The afternoon sun warmed the fields outside REF Academy, where the wind carried scents of fresh earth and blooming mana flowers. Thorne leaned on his greatsword, staring down at the practice dummy he'd just split cleanly in two. His strikes were strong, his precision sharper than ever — yet his mind wasn't on training.
Instead, it drifted to her.
A girl he met weeks ago in Bluestar Village — with silver hair tied in ribbons and eyes like morning frost. Her name was Seren. She worked at a local herb shop, always smiling, always humming soft songs that made even Thorne's stoic heart stutter.
But he hadn't told anyone. Not Kael, not Vex, not even Lyra. He wasn't sure he could. Warriors weren't supposed to fall for soft laughter and flower-scented hair.
"Thinking about something, Thorne?"
The voice startled him. It was Arden, smirking as he twirled a dagger between his fingers.
Thorne tried to keep his composure. "Just training."
"Training, huh?" Arden leaned closer, grinning. "Then why are you smiling like someone caught you reading a romance scroll?"
"I'm not—!"
Before Thorne could finish, Lyra walked by with Amara, overhearing the last bit. "Thorne? Smiling? That's new," she teased.
Amara laughed softly. "Don't tell me our iron-hearted warrior's fallen for someone."
Thorne froze. "N-No! I haven't—"
Too late. Vex appeared from the corridor, carrying a box of potion vials. "He's definitely fallen for someone. I can smell embarrassment from twenty feet away."
Even Zephyr, who had been lounging lazily in his wolf-like form near the steps, raised his head. His silvery fur shimmered under the sun. "He's telling the truth," the beast spirit said, voice smooth as silk. "His heartbeat spikes every time someone says 'love.'"
The group burst into laughter. Thorne groaned, covering his face. "You're all impossible."
Kael stepped out of the workshop at that moment, hearing the commotion. "What's going on?"
Lyra giggled. "Thorne's in love."
Kael's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
"Don't you start too," Thorne warned, glaring.
But Kael only laughed. "I'm just happy for you, brother. About time one of us found peace outside the battlefield."
Before Thorne could protest again, Zephyr's tail swished with amusement. "Speaking of love," he said, "I have a bit of… news. Family news."
The teasing atmosphere quieted as everyone turned to him. The beast spirit sat up fully, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Well?" Kael asked. "What kind of news?"
Zephyr flicked an ear. "Your mother, Seraphine — or should I say Sera, as your father calls her — is expecting. Four months pregnant."
"What?!" Kael and Amara shouted together.
Lyra nearly dropped her staff. "Sera's pregnant?!"
Zephyr nodded, stretching lazily. "Mm-hmm. And your father, Aelric, has apparently turned into the most overprotective husband in the world. He's been cooking, cleaning, even knitting baby blankets. The servants have started calling him 'the woman of the house.'"
That sent everyone into roaring laughter.
Kael clutched his stomach, tears forming in his eyes. "Our father — the great Aelric — knitting?"
Amara giggled uncontrollably. "I can't believe it! Mom must be enjoying herself."
Vex leaned back against the bench, smirking. "So the legendary commander of the Seventeenth Front now fetches tea and pillows. I'd pay to see that."
Lyra added between laughter, "We should send him flowers with a note: From your fellow housewives — congratulations!"
Even Thorne chuckled softly, the first genuine laugh they'd heard from him in days.
Zephyr, proud of the chaos he'd caused, continued smoothly, "Sera asked me to deliver her blessing to you both. She says she feels strong and peaceful, and that the mana surrounding her womb is unusually radiant. The child might already be showing signs of celestial resonance."
That silenced the laughter for a moment. Kael's expression softened. "Another child… That means we'll have a new brother or sister."
Amara smiled warmly. "A new life for our family. After everything we've been through, that's… beautiful."
Luminor appeared nearby, his light flickering softly. "Statistically speaking, the presence of a celestial resonance before birth indicates a rare, high-tier magical inheritance. The child could very well be extraordinary."
Kael nodded thoughtfully. "Just like Sera and Aelric… Maybe even stronger."
Arra, who had been sketching runes on a metal plate nearby, looked up. "Then we'll need to make something special for the baby. Maybe a mana cradle that stabilizes their energy flow. If anyone can build it, it's me."
Vex added, "And I'll brew a potion for Sera — safe for pregnancy, enhances vitality. I'll even waive the four-million-run price tag for family."
Kael laughed. "That's generous of you."
"It's called marketing," Vex replied, grinning. "Imagine the headlines: 'The Potion That Protected the Celestial Heir's Mother.' I'd be rich by dawn."
"Vex!" Amara scolded, though her tone was fond.
Thorne smiled faintly as everyone went back to laughing and planning. He watched them — Kael's laughter, Lyra's bright energy, Arra's determination, Zephyr's playful wisdom — and realized that this strange, chaotic group had become his family too.
Arden nudged him quietly. "You know, maybe you should bring your girl from Bluestar to meet them. They're loud, but they mean well."
Thorne sighed, glancing down at his gauntlets. "Maybe someday. For now… I'll just keep her in my heart."
Arden smiled knowingly. "That's fine. But when you're ready, we'll all have your back."
The sunset bathed the city in gold. The laughter from their little group echoed through the open square — a sound full of warmth, hope, and new beginnings.
Somewhere far away, under the shimmering evening light, Seraphine rested her hands over her growing belly. Aelric fussed around her with towels and warm soup, muttering under his breath about "not letting the Queen lift a finger."
She laughed softly, her golden eyes glowing. "You've changed, my love."
He blushed but smiled proudly. "Maybe. But this time, I want to protect something gentler than kingdoms."
Back in REF, Kael looked up at the stars, feeling a strange peace settle over him. For the first time in years, there was no war on the horizon — only family, friends, and a future bright enough to make even the heavens envy their light.