Noah gazed at the sky, heart recalling.
''It began in a past era, a convergence of two worlds… the Real and the Virtual, or the Great War of Real and Virtual.''
''Its scale, total war—laws, order, lands, races, faiths… all drawn in.''
''Endless, bringing irreparable pain, loss.
Then, Sima Yi, the tale's hero, still young. Followed senior and junior brothers, heroes, training daily for this life-or-death war.''
''In a peach garden by the river, when blossoms bloomed, Sima Yi first met Kongming. His junior sister, breathtakingly beautiful, intellect surpassing peers. Compared to her, he was worlds apart. Kongming, a goddess in countless men's hearts, yet chose Sima Yi. For, beside him, she found peace.''
''They shared countless moments. Inseparable, like shadow and form. Kongming and Sima Yi, commanding wind and rain on battlefields, twin slayers, terrifying foes. Both knew the war's horror, its need to end. Those days, arduous, heroic, joyful…
Until…''
…
''In Sima Yi's arms, Kongming's final request: fulfill their shared wish—end the war. Sima Yi, heartbroken, wanted only her, Kongming, by his side.''
''But her loving, tender eyes gazed at him. Sima Yi knew he must end this senseless war for her.''
''Finally, through relentless effort, the worlds found peace, harmonized, conflict-free. Sima Yi took the duty of guarding peace, in the forbidden land.
He achieved their dream.''
''Happy? No, his heart, empty. No longer knew what he wanted, where to go. As if his sole purpose was gone. Lived aimlessly, time endless…''
''Sima Yi missed Kongming. Sought her through reincarnation. After ages, found her.''
''Sima Yi, overjoyed, approached. Same soul, but no longer her. Kongming now looked at him as a stranger.''
''Yet, he didn't give up. Vowed to win her again.''
''But no matter his efforts, old ways or new, she didn't love him. Kongming's heart belonged to another, Liu Bei.''
''Sima Yi couldn't accept it, tried altering fate, binding her to him. But forgot, by taking the peacekeeper's mission, he'd stepped outside fate. Abandoning it would unbalance the worlds, plunging them into chaos.''
''He weighed it long, yet couldn't do it. Felt it betrayed the past Kongming, their cherished memories. (Even if he did, her heart, the present Kongming's, wouldn't be his.)''
''Seeing Kongming in another's arms, Sima Yi wanted to shatter all with one strike.''
''But her happy eyes. Realized she was truly happy. Staying only hindered her, brought pain.''
''Sima Yi returned to the forbidden land, sinking into deep slumber.''
''Yet, couldn't resist seeking her again. Each meeting, different circumstances—friend, master, disciple, brother—but Kongming never loved him. Sima Yi understood their fate was just so…''
''But meeting, talking with Kongming, brought him joy.''
''Sima Yi didn't know, if one day in reincarnation Kongming loved him, could he resist abandoning his duty?''
…
Night serene, gentle breezes passing, stars filling the sky. A beautiful scene.
By the fire, roasted meat's aroma wafted, flickering flames illuminating three faces.
Each expression unique…
Liora, eyes glistening, touched.
Lalatina, eyes dreamy, staring at the fire, cheeks flushed, unclear if from flames or shyness.
Luna, eyes dazed, thoughts unknown.
Noah, watching them, heart blooming. Reading romance novels wasn't wasted. Tweaked a bit, but effective.
"This story speaks of reality and dreams, pain and joy…
Sima Yi, for Kongming's wish, did all… yet couldn't face reality.
Then, pain and joy in holding on or letting go."
"Understand?"
"Luna, reality or dreams, what matters is what you do now.
No need to choose one. One's your shield, one's your heart's desire. Both are you, like this token's two sides. Together, they make the whole."