Delythena's POV
I woke up to the warm sunlight brushing against my face. Gentle. Familiar.
As I slowly opened my eyes, I froze. This was... my room.
What happened? Why am I here?Wasn't I supposed to be in the Nothingness after summoning the Fire Spirit?
One question after another flooded my mind.
I couldn't understand it. Everything felt real but it didn't make sense.
"Lady Delythena!" I turned to the door and saw Tia rushing toward me, tears streaming down her face.
"Thank goodness you're awake... we were so worried" she cried, holding my hand tightly.
"What happened?" I asked, confused.
"You probably don't remember anything because you lost control. It's a good thing the Supreme Ruler brought you back" she said, still wiping her tears.
I froze at her words. "What do you mean? Explain it to me" I said urgently.
"During the battle, you defeated all the enemies. That's why there's peace now" she began. "But after that, the fire consumed you... you lost control. You couldn't recognize any of us. So, the Supreme Ruler ordered the enchanters to create a cage and a barrier to protect everyone and to protect you. You've been sealed underground for almost three months."
I was shocked. I didn't expect summoning the Fire Spirit to have that kind of consequence.
"Then how... how did I come back?" I asked.
She smiled faintly. "The Supreme Ruler wasn't satisfied with peace alone. He searched for a way to bring you back. I heard... he went to the Nothingness himself, just to find your soul."
I was left speechless by what she said.
"Where is he?" I asked, wanting nothing more than to see and speak to Zadkiel.
"The Supreme Ruler isn't here right now he left for something important" Tia replied gently.
"When will he be back?" I asked again, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice.
"Maybe tonight" she said, and I slowly nodded, holding on to that hope.
"I'll prepare some food for you first, Lady Delythena. You've been asleep for an entire week" she added, which surprised me.
"A week?" I echoed, stunned.
She smiled and nodded. "Yes. You needed the rest."
I nodded back quietly, watching her as she left the room. All I could think about now was him. Zadkiel. I needed to see him. I needed to know everything.
I turned to face the mirror, and for a moment I froze.
My eyes.
They weren't blue anymore. The vibrant blue that had always looked back at me... was now a deep, striking shade of purple.
I leaned in closer, studying them. They still looked like mine but something about them felt different. Stronger and Heavier.
I decided to set those thoughts aside for now. Whatever had changed in me could wait.
Right now, all I could think about... was Zadkiel.
I waited anxiously for night to fall for the moment Zadkiel would return. I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to see him. To talk to him.
I stayed in my room, drowning in deep thoughts. Even now, it still felt surreal that I was truly back... alive. Breathing. Free.
Then, Tia entered and softly said, "Lady Delythena, the Supreme has returned. He's in the garden right now. He doesn't know you've woken up yet."
Her words pulled me out of my thoughts instantly.
"Thank you," I said quickly, then stood up and left my room.
I headed straight to the garden with my heart pounding. And my mind full of everything I needed to say.
I saw him.
Zadkiel, standing quietly near the fountain, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight.
The moment he noticed me, his eyes widened in surprise and without hesitation, he rushed toward me.
"My lady" he said, both shocked and relieved, his voice carrying a rare warmth.
I didn't answer right away, I just looked at him.
"Are you alright? What are you feeling? Does anything hurt?" he asked, worried, his questions tumbling out one after another.
Instead of answering, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him in a tight embrace.
He froze, caught completely off guard.
"My lady..." he whispered in surprise, unsure of what to do for a moment.
But I didn't say anything, I couldn't.
Tears began to fall, silently at first... then heavier, until I couldn't hold it back anymore.
I sobbed against his chest. The weight of everything
"My lady... are you alright?" he asked gently, still full of worry.
"Thank you." That was the first thing I managed to say, my voice soft and trembling.
He pulled me into another embrace, holding me like he never wanted to let go.
"You don't have to thank me" he murmured. "If anything, I'm the one who should be thanking you."
I slowly pulled away from the hug and looked up at him. My hands rested gently against his chest, right where I could feel his heartbeat.
"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you" I whispered. "And you wouldn't have had to do any of that... if it weren't for me." I added.
He gently cupped my cheek, his touch warm and steady.
"My lady" he said softly "Didn't I tell you? I'd do anything for you no matter what happens."
"Why... why did you really do it?" I asked, needing to hear it from him.
He looked straight into my eyes and said "Because I love you."
Those words so simple, so raw melted everything inside me. And before I could even think twice, I leaned in and kissed him.
He froze for a second, surprised. But as I pulled away, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back deeply, without hesitation.
In that moment, everything felt light. My heart, for once, wasn't carrying a burden but overflowing with warmth.
I never thought a day would come when someone would love me like this. Without conditions, Without fear and Without limits.
And yet, here he was. Zadkiel.
We lay side by side on the same bed, neither of us willing to be apart. My head rested gently on his arm, and his other hand held me close, like he was afraid to let go.
"I've been meaning to ask..." I said quietly, my voice breaking the silence. "How did you bring me back? I know I was supposed to be trapped in the Nothingness forever... and I know there was a price."
