The first thing Owen heard was silence.
Not the silence of an empty room.
Not the silence that came after battle.
This was different.
Absolute.
There was no wind.
No rubble.
No screaming.
No distant footsteps.
No pain.
Owen opened his eyes.
He was standing somewhere white.
There was no sky above him.
No ground beneath him.
Only an endless expanse of pale light stretching in every direction.
He looked down at himself.
His body was there.
Whole.
No wound in his chest.
No blood.
No shattered bones.
He slowly raised his hand and stared at his fingers.
"...Am I dead?"
A voice answered from behind him.
"Not yet."
Owen turned.
Caelum stood several meters away.
The tall man looked exactly as he had throughout the vision. Long hair. Blue eyes. A calm expression that somehow carried both exhaustion and amusement.
Owen stared at him for several seconds.
Then he smiled.
"So that's it?"
Caelum raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"My life."
He looked around.
"Thirty minutes, apparently."
Caelum said nothing.
Owen lowered his gaze.
"It's strange."
He smiled faintly.
"I thought I'd be more afraid."
"You should be."
"Probably."
Owen laughed quietly.
"But..."
His expression softened.
"That was an interesting life."
Caelum's eyes narrowed slightly.
Owen looked at him.
"I wish I could've seen more of it."
There was no bitterness in his voice.
Only curiosity.
"I wanted to know what happened after you went east. What you became. Who you met. What happened to Peter."
He chuckled.
"Although I guess asking all that now is kind of pointless."
Caelum remained silent.
Owen took a slow breath.
"I guess it's time."
He turned away.
"Thanks for staying with me."
Caelum's expression changed.
Owen took one step.
Then—
SMACK.
His head snapped sideways.
Owen froze.
Slowly, he turned back.
Caelum stood there with his hand raised.
"...What the hell?"
"You're an idiot."
Owen rubbed his cheek.
"You just slapped me."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because you're acting like an old man waiting for his death."
Caelum stepped forward.
"You're not dying here."
Owen stared at him.
Caelum's expression hardened.
"You have things left to do."
"I—"
"You think Peter would've wanted me to let my descendant die because he decided thirty minutes of was enough?"
Owen fell silent.
Caelum pointed toward his chest.
"You still have a life."
Then his voice became quieter.
"And Lysa and Brunn are still waiting for you."
Owen's expression cracked.
Only slightly.
But Caelum saw it.
"They wouldn't want you beside them yet."
Owen lowered his eyes.
Caelum smiled.
"You still haven't avenged them."
Owen looked up.
"...You're right."
Caelum nodded.
"There you are."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Caelum's expression softened.
"Can I ask you for something?"
Owen blinked.
"What?"
"My children."
Owen's eyes widened.
Caelum looked toward the endless white horizon.
"My son and daughter are still in Kogane no Sora."
He paused.
"I don't know what became of them."
His voice was surprisingly gentle.
"I don't know if they remember me."
Owen listened.
"But if you find them..."
Caelum looked back at him.
"Lead them in the right direction."
Owen nodded.
"And beat some sense into my son."
A faint smile appeared on Owen's face.
"That sounds oddly specific."
"He'll need it."
Caelum sighed.
"He's stubborn."
"Sounds familiar."
Caelum laughed.
"Brat."
Owen smiled.
"And your daughter?"
"Protect her."
The smile disappeared from Caelum's face.
"Tell both of them..."
He paused.
"...that I love them."
Owen's expression softened.
"I promise."
Caelum smiled.
"You might get beaten to a pulp."
Owen grinned.
"Nah."
He cracked his knuckles.
"I'd still win."
Caelum laughed.
"Still arrogant."
"Learned from the best."
The two stood there for a moment.
Then Caelum stepped forward.
His hand touched Owen's chest.
Owen's smile disappeared.
"Wait."
A massive surge of energy erupted.
Owen's eyes widened.
"WHAT ARE YOU—"
Light swallowed him.
The memories.
The emotions.
The centuries of knowledge contained within Seishi.
Everything that remained.
It rushed into him.
Caelum's voice echoed through the white.
"And by the way, brat..."
Owen gritted his teeth as the power coursed through him.
"Don't go wasting your forefather's affinity."
The world began fading.
"Remember..."
Caelum's voice became distant.
"You are the remnant of the fallen house."
Owen's eyes widened.
"As you continue to travel..."
The light grew brighter.
"...you'll gain more of my memories."
Caelum smiled.
"Good luck."
His voice trembled faintly.
"And as your uncle..."
A final smile.
"...you're doing a good job."
The white consumed everything.
"There is one more thing."
Owen looked toward him.
"Kogane no Sora."
Caelum's expression became serious.
"There is a Garten der Schatten outpost there."
Owen's pupils narrowed.
