100: smoothly

The next morning, the dawn light had just begun to disperse the thin fog over the sea. Linn had been practically sleepless all night, his heart filled with excitement and anticipation, and he arrived early at the treehouse where Aivi lived.

He took a deep breath of the air, which was mixed with the fresh scent of vegetation and the sea, and gently knocked on the door of the house, which was intricately woven from vines and fragrant wood.

The door opened quickly, and Aivi's figure appeared in the doorway. She seemed to have woken up early too, dressed in simple yet elegant sea-blue loungewear. Her smooth, light-blue hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, the tips still damp with morning dew. The morning light fell perfectly on her delicate face, making her skin appear like jade. The three small, diamond-shaped scales adorning her smooth forehead and cheekbones were currently shimmering with a subtle, rainbow-like, ethereal glow, like gems embedded in the morning dew.

Seeing that it was Linn, Aivi's clear eyes instantly filled with surprise and shyness. She stepped aside to welcome him into the house. "Linn? So early..." Her voice was soft, carrying the slight sweetness of someone who had just woken up.

Linn stepped into Aivi's bedroom—likely the first man ever to set foot there. The room was not large, but it was decorated in an extremely cozy and elegant manner. Vines bearing tiny pale purple flowers climbed the wooden walls, and the air was filled with a sweet yet refreshing natural floral fragrance, as if one were inside a tranquil seaside conservatory.

The windows were open, and the gentle sea breeze blew in with a coolness, stirring the wind chimes made of shells and starfish hanging by the window, producing a soft, pleasant tinkling sound.

Linn unconsciously took a deep breath. The floral fragrance, mixed with Aivi's unique cool scent, refreshed his mind. His gaze could not leave Aivi; she was breathtakingly beautiful in the morning light.

"Aivi," Linn held her hand, his eyes shining with uncontrollable brilliance, his voice slightly louder than usual due to excitement, "I spoke with High Priestess Sea Song last night. She... she agreed! She agreed to our marriage!"

Aivi's eyes, which had still held a trace of sleepiness, instantly widened, as if she hadn't heard clearly, or perhaps couldn't believe it.

She stared blankly at Linn, unconsciously tightening her grip on his hand, her fingertips slightly cold. "R-really? Teacher... she really agreed? There were... no other conditions?" Her voice trembled slightly, and a layer of excited moisture rapidly gathered in her sea-blue eyes, their brightness more dazzling than the rising sun outside the window.

"It's true!" Linn nodded emphatically, his smile brilliant:

"The High Priestess is wise and benevolent. She saw our intentions and believes that the Alliance between our two clans will become even stronger because of this. She only asked us to prepare properly according to custom, and made me swear to cherish you forever and uphold the covenant with the Sea God Clan. Aivi, we can be together openly now! The Sea God Clan and the Star Sea Territory will truly become a community bound by Bloodline and goodwill for generations!"

Immense joy, like a rising tide, instantly overwhelmed Aivi. She froze for a few seconds, then an incomparably brilliant smile bloomed on her face, like the brightest sunlight breaking through the clouds. She gasped softly, unable to contain her excitement any longer, and threw herself into Linn's embrace, burying her face deep into his chest. Her shoulders trembled slightly from the overwhelming emotion. No words were spoken, but the arms tightly wrapped around Linn and the faint sobs coming from her hair conveyed all her joy, relief, and happiness.

Linn gently held her, feeling the excitement of the person in his arms, his heart filled with the same sweetness and satisfaction.

After a long while, Aivi calmed down somewhat. She lifted her head, her face still showing traces of unshed tears and a blush, yet she smiled with incomparable sweetness.

Linn gently wiped away her tear stains, then smiled mysteriously: "Aivi, I'm taking you somewhere—a place that belongs only to me and those I trust the most."

A flash of curiosity crossed Aivi's eyes. Before she could ask, Linn's mind stirred slightly, activating his connection with the breath of life. Gentle yet immense space fluctuations instantly enveloped the two, and a silver radiance flashed and disappeared.

