerful being who controlled his fate with effortless grace. She was looking at a man haunted by his own strength, a ruler who feared his own throne. And that, more than anything, unsettled her.

  And for the first time, Eterna saw him —

  Not the charming strategist. Not the ruler of a megaverse. Not the playful trickster who teased her relentlessly.

  But a man, haunted by his own strength.

  A ruler who feared his own throne.

  A soul who had bled power so monstrous, so absolute, that he had chosen exile over dominion.

  This wasn’t just about duty.

  This was his burden.

  And deep down… she wondered. Would he ever stop running?