"If you fail to find another lead..."
Caelum's figure began disappearing.
"Look there."
His voice faded.
"I have a bad feeling about it."
Then—
"Owen."
The voice was barely audible.
"Owen, you're doing great."
A pause.
"I'm proud of you."
Everything went white.
"Owen!"
Zach's voice broke.
He was kneeling among the ruins.
Owen's body lay motionless in his arms.
Blood had already dried across his clothes.
His chest didn't move.
Zach's hands trembled.
"No."
He shook him.
"Come on."
Nothing.
"Owen."
His voice cracked.
"Get up."
Nothing.
"You can't..."
His breathing became uneven.
"You can't leave."
Zach lowered his head against Owen's shoulder.
"I've known you for..."
He swallowed.
"Not long enough."
Tears fell onto Owen's clothes.
"I haven't known you long enough."
His fingers clenched.
"You were the first person who..."
His voice broke completely.
"...who didn't treat me like I was some freak."
His shoulders shook.
"You just..."
He laughed through his tears.
"You just talked to me."
Behind them, Seishi lay on the ground.
The once-pristine black blade was battered beyond recognition.
Cracks ran along its surface.
Then—
A tiny fragment broke away.
Zach looked over.
The fragment dissolved into black dust.
Another followed.
Then another.
The entire blade began breaking apart.
Glauderia's eyes widened.
"What...?"
Black fragments rose from the ground.
They drifted into the wind.
And disappeared.
Glauderia stared.
Her eyes widened further.
"That sword..."
Lucius didn't hesitate.
He grabbed Zach by the back of his clothes.
"Move."
"What?!"
"Now."
Lucius dragged him away.
Glauderia's expression changed.
"Lucius—"
BOOOOOOM!
A pillar of white mana erupted from Owen's body.
The ground shook.
Stone flew into the air.
Zach's eyes widened.
"Owen!"
The light swallowed him.
Glauderia immediately activated Mana Sense.
Her pupils contracted.
"What..."
She stared.
Inside Owen's body—
There was something that hadn't existed before.
A core.
Brand new.
Dense.
Refined.
Compressed beyond anything she had seen from someone his age.
But more importantly—
It wasn't merely larger.
It was efficient.
Every movement of mana inside it was almost perfectly synchronized.
Glauderia's mouth fell slightly open.
"His core..."
Lucius looked over.
"That's impossible."
The white light began descending.
Owen's silhouette emerged from it.
His feet touched the ground.
The light disappeared.
Silence.
Owen stood there.
His body had changed.
He was taller.
His frame had become more refined, lean muscle defining his shoulders and arms.
His hair had grown longer, falling past his shoulders.
But the color—
It was no longer white.
It carried a strange pale hue.
Almost silver.
Almost blue.
His eyes were different.
Scarlet.
Deep.
Vast.
Like a sea filled with blood.
And yet his aura—
was light blue.
So pale that it bordered on white.
Zach stared.
"Owen...?"
Owen didn't answer.
He looked toward the ruined city.
Then raised his hand.
Mana gathered.
The temperature plummeted.
Ice formed across the ground.
A massive sword of ice materialized above him.
It was colossal.
Hundreds of meters long.
Pointed toward the sky.
Owen looked upward.
Then—
He launched it.
The sword pierced the sky.
CRACK.
Something shattered.
Everyone looked up.
The sky—
had cracked.
A translucent dome spread across Stoneheaven.
A veil.
It had been surrounding the entire city.
Owen lowered his hand.
Sunlight poured through the broken barrier.
For the first time since the battle began—
Stoneheaven was visible to the outside world.
Owen stared upward.
So that's how they hid this place.
His eyes narrowed.
Someone powerful enough to create a veil over an entire city...
He closed his eyes.
Mana Sense spread outward.
He searched.
One signature.
Then another.
Nothing.
The person was gone.
Owen opened his eyes.
"Interesting."
Glauderia approached.
"How did you know about the veil?"
Owen looked at her.
"I could see the dome."
Lucius landed beside Zach.
"So we were isolated from the outside world during the entire battle?"
Owen nodded.
"Yes."
Glauderia looked toward the shattered sky.
"A countermeasure."
She folded her arms.
"Probably to prevent the major noble families from noticing what was happening."
Zach said nothing.
He was staring at Owen.
But one sentence remained trapped inside his mind.
You aren't strong enough to protect Owen.
Sooner or later, you'll lose him.
His fists tightened.
Owen turned toward Glauderia.
"How is House Midgar?"
Glauderia's expression changed.
"Midgar?"
Owen nodded.
"Yes."
She studied him for a moment before answering.
"Shambles."
Owen remained still.
"After Lloyd disappeared and Caelum died, the house lost both of its pillars."
