The first time Taylor met Walter, she was horrified by his pitiful appearance.

She had never seen anyone so emaciated, as if only a skeleton wrapped in skin remained...

"Are... are you still alive?"

Taylor, who had wandered into the ruins by chance, unexpectedly found a young man curled up in a broken corner, his frame skeletal.

At first, she thought he was a corpse, but then he painfully opened his cloudy eyes.

"H... hungry... so hungry..."

A faint, cracked voice escaped his parched lips.

Taylor's heart tightened, and she immediately knelt down, gently channeling her shadow mana into his body.

After a moment, the young man regained some strength and struggled to sit up.

"You... you're a wizard, aren't you?"

Feeling the warmth flowing through him, the young man stared wide-eyed with reverence.

For someone like him, a lowly refugee, a wizard with extraordinary power was an unattainable being.

But Taylor simply shook her head.

"Eat something first."

She took food and water from her storage ring and handed it to him.

The young man froze for a moment, staring at the food in his hands, then began to devour it ravenously.

"Thank you... you're such a... hic kind lady."

After a long while, he finally filled his stomach.

He wore a satisfied expression, as though he had just relieved the greatest regret of his life.

Looking at the young man, who now seemed to have some vitality, Taylor smiled.

"You're fine now. I'll be going."

She stood up and prepared to leave.

"W-wait... Lady!"

The young man hurriedly called out to her.

"What is it?"

"I... I still don't know your name?"

"Please don't misunderstand! I just... I just want to remember the name of my benefactor. If I ever have the chance, I, Walter, will repay you!"

His voice was eager and determined, and a faint flush appeared on his pale face as he spoke.

Taylor looked into his eyes, seeing his unwavering sincerity, and was slightly moved.

"My name is Taylor. If you ever have the chance, you can find me in the Taylor family in Shadowsong City."

"Lady Taylor, I'll remember! My name is Walter! I will repay you for this!"

He knew he had nothing—no wealth, not even a healthy body—but his pride wouldn't allow him to accept charity without returning the favor.

Seeing his determined eyes, Taylor fell silent for a moment before pulling out a bottle of basic alchemy potion and pressing it into his hand.

"Here, this might help you."

"Goodbye for now."

With that, she disappeared into the entrance of the ruins.

Walter held the warm potion tightly in his hand, standing in place for a long time.

From that moment on, a beam of light called Taylor shone into his dim world.

After that, a genius of the Shadow Race named Walter emerged, sweeping through all competitors of his time with unmatched strength.

Later, Walter went through great hardships to find the Taylor family in Shadowsong City and fulfilled his promise from years ago.

That time became the brightest period of his life.

However, happiness was always fleeting.

Taylor faced a crisis.

The most powerful force in Shadowsong City, the Pale Blade's Count, coveted her beauty and demanded a forced marriage.

Taylor refused outright, and as a result, her entire family was ruthlessly suppressed.

Eventually, the family elders were forced to compromise, and Taylor was placed under house arrest.

When Walter learned of this, he didn't hesitate for a moment. He single-handedly stormed the Pale Blade's castle.

In the end, he decapitated the Count after a fierce battle with several top experts.

But he was severely wounded and was chased all the way to the legendary Forgotten Ravine.

The Forgotten Ravine was a forbidden zone of life, with broken space and elemental chaos.

Countless powerful beings had perished there, let alone Walter, who was severely injured.

Everyone believed he had already become dust within the ravine, but Taylor always believed that he was still alive.

Since then, Taylor had never seen Walter again, nor heard any news about him.

Until recently, when she successfully ascended to this plane with her own strength...

On the streets of Dalton Town.

"The things from back then…"

Taylor hesitated in her tone.

Walter, however, laughed casually, as though speaking of something that had nothing to do with him.

"Back then, I was too impulsive. By the way, after that, your family didn't trouble you anymore, did they?"

Taylor gently shook her head.

"That's good."

Walter sighed with relief.

"Since you fell into the Forgotten Ravine, I left the family."

Taylor suddenly spoke.

Walter paused, looking at her in shock.

"Why?"

Taylor's amethyst eyes suddenly glistened with a layer of moisture.

She stretched out a slender finger and gently tapped on his chest.

"Because of you."

"Because of me?"

Walter's heart skipped a beat.

"Do you know why I was able to ascend to this plane so quickly?"

Taylor stared at him.

Walter fell silent, as if sensing something.

Then Taylor spoke, each word clear and firm.

"Because I've been searching for you, traveling through every corner of the Videro Dimension."

"I searched every starborn in the Videro Dimension!"

Her words struck Walter's mind like a thunderclap, freezing him in place.

When he looked at Taylor again, his eyes were filled with overwhelming tenderness.

"Taylor... I'm sorry, for making you search for so long."

His voice was hoarse.

Taylor merely shook her head slightly, her purple eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"To see you again, and to know you're safe, is the greatest blessing to me."

For all these years, the driving force that kept her pushing forward and ascending had largely been the obsession of finding Walter.

When she learned that Walter had single-handedly stormed the Pale Blade for her, her heart had already been completely moved.

She had helped many people, but the one who remained the most deeply etched in her heart was the young man with that stubborn gaze.

What's more, he had later earned the title of Shadow Calamity with his own strength!

"Taylor…"

Walter gathered his courage and gently held her cool hand.

Taylor's cheeks flushed instantly, but she didn't pull away. Her fingers subtly responded to his grip.

"Taylor, actually, I…"

He took a deep breath, as if to declare a sacred oath.

"What?"

"Actually, I've always…"

"Walter!!"

A graceful voice suddenly rang out from nearby.

Walter's body froze.

By the gods!

Why at this moment?!

The next moment, a tall figure dressed in moon-white robes appeared in their sight.

Her beautiful face was shrouded in a mist of mystery.

"E... Elarielle, Lady! Haha, what a... what a coincidence!"

Walter roared inwardly but managed to force a stiff smile on his face.

Elarielle's lips curled into a subtle smile.

"Indeed, a coincidence. It seems I've interrupted some sweet private time?"

Her gaze pointedly swept over the hands that were still clasped together, the evidence undeniable.

Taylor looked at Walter, confused.

"Walter, who is this?"

Before Walter could speak, Elarielle gracefully placed a hand on her chest and curtsied.

"May the starborn guide your path, Lady. I am Elarielle, Walter's... colleague."

"Elarielle…"

Taylor frowned slightly, feeling like she had heard that name before.

After a moment, a flash of shock passed through her eyes.

"Wait... Are you... the elf lord who leads Dalton Academy, Elarielle?"

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