Novel's Extra: I Awakened The Strongest Physique From The Start

As they stepped into the air balloon, the door closed with a soft hiss and a metallic click. From the outside, the large compartment attached to the balloon might look like a room, but from the inside, it was transparent.

The light from the park was the only thing keeping the compartment bright, as there was a bed and a two-piece sofa placed at the center. As if that wasn't enough, there were several types of food items decorated on an ornate table for people to enjoy during their stay.

Mira, with her blank gaze, kept staring at the sweet, making Alex, who had his eyes on Mira, chuckle. "Haha. Go on, eat all you want."

Mira, not feeling a bit embarrassed for being caught, just nodded her head and shuttled toward the table, going forward and picking some sweets.

Alex, on the other hand, looked around, taking everything in, wondering how long it would take for the ride to start when he noticed something—a ruckus in front of the air balloon.

There were two people—a couple—talking, or more like arguing with the dwarf Alex had met a second ago. The lady seemed to be fine, even trying to pull the guy away with a look of resignation on her face, but the guy didn't seem to have any intention of doing so.

'Oh?' Alex raised a brow as the features of those two people became clearer under the searchlight of the air balloon.

'Isn't that Keryu and Maleshia?' Thought Alex as he looked at them. Both of them seemed to be here on a date as well, which was a bit surprising for Alex as he didn't know they had reached this point in their relationship. But how come they were here?

[Did you forget how you came to know of this place?]

It was then that Sophie's voice was heard, making Alex slap his head in realization. 'Ah, damn. Yeah... I knew about this place because of the novel's plot.'

In the plot of the story, Keryu is supposed to bring Maleshia here for their first date. It was supposed to happen after they had sex for the first time.

Their sex was supposed to be purely based on lust, as Maleshia would've been drugged by someone, and although Keryu had saved her, he would just lay with her after that. But Keryu, being a harem protagonist, quickly started to make his move and started his relationship with Maleshia by saying that he was taking responsibility.

This date was supposed to be the first step in their relationship—that was how Alex came to know of this location.

Rumble!

It was then that the air balloon shook, slowly elevating, making Mira quickly move next to Alex, who was sitting on the sofa, and held his hand like it was the most natural thing to do.

After doing it, she turned toward Alex, and with her mouth filled with a muffin, still eating it like a hamster, her expression still blank, she tilted her head. "What's... happening?"

Her voice came out muffled but paired with her beauty, and the dim light that for a second seemed to be focused on her face stunned Alex for a while, but as he felt her grip on his hand trembling, he quickly spoke, his tone reassuring, "It's fine, just look down."

Nodding her head, Mira arched her neck, staring down, only to see the ground going below fall away steadily, and soon the twinkling lights of the amusement park became the only visible anchor in the vast expanse of darkness—all while Mira's eyes remained fixed on the sight.

Mira's fingers tightened around his sleeves. "It's... so high," she murmured, her voice expression unchanged—blank like always—but the tremble in her voice betrayed her wonder and apprehension.

"That's the point," Alex said, his tone calm and gentle. "You won't see this view from anywhere else."

Mira didn't say anything to that; with her body shifting in its spot, she saw how the colorful lights from the amusement park formed patterns and pulsed with the rhythm of the festivities grew distant, the city slowly coming into view, shimmering like stars forming several constellations.

For a while, it felt like nothing could break the beauty of the moment. Mira leaned into Alex, a rare softness in her usually always blank expression. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice almost inaudible against the backdrop of their ascent.

She finally understood what the word beautiful meant as it came out naturally.

But then, something changed. One by one, the lights in the park began to fade. First, the brightest ones on the rides went out, followed by the dimmer lights of the cafes and pathways. Soon, the entire park was shrouded in darkness.

Mira's gaze turned to Alex, and her expression changed for the first time, going back to how it used to be. A flicker of concern passed through her eyes—something Alex noticed in just a glance.

