After a long while, Annie's long lashes fluttered, and she slowly awoke. She found herself somewhere filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, with tranquil moonlight spilling over her.
Annie sat up and touched her cheeks. Blushing, she checked her body and discovered, to her surprise, that she was completely-unharmed.
What... was going on? Annie was bewildered. Had it all been a dream?
She felt a little wistful and sad. Suddenly, a ring of light gleamed around her neck in the moonlight. Looking down, she saw that a pearl necklace really was hanging around her neck.
[What happened between us was undoubtedly a mistake, but there seemed to be something beautiful about that mistake, too. If I chose you, I couldn't face Historia. If I chose her, I couldn't face you. Choosing both of you would be unfair to you both. I can't trample on your feelings. That couldn't be called love. Love is possessive; it can never be shared. So, I'm sorry, Annie.]
As Annie listened to the words lingering in her mind, she lowered her eyes slightly, a relieved smile curving her lips. "For me, this is already enough."
Annie parted her red lips, opened her mouth, then closed it again. Shutting her eyes, she pressed both hands against the necklace and lost herself in the moment...
The Royal Capital, the Church of Thunder, atop Thunder God Mountain.
Chen Si stood on the summit with his hands clasped behind his back. The mountain had formed naturally, and Blake had sought out Patrick to spend a fortune developing and maintaining it. Its location was excellent. At eight hundred meters high, it offered a view of the entire region Within the Walls and nearly half of Paradis Island.
His feelings were complicated. He admired Annie and liked her, but it