In a moment of stillness, after the wind's voice sank into the sunset,
Lucas stayed silent for a long time, not looking at him.
Then he spoke in a trembling voice, as if the words were coming from an old wound that had never healed:
"How... how can I forget you?"
He lifted his gaze to him, his eyes filled with pain, childhood anger, and old love.
"You taught me how to read... you brought books close to my heart, gave me my first book, and the best one. You were my only friend, the first... and I admired you so much..."
Then...
The young man finally smiled, a warm smile full of sorrow and longing,
and a soft breeze swept through the place, dancing at the ends of their hair,
as if time sighed... as if souls touched.
The young man looked at him with eyes full of kindness that he had never been able to express before, and said:
"That... is enough for me."
Then he added, in a sincere, calm voice:
"You can hate me as much as you want...
but I'm happy... that you still... remember me."
Lucas's eyes widened, his heart trembling, like a child again waiting for a gift.
The young man said with a faint smile, and eyes filled with secrets:
"All the stories I wrote after you, every chapter, every adventure, every dialogue, every hero in them... you were the source of it all."
Then he continued, his voice becoming quieter, more painful:
"I didn't write just for myself... I wrote them to tell you someday.
I wanted to amaze you, to see you smile, to hear you say: this is beautiful, keep going."
His voice softened as if he were apologizing with his eyes before his tongue:
"But... I was killed. And I'm no longer there."
At that moment, Lucas slowly rose from the chair, in a long, silent pause.
The young man reached out his hand, hesitating, trembling for a moment...
but then he held Lucas's hand,
and gently rubbed the back of his palm with his thumb, with lightness and sincerity, as if wiping away all the years of loss.
Lucas leaned closer, without a word,
then wrapped his arms around his shoulders,
as if returning to his old refuge.
As for the young man, he calmly placed his arms around his back,
hugging him, hugging him as though he had never left,
and Lucas said in a tearful voice:
"I missed you so much... you fool."
And the sun set.
But something very warm shone between them.
Something called: the meeting after regret.
And forgiveness... after a long wait.
Then they parted from the embrace, and Lucas quickly wiped away his tears, smiling...
But this time, it was a true smile—filled with peace.
Ronwa stood a few steps away, watching them quietly, a small smile on her face.
She said with honest joy:
"I'm happy for you... Lucas."
She approached them lightly, then looked at the strange young man with a scrutinizing... suspicious gaze, and said with sudden seriousness:
"Do you know, I actually thought you were an old man?"
She began listing her observations aloud:
"You're tall like a lamppost... and thin like you haven't eaten in centuries..."
She pointed at his neck and hands:
"And those bandages?! You look like someone who takes jumping out of windows as a hobby!"
The young man's face was frozen like a statue, receiving her words like daggers. Yet, he raised his hands in theatrical pleading:
"Please... stop, this hurts..."
Then he added in a comically broken voice:
"I'm very sensitive about my appearance, this is official bullying..."
She put her hands on her hips and said:
"Tell the truth, who are you?"
Then continued suspiciously:
"You can see Lucas... so you must be a ghost."
At that, the young man stopped joking. He stood up in calm silence.
He stood before her with a soft, noble bow—like a knight from a forgotten age.
He lowered his head respectfully, then reached out and gently took her small hand in his long, slender one.
He lifted her hand toward his lips and kissed its back with solemn grace.
Ronwa didn't say a word, but her cheeks flushed lightly, despite trying to keep her composure.
The young man raised his head to her, smiled gently, and spoke in a warm voice:
"Your name, my lady, is Ronwa.
But to me... you are the Princess."
Peace upon the light I saw even before it was born...
And upon the princess we were promised in a time forgotten.
To you I bow—not from weakness, but from gratitude...
For fate has brought us together at last, O bearer of the Seven Keys.
Then he continued, his voice calm and deep:
"When I was human, I was called Akamori Onkaio...
But now, my name is Oda Shinsou.
And I am the bearer of the third Key."
Ronwa's eyes widened in awe. She froze in place.
She gasped softly and whispered:
"... The third key?!"