Alex's expression, however, remained calm, as he already knew what was coming. "Just wait," he said, his voice steady.

Moments later, the city lights followed suit, plunging the world below into an inky void only the searchlights of the air balloon could be seen, but those too were dim and were below Alex and Mira's air balloon. It was ranked one air balloon for a reason after all. It is supposed to be the highest spot.

Mira, looking at all of this, still remained alert before she heard Alex's words.

"There it is," he muttered, making Mira turn at him, but her eyes were pulled away from Alex as it began.

A single golden light burst forth in the middle of the park, piercing through the darkness, making Mira open her eyes wide in wonder.

"The main attraction of the Moonlit Enchanted Avalon," spoke Alex right then as his finger intervened with Mira's. "The light show."

This was the reason for this park being called Moonlit. The main and most important event was this, something only those within the air balloons could enjoy completely.

Mira nodded, her eyes fixed on the light as it spiraled upward, creating a shimmering silhouette of a dwarf clad in ornate armor. His face was noble yet sorrowful, his hands clutching a massive hammer that glowed with a faint blue hue.

As the figure stabilized, other lights joined in—a cascade of colors painting the night sky. The lights moved like brushstrokes, weaving a tale that seemed to transcend language.

Mira's breath caught for the first time as the story unfolded. The dwarf hero was shown standing against an onslaught of shadowy figures—his stance unyielding, his resolve unshaken. The lights shifted, depicting a young woman in flowing robes, her face lit with love and despair. She reached for the dwarf, but an impenetrable chasm separated them.

The scene transitioned to the hero's final stand. The lights formed a radiant explosion as he sacrificed himself, his hammer shattering the shadows but consuming his own form in the process. The woman's figure crumbled into light as well, their souls intertwining and ascending together in a brilliant spiral.

'Huh?' As the story reached this part, Mira felt her cheeks moist, soon realizing that it was because of the tears flowing out of her eyes. For some reason, she felt her chest tightening with an emotion she couldn't name. "He gave everything... for her," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Maybe it was because she was with Alex and could understand things, but looking at how the guy died was... painful. Even the woman. They both died alone.

Alex's gaze was fixed on the display, his finger wiping the tears on Mira's cheeks. "Love makes people do extraordinary things," he said quietly, his eyes looking into hers. "Even if it means losing themselves in the process."

Mira said nothing, just nodded her head, and turned back to the show, which ended with everyone celebrating their victory and no one mourning for the hero and his love. Continue your adventure at empire

Soon, as lights faded and the city returned to how it used to be, Mira turned to Alex. Her usual blank demeanor was replaced by something raw and unguarded. "Do you think... they were happy in the end?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Alex looked at her, his eyes soft yet searching. "I think they were. Because they had each other—even if only for a moment."

Mira's gaze dropped to their intertwined hands. Her fingers trembling slightly, as if afraid that Alex would let go. "I don't know what... love is," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't have to rush to understand it," Alex replied, his tone gentle. "Feelings like that... they take time. But when you're ready, you'll know."

For a long time, almost 2 hours, the balloon stayed up in the air, and Mira, with her head resting on Alex's shoulder, just kept staring at their hands, something Alex let her do without disturbing her.

Soon, the balloon began its descent, the hum growing louder as the ground drew closer. Mira felt the world around her come back into focus, but her thoughts lingered on the story she had just witnessed.

In just a few moments, the balloon landed, and as it did, the door opened with a mechanical hiss, making both of them turn their eyes at it, reluctant to leave, but well... they can't stay in here anymore, so Alex stood up, but Mira hesitated. Her hand remained in Alex's, her grip firm.

"Alex," she said softly, her eyes meeting his. "I am... scared."

Those words, however, froze Alex's expression; his brows creased as he turned at her and gently inquired, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

He didn't know what was bothering her, but whatever it was, he wasn't going to let it go unattended. Not when one of the first feelings she got was fear—something Alex didn't see as a good sign.