The scene before them suddenly changed.

The life energy, so dense it was almost tangible, rushed toward them, causing Aivi, who was a member of the Sea God Clan and extremely sensitive to natural energy, to involuntarily take a deep breath. She felt every cell in her body rejoicing. Shocked, she looked around!

This was a strange world beyond description. The Sky was a soft milky white, emitting an even and warm radiance; there was no sun, yet it was as bright as a spring afternoon. Underfoot was an endless stretch of lush, emerald-green grassland. The outlines of forests were visible in the distance, and further still, the faint silhouettes of rolling mountains. In the center, an ancient tree of life, unimaginably massive, stood majestically, with a river of emerald life light flowing among its branches and leaves. Merely gazing at it, one could feel boundless vitality and ancient wisdom. Pure elemental energy drifted in the air, far more active and abundant than the outside world.

"Wha... where is this?" Aivi was completely stunned. She had never seen, or even imagined, such a space. The feeling here was more vibrant than any place she had ever witnessed! This entirely exceeded her understanding of a "Secret Realm" or "Magic Space."

"Welcome to the 'breath of life,' a Demiplane attached to the Main World but growing independently," Linn's voice sounded beside her, filled with pride and tenderness. "This is my secret, and one of the Star Sea Territory's greatest reliance for the future."

Just then, two figures flew lightly from the direction of the ancient tree of life.

One was a petite girl resembling a nature elf, with emerald green hair and pointed ears, radiating pure life and natural energy. She curiously examined Aivi, her eyes full of friendliness. "Master, you're here! And you brought a new friend? Hello, I'm Dolia, the Spirit of the Space here!" Dolia's voice was clear and pleasant, like a mountain spring.

The other was a tall, silver-haired woman of peerless beauty, radiating an indescribable aura of nobility and mystery. Her pale emerald eyes gazed calmly over, her look seeming to pierce the Soul, carrying a wisdom and serenity accumulated over vast ages. Although she restrained all her aura, the ancient Bloodline within Aivi, originating from the Sea God Clan, involuntarily transmitted a faint sensation of awe and reverence, facing a higher-level life form.

"Destiny, my partner and guardian," Linn introduced.

Dragon Clan?!! A lightning bolt seemed to flash through Aivi's mind, leaving it momentarily blank. She stared in disbelief at Destiny, who had taken human form but still contained an inherent Dragon might. Great Dragon! A magnificent life form, almost revered as a God, only existing in ancient legends! She was actually appearing alive before her, and she was Linn's "partner"!

The immense shock left Aivi frozen in place, her sea-blue eyes wide, her red lips slightly parted, unable to utter a single word. Everything before her—this miraculous Demiplane, the legendary Spirit of the Space, and a living Great Dragon—completely overturned her worldview. She finally understood that Linn's confidence and the secret behind the Star Sea Territory's rapid development were far greater than what she had previously known!

Watching Aivi's cute, stunned, almost bewildered expression, Linn couldn't help but chuckle softly. He put his arm around her shoulder, offering support. "Don't be afraid. Dolia and Destiny are my closest partners. This place will also be one of your future homes where you can rest easy and learn all my secrets."

Destiny's gaze lingered on Aivi for a moment, particularly on the scale on her forehead that shimmered with the Sea God Clan's light. She then nodded slightly, and her cool, pleasant voice sounded: "Welcome, Aivi. The person chosen by Linn is a guest of this place, and a friend." Her acknowledgment was concise and powerful.

Dolia, being more lively, flew closer and circled Aivi curiously. "Wow, your scent is really nice! It's kind of similar to the Ocean and the ancient tree of life!"

Feeling the warmth from Linn's arm and listening to the friendly words of the two extraordinary beings, the shock in Aivi's heart slowly transformed into an indescribable surge of emotion and reassurance. She looked at Linn, her gaze incredibly complex: there was shock, pride, deeper love, and a hint of playful reproach, as if saying, "So you still had so many secrets." She tightly squeezed Linn's hand in return, as if to confirm that none of this was a dream.