She sighed.
"The headship went to Saranus Midgar. Tertius's brother."
Owen's eyes remained unreadable.
"Neither he nor the younger generation have managed to restore the family's former position."
"Why?"
"Because House Midgar was always more than a noble house."
Glauderia looked toward the horizon.
"Their inherited affinity was one of the strongest bloodline affinities in the kingdom."
Owen's eyes narrowed.
"But Lloyd had a son."
Glauderia nodded.
"He did."
"What happened?"
"He died before the attribute could be passed down."
Silence.
Glauderia looked at Owen.
"Why are you suddenly interested in Midgar?"
Owen stopped.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"No reason."
Glauderia didn't believe him.
But she didn't push.
Owen looked toward the road.
"We'll have to separate."
Zach immediately stepped forward.
"I'm coming."
Owen shook his head.
"No."
Zach's smile disappeared.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
"I'm coming with you."
"Oriana needs you."
"I don't care."
Owen looked at him.
"Zach."
"No."
His mana began to rise.
Owen's expression softened.
"Calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down."
Zach's voice shook.
"You've been doing this since we met."
Owen said nothing.
"You disappear."
Zach clenched his fists.
"You get stronger."
His eyes became wet.
"Then you almost die."
Owen stared at him.
"If you leave right now..."
Zach's voice became quieter.
"...don't come back."
Owen's smile disappeared.
"Zach."
"Go ahead."
Owen stood there.
For once—
he had no answer.
Glauderia finally stepped forward.
"What the hell is going on?"
Owen sighed.
"Things are complicated."
He looked at the three of them.
"If you stay with me, you'll get dragged into problems that aren't yours."
Glauderia's eyes narrowed.
"And who exactly do you think I am?"
Owen looked at her.
"I know who you are."
"No."
She stepped closer.
"You clearly don't."
Her mana began to rise.
"I've fought wars before you were born."
Her voice sharpened.
"I've fought monsters that kingdoms needed armies to stop."
She pointed at herself.
"I'm one of the kingdom's sharpest blades."
Then she glared at him.
"So tell me, Owen."
"Do you really think I can't handle it?"
Owen stared at her.
"That's exactly what I think."
Silence.
Glauderia's eye twitched.
Owen turned around.
And walked away.
Her hand immediately moved toward her sword.
Lucius caught her wrist.
She slowly looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Stopping you from doing something stupid."
Her eye twitched harder.
"You think you're above me too?"
"No."
Lucius released her wrist.
"What I think is irrelevant."
He looked toward Owen's retreating figure.
"Oriana is simply underqualified to deal with Garten der Schatten."
Glauderia's mana exploded outward.
Lucius didn't flinch.
"All of our work was surpassed by a man with suicidal tendencies in one night."
Glauderia's expression hardened.
Lucius continued.
"I joined the Oriana Knights back then because I thought they could finally give me what I wanted."
He turned.
"A way to reach Garten der Schatten."
His gaze shifted toward Owen.
"But clearly..."
"...I was looking in the wrong direction."
He began walking away.
"Tell my father I'm fine."
Glauderia stared after him.
"Lucius."
He stopped.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving."
"For where?"
Lucius looked over his shoulder.
"Wherever that idiot is going."
The streets of Stoneheaven were almost unrecognizable.
Buildings had collapsed.
Markets were destroyed.
Roads were cracked.
Smoke still drifted from distant ruins.
Owen walked alone.
His footsteps were quiet.
He passed destroyed stalls.
Broken signs.
Abandoned weapons.
Everywhere he looked—
there was another reminder.
Then—
he stopped.
Someone was walking behind him.
Owen turned.
Lucius.
The young knight approached calmly.
"You."
"Me."
Owen stared.
"Why are you following me?"
"I've decided to accompany you."
"Why?"
Lucius shrugged.
"I have no particular reason."
Owen studied him.
Lucius stared back.
Neither moved.
Finally—
"Okay."
Owen turned around.
"There is somewhere I need to stop first."
Lucius followed.
"Where?"
Owen didn't answer.
The pub was gone.
Owen stood before what remained of it.
The sign had fallen.
The windows were shattered.
The walls had partially collapsed.
Ash covered the floor.
Lucius looked at the ruins.
"This place?"
Owen nodded.
"Wait here."
He stepped inside.
Lucius watched him disappear into the darkness.
Owen walked through the destroyed building.
His boots crunched over broken glass.
Then—
he remembered.
Lysa sitting at the table.
Laughing.
Brunn eating enough food for three men.
Lysa bullying strangers into playing darts.
"Come on! You look rich!"
The poor man would laugh nervously.
Then lose.
Then pay.
Then lose again.
Brunn would sit nearby, arm wrestling random mercenaries.
