CHAPTER 25 —
Morning arrived gently over Aetheria.
Not with the roar of thunder.
Not with a sky-splitting beam of divine prophecy.
It came softly.
Just a slow creeping warmth that dripped across the treetops, then spilled over the rooftops and newly carved marble paths of the capital.
Dew droplets clung to the spirit gardens like scattered crystals. Fairy lanterns drifted lazily overhead, adjusting their brightness with each pulse of mana that flowed through the engraved streets. House windows glittered. Marketplace banners fluttered in the breeze. The sky itself seemed unusually clear, like even the weather knew today was important.
And in the very middle of everything, standing in the center of the largest avenue built in the heart of Aetheria…
Airi was stretching with her arms wide open, face tilted toward the sky as if she wanted to hug the sunlight itself.
"Onii Chan look at it… LOOK at it… look look loooook! Aetheria looks so pretty today!"
Haruto rubbed his eyes.
He had been up since dawn.
He had also been dragged outside at dawn.
He had also listened to Airi scream "WAKE UP WAKE UP SPECIAL DAY SPECIAL DAY!" at dawn.
He gently placed a hand on her head before she spun herself into another dimension.
"I am looking. You have been screaming since the sun was a dot in the sky. I think half the kingdom woke up because of you."
Airi puffed her cheeks.
"Because today is special."
"You said that yesterday too."
"And yesterday WAS special."
Haruto exhaled.
That… was indisputable.
They began walking through the capital, taking in the city they had poured their mana, sweat, decisions, and emotions into for the last month.
Aetheria's New Districts
The kingdom was now divided into several major zones:
Residential District
Rows of houses crafted from spirit wood, fairystone tiles, and dark-elf architecture. Each home glowed faintly with natural mana, adjusting warmth and ventilation automatically.
Marketplace District
Dozens of shops in the making. Stalls decorated with enchanted flowers. Dark elves selling artifacts. Fairies offering magical ingredients. Humans, elves, beasts, dwarves — all living together without fear.
Educational District
Three massive academies stood tall, their towers reaching toward the clouds. Mana lines crossed their walls like luminous vines.
Inside these academies, six major streams existed:
-Sword Arts
-Magic Arts
-Healing Arts
-Spirit Arts
-Architectural Arts
-General Knowledge (reading, writing, grammar mandatory)
Students could choose multiple paths. And if they excelled?
They were guaranteed jobs in Aetheria.
Airi had personally demanded this.
"No child should grow without choices," she had said.
Haruto loved that about her.
As they walked, children raced past them, laughing as floating spirit-balls chased them playfully. Dark elves bowed respectfully. Elves smiled warmly. Fairies landed on Airi's shoulders, treating her like a mana fountain with legs.
"Good morning, Princess Airi!"
"Prince Haruto, thank you for approving the spirit clinic!"
"Princess, please accept these flowers!"
Airi waved excitedly at everyone.
Haruto's nod alone made two elven girls blush so hard they almost collapsed.
Airi tugged Haruto's hand.
"Onii Chan… you know… today is the day Aetheria becomes known to the world."
Haruto nodded.
"We prepared for this."
Airi's voice softened.
"…We really did."
A gust of wind spiraled above them.
Aizen landed smoothly, kneeling on one knee.
"Princess Airi. Prince Haruto. The teleportation team is ready whenever you are."
Airi inhaled deeply.
"Okay… okay… today it happens."
Haruto cracked his neck.
"Let's go."
Before they could move,
A Massive Shadow Fell Over Them
A giant figure swooped down, wings casting a dramatic silhouette across the entire avenue.
Lunara landed in her humanoid form…
Then immediately shifted partially into her dragon form for unnecessary but extremely effective dramatic effect.
"I shall carry the small one."
Airi shot up like fireworks.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT HOLD ON!"
Lunara froze mid-pose.
"…What."
"I want to use MY teleportation magic today!"
Lunara blinked.
"You have never teleported across continents. Only a few meters. Within Aetheria. And once into a tree by mistake."
"That was ONE TIME," Airi snapped.
Frost stepped forward.
"It will be dangerous—"
"I trust her," Haruto said calmly.
Everyone froze.
Even Airi froze.
Lyria smirked with the most teasing smile possible.
"You two really act like a married couple."
Airi turned tomato-red.
"NO WE DON'T! STOP SAYING WEIRD THINGS!"
Haruto sighed heavily.
"Let us please leave before this becomes a disaster."
Airi clapped her hands excitedly.
"Okay! Everyone come close! No moving! No sneezing! No sad thoughts! No thinking about taxes!"
"That is not how teleportation works," Lunara whispered.
"It is now."
Everyone obeyed anyway.
Airi lifted her palms.
Golden mana spiraled around her like a blooming sun.
The ground hummed.
The air warped.
"Teleportation!"
FLASH.
Reality snapped.
Dominion Empire — Castle Gates
A spear dropped to the floor.
The knight who dropped it trembled violently.
