Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the time for Mevis—or rather, the spirit within her, Lynda—to return to her rightful timeline had finally arrived.
On the night before her departure, the entire family gathered in the backyard under the starlit sky. Leon, Rossweise, and all four of their daughters—Noah, Muen, Aurora, and Muse—sat together on the soft grass, creating a circle around Mevis. The colorful dragon lanterns floating around the Silver Dragon estate cast a warm, magical glow over their final evening together.
They spoke of everything and nothing—of Muen's latest culinary experiments that nearly set the kitchen ablaze, of Aurora's clever schemes at the academy, of Muse's quiet observations that often saw deeper than anyone else's. Yet beneath the lighthearted chatter lay the unspoken weight of impending separation.
Even though everyone understood that Lynda's spirit was bound by time and memory—never truly meant to remain in this world—the past month had woven her into the very fabric of their family. Her wisdom in guiding Noah, her patience with Muen's exuberance, her shared smiles with Aurora, and her gentle encouragement of Muse—these moments had become precious threads in their lives.
"So, will I become as strong as you in the future, Mevis-sensei?" Noah asked, the question that had been burning in her heart finally surfacing.
There was no denying Mevis's power—her effortless command of elements, her dual-affinity mastery, her combat prowess that rivaled even Leon's. She represented a peak that Noah aspired to reach.
But Mevis shook her head, her expression gentle. "I don't know, Noah," she replied honestly.
Noah's face fell slightly, the disappointment clear in her silver eyes. She understood intellectually that avoiding Lynda's painful path was better, but her youthful heart couldn't help yearning for that strength.
Sensing Noah's shift in mood, Mevis drew her into a warm embrace. "Don't be upset about not becoming me, Noah," she said softly.
"How did you know I was—"
"Of course I know. Because you and Leon are so alike." Mevis adjusted Noah in her lap, letting the young girl lean against her chest. "Your strength will be your own—different from mine, but no less magnificent. You have your father's determination and your mother's grace. That combination will make you extraordinary in your own way."
Nearby, Muen—never one for prolonged solemnity—scooted closer and wrapped her arms around both of them. "I think Big Sis already amazing! And I'm going to be strong too—strong enough to protect everyone!"
Aurora, ever the strategist, added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Strength isn't just about power, Second Sis. It's about knowing when to use it. Like knowing when an uppercut is appropriate." She shot a playful glance at Leon, who rubbed his jaw ruefully.
Little Muse, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up in her soft voice. "Will you remember us... wherever you're going?"
Lynda's eyes misted over. "Oh, my dear ones. How could I ever forget you?" She reached out, drawing all four girls into a group hug. "You've given this old dragon something she thought she'd lost forever—a family."
As the daughters settled around her, Leon and Rossweise exchanged a look of profound understanding. This was the family they had built—the family they had fought for, bled for, and would continue to protect.
The conversation eventually turned to more serious matters when Noah brought up Shadow's final words. "Mevis, what did Shadow mean about 'the ruler of another world'?"
Leon nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "Yes, that's been weighing on my mind. The last god falls, and Samuel faces the ruler of another world? What other world? And what connection does this ruler have to our gods?"
Mevis pondered for a moment before shaking her head. "I'm not certain either. In the future I knew, power was always distributed, never consolidated under a single ruler. I've never encountered anyone who fits that description."
"I see..." Leon's gaze grew determined. "Then it seems new challenges await us."
But unlike before, this prospect didn't fill him with dread. He looked at Rossweise, then at each of his daughters—Noah with her quiet intensity, Muen with her boundless energy, Aurora with her clever mind, Muse with her gentle soul. They were his strength now. Whatever came, they would face it together.
.
.
.
The next morning, at the border of Silver Dragon territory, the final farewell took place. The Damirlo family stood ready to welcome back their daughter—the true Mevis. When Kate, now grown into her human form, saw her sister, she broke into a run, ignoring her parents' calls as she threw herself into Mevis's arms.
"Sis... I missed you so much... I thought I'd never see you again..." Kate's voice trembled with emotion.
