*Epilogue: Shadows in the Dawn*
The first light of dawn spilled softly over the ancient temple ruins, casting long, golden fingers across cracked stones and shattered relics. The air was thick with silence—an aching quiet that seemed to hold the weight of all they had lost.
Mark sat alone on the cold stone steps, the remnants of battle still faintly visible—the scorched earth, the broken seals, and the shadows that refused to fully fade. His hands trembled as he held a small trinket Jun had given him—a delicate charm, a symbol of protection and love.
His chest tightened with grief, the void Jun's absence left swallowing him whole. Every breath was heavy with memories—Jun's gentle smile, the way his eyes sparkled like stars in the night, the warmth of his touch that now felt like a fading dream.
Mark's voice broke the silence, barely more than a whisper. "I promised… I would wait. No matter how long it takes."
Around him, the world awoke slowly—birds sang in the distance, and the scent of jasmine drifted on the morning breeze. Life continued, relentless and indifferent to the heartbreak carved deep into Mark's soul.
He closed his eyes, remembering their moments together—the laughter, the fights, the quiet nights when they spoke of hope and fears. Jun had been his light in the darkest shadows, the brave heart that dared to love when the world told them not to.
But now, that light was gone.
Tears traced silent paths down Mark's cheeks as he whispered a vow, raw and fierce. "I won't let your memory fade. I'll carry you with me through every lifetime, every shadow. If love is brave, then I will be braver than anyone."
A breeze stirred, carrying a faint, familiar scent—something like sandalwood and rain—that made Mark's heart ache with bittersweet longing.
He opened his eyes and stood, looking toward the horizon where the sun began to rise fully. The path ahead was uncertain, marked by pain and loss, but also by the stubborn flame of hope that refused to die.
Mark turned away from the ruins, the weight of the past pressing down but not breaking him. In his heart, Jun's spirit lived on—a whisper in the wind, a promise beyond death.
And so, beneath the pale light of dawn, Mark took his first steps forward—alone, yet unbroken, bound forever to the love that had defined him.
Because even in the deepest shadows, love remains the fiercest light.