Aiden stood there for a moment, then slowly sat down. He looked up into the vastness of space, watching the stars from the surface of the same distant planet.
"Ten thousand years… still a long way to go, isn't it?" he murmured. "By then, the fourth generation will be born, and I'll finally be able to retire. But after that… what?"
He paused and let out a quiet breath.
"It's too far away to be thinking like this."
Shaking his head, Aiden rose to his feet.
"Come on, Aiden. Let's return."
As he walked away, the restlessness inside him finally fell silent.
"Portal open," Aiden said.
Light tore through the space before him. A faint ache still lingered in his body as he glanced around one last time at the aftermath of his battle with the Void. Scars marked the land, silent witnesses to what had occurred. Without hesitation, he stepped through the portal.
Aiden emerged at the Veridion Palace training ground.
Vale stood there alone, waiting.
"Welcome back, Aiden," Vale said, a calm smile on his face.
Warm sunlight fell upon them, carried by a gentle wind. Vale was slightly injured, and the training ground bore heavy damage. The front portion of a nearby building had been sliced cleanly in half, though the castle itself remained standing.
As Aiden looked at Vale, he smiled. A thought crossed his mind.
Yes… I have someone. My best friend, Vale. Even when I feel lonely, even when I believe I have no one, he is always there. Whether it takes ten thousand years or a hundred thousand years, Vale will remain by my side—until the day we choose to die… or be reborn.
"I am back Vale.",said Aiden softly.
As they were talking, Lyris and Fiona joined them.
As they spoke, Lyris and Fiona joined them.
The soldiers who had been captured in the prison had also been freed by Lyris and now stood behind them.
The soldiers dropped to one knee and thanked Aiden.
Fiona stepped forward. "Thank you, Aiden. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what would have happened."
Her voice carried quiet grief. The destruction around them and the lives lost during the Void's attack weighed heavily on her, a sadness that had not yet found words.
"Fiona, you did well. Your men did well," Aiden said. "And… I almost forgot. I'm still controlling the undead."
He turned slightly, his expression serious.
"They deserve respect too. They fought for us in this battle. I've ordered them to come here. I think you should speak to them one last time."
Aiden met her eyes.
"I'll revive them for three minutes. Go. They're waiting at the door."
Void's men, whom Aiden had been controlling, gathered around him, while Fiona and Lyris stood at the doorway, speaking quietly to their comrades.
"Void's soldiers," Aiden said, his voice calm, "as I promised, I will give you all a second life."
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Their souls were released.
"I wish all of you a good second life," Aiden said softly.
The souls drifted upward into the vastness of space, free at last, destined to be reborn once more.
Aiden and Vale moved closer to the gate.
"Fiona, I'm leaving now. The souls of the fallen will return in two more minutes. I should head back to my home planet," Aiden said.
"Aiden, stay for today," Fiona said. "What's the hurry?"
"Because of the surprise attack, my shadow isn't on Earth," Aiden replied. "I have to go. Don't worry, I'll come whenever you call for me."
"Promise?" Fiona asked.
"Promise," Aiden said.
"Then come tonight," Fiona said. "We'll celebrate our victory. Tomorrow, we'll honor the people who lost their lives in this war."
"I will," Aiden said. "But for now, I have to go. Goodbye, Fiona."
"Goodbye. And thank you, Aiden… and Vale," Fiona said.
"Thank you, Aiden. Thank you, Vale," Lyris said, joined by the soldiers.
"Goodbye, everyone," Aiden and Vale said together as they stepped into the portal leading back to their home.
Aiden and Vale returned to their house after a long time.
Aiden looked around the familiar room, letting out a slow breath.
"How many days have passed?" Aiden asked.
"Seven days, I think," Vale replied. "Because of the difference in time flow between here and Veridion."
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck.
"Vale… should I turn back time?"
Vale stopped walking and looked at him. "No. Don't do it. If someone asks, just say you were on a short vacation."
Aiden hesitated, then nodded.
"Okay… okay," he said, clearly disappointed.
Vale headed toward the hallway. "I'm going to the lab. My suit needs repairs."
Aiden dropped onto the couch and turned on the TV. News channels filled the room with low voices. Reports spoke of unexplained power outages, damaged satellites, and strange energy readings across the planet.
Aiden watched quietly.
"So much chaos… and no one knows why," he muttered.
After a while, he turned the TV off and stood up. His suit was still scorched and cracked from the battle.
"I should fix this too."
The hidden door to the lab slid open. Soft lights revealed workbenches, tools, and glowing panels. Vale was already there, removing damaged sections of his suit.
"You're early," Vale said without looking up.
"I couldn't just sit there," Aiden replied. "My suit's in bad shape."
Vale glanced at him. "You're thinking too much again."
Aiden gave a small smile. "That obvious?"
"Always," Vale said. "Especially after a fight."
They worked in silence for a moment, the hum of machines filling the room.
"Do you ever feel like things keep piling up?" Aiden asked quietly. "One battle ends, and another weight takes its place."
Vale tightened a component and replied calmly, "That's why we don't rewind time. We deal with what happens. That's how it stays real."
Aiden nodded. "I just don't want anyone to suffer because of my choices."
Vale looked at him. "They're alive because of you. That matters,and If you change Time so much it can create situation which wasn't suppose to happen."
Aiden exhaled and smiled faintly. "Good. I needed to hear that."
The two of them continued repairing their suits, side by side, the tension slowly fading as the room settled into a rare moment of calm.