Outside the floating chamber, storm clouds rumbled like an omen.Their thunder rolled across the empire's sky, as if the world itself understood that history had shifted.
The four emperors exited the chamber slowly, each carrying the weight of what they had agreed upon.Aetheria would be acknowledged.Diplomacy would be attempted.And the Shadow Wraiths—the Empire of Dominion's deadliest creations—would walk toward the Great Forest after a full century of silence.
The Decision Echoes Across the World
The floating hall's runes dimmed behind them as Emperor Althares raised a hand.
"Bring them."
A line of Dominion knights knelt. Their shadows quivered unnaturally, rippling like liquid ink.Then—Three figures emerged.
Silent.Faceless.Their forms bled smoke.Their bodies were shaped like humans but had no heartbeat, no breath, no warmth.
Shadow Wraiths.
Creations made from a drop of the God of Dominion's mana.
Cassian involuntarily stepped back. Even as an emperor, their presence scraped against his soul.
One Wraith bowed.The gesture had no emotion. Only obedience.
"Orders," Althares commanded.
The Wraith's voice echoed with layered whispers."Deliver the sphere to Aetheria. Show no hostility unless attacked."
Kuroz's eyes narrowed."Will they understand diplomacy? Do constructs even grasp the concept?"
Althares answered without looking away from the Wraiths."They understand intent. They follow commands. And they do not die unless equal divinity rejects them."
Isolde crossed her arms.
"Even so… sending Shadow Wraiths is a message in itself."
Cassian nodded.
"That is why the recording must include our reasoning."
Selene lifted the glowing sphere, still swirling with the four rulers' mana."This message will only play once it senses Haruto's or Airi's mana signatures."
"Good," Kuroz muttered."We record, we send, and then… pray."
"Emperors do not pray," Althares said flatly."They act."
The Wraiths took the sphere.
And without another word, they stepped into the sky, dissolving into long trails of shadow and vanishing toward the horizon.
The Great Forest was a week away at full divine speed.
The world's countdown had begun.
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Aetheria's Peaceful Chaos
The Great Forest glittered under morning dew.
While the world above trembled, Aetheria did not.
The elven districts buzzed with life. Young dark elves practiced spell weaving near the crystal ponds. Spirits floated above homes, delivering water in swirling ribbons of light. Dragons lounged on high roots and cliffs, basking in the sun.
Aetheria was blooming.
Inside Haruto and Airi's residence, however…
BOOM.
A cloud of flour erupted like a miniature explosion.
Yumi coughed."Why does baking require battlefield reflexes?!"
Airi stumbled out covered in flour from head to toe."Onii chan… save me… the flour is angry…"
Haruto pinched the bridge of his nose."It doesn't think. It's not a monster. Just mix slowly."
Frost, lying lazily by the counter, yawned.
"You say that, but the last time she cooked, even I felt afraid…"
Lyria floated in, wings fluttering.She blinked."…Is this snow?"
"No!" Airi protested. "It attacked first!"
Haruto crossed his arms."Airi…"
She quickly hid behind him.
"I swear it moved…"
He gave up."Fine. Let's clean before another disaster."
The morning rolled in its usual Aetherian chaos.
Later, after the kitchen survived the battle, Aetheria gathered for the morning council inside the main hall.
Elven leaders sat on vine-carved chairs.Spirits hovered like glowing orbs.Dragons—Lunara included—curled on elevated platforms.
Airi stood at the center, holding parchment.
"I want to start a school."
The hall fell quiet.
Haruto watched from beside her, expression soft.
Airi continued.
"There are elves who want to learn healing magic. Spirits want to know human languages. Dragons want to share ancient knowledge. And children want a place to grow. We should build a place where everyone can learn together."
Lunara's golden eyes curved.
"A lovely idea. Aetheria is a home now. A school will anchor its future."
Elder Mirel nodded."The Eternal Princess's wish is our wish."
Airi lowered the parchment, cheeks a little pink."It's not only my idea… Onii chan helped."
Every creature in the room glanced at Haruto.
Haruto shook his head lightly."All I said was that hope is as important as power."
Lumeris walked forward."The spirits will help craft the building's core."
"I will guard it," Frost declared proudly.
Lyria clapped."And I will teach fairy dances!"
"...We do not need that as curriculum," Haruto said.
Airi smiled at him."It's fine, Onii chan."
The council hall brightened with laughter and approval.
Aetheria felt alive.
Aetheria felt safe.
If only they knew what was approaching.
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Training, Growth, and Quiet Moments
The next days slipped by like petals drifting across a river.
Airi's Magic Training
Lunara stood with her arms crossed.
"Airi, again."
