Nora, Rei, and Feeth emerged from another corridor. The moment they saw the scene before them, they froze in shock.
Arou was standing there with his right arm severed, still gripping the red sword tightly, while Nova lay motionless on the ground. None of them understood what had happened.
"Nova!" Nora cried out as she rushed forward.
Without hesitation, she channeled her magic. A soft glow flowed from her hands, wrapping around Nova's body. A moment later, Nova's breathing slowly returned.
"Wake up… Nova, wake up…"
Arou looked at Nora with trembling eyes.
"Nora… please… I…" His voice cracked. He glanced at his severed arm, the red sword still clenched tightly in his hand as if it symbolized a will that refused to break.
Nora quickly turned her healing magic toward Arou. Warm energy spread through his body, easing the numbness and pain, though his arm remained severed. Even so, the red blade continued to glow faintly within his grasp.
Rei stared at them in confusion.
"Arou… Nova… what happened here?"
Arou swallowed hard, his breathing still uneven.
"We… fought Zata."
Nova slowly nodded, still exhausted.
"Yeah… but it's over now. At least for the moment."
Arou took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"Alright… we need to get out of here."
The underground tunnel felt tighter than before. Dust drifted through the damp air as cracks spread across the walls and ceiling. Arou walked carefully, the red sword still in the grasp of his severed arm—a stubborn reminder of his determination.
Nova scanned the darkness ahead.
"We need to stay alert. Zata might still be watching us… or something else could show up."
Nora gently placed a hand on Arou's shoulder.
"Don't push yourself too hard, Arou. Let's just get out safely."
Rei nodded while studying every corner of the tunnel.
"Watch your step. One mistake could be dangerous."
Feeth moved ahead of the group as usual, checking the path.
"Doesn't seem like there are any enemies nearby… at least for now," he muttered.
Arou looked up at the cracked ceiling. Faint sunlight was beginning to seep through.
"We're almost there… let's keep moving."
Step by step, they finally reached the surface.
The damp underground air faded away, replaced by a cool breeze and warm sunlight. Relief slowly settled over them, though none of them truly relaxed.
Once outside, Arou gazed at the peaceful scenery around them—forests swaying gently in the wind and distant hills glowing beneath the sunlight.
But he knew the peace wouldn't last forever.
Nova looked toward him seriously.
"We made it out… but Zata is still a threat. We need to be prepared."
Arou nodded, tightening his grip on the red sword.
"Yeah… we have to stay strong. For ourselves… and for everyone else."
---
After leaving the underground tunnels, Arou, Nova, Nora, Rei, and Feeth made their way toward Arou's house.
The forest around them was calm, but their hearts still hadn't fully settled.
When they finally arrived, Arou stopped in front of the familiar house—the small yard, the tree beside the door, everything exactly as he remembered.
Then he saw her.
"Emi…" he whispered softly.
Without thinking, Arou ran forward and hugged his older sister tightly.
Emi's face instantly turned red.
"H-Hey! Why are you suddenly hugging me like this?!"
Arou's voice trembled as tears welled in his eyes.
"Thank goodness… you're alive…"
He held her even tighter, relief and fear crashing together inside him.
From the window, he noticed familiar faces watching from inside the house.
Shion, Haru, and Tomo were sitting on the sofa, waiting for him to come back. They looked relieved—and a little curious.
Arou slowly let go of Emi and looked at everyone with watery eyes.
"I'm home… and everyone's safe…"
Nova, Nora, Rei, and Feeth stood quietly behind him, observing the warm atmosphere of the house.
Emi lowered her gaze shyly before looking back at Arou.
"You really made me worry, you know…"
Arou smiled faintly.
For now, at least, they were safe.
Even so, the memory of Zata and the battle underground still lingered in the back of his mind.
---
The sunlight streamed gently through the windows of Arou's home.
Warm air drifted in from outside, making the entire house feel peaceful. For the first time since the battle, everyone could finally breathe easy.
Arou sat at the table holding a cup of warm tea, still a little stiff but finally smiling again.
Beside him, Nova casually flipped through a book he had taken from the shelf, while Nora organized healing herbs and medicine bottles nearby.
Rei sat quietly in the corner cleaning a practice sword.
Meanwhile, Feeth had somehow climbed the small tree outside and was trying to catch birds—whether for training or pure boredom, nobody knew.
Emi walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray of bread and warm drinks.
"This is for everyone," she said softly, her cheeks still slightly red from Arou's earlier hug.
Arou smiled awkwardly.
"Thanks, Emi… it really feels good to be home."
Inside the living room, Shion, Haru, and Tomo burst out laughing as Feeth completely failed to catch a bird.
"Hahaha! Feeth, you're way too slow!" Shion shouted while clapping.
"I'm not slow!" Feeth protested. "The birds are just too smart!"
Nova closed his book and looked around the room with a faint smile.
"It feels strange… after everything that happened, we're just sitting here like this."
Arou looked at his friends and family, warmth filling his chest.
"Yeah… even moments like this can make us stronger again."
Nora nodded gently while arranging her herbs.
"That's why moments like this matter. A little rest can help more than people realize."
As the sun climbed higher, laughter slowly filled the house.
Shion told terrible jokes.
Haru challenged Arou to chess.
Tomo loudly reacted to every little thing Feeth did.
And for a while, everyone simply enjoyed being together.
No battles.
No chaos.
Just warmth, tea, and laughter.
The house that once felt ordinary had become something much more precious—a small refuge in a world full of uncertainty.
---
Haru suddenly leaned forward with sparkling eyes.
"Arou! Play chess with me!"
Arou chuckled softly.
"Alright. Challenge accepted."
They sat across from each other at the living room table while Nova watched with interest nearby.
Rei and Nora relaxed quietly on the sofa, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, while Feeth occasionally peeked over at the chessboard from the corner of the room.
The game began.
Haru opened confidently with his queen's pawn.
Arou calmly responded, already thinking several moves ahead.
"Oh? You're taking this seriously?" Haru asked with a grin.
Arou smiled faintly.
"I always think ahead."
The room slowly filled with quiet tension and occasional laughter.
"Man, Arou looks way too serious," Feeth commented dramatically. "Haru, don't lose already!"
Nova lightly smacked Arou on the shoulder.
"Hey, relax. It's just chess."
Arou glanced at him briefly before focusing on the board again.
"I can be serious and relaxed at the same time."
A few moves later, Haru suddenly widened his eyes.
"Wait—how did you even see that move coming?!"
The match continued with laughter and playful comments echoing through the room.
Eventually, the chessboard was folded up and placed back on the shelf.
Haru stretched and yawned dramatically.
"Thinking this much is exhausting."
Arou laughed quietly.
"That's what happens when you act overconfident."
Nova leaned back in his chair with a smile.
"It's weird, huh? Usually we're fighting or running around doing something insane. Today's just… peaceful."
Rei glanced toward the window.
"Peace is nice," he said simply. "Not every day has to mean something important."
Nora nodded softly.
"Yeah. Sitting together, eating, talking… that's enough."
Feeth immediately stood up.
"By the way, is there any bread left? I'm starving."
"Just take it," Arou replied casually.
A few minutes later, everyone gathered in the living room again with simple food in their hands.
No heavy conversations.
No complicated plans.
Just small, ordinary moments shared together.
Haru smiled brightly.
"This feels… normal."
Arou nodded in agreement.
That day wasn't special.
It wasn't historic.
It didn't decide the fate of the world.
But maybe that was exactly why it felt so precious.
Outside, the sun continued to rise higher, filling the room with soft golden light.