A cold silence loomed over the ethereal space where Arfrotian and Eterna stood, encased within the boundless ice of the Eternal Frostheart. The radiant blue crystal that pulsed within the spear flickered in harmony with the emotions that filled the air, a silent witness to the exchange unfolding between the two.

  Arfrotian had just spoken words that sent an unsettling chill through Eterna’s very essence—words that contradicted the reason she thought he had come here. She had believed, with certainty, that Arfrotian’s presence in this Omniverse was solely for the sake of protecting his people, to harness control over his terrifying powers so he wouldn't harm those who depended on him. Yet, as he admitted that this wasn’t the entire truth, a sharp, uncomfortable hitch rose in Eterna’s chest.

  Her mind reeled. What could possibly be another reason? She had witnessed his breakdown mere moments ago. The genuine sorrow in his tears had been undeniable—his pain, the weight he bore, the suffering etched into his very existence. He was someone carrying a burden beyond comprehension. She knew that much.

  But now, standing before her with an enigmatic smirk, he had shaken her understanding of him.

  Eterna’s eyes flickered with confusion, her divine presence trembling slightly as she tried to grasp the meaning behind his words. Had she been wrong? Had she misunderstood Arfrotian this entire time?

  Arfrotian, ever perceptive, let out a soft chuckle at her dazed expression.

  "What? Contemplating that what you thought you understood about me wasn’t the full picture?" His voice carried amusement, yet beneath it lay a deep, unspoken sorrow.

  Eterna’s breath hitched. He had read her thoughts exactly.

  For the first time in her long, divine existence, she felt uncertain about her own judgment. That very fact unnerved her. She had been so sure of her perception of him, and now, in a single moment, Arfrotian had shattered that certainty.

  Taking a step back, she created some distance between them, trying to steady herself. But Arfrotian wasn't about to let the moment slip.

  "Okay, but before I tell you my reason," he said, his voice returning to its usual calm and firm tone, "did you forget? I asked you a question as well."

  Eterna blinked. His question...?

  She delved into her memories—then, in an instant, realization struck her.

  He had asked her earlier—what had transpired that led to her being sealed within the Eternal Frostheart, with her true body trapped somewhere in the icy Omniverse?

  That question… It was too much.

  A flood of emotions surged through her, and she instinctively averted her gaze.

  The resentment, the betrayal, the pain—it all came rushing back.

  It was a topic too raw, too agonizing for her to speak of so easily. Even as a divine being, her voice faltered, her will wavered. The memory of being betrayed by those she had once trusted gnawed at her soul.

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  Arfrotian, watching her hesitation, saw the subtle tremble in her expression.

  His sharp eyes softened.

  "It’s okay," he said gently. "You just comforted me and pulled me back from my despair. It would be unfair and selfish of me to demand an answer from you now, wouldn’t it?"

  Eterna flinched slightly, the warmth in his voice breaking through the cold void of her pain.

  "No… that’s not it, but—"

  Before she could even finish her sentence, Arfrotian cut her off.

  "It’s alright." His voice was steady, yet there was something unreadable behind it. "I may not fully understand the depth of what you’ve endured… but I have an idea."

  Eterna’s confusion deepened. What was he trying to say?

  Before she could question him, he exhaled and spoke again, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that sent chills through her being.

  "Let me guess, though I ask for your permission first. Would you mind me saying this?"

  There was something ominous about the way he phrased that.

  Eterna hesitated for a moment before nodding. "It’s okay. Please, I want to hear what you are guessing."

  Arfrotian’s expression turned grave.

  "Was it your own people who did this to you?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, yet it struck her like a bolt of lightning. "Not all of them… but perhaps, there were quite a few within your own Omniverse—those who were meant to serve and honor you—who were responsible for sealing your real body away and trapping a fragment of your essence in the Eternal Frostheart?"

  The moment those words left his mouth, Eterna stopped breathing.

  Her entire form went rigid, her eyes widened in absolute shock.

  She just stared at him, unable to process how he had so effortlessly spoken the exact truth.

  How…

  How could he know?

  She had tried so hard to mask it, to suppress it. And yet, Arfrotian had seen through her like a mirror reflecting her very soul.

  Her lips trembled as she tried to form words. "How… just how… could you know…? I… I don’t understand—"

  But before she could even finish her sentence, Arfrotian did something that completely stunned her.

  He bowed his head.

  "First of all, I’m extremely sorry."

  Eterna’s eyes widened further. Why was he apologizing?

  She could barely comprehend it when Arfrotian continued, his voice laced with sorrow.

  "It’s because of the way I spoke. Just a moment ago, you told me how you suffered—how you were forced to watch your own people buried beneath the ice, powerless to save them. And now, here I am, carelessly bringing up another layer of that pain—how your own people betrayed you, how they sealed you away. I spoke so straightforwardly, as if your suffering was just a puzzle for me to solve… I was insensitive. I should have been more considerate."

  He lowered his head further as he whispered, "I’m truly sorry, Honey."

  Eterna’s heart clenched.

  She was stunned—perplexed—her emotions an overwhelming storm within her.

  She was angry. She was bitter. The past had wounded her in ways words couldn’t describe.

  But more than anything else…

  She was in awe of him.

  Of how sincere he was. Of how deeply he understood the weight of his own words. Of how, even in all his might, all his terrifying power, he still cared this much about her feelings.

  Her lips curled into a soft, genuine smile.

  Arfrotian, still bowing, suddenly felt the warmth of her hands lifting his head gently.

  His eyes met hers.

  She gazed at him with such tender affection, her glowing blue eyes emanating warmth.

  "Oh, silly Darling, why are you apologizing for such petty things?" She whispered, her voice filled with adoration.

  Arfrotian’s breath hitched.

  Eterna stepped closer, her delicate hands cradling his face.

  "Yeah, I’ve been through hell," she admitted, her voice soft but unwavering. "But… now I have you, Darling."

  Her words sent a jolt through his entire being.

  "Isn’t that enough for me already? I don’t need anything else in this entire Omniverse if I just have you by my side."

  Her smile was radiant, filled with undeniable truth.

  In that moment, Arfrotian knew.

  He had won Eterna’s heart completely.

  And just like that, he had the claimed the second piece within this icy Omniverse after Ice Phoenix.