Morning came softly to Isola Krein.
No alarms.
No omens.
No trembling heavens.
Just light.
Rayon opened his eyes before the sun fully crested the horizon. The room was still—peaceful in a way the universe rarely allowed him. Nexus slept beside him, her breathing slow and even. Lucifer lay curled near her chest, tiny fingers wrapped instinctively in fabric and warmth. Esdeath rested on the other side, unnaturally calm, as if even sleep hesitated to disturb her.
Rayon watched them for a moment longer.
Then, carefully—so carefully—he slipped out of bed.
Shadows carried him silently outside.
The courtyard looked like something out of a vacation dream.
Azelar sat beneath the umbrella shade, tea steaming gently in his cup. Nyk lounged across from him, chair tilted back, cigarette unlit but resting between his fingers. Christine sat beside them, relaxed, legs crossed, one hand wrapped around her teacup.
They looked absurdly normal.
Rayon stepped into the shade and pulled out a chair.
Azelar glanced up, smiling faintly.
"So," he said. "How's fatherhood, Rayon?"
Rayon leaned back and exhaled slowly.
"I'm learning," he said honestly. "But it's nothing I can't handle."
Nyk snorted immediately.
"Bro, stop capping," he said. "I know you ain't about that life."
Rayon shot him a flat look.
"Shut up, Nyk."
Christine smirked into her tea.
Rayon paused, then snapped his fingers.
The shadows behind him rippled.
Reality folded inward.
Two presences emerged.
The first was Erethon—no longer a formless madness whispering through the void, but a tangible figure now. His eyes burned with layered cognition, insanity refined into something sharp and amused.
The second was Vorthalaxis, massive even while partially restrained, shadow-scaled and coiled like a slumbering apocalypse. He promptly collapsed near the edge of the courtyard and went still.
Rayon grinned.
"Old man," he said casually. "Look who came."
Azelar froze for exactly half a second.
Then he laughed.
"Erethon," Azelar said warmly. "My good friend. How long has it been?"
Erethon spread his arms theatrically.
"Too long," he said. "And it seems you've aged better than reality itself."
Azelar studied him closely, eyes narrowing with interest.
"And it seems you're no longer just lurking," Azelar added. "Primordial of Insanity… fused with Darkness now."
Erethon chuckled.
"Good, isn't it?"
He turned sharply to Rayon.
"Ooh," Erethon said, eyes lighting up. "You did something fun while I was stuck in the abyss. You have children now? How amusing."
As if summoned by the words, Nexus stepped into the courtyard, Lucifer and Esdeath resting comfortably in her arms. She moved a bit slower than usual, but her expression was calm, composed.
She sat gently on Rayon's lap.
Erethon's grin widened.
"Oh," he said softly. "They are Demi-gods."
He leaned forward eagerly.
"May I hold him?"
Rayon nodded without hesitation.
"Go ahead, Erethon."
Erethon carefully took Lucifer, lifting him up and peering into his deep black eyes.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then Erethon laughed. Loudly.
"Good," he said. "Good. I guess it really does run in the blood."
Lucifer didn't cry.
Didn't flinch.
He just stared back.
Azelar suddenly tilted his head.
"Hm," he murmured. "Someone has entered Isola."
Rayon smiled faintly.
"Yeah. I know who it is."
He snapped his fingers again.
Light fractured.
A woman appeared in the courtyard, her presence sharp and unstable—Iris Solmek, eyes alert, posture tense but curious.
Rayon waved.
"Hey, Iris. How's it going?"
Before she could answer, another presence manifested beside her—older, deeper, heavier.
Calythar.
Erethon turned slowly, eyes widening with delight.
"My good friend," Erethon said smoothly. "Calythar. How's it been?"
Calythar laughed.
"Erethon? Haha—you've got a body this time. And it seems you're stronger now."
Erethon gestured toward Rayon.
"Courtesy of the little Monarch."
Iris cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Uh—hi," she said. "I'm Iris Solmek. Primordial vessel of Calythar. The Primordial who governs Solvithar—Entropy."
Christine immediately smiled and waved her over.
"Hey," she said warmly. "If you're a friend of Rayon, you're our friend too. Come sit."
Iris blinked, then relaxed.
"Oh. Okay."
Time passed quietly.
Tea was poured.
Laughter echoed.
Nyk and Rayon sat across from each other, locked in a silent game of Go, pieces clicking softly against the board.
"Your move," Nyk said, smirking.
Rayon placed a stone.
"You already lost five turns ago."
Nearby, Nexus, Christine, and Iris sat together, talking softly—laughing about things that didn't involve the end of existence for once.
Azelar and Erethon sat on the ground, playing gently with Lucifer and Esdeath. The children reacted differently—Lucifer grasping, curious and alert, Esdeath simply watching, eyes tracking patterns no one else could see.
Vorthalaxis slept.
Deeply.
Peacefully.
For now—
Isola Krein rested beneath the sun, untouched.
And for a rare moment in the endless war of existence—
Everyone simply lived.