"Anyone brave enough?"
"You're cheating!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Owen remembered sitting in the corner.
Sharpening his sword.
Young mercenaries gathered around him.
"Is it true you're the youngest S-rank?"
"How many beasts have you killed?"
"Can you teach me that footwork?"
"Can I see your sword?"
Owen would tell them to leave.
They never did.
He smiled.
Barely.
He walked toward the storage room.
Dust covered everything.
He reached the highest shelf.
His fingers brushed across an old bottle.
White wine.
Lysa's favorite.
He pulled it down.
Another bottle rested beside it.
The finest wine they had saved.
Owen took both.
He stepped outside.
Lucius looked at the bottles.
"You're going to drink?"
Owen scoffed.
"Obviously not."
Lucius raised an eyebrow.
"Then why—"
"There are some guys who are due for a drink."
Owen turned toward a hill in the distance.
A single tree stood at its peak.
Lucius followed his gaze.
"...Who?"
Owen began walking.
"You'll meet them."
The climb was quiet.
Neither spoke.
The wind moved through the grass.
Eventually, they reached the tree.
Two graves rested beneath it.
Owen stopped.
Lucius understood immediately.
His expression softened.
Owen knelt.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Then he placed the bottles beside the graves.
He opened the white wine first.
The cork popped softly.
Owen poured himself a small amount.
He held the bottle toward Lucius.
Lucius hesitated.
Then took it.
He poured himself a little.
Owen raised his cup.
"To Lysa."
He looked toward the first grave.
"You were annoying."
A tiny smile appeared.
"You talked too much."
He laughed quietly.
"You bullied everyone."
His voice softened.
"But..."
He swallowed.
"...you made life better."
He turned toward Brunn.
"And you..."
Owen shook his head.
"You were an idiot."
Lucius almost smiled.
"You would've hated him."
Owen looked at the grave.
"He would've challenged you to arm wrestling."
Lucius raised his cup slightly.
"I probably would've accepted."
Owen smiled.
Then—
he looked at both graves.
"I brought someone."
Lucius straightened.
Owen looked at him.
"This is Lucius."
Lucius blinked.
Owen gestured toward the graves.
"He's..."
He paused.
The word seemed strangely difficult.
"...my friend."
Lucius's eyes widened slightly.
Owen looked away.
"He's joining me."
Lucius stepped forward.
He looked at the two graves.
Then bowed.
"My name is Lucius Styrar."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"I don't know much about either of you."
He glanced at Owen.
"But I know one thing."
Owen looked at him.
"You mattered to him."
The wind moved through the tree.
Leaves rustled above them.
"So..."
Lucius lowered his head.
"I'll make sure he doesn't lose himself."
Owen stared.
Lucius continued.
"I'll lead him when he walks in the wrong direction."
He looked toward the graves.
"And if he becomes an idiot..."
He sighed.
"I'll beat some sense into him."
Owen's eyes widened.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Lucius looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Owen looked back toward the graves.
His smile remained.
"Thank you."
Lucius nodded.
Owen raised his cup.
"To the two of you."
Lucius raised his.
"To Lysa and Brunn."
They drank.
The wine was bitter.
Sweet.
Warm.
Owen poured the remaining white wine onto Lysa's grave.
Then the other bottle onto Brunn's.
He stood.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then—
"I won't be coming back for a while."
The wind blew.
"I've got somewhere to go."
His fingers tightened around his empty cup.
"But I'll come back."
He looked at the graves.
"I promise."
He turned away.
Lucius waited.
Owen took several steps.
Then stopped.
He glanced back one final time.
"...Take care of each other."
There was no answer.
There couldn't be.
But somehow—
Owen smiled anyway.
Because perhaps some goodbyes weren't meant to receive answers.
Perhaps they were simply meant to be spoken.
He walked down the hill.
Lucius followed.
Neither looked back.
Above them, the old tree continued to sway.
And beneath it—
two graves remained.
Quiet.
Patient.
Listening.
For the first time since their deaths, Owen wasn't walking away because he was running from the pain.
He was walking away because he had somewhere to go.
And beside him walked someone who had finally stopped seeing him as merely a weapon.
Lucius looked at Owen's back.
A broken blade.
Still moving.
Still cutting.
Still refusing to fall.
And perhaps that was enough.
For now.
The road ahead disappeared beyond the horizon.
Owen tightened his grip around the hilt at his waist.
"Where are we going?" Lucius asked.
Owen looked ahead.
"I don't really know."
"Helpful."
Owen smirked.
"I'll tell you when I figure it out."
Lucius sighed.
"You're going to be insufferable."
"Probably."
And the two continued walking.
Leaving Stoneheaven behind.
Leaving the graves beneath the tree.
But not leaving the people buried there.
Never them.