#2 a Little Knowledge 4

The woman turned her gaze toward Grim, watching as he tried to peer into the distance, searching for the end of the wooden bridge before him. 

After observing him for a while, she realized something—Grim was just like her. A human deemed "imperfect" by the gods, someone who lacked most of the emotions that should have been natural for any human to possess. 

"Are you planning to cross?" she asked gently. 

She could tell that Grim wanted to step onto the bridge, yet she could also sense the hesitation lingering in his heart. She knew exactly what doubts plagued his mind—after all, they were both incomplete in the same way. 

Grim wasn't afraid of dying on this bridge. No, his uncertainty stemmed from something else entirely. He was wondering what he would do next after reaching the other side. 

That thought kept circling in his mind. And yet, in the end, it was not enough to overpower the curiosity that burned deep within him. Without realizing it, his foot moved forward, pressing down on one of the wooden planks of the bridge. 

Seeing this, the woman quickly reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him. 

"Are you certain you want to go there?" she asked. 

"What exactly is on the other side?"

"I don't know. But from what I've heard, it's a place that closely resembles hell." 

She knew that beyond the bridge lay a trial ground—what some called the Path of Ordeals. But beyond that, she had little knowledge. She had never seen what was truly there. 

"Hell, huh? Hearing that only makes me more curious to see it for myself."

Grim pulled his hand free from her grasp and continued forward. Watching him go, the woman merely smiled. 

From the start, she had never intended to stop him. She only wanted to see if he would truly take that step or not. 

Now, she was certain—Grim was really going. 

This was her chance. 

Unlike Grim, who was driven by pure curiosity, she had her own reasons for wanting to enter the trial grounds. Yet, she had always hesitated to go alone. Many times, she had considered following others across the bridge, but most of them were "perfect" humans. And perfect humans could never truly understand those who were imperfect—especially those like her, who lacked emotions. 

Likewise, the imperfect could never fully understand the perfect. 

That was why she had always remained at the edge of the bridge, watching countless people cross it, waiting. Waiting for someone like her to appear. 

And now, at last, she had found what she was searching for. 

She could not let this opportunity slip away. 

The woman told herself that she would never get to witness the fate of those seven foolish men, not anymore. Then, without a moment's hesitation, she hurried after Grim, stepping onto the bridge and walking beside him. 

Grim noticed her presence. As always, his expression remained empty as he turned to glance at her. 

Her presence did not bother him. If anything… it made him feel something—something he had never felt before. 

"I will go with you," she said. 

She knew Grim had no intention of asking why. Even so, she wanted him to be aware of her decision. 

After all, just like him, she was experiencing something unfamiliar for the very first time. 

"I see. Since we'll be traveling together, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Grim. And yours?"

"Fernanse. Fernanse Aubert."

"I see. Well then, it's nice to meet you, Fernanse." 

They continued walking across the wooden bridge, which swayed ever so slightly beneath their steps. 

Neither of them knew what awaited them at the end. 

And yet, they kept moving forward. 

Now, only a few hundred meters remained before they would reach the other side. 

Meanwhile, in her palace, Yee Ling watched them through the crystal orb before her, a small smile forming on her lips. 

"Now, let's see what you two will gain from the Path of Ordeals."

Her smile widened—a smile that resembled that of a child, gleeful upon receiving a brand-new toy.