"P–Princess Airi… P-Prince Haruto… y-you just— just ARRIVED?!"
Airi flicked her hair proudly.
"Teleportation. Quick travel. Easy."
"T-Teleportation across the whole continent…?"
"Yep!"
The knight stared at her like she was an end-of-the-world prophecy.
"I… I will escort you to the emperors immediately."
They began walking.
Every guard along the hallway straightened like they were being inspected by the gods themselves.
Servants froze mid-step.
Whispers echoed behind every pillar.
"That's them…"
"The Eternal Princess…"
"The Prince of Death…"
"Look behind them, that's THE DRAGON QUEEN"
Airi happily hummed along the hallway.
Haruto ignored every single whisper because he was used to ignoring annoying humans.
Frost walked like royalty.
Lyria waved at everyone just to be chaotic.
They reached the grand meeting chamber.
The doors opened.
Meeting of the Four Emperors
Inside sat:
-Emperor Althares
-Emperor Kuroz
-Emperor Cassian
-Emperor Isolde
When Airi entered, all four emperors stood immediately.
Airi sat down with full queen aura.
Haruto stood to her right.
Frost, Lunara, and Lyria stood behind her like legendary beasts guarding a divine heir.
Airi tapped the table.
"Let's start."
Kuroz nodded.
"In one hour, we will officially announce Aetheria to the world."
Airi smiled.
"Very nice."
"We will tell the public that Aetheria saved Hero Yumi from the demon who killed the other heroes."
Haruto blinked.
(Wait. I am the demon. I literally killed them.)
Airi smirked.
"Humans sure love dramatic lies."
Althares coughed.
"So you have no objections?"
"None," Airi shrugged. "Humans don't listen unless you lie anyway."
Cassian grinned.
"Then let us enjoy the feast!"
Feast Hall — Controlled Chaos
The feast was insane.
Floating dishes.
Magical flames.
Food that changed flavor when you blinked.
Fruit that circled the table like planets.
Airi was eating like a vacuum cleaner.
Kuroz cleared his throat.
"So… shall we call Yumi now?"
Airi stood up so fast her chair fell.
"I WILL GO GET HER."
She vanished.
Cassian blinked.
"…She is too fast."
Ten seconds later—
FLASH.
Airi dragged Yumi by the wrist.
Yumi looked nauseous.
"I hate teleportation…"
Althares forced a polite smile.
"Hero Yumi. Welcome."
"Sup," Yumi replied.
Althares tried again.
"Your allies should not have attacked Aetheria—"
"Not my problem," Yumi said instantly. "I live in Aetheria now."
All the emperors froze.
Airi leaned forward with a cute smile that was absolutely a threat.
"Emperor Althares. Don't even think rude thoughts about my friend."
Althares straightened.
"…Of course."
Kuroz stood.
"It is time."
Grand Balcony — Aetheria's First Appearance to the World
The plaza was packed.
Tens of thousands of citizens.
Reporters from multiple kingdoms.
Mana recorders floating overhead.
Children sitting on shoulders.
Merchants leaning out of windows.
The emperors stepped forward first.
Althares raised his voice.
"People of the Dominion Empire… today we reveal the truth."
Kuroz continued.
"Aetheria is not an enemy. It is a realm built on unity."
Cassian stepped forward dramatically.
"And today… you will meet its rulers."
Murmurs erupted.
Then gasps.
Because Yumi stepped onto the balcony next.
"Hero Yumi?!"
"She's alive?!"
"She was saved?!"
"By Aetheria?!"
"Then Aetheria is… good?!"
The emperors stepped aside.
The balcony doors opened.
And Aetheria revealed itself.
Airi walked out first.
Sunlight hit her silver hair.
Fairy lights gathered around her.
Her mana shimmered like soft stardust.
Her presence alone felt like a new era had begun.
Haruto followed.
Calm.
Silent.
Unshakably strong.
The kind of presence that made even veterans step back.
Behind them…
Frost stood large and majestic.
Lunara spread her wings, casting a divine shadow across the plaza.
Lyria floated gracefully, petals swirling around her like an angelic storm.
Silence fell across the entire empire.
Even the wind stopped.
Airi stepped forward.
Her voice was soft, but magic carried it across the entire city.
"I am Airi. Eternal Princess of Aetheria."
She spread her arms.
"We built a home for every race. For every person who needs a place to belong. Aetheria does not steal lives. Aetheria saves them."
Haruto stepped beside her.
"I am Haruto. Prince of Aetheria."
His voice was low.
Calm.
Cold.
Unshakably steady.
"We do not seek war. But we will protect our home."
The Ancient Beasts unleashed their auras behind them.
Not aggressive.
Not violent.
Simply… undeniable.
Airi lifted her chin.
"Welcome to the new world."
The crowd erupted.
People cheered.
Some fell to their knees.
Children waved.
Reporters wrote like their life depended on it.
And at that moment…
Aetheria had truly revealed its wings.
And the world could nothing but watch them rise.