Silence. Absolute silence.
The lightning stopped. The wind vanished.
Even the falling rubble hung motionless in the air.
Royoshi froze mid-step. Pasithea froze while pulling the trigger.
The anomalies froze. Ishara froze. Master Devrik froze. Maris froze. Everything froze.
Everything except one figure.
A ripple spread through reality.
Then someone appeared between Master Devrik and Maris.
Royoshi's eyes widened.
Even though his body was frozen, his eyes could still move.
He knew that presence. The same presence from his dreams. The faceless man. His mentor. Rikishu.
The holographic projection slowly walked forward.
Master Devrik remained frozen. Maris remained frozen. Even the corruption itself could not move.
Rikishu stopped before Maris.
For several seconds, he simply looked at her.
Sadness appeared in his expression. A rare sadness. One that only came from seeing someone suffer for far too long.
"Maris…"
His voice was quiet.
"You've carried this burden long enough."
The corruption immediately reacted. Dark tendrils erupted from Maris's body. They twisted violently around Rikishu.
Trying to attack him. Trying to push him away. Trying to survive.
Rikishu remained completely still. Then he raised a hand.
A gentle golden light appeared. The corruption screamed. Not Maris. The corruption itself.
For the first time, it sounded afraid.
BOOOOOOOM—!!
A massive eruption of corrupted Shuryoku exploded from Maris's body. Yet it never reached the battlefield. Time itself held it in place. Frozen. Suspended. Unable to move.
Rikishu slowly pressed his palm against Maris's forehead. The golden light spread. Across her face. Across her neck. Across her entire body.
The corruption began peeling away. Layer by layer. Like black chains being torn apart.
Maris's body trembled.
The corruption resisted desperately. But it couldn't stop him.
Cracks began spreading through the darkness.
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
Then—
SHATTER.
The corruption fractured completely. A wave of black energy burst outward.
At the same time, another layer shattered.
The false appearance covering Maris's face.
Fragments of distorted Shuryoku scattered into the air.
Her true appearance slowly returned. The corruption had altered more than her mind. It had hidden her identity.
Rikishu smiled softly.
"There you are."
The last traces of darkness disappeared. Maris finally looked like herself again. The corruption screamed one final time.
Then it vanished. Gone. Completely.
Rikishu gently patted her head.
"You don't have to suffer anymore."
His smile grew slightly.
"Welcome home, Maris."
A tear rolled down her cheek. Even frozen in time. Some part of her had heard him.
Rikishu then turned. His gaze landed on Royoshi.
The boy stared back.
Rikishu walked toward him. Stopping only a few steps away.
"Good work, kid."
Royoshi's eyes widened.
"I know you can hear me."
A small grin appeared on Rikishu's face.
"You did far better than I expected."
He placed a hand on Royoshi's shoulder.
"Take care of Maris for me."
Then his expression became serious.
"There are things I still need to do."
Royoshi wanted to ask hundreds of questions. But he couldn't move.
Rikishu chuckled.
"Later."
He then walked past him. Toward Pasithea.
The moment he reached her, his expression softened.
More than Royoshi had ever seen.
He gently placed a hand against her cheek.
"I'll be back soon."
A tear remained frozen beneath Pasithea's eye.
Rikishu wiped it away. Then patted her head. Just like he used to.
For a brief moment, he simply stood there. As though he didn't want to leave.
Then he turned away.
His gaze shifted toward Ishara. The girl remained frozen beside Royoshi.
Rikishu observed her quietly.
Seconds passed. Then he smiled.
"Interesting."
His gaze shifted toward Royoshi. Then back to Ishara.
"Very interesting."
Royoshi immediately knew that comment couldn't be good.
Unfortunately, he still couldn't move.
Rikishu laughed softly. Then looked toward the distant horizon. Far beyond the Citadel.
His smile disappeared. His expression became cold. Serious.
As though he sensed someone watching. Someone dangerous. Someone waiting. Far away.
On a distant cliff overlooking the battlefield—
Lucian smiled.
"So you still have strength left."
His eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
He looked toward Royoshi.
"Rest while you can."
His smile widened.
"The next time we meet will be very different."
His presence vanished.
Back at the battlefield—
Rikishu's holographic form began fading.
Before disappearing completely, he looked at Royoshi one last time. Then nodded. The world resumed.
BOOOOOOOM—!!
The frozen corruption exploded outward. The dark tendrils vanished. The anomalies disintegrated into dust. The storm above the Citadel began clearing.
Sunlight broke through the clouds.
Master Devrik's claymore stopped inches from Maris's neck.
His eyes widened.
The corruption was gone. Completely gone.
Maris slowly opened her eyes. Confused. Weak. Exhausted.
"Mr… Devrik?"
Silence.
Master Devrik lowered his claymore.
For several seconds, he simply stared at her.
The battlefield had fallen silent. The corruption was gone. The dark tendrils had vanished. The anomalies were no more.
Only Maris remained. The real Maris.
"You're back…"
His voice was quieter than before.
Maris looked down at her trembling hands. Confusion filled her eyes. Then the memories returned.
The village. The corruption. The destruction. The people she had hurt. Her body shook.
"I…"
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I'm sorry.…"
Maris Derik remained silent. Another tear followed. Then another.
"I tried to fight it."
Her voice cracked.
"I really did."
The courtyard remained silent.
Then—
A blur shot across the battlefield.
