Lola’s and Slater’s fears were valid. Their enemies felt untouchable, as though they could see every move they made. Worse, these people knew them, while Lola, Slater, and Atlas had no idea who they were truly up against.
But after hearing Atlas’s words, their hearts eased.
They hadn’t seen it the way he did. They hadn’t thought like that. If anything, every discovery in Ravah had left them overwheld.
And in monts like this, they were grateful Atlas was who he was.
Because if he were like everyone else, they knew he would’ve simply acted tough so the people around him wouldn’t worry. But Atlas wasn’t worried—not even a little. Nor was he pretending in front of his wife or his little brother.
Instead, he analyzed the situation the way he always did and ca to a conclusion.
Their enemies, no matter how much blood they shed, could only take one step ahead of him.
With that, morning arrived, and it was ti for all of them to return to the Order.
Leaving Ravah while it was still vulnerable wasn’t ideal, but they couldn’t stay away from the Order for too long either. Besides, Atlas planned to oversee everything virtually. He trusted the people he’d left in charge... with a few threats thrown in for good asure.
After all, he had threatened to nuke the entire place if they didn’t get their act together.
It reminded everyone of his earlier threat in the square—about dropping a missile—which had turned out to be a bluff. This ti, however, it wasn’t a bluff. And everyone knew it.
"I think..."
Lola snapped out of her thoughts and turned her head, eyes landing on Slater as he helped her carry boxes toward the Long Bar. They were leaving today, but while the others were loading supplies, Lola decided to bring Slater to District Five, now serving as the region’s capital.
"You think what?" she asked, carefully navigating the side street.
Slater humd and shrugged. "I sort of understand why the enemies would want my first brother dead."
"Huh?"
"Not long ago, First Brother told he had a feeling they wanted him dead in the first life—and even now," Slater explained, glancing at her. "He wondered why. But I think I get it."
Lola tilted her head, waiting for his next words.
"If I were his enemy, I’d want to eliminate him too," Slater muttered. "He’s just too annoying to fight against. While we’re panicking—thinking the enemy is a step ahead—he thinks they put in that much effort because the biggest gap they could manage was one step."
As soon as the words left his mouth, both of them stared ahead, lost in thought.
Slowly, their expressions twisted in the sa way. They nodded in unison, as if sharing the sa thought.
Then, at the sa ti...
Slater: "I’m glad he’s my brother."
Lola: "I’m glad I’m his wife."
They stopped and looked at each other.
Deep down, neither of them ever wanted to be Atlas’s enemy. Just thinking about it made them both shiver.
"Goddess! Goddess!"
Lola whipped her head toward the voice, while Slater furrowed his brows as their eyes landed on the boss.
"You have to co with !" the boss said urgently—the sa man who had sohow earned the title of the region’s hero.
Yes. A hero.
Lola had no idea how that happened, but every child in the district called him that. And since it stuck—and since he helped oversee relief distribution under the Order’s supervision—the title remained.
What she didn’t like was how he constantly tried to annoy her, though. He acted as if they were close friends, and now people believed they were.
What Lola didn’t know was that people didn’t think they were just friends.
In their eyes, they were BFFs—Best Friends Forever.
"What is it now?" Lola deadpanned. "If you’re not busy, you might as well help us carry these boxes."
"But it’s really important!" The boss blocked her path, eyes wide. "Just co! It’ll be quick!"
Hesitation flickered across her face. In the end, she sighed and nodded. "Fine. We’re just going to drop this off—"
"Later! Quick, quick!"
With his urging, Lola tilted her head and shot Slater a look. He nodded, and the two followed the boss toward the end of the street.
She didn’t think much of it because this man was full of nonsense. But the mont she turned the corner, a loud chorus erupted in the street.
"Take care on your way ho, Goddess!"
Both she and Slater jolted, brows knitting as their eyes widened. Slowly, Lola looked ahead.
Children. n. Won. Even the elderly—who should’ve been resting—filled every corner of the street.
"Huh?" Lola blinked, only for soone to tug at her hand.
She looked down to see a little girl holding sothing behind her back. The child was about Chacha’s age, and sohow, she reminded Lola of her daughter.
The girl slowly revealed what she’d been hiding.
A flower crown.
"Goddess Beauty, this is for you!" the girl bead. "Can I put it on you?"
"Oh..." Lola nodded and knelt so the girl could place it on her head. She smiled afterward. "Does it look good on ?"
The girl nodded enthusiastically.
"Thank you," Lola said, her smile widening before she looked around. "Everyone... what is this?"
"Goddess, we heard you’re leaving today," the boss said proudly. "So we thought we should throw you a farewell party!"
Please don’t co back!
Following his gesture, Lola saw a long wooden table lined with bread and food. It wasn’t much, and it was certainly not a feast.
"It’s not enough," an elderly woman said gently, "but we wanted to do sothing. We can’t send off our savior without trying."
"Goddess, take care on your way ho!"
"Co back again! When you do, our hos will be rebuilt—we’ll work hard on Ravah!"
"Bring your children next ti!" a child shouted. "We want to play with Chacha and Second too!"
"When you do, we’ll cook you nice als and not bland ones!"
One voice after another followed, smiles bright, as though no one wanted to send her off with sadness.
The boss grinned and cupped his mouth. "Take care on your way ho, Goddess! And please... don’t co back!"
Lola shot him a look, and he cleared his throat and straightened imdiately.
"That’s not ," he denied.
"Everyone..." she chuckled, eyes sweeping over them. "You didn’t have to do this."
"Goddess!" The children reached for her sleeves and hands, smiling brightly. "We made you a cake! Do you want to blow the candle?!"
"...." Lola pressed her lips together, then nodded.
As they pulled her toward the cake they had painstakingly baked with very limited ingredients, she tossed the box she was carrying toward the boss. Thankfully, he caught it midair.
And so, the small banquet began—not just as Lola’s farewell... but as the official birth of the New Ravah.
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