Mevis—Lynda—returned the embrace, gently patting Kate's back. "It's over now. I've completed my mission. Now... I can finally keep my promise to you, Kate."
The Damirlo couple approached nervously, their reverence for the Silver Dragon Queen evident in their hesitant movements. But Rossweise put them at ease with her gentle tone. "Please, there's no need for formality. I'm deeply grateful for the decision you made years ago and for all the care you've given Mevis."
As the Damirlos expressed their thanks, Lynda turned to her biological family one last time. Noah stepped forward first, her usual composure replaced by raw emotion. "Thank you... Grandmother. For everything."
Muen followed, her embrace fierce and lasting. "I'll make you proud! I'll become so strong that everyone will say 'that's Lynda's granddaughter!'"
Leon chuckled softly, watching the scene with a mix of pride and amusement. "So now you've switched to Grandma's side, huh? What happened to being Daddy's little girl?"
Aurora approached more deliberately, her clever eyes shimmering. "The tactics you taught me—I'll refine them. And I'll look after everyone, just like you would."
Finally, little Muse reached up, and Lynda bent down to meet her. "Will you watch over us from the stars?" Muse whispered.
"Always, my dear. Always."
Then came the moment Rossweise had been simultaneously anticipating and dreading. Lynda motioned for her to step aside, leaving the others behind.
"You! Stay here!" Lynda called back to Leon with a playful finger wag.
Leon shrugged, kicking at the ground with feigned nonchalance, though everyone could see the emotion in his eyes.
Once alone, Lynda turned to Rossweise. "There's something you should know..." she began, her voice dropping to a whisper.
As she revealed the location of Leon's hidden photographs, Rossweise's cheeks flushed crimson, but a dangerous smile played on her lips. "Oh, that man... He swore he destroyed them all."
Lynda's grin was pure mischief. "Do you really believe he did?"
When they returned to the group, Leon eyed them suspiciously. "What was that about?"
"Just some womanly wisdom," Rossweise said, her smile serene but her eyes promising later discussion.
Lynda then removed the ring from her finger—the one with the shimmering black crystal. She pressed it into Leon's palm. "This is meaningful. You'll know when to use it."
Leon nodded, understanding passing between them without words. "I'll protect them. Always."
The final moment had come. Lynda embraced each family member one last time, saving Leon for last. As they hugged, she whispered, "You've become the man I always knew you could be. Your father would be so proud."
Then she stepped back, taking her position in the center of the clearing. "It's time."
As she began the incantation, the four daughters moved forward almost as one, their hands linked. Muen's eyes glistened with unshed tears, Aurora's clever mask had fallen to reveal genuine emotion, Noah stood tall and respectful, and little Muse watched with wide, understanding eyes.
A surge of primordial energy gathered, and a pillar of white light shot into the sky. As the light enveloped Lynda, her form began to shimmer, becoming translucent. But instead of disappearing immediately, she reached out—and for a breathtaking moment, four shimmering dragon scales, each matching the color of one daughter's magic, floated from her fingertips to hover before Noah, Muen, Aurora, and Muse.
"Remember me," her voice echoed as the scales gently settled into the girls' waiting hands.
Then the light intensified, and when it faded, Lynda was gone. The body of Mevis Damirlo staggered, and Kate rushed forward to catch her.
"Sis!" Kate cried as Mevis's eyes fluttered open.
"Kate... it's you..." the real Mevis murmured, confusion and recognition warring in her expression.
Leon put a steadying arm around Rossweise as they watched the Damirlo family reunite with their returned daughter. Above them, the sky seemed to sparkle with an extra brightness.
"Goodbye, Mother," Leon whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "May you and Father find the peace in the afterlife that you fought so hard to give us."
Rossweise leaned into him, her hand finding his. "She's finally free."
As they turned to lead their family home, the four daughters clustered close, their grandmother's gifts held tight. The path ahead might hold unknown challenges, but in that moment, surrounded by the family they had built and protected across time itself, Leon knew—no matter what came, they would face it together.