Night had fully settled over Isola Krein.
The sky was quiet—stars scattered like distant witnesses, the moon hanging low, casting a silver glow across the rebuilt mansion.
Inside, everything was still.
Peaceful.
Lucifer Veynar and Esdeath Nexus Veynar were asleep.
Breathing softly.
Unaware…
Of the scale of the world moving around them.
Outside—
A small gathering.
Azelar sat with his usual cup of tea, calm as ever.
Beside him sat Luminous.
A few steps away—
Rayon Veynar sat between Nexus and Luminous, relaxed but thoughtful.
Nyk leaned back casually, cigarette glowing faintly.
And beside him—
Christine sat quietly, watching everyone.
For once—
No one was fighting.
No one was preparing.
They were just… there.
Rayon broke the silence.
"I'll visit the Upper Realms tomorrow."
No hesitation.
No build-up.
Just truth.
Azelar took a slow sip of tea before responding.
"I think it's the right time."
He didn't look at Rayon.
Didn't need to.
"Staying on Averis will only make them come here."
A pause.
"And when they do…"
His eyes shifted slightly.
"You'll have no choice but to hold back."
Rayon nodded.
"…Yeah."
Then—
His gaze drifted.
Toward the mansion.
Toward the room where his children slept.
His voice dropped.
"…I guess it's my attachment that's holding me back."
Silence.
Azelar nodded slowly.
"It's your first time as a father."
He set his cup down.
"But don't worry."
His aura—subtle but absolute—spread slightly across the land.
"As long as I, Azelar, am here…"
"…no one will touch a strand of their hair."
That wasn't reassurance.
That was a guarantee.
Rayon smiled faintly.
"…Thanks, Azelar."
A pause.
Then he looked at him again.
"…Have you ever wanted to leave Isola?"
That question lingered.
For a moment—
Even the wind stopped.
Azelar slowly placed his cup down.
Looked up at the sky.
"…I have."
Quiet.
Honest.
"Even though Isola Krein is vast…"
He exhaled lightly.
"I know everything that enters this island."
His eyes softened slightly.
"I became bound to it… by accident."
Everyone listened now.
"When the world was being destroyed…"
"I absorbed its core."
A faint pause.
"I don't know what would happen…"
"…if that connection is severed."
Rayon didn't hesitate.
"When I come back…"
He leaned back slightly.
"I'll take you to where I grew up."
Azelar looked at him.
Really looked.
"…Is that a promise?"
Rayon met his gaze.
"It is."
A small smirk.
"And I always keep them."
For a second—
Azelar smiled.
Not as a teacher.
Not as a warrior.
Just as someone who had waited a long time.
Luminous spoke next.
"I'll go to the Upper Realms too."
Everyone looked at her.
"I need to search for the remnants of Light."
Rayon nodded once.
"…Yeah."
Christine stretched slightly before speaking.
"I'll sit this one out."
Nyk glanced at her.
"I need to consolidate my Demi-god powers."
She looked at Azelar.
"…I'll need your teachings again, Master."
Azelar smiled.
"Of course."
Nexus leaned into Rayon slightly.
"I'm staying too."
Rayon tilted his head gently against hers.
"…Yeah?"
She nodded.
"I'll take care of the kids."
Simple.
Natural.
Nyk suddenly spoke.
"I'm staying too."
Instantly—
Rayon cut him off.
"Nyk."
A pause.
"You're coming."
Nyk blinked.
"…Damn."
Rayon didn't even look at him.
"And Erethon is coming too."
From the shadows—
Erethon appeared briefly, grinning.
"Now this sounds fun."
Nyk exhaled.
Then smirked.
"…Aight."
"…Let's run it then."
A Rare Night
Time passed.
They ate.
Laughed.
Talked.
Not as warriors.
Not as gods.
But as something far more rare—
Family.
For once—
No one thought about war.
Or enemies.
Or fate.
Just…
Each other.
Later—
Much later—
The night grew deeper.
Rayon stood alone.
Without a word—
He stepped into the shadows.
And vanished.
Silence.
Absolute.
No light.
No sound.
No time.
Only—
Darkness.
And within it—
A throne.
Not built.
Not crafted.
Formed.
From absence itself.
Rayon Veynar sat.
And the abyss responded.
It recognized him.
It welcomed him.
Then—
A presence approached.
Soft.
Fluid.
A figure formed from blue spiritual essence—
Walking toward him.
Graceful.
Familiar.
She stopped.
Then bowed.
"Welcome back… Master."
Rayon leaned slightly forward.
"…How's it been…"
A faint smile.
"…Vorthalaxis?"
She looked up.
Calm.
Loyal.
Changed.
No longer what she once was—
But something refined by the abyss itself.
A spiritual being.
A woman now.
Rayon rested his chin lightly against his hand.
"Do you want to come to the Upper Realms?"
No hesitation.
Her answer was immediate.
"Where the Master goes…"
A step closer.
"…the Abyss naturally follows."
Rayon smiled.
"…Good."
And in that moment—
The Upper Realms…
Unknowingly—
Began to shake.