"I'm sorry, Maximus. I can't just ignore my feelings for him. I love him. It will always be Val."
"Are you certain he shares those feelings? Has he ever expressed a desire for you to undergo the Lunar Bond?"
"N-No. But once he returns, I believe we will discuss it—"
"That's false hope! If he genuinely loves you, he would have initiated the Lunar Bond the very moment he fell in love with you – before even touching you!"
Maximus abruptly woke up from his dream, his heart pounding as the memories flooded his mind. Despite the passage of time, his heart couldn't forget the events that had unfolded centuries ago – the time before he fell into darkness.
As Maximus struggled to catch his breath and wipe the sweat that formed on his forehead, he looked around his surroundings and realized he