"MARIS!"
Pasithea.
Before anyone could react, she wrapped her arms around Maris. The force nearly knocked both of them over.
"WHERE WERE YOU?"
Pasithea's voice trembled.
"WE LOOKED FOR YOU EVERYWHERE!"
Maris froze.
Then her eyes widened.
"E-Elder Sister Pasithea…"
More tears rolled down her cheeks.
Pasithea tightened her grip.
"You idiot…"
Her voice broke.
"You absolute idiot…"
Maris slowly hugged her back. A shaky smile appeared on her face.
"I'm sorry."
Pasithea buried her face into Maris's shoulder.
For the first time in years…
The missing member of their family had returned.
Nearby, Royoshi finally reached them. He stopped several meters away.
Ishara arrived shortly after.
Neither interrupted. Neither wanted to. This reunion wasn't theirs. It belonged to them.
Master Devrik slowly turned away.
Yet even he couldn't completely hide his relief in his eyes.
"We searched for years."
Maris looked toward him. His expression remained calm.
But she could hear the emotion behind his words.
"Pasithea searched."
"Rikishu searched."
"I searched."
Maris lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Devrik."
"You don't owe me an apology."
His gaze softened.
"You owe yourself forgiveness."
The words hit harder than any attack.
Maris bit her lip. Then nodded.
Far above them, the storm clouds finally began breaking apart.
Sunlight poured onto the ruined Citadel.
For the first time since the battle began—
It felt warm.
Royoshi watched quietly.
Then, a familiar voice echoed inside his mind
"Take care of Pasithea too."
Royoshi froze.
Rikishu.
The telepathic message was faint. Almost gone. But unmistakable.
Royoshi smiled slightly.
"I will."
The connection vanished.
Nearby, Pasithea suddenly touched her cheek.
For a moment, she remembered something.
A hand. A promise. A familiar warmth.
"I'll be back soon."
Her eyes widened. Then softened.
A single tear rolled down her face.
Maris noticed immediately.
"Big sister?"
Pasithea quickly wiped it away.
"It's nothing."
Maris smiled gently.
"You were thinking about him."
Pasithea didn't answer. She didn't need to. The silence said enough.
Minutes later, emergency teams finally began arriving.
Medical staff rushed across the battlefield. The wounded guards were carried toward the medical wing.
Students slowly emerged from the shelters.
The front courtyard of the Citadel had been devastated.
Broken towers. Collapsed walls. Shattered stone.
Yet despite the destruction—
The Citadel still stood. Just like it always had.
Master Dervrik folded his arms.
"Repairs will begin immediately."
One of the guards nodded.
"It should take two days at most."
"Good."
His gaze shifted toward Maris.
"There is still one matter left."
Maris looked up.
Master Devrik activated a small projector.
A recording appeared. Old. Damaged. But intact.
Maris froze.
The moment she saw the faces. Her parents. The recording began.
"If you're watching this…"
Her mother's voice trembled.
"Then we failed."
Maris immediately covered her mouth. Tears streamed down her face.
Her father appeared beside her mother.
"We're sorry."
His voice was gentle.
"So very sorry."
The recording flickered.
"Please take care of our daughter."
"Give her lots of gifts."
"Make sure she smiles."
"Please don't let her be alone."
The image distorted. Then came the final words.
"That's our final wish."
The recording ended.
Silence.
Maris collapsed to her knees.
"Mom…"
"Dad…"
She cried openly.
Years of grief. Years of pain. Years of loneliness. Finally breaking free.
Royoshi stepped forward.
"I saw them."
"I saw the village."
"I saw what happened."
His voice softened.
"I'm sorry."
Maris shook her head.
A small smile appeared through her tears.
"You don't have to apologize."
Then she gently flicked his forehead.
"You're just a kid."
Royoshi rubbed his forehead.
"Ow."
Maris laughed. The first genuine laugh anyone had heard from her in years. Then her expression became serious.
"No."
She bowed her head.
"I'm the one who should apologize."
Her voice trembled.
"For hurting you."
"For everything."
Royoshi smiled.
"It's okay."
And for the first time—she believed him.
Later, as Pasithea guided Maris toward the medical wing, she looked back one final time.
Pasithea smiled. A real smile.
Royoshi smiled back.
After they disappeared into the distance, Master Devrik stopped beside him.
"Kid."
Royoshi turned.
"I'll be conducting another assessment."
Royoshi froze.
Devrik stared directly into his eyes.
"I know more than you think."
Then he walked away. Leaving Royoshi standing there.
Ishara immediately stepped beside him.
"What did he mean by that?"
Royoshi scratched the back of his head.
"Probably something about my recruitment."
Ishara narrowed her eyes.
He was lying. She knew he was lying. But she decided not to push. Not today. Instead, he crossed her arms.
"So,"
Royoshi looked at her.
She smiled.
"Can we finally eat now?"
Royoshi blinked. Then laughed.
"Please."
His stomach growled loudly.
Both of them froze.
Then Ishara started laughing.
Royoshi sighed.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
She smiled.
"Let's go."
Together, the two students walked toward the cafeteria.
For the first time since arriving at the Citadel—
No enemies were chasing them.
No battles waiting for them. No corruption. No chaos.
Just two exhausted teenagers heading toward food.
And somewhere far away…
Something watched. Waiting. Patient.
The next chapter of their story had already begun.