Airi formed the Celestial Illusion Garden.Petals of light floated gently, their glow illuminating the clearing.Her mastery was growing rapidly—far faster than Lunara predicted.
"You learn faster when you are thinking about someone," Lunara teased softly.
Airi flushed."It… motivates me."
Lunara arched an eyebrow."Someone named Haru—"
Airi's hands shot up.
"Okay next training!"
Lunara chuckled and continued.
Haruto's Progress
Haruto trained with Frost near the lake.
His mana control increased.His presence stabilized.And each swing of his blade carried deeper resonance.
At night, when the world was quiet, he secretly practiced with the Eclipse Edge.
The blade whispered with cosmic energy.
Light and shadow intertwined.
A sword that responded to Airi and Haruto together.
He held it firmly.
"This sword belongs in Aetheria."
A faint glow pulsed in response.
Life in Aetheria
Dragons helped construct bridges.Spirits grew gardens overnight.Elves crafted new tools.Fairies decorated the training grounds with flower lanterns.
Children laughed.Families settled.Creatures once feared by the world finally felt peace.
Haruto and Airi wandered the streets often, ensuring everyone felt safe.Everywhere they went, beings bowed with gratitude.
"Eternal Princess.""Prince of Death."
Airi always smiled shyly.Haruto would simply nod, then gently pat Airi's head once they walked away.
"…Onii chan, stop treating me like a kid."
"You are twelve."
Airi pouted."I am strong too."
"I know."
He said it so softly that Airi's pout melted into a quiet smile.
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One Week Later
The seventh morning arrived.
Aetheria glowed under soft sunlight.
Airi held a basket of newly baked bread as she walked beside Haruto.
"I finally made it right," she said proudly.
Haruto took a piece."It's good."
Airi's entire face lit up.
The moment felt warm.
Peaceful.
Perfect.
Until—
A shiver crawled through the air.
Light itself seemed to pause.
Haruto immediately turned.
"…Did you feel that?"
Airi's fingers tightened on the basket.
"Yes."
At the same time—
Frost shot from the bushes."Haruto! Airi! Something crossed the barrier!"
Lumeris materialized, trembling."The spirits are terrified… something divine pushed through."
Haruto's hand moved toward his sword.
Airi stepped closer to him, her breathing unsteady.
"Onii-chan…"
He placed a steady hand on her shoulder.
"I'm right here."
The lake darkened as shadows crawled across its surface like spilled ink.
Three shapes rose from the water.
Silent.
Emotionless.
Faceless.
The Shadow Wraiths.
The same beings who once hunted them during the earliest days of Aetheria.
Airi's breath hitched.
"They're back…"
Haruto exhaled slowly.
"So the empire made their move."
The Wraiths stepped onto the land without disturbing a drop of water.
Their crimson sigils pulsed in unison.
One stepped forward.
"Haruto of the Eclipse. Airi of Light."
The voice echoed like hollow wind.
"We meet again."
Airi's fingers shook, but she stood firm beside Haruto."…Why are you here?"
The Wraith lifted a hand.
The glowing sphere from the emperor meeting floated into Haruto's reach.
"We carry a message from the rulers of the world."
Haruto frowned."A message… or a threat?"
"Our orders contain no hostility," the Wraith answered."Unless you attack first."
Frost growled."Don't provoke them. They don't think like humans."
Lumeris whispered."They are not alive. They only obey."
Lunara placed herself protectively behind Airi."Even so… why now?"
The Wraith's eyes flickered.
"Because the world must decide how to face Aetheria."
Haruto slowly extended his hand and grasped the sphere.
It pulsed.
Airi held her breath.
For the first time in history, Aetheria would hear the intentions of the other world powers.
The sphere began to glow—
—then suddenly shut off.
Dark.
Silent.
The Wraiths stepped back.
"The message is sealed.It will play… when your hearts are ready to hear it."
Airi swallowed.
"Onii chan… everything is changing."
Haruto closed his hand around the sphere.
"…Yes."
He looked toward the horizon.
The world had noticed Aetheria.The world had reacted.
And now, the world wanted an answer.
Haruto stood tall.
Airi stood beside him.
Their spirits, intertwined.
Lunara's wings spread.Frost's fur bristled.Lyria hovered in tense silence.
The three Wraiths bowed once.
"We will await your decision."
Then their forms dissolved into smoke and vanished into the wind.
The lake stilled.
Aetheria held its breath.
Airi touched Haruto's hand gently.
"…What do we do now?"
Haruto looked toward the Silent Sphere.
His eyes sharpened.
"We decide our own future."
The world had come knocking.
Aetheria would answer.
Together.
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END OF CHATER 19