He turned his head slightly, avoiding my gaze for a moment. That hesitation alone made my heart race. "Don't tell me... you gave up your power?" I asked, alarmed, sitting up slightly.
But he only smiled and lifted his hand, summoning a soft flame in his palm.
Relief washed over me.
"Don't worry about it" he said gently, brushing my hair behind my ear. "What matters is you're here now. We're together."
I let out a deep breath and laid my head back on his chest.
He was right, we had already lost so much.
There was no point dwelling on the pain, the battles, or the scars.
So, I made a decision.
From this moment on, I would leave the dark memories behind. Because for once, I was exactly where I wanted to be. With him.
"Let's just talk about our wedding instead" he said casually.
I raised a brow, giving him a look. "What wedding?" I asked, completely caught off guard.
"Ours" he replied with that smug, all-too-familiar grin. "Don't tell me that after that kiss, you're not planning to marry me? Come on, it's obvious you love me too" he added, that trademark arrogance of his making a grand comeback.
I rolled my eyes, half annoyed, half flustered.
Here we go again Zadkiel being Zadkiel. Confident. Teasing. Relentlessly sure of himself.
And yet... I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
"Hmm... I'll think about it" I said, trying to keep a straight face though the playful glint in my eyes gave me away.
"Fine, I'll wait" he replied with a soft chuckle.
"But while we're still not married... can we at least keep sleeping next to each other?" he added, tightening his arms around me. "I just... really want you close. Always." He said.
I felt his heartbeat steady against mine, warm and calming.
I smiled quietly, resting my head on his chest again. "Okay" I whispered.
"Don't worry" he said with a teasing grin. "I won't do anything bad to you. But just like I've always said, if you ever feel like doing something bad to me, I wouldn't mind. I mean, you did kiss me first, and I had no complaints."
I clicked my tongue and flicked his forehead.
"Just shut up already" I muttered, trying to hide the smile forming on my lips.
He only laughed, clearly amused by my reaction, then pulled me close again and pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
And this time, I didn't hold back the smile. Because even with his annoying comments...
I was exactly where I wanted to be.
It's been a week since I woke up, and I was surprised to find that everywhere I go, people recognize and praise me something I'm not used to at all.
But I still can't help but feel happy about the peace this place holds, and in some way, I'm glad that what I did turned out to be a success.
I looked at my palms and tried what I was thinking. I summoned fire, and I was slightly surprised that I could now create flames.
"It's still too early to burn things." I turned to the side as Crisella arrived. This was the first time we'd seen each other since the battle.
"Crisella, how have you been?" I asked her.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" she replied sharply, which made me laugh.
"By the way, thank you for that time" I said, referring to the moment she saved me by taking the hit meant for me.
"That was a small thing. What you did was much bigger" she said. "I didn't know you were that brave, brave enough to be stupid" she added, making me laugh.
"You really don't know how to give a compliment without throwing in an insult" I joked, and she chuckled a little too.
"What does it feel like to be in nothingness?" she suddenly asked while staring into the distance. We were sitting on a bench at the park, near the edge where the forest begins.
"I couldn't feel or remember anything. It was like I was dead, just floating in nothingness" I said, because that's how Zadkiel described what I looked like.
She stood up. "I didn't really like you that much at first, but I'm glad you came back alive," she said before walking away leaving me smiling.
"Lady Delythena, where have you been?" Tia asked the moment I stepped back into the palace.
"Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You've been invited to a tea party by the duchesses" she said excitedly, her eyes sparkling. That made me pause in surprise.
"What for?" I asked again, genuinely curious.
"They just want to spend time with you bond with you. You're really popular now, Lady Delythena!" she said cheerfully.
I blinked, trying to process it all.
Me? A tea party? With the duchesses?
Well... I did just save the entire empire. Maybe this was my new normal now.
Still, I sighed softly and said, "They do know I'm not great at small talk, right?" Tia just giggled in response.
Looks like I didn't really have a choice but to attend. So, with a resigned sigh, I turned and headed straight to my room to prepare.
After dressing up and fixing myself, I left the palace and climbed into the carriage with Tia seated beside me.
The ride was smooth and quiet, the soft sound of the wheels rolling against the cobblestone echoing as we passed through the elegant streets of the capital.
Tia kept glancing at me, clearly excited.
"You look so elegant, Lady Delythena" she said with a proud smile.
So far, I didn't feel anything unusual. Everything seemed... normal.
But deep down, I knew something had shifted. Ever since I returned to this world ever since my soul came back there's been this strange feeling within me. One I couldn't quite explain.
It wasn't pain. It wasn't fear. It was power.
While we were on the road, I began to notice something strange. At first, I thought I was just imagining things maybe a trick of the light, or the movement outside the carriage.
But no.
I kept seeing it.
Faint trails of smoke, Purple, and Misty. Slithering like a shadow just outside my view.
I leaned slightly toward the window, eyes narrowing.
"Tia..." I said cautiously. "Do you see that?"
She followed my gaze, brows furrowing. "See what, Lady Delythena?"
The smoke had already vanished, maybe I was just imagining things.
When we arrived at the grand garden where the tea party was to be held, I was immediately greeted by the duchesses, all dressed in elegance and grace.
