That night, Lina had a bizarre dream. She closed her eyes in the bed and dreamt of a man whispering sweet nothings to her. His embrace was warm, his body as firm as a mountain, and the world disappeared around him.

  "Marry me, Lina, and the whole world can be damned."

  In his arms, Lina heard every promise clearly. She could hear the rustling of the wind, the gentle rainfall that never came but was from her eyes, and the sparkle of the temple behind her. A temple dedicated to the forgotten favored Princess of Teran.

  Lina had never witnessed a man as astonishing and glorious as him, he, who shouldered the world. In his arms, she saw his tender emotions that could melt snow and halt Winter. His caress on her skin burned her.

  In her dreams, Lina saw a marriage, colored with red and ever so dazzling. The people wore attire not from the modern era, and she faintly recognized it as the past.

  At the enchanting wedding ceremony, Lina saw everything.

  Abeautiful bride stood in front of a Prince, the candle lights flickering, lanterns slowly dying down, as a wedding was consummated.

  "Will it hurt like my first?" the hesitant bride asked.

  "It won't," he had reassured her.

  At the bride's fear, he slowly lowered his head in reassurance.

  "We don't have to do it if you're uncomfortable," he whispered in a gentle manner far too different from his appearance.

  Lina instantly knew such words were as valuable as gems. In an era like that, to utter such promises, the whole world knew of his love for her.

  "I want to," the bride eventually said, touched by his emotions.

  The man took her by the hand.

  Lina woke up from the gentle dream with tears in her eyes, her voice trapped in her throat, and the world at her feet. She thought it was a dream, but every moment, every detail felt too surreal. It was almost as if she had relived her old, glory days.

  "What is happening to me…" Lina whispered, images flashing before her images.

  Lina breathed in deeply, recalling another moment in the dream. A man in black with a cold gaze. Human blood dripped from his sharp sword that he wielded like a second arm.

  Lina remembered the bride's horrifying screams that rainy night by the cave where all of her people dropped like flies. The soldiers took one step and their heads were gone.

  A man who won every battle he came across, who sliced through soldiers like butter. The Prince.

  "You can run from me, Lina, but you can never outrun me!" he roared, his voice shaking the leaves, and trembling the trees.

  That night, the Prince followed her through the forest until she slipped, fell, and became unconscious. That very night, he nursed her back to health, swore his love for her, but left her heart bleeding on the floor.

  "I came to Ritan to stop wars!" the lovely bride screamed.

  "The war is caused by you, Lina, not me," he had chided her.

  "So this is it?" she responded. "You're going to take everything from me."

  Lina watched everything unfold like a movie. She recalled the skip of events.

  A man in black armor, on a proud horse, with war banners fluttering behind him. He was majestic with his army of powerful soldiers. But he was not alone. And neither was the opposing side. Sword in his hand, she was frightened by his monstrosity, but no more so by her own actions.

  "If the prize of this war is me, then a prize neither of you shall get." The bride lifted the sword to her neck.

  It was the last thing Lina said before she tasted blood in her mouth and felt cold steel on her throat.

  "Linlin."

  Lina let out a bloodcurdling scream.

  Instantly, a hand clasped over her mouth, pushing her to the bed. Lina screeched and kicked for her dear life.

  "My god, you're going to make me infertile one day!" Atlantis shouted, dodging a foot going straight for his man jewels.

  Atlantis pinned her legs down with his knees and she tried to bite his fingers.

  "It's just me, it's me, Linlin!" Atlantis declared.

  His voice only made her heart lurch more. But his voice calmed her down, as wild as it was, she was familiar with it. All of her life, she had Atlantis by her side. He was the hand helping her to her feet, the wind that knocked her bullies to the ground, and the person that was there for her when she needed him the most.

  When her fight died down, Atlantis released her. Without warning, Lina pounced at him. He froze, expecting her to pull out his hair or scratch his face. Instead, she hugged him tightly.

  "Linlin, what's wrong?" Atlantis murmured, unable to understand what had caused her this much despair.

  "Nothing…" Lina lied in a shaky voice.

  Atlantis felt a hand grab his heart and squeeze it until blood burst forward. He was touched and pained by her behavior. She was too innocent for this world, her purity like snow melting on his fingertips.

  The world was complicated, but Atlantis was willing to simplify it for her. When Atlantis discovered she was taken by another man, he felt his entire life become a joke. All along, Atlantis was by her side. All along, Atlantis wanted her, but held himself back until he became a reputable man.

  Atlantis wanted to become suitable for her. In the midst, he lost her.

  "Will you stay with me, Linlin?" Atlantis begged her.

  Was it his wishful thinking that she'd say yes? Was it all inside his head that she loved him as much as he did? But not in the same manner as him?

  "Why do you ask?" Lina returned. "Did you do something to me that'd make me not want to?"

  "We began our childhood well, but ended it in a disaster," Atlantis declared, squeezing her tightly. "If you already love another, why lead me on? Why do you want to see me lose my mind?"

  Lina didn't understand what he was referring to. She never loved anyone. Or anything. Never. Ever. Despite her thoughts, she rested a hand on his upper back, sinking into his embrace.

  Atlantis' body was as hot as coal. Even so, his arms felt cold and cage-like. Lina missed the warmth of another man.

  Lina sucked in a breath. The thought startled her. Who's warmth was she missing? Why were Atlantis' words so blurry in her mind? Only in another man's arms, would every promise appear as clear as a mirror.

  "If loving you is a mistake, then take my life with your hands. If losing you is an option, I'll carve out another with my bare fingers. I am always alone, Linlin, for nothing can ever fill my loneliness except you," Atlantis confessed.

  Atlantis pulled away to see her expression, but realized he couldn't. Amidst the darkness of the bedroom, he couldn't tell what she was thinking. He could only hear her heartbeat, skipping with anxiety from his words.

  Atlantis lowered his head in defeat, tightly clutching her hands. She was here with him. They were in the same bed, under the same roof, and she wasn't rejecting him. He could live in this foreign country with her all his life if she wished.

  "If you do not love me, then it is as good as death. It's lying on a train track, breathing, falling, and waiting for the train to come. Eventually, my body and heart will disappear, but my soul will remain, wandering and seeking you, only you. Please, stay by my side, Lina."