Chapter 614: Fidelia and Arin Departure

Inside the visitor’s room, Thoren, Fidelia, and Arin sat around an expensive wooden table painted in golden color.

Sunlight filtered through tall windows, catching the gilded edges and casting warm reflections across the polished surface.

Arin’s eyes moved between Fidelia and Thoren for a moment. A look of realization settled on his face.

*So, they are now together...*

He mused silently. Even though neither of them showed any obvious signs.

Still, the subtle shift in Fidelia’s posture, the way she sat just slightly closer to Thoren than necessary.

The faint blush that had not quite faded from her cheeks since she walked in. The calm possessiveness in the way Thoren’s gaze briefly swept over her before returning to their guest.

Earlier, Arin had gone to visit Fidelia at her home, only to find she had been out since yesterday and never returned. With only a few hours before they descended back into the Abyss, there was only one place she could be.

And indeed, his intuition had been correct.

He did not dwell on it. For a beautiful woman like Fidelia, it was only right that she belonged to someone like Thoren. They suited each other—both strong, both carrying burdens few could understand.

He cast a curious gaze at the couple one last time before clearing his throat lightly.

"Thoren," he said, his tone turning serious. "Can you give us a pointer about the second floor?"

This was the main reason he had come. Receiving guidance from someone who had already cleared a floor would go a long way in avoiding the deadly trial-and-error of dabbling in the dark alone.

Listening to Arin’s question, Thoren was not surprised. If he were in Arin’s position, he would have done the same.

"My friend, you have nothing to worry about," he said casually.

Arin and Fidelia exchanged a confused glance.

"As long as your second floor is the Bleeding Desert, you won’t have any problem."

Hmm?

Both of them stared at him, uncomprehending.

What did he mean they wouldn’t have any problem?

The second floor was notorious, a place where awakeners far stronger than them had perished.

"Thoren, what do you mean?" Fidelia turned her head to look at him. "Can you tell us more?"

She had been naive enough to compare the first floor to the second. She knew the danger of the second was something that might be beyond her imagination. And now...

"Arin, you’re a member of the Crimson Arc guild," Thoren said. "That alone would make clearing the second floor easy."

He turned to look at Fidelia.

"And you... you’re my woman. That alone gives you an edge on the second floor."

Listening to Thoren call her his woman, Fidelia’s face flushed crimson. She quickly averted her gaze, suddenly finding the golden patterns on the table intensely fascinating.

Arin’s expression did not change, though a flicker of understanding passed through his eyes.

"I’ve created an organization on the second floor called Black Water," Thoren continued. "You just need to join them and everything will be fine."

He leaned back in his chair, utterly at ease.

"And Arin, your Crimson Arc guild rules the second floor alongside Black Water."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

"So, you both have nothing to fear. You just need to mention your name when you descend, and you will be safe."

For a long moment, neither Fidelia nor Arin could believe their ears.

They had already mentally prepared for a life-and-death battle on the second floor. They had accepted that they might never have the chance to return to the surface again.

Every awakener who descended knew the risk.

But now...

Arin recovered first. He leaned forward, his expression unreadable.

"You created an organization on the second floor?" he asked slowly. "How?"

Thoren met his gaze evenly.

"That," he said, "is a long story."

Fidelia finally lifted her head, her embarrassment momentarily forgotten. She studied Thoren’s profile for a moment, the calm confidence, the quiet authority. She had always known he was powerful.

She had seen him fight, seen him command undead soldiers, seen him move through the Abyss like he belonged there.

But hearing him speak so casually about ruling an entire floor, about organizations that answered to him, about the Crimson Arc guild sharing power with something he had built...

She realized, with a small shock, that she had barely scratched the surface of who the Grim Reaper truly was.

Even though they found it hard to believe, they both knew Thoren would not lie to them. Not about something like this.

And without the weight of impending death pressing on his shoulders, Arin finally relaxed. He leaned back in his chair, the tension draining from his frame, and began to chat casually with Thoren.

His main trouble had been resolved. With a few hours left before their descent, he decided to enjoy what remained of the day.

The trio left the estate together.

They roamed throughout the city, sightseeing like ordinary people. Fidelia walked between the two men, her earlier embarrassment faded, replaced by a quiet contentment she had not felt in years.

They visited all the most interesting places the city could offer.

And when it was finally time for Arin and Fidelia to depart, the atmosphere shifted.

They gathered near the city’s edge, where the Abyss gateway loomed. Family members had come to see them off. The Crimson Arc Guild stood in formation nearby, their banners catching the wind and faces solemn, marred with pride.

Arin exchanged quiet words with his parents. His mother embraced him tightly, her eyes glistening. His father clasped his shoulder, saying nothing, but the grip said everything.

Fidelia’s family stood a little apart. Her mother’s eyes were wet and her father stoic but visibly struggling. Her younger siblings clung to each other, watching their sister with a mixture of fear and admiration.

Thoren stood near the back, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

When Fidelia finished her goodbyes, she turned to him.

She walked toward him slowly, each step deliberate. She stopped before him and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Fidelia reached up, cupped his face in both hands, and pulled him down into a deep kiss.

Thoren responded in kind. His hand found her waist, steady and warm, and he kissed her back with equal intensity.

When they finally separated, Fidelia’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. Her cheeks burned with longing and affection, but beneath it all was something stronger.

She smiled, trembling but real. Then she turned and walked toward the Abyss gateway in the distance.

Arin fell into step beside her, and together they disappeared into the abyss gateway.