Peace, Luke discovered, was strangely exhausting.
Not because anything terrible was happening. But because after surviving chaos for so long…
his mind no longer knew how to relax properly.
Three days had passed since the golden rain covered the sanctuary skies.
The floating city looked brighter now.
Restoration continued rapidly under the care of the Luminals, whose numbers had somehow doubled since their first appearance. Tiny glowing creatures now drifted across nearly every district, repairing ancient walls, nurturing celestial gardens, and occasionally causing complete chaos.
Mostly around Lucien.
"This one bit me."
Luke looked up from the sanctuary library table in disbelief.
"What?"
Lucien held up one black glove accusingly while a Luminal floated behind him chirping aggressively.
The Spirit Guide lazily opened one silver eye from the corner of the room.
You attempted to remove it from your shoulder.
"I was working."
It interpreted that as hostility.
Lucien looked deeply offended by this explanation.
Luke burst into laughter again.
The Luminal immediately flew triumphantly around the room.
The sanctuary lights brightened slightly in response to Luke's amusement.
Lucien narrowed his eyes upward.
"I still believe these things are mocking me intentionally."
From atop one bookshelf, another Luminal threw a tiny glowing pebble directly at him.
The Demon Prince stared at it in stunned silence.
Luke laughed so hard he nearly fell from his chair.
For the first time in years… the sanctuary carried genuine warmth again.
Not forced optimism.
Not fragile survival.
Real warmth.
Guardians smiled more often now.
Architects sang while repairing ancient halls.
Even the skies themselves remained brighter whenever Luke genuinely relaxed.
And although the boy still carried fear inside him…
the crushing guilt had eased slightly after his conversation with Lucien.
Not gone.
But quieter.
Luke sat cross-legged atop one of the library tables while ancient books floated around him under gentle Balance magic.
The Father of All stood nearby reviewing celestial records while pretending not to notice the growing pile of open books surrounding the child.
"You are supposed to read them," the old creator muttered eventually.
"I am reading them."
"You opened seventeen books simultaneously."
Luke pointed proudly at himself.
"Efficient."
Lucien snorted softly from nearby.
The Father of All looked unconvinced.
Most of the texts focused on ancient Heart wielders now.
Not because Luke enjoyed studying.
But because lately…
the Heart had started reacting strangely whenever he touched old relics or forgotten archives.
Sometimes he heard whispers.
Sometimes fragmented memories.
Sometimes emotions belonging to people long dead.
It frightened him a little.
But it also made him curious.
Luke carefully flipped another page before frowning slightly.
"There were only nine confirmed wielders before me?"
The Father of All nodded slowly.
"The Heart rarely bonds completely."
Luke tilted his head.
"Why?"
The ancient creator's expression grew thoughtful.
"Because Balance is not power alone."
Golden library lanterns flickered softly overhead.
"It requires compassion strong enough to carry creation without controlling it."
Lucien folded his arms nearby.
"That sounds exhausting."
"It was."
Everyone turned immediately.
The room became still.
A soft feminine voice echoed gently through the library entrance.
Luke's eyes widened instantly.
"Grandma?"
Celestia's mother stepped quietly into the chamber wearing flowing silver robes while several Luminals floated curiously around her crown of pale crystal flowers.
Unlike before, she no longer looked consumed entirely by grief.
Sadness still lived inside her eyes.
But now… so did peace.
Luke immediately jumped from the table and ran toward her.
She laughed softly as he hugged her tightly.
"There is my little star."
Lucien looked mildly betrayed.
"She called Celestia that too."
"She had good taste."
The Spirit Guide made a suspicious sound that resembled amusement.
Lucien glared at everyone equally.
Celestia's mother gently held Luke's face afterward, studying him quietly.
"You look healthier."
Luke smiled faintly.
"I think I actually slept yesterday."
"A miracle."
Lucien muttered darkly:
"He still wanders the sanctuary at night."
"I heard that."
"You were meant to."
The older woman laughed softly watching them argue.
And suddenly… her expression dimmed slightly,because moments like this reminded her painfully of Celestia.
The warmth. The laughter. The stubbornness.
Luke carried so much of his mother inside him that sometimes it almost hurt to look at him too long.
Lucien noticed the shift in her eyes immediately.
Their gazes met silently across the room.
Shared grief.
Shared healing.
Neither needed words anymore. All the Luminals in the library froze at once as if they heard something.
The room instantly became silent.
Luke frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?"
One by one, the tiny creatures slowly turned toward the massive sanctuary windows overlooking the distant skies.
The Father of All's expression sharpened instantly.
Because far beyond the floating city…
something enormous moved within the clouds. Not hostile.
Ancient.
The sanctuary bells began ringing softly.
Not warning bells.
Welcoming bells.
The Spirit Guide slowly stood to full height beside the windows, silver eyes widening with disbelief.
Impossible…
Luke stepped closer carefully.
"What is it?"
The ancient dragon's voice sounded almost stunned.
One of the Old Keepers.
High above the sanctuary clouds…
a colossal shadow passed slowly across the golden sky.