"We're truly honored to have you here, Lady Delythena" one of them said warmly, stepping forward.
"The pleasure is mine. Thank you so much for the invitation" I replied with a polite smile.
Truthfully, I hadn't told Zadkiel I was attending. He'd been busy lately, handling matters of the empire and part of me didn't want to bother him with something as trivial as a tea party.
The gathering was mostly filled with light conversations and cheerful laughter. To my surprise, I was actually enjoying myself.
The duchesses spoke with grace, but their excitement was genuine they kept thanking me over and over for saving the empire. For bringing peace. For risking everything.
I didn't know how to respond.
Every time they said it, I just gave a small smile and a quiet "Thank you." But inside, I was overwhelmed.
"Oh, by the way, Lady Delythena" Rosena, one of the duchesses, said with a smile, "when are you planning to return to your family's mansion? It seems your parents just arrived recently."
I froze, my teacup stopping midair as I turned to her in shock.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely steady.
"I saw them yesterday. They said they had just returned from a long journey" she explained casually.
My heart dropped.
I could feel the blood drain from my face.
Savena... she said they were gone. That she had killed them.
"They're the only ones I know who left for a year-long journey" another duchess chimed in, clearly unaware of the storm unraveling inside me.
I tried to keep my expression calm, but inside, I was unraveling.
After the party, I politely excused myself and said my goodbyes, choosing to head back earlier than planned.
The entire ride back to the palace was quiet too quiet. My thoughts wouldn't stop.
Their words kept echoing in my head.
It couldn't be an illusion. Not anymore. Savena was gone, and she was the only one capable of casting such twisted magic.
Unless everything she told me... was a lie.
As soon as we returned to the palace, I was stunned by what I saw.
My parents... they were there. Standing in the grand hall speaking with Zadkiel.
And the moment they saw me, their eyes lit up and they rushed toward me.
"Delythena, my sweetheart... we missed you so much" my mother said, her voice trembling with emotion.
I didn't answer right away.
I stood still, quietly tuning in to my power to the energy within me. I searched for anything strange, any illusion, any taint of darkness.
But... nothing, they were real, genuine alive.
And with that certainty, I finally let go of everything and embraced them tightly. They were truly back. And I hadn't lost everything after all.
"We're going home, and we'll be together again" they said after letting go of the embrace.
"We're so grateful to the Supreme Ruler for taking care of you" my father added. "We've already informed him that we'll be taking you home with us."
I turned to Zadkiel, who simply gave me a gentle smile, then looked back at my parents.
"When are we leaving?" I asked.
"Tonight, sweetheart" my mother replied softly. My chest tightened.
Later that day, I was in my room packing my things for our departure. I should've been happy finally, I'd be with my family again. And I was. But there was a part of me that felt heavy... knowing I wouldn't be with Zadkiel as often anymore.
"What's with the long face, my lady?" I turned toward the window and saw Zadkiel standing there.
"Aren't you going to miss me?" I asked, managing a small smile.
He walked toward me, took my hands gently in his, and smiled back.
"There won't be a day or hour that I won't miss you, my lady" he said. "But don't worry... I'll visit you."
He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
"And so, you won't feel too lonely, I'll let Tia go with you" he added.
That made me smile. "Thank you" I said, then wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug.
"You're getting a little too comfortable hugging me lately," he teased.
"Tch. You don't like it?" I pulled away, slightly annoyed but he suddenly pulled me back.
I gasped, caught off guard as he kissed me. And this time, I kissed him back without hesitation.
And just like that, we boarded the carriage after I finished saying my goodbyes to everyone.
Tia was with me, practically glowing with excitement, clearly thrilled that she was allowed to come along.
"Lady Delythena! I'm really so happy! I thought I wouldn't be able to come with you!" she said, unable to sit still.
I smiled faintly, turning my gaze to the window as the view of the palace slowly disappeared behind us.
"I'm glad you're with me too, Tia" I said softly.
But as the road stretched on ahead, I found myself glancing back one last time. The palace was behind us. Zadkiel was behind us.
And even though my path now led forward... A part of my heart remained with him.
After several hours of travel, we finally arrived at a grand, sprawling mansion far different from the illusioned one Savena once created.
This mansion was real. The people inside it were real. Servants and caretakers moved around with purpose, their presence warm and genuine.
I hadn't realized just how far our mansion was from the Obsidian Citadel. It turns out... we weren't even in the same empire. All this time, I thought we lived under the same skies. But we were worlds apart literally and figuratively.
I was now in my room and it was beautiful.
Though my room back in the kingdom was far bigger, this one still felt elegant and spacious in its own way. The scent of fresh flowers lingered faintly, and the curtains gently swayed with the wind.
As I let my gaze wander around the room, something outside the window caught my eye. A faint glow purple light shimmering not too far from the mansion.
Curious, I slowly approached the window and stepped out onto the balcony.
There it was again that glowing light.
Purple. Soft, but pulsating. And then it began to form a shape. My breath caught.
It was... a figure. Floating. A human-like shape made entirely of light. I couldn't make out a face or any clear details only its glowing, radiant form.
"What... is that?" I muttered.