Luminera felt different when they returned.
The streets still bustled with merchants and citizens, the palace still glowed with its white spires and floating lanterns, and the sky still shimmered with the aurora-like sheen produced by the magical barrier…
But the air was heavier now.
As if news of the saved village carried whispers of something darker that followed them back.
They entered the palace courtyard together, greeted with cheers and bows, but none of the Aetherbounds returned the same energy.
Deyr stretched lazily.
Morian yawned.
Suvarn awkwardly bowed to the villagers.
Kaenmor simply offered a serene nod.
Aria watched them all — these legendary beings who were supposed to be distant myths — walking beside her like they'd always been there.
It felt unreal.
And terrifying.
And comforting.
All at once.
......
Later that night, when the moon cast its pale glow over the palace, Kaenmor stood quietly on the royal balcony. The wind swirled around him, carrying scents of night-bloom flowers.
Queen Seraphine joined him, her presence gentle, glowing even in the dim light.
"You look troubled," she said softly.
Kaenmor turned slightly.
"I saw him today."
Her breath caught. "Dravon?"
Queen Seraphine's lips curled into a small smile.
"Then he must be joining soon enough."
Kaenmor blinked. "You sound so certain."
She looked up at the stars.
"He respects you. Always has. Even when he couldn't show it."
Kaenmor chuckled faintly. "Respect isn't always enough."
"No," she agreed. "But sometimes it is the first step."
The wind around Kaenmor stilled, listening.
Queen Seraphine leaned slightly against the railing, eyes gentle.
"Kaenmor," she murmured, "the world is turning. The pieces are moving again. You can feel it, can't you?"
Kaenmor closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"And the fifth piece… will fall into place when he is ready."
Kaenmor didn't answer.
But the wind softened.
......
Elsewhere in the palace, Morian and Suvarn sat in the grand dining hall.
Or rather — Morian sat like a king, legs spread, three roasted chickens in front of him.
Suvarn sat politely, sipping soup like a proper gentleman.
Morian elbowed him.
"So~ Suvarn," he drawled, "tell big brother Morian about your new feelings."
Suvarn choked. "W-What new feelings?"
Morian laughed loudly.
"Oh please. You look at Aria like she's a flame and you're a cold man trying to warm up."
Suvarn's ears turned red.
"I… nothing like that. We're just… she's… someone who—"
"Someone you want to kiss," Morian said bluntly with a pouting face.
Suvarn turned redder.
Morian grinned wide.
"You're in love, Hope-boy."
Suvarn buried his face in his hands.
"Don't call me that…"
Morian leaned back, smiling.
"But think about it. When the demon lord is destroyed… she goes back to her world."
Suvarn froze.
Morian's tone grew more serious.
"What then?"
The firelight flickered across Suvarn's face.
He didn't answer.
The silence said enough.
........
In the training grounds, Deyr stood shirt half-open, chainblades casually dangling from his fingers.
Aria's party stood opposite him:
Coren,
Garron,
Lyra,
Sera,
And a warrior girl (Elira's distant friend),
and even Lena, who insisted she could help cheer from the sidelines.
Deyr flicked his wrist.
"Alright, kids. Show uncle Deyr what you've got."
As Garron was still not at his best health, he stood still, watching.
Coren yelled and charged.
Lyra cast a sparkling barrier spell.
Sera lunged from the side with her spear.
The warrior girl swung her blade fiercely.
Aria stood behind them, analyzing Deyr's movements through her strange empathy-sense.
It didn't matter.
Deyr sidestepped everything like he was sliding through air.
Coren went flying.
Lyra got her spell ricocheted into a bush.
Sera missed by a full meter.
Aria's dagger was plucked from her hand like a toy.
The warrior girl ended up in a tree.
Deyr stretched casually.
"You all did your best.
Your best just happens to be very bad."
Aria glared at him.
"You didn't go easy on us!"
Deyr winked.
"Exactly."
.......
In the war room, King Alden spread a large map across the table.
Aetherbounds and Aria's entire team gathered around.
King Alden cleared his throat.
"With demons raiding villages, it's time we move our armies forward."
Morian grinned.
"Finally! I've been bored."
"I want you to lead the main forces," the king said to him.
Morian thumped his chest. "Leave it to me. The army will love me."
"They'll fear you," Deyr muttered.
"Even better," Morian replied cheerfully.
The king turned to Kaenmor.
"You can take care of all the other tasks. The winds trust your judgment."
Kaenmor nodded slowly.
Suvarn listened seriously.
Aria paid attention to every word.
Then the king hesitated.
"And… what of Dravon, should he return?"
Silence.
Even the torches flickered as if unsure.
Kaenmor finally spoke.
"We let him choose."
The king didn't argue.
Because how could anyone assign a task to the Vein of Shadow?
.......
Later that night, Aria sat in her room for the first time in what felt like ages.
Elira sat beside her, silent, hands clasped tightly.
Lena sat on the carpet, leaning against the bed, humming softly.
Elayne stood by the window, moonlight making her look almost fragile.
Aria smiled. "This feels… normal again."
Lena giggled. "Right? We haven't had a night like this in forever!"
Aria nodded.
"Life is so different now. I was a student… normal… nothing special. Now I'm a hero in another world."
Elayne smiled softly.
"I think you're doing well."
Elira didn't speak. Her eyes were shadowed, full of thoughts she couldn't voice.
Lena yawned and stood.
"I'll bring snacks!"
She left cheerfully.
The moment the door closed, Aria turned to Elayne.
"…Elayne."
Elayne blinked. "Hm?"
Aria hesitated, then whispered:
"Have you… fallen for Dravon?"
Elayne's cheeks flushed immediately.
"I-I don't know."
Aria smiled gently.
"It wouldn't be your fault if you did. Even though he is a nut-case, he is… gorgeous."
Elayne buried her face in her hands.
"He's terrifying… but I… I feel something. I don't know what it is."
Aria leaned closer.
"Maybe you see something we all don't."
Elira stiffened.
Her hands trembled.
She lowered her head, trying to hide the rush of emotions in her eyes:
Pain.
Fear.
Hope.
Longing.
Jealousy.
Memory.
A century's worth of unspoken love.
Aria noticed — but said nothing.
The room fell quiet.
Outside the window, the wind blew softly…
........
The sun burned high over the training plains outside Luminera the next day, its golden light glinting off thousands of shields, armor plates, and anxious faces.
The royal army — Luminera's finest — stood assembled in tight rows.
And before them stood a man who looked like he had crawled straight out of a battlefield, bathed in flame and laughter.
Morian Veyr.
The Vein of Power.
The Titan.
He slammed his gauntleted fists together.
BOOM.
The shockwave alone made the first three rows take two steps back.
Morian grinned.
"LISTEN UP, YOU PRETTY BUTTERFLIES!"
The army stiffened.
"YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO STAND WITH THE AETHERBOUNDS! THAT MEANS YOU'RE SPECIAL!"
The army brightened a little.
"SPECIAL LIKE… mildly poisonous mushrooms!"
The army dimmed again.
Morian continued enthusiastically.
"But don't worry! I will turn you into warriors so strong, your mothers won't recognize you—"
A soldier at the front muttered, "That's not comforting—"
"—AND YOUR MOTHERS WILL THANK ME FOR IT!"
The soldier fainted.
Another soldier whispered to his friend,
"Is he always like this?"
The friend whispered back,
"He's THE TITAN. He can hear you."
"I CAN," Morian said cheerfully without turning.
The soldier screamed.
Morian clapped his hands.
"NOW! LET ME GIVE YOU A SPEECH TO MOTIVATE YOUR TINY HEARTS!"
The army braced.
He inhaled dramatically.
"YOU ARE—"
He paused.
"—all probably going to die."
The army collectively gasped.
Morian nodded seriously.
"But! If you survive—just if—you can say the coolest phrase ever."
The soldiers blinked nervously.
Morian grinned wide.
'I survived Morian Veyr's training.'"
Several soldiers fainted instantly.
Just then—
A lazy voice cut through the panic.
"I think the army would rather survive the demons."
Deyr Kael walked onto the field, twirling his twin chainblades like toys.
The soldiers stared — awe-struck and terrified.
Deyr pointed at Morian.
"You are just a big ox with no brain. You can train them for weeks and still end up with a herd of confused cows."
Morian leaned forward.
"You calling me stupid?"
"No," Deyr said, "I'm calling you very stupid."
The soldiers backed up.
Morian cracked his neck.
"Wanna fight?"
Deyr stretched.
"Thought you'd never ask."
........
The two Aetherbounds blurred into motion.
Morian's fist collided with Deyr's first chainblade —
BOOM.
A shockwave blasted through the field, sending soldiers tumbling like leaves.
Deyr flipped backward with impossible grace, landing lightly as if the world bent to catch him.
He winked at the soldiers.
"Take notes."
Morian roared good-naturedly.
"STOP SHOWING OFF!"
They clashed again and again —
flame against steel,
chaos against brute power,
the ground cracking beneath them,
air pressure shattering nearby training dummies.
The soldiers watched with their jaws hanging:
"Is this… is this normal?"
"No… this is Aetherbound normal."
The duel lasted longer than expected — both refusing to yield.
Finally, Deyr landed on one knee, panting.
"Okay… big guy… you win by one punch."
Morian thumped his chest proudly.
"I ALWAYS win. By how one punches doesn't matter!"
Deyr glared.
"And that's why I hate you."
Morian laughed and offered his hand.
"Drink later?"
"Obviously," Deyr replied.
........
Night fell gently.
Away from the palace, beyond the lantern-lit roads, in a clearing deep in the woods — a campfire crackled.
Four Aetherbounds sat around it.
Morian roasted a boar the size of Coren.
Deyr sat upside-down on a tree branch sipping alcohol.
Suvarn sat cross-legged sharpening his small flame dagger.
Kaenmor sat with his eyes closed, enjoying the soft night wind.
It felt like centuries ago.
No responsibilities.
No wars.
No hero.
Just them.
Morian finally spoke.
"You know… this feels nice."
Deyr hummed. "Don't ruin it by being sentimental."
Suvarn chuckled quietly.
Kaenmor smiled.
"Tell us something from your past, Morian," Suvarn said softly.
Morian blinked, surprised.
"My past? Why?"
"Because you've never shared much," Kaenmor replied.
Deyr swung down from the branch.
"Yeah. You keep acting like life punched you into greatness."
Morian poked the fire with a stick.
"Well… actually… it kinda did."
They waited.
And Morian sighed.
"When I was a human… I wasn't strong at all."
Deyr's eyebrow rose.
"Lies."
"No," Morian said quietly. "Truth."
The firelight softened the edges of his wild grin.
"I was a blacksmith. A simple one. I lifted hammers all day, fixed broken swords… and people came to me because I worked quietly and didn't bother anyone."
Suvarn blinked. "That doesn't sound like you at all."
Morian smiled sadly.
"I had a wife. Name was Lyria. She said I smiled like a summer storm… loud, but warm."
The forest stilled.
Deyr looked away.
Kaenmor's wind grew gentler.
"She was soft-spoken. Always humming while I worked. Said every weapon held a story… and every story needed a warrior who cared."
His voice softened further.
"She died during the demon raids. Before I became an Aetherbound. Before I gained power. Before… all of this."
A long silence followed.
Suvarn's eyes lowered.
Kaenmor whispered, "I'm sorry, Morian."
Morian laughed lightly — but the sound cracked.
"It's fine. I keep her memory alive every time I swing these damn gauntlets."
Deyr didn't like the mood turning sad — so he loudly dropped from the tree branch.
"Enough tragedy. It's depressing."
Morian laughed again, this time more genuine.
"Yeah… you're right."
They kept talking — foolish stories, old battles, Deyr's embarrassing moments, Suvarn's failures, Morian's ridiculous challenges.
It felt… like home.
Kaenmor stretched.
"Alright… we should rest. Big day tomorrow."
They all stood to leave—
Until a voice drifted from the darkness.
"Sleeping so soon?"
Every heartbeat froze.
The shadows between the trees shifted… and a tall figure stepped into the firelight.
Black coat.
Crimson eyes.
Wind pushing away from him as if it feared touching.
Dravon Valeis.
Suvarn's breath caught.
Deyr nearly dropped his drink.
Morian blinked, stunned.
Kaenmor smiled in quiet relief.
Dravon approached the fire slowly.
Morian grinned, baffled.
"You're here?"
Dravon shrugged.
"The night was boring."
Deyr snorted.
"Liar."
Dravon smirked.
Kaenmor moved aside, making room.
Without a word, Dravon sat.
Five Aetherbounds.
Together.
For the first time in centuries.
The fire crackled.
They spoke.
Drank.
Argued.
Laughed — faintly, awkwardly, but genuine.
Even Dravon spoke, though rarely.
For one night…
they were not legends.
Not weapons.
Not broken souls.
Just five men
who once saved the world
and might yet save it again.
Eventually the flames dimmed.
One by one, the others left the clearing.
Except two.
Morian and Dravon sat together under the stars.
Morian asked softly,
"You coming back?"
Dravon didn't answer at first.
He stood.
Turned.
And walked into the darkness.
Just before he vanished, he whispered:
"We'll meet again soon…"
A pause.
The shadows